News: John Amaechi, Clinton, Iowans, Kenny Chesney, India

Former pro basketball player John Amaechi is blogging from Beijing!

BrightSide: Restaurant/bar funded by Heath Ledger before his death to open in Brooklyn.

Murdered trans woman Angie Zapata mourned in Colorado.

The Atlantic publishes a whole bunch of Hillary Clinton's campaign memos. Here's some of the reaction...

Will Britney Spears attempt it again at the VMAs?

Will John Edwards come around now on gay marriage? "Asked about his position on same-sex marriage a year ago, John Edwards said that he 'personally [does] not' support gay marriage, citing his religious beliefs as basis for his opposition. Even without the hindsight we have recently acquired about Edwards' own marriage, this was the response of a bigot. We now know that as with most bigots, Edwards is a hypocrite. As he was spewing inane statements about being "on a journey" on the issue of gay marriage, he surely had to remember the journey that lead him just months earlier to break his civil obligations and spiritual vows in his union with his wife Elizabeth."

The Sioux City Journal profiles Chuck Swaggerty and Jason Morgan, a gay couple who are not only parents but plaintiffs in the same-sex marriage case making it through the state's court system: "Here we are, 10 years together, two kids together and yet somebody can be married for a month and they can have insurance at their jobs and we can't. But it's really more than that. ... Marriage, it is really more about love and family."

Provincetown business owners take sides over "family week": "Family Week, which just ended here, is causing a turf war between different local businesses: those who benefit from having several hundred children and their parents pushing strollers through town and those who most definitely do not."

The extent to which, unfortunately, some people, even law enforcement, associate gays with child molesters was illustrated in this incident which happened at a Fire Island resort town over the weekend (not one of the gay resort towns).

Wild Kingdom: Polar Bear remains found in shark's stomach: "...they are unable to say whether the shark attacked and ate the bear or whether it simply scavenged a bear's carcase."

Kenny Chesney is an athletic supporter: "Payton volunteered a story he heard about Chesney helping Saints cornerback Mike McKenzie undress for a shower last January while the two were in Birmingham, Ala., to rehabilitate from surgery."

Kylie Minogue is "The One".

Lady Gaga is always on.

With the recent boost from health minister Anbumani Ramadoss, challengers to India's law criminalizing homosexuality are hopeful the antiquated law can be done away with: "The Delhi High Court is set to address a petition filed in the court by the NAZ Foundation, a Delhi-based non-government organization for HIV and AIDS prevention. The group is challenging arrests under 377."

Shia LaBeouf may not lose his finger after all.

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Oprah to Feature Gay People Around the World Today

Today, Oprah will look at what it's like to be gay around the world and feature an appearance by Indian Prince Manvendra Singh Gohil I posted about at the beginning of the month.

When he came out in 2006, Gohil said: "I knew that they would never accept me for who I truly am, but I also knew that I could no longer live a lie. I wanted to come out because I had gotten involved with activism and I felt it was no longer right to live in the closet. I came out as gay to a Gujarati daily because I wanted people to openly discuss homosexuality since it's a hidden affair with a lot of stigma attached."

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Towleroad Guide to the Tube #177

MARCEL MARCEAU: 1923-2007.

JOHN AMAECHI: The former pro basketball player is the spokesman for National Coming Out Day. Here he talks about one moment that inspired him to decide to make a difference.

HITLER SPEAKING ENGAGEMENT: Controversial comments from the Dean of Columbia University on the eve of Iranian President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad's visit.

HILLARY CLINTON: Says she'll vote against further funding for the Iraq war. (source: virtual matter)

Check out our previous guides to the Tube here!

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Looking at the Business of Gay "Celebrity" Books

Citing numbers from Nielsen BookScan, the Washington Blade's Katherine Volin looks at the disappointing sales of gay "celebrity" books and what's behind the numbers.

Says Charles Flowers, executive director of Lambda Literary Foundation: "The publishers are looking for a way for someone to sell the book and that’s part of the attraction of a celeb book, they’ve got this platform. I’m not sure people make the leap to, ‘Do I want to read a whole book about this person, or by this person?’ So I think it’s something to be careful about in acquiring a celebrity book. If they’re over-exposed, people may not buy a book about them or by them. They already have their opinion made or think they know the person."

I was a bit surprised by the low numbers, though I'm not sure why. It seems all the promotion in the world can't do as much for book sales as a single appearance on Oprah.

A few of the notable books and their sales numbers:

38,000 — "The Confession" by James McGreevey

19,000 — "Silent Partner" by Dina Matos McGreevey

15,000 — "A Guide to Quality, Taste and Style" by Tim Gunn and Kate Moloney

14,000 — "Red Carpets and Other Banana Skins" by Rupert Everett

9,000 — "Man in the Middle" by John Amaechi
9,000 — "Now It's My Turn" by Mary Cheney

8,000 — "There's Nothing in this Book That I Meant to Say" by Paula Poundstone

6,000 — "Tab Hunter Confidential" by Tab Hunter and Eddie Muller
6,000 — "Here's What We'll Say" by Reichen Lehmkuhl

3,000 — "Alone in the Trenches" by Esera Tuaolo and John Rosengren
3,000 — "Include Me Out" by Farley Granger and Robert Calhoun

1,000 — "I Had to Say Something" by Mike Jones with Same Gallegos
1,000 — "La Dolce Musto" by Michael Musto

Gay books a bust [washington blade]

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Log Cabin Republicans Convene, Hear Amaechi, Look to Giuliani

The Log Cabin Republicans held their convention in Denver late last week. The Associated Press noted that gay Republicans seem to be leaning toward Rudy Giuliani as their candidate: "However, delegates to the Log Cabin Republicans annual convention said Friday that they also fear the former New York mayor, in his bid to capture the Republican presidential nomination, might be waffling as he reaches out to more conservative GOP voters."

