News: Georgia, Rauschenberg, Jamaica, John Mayer, Sonoma

First batch of NewNowNext Award winners revealed!

John Mayer gives up on Kristy McNichol haircut, charges fan $10 for photo-op.

Send a personal message of support to Senator Ted Kennedy.

Con man Sonoma County, California attempts to stake claim as same-sex marriage destination.

Who won Dancing with the Stars?

Prayers for Bobby: Sigourney Weaver to play conservative religious mother in Lifetime telepic about gay son's suicide. "In her first telepic role, Weaver will star as Mary Griffith, a devout Christian who winds up becoming an advocate for gay and lesbian youths after her son is driven into a deep depression by his family's disapproval and attempts to 'cure' him of his sexual orientation."

Jamaican prime minister stands behind nation's homophobia: "Jamaica is not going allow values to be imposed on it from outside. We're going to have to determine that ourselves and we're going to have to determine to what extent those values will adapt over time to change, change in perception, change in understanding as to how people live."

Tyler Green on the hetero-normalizing of the late Robert Rauschenberg: "Critics at America's largest publications, including Michael Kimmelman, Alan Artner, Blake Gopnik, Richard Lacayo, and Peter Plagens, mostly avoid the topic. Kimmelman's queasy reference to Jasper Johns, Rauschenberg, and "the intimacy of their relationship" was the closest the Times came to acknowledging that Rauschenberg was gay. The Boston Globe's Mark Feeney, Obit magazine's Phyllis Tuchman and Newsweek's Plagens and others also took the Johns route. The two major papers in Rauschenberg's home state were even more timid."

Court in Malta rules that calling someone "gay" is not defamatory: "Magistrate Michael Mallia ruled that a person’s sexual orientation in the current society was not of social interest bar that of assuring that no discrimination is made. The fact that homosexuality was a criminal offence until 1973, said the magistrate, does not reflect the situation in the 21st century."

Jason Statham has been flogged.

Eric Dane took a few inches off the top.

EU debates sexual preference anti-discrimination guidelines.

Georgia congressman announces plan to introduce federal amendment banning same-sex marriage: "Georgia Congressman Paul Broun announced Tuesday that he will be introducing a constitutional amendment to prevent same-sex marriage in response to a recent decision by the California Supreme Court that recognizes same-sex marriages...'Marriage as an institution exists solely between one man and one woman. Americans have traditionally recognized this definition as being the most beneficial arrangement for the creation of stable family structures and for the upbringing of children. In fact, Americans have repeatedly shown their preference for the traditional definition of one-man, one-woman marriage by passing state and federal laws or by amending state constitutions to preserve the traditional definition,' Broun said."

Hillary Clinton ready for her close-up?

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News: GQ France, Breakdancing Beckham, Atlantis, Jason Statham

One of the judicial nominees Bush has been threatening a recess appointment for was recently arrested for DUI wearing a little black dress, fishnet stockings and stilletto heels: "Apparently, Federal Judge Robert Somma, rear-ended another motorist in his Mercedes-Benz after tying one on in a local gay bar. He had difficulty locating his drivers license in his purse. His wife, Wendy, says he's not interested in talking to the press right now."

Spice Girls shocked by baby breakdancing Beckham.

Wisconsin gay rights group utilizes election to raise awareness of upcoming court vacancies.

British BMW salesman forced from job by homophobic co-workers: "Ben Hamilton, 26, claims he was branded 'the nice poof', 'faggot' and 'bender Ben' by workmates at a BMW showroom. He told the hearing he was banned from wearing pink clothing and was made to change. And when he grew a beard he claimed colleagues walking past him would jeer the phrase 'Deal or No Deal?' at him after gameshow host Noel Edmonds up to 30 times a day. Mr Hamilton said a manager told him: 'It must be great to be gay. Does it mean you and your fella can go out, have a few beers, have a curry, beat each other up and still get laid?'"

