News: Gin, Uganda, Channing Tatum, Torture, Nevada, Tony Kushner

New Jersey poll finds 49% of voters support marriage equality, 43% oppose.

Two upstate New York papers write editorials in support of marriage equality.

Channing Tatum is a lover not a fighter.

Is this what's meant by getting ginned up?

Condoleezza Rice approved waterboarding and then lied to Senate Armed Services Committee about it: "Last fall, Rice acknowledged to the Senate Armed Services Committee only that she had attended meetings where the CIA interrogation request was discussed and asked for the attorney general to conduct a legal review. She said she did not recall details. Rice omitted her direct role in approving the program in her written statement to the committee."

Lindsay Lohan talks to Ellen DeGeneres about Samantha Ronson...and Anne Heche.

City of Rochester makes offer to residents suing the city over police gay bashing incident: "In an April 7 correspondence, city municipal attorney Matthew Brown noted that 'the city has made an offer to plaintiffs' in the federal civil case. Attorney Christina Agola, who represents the five who sued the city and police officers, also acknowledged Wednesday that 'we are engaged in talks...We haven't reached an ultimate decision,' she said."

Beyoncé lets it rip.

Uganda paper outs homosexuals.

NYT on the Maine marriage hearings: "The future of the bill, which has more than 60 sponsors, is uncertain. Gov. John Baldacci, a Democrat, had opposed same-sex marriage, but now says he is keeping his options open. The Legislature, where Democrats control both houses, can pass or reject the measure, or send it to the voters for a referendum. If the Legislature passes the bill, citizens can collect enough signatures to place a people’s veto of the legislation on the November ballot."

Michael Musto's sit-down interview with porn producer Michael Lucas.

Longtime owner of Philadelphia gay bar Uncles, Mort Wernik, dies at 73.

Nevada Senate passes domestic partnerships, may face veto from governor: "On a 12-9 vote Tuesday night, the state Senate passed a bill to allow domestic partners, gay and straight, most of the same rights as married couples."

Minneapolis' Guthrie Theatre delays premiere of Tony Kushner play by a week: "The show — 'The Intelligent Homosexual's Guide to Capitalism and Socialism with a Key to the Scriptures' — was scheduled to begin previews on May 9 and open on May 15. But the Guthrie says after discussions among Kushner, director Michael Greif and Guthrie director Joe Dowling, it was decided to delay the opening to give the actors more time on stage."

Correction: The press release we linked to earlier in this post that that appeared to be from a national gay organization on torture has been revealed to be a fake.

News: Johnny Weir, Maryland, Nicolette Sheridan, True Blood, Bush

Killer withdraws "guilty" plea in Ryan Keith Skipper murder case. The plea bargain would have spared William Brown Jr. the death penalty. Brown is now scheduled to go on trial October 12.

Jackman's got milk.

Nicolette Sheridan bitchslaps Desperate Housewives creator Marc Cherry.

Figure skater Johnny Weir to be subject of reality show: "The half-hour 'Be Good Johnny Weir' will follow its subject, his coach, choreographers and hangers-on as they ready for the 2010 Winter Games. Sundance has ordered eight episodes of the series, which is produced by Endemol's Original Media."

Maryland General Assembly approves tax breaks for domestic partners: "The bill adds same-sex domestic partners to the list of family members who can inherit homes without paying taxes on that property."

John Barrowman wants to be a dad: "We really would like to be parents. I'm extremely broody and emotional right now. I think this year will be the year Scott and I look into making something happen. We're trying to work out whether to take the adoption route or something else. he other night I went to see Jason Donovan in Priscilla Queen Of The Desert and I was in floods of tears watching the scenes between him and his son."

True Blood is on its way back to Bon Temps.

Trans drag performer murdered in Fayetteville, North Carolina.

New Archbishop of England and Wales Vincent Nichols on gay relationships: ""I will always be happy as a guide to stick with Pope Benedict..Homosexuality - is it a sin? Homosexuality is not a sin. A person who is of a homosexual orientation is as worthy and as dignified as anybody else and one of the things I regret about our society is that it tends to identify people by their sexual orientation and that is a diminishing of a person. "Nobody should be put in a box because of their sexuality."