Last week, Giuliani flip-flopped on the issue of civil unions, which he had previously supported. His spokesperson told the New York Sun: "Mayor Giuliani believes marriage is between one man and one woman. Domestic partnerships are the appropriate way to ensure that people are treated fairly. In this specific case the law states same sex civil unions are the equivalent of marriage and recognizes same sex unions from outside states. This goes too far and Mayor Giuliani does not support it."

Frank Ricchiazzi, who helped found Log Cabin three decades ago, warned Rudy: "Mainstream Republican voters and moderate voters are going to vote for you. Don't tilt to the right."

According to a survey taken this year by Log Cabin Republicans, the Human Rights Campaign and the National Rifle Association are the two organizations which receive the greatest amount of financial support from gay Republicans.

The convention also hosted a talk by former NBA player John Amaechi. Amaechi spoke on both his coming out and on the state of gay rights and attitudes in America today.

Said Amaechi: "I underestimated America. I braced myself for the wrath of a nation under God. I imagined that it would be a firestorm, that it would be some insane number of letters demanding my deportation or my death. And in fact, 95 percent of the correspondence I've had have been overwhelmingly supportive and positive. But I will say that the 5 percent that I've had have been unbelievably, viscerally, frighteningly negative."

Amaechi noted that not a single former teammate has been in touch with him since he came out, and his story has never been mentioned on NBA.com: "Probably 30 of my former (NBA) teammates have my e-mail and my telephone contacts and probably 16 or so of those I was in regular touch with and there are probably 10 people who I have (on instant messenger). And...nobody who's active in the NBA has been in touch with me since the day I came out, despite the fact that most of them knew I was gay in the first place."

Perhaps noting his audience, Amaechi, who is a British citizen, did comment diplomatically on the political climate in the country: "It's hard for me to hide the fact that I am no fan of this administration, as much for their foreign policy as for their stance on (gay, lesbian, bisexual and transgender) issues. However, I am no fan of the Democratic candidates who take four days before they decide that Gen. Pace's comments were not very nice."

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Howard Bragman: Helping Athletes Out...of the Closet

Outsports has a chat with publicist Howard Bragman, who has helped a series of high-profile athletes transition from closeted to openly gay in the public spotlight. This has made Bragman the "go-to" guy for jocks on the way "out". Bragman's clients have included Esera Tuaolo, Rosie Jones, Sheryl Swoopes, and most recently former NBA player John Amaechi. He has also been hired by Isaiah Washington to help the actor clean up after the Grey's Anatomy F-word incident.

Bragman discusses how the John Amaechi story unfolded: "I was working backward from the date of ESPN the magazine and the book coming out. Then Leigh Steinberg calls me a week before the Super Bowl and asks, 'will you go to Florida and do P.R. for my party?' Here you put a publicist at a Super Bowl party, and there are 25 journalists there, and my eyes light up, and I say, 'Guys, I've got a big story. In a couple weeks, I've got a former NBA player coming out of the closet.' And they started writing about it virally. And that Wednesday is one of those days you never forget. His identity was out there, and I had a real fear that the story would go away, but ironically a lot of media outlets who said they weren't sure when I pitched the book, as soon as it went viral, they had to have it. And then it just went ballistic after that."

He also says he doesn't think he could ever rep Tim Hardaway: "I don't think I would. And I say that as the guy who reps Isaiah Washington. Because it's got to be about more than just the money for me. And before I signed Isaiah, we talked for a couple hours. We knew people in common, and I really feel like he screwed up, but I think it was a screw up instead of being a homophobe. I look at the situation where the guy has played gay roles in his career. And I think somebody who's truly homophobic wouldn't do that. But Tim Hardaway's a little different for me. I like to be someplace I'm proud of, in representation. With Isaiah, we have a chance to talk, to have a real dialogue. He's really beautifully positioned to have a real dialogue."

Much more over at Outsports...

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News: Sanjaya, Hugh Jackman, Great White Shark, Wegman

High school in South San Francisco celebrating 'Gay-Straight Alliance Week' and observing the national 'Day of Silence' this Wednesday is vandalized with anti-gay, racial epithets: "There was Nazi symbols on some teachers' doors, there was the Star of David circled and then crossed out. There were a couple Bible versus which I found personally offensive. On the side of the gym there was a big hand spray painted with the middle finger sticking up saying 'Day of Silence This."

P-A-R-K - early William Wegman film online.

You're on the air: Canada's first radio station for gays and lesbians, Proud FM, goes online, and over the airwaves in Toronto: "The people behind 103.9 Proud FM say they hope to add diversity to the radio dial by exploring issues and stories relevant to Canada's gay and lesbian community — voices they say are largely unheard elsewhere....Proponents of the new station have been working to get the project off the ground for about 10 years."

Maxim names Sanjaya its "Girl of the Day".

Musical theater reality show underway: 'Life is a Song' will give people who have major announcements to make or questions to ask the opportunity to do so via an elaborate song and dance number. It's based on the tuner tradition of characters breaking into song when emotions become too strong for words. Each half-hour seg will chronicle the backstory behind the person doing the singing, as well as show that person learning how to sing and dance. Scout's Metzler and Collins came up with the idea for 'Life' and then recruited Zadan and Meron because of their decades of experience with musical productions. Zadan and Meron in turn enlisted help from past collaborators, including 'Footloose' writer Dean Pitchford. Scout has brought on Evan Weinstein to serve as co-exec producer." Imagine coming out to your family like this! Now that's gay.

