Hulk Hogan Plants Seal of Approval on Gay Roommate

On the new season of Brooke Knows Best which debuts on VH1 next week, Brooke Hogan moves in with a gay choreographer named Glenn in South Beach. Of course he's immediately grilled by dad Hulk Hogan:

HULK: "You're gay, which is cool. On the big big gay scale on a 1 to 10, the ten being the gayest, I mean, where are you at?"

GLENN: "I wouldn't say I'm the gayest, but I'd say I'm a 10 gay."

Glenn has choreographed for Michael Jackson, Liza Minnelli and N’Sync. I'd say she's safe.

Watch the teaser, AFTER THE JUMP....

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The Gay Man's Katy Perry — "I Kissed a Boy"

Towleroad reader Landon Bryce whipped up this parody of Katy Perry's hot single "I Kissed a Girl". Of course, Bryce wrote and sang this one for the boys. Watch it, AFTER THE JUMP (not adult, but utilizes vintage gay adult film footage possibly NSFW)...

And for your reference, here's Katy Perry's version:

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As Heinz Boycott Begins, 1,500 Sign Petition to Reinstate Ad

Following yesterday's calls for a boycott of Heinz by Stonewall's Ben Summerskill in The Guardian over its pulling of a Deli Mayo ad that features a male kiss because of 200 complaints to the Advertising Standards Authority, an online petition was set up by Sam Bannister asking Heinz to reinstate the ad.

The petition reads: "We petition Heinz to reinstate its Deli Mayo TV advertisement following complaints from 200 people as to its 'offensive' and 'inappropriate' content. We feel that the decision to withdraw the advert is wrong in the face of a small number of narrow-minded individuals. By doing so, Heinz have given the impression that they would prefer to cater for the homophobic than the free-thinking, and the decision has provoked upset, brand distrust and outrage among the LGBT community and outside of it. Do not bow down to these homophobic individuals."

As of this writing, the petition had received nearly 1,500 signatures.

Nigel Dickie, a spokesman for Heinz UK, told The Independent that the decision to pull the ad was made form "consumer feedback" and not because of the complaints to the Advertising Standards Authority: "Heinz is a global company and we respect all universal rights. The advertisement was intended to be humorous, not designed to cause offence to anyone. Clearly it failed in its intent to amuse and that is why we took the decision to withdraw it."

The ad, if you missed it, AFTER THE JUMP...

Previously
Gay Rights Leader Slams Heinz for Pulling Gay Ad [tr]
Heinz Deli Mayo Ad Pulled in UK [tr]
Heinz Deli Mayo is Perfect for all Kinds of Homes [tr]

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Will Smith to Letterman: 'Once you Go Black, You Never Go Back'

Will Smith joined David Letterman last night and opened their chat with a kiss, followed by a joke that they "should go on their Honeymoon" together, and plenty of other wink-wink, laugh-out-loud gay entertainment.

Image via Celebitchy, where there's more...

Watch the clip, AFTER THE JUMP...

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Gay Rights Leader Slams Heinz for Pulling Gay Ad

Ben Summerskill, head of UK gay rights group Stonewall, has slammed Heinz for pulling its Deli Mayo advertisement, saying the company has insulted a broad base of gay consumers to appease a few vocal right-wing Christians. Writes Summerskill, in the Guardian:

"Any nod at all to the very existence of homosexuality might be enough to have Mary Whitehouse twitching in her celestial bathchair, but the Heinz peck broadcast last week had not even been shown in front of the children the ad is claimed to have upset. (The Deli Mayo it promotes is so unhealthy that Heinz is not allowed to advertise it during children's programmes.) And while Heinz's decision to withdraw the ad might be seen by them as an easy way to palm off 200 fundamentalist Christian complainants, it seems to have been made under the quaint impression that it will cause no offence to Britain's 3.6 million lesbian and gay consumers. Or any of their friends. Or families. Or colleagues. It also seems to have been made mindless of the impact it will have on Heinz's lesbian or gay staff, or graduate recruitment programme. Do young people nowadays really want to work for a business so demonstrably out of touch with the way we all live now?"

Summerskill also said he hopes gays and lesbians will stop purchasing Heinz products.

