News: Zaha Hadid, AETNA, Prop 8, Will Smith, India, Ari Shapiro

Connecticut same-sex couples celebrate new status.

Did Will Smith enlist the services of a notorious Hollywood Madame to meet men?

Liza Minnelli returning to Broadway in December: "She will be accompanied by pianist-musical supervisor Billy Stritch, a 12-piece orchestra and four dancer-singers. The show will feature some of Minnelli's best-known songs, particularly numbers such as 'Cabaret,' 'Maybe This Time' and 'New York, New York,' all written by John Kander and Fred Ebb."

Climate change faster and more extreme than feared.

Bitter: Guy says sex with Madonna like "cuddling up to a piece of gristle."

Sullivan: Obama should produce ad opposing Prop 8. "This is a core test of whether gay Americans should back Obama as enthusiastically as they have in the last month. If he does not stand up for gay couples now, why should we believe he will when he is in office? And if black Americans are the critical bloc that helps kill civil rights for gays, that will not help deepen Obama's governing coalition. It could tear it apart."

AETNA to link Gay and Lesbian Medical Association Provider Directory to its online doctor resource.

OUT announces first name in annual Out 100: NPR's Ari Shapiro.

British man stabbed to death in homophobic attack in public toilet, court hears: "Jeff Akers, 50, of Wallington, south London, died in hospital after he staggered from the toilet in Walton-on-Thames with the 8in knife in his back. Jobless Mark Malone, 30, of Clement Road, Walton-on-Thames, a married man who went fishing nearby, denies murder."

Delhi High Court objects to government's argument that homosexuality is a disease: "Show us one report which says that it is a disease. A WHO paper says that it is not a disease but you are describing it as a disease. It is an accepted fact that it is a main vehicle that causes (AIDS) disease but it is not a disease itself."

New British UFO files released: "The captain of the Alitalia airliner shouted "Look out" to his co-pilot at the sight of a brown missile-shaped object shooting past them overhead. Civil Aviation Authority and military investigations could not explain the 1991 incident near Lydd in Kent. The unsolved close encounter features in UFO-related military documents made available by the National Archives."

Underwear model Justin Gaston gone wild!

Sarah Palin uses the alias "Tina" when she checks into hotels.

California rabbi sees surge in weddings: "At the beginning of May, Edwards, the rabbi of the Beth Chayim Chadashim synagogue in Los Angeles' Fairfax district, had a single wedding on her calendar. Then the California Supreme Court struck down the state's ban on same-sex marriage in mid-May. Between mid-June, when gay couples could legally begin marrying, and the first weekend of November, she will have performed more than 40 weddings. All but one are same-sex unions."

Architect Zaha Hadid collaborating with Lacoste on limited edition footwear.

NYT says not enough has been disclosed about candidates' health.

Anti-gay hate crimes surge in Scotland: "The picture of rocketing hate crime is in stark contrast to claims that Scotland is becoming more cosmopolitan and diverse. In Strathclyde, reported incidents of homophobic crime have soared from just 50 cases three years ago to 216 this year. In Lothian and Borders, crimes against people because of their sexual orientation - including assault and vandalism - jumped by more than 60 per cent, from 45 in 2005 to 76 this year. Crimes against lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender (LGBT) people rose in Central Scotland from just five three years ago to 16 this year."

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Kathy Griffin Spreads 'Em for The Advocate

Remember that Kathy Griffin Advocate "cover try" she showed off on her appearance on Jimmy Kimmel. Well, that shot didn't make the cover of the mag's 'Hollywood issue'. Instead, that was reserved for a Britney-style thigh-spreader.

Of the shoot, Griffin told Kimmel:

GRIFFIN: This is what's called a "cover try". Being on the D-List, they won't just put me on the cover, so they told me I was a "cover try" so I may or may not end up on the cover but I love this photo shoot because it's airbrushed beyond belief, which is key, but it's me also just hugging a hot gay guy. And, uh...

KIMMEL: Is he gay, the guy?