2007 Pulitzer Prize winners named.

Hugh Jackman hits the beach in Sydney, Australia.

Great White Shark let loose in Northern California turns up in Cabo San Lucas.

BBC to broadcast mass from predominantly gay Catholic church in San Francisco's Castro district: "In the service to be broadcast on BBC Radio 4, Fr. Donal Godfrey SJ of the University of San Francisco will preside. James Alison, Catholic theologian and author of 'Is it ethical to be Catholic? – Queer perspectives', will be preaching. 'It is the style of ministry and liturgy at places such as MHR that influenced many of us familiar with these parishes, and so inspired us to develop the kind of parish-set ministry with LGBT Catholics that we now celebrate in Central London' said a statement from the Roman Catholic caucus of the lesbian and Gay Christian Movement in the UK."

John Amaechi to serve as Grand Marshall for Equality Utah Pride Festival.

Work Out: New shots of the cast and of the late Doug Blasdell.

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News: John Amaechi, Outgames, Billy Packer, Flash Mob

Sports announcer Billy Packer responds to questions about his comment to Charlie Rose that the sportscaster always "fags out" on him. Rose: "I said he fagged out on me, and it had nothing to do with sexual connotation. I got to know Charlie a number of years ago and have great admiration for his program and intellect. I can assure you I will use that phrase again and I won't think twice about it."

4,000 flash mob dancers take over Victoria train station in London: "A deafening 10-second countdown startled station staff and commuters before the concourse erupted in whoops and cheers. MP3 players and iPods emerged and the crowd danced wildly to their soundtracks in silence - for two hours."

Britney Spears is back out on the town, partying with steak juice.

Gay men receiving HPV vaccine intended for use against cervical cancer: "The prevalence of anal cancer among gay and bisexual men is very high. So that's why some people are looking at this as a possible preventive cure for anal cancer and HPV that causes anal cancer."

John Amaechi to lead West Hollywood gay pride parade as Grand Marshall.

John Mayer: breaking the waves.

Judy Shepard opens OutGames in Calgary, Canada.

Congressional page program thriving after Foley scandal: "Six months later, the Democrats have taken over Congress and a House Ethics Committee investigation concluded that Republican leaders did not break any rules in handling Foley's actions toward the pages. Not only does the House page program remain intact, it has received a record number of applications since the Foley scandal broke, according to the House's Office of the Clerk, which runs the program. A year earlier, the House page program couldn't even fill all of its available slots."

Bush appoints Sam Fox ambassador to Belgium while Congress in recess. Fox was behind the Swift Boat attack ads, and Bush's appointment may be illegal.

Keith Richards denies snorting his father's ashes with cocaine. Rep: "It was an off-the-cuff remark, a joke, and it is not true. File under April Fool's joke."

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Announcer Billy Packer Called on "Fag Out" Comment

In an interview with Charlie Rose on Friday, CBS college basketball announcer Billy Packer casually used the term "fag out" while joking about Rose being a runner for him in this year's Final Four basketball match-up. 'Good As You' has the video of Packer's comments.

"Do you need a runner this Final Four?" Rose asked, "because I could jump on a plane and I could be there." Said Packer: "You always fag out on that one for me, you know. You always say, oh yeah, I'm gonna be the runner, then you never show up. But I’m sure they can find a place for ya. You've got all the connections in the world. You can go ahead and be a runner anyplace you want to."

The term, as defined by Urban Dictionary means "To bail on something, 'pussy out'" while WordWebOnline defines it as "exhaust or get tired through overuse or great strain or stress."

Outsports asked CBS Sports Vice-president of Communications LeslieAnne Wade about the comments. Said Wade: "I know he wasn't meaning to be insensitive at all. While it is a term that is in the dictionary, it was still a poor choice of words. I'm confident that he would agree that it was a bad choice of words."

I'd agree. And while it appears to be a colloquialism left over from the days of the dinosaurs (John Amaechi said "I can honestly say I have never heard that phrase used that way. Not in my entire life."), perhaps Packer deserves to be bent over the knee of Tim Hardaway and spanked until Hardaway "fags out".

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News: Sanjaya Ponyhawk, Alberto Gonzalez, Iowa, Billy Bean

The Iowa state Senate has approved a bill prohibiting discrimination against gays and lesbians: "Backers of the bill, mostly Democrats, pushed it to passage on a 32-17 vote. They portrayed the legislation as a needed strike against discrimination that would also make the state more economically attractive. The bill, Senate File 427, would add the words 'sexual orientation' and 'gender identity"' to the Iowa's Civil Rights Act, which currently bars discrimination based on age, race, creed, color, sex, national origin, religion and disability. The act specifically targets discrimination tied to employment, housing, public accommodations, education and credit." The bill has been sent to the House.

Sanjaya and the ponyhawk rule American Idol, plus: "Gwen Stefani can't mentor worth a damn! What the hell kind of advice was she giving...yeah no advice! She just stood there and smiled and then told us what she really thought of your no-talent asses behind their backs!"

Radar lines up out gay athletes John Amaechi, Billy Bean, and Esera Tuaolo for a roundtable on life in the locker room. Bean: "I was actually once asked if I was a top or a bottom on a radio show, and that was the first time that I think I was embarrassed in public. When you become public, when you "come out," when you invite the public into your private life, there is a sense that you deserve to be asked that question."

No, nothing to hide: Alberto Gonzalez directly contradicts his own statements about the firing of U.S. attorneys.

Wingnut and Earth-hating Senator James Inhofe vows to stop Al Gore's global warming concert from taking place on Capitol grounds.