Previously
Heinz Deli Mayo Ad Pulled in UK [tr]
Heinz Deli Mayo is Perfect for all Kinds of Homes [tr]

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Heinz Deli Mayo Ad Pulled in UK

So much for progress. The Heinz Deli Mayo ad featuring a "mum" who was replaced by a New York Deli Chef as well as a gay kiss has been pulled from the airwaves in the UK after receiving more than 200 complaints:

"The Heinz Deli Mayo ad has been pulled after less than a week on air after viewers complained to the Advertising Standards Authority that it was 'offensive' and 'inappropriate to see two men kissing'. Other complaints include that the ad was 'unsuitable to be seen by children' and that it raised the difficult problem of parents having to discuss the issue of same-sex relationships with younger viewers. 'It is our policy to listen to consumers. We recognise that some consumers raised concerns over the content of the ad and this prompted our decision to withdraw it,' said Nigel Dickie, director of corporate affairs for Heinz UK."

It's just horrible to see two grown men in a nurturing environment who obviously care for one another, showing the proper way to bring up children.

The ad, if you missed it, AFTER THE JUMP...

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Bill O'Reilly Doesn't Want Gender-Blending on His Sandwich

Since Bill O'Reilly's drawn to just about anything gay, particularly if it contains a kiss, the UK's new Heinz Deli Mayo ad I posted on Monday of course didn't escape his notice. O'Reilly's guests didn't buy Bill's bellowing that it was gay, gay, gay, and just seeing a New York Deli guy in the kitchen. But that fine line it rides is, of course, the genius of the ad.

I've clipped the O'Reilly segment, AFTER THE JUMP...

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News: Gay Films, Paraguay, Harvey Dent, The Rock, Atlantic City

Gay panic: Trial to begin for Cesar Israel Villazano in Florida. He shot a man wearing a mini-skirt and high heels in the back of the head for making a sexual advance: "Villazano told police he was embarrassed because he isn't gay."

Hollywood Reporter: Gay indie films more plentiful than ever, but suffering critically and at box office. "Strand Releasing's 22 films in theaters last year (most with GLBT themes) grossed just $462,000. Killer Films has shifted its focus from queer-themed features to true crime dramas and other films, with tepid critical and financial success. Rotten Tomatoes says that gay- and lesbian-themed films averaged a 51.5% rating in 2006 and 2007 (well below its under-60% "rotten" threshold), while projects like the 2005 Toronto fest's best Canadian feature winner, "C.R.A.Z.Y.," can't secure U.S. theatrical distribution."

Openly gay journalist David Self who took part in one of Britain's first civil partnership ceremonies, has died at the age of 67.

Man makes love to Cheeto...really.

UK Vicar Dudley has no regrets over performing marriage of two priests: "Amazing flowers, fabulous music, a ceremony both solemn and oddly homely, familiar words reordered and reconfigured, carrying new meanings. Nothing jarred, nothing felt even vaguely inappropriate. New and untried but not wrong."

Harvey Dent: viral video for The Dark Knight unleashed...

Couple jailed in Paraguay for same-sex wedding is freed after one of them is discovered to be a hermaphrodite.

Anti-gay "pro-family" bigot Paul Cameron takes his diatribe to Russia.

What does gay look like?

Larry Craig and Dave Karsnia wed in quaint bathroom ceremony: "The private ceremony was held in a quaint public bathroom on the third floor at San Francisco City Hall. In an interview after the ceremony, Craig said, in his highly oratorical and completely off-putting voice, 'We wanted all of the heat to die down before we went forward with this. Well ... not all the heat.'"

That kiss that Dwayne Johnson had with Steve Carell must have really affected him. He's still talking about what a man he was to do it: "It was like -- you know, you ever had, like a warm apple pie with that cold ice cream, too? And you find that balance, where you're like [utters disgusting sound]. Hey, it was great, it was great."

Atlantic City holds first-ever "Gay Day at the Beach". ORganizer: "There isn't a gay area in Atlantic City. "We decided to pick Flag Day as a way to stake out our claim for an area. We're trying not to be political, but there's so much to be political about."

The 70's are back: Robbie Williams flashes his chest rug.

Former NY Governor Eliot Spitzer to be named the "Ultimate Sugar Daddy". "He'll win a pound of sugar, a year's worth of free lap dances from strippers at the VIP Men's Club in Chelsea and an unlimited supply of testosterone pills."

Ireland's Catholic Bishops restate opposition to gay marriage: “In view of the current debate in our society about the nature of marriage, sometimes promoted by individuals or institutions who claim support from Christian ideals, the bishops reiterated that marriage presupposes the mutuality and complementarity of the sexes."