GRIFFIN: I think so! The only straight guy who has that body is in prison and not at a photo shoot. But the photographer...has hooked me up with this gorgeous guy who coincidentally had this tattoo, and you know, me, shaking it up with the Jesus people is perfect.

While the interview holds little that you won't find in one of her shows (even writer Corey Scholibo had difficulty catching her at a non-"on" moment), the interview captures several anecdotes I hadn't heard before, including this one about the time Griffin met Liza Minnelli after a gig in Canada.

Griffin: "I knocked on her hotel room door. She opens it up. The room’s pitch black. She’s chain-smoking in bed. I get in the bed with her like Michael Jackson, and we watch The Asphalt Jungle. There was a guy who had been at the restaurant the night before — he’s one of these guys who seemed completely gay to me but had the hot girlfriend. I said to Liza, 'Did you get a gay vibe from that guy, or is it me?' She goes, 'How would I know? Look who I married.'"

Above is a video clip featuring Griffin and cover photographer Mike Ruiz. A bit of 'behind-the-scenes' footage. (warning: language NSFW)

Read part of the interview here.

In related news, Griffin reportedly made CNN anchor Anderson Cooper blush at her recent Madison Square Garden gig, according to Page Six: "Sporting a baseball cap (his attempt at going incognito) and a polo shirt that granted everyone access to the gun show, Anderson squirmed in his seat as Kathy likened him to a 'yummy panini' that she wanted to let drip from her mouth.

My Life on the Gay List [advocate]

Previously
Kathy Griffin's Advocate "Cover Try" on Jimmy Kimmel [tr]

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News: Voyager 2, Liza Minnelli, Morocco, Florida Gay Marriage Ban

Group proposing amendment to ban same-sex marriage in Florida reaches necessary 611,009 signature goal: " One of the signatures belongs to Gov. Charlie Crist, although the state's top Republican has not trumpeted the issue during his first year in office." And why is this significant?

Liza Minnelli collapses, tumbles off stage in Sweden...

Human Rights Watch demands Morocco overturn the convictions of six men sentenced to prison for homosexual conduct: "The men have been in jail since they were first arrested by the police between November 23 and 25, 2007, after a video circulated online – including on YouTube – purporting to show a private party, allegedly including the men, taking place in Ksar el-Kbir on November 18. Press reports claimed the party was a 'gay marriage.' Following the arrests, hundreds of men and women marched through the streets of Ksar el-Kbir, denouncing the men’s alleged actions and calling for their punishment."

Shooter at New Life, Ted Haggard's former Mega-church, may be a victim of the church's ex-gay reparative therapy program.

Spice Girls reveal their aircraft: Spice One.

Arctic ice melting at alarming pace: "An already relentless melting of the Arctic greatly accelerated this summer, a warning sign that some scientists worry could mean global warming has passed an ominous tipping point. One even speculated that summer sea ice would be gone in five years...'The Arctic is often cited as the canary in the coal mine for climate warming,' said NASA climate scientist Jay Zwally, who as a teenager hauled coal. 'Now as a sign of climate warming, the canary has died. It is time to start getting out of the coal mines.'"

Plaque to be laid commemorating site of early gay bar, honoring Black Cat Cafe's role in San Francisco's gay rights movement.

Gay cruise plans March takeover of tropical island in Australia.

Ben Cohen gets suddenly modest for Gay Times.

Spain recognizes UK couple's civil partnership after protracted campaign: "Their campaign paid off, as the Spanish government has now agreed to recognise the civil partnerships of UK lesbian and gay couples. 'We visited the British Consul on 29th November to change our status in our passports,' the couple told PinkNews.co.uk. 'We have made a little bit of history by becoming the first UK same-sex couple resident in Spain to have their civil partnership acknowledged in law and in the observations section of our passports.'"

Voyager 2 probe reaches edge of solar system...

Isaiah Washington shows up unannounced to join Grey's Anatomy cast on "diversity day" at the writer's strike: "Asked if Washington was with the Grey's group, Heigl, who had previously publicly criticized Washington told The Daily News, 'He's not with me.' But Washington denied there were problems with his former co-workers. 'They're former castmates. I've been in over 25 movies, I have lots of former castmates.' he said."