Cristiano Ronaldo: balcony underwear flasher.

Dina Matos McGreevey prepares to speak and a once-married gay man has a few things to say about it: "When a gay man finally decides to come out to his wife, it's a moment he's prepared for, in some cases over the course of his entire life, but in all cases, he's worked up to it, he's had time to prepare for this new reality. In most cases, he's chosen the time and the place, he's rehearsed the scene many times in his head. Furthermore, he sees it as the beginning of a new life, a mentally healthier life (or so he hopes,) the pursuit of wholeness as a human being. He goes into it prepared and on his own terms."

John McCain calls media a bunch of "jerks".

Van Hansis, who recently was nominated for a daytime Emmy for his role as a gay teen on As the World Turns, is about to get a boyfriend (on the show). (Show clips...)

Burger King set to make "historic advance" in animal welfare: "...the world's second-largest hamburger chain, said Tuesday that it would begin buying eggs and pork from suppliers that did not confine their animals in cages and crates. The company said that it would also favor suppliers of chickens that use gas, or "controlled-atmospheric stunning," rather than electric shocks, to knock birds unconscious before slaughter. It is considered a more humane method, though only a few slaughterhouses use it."

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NLGJA Fetes Gay Media at New York Benefit

Last night I had the pleasure of attending a benefit for the National Lesbian & Gay Journalists Association (NLGJA) at ABC Studios in Times Square. There were some amazing folks there, along with some notable attendees not on the roster, many of whom I have mentioned in these pages and was anxious to meet. First was former NBA player John Amaechi, who was as articulate, thoughtful, handsome, and as tall as expected. A class act. Although I don't often post photos of myself on this blog, I thought this one was particularly hilarious, given our height differentiation. Amaechi is certainly someone I'll always look up to in more ways than one.

I also wanted to give a shout-out to some folks who read the blog whom I had the chance to meet and chat with last night: Eric Hegedus, Doug Stewart, Wonbo Woo, Jason Bellini, Kenneth Walsh, Will Wikle, Tom Dolby, Clint Henderson, Shimrit Sheetrit, Jud Newborn, Mark Miller, David Thorpe, Daryl Presgraves, Steve Villano, Itay Hod, Joe Tarver, Marc Honaker, Bob Smith, Bruce Shenitz, Ryan Smith, Corey Johnson, Stuart Elliott, Todd Emmett, and John Eckel. An unannounced guest to the event whom I was also excited to meet was the well-spoken and dashing Thomas Roberts. And yes folks, he is as good-looking in person. I apologize if I missed anyone. Thank you all for reading - I appreciate the support!

There certainly was a powerful gay force in media represented last night. I was proud to be part of it.

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Tim Hardaway Looks for a Second Chance

Tim Hardaway tells the Miami Herald's Barry Jackson that he'd rather "go straight to [a gay organization]" than attend "sensitivity training" for his remarks, and notes that the impact his anti-gay comments had on his business dealings ''hurt the most". He says he wants a second chance.

Said Hardaway: ''People have been trying to kick me when I'm down. [The reaction was] very, very shocking. People saying my wife left me -- that's not true. My family is OK and my finances are OK. I'm looking for a second chance and trying to clean up my image. I haven't been in trouble with drugs or guns. I'm an upstanding citizen. Like I told my children, life is not easy. This is a big bump I have to overcome. I'm going to deal with it like a champ. I've got to make sure people know I don't hate gay people.''

Hardaway also said that a meeting he had with NBA commissioner David Stern was "encouraging and very positive." He attended a Heat game last week and is attempting to get back in the good graces of head coach Pat Riley.

Riley says he has left the door open to that possibility: ''We are a country and city that forgives. I'm going to reach out to him, but he's got to admit if there's a problem, he's got to fix it..I think people who know Tim know he's a good person.''

Hardaway made headlines in February when he told a Miami radio host, "Well, you know, I hate gay people. I let it be known, I don't like gay people. I don't like to be around gay people. Yeah, I'm homophobic. I don't like it. It shouldn't be in the world, or in the United States. So, yeah, I don't like it."

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Tim Hardaway Out, John Amaechi In as Bald Guy Spokesmodel

Former NBA player John Amaechi, who recently announced that he's gay, continues to demonstrate restraint and good taste, even when noting that there's some amount of "karmic justice" in the fact that he has just signed to represent Headblade, a company specializing in products for bald men, while Tim Hardaway, employed for the very same position with rival company BaldGuyz, saw his sponsorship cut after responding to Amaechi's disclosure by saying "I hate gay people" to a South Florida radio show.

Said Amaechi: "I don’t feel any joy [at Hardaway's loss].

The ads featuring Amaechi will run in two basketball magazines, Hoop and Slam, and while HeadBlade is not a huge company, Amaechi's endorsement deal is being noted as a step forward in the acceptance of openly gay athletes by mainstream marketers.

What those marketers aren't looking for is controversy, notes the New York Times:

That aptly described what happened to Snickers, sold by the Masterfoods USA division of Mars, after it ran an ad during the Super Bowl. Gay activists complained about the spot, which showed two men who had accidentally kissed reacting by harming themselves. Masterfoods withdrew the commercial, created by the TBWA/Chiat/Day unit of Omnicom.

“The problem is that it was conditioning, modeling behavior,” Mr. Amaechi said, by showing that “real men” were supposed to feel conflicted and horrified when two men kiss.

Asked if he would accept an offer to endorse Snickers, Mr. Amaechi replied: “I could show you how to react to two men kissing. Smile broadly.”