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Joan Rivers and Barbra Streisand Once Swapped Spit

Joan Rivers tells the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette that she and Barbra Streisand played lovers in a 1959 theatre production of the off-off Broadway play "Driftwood" because the director couldn't find a leading man:

"We played lesbian lovers. That was the first thing Barbra did; soon after that she really got going. Let me tell you, Barbra is a great kisser, but no tongue....I don't really see her anymore. I got an invitation from Barbra asking me to please come see her show when she was in New York. I thought, 'This is a joke,' but it wasn't. I wrote her back, 'I can't come because I'm working that night,' which was true. Barbra is so involved in her own life. When I do see her, she always asks, 'So, are you still in the business?' And she's not making a joke. She has no clue what anyone else is doing."

Rivers also talked about her experiences with Andy Warhol: "Bad wigs, oily skin. He looked like an albino. Not a pretty man. Andy wanted to do me, but Cher said, 'Don't. He charges $40,000 a portrait, and he'll always tell you the first one isn't good.' I wasn't going to make an $80,000 commitment. I said, 'Andy, if you want to do it for free, great,' but he picked Elizabeth Taylor instead."

And Robert Mapplethorpe: "He wouldn't agree to retouch the photos, so I said no."

Rivers is playing a concert in Pittsburgh over the weekend sponsored by the Lambda Foundation.

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Dwayne Johnson and Steve Carell Discuss Brave Man-on-Man Kiss

Steve Carell and Dwayne "the Rock" Johnson applauded their own courage for locking lips for the upcoming feature Get Smart in an interview with the AP:

Said Carell: "The Rock has softer lips. I guess I could say that. He smells like strawberry shortcake. For me, that's why they call him The Rock. He rocks people's worlds...He is such a good guy. We just laughed that whole day. That was a total no-brainer in terms of that scene. There was never one moment of hesitation or awkwardness. He's game for anything, let me put it that way."

Said Johnson: "It was just one of those things where I thought well, you know, 'What could be the most entertaining and funniest moment that we could think of that would still make sense and still kind of root in reality?' We came up with a great kiss. 'I thought if Jake Gyllenhaal can do it, Will Smith can do it, then I can do it, too. I'm going to own it. I was like, 'Give me those lips right now. Right now.'"

So brave.

Check out the trailer, AFTER THE JUMP...

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News: David Beckham, Estrogen, Gambia, Rupert Everett, Alzheimer's

Is estrogen the secret to containing the spread of HIV?

Seconds, please: Is David Beckham the hottest waiter of all time?

The two Spanish nationals detained late last week in the west African country of Gambia have been released: "Two Spanish men detained in Gambia for allegedly making homosexual proposals to taxi drivers have been released after five days in jail, a Spanish official said Wednesday. The men were released late Tuesday and left the West African country, said Nicola El Busto, an official with Spain's embassy in Gambia. El Busto declined to give further details, and Gambian authorities could not immediately be reached for comment."

Gossip Girl couple shops, scowls.

Redwood City, CA man who hurled gay slurs, patio table at neighbors, pleads not guilty in court: "Herbert Santos-Coy is facing multiple felony hate crime charges after he allegedly physically attacked his two neighbors on March 30. If convicted he faces up to eight years in state prison, according to the San Mateo County District Attorney's Office. Santos-Coy was arrested by Redwood City police after he allegedly came into the carport where the couple was working on their car and began yelling homophobic slurs at them, according to the district attorney's office. He then repeatedly struck one of the victims in the face and swung a wrought iron table at the couple, which missed, according to prosecutors. When police arrived, Santos-Coy resisted arrest, according to police. He was allegedly drinking at the time of the altercation."

In California, assemblyman Mark Leno is expected to become the first openly gay state Senator in California history.

Does Brad Pitt have good taste in tables?

Wisconsin Supreme Court calls suit brought against gay group by Christian activist Reverend Grant Storms frivolous: "Anti-gay activist Rev. Grant Storms of New Orleans sued gay rights group Action Wisconsin after it took excerpts from a 2003 speech Storms made in Milwaukee and claimed he was advocating the murder of gays. Storms' lawsuit was dismissed in 2005, and he was ordered to pay court costs and attorneys' fees. The Supreme Court on Thursday upheld that decision, which had been reversed by an appeals court. The high court's 4-3 decision means Storms' attorney James Donohoo will have to pay more than $87,000 in court costs and fees because the court said he should have known the lawsuit was frivolous."

There must be something about the name Kern.

An interview with Banksy?