Gay Washington D.C. council member calls for transit police probe after recent alleged anti-gay assault on Metro train.

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Liza Minnelli on Britney Spears: She's Got a Disease

Liza Minnelli talked to the St. Petersburg Times on Tuesday about hip replacement, drag queens, being famous...and Britney Spears:

"I just feel horrible for her. You know, she’s got a disease. And when you have a disease, you cannot help it. So it’s not your fault, but you’re responsible for it. I just feel so bad for her because I don’t think anybody really understands what’s going on. The way the press is now, she’s getting so much attention. Somebody said to me the other day, 'God, you have to go to jail to get a good review.' (guffaws) It’s an interesting period. They used to have clauses and contracts where you can’t get bad publicity or you’d get fired. But now bad publicity is good publicity. I just keep working and don’t think about it much."

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News: Wiiitis, NYC Club Assault, Paris Hilton, Jason Knight

Gay man assaulted by staff at New York nightclub Pacha: " The victim was passed out in the West 46th Street club's bathroom early Sunday morning when he was allegedly dragged out and assaulted before being thrown out the back door. A source said that anti-gay slurs were made during the attack, which is being investigated as a hate crime. Cops executed a search warrant last night, seizing computers, video equipment and business records. During the raid, the club's manager, who was not identified, was arrested on a warrant."

First documented case of Wiiitis: "If a player gets too engrossed, he may 'play tennis' for many hours. With the growing use of this new video game system, the risk of the Wiiitis variant may be higher than that of Nintendinitis reported in the literature, especially among adults. Physicians should be aware that there may be multiple, possibly puzzling presentations of Wiiitis.”

Party at the Hilton Hilton: "After extensive consultation with Los Angeles County Medical Personnel, including doctors at the Century Regional Detention Facility, it has been determined that Paris Hilton will be reassigned to the Community-Based Alternatives to Custody: The CBAC Program. Ms. Hilton has been fitted with an electronic monitoring device and will serve the remained of her sentence confined to her home. She will now serve the full 45 day sentence. Ms. Hilton has been in custody for five days and therefore will be serving 40 days in the Electronic Monitoring Program under the supervision of the Los Angeles County Probation Department." More...

Liza Minnelli to rap on new album: "There's always a man that you love. There's always a man that you didn't love. There's always a man that you love to love, and a man that you love too much."

Human rights watchdog calls on governments to step up prosecution of hate crimes.

George Michael says the press is jealous of him: "Me, I don't want any children, I don't want responsibility. I am gay, I smoke weed and I do exactly what I want in my life because of my talent. I represent an ideal which others have had to let go and they blame me for that. Especially men."

Jason Knight, the petty officer second class who was discharged under "Don't Ask, Don't Tell" but called back to active duty and subsequently discharged again, says that the papers regarding his most recent discharge leave the door open for him to be called back to active duty: "I can’t do anything but laugh. It’s getting to the point of being ridiculous."

Former U.S. House Clerk Jeff Trandahl breaks silence on Mark Foley case: "Trandahl resigned from his post as House clerk and announced his new job in the fall of 2005, shortly after he began questioning Foley’s behavior toward pages in private conversations with both Foley and House GOP staffers. In his remarks last week, Trandahl refuted the speculation that GOP leaders forced him out of his job. He said he had long planned to retire after 20 years of government service and noted that his departure was set well before the scandal broke. Trandahl thanked former House Speakers Dennis Hastert (R-Ill.) and Newt Gingrich (R-Ga.) and current Speaker Nancy Pelosi (D-Calif.) for supporting him during his tenure in the House. But he said former Rep. Tom DeLay (R-Texas) had long sought to oust him from the job because he is openly gay."

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News, Montana, Anderson Cooper, MLK Parade, Lutherans

LGBT marchers battered with insults at Atlanta MLK day parade: "Y’all gay? OK, alright," one man shouted before backing away and turning around. "You can look at them and tell [they’re gay], they don’t need no signs."