Gay Athletes Slowly Enter the Endorsement Arena [nyt]

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News: Al Gore, Dennis Rodman, Hideous Oscar Garb, Boy George

Al Gore responds to Matt Drudge's latest attempt to brand him a hypocrite on global warming: "Gore has had a consistent position of purchasing carbon offsets to offset the family's carbon footprint — a concept the right-wing fails to understand. Gore's office explains: 'What Mr. Gore has asked is that every family calculate their carbon footprint and try to reduce it as much as possible. Once they have done so, he then advocates that they purchase offsets, as the Gore's do, to bring their footprint down to zero.'"

Jake Gyllenhaal outside Letterman. Eh, I'll take him in any old shoes. (video of appearance)

Printable cold sores for use on subway ads: "As we wait for transportation, we are unwillingly assaulted by larger-than-life representations of supposedly beautiful salespeople. The large scale of these ads and their extremely close proximity to the viewer offer up more than perceived intimacy, however... they give us the chance to see the mechanical flaws designed to correct their physical flaws."

Ellen Degeneres on doing the Oscars: "I'm crying for many reasons. I'm tired, so I'm emotional ... [but hosting the Oscars] represented so many things to me. It represented that people believed in me, they took a chance in me to hold something like that together, that people would want to see me. It was harder than I thought and I was scared to death. I didn't know how I would do. ... You know, you have confidence at the same time as you have insecurities."

John Amaechi and Dennis Rodman spotted simultaneously at West Hollywood's The Abbey.

Recent salmonella and e coli outbreaks in spinach and peanut butter may be connected to the fact that FDA food testing has fallen by half since 2003.

The throw-down behind Jennifer Hudson's gold bolero Oscar jacket.

Airline loses Boy George's record collection: "The furious 45-year-old was overheard telling officials, 'You've got to be joking!' when the blunder was revealed. According to Sydney's Daily Telegraph, the panicked star made an emergency dash to a local record store, where he quickly bought up enough material to get through his gig."

San Francisco is now the capital of the gay adult entertainment industry. Los Angeles previously dominated in that production arena: "It is unclear how big a business gay porn actually is in the city. None of the studio heads would share their revenues, but they did estimate that the gay market was 5 percent to 10 percent of the overall adult market, which is commonly valued between $5 billion to $8 billion. That larger number is unverifiable as well, but if true it could mean the total industry could easily be worth $100 million in the city." View photos from the recent GayVNs, the Oscars of gay adult entertainment, here (nsfw).

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Spin Control: Tim Hardaway Talks About his Hate Speech

Former NBA player Tim Hardaway, who shocked the sports world following John Amaechi's coming out by declaring "I hate gay people", has given his most extensive and revealing interview to date regarding the comments.

He tells longtime friend Scoop Jackson of ESPN:

"...it was just the wrong choice of words. It came out of my mouth real crude and real bad and real ugly. And people think that that's the way I feel. That I hate [gay people], and I don't. I don't condone what they do, but I don't hate them. But that's how it came out...I should have been smart about what I was saying and how I expressed my feelings because I offended a lot of folks. And not knowing the magnitude on how this all escalated. I mean, I offended my family, my friends, the NBA, the gay community, people I don't know, the [Miami] Heat organization. I realize that I offended a lot of people and caused a lot of friction on a touchy subject. And now it's my job to make it right."

Hardaway tells Jackson: "I still don't accept their lifestyle. No." and says that when he sees gay people on the streets of Miami "I just get away from it. I just walk away. I see it, I just go the other way, cross the street."

He adds: "When we was growing up Scoop, if we saw gay people or whatever, we ran across the street. We got away from them. Our parents, our friends, our families knew that that wasn't right. We didn't want to be around that and they definitely didn't want us kids around it. And it's not that they hated gay people, they just felt they it wasn't right. Let them do what they want to do. And that was my experience when I was growing up. Not acknowledging them. Now did something happen to me? No. But I did have a friend that something happened to him in a Catholic school, but that is another can of worms that it's not my place to open because it's not my life. But to answer your question, 'No.' Nothing happened to me. I just don't condone [being gay]. When I see gay people holding hands or kissing in the streets, I just don't think that's right."

Hardaway says that the past couple weeks have been "pure hell" and he worries someone will physically harm him or his family.

What he doesn't seem to realize, however, is that his fears are felt by gay people all the time as a consequence of hate speech which condones intolerance and facilitates violence.

The one bright spot in the interview is that the incident seems to have opened Hardaway's eyes a little to the fact that there are gay people all around him:

"Maybe I could go to therapy, maybe someone can help me out with understanding [them], the sensitivity of the issue. But as a person, my beliefs are my beliefs. I don't have to condone it and I don't have to be around it. But I don't have to hate it either...Right now, learning. Learning that gay people are really no different than a lot of other people. Learning that they work hard, they do things in the community, they are responsible for building parks, rec centers, providing safe environments for kids, just things I had never associated with them before. [This last week] has opened up my eyes to the gay population and what they do. I'm getting a lot of knowledge about them that I didn't have. Which is going to make me a better person. And if it doesn't, then I'm a damn fool."

After reading his comments, it appears to me that Hardaway's homophobia is a classic case of the 'fear of the unknown'. Visibility is of the utmost importance in spreading tolerance. That is why it's important that news anchors come out, that celebrities come out, that politicians come out, that athletes come out. There should be many more John Amaechis.

The full interview is well worth a read.