Space Shuttle Atlantis heads home from International Space Station in preparation for Navy shootdown of errant spy satellite.

GQ launches French edition.

Student: Goldfish aren't the peabrains you think they are.

Excavated remains identified as Sir Hugh Despenser the Younger, lover of King Edward II: "Despenser died a gruesome death, being publicly hung, drawn, quartered and disembowelled for treason in 1326 following Edward's fall. The remains, found in the 1970s on Despenser's brother-in-law's estate at Hulton Abbey, Staffordshire, bear such hallmarks, anthropologist Mary Lewis says. Lewis, from Reading University, made the link by drawing on the manner of execution, carbon-dating of the bones and the absence of several parts of the body. The skull, part of the vertebra and one leg are buried on the family estate at Tewkesbury Abbey. 'Research on the bones shows he was stabbed in the throat and probably stabbed in the stomach, but we would not have any evidence to disembowelment unless the knife had hit any bones,' Lewis said."

Writer Andrew Holleran pays a visit to Fort Lauderdale.

Ben & Jerry endorse Obama, scoop "Cherries for Change" ice cream. "Barack is showing that when you lead with your values and follow what you have inside that good things will happen. What we saw is that when you want real change it's not a marketing slogan. You have to do things differently. And that is not going to be done by someone who's been involved in the system for years and years. It needs to come from inside and Barack Obama has it."

Winehouse likes her chicken fried.

Jason Statham drops the big burly half of himself.

Japan's top court rules Mapplethorpe photos not obscene: "The verdict was hailed as a victory for artistic freedom by a Japanese publisher who filed the lawsuit. His copy of a Mapplethorpe book was seized in 1999 when he tried to bring it from the United States for personal use. Reversing a lower court ruling, the Supreme Court ordered customs to lift its ban on bringing in the book of photographs, entitled 'Robert Mapplethorpe.' In the 2003 ruling, the Tokyo High Court ruled that the book, which included images of male genitals, went 'against good sexual morality.' But Kohei Nasu, the presiding judge, said at the Supreme Court: 'The book and pictures do not fall into a category that would disturb the public,' as quoted by Jiji Press."

UK father-to-be charged in "cowardly, disgraceful" attack on homophobe mistaken for gay man: "John Edwards, prosecuting, told York Crown Court yesterday the assault happened last July when Mr Sandey was returning home along St Mary's by the riverside in York after a night out. He said the area was known to be frequented in the evening by homosexual men, and a passer-by heard one of the group shouting homophobic insults. 'When the defendant pleaded guilty he did so, acknowledging this was aggravated by homophobia. The target of their violence, quite randomly it would seem, was this complainant,' he said. A woman who saw the attackers, including Walls, described seeing Mr Sandey on the ground. The men were punching him before one - it is not known who - jumped on his leg as they shouted 'he is a pervert'. Afterwards Walls spoke to the witness, telling her his name. Forensic experts later found blood on him."

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Gerard Butler and Jason Statham Form Muscle Storm in Miami

Gerard Butler and Jason Statham rang in 2008 at the Cuervo Platino Party at The Florida Room at the Delano Hotel in Miami Beach on New Year's Day. All that and a shot of tequila? Now that's a great way to start the year.

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Jason Statham Back in The Bank Job

Here's a recently released shot of Jason Statham from the upcoming film The Bank Job, due out in March. The film, set in 1971, is about a famous bank robbery on London's Baker Street. Thieves got into a bank vault and stole three million pounds of cash and jewels. The money was never recovered and the perpetrators never caught, but damn were they good looking.

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News: Liza Herpes, Jesse Metcalfe, Bisexual Bond

Daniel Craig, who will lock lips with Toby Jones when he plays the killer Perry Smith in the new Truman Capote biopic Infamous, will reportedly get a homoerotic love interest in the next James Bond film after the upcoming Casino Royale: "'Bond 22' will now see a homoerotic relationship develop between the suave spy and secret agent Felix Leiter, played by Jeffrey Wright. A film insider said: 'Bond will always be a hit with the ladies. But Daniel has a massive gay fan base and that can't be ignored. There will still be sexy Bond Girls. But the modern Bond will be more sensitive.'"

