Wanda Sykes at Las Vegas Rally: I'm Gay and I'm Pissed

Comedian Wanda Sykes came out publicly at a rally yesterday in Las Vegas.

Said Sykes: "I got married October 25th. My wife is here. I don't really talk about my sexual orientation, didn't think I had to. I was just livin my life. Not necessarily in the closet but I was just livin my life. Everybody that knows me personally, they know I'm gay. That's the way people should be able to live their lives really. If we had equal rights...we shouldn't have to be out here demanding something that we automatically should have as citizens of this country. But I got pissed off. They pissed me off. I said, you know, what I gotta get in your face. And that's what we have to do now. They have pissed off the wrong group of people!"

Image of Sykes by Towleroad reader Derek Washington. See more in our National Gallery of Marriage Equality photos from readers across the country.

Watch it, AFTER THE JUMP...

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Bette Midler Stumps for Obama at Gay Nightclub in Vegas

Bette Midler stumped for Obama at Las Vegas' gay nightclub Krave on Monday night:

"Midler perched on a stool at the front of the club's stage, facing a packed dance floor. Wearing a leopard-print mini-dress and matching gloves, she proceeded to tell a few hundred of her closest friends what was on Miss M's mind. 'I am so distressed about this election, oh my God,' she said confessionally. 'I haven't left my house in days. I watch the news channels incessantly. All the news stories are about the election; all the commercials are for Viagra and Cialis. Election, erection, election, erection -- either way we're getting screwed!' Midler said she has sung for candidates and raised money for candidates, but she's speaking out more than ever before in this election because Obama has moved her more than any candidate before him. 'I come from an extremely poor family,' said Midler, whose father was a house painter. 'I know I look divine now, but I was not always divine.' Her humble background, she said, taught her to value hard work. 'I had big dreams,' she said. 'You know me. You've watched me for 40 frickin' years. Every single dream I had my entire life came true. Barack Obama says only in America could his story happen, and I totally understand because only in America could my story happen.'"

A couple of clips, AFTER THE JUMP...

Intro is the same on each.

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Las Vegas Casino Plays the Gay Card

Las Vegas' "Paris" casino (the one with the Eiffel Tower replica) has begun targeting their advertising to the LGBT community with these playing card ads.

(via gawker)

Lesbian version, AFTER THE JUMP...

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Siegfried and Roy Welcome Five New Potential Attackers

Siegfried and Roy have adopted five new white tiger cubs and showed them off at their Las Vegas compound yesterday:

"Horn did not answer questions from reporters but played with the small tigers, holding them for the cameras, kissing them and nibbling on one's small ear."

Said Siegfried: "Our life is a purpose. Our purpose is to keep them from extinction. I'm always getting questions, 'Are they going to be in our show?' They are just a part of our life."

According to the AP, "The cubs — two white females, two white striped females and a golden male tiger — were to be taken to a nursery for public display at the Secret Garden and Dolphin Habitat at The Mirage hotel-casino. The exhibit houses lions, tigers, leopards and a black panther."

Siegfried and Roy are planning a "comeback" show scheduled for February 7, 2009.

One more shot AFTER THE JUMP...

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Roy Horn to Face White Tiger That Nearly Killed Him?

Siegfried & Roy will stage a one-night comeback and likely face the white tiger that mauled and nearly killed Roy Horn in 2003:

"Horn was critically injured when the white tiger, Montecore, sank its teeth into his neck and dragged him offstage in front of a horrified audience at The Mirage in October 2003, ending one of the most successful casino shows in Las Vegas history. The pair have said they believed Montecore sensed Horn was having a ministroke and was dragging him to safety, rather than attacking him. Publicist Dave Kirvin said Monday the German-born duo are working out plans for the act, adding that he would be 'very surprised if animals were not part of the performance...Siegfried and Roy and white lions and other endangered animals go hand in hand,' he said."

The performance will be part of a benefit for Alzheimer's disease.

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Cher: Gay Men Understand What it's Like to be an Outsider

She's back...

Cher is returning from the 'retirement' she took three years ago, taking up (literally) where Celine Dion left off at Caesar's Palace in Las Vegas, USA Today reports:

"The indestructible diva, who retired from touring in 2005, will star in a song-and-dance spectacle starting May 6 at the 4,100-seat Colosseum in Caesars Palace. She'll perform four shows weekly for one month, then return mid-August through early October, leapfrogging stints with Bette Midler. Her pact with promoter AEG Live extends three years.