You may have missed...
Tim Hardaway's Gay Spinout: North Miami Mayor, All-Stars React [tr]
Former NBA Player Tim Hardaway: "I Hate Gay People" [tr]
Former NBA Player John Amaechi on Outside the Lines: I'm Gay [tr]
Amaechi: Hardaway Anti-Gay Comments "Illustrate the Problem" [tr]
Tim Hardaway's Gay Hate Speech Brings Swift Reaction [tr]

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Tim Hardaway's Gay Spinout: North Miami Mayor, All-Stars React

In an attempt to help Tim Hardaway understand gay people, North Miami Mayor Kevin Burns has extended an invitation to the former NBA player. Burns has asked Hardaway to spend a day with him at his office and home, where he lives with his partner of 23 years, Rob Flint, and their daughter Autumn.

Said Burns: ''We're just trying to show him that there are living, breathing people that just happen to be gay. 'I don't expect [Hardaway] to be waving a peace flag anytime soon, even after this. But maybe he'll be less likely to say something bad about people if he knows them and understands a little more." Burns says Hardaway has accepted the offer, but no official announcement has been made, and Hardaway's spokesperson told the Miami Herald that an announcement would be premature.

Hardaway apologized again on Sunday for his comments, telling CBS affiliate WFOR, "I don't hate gay people. I'm a good-hearted person. I interact with people all the time. ... I respect people. For me to say 'hate' was a bad word, and I didn't mean to use it."

Despite the contrition, comments Hardaway made last week, that he "hates gay people" and would feel uncomfortable playing on a team with another gay player, are still reverberating through the sport.

During All-Star weekend media sessions in Las Vegas over the weekend, players, including some from Hardaway's former team, the Miami Heat, were asked about the incident.

Heat center Shaquille O'Neal (pictured joking around during All-Star practice with LeBron James) said he would stand up for a gay player: "I was always taught as a youngster to never judge people, so I never judge people and to each their own. If he was my teammate and people ridiculed him and jumped on him, I would probably have to protect him."

Heat guard Dwyane Wade did not refer to Hardaway specifically, but offered this: "Anybody who knows me knows I'm a guy who loves his teammates and if anything ever comes up like that, I don't look at that. I look at what guys can do for you on the court. And in the locker room you have great relationships with guys. I don't have any negative views."

Heat forward Jason Kapono (seen here after winning the trophy for the three-point competition Saturday night) said Hardaway's views put him in the minority: "Everyone has their own views on life, and that's something that's obviously his point of view, but that's definitely not the point of view of all the rest of us."

NBA star Bill Laimbeer avoided the question entirely: "Who is Tim Hardaway? Next question."

Memphis forward Mike Miller offered support for former teammate Amaechi: "He's a great person. Everyone has the right to be how they want be. It would be difficult [having an out player on the team], but at the same time our league is a league that has taken on anything. We bring on and accept anything, and I think that's what's special about the NBA."

Scottie Pippen: It was pretty shocking. You hate to see that happen to one of your colleagues knowing the damage he's caused to himself, his family and friends ... I'm very disappointed it happened."

Phoenix Suns guard Steve Nash said: "I think, probably, there's a player or two out there who believes what he believes. That probably would be fair of every cross section of society. But in general, I think he spoke for himself. I don't think you'd catch many guys feeling that way...Maybe 10 years ago. But in our locker room [now]? I think guys are over it. Guys are like, 'I don't care what you do.' I don't know about other locker rooms. I don't know if it's peer pressure is contagious or just being in the right place in the right time to get that type of virulence. But in the Phoenix Suns' locker room, it's not like that."

Sacramento Kings co-owner Gavin Maloof said a bigoted player would not have a place on his team: "What he said was uncalled for. What he said was wrong. I'm sure he apologized for it, but the damage has been done. He should have never said that. Because we don't want to be judged by race, creed, color, sexual preference. I mean, people are people. And that's the way it should be."

In addition to having his name dropped from the car wash he co-owns in south Florida, Hardaway was taunted and flaunted on several websites over the weekend, which published YouTube footage of a naked Hardaway in the locker room. Said sports blog Deadspin: "Tim Hardaway might not enjoy gay people, but I really think it could give us all a chance to heal if gay people had a chance to enjoy Tim Hardaway."

Here are a few recent notable articles on Amaechi:
The Loneliness of the Gay Basketball Player: John Amaechi's Man in the Middle, the memoir of an NBA misfit. [slate]
Amaechi's Good Morning America appearance [newsbusters]

Gay Mayor Reaches Out to Hardaway [miami herald]
Shaq: I'd protect a gay teammate [palm beach post]
Anti-gay comments find no backing [tr]

You may have missed...
Former NBA Player Tim Hardaway: "I Hate Gay People" [tr]
Former NBA Player John Amaechi on Outside the Lines: I'm Gay [tr]
Amaechi: Hardaway Anti-Gay Comments "Illustrate the Problem" [tr]
Tim Hardaway's Gay Hate Speech Brings Swift Reaction [tr]

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Tim Hardaway's Gay Hate Speech Brings Swift Reaction

On Wednesday night, Former Miami Heat player Tim Hardaway's astonishing flippant response to comments he made regarding gay people following John Amaechi's coming out only served to further fuel the public outrage that was building. Said Hardaway: "There are more important things to worry about than my comments. We should be more concerned about President Bush and all the people dying in Iraq."

Huh? Hardaway has since felt the pressure to issue a more contrite statement. On Thursday, he issued the following apology through his agent Henry Thomas:

"As an African American, I know all too well the negative thoughts and feelings hatred and bigotry cause. I regret and apologize for the statements that I made that have certainly caused the same kinds of feelings and reactions. I especially apologize to my fans, friends and family in Miami and Chicago. I am committed to examining my feelings and will recognize, appreciate and respect the differences among people in our society. I regret any embarrassment I have caused the league on the eve of one of their greatest annual events."