Alzheimer's patients are kept from wandering off from a German nursing home by a fake bus stop outside the center: "It sounds funny but it helps. Our members are 84 years old on average. Their short-term memory hardly works, but the long-term memory is still active. They know the green and yellow bus sign and remember that waiting there means they will go home. We will approach them and say that the bus is coming later and invite them in for a coffee. Five minutes later they have completely forgotten they wanted to leave."

That lesbian kiss at Safeco field in Seattle I posted about last month is getting a lot more attention. Sirbrina Guerrero, who was almost kicked out for it, is now speaking out.

Rosie O'Donnell and Howard Stern had a little chat yesterday.

Six in ten Americans say same-sex marriage a private choice that should not be regulated by the government: "As same-sex couples line up to get marriage licenses in California on June 17, the USA TODAY/Gallup Poll found that 63% of adults say same-sex marriage is 'strictly a private decision' between two people. That the government has the right 'to prohibit or allow' such marriages was stated by 33%, and 4% had no opinion."

Religious Knesset members initiate amendment to ban gay pride in Jerusalem.

Rupert Everett's anti-American rant: "I'm totally off the States now. The reaction to 9/11 and then George Bush - really, they've got very blobby as a nation. Now they (the Americans) are whiny victims whose language is entirely taken from two TV shows - Friends and Sex And The City - and there's nothing sexy about them any more. And that kind of semi-blindness about the rest of the world, which was attractive when America was exciting, is really unattractive now."

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News: Harvey Korman, Madison, Clay Aiken, ExxonMobil

University of Wisconsin-Madison to become largest university with a gay leader: "Cornell University Provost Biddy Martin was recommended Wednesday to be the next chancellor at UW-Madison, a top national research university with 40,000 students. Martin, the No. 2 official at Cornell since 2000, is a professor of women's studies and German studies who wrote the 1995 book: 'Femininity Played Straight: The Significance of Being Lesbian.' About eight to 10 openly gay people have become college presidents and chancellors but mostly at small colleges, said Candace Gingrich of the Human Rights Campaign."

R.I.P. Harvey Korman.

DADDY: Clay Aiken impregnates woman through artificial insemination.

Gay activist from Madison, Wisconsin stabbed to death in Mexico: "[Felicia] Melton-Smyth was known for an annual holiday fundraiser that raised money for gifts for people with AIDS. 'She respected and loved all the people within the gay community of Madison,' Finhert said. Finhert said a celebration of her life is being planned and a foundation is being set up for donations to organizations in her honor."

Netflix nabs exclusive rights to LOGO shows. What, no iTunes? Certainly a disappointment for those of us with Apple TV.

Kiss nearly gets lesbian couple tossed out of Safeco Field in Seattle: "Sirbrina Guerrero says she only gave her date a peck, but a mother sitting with her son complained to security and, as a result, they were told to stop or leave. 'And he (the security guard) goes ‘there’s a lady whose son says he saw you guys making out, and I did, too. And you have to stop.’ And I said ‘well, we weren’t making out, but we were kissing and I’m not going to stop,’' said Guerrero…. '(The security guard said) the mom doesn’t want to explain to the kids why two girls are kissing. So I said ‘well, I’m not going to stop, so you’ll have to kick me out. So he said ‘so I suggest you leave then,'’ she said."

A slew of Gossip Girl guy candids.

David Beckham gets a cap in a box.

Rudd government in Australia introduces bill removing discrimination from superannuation laws: "Legislation introduced to Parliament today will extend to same-sex couples and their children the same rights under superannuation enjoyed by married or de-facto couples. 'This bill will take equality for same-sex couples and their children to the next level by introducing long overdue Commonwealth reforms, removing discrimination from superannuation laws as the first step,' Attorney-General Robert McClelland said. 'It will allow reversionary death benefit to be paid to de-facto same-sex partners and their children where they currently have no entitlement.'"

Hot, tranny, or just mess?

L.A. Times editorial: Gay marriage gaining ground. "And why not? Surely the trailing edges of society will soon reflect on the resistance to this phenomenon with chagrin and more than a little embarrassment. It is bracing, after all, to realize how recently much of this nation blanched at interracial marriage, and thrilling to recognize how quickly most of us buried that prejudice, first in law, then in custom."

U.S. News and World Report explores anti-gay hostility in Russia.