Democracy Now: Somali piracy originally began because of illegal fishing and toxic dumping by Western ships off the coast.

Lindsay Lohan eggs on the paparazzi.

BUSH SIX: Former Bush administration officials may face torture charges in Spain — Alberto Gonzales is among them. Video.

Orlando Bloom is Main Street's finest.

New orangutan population numbering up to 2,000 found in Indonesia: "A team surveying forests nestled between jagged, limestone cliffs on the eastern edge of Borneo island counted 219 orangutan nests, indicating a 'substantial' number of the animals, said Erik Meijaard, a senior ecologist at the U.S.-based The Nature Conservancy."

Isaac Mizrahi is a slob: "It takes a lot of effort for me to look this put together. If I had my way, I would sit on the couch all day and eat ice cream and go to pieces with my dogs because that is the ultimate luxury to sit and watch TV with one's dogs. I don't get time enough to do that. My boyfriend thinks I'm a little nuts because that's all I want to do on my time off and he's bored with that. He wants to go to India or something, but I'm not doing that, it's too late for India.""

News: Glenn Beck, Teabagging, Jason Statham, Esquire, Brando

Groundbreaking literary theorist Eve Kosofsky Sedgwick dies: "In one of her more audacious insights, Sedgwick proposed two ways of understanding homosexuality: a 'minoritizing view' in which there is 'a distinct population of persons who 'really are' gay,' and a 'universalizing view' in which sexual desire is unpredictable and fluid, in which "apparently heterosexual persons...are strongly marked by same-sex influences.' Think of it, in shorthand, as the difference between Ellen Degeneres' 'Yep, I'm gay!' and Gore Vidal's 'There is no such thing as a homosexual or heterosexual person; there are only homo- or heterosexual acts.'"

Madonna buys $40 million townhouse on New York's upper east side.

Glenn Beck causes guest to faint on live TV - VIDEO.

Wolff Olins branding company employee suing, claims supervisor called him "HIV boy": "[Christopher] Perez joined Wolff Olins in January 2007...He succeeded another gay man, the suit says... 'Why do you always bring me gay boys?' [supervisor Dean] Crutchfield complained, according to the suit...The suit claims that when Perez put in for vacation time, his boss asked if he was 'going away with your team for a scandalous holiday'."

Trial in Angie Zapata killing set to begin in Colorado.

Washington state House passes transgender hate crimes bill.

Hundreds turn out for funeral of Massachusetts student Carl Walker-Hoover, who last week we reported committed suicide after being overwhelmed by anti-gay bullying at school. Reverend: "The name calling must stop; the bullying must stop. We need to do better."

It's Lindsay: Lohan looking for love on eHarmony.

Jason Statham shows Brazil what he's made of.

President would have the power to "shut down the internet" under proposed law.

MSNBC on teabagging day.

Texas Christian University backs off plans for gay-themed housing after uproar: "CU Chancellor Victor J. Boschini Jr. said the national attention over the gay-related housing theme did not drive his decision to backtrack on themed housing. 'The biggest complaint we got from people was not about any single group but about having these groups in general,' said Boschini, whose decision reverses the approval of eight new housing pods, including the gay and lesbian-themed unit. The others – patriotism, Christianity and marine biology, for examples – didn't appear to be controversial."

Ally: Charlize Theron calls U.S. marriage laws "a form of apartheid."

"Gay leprechaun" slur feud continues between dean and professor at Ohio State University.

Is this a real photo of Marlon Brando with his mouth around another man? (NSFW)

AfterElton talks to Out of the Wild's gay competitor Jake Nodar: "Nodar, along with eight other participants, are dropped in the middle of the Alaskan bush and told to find their way out with minimal supplies and virtually no help. Nodar and the eight others face  brutal weather and mile after mile of trudging through the Alaskan wilderness as they work to navigate their way back to civilization"

Esquire apologizes for tongue-in-cheek guide to using the word "faggot."

Jailed Survivor winner Richard Hatch says he wants to finish his sentence in Buenos Aires: "Hatch filed a motion in U.S. District Court this week asking for travel freedom and to live in Argentina because he is married to an Argentinian national whose family is unable to travel to the United States. The federal government is opposing the motion, arguing that his sentence requires that he complete mental health counseling, file amended tax returns for 2000 and 2001, and pay $400,000 in back taxes. Hatch has not filed corrected tax returns or paid any of the taxes owed, Assistant U.S. Attorney Andrew J. Reich wrote." Hatch is scheduled to be released to a halfway house on May 12.