Following Hardaway's initial remarks on Wednesday ("I hate gay people. I let it be known, I don't like gay people. I don't like to be around gay people.") the NBA canceled an "NBA legend" appearance by the former point guard at the YMCA of Southern Nevada as well as his participation in events surrounding this weekend's All Star game in Las Vegas.

Hardaway has also been dumped as spokesman for Baldguyz, a company that makes grooming products for bald men, according to the Miami Herald. Said their CEO: ''BaldGuyz, like baldness, does not discriminate based on lifestyle choice, color, education, financial resources, religion, physical capabilities or in any other way."

Meanwhile, John Amaechi continues to react to the incident with restraint and eloquence. Here are some of his recent comments to the San Francisco Chronicle:

"It's not my place to get in the way of someone's relationship with God, with their God. That is their belief. However, if what you are actually talking about is Biblical literalism, and if that's the case, then I expect people who spout vitriol about gay people to have the same ire as they regard players who have guns under their seats, who smoke marijuana, who commit adultery...

...I think that the truth of the levels of homophobia in society sometimes have to be highlighted by some kind of car crash, and that's what this is. He's stopped people from saying some of the things that I've heard, you know, "Shut up, because there's no issue. There's no need to talk about this, there's no problem. There's no homophobia.'' I find that ironic in the greatest extent in a country where in 33 states you could be fired for being gay...

...One of the most important things throughout history that we know is that the furtherance of causes for minorities has been sponsored not only by the great efforts of the minorities themselves, but also by the fact that people from outside that minority group would stand shoulder to shoulder (with them). People who stood next to black people during emancipation, during the fight for equal rights were considered very progressive and bold and brave. ... The problem we have in the gay community is that people who stand next to them are considered gay. It makes them quiet."

Hardaway very slow getting back on defense after airball [sf chronicle]
Hardaway's gay bashing brings swift rebuke [miami herald]

You may have missed...
Former NBA Star Tim Hardaway: "I Hate Gay People" [tr]
Former NBA Player John Amaechi on Outside the Lines: I'm Gay [tr]

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Amaechi: Hardaway Anti-Gay Comments "Illustrate the Problem"

In an interview with the Associated Press Thursday, former NBA player John Amaechi spoke out about former NBA player Tim Hardaway's comments about gay people.

Said Amaechi: "I don't need Tim's comments to realize there's a problem. People said that I should just shut up and go away - now they have to rethink that."

Hardaway made the comments to a radio host Wednesday, when asked about Amaechi's recent disclosure that he is gay. Said Hardaway: "First of all I wouldn't want him on my team. Second of all, if he was on my team I would really distance myself from him because I don't think that's right and I don't think he should be in the locker room while we're in the locker room...Well, you know, I hate gay people. I let it be known, I don't like gay people. I don't like to be around gay people...Yeah, I'm homophobic. I don't like it. It shouldn't be in the world, or in the United States. So, yeah, I don't like it." (video)

Amaechi added: "His words pollute the atmosphere. It creates an atmosphere that allows young gays and lesbians to be harassed in school, creates an atmosphere where in 33 states you can lose your job, and where anti-gay and lesbian issues are used for political gain. It's an atmosphere that hurts all of us, not just gay people. Famously, they're saying in 2007 that homophobia is not an issue. While (Hardaway) is not a representative of the NBA or of straight men, there's no point pretending it's not an opinion that is out there."

Amaechi also spoke to Dan Le Batarad (the host of the show on which Hardaway spewed his hate) at the Miami Herald on Wednesday evening saying that Hardaway's comments open a window into what gay athletes may have to face in professional sports. Said Amaechi: "I'm actually tempted to laugh. Finally, someone who is honest. It is ridiculous, absurd, petty, bigoted and shows a lack of empathy that is gargantuan and unfathomable. But it is honest. And it illustrates the problem better than any of the fuzzy language other people have used so far.''

you may have missed...
Former NBA Star Tim Hardaway: "I Hate Gay People" [tr]
Former NBA Player John Amaechi on Outside the Lines: I'm Gay [tr]

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Former NBA Star Tim Hardaway: "I Hate Gay People"

Reacting to former NBA player John Amaechi's recent coming out of the closet, former NBA Miami Heat player Tim Hardaway told a sports radio host today that he unequivocally hates gay people, that they shouldn't be in the world. Hardaway made the comments in an interview with Dan Le Batard of 790 the Ticket when asked about how he would deal with someone like Amaechi on his team:

"First of all I wouldn't want him on my team. Second of all, if he was on my team I would really distance myself from him because I don't think that's right and I don't think he should be in the locker room while we're in the locker room."

After Le Batard pointed out that the former point guard was being "flatly homophobic", Hardaway continued:

"Well, you know, I hate gay people. I let it be known, I don't like gay people. I don't like to be around gay people."

"Yeah, I'm homophobic. I don't like it. It shouldn't be in the world, or in the United States. So, yeah, I don't like it."

The NBA, for whom Hardaway had been making public appearances, immediately removed him from further appearances, saying: "It is inappropriate for him to be representing us given the disparity between his views and ours."

According to the South Florida Sun-Sentinel: "Hardaway was listed Tuesday as an "NBA Legend" when the league launched its NBA FIT program at the YMCA of Southern Nevada and had been part of the NBA's Community Caravan leading up to Sunday's All-Star Game in Las Vegas. Hardaway played for the Heat from 1996 to 2001 and remains the franchise's all-time leader in assists. His NBA career began in 1989 and ended in 2003. Amaechi played in the NBA from 1995 to 2003, but never as a Hardaway teammate."

Hardaway's agent had no immediate comment.