British Crank hunk Jason Statham enjoys living in America, where he can shoot weapons freely. Statham at the range: "This nasty gun will knock the frost off an old granny."

In divorce proceedings that are shockingly still ongoing, David Gest accuses Liza Minnelli of hiding herpes from him, and she counters that Gest was trying to "poison" her with drugs.

British Invasion: American version of Footballers Wives planned.

More naked Nip/Tuck action...

Marc Cherry to host GLAAD fundraiser with cast of Desperate Housewives...

Jesse Metcalfe threatens to kill Perez Hilton for gay rumors.

Massive Marilyn portrait exhibition goes on display in Paris: "The 59 images on display here were selected by Mr. Stern in the early 1990’s from among the 2,500 he took of Monroe at the Hotel Bel-Air in Los Angeles in June and July 1962...The photographs, which include some of the most explicit images taken of the actress, show her principally in three situations: naked on a bed, baring her shoulders, back and legs; holding a transparent chiffon scarf before her naked torso; and covering her breasts with paper flowers. In other images she wears black cocktail dresses or plays mischievously with necklaces."

Families fear convicted child killer at Australian beach, but paper focuses on the fact that it's a gay hangout.

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Jason Statham: Diver Extraordinaire

Here's a little factoid about Crank star Jason Statham, who as we know has no problem getting wet. He was on Britain's National Diving Squad for ten years (and was rumored to have participated in the Olympics, but I believe those rumors are false). Before he was an actor he also modeled for French Connection. It was around that time he met director Guy Ritchie, who cast him in Lock, Stock, and Two Smoking Barrels. This shot, taken in 1991 at Britain's Crystal Palace, recently turned up in my inbox, so I thought I'd pass it along.
(thanks wayne)

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News: Fountain of Youth, Bear Kiss, and Jennifer Hudson

Wireless iPods, soon?

In the latest addition to Jason Statham's body of work, Crank, he hits the road on a motorcycle in a hospital gown and lets it all hang out...

David Copperfield says he has found the Fountain of Youth on an island he owns in the Southern Bahamas: "I've discovered a true phenomenon. You can take dead leaves, they come in contact with the water, they become full of life again. ... Bugs or insects that are near death, come in contact with the water, they'll fly away. It's an amazing thing, very, very exciting."

Watch out for bears. New Marc Jacobs campaign features bearded men macking in the woods.

The Pet Shop Boys have announced that they'll be touring the United States this fall.

People having too much fun? Chairman of Public Safety Committee: NYC nightclubs a "modern day Sodom and Gomorrah."

MO: The three-step rule to street cruising.

According to Tom O'Neil at The Envelope, Jennifer Hudson is already being tipped for an Oscar nom in the Dreamgirls role that will turn her into a major superstar: "A test-screening audience not only went crazy for the pic recently in San Diego, but viewers went utterly bonkers over Hudson. Now she can laugh off her loss on 'American Idol.'...Already, she's the frontrunner for the supporting-actress Oscar. Actually, it's surprising she's not a frontrunner for best actress considering Holliday beat her costar Sheryl Lee Ralph (who portrayed Deena) for the top acting honor at the Tonys, but studio chiefs plan to separate the film Dreamdivas at the Oscars, demoting Hudson to supporting because Beyonce has more screen time. And, well, probably just because she's Beyonce."

Joe Scarborough asks, is Bush an idiot?

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Jason Statham Cranks up the Sexy

Thought the Jason Statham fans out there might appreciate these shots from his upcoming film Crank, which opens on September 1st. Statham plays a hit man injected with poison that will kill him if his heart rate falls below a certain point. In the meantime he seeks revenge on his enemies, all while maintaining his signature two-day stubble.

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