Holocaust academic pans gay memorial to Nazi victims: "For many years after the war I had the impression that the Germans understood the immense scope of the crime of the Holocaust which they had committed ... But this time, they made an error. The location was particularly poorly chosen for this monument. If visitors have the impression that there was not a great difference between the suffering of Jews and those of homosexuals, it's a scandal. "A sense of proportion must be maintained."

ExxonMobil shareholders reject resolution to add 'sexual orientation' and 'gender identity' to Exxon’s non-discrimination statement: "Approximately 40% of Exxon’s outstanding shares voted in favor of the clause, but it was not enough to send the issue to the oil company’s board of directors. The shareholder resolution has come up every year since 2000, when it got 8.2% approval among shareholders. The percentage that voted in favor of the resolution has grown every year since then."

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GOP Strategist Peddling 'Charlie Crist Sex Tape' to Kill Gay Rumors?

Don't get too excited. It's not anything from Katherine Harris' former field director Jason Wetherington. According to the blog Politics1, GOP political strategist Roger Stone is in possession of a 'Charlie Crist Sex Tape' which isn't X-rated but shows Crist making out with his "girlfriend" (or "wife" as some would have it) in an elevator:

Via Politics1: "How interested is Florida Governor Charlie Crist in being John McCain's VP runningmate? So much so that veteran GOP dirty trickster Roger Stone -- who coordinated a few dirty stunts in support of Crist during the 2006 gubernatorial campaign -- is quietly peddling a so-called 'Charlie Crist sex tape.' That's what Stone called it during a telephone conversation. And no, it is not a tape of Crist having sex with a guy. In fact, it isn't even X-rated. The video was seemingly staged to kill the rumors that Crist is gay. Stone claims the tape -- which he discussed recently with Politics1, but didn't show to us ('I'm saving it for the national shows') -- 'shows Charlie fooling around in a hotel elevator with his girlfriend ... They're making out.' Adds Stone: 'It was captured on a security camera in the elevator' last month. And Stone just conveniently happens to have a copy of the hotel's elevator surveillance tape, just when Crist's name is in play for the VP spot. Hmm. As for Crist's purported girlfriend -- presuming it is the same one he took as his date to the White House Correspondents Dinner in DC a few weeks ago -- she's still married (and not to Crist). Disclaimer: Always be skeptical of anything from Stone."

Wow, that should convince the disbelievers. A Crist make-out tape.

Previously
Fla GOP Gov. Candidate Charlie Crist: I Never Had Sex with a Man [tr]
Opponent Outs Florida Gubernatorial Candidate Charlie Crist [tr]
Jeb Bush Blocks Reporter Questioning Charlie Crist's Sexuality [tr]

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Berlin's Monument to Gay Holocaust Victims: The Kiss Revealed

Just a bit more on the memorial that was unveiled yesterday in memory of gay victims of the Holocaust in Berlin. One of the clips below is the actual unveiling.In the other clip, the artists who created the monument, Berlin-based Norwegian-Danish artist duo Ingar Dragset and Michael Elmgreen, talk about the idea behind their design, and why featuring an endless loop video of a male couple kissing which is viewed as you peer through the tiny window, was important to them. Makes perfect sense.
(image above via daily dish)

And you're probably curious to see exactly what that clip looks like. You can watch it,
AFTER THE JUMP...

You may have missed...
Major Monument to Gay Holocaust Victims Unveiled Today in Berlin [tr]

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Dad: Lindsay Lohan Lesbian Romance is Obvious

Responding to photos which surfaced late last week of Lindsay Lohan and DJ Samantha Ronson necking and kissing in Cannes, Lohan's father Michael told Us Weekly that the couple's "[romance] is evident to anyone with half a brain."

And because being gay is such an awful thing, he added, "Just like the [topless] Marilyn Monroe spread, Linds is my daughter and there are just some things a father doesn't want to see or hear, regardless of whether they are true or false. [Lindsay] is a big girl, and she can make her own life choices. Then it is between her and God. Maybe her mother's life revolves around the tabloids and reports, but mine doesn't. I am into setting a good example and doing good things that don't deceive or exploit my kids. But I will say this: While we were a family, you never even saw or heard a negative thing about any of us. But since the separation, look at everything that has happened!"

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Towleroad Guide to the Tube #294

COMPROMISE TALKS: Clinton, Obama camps holding negotiations to end Hillary's run.

LIFE IN REVERSE: The trailer for the upcoming Brad Pitt/David Fincher film The Curious Case of Benjamin Button, in which Pitt plays a man who ages in reverse.

DAVID COOK: His appearance on The Tonight Show.