Says Cher: "Creatively, we're doing something that's never been done with sets. Getting the whole thing in book form, in pictures, has taken months. Our set moves down from the ceiling, in from the sides, up from the floor. We have screens in the foreground, the center and the back. We can change a city into a forest in two seconds. You'll see a different stage for every song."

The show plans to cover "all chapters of Cher's career, from her Sonny & Cher start to her recent dance-pop phase" according to the paper.

She also talked to USA Today on a variety of topics, and gives a nod to a devoted fanbase:

"On every list, I was always on my way out. Gay men understand that I understand what it's like to be an outsider. To singers, I wasn't a singer. To actors, I wasn't an actor. I know what it's like to fight for your place. Besides, gay men are very choosy, and they have great taste."

On her age (61): "How did this happen? I used to be the youngest one around. I remember talking to my grandmother when she was in her 80s, and I said, 'How does it feel?' She said, 'I only notice it when I go to the mirror.' She was up for anything. So am I. I'd better do what I can do while I can do it."

On her public persona: "I find that men are intimidated by who they think I am. One night, Michelle Pfeiffer and I wanted to go out dancing, so we went to a club, sat down, and no one asked us to dance. I thought, this is crazy. Two of my gay friends came in and we danced with them for an hour. You have this baggage that comes with your image."

On tattoos: "I might take some more off. When I got tattooed, only bad girls did it: me and Janis Joplin and biker chicks. Now it doesn't mean anything. No one's surprised. I got a tattoo right after I left Sonny (Bono) and I was feeling real independent. That was my badge."

On the paparazzi: "I used to be able to run around in my sweats. Now I'm a prisoner. I think 'scum' is a perfect word for these people. They're meaner now. Before, they would be happy to get a picture. Now they want something salacious or to make you look bad. "Everything's more mean-spirited now. My sister was telling me about a show that hooks people up to lie detectors (Fox's The Moment of Truth). I don't like reality shows. I saw American Idol one time and said, 'Well, I never need to see this again.' I thought it was boring. I wasn't entertained."

Cher also says she's supporting Clinton this election cycle: "I'm supporting her because I know her and I like her and she's smart and a tough girl. But I don't have much respect for either party. I just think Republicans are worse."

Cher plans 'visually unbelievable' Las Vegas gig [usa today]
Cher shares: Life, love, tattoos, politics, paparazzi [usa today]

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Towleroad Guide to the Tube #229

LAS VEGAS DEBATE HIGHLIGHTS: It was a bit of a snoozer, but if you're interested, here are the highlights from last night. (source: talking points memo)

305: This parody of 300 meets The Office apparently was picked up for DVD distribution. (source: daily dish)

FRIED SQUIRREL: Huckabee talks about his favorite childhood dish.

GLENN BECK: FDR was one evil son-of-a-bitch.

Check out our previous guides to the Tube here.

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News: Bill Gates, Warhol Scent, Gyllenspit, Vegas, Britney Spears

I think now she's doing it on purpose. Britney Spears has run over another foot.

Striking gay WGA writers are holding their own march: "It will totally be "Norma Rae" meets the Abbey."

Closet Idol fan? Bill Gates spotted at Kelly Clarkson concert.

In wake of progressive Democrats move to censure Dianne Feinstein, her spokesperson defends: "[Feinstein] has been an independent voice for California."

Barack Obama says there are no existing records from his days in the Illinois state senate: "'I don't have _ I don't maintain _ a file of eight years of work in the state Senate because I didn't have the resources available to maintain those kinds of records,' he said at a recent campaign stop in Iowa. He said he wasn't sure where any cache of records might have gone, adding, 'It could have been thrown out. I haven't been in the state Senate now for quite some time.'"

Meet the Dixie Chicks of competitive Bridge.

Andy Warhol Foundation launches first of several fragrances: "The scent developed by Aurelien Guichard is a smoky yet spicy cocktail of incense, grapefruit, wood resin, amber jasmine, cedarwood and violet, one Warhol’s favorite aromas. The term is no longer '€˜unisex'€™ but '€˜universal'€™ to indicate that the perfume can be worn by both men and women and is said to smell like metallic rubber."