Go west: gays buying up property in Red Lodge, Montana.

Nigeria is about to have a major crackdown on gays: "Though presented as a simple ban on marriage, the long-winded 'Prohibition of Relationships Between Persons of the Same Sex, Celebration of Marriage by Them, and for Other Matters Connected Therewith' will bar all expressions and endorsements of homosexuality."

Six Feet Under's Lauren Ambrose is the proud mother to a baby boy.

Jim McGreevey's wife is "eager to counter the version of events the ex-governor offered in his own memoir" according to the New York Daily News. Dina McGreevey: "I've had a lot of requests for interviews and appearances, but thought it best for my daughter and myself to stay out of the public maelstrom. But two years have passed and still I am the subject of much speculation as to the nature of my relationship with my husband. Enough is enough."

Just an itty bitty correction: David Beckham's L.A. Galaxy contract is worth $50 million, and not $250 million as first reported.

Because he announced he has found a lifelong male partner, openly gay Rev. Bradley Schmeling must face trial by a Lutheran committee who may defrock him: "The ELCA maintains it is simply following its own rules, which bar unmarried clergy — whether gay or straight — from having sex. The denomination believes that sex is reserved for marriage and marriage for heterosexual couples. Still, many Lutheran churches support ordaining partnered gays and perform same-sex blessing ceremonies despite the policy."

REPORT: Anderson Cooper renews his contract with CNN for more than $4 million a year.

Britney Spears has been busy checking out the gay nightlife in L.A. and Vegas.

Liza Minnelli and David Gest are finally ready to divorce...in Tennessee: "Before filing for divorce, Gest sued Minnelli for $10 million for assault, claiming that his wife had beaten him so badly during alcoholic rages that she caused him nerve damage and caused him to be hospitalized for five days. Minnelli countersued, claiming that Gest had stolen at least $2 million she earned while performing in shows he had produced. Lorraine Nadel, Gest's lawyer in the assault lawsuit and in the Minnelli countersuit, confirmed that legal battle was over. She said the settlement terms were confidential and would not say whether either paid the other any money."

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David Gest's Jungle Confession: I'm Not Gay

Liza Minnelli's ex-husband David Gest, who has been running around the Australian jungle on the UK version of I'm a Celebrity Get Me Out of Here, told openly gay fashion designer Scott Henshall in a campfire heart-to-heart that he's not gay:

"They said 'was I straight, was I gay?' I always said, 'bring me one guy I’ve been with' - I’d love to meet him because, if I was into it, I’d be proud of it. I have tons of friends that are gay. They said that because of my wife who I’m getting divorced from was [a gay icon]. I never had a Judy Garland room, I never had a Shirley Temple room. These are all ridiculous things."

Hours in the jungle have given Gest, seen here with actor Dean Gaffney, the opportunity to expound on a variety of topics, including his infamous wedding kiss with Minnelli (WARNING GRAPHIC): "Donald Trump said to me that night I have never seen a kiss like that in my life. I was so excited and so in love that when I took my tongue it looked like I was eating a part of her because I went all the way through her mouth. It looked like I was a shark going in and I took every part of her mouth out with my tongue. And it was like a nine-minute kiss. When I saw it three months later when we were in bed I took the covers over me. I was going: 'Oh my God, Liza!'"

The Sun also recently reported that Liza has high hopes for Gest on the show. Said a friend: "Liza goes from wishing him dead from spider stings to hoping he abandons the show and flies home to beg forgiveness. She was sobbing that he deserves to be eaten alive by crocs or fucked by kangaroos. Liza still has extreme feelings for Gest, from a teary 'Come home baby!' to ranting 'Die in a plague of pus-oozing boils!' She can’t imagine David living rough in the Bush now. Liza says David would shudder at the thought of cockroaches. Stories of him laughing at giant spiders sounds like a very different David to her. Liza says he’s either turned into a macho man or is faking being brave."

Damn VH1 for never airing that reality show.

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