News: Wisconsin, Grey Gardens, Rainbow Flag, Quebec, Stevie Nicks

Domestic partnership bill advances in Nevada...

Wisconsin Supreme Court asked to review 2006 civil union, same-sex marriage ban vote.

Quebec HIV prevention campaign asphyxiates Chihuahua: "The campaign focuses on objects highly appreciated by homosexuals, using evocative symbols to offer the target audience a different take on the issue."

Will Lindsay Lohan play Stevie Nicks on film? "Over my dead body."

Meghan McCain gets six-figure book deal: "on an as-yet-unknown subject..."

Just Jared interviews Southland's Benjamin McKenzie: "To be completely honest, they’re hinting about a few things, but before the seven episode run, you’ll see a romantic, um, sexual interaction."

Manchester University in UK caught filing Homo Britannicus, a book on the history of man, in the gay section of the library.

Harlow Cuadra appeals guilty verdict in murder of rival porn producer.

First impression: Ab not looking too Fab.

The hand of God? (via sticky - nsfw)

W talks with Sally Quinn, who bought Grey Gardens from Little Edie in 1979. What was the stench like? "You can imagine. 20-30 years of cats. There was no kitty litter in that house."

Former student files lawsuit against Indian River High School in upstate New York over harassment, anti-gay bias: "The lawsuit claims that district employees wouldn't allow former student Charles P. Pratt, 20, to start a Gay-Straight Alliance in 2004 and that Superintendent James Kettrick, who was the high school principal at the time, 'displayed utter and willful indifference' to the harassment Mr. Pratt said he was subjected to at school."

Gay former manager of the Bay City Rollers and ex-con, Tam Paton, dies at 70.

AfterElton launches its Hot 100.

Michael Jackson creates chaos in Beverly Hills.

And they're telling you, they're young and they're not going...

The Mozcake of dreams...

Florida teen spends night in jail for saggy pants, blames David Beckham and Prince Harry.

Neptune, New Jersey Township Committee to take up question of whether or not residents should be allowed to display rainbow flags: "Ref: Display of sexual orientation flags. More and more, we are noticing flags being displayed on (Shark River Hills) properties declaring the occupants' sexual orientation or proclivity — not just the multicolored "gay' striped flags, but also banners indicating fetishes and or other "lifestyle' choices. While this type of display may be acceptable in certain gay enclaves, there is simply no justification for it in a family oriented neighborhood..."

Police to investigate gay pizza party in Brooklyn's Carroll Gardens.

Farrah Fawcett released from hospital: "The 62-year-old actress, who was first diagnosed in 2006, was hospitalized in Los Angeles after a routine treatment for anal cancer, which has spread to her liver. The procedure caused bleeding inside her abdominal wall."

News: Mount Redoubt, Cal Thomas, McGill, Matt Drudge, Malaysia

Conservative columnist Cal Thomas: Same-sex marriage battle lost. "To those on the political and religious right who are intent on continuing the battle to preserve 'traditional marriage' in a nation that is rapidly discarding its traditions, I would ask this question: What poses a greater threat to our remaining moral underpinnings? Is it two homosexuals living together, or is it the number of heterosexuals who are divorcing and the increasing number of children born to unmarried women, now at nearly 40 percent, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention"

The Big Picture looks into the cone of the Mount Redoubt Volcano.

Ever been to a penis festival?

Iowa same-sex marriages delayed by three days.

Russian court finds activists guilty of "popularizing" homosexuality.

From the diaries of Matt Drudge's gay ex-roommate.

White House advisory panel on Faith-Based and Neighborhood Partnerships: Anti-gay former Indianapolis Colts coach Tony Dungy declines, openly gay director of the religion and faith program at Human Rights Campaign, Harry Knox, accepts.

Robert Pattinson injures his arse.