For you Scissor Sisters fans (or haters, I suppose): Whack-a-Sister.

Scab-lash: Ellen DeGeneres cancels NYC tapings. "We're delighted that Ellen DeGeneres has decided not to come to New York to tape her program. She knows that the Writers Guild East would have been there to protest her lack of solidarity, not only with her Guild writing staff but all the striking members of the Writers Guild, of which she is a member. We will be even more delighted if she does not cross the Guild picket lines at the NBC Studios in Burbank, where her show usually is produced."

Scientists identify oral sex "swallower" gene...in fish.

Yes, Jake Gyllenhaal and Reese Witherspoon have been captured swapping spit in public.

Broadcast of McCain supporter calling Hillary Clinton a bitch sparks war between McCain campaign and CNN: "Now McCain's campaign is trying to turn this to its advantage -- by opening fire on the network and portraying it as both a Hillary ally and a liberal media foil to McCain. McCain campaign manager Rick Davis has just blasted out an email to supporters demanding that CNN apologize to the Arizona Senator for smearing him."

Bjorn Borg unveils new underwear line, and invites folks to send in pictures of themselves wearing it. Flashback: Model Search.

In July 2006, Patricia Todd became Alabama's first openly gay elected official when she ran a run-off race in the House. Pam Spaulding over at Pam's House blended has posted a series of videos of Todd talking about some of the homophobia she faced during her election.

BOOK: Gay community in Vegas on the upswing.

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News: O.J. Simpson, Michael Mukasey, Alan Keyes, New Zealand

Human Rights Campaign releases 2008 Corporate Equality Index: "195 major U.S. businesses earned the top rating of 100 percent, up from 138 last year - a 41 percent increase." (PDF)

Bush nominates retired judge Michael Mukasey to replace Alberto Gonzales as Attorney General. Democratic Senator Patrick Leahy: "The next attorney general needs to be someone who can begin the process of restoring the Department of Justice to its proper mission."

Some gamers see coded message in Super Mario Galaxy packaging.

Anti-gay Republican wingnut Alan Keyes announces 3rd bid for Presidency. Keyes: "The one thing I've always been called to do is to raise the standard . . . of our allegiance to God and His authority that has been the foundation stone of our nation's life...We're putting together an effort that's not going to be like anything before, because it's going to be entirely based on citizen action. We're going to be challenging people to take a pledge for America's revival."

What has Helmut Lang been up to lately? "Lang remains as allergic to publicity as ever — he politely refused to be interviewed for this story — and spends most of his time at the East Hampton property he shares with his longtime companion. He is working on a number of art projects, including “Long Island Diaries” (a chronicle he began in 2005) and “Selective Memory Series” (a constantly updated scrapbook of his A-list life, parts of which were released earlier this year in conjunction with Purple magazine)."

Rex Wockner offers a few thoughts about GLAAD and the reclamation of the F-word.

Are you a closeted Republican looking for the perfect romantic liaison? Give GOP-Harmony a try.

Madonna in Rosh Hashana summit with Israeli leader Shimon Peres. Spokeswoman: "The president and Madonna discussed how to advance the peace process, and conciliation and tolerance throughout the world. Madonna told the president she wants to promote those messages in her songs and books, and how important it was to educate children with those ideas. She also said that meeting President Peres and welcoming in the new Jewish year together with him was the fulfillment of a dream."

O.J. Simpson adds "two counts of robbery with a deadly weapon, two counts of assault with a deadly weapon, conspiracy to commit burglary and burglary with a firearm" to his resume.

Air New Zealand announces drag queen-staffed "Pink Flight" to Sydney Mardi Gras: "The flight will be modeled after an Auckland-to-Sydney trip Air New Zealand made this year for the gay Mardi Gras, according to Williams. Before that full flight, the crew put on pink feather boas and sang for its couple hundreds passengers, she said. 'Even the pilot was wearing fairy wings and got into it,' [marketing director Jodi]Williams said."

Lost Without Careless Whisper: George Michael meets Robin Thicke.