GREY'S ANATOMY: Last night's lesbian kiss.

Check out our previous guides to the Tube here.

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Carol Brady and Judge Judy Mix Their Lipstick

Florence Henderson and Judge Judy Sheindlin got close at a Beverly Hills charity event on Monday night. Alas, no tongue.

(via TMZ)

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News: Dolly Parton, Murakami, Polar Bears, Purse, Phillip Bloch

Recently out Degrassi star Adamo Ruggiero to host Canadian talent show The Next Star.

Takashi Murakami sculpture of anime dude ejaculating goes for $15 million at auction: "The winning bid was submitted to Sotheby's by telephone, probably because no one likes to buy this sort of thing in person, even if it's at a classy art auction."

Don't mess with Dolly! Howard Stern alters Parton's audiobook to make her say some disgusting things.

Bee Gees musical to disco up London's West End: "The Bee Gees are still staying alive and, post-Saturday Night Fever, readying another stage attack with a compilation musical based on their greatest hits. Brother Robin Gibb confirmed the status of the project this weekend while unveiling a green plaque at the former London home of the band’s manager and producer Robert Stigwood, where they wrote songs including 'Chain Reaction' and 'Heartbreaker'."

It's a slow news day at the BBC.

Wonder Twin messes activate!

Polar Bears declared a threatened species: "Interior Secretary Dirk Kempthorne cited dramatic declines in sea ice over the last three decades and projections of continued losses, meaning, he said, that the polar bear is a species likely to be in danger of extinction in the near future. But Kempthorne said it would be 'wholly inappropriate' to use the protection of the bear to reduce greenhouse gases, or to broadly address climate change."

Robert Downey Jr. showcases the season's hottest accessory.

Stylist Phillip Bloch forcibly removed from Madison Square Garden over mistaken marijuana incident: "Bloch, who had earlier lit a cigarette but quickly stubbed it out unnoticed, had been talking to a group of pot-smoking teenagers in the row behind him who were passing a pipe among themselves. 'The whole stadium smelled like pot, and the kids behind us were smoking. I'm sitting there having fun, laughing,' said Bloch. 'Then I get an order to go with this man. They say, 'You're leaving, give us your ticket.' I held it up, they took it. At that point they grabbed me by my arms to take me out, so I threw my hands up and said, 'You've got to keep off me. I'm no threat.'' Page Six witnessed three security guards then spin Bloch around and pin him against the corridor wall."

Chris Carmack's new movie should ensure plenty of shots like this.

Gay kiss heats up South African soap opera: "The protagonists were Stone (played by Zenzo Ngqobe) and Thula (Wright Ngubeni). Thula’s unemployed mother is bedridden by HIV/Aids, and to make ends meet he is selling his body to a married man. Not even his best childhood pal, Charlotte (Stone’s girlfriend) played by Nosipho Nkelemba, knows about the big secret. When Stone confronts Thula about the prostitution, there is an exchange of words and Stone suddenly kisses his friend, Thula. Both are left staring at each other in shock. The kiss did not last longer than five seconds, but is as big a talking point as After Nine – a locally produced short film on black gay men, screened on SABC1 last year."

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Cayman Kisser Sends Island's Bigots into a Gay Panic

The Cayman Island same-sex kiss incident that led to the arrest of 23-year-old Massachusetts resident Aaron Chandler earlier this month has apparently shaken the anti-gay hornet's nest. Chandler was arrested and detained by police after kissing his partner on a dance floor. The island's Tourism Director later apologized. But the whole brouhaha has bigot officials worried that the island's tolerance of the incident will lead pastors to be punished for spewing their hate, and cause same-sex couples to seek it out as a vacation spot.

Said JP Julianna O’Connor–Connolly during her budget debate in the Legislative Assembly: "I must say that the news headlines of this past week…certainly have caused the conservative voters…to be a little bit leery. Assurances were given that these things wouldn’t happen…now we have this test case...What happens when we get an Order in Council saying we have to [legalize gay marriage]? If (visitors) want to see that they can go to Los Angeles or Second Street in New York…is this the kind of tourism we want in the Cayman Islands? Are we just inches away from telling our pastors that they can’t preach about this lifestyle? Or that they have to marry (same sex couples)? Once doubt enters in the equation that we have to pander to these people…then we are diminishing our faith in God. Each time, I get more and more concerned as I see a lack of commitment to these values."

