"About 50 couples will take part in the ceremony presided by West Hollywood Mayor Jeffrey Prang and witnessed by Shepard’s mom, Judy to mark the start of National Gay Pride Month. Couples will also be wearing Erase Hate pendants, from Love and Pride jewelry line designer Udi Behr."
Of course Malkin uses the word "tie the knot" and we know gays in California don't get that level of dignity in California - yet. Which may be a good thing, considering Knight and Cornelsen have been dating for less than six months.
Zsa Zsa Gabor's husband, Prince Frederic Von Anhalt gets in an argument with a photographer in West Hollywood about his thoughts on gay marriage ("it's not normal") and why he allegedly hangs out reading gay magazines at the WeHo Starbucks.
No word on what caused the altercation, but TMZ responds to his "not normal" remarks: "Right, because the guy who married Zsa Zsa, got handcuffed in his car naked and wore lederhosen in public should set the standard for 'normal.'"
Director and co-creator, Dave O’Brien explains the premise behind the online advocacy series: "Young people live their lives online. We’re trying to influence the YouTube generation, so it just makes sense for us to reach them this way. And with the premier of the second episode, we’ve expanded the opportunities for visitors to the site to interact with each other. Now they can create their own profile, interact with other users directly, start new discussion threads, and post video comments. The beauty of this campaign is that it reaches anyone with a computer, anywhere, enabling people to engage anonymously if they prefer."
The first episode, which has been viewed over 30,000 times, dealt with drinking, online sex addiction, and unprotected sex. The second episode expands on those storylines with questions about honesty in relationships where the partners have had unprotected sex with others.
Said Alton Carswell, program manager for the Center’s WeHoLife.org HIV prevention program: "We’re portraying these provocative situations to stimulate dialogue and because they’re real world issues some young gay men face. By getting people to think about and discuss these issues in advance, we hope they’ll make better decisions should they face a similar situation. Obviously we aren’t suggesting all these issues are common to gay men in general."
Alexander McQueen's new L.A. Boutique opens today and the designer plans for it to be an outpost of art as much as fashion:
WWD reports: "The British designer heralded his arrival on Los Angeles' luxury retail landscape with his signature flair — installing a 9-foot-tall sculpture of a naked man that pokes through the roof of his flagship on Melrose and Orlando Avenues, which opens today. 'Angel of the Americas,' the stainless steel sculpture by artist Robert Bryce Muir, is suspended vertically from a circular skylight. Its head, outstretched arms and torso are visible above the structure's rooftop, the lower body of the anatomically correct work is suspended above the selling floor. 'L.A., like London, has so many art collectors and I wanted to give a focal point to the store,' McQueen told WWD. 'I was also inspired by the Jesus Christ statue in Rio de Janeiro. Los Angeles is the City of Angels and I wanted something to reflect that.' A billboard above the store (now featuring a cell phone ad) is to serve as an unlikely canvas, showing work by collaborating artists."
"Physically, McQueen has always come across as a sparkplug of a fellow, a muscled knot of a hooligan with a wrestler's physique and close-cropped hair. But sitting on an overstuffed couch in the Chateau's lounge the day before his 39th birthday (he was born on St. Patrick's Day, 1969), he seems as dangerous as an actuary with a head cold. Clad in white running shoes, dark blue jeans and a blue crew-neck sweater over a white button-front shirt, he's sniffling slightly (blame the air conditioning) and sipping tea from a cup the size of a soup tureen. He admits that his latest runway show was 'a bit more calculated and thought out' than previous ones, partly the effect of losing his longtime friend and mentor, Isabella Blow. After she died, McQueen went on a pilgrimage to India (he's a Buddhist). There, in addition to finding inspiration for both his men's and women's collections (the men's was full of references to the Tibetan Plateau, including shaggy fur hats (remember that?) and mirror-embroidered pieces), he seemed, despite the cliché of it all, to find his center. 'The reason I got into this business is because I love what I do,' he explained. 'After I was at Givenchy, I lost that feeling. But after my friend died, I found a new love for it because she loved it and she found me because of what I was good at. I had to slap myself about the face and say, 'Pull yourself together. This is what you love doing, so do it properly.' It was a wake-up call, and I actually do love it more than I ever have.'"
Fat Joe and Suge White mock fellow hip-hop artists 50 Cent and G-Unit with 'Gay-Unit' mix tape: "Featuring a Photoshoped image of 50, Yayo and Banks tightly embraced, all three rappers are portrayed with smeared lipstick on the face, as Yayo was tattooed with a "I Miss Jail" on his right shoulder and Banks sporting a portrait of Curtis on his left shoulder with 'Delicious' tagged under." (image via Rod 2.0)
University of Pittsburgh study: LGB youth report higher rates of drug and alcohol use. "The odds of substance use for lesbian, gay and bisexual (LGB) youth are on average 190 percent higher than for heterosexual youth...What's more, for some sub-populations of LGB youth, the odds were substantially higher, including 340 percent for bisexual youth and 400 percent for lesbians, researchers found. 'Homophobia, discrimination and victimization are largely what are responsible for these substance use disparities in young gay people,' said Michael P. Marshal, Ph.D., assistant professor of psychiatry at the Western Psychiatric Institute and Clinic of UPMC, who led the study. 'History shows that when marginalized groups are oppressed and do not have equal opportunities and equal rights, they suffer. Our results show that gay youth are clearly no exception.'"
Apparently they are remaking the 70's kids TV show Land of the Lost at the La Brea Tar Pits, but I don't know how you can ever replicate the wonderfully bad fake dinos and the Sleestaks...
'Domestic partnership