Promoter Jeffrey Sanker invites Britney Spears to redeem herself at Las Vegas White Party: "I would love to offer Britney the chance to return to...the Palms Hotel, her own ‘ground zero,’ where all those are saying she so ‘imploded,’ and redeem herself with her very loyal gay community." Will invite Chris Crocker if Brit signs on... PLUS: Britney recreates VMAs disaster in The Sims.

Gay banker Peter Lewis loses long-running discrimination suit against HSBC: "The case was one of the first high-profile legal actions to be heard at an employment tribunal after sex discrimination laws were extended to gay and lesbian people. It raised a number of novel legal issues, including what comparisons should be used when trying to decide whether the treatment of a gay employee was discriminatory. In the past fortnight a London employment tribunal reheard evidence surrounding four specific allegations of bias against the former head of equity trading during internal disciplinary proceedings at HSBC. On Friday it said: 'The judgment of the tribunal is that the claimant’s complaints are not well-founded and are accordingly dismissed.'"

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News: Norman Korpi, Seattle Pride, Britney Comeback, Don Imus

Deposed radio host Don Imus says he's suing CBS for the $40 million remaining in his contract: " Imus has hired one of the nation's premiere First Amendment attorneys, and the two sides are gearing up for a legal showdown that could turn on how language in his contract that encouraged the radio host to be irreverent and engage in character attacks is interpreted, according to one person who has read the contract. The language, according to this source, was part of a five-year contract that went into effect in 2006 and that paid Imus close to $10 million a year. It stipulates that Imus be given a warning before being fired for doing what he made a career out of - making off-color jokes."

Britney stages San Diego comeback. And then follows it up in Anaheim.

Scott Schweickert, a Florida man who in 2003 used drugs to rape and torture two young men, has been sentenced to 40 years in prison.

Bette Midler, setting up shop in Las Vegas, says she's a bit intimidated by the scope of it: "The stage is so enormous there's a terror that you might not be able to fill it all by your lonesome, you know, a little person in high heels. And it's got the biggest (video wall) in the world, and you say, 'What the heck am I going to put on that? My baby pictures?"

The story behind New Paltz mayor Jason West's re-election loss.

I know you've been wondering what The Real World's gay housemate Norman Korpi has been up to. He's been preparing for a show of his paintings, and they're now up at Creative Galleries in the Helms Building in Los Angeles.

Seattle's The Stranger takes a look at the mess that is Seattle Gay Pride: "The annual paroxysms of doubt about whether the event will even happen at all. The ensuing existential crises within the gay community "leadership." The announcement, this year, of a bankruptcy filing by parade organizers—and then the subsequent announcement, just hours later, that the bankruptcy filing would not be happening. And of course, the all-out war between gay factions over the parade's location, with the supporters of a downtown parade in one camp and the supporters of a Capitol Hill parade in the other. Angry words and recriminations fly back and forth between them, in private and in public. It's enough to make a homo want to stay home on parade day."

People in the world are walking 10% faster than they did 10 years ago, according to a new study. Singapore is the fastest city. NYC ranks eighth.

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Towleroad Guide to the Tube: #99

ERIC ALVA: The recently out Iraq war veteran talks to Paula Zahn.

SENATOR CHRIS DODD: The Presidential hopeful calls for the end of "Don't Ask, Don't Tell".

IMPLOSION: The Las Vegas Stardust Hotel is now just dust.

JOHN EDWARDS: Talks about General Peter Pace on The Situation Room.

Check out our previous guides to the Tube here!

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David Hasselhoff's Vegas Drag Show

David Hasselhoff debuted in the Las Vegas production of The Producers this week, arriving on stage in full drag as cross-dressing director Roger DeBris.

Three more shots after the jump...

"It's David with his new boyfriend!" Hasselhoff joked to People magazine. His dressing room is reportedly filled with Hasselhoff artifacts. "I must be the most self-indulgent person to have this stuff. But I've gotta market the Hoff."

You may have missed...
He's Huge in Germany [tr]
David Hasselhoff: Knight Rider's KITT was Gay [tr]
(photo source)

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Josh Duhamel Makes a Splash in Las Vegas

Josh Duhamel's square-cut swim trunk gamble on Friday night's episode of Las Vegas definitely paid off...

Donald Trump may not approve of the style, but it certainly seems to work for Josh.

(photo source)

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