In related news, it appears that the Cayman Islands Department of Tourism PR Officer is responding to letters of concern from potential visitors by cautioning that "while we absolutely do not discriminate against any race, gender or sexual preference we do sometimes feel uncomfortable with overt displays of intimacy."

In other words, be warned you may suffer the consequences should you decide to show any outward affection to your partner.

READ THE LETTER sent to one of our readers, AFTER THE JUMP...

***LETTER from CAYMAN ISLANDS dept. of Tourism***

Dear Mr. XXXXXXX,

Thank you for taking the time to contact the Cayman Islands Department of Tourism with your concerns. I can attest that since 2001, the Cayman Islands has confirmed a policy of non-discrimination and continues to graciously receive all visitors to our shores. Recently an isolated guest complaint sparked speculation of our policy. This is unfortunate and I wish to confirm contrary to speculation no one was charged with any crime. The Cayman Islands is a hospitable and traditionally very conservative country. While we absolutely do not discriminate against any race, gender or sexual preference we do sometimes feel uncomfortable with overt displays of intimacy. Every year more than a million visitors call on our shores and most are intrigued by and respectful of our cultural differences. I can state with absolute conviction that the Cayman Islands welcomes all visitors to its shores as well as families, divers, single travellers and people from all walks of life, and will continue to do so. I do hope that you will reconsider your decision regarding visiting the Cayman Islands.

With warm regards,
Jo Gammage PR Officer

***END OF LETTER***

Gay kissers raise doubt [cay compass]

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Madonna Knows Nothing Gets Press Like a Gay French Kiss

Pulling the Britney move out of her back pocket, Madonna made out with one of her back-up dancers during her concert at the Olympia in Paris last night.

Said M-Dolla to the crowd: "Why do I have this relationship with France? I'm always drawn to working with French people - and frenching French people. Vive la France!"

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Cayman Islands Dept. of Tourism Apologizes to Gay Kiss Arrestee

Cayman Islands Director of Tourism Pilar Bush sent a letter of apology to Aaron Chandler, the 23-year-old Massachusetts man I posted about yesterday. Chandler was arrested last Thursday in the Caymans after kissing his partner on a dance floor while vacationing there.

Said Bush in the letter, which Chandler received on Friday: "On behalf of the entire Department of Tourism, I apologise for your upsetting experience and want to assure you that the Cayman Islands is a welcoming jurisdiction to all people. What happened to you was an isolated incident, and is not representative of Cayman. We know that thousands of gay and lesbian visitors travel to the Cayman Islands every year and enjoy their vacation."

Chandler told the Cay Compass that he appreciated the response: "I should say that, yes, her prompt decision did ease the anger for me a bit. In addition, it’s just good business sense for Ms Bush to have apologised to me. The [Department] of Tourism surely doesn’t want to have someone leave the Cayman Islands not wanting to come back."

Bush had reportedly told Chandler that she would call him at his hotel, but he did not receive the call prior to leaving on Saturday. There has been no word from the Royal Cayman Islands Police, to whom Chandler also complained.

Previously
Cayman Islands Police Arrest Massachusetts Man for Gay Kiss [tr]

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Cayman Islands Police Arrest Massachusetts Man for Gay Kiss

Aaron Chandler, 23, from Amherst, Massachusetts, was arrested in the Cayman Islands last week after kissing his partner on a dance floor. The arrest was preceded by two confrontations with an unidentified local who asked them to stop what they were doing.

The Cay Compass reports: "About a half hour later – about 11pm – an unidentified woman approached the two men and asked Mr. Chandler to follow her to meet a friend. The friend turned out to be an off–duty police officer. 'He told me he did not want me to show public displays of affection,' Mr. Chandler said. 'He said it was against the law for two people of the same sex.' Mr. Chandler said he kissed his partner again, just before his party was going to leave the Royal Palms. 'The officer grabbed my wrist and told me he was placing me under arrest.' Mr. Chandler said a crowd of people – some tourists and some residents – followed the police officer while he was leading him away. 'They were asking him why he was doing this and one asked how he could do this in a British territory.' The officer called a superior, who arrived about five minutes later, Mr. Chandler said. On the way to the George Town police station, Mr. Chandler said the superior officer told him the 'law was stupid' but that he had to enforce it. Once at George Town Police Station, Mr. Chandler was made to wait to speak to an inspector. The inspector never came, but the original officer came back and gave him a stern talking to, telling him he didn’t care what he did in private, but that he could not kiss his partner in a public place. He attempted to make Mr. Chandler promise not to kiss his partner in public again and then released him."