UPDATE: Hardaway later apologized for his comments during an interview with Miami's WSVN. Said Hardaway: "Yes, I regret it. I'm sorry. I shouldn't have said I hate gay people or anything like that," he said. "That was my mistake."

(video) Tim Hardaway comments.

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Former NBA Player John Amaechi on Outside the Lines: I'm Gay

Former NBA Player John Amaechi came out of the closet officially over the weekend on Sunday's ESPN program Outside the Lines. We have the clip for you here.

The Human Rights Campaign announced yesterday that Amaechi would serve as a spokesperson for HRC's Coming Out Project, a program that helps gay men and women come out and live openly.

Amaechi's announcement has been met with reactions from coaches and players in pro basketball. Most have reacted with something of a shrug, though billionaire entrepreneur Mark Cuban said that a current NBA star who decides to come out would make bank.

Dallas Mavericks owner Cuban told the Fort Worth Star Telegram: "From a marketing perspective, if you're a player who happens to be gay and you want to be incredibly rich, then you should come out, because it would be the best thing that ever happened to you from a marketing and an endorsement perspective. You would be an absolute hero to more Americans than you can ever possibly be as an athlete, and that'll put money in your pocket. On the flip side, if you're the idiot who condemns somebody because they're gay, then you're going to be ostracized, you're going to be picketed and you're going to ruin whatever marketing endorsements you have...When you do something that the whole world thinks is difficult and you stand up and just be who you are and take on that difficulty factor, you're an American hero no matter what. That's what the American spirit's all about, going against the grain and standing up for who you are, even if it's not a popular position...It's got to be somebody who's strong-willed. He'll put up with some grief. But at the same time, I don't want to compare him to Jackie Robinson, but it's the analogy in a lot of ways. He becomes a role model.

And here are a few of the other reactions from around the league:

Utah Jazz coach Jerry Sloan, whom Amaechi has accused of using anti-gay remarks in reference to him: "Oh yeah, it would have probably mattered. I don't know exactly, but I always have peoples' feelings at heart. People do what they want to do. I don't have a problem with that."

Cleveland Cavaliers forward LeBron James: "With teammates you have to be trustworthy and if you're gay and you're not admitting that you are, then you are not trustworthy. So that's like the No. 1 thing as teammates - we all trust each other. You've heard of the in-room, locker-room code. What happens in the locker-room stays in there. It's a trust factor, honestly. A big trust factor."

Orlando Magic player Grant Hill: "The fact that John has done this, maybe it will give others the comfort or confidence to come out as well, whether they are playing or retiring."

NBA Commissioner David Stern: "We have a very diverse league. The question at the NBA is always: 'Have you got game?' That's it, end of inquiry."

Philadelphia Sixers forward Shavlik Randolph: "As long as you don't bring your gayness on me, I'm fine. As far as business-wise, I'm sure I could play with him. But I think it would create a little awkwardness in the locker room."

Toronto Raptors coach Sam Mitchell: "It's really a difficult thing to do, knowing the nature of sports and being in that locker room, it could be tough. I think it wouldn't be a lot of guys, but there would always be one or two on a team (who wouldn't approve)."

Philadelphia 76ers center-forward Steven Hunter:  "For real? He's gay for real? Nowadays, it's proven that people can live double lives. I watch a lot of TV, so I see a lot of sick, perverted stuff about married men running around with gay guys and all types of foolishness. As long as he don't make any advances toward me, I'm fine with it. As long as he came to play basketball like a man and conducted himself like a good person, I'd be fine with it."

Celtics coach Doc Rivers: "I think if he would have come out, they would have got on him jokingly. ... And I actually think that when guys do come out, when that day happens, it will make it easier."

You may have missed..
Guide to the Tube: Talking Heads Discuss the Coming Out [tr]
Report: Former NBA Player John Amaechi to Announce He's Gay [tr]
John Amaechi: Man in the Middle [amazon]
(thanks alan)

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Towleroad Guide to the Tube #83

JOHN AMAECHI: ESPN talking heads discuss Amaechi's coming out.

SENATE REPUBLICANS: What you get for filibustering the anti-escalation resolution.

BOY CULTURE: Trailer for the upcoming film based on the book by Matthew Rettenmund.

SNICKERS COMMERCIAL: An alternative ending.

Check out our previous guides to the Tube here!

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Report: Former NBA Player John Amaechi to Announce He's Gay

Speculation has been rumbling over the past couple of days on several websites that a former NBA player will be coming out of the closet on Valentine's Day.

This evening I spoke with Howard Bragman, the mystery athlete's publicist. Though he wouldn't confirm the player's identity, Bragman did tell me that the former player has been retired for a few years, had a long career in the NBA "with a number of different teams", and will be coming out of the closet next Tuesday afternoon on ESPN's "Outside the Lines". The athlete has written a book that is being published by ESPN and will be in New York next week doing an aggressive media campaign. According to Bragman, "[the athlete] is an activist for a lot of different causes, and thought it was silly that he wasn't an activist for the LGBT community, so he decided there was no reason for him to stay in the closet. [During his career] he was discreet but not deeply closeted. For people who know him or have covered him it's probably not a shocking revelation."

Just after I spoke with Bragman, Outsports broke the story wide open, naming the athlete whom many had been speculating about, an athlete who matches Bragman's description perfectly — John Amaechi, a former player for the Cleveland Cavaliers, Orlando Magic, and the Utah Jazz. Amaechi, the son of a Nigerian father and English mother, was raised in Britain where he currently works as a consultant and philanthropist. He runs the ABC Foundation, which works to construct sports centers and create mentors and athletic programs for ch