Advocate: Is porn recession-proof? "Jet Set and others in the adult industry are facing a double whammy: the worst recession in decades coupled with nothing less than a tectonic shift in the way people are consuming their products. Much as Napster did to the record industry 10 years ago, websites like XTube are shaking traditional porn businesses to their core. And now an industry that is perhaps best known for going for broke could go, well, broke."

Newsweek on LGBT youth and the search for a welcoming college.

Ronson family issues restraining order against Lindsay Lohan.

McGill student writes about being targeted in anti-gay hate crime in Montreal: "It seemed it was not a joke, or at least not one my friend and I were allowed to laugh at. These four men were quite serious. They had identified us as gay, and they were not okay with that."

Madonna goes out on the town following return from Malawi.

Vandals desecrate park dedicated to Matthew Shepard in West Hollywood: "The trees, one a flowering Chinese Magnolia and the other a California Live Oak, suffered considerable damage in the attacks. Morris Kight, who died just weeks after his tree’s planting in 2002, was honored at that time for his pioneering of the gay movement; founding Gay Pride, co-founding the LA Gay & Lesbian Center, Stonewall Democratic Club are just a sampling of his achievement."

Rose McGowan discusses her gays.

Mike Alvear: At least have the decency to lie about your sexuality.

Gay, singer/serial killer receives death sentence in Malaysia: "A self-confessed Indonesian serial killer who recorded a pop album and wrote a grisly tell-all book from his prison cell was sentenced to death on Monday for the murder of a romantic rival.A district court in Depok outside the Indonesian capital found Verry Idham Henyansyah, known popularly as Ryan, guilty of murdering and dismembering Herry Santoso and dumping of his body in bags on a Jakarta roadside last year."

News: Daft Punk, Dianne Feinstein, End the Lies, Rihanna, Jacko

Sore Loser: Why is John McCain being such a jerk?

Harder, stronger, faster: Daft Punk to score Tron2.

Chris Brown to Rihanna: "You just did the stupidest thing ever. I'm going to kill you."

HRC launches EndTheLies website to counter false statements made by anti-gay right wing groups: "As we gear up to fight for passage of our legislative agenda in Congress, EndTheLies.org will feature an “interactive wall” of anti-LGBT crusaders (i.e. the AFA, Sally Kern, and George W. Bush) and will provide ways for visitors to take action against their efforts. Users will also be able to nominate their own candidates for the wall."

POLL: Dianne Feinstein would be instant front-runner in California gubernatorial race.

Michael Jackson takes mask off.

Suspects in hate crime attack of 41-year-old man elude Seattle police: "According to police, the victim was assaulted by two men as he walked toward his home from a bar. The victim told police that he didn't get a clear look at the men, but from their voices he believes they were in their late teens or early 20s. He suffered a broken tooth, eye lacerations and injuries to his chin, nose, hands and ribs. According to a police report, the victim was wearing a white sailor suit costume that he had worn earlier in the evening while working at Gay Bingo in downtown Seattle"

Two men arrested for killing gay man and stabbing his partner on London doorstep.

Man receives community service for punching gay man in face in San Francisco, calling him "stupid faggot": "Under a plea agreement reached in San Francisco Superior Court in January, Andrew Duhamel, 29, will be placed on formal probation for four years. As conditions of probation, in addition to a stay away order from the victim, Jerry Deal, 32, and payment of full restitution to him, Duhamel was ordered to pay $1,000 to Community United Against Violence. He was also ordered to perform 250 hours of community service or serve four months in county jail."

Lindsay Lohan thinks she's like a virgin.

Ryan Reynolds, Taylor Kitsch Wolverine promo photos unleashed...

NPR reporter bashes gays over Prop 8 donations: "[These incidents have] given rise to charges that as gay rights advocates tried to change public opinion, some stepped over the line and turned their protest into a witch hunt."

Rick Schroeder gets back to nature (nsfw)...

Russian scholar says gays will have hand in U.S. collapse: "[Igor Panarin] also noted he had been predicting the demise of the world's wealthiest country for more than a decade now. But he said the recent economic turmoil in the U.S. and other 'social and cultural phenomena' led him to nail down a specific timeframe for 'The End' - when the United States will break up into six autonomous regions and Alaska will revert to Russian control. Panarin argued that Americans are in moral decline, saying their great psychological stress is evident from school shootings, the size of the prison population and the number of gay men."