Said Chandler: "I do display affection when I’m with my boyfriend, publicly. “It’s never anything most people would consider obscene however; usually it’s in the form of holding hands or a quick kiss."

The Caribbean has never been a safe place for gays and lesbians. While I certainly sympathize with Chandler's situation, it's important to remember that displaying same-sex affection can get you much worse than an arrest. Be careful out there.

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Gay Couple's Kiss Sparks 911 Call in Alabama

If you missed 20/20's "What Would You Do?" segment on "Gay PDA", I've clipped it, AFTER THE JUMP....

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Birmingham Woman Calls 911 Over Two Guys Kissing in Public

Tonight on ABC's 20/20, they're doing another segment of "What Would You Do?"

I love this series. It's an ongoing ethical candid camera segment that reveals how people react in different social situations. Tonights show (at 10pm EST) is about how folks on "Main Street USA" react to the sight of gay PDA. They did the experiment in two locations — Verona, NJ, and Birmingham, AL.

One woman in Birmingham, Alabama apparently called 911 when she saw the two guys kissing:

Operator: "Birmingham Police operator 9283"

Caller: "We have a couple of men sitting out on the bench that have been kissing and drooling all over each other for the past hour or so. It's not against the law, right?"

Operator: "Not to the best of my knowledge it's not."

Caller: "So there's no complaint I could make or have?"

Operator: "I imagine you could complain if you like ma'am. We can always send an officer down there."

According to ABC, "They did. One of Birmingham's finest came to Five-Points and spoke with Kaolin and James. Though city officials and the police department signed off on ABC's social experiment, this officer was somehow not in the loop. The officer told our couple that the police dispatch received a call because the two of them were making out."

AFTER THE JUMP, a segment they did on domestic violence between interracial couples.

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Gay Comic Panic Strip: American Idol

SIMON: You kissed me!

RYAN: Relax, it didn't mean anything.

SIMON: Well, I can't!

And yes, this is the authentic transcript.

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Luke and Noah Kiss: Long National Nightmare is Over

As the World Turns' Luke and Noah fans were pleasantly surprised yesterday when their seven-month wait for a kiss between the characters came to an end.

Earlier this month, CBS execs denied their strategy for the characters was homophobic. Said daytime chief Barbara Bloom, "The only thing you're going to get out of me is that the pacing is slower with Luke and Noah than it is with other romances on ATWT. But that's good storytelling. We're in the business of getting people to watch more."

Which makes the lack of promotion for the kiss all the more surprsing. Normally, a scene like this would have been teased relentlessly but producers apparently decided on an ambush this time. Surprise!

Watch it, AFTER THE JUMP...

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News: Elizabeth Taylor, Old Trees, Heatherette, 'Ex-Gay' Protests

Protest as hundreds gather in Mountain View, California to 'pray the gay away': " A traveling national conference billed as an event 'to provide help for those struggling - and those whose loved ones struggle - with unwanted same-sex attractions,' drew about 700 people to a Mountain View church on Saturday. The gathering at the evangelical Christian church, Abundant Life Christian Fellowship, also drew a small protest by members of the Bay Area's gay and lesbian community incensed by the conference topic, the longstanding controversy on whether gays can be 'converted' - or turned into so-called 'ex-gays' through a Christian 'step out' program."

Details beats up Ashton Kutcher.

Marilyn Monroe sex tape unearthed, sold for $1.5 million.

Hundreds protest marriage equality in Norway: "The protesters included immigrants and native Norwegians, and they came from the villages and the cities. All were firmly against marriage rights for gay and lesbian couples."

Royal blackmailers Ian Strachan and Sean McGuigan head to court to face charges.

Search on for Hollywood actor to play first man on the Moon, Neil Armstrong.

Gay fashion duo Heatherette out of business. "The demise of Heatherette has been months in the making. The label actually canceled their fashion week show in February, though founder Traver Rains claimed at the time that he and partner Richie Rich were simply reorganizing the company and would be back in time for next fashion week. The reorganization was supposed to involve finding a new financial backer after Rich and Rains burned through the $6 million given to them by the Weisfeld Group, owner of urban streetwear outfit FUBU; a source tells Radar that the duo's efforts were unsuccessful, and that Rains and Travers have now amicably parted ways."

Have scientists found the oldest living trees?

With opening of Chaps II, leather scene returning to San Francisco's SoMA district: "On Friday, David Morgan threw open the doors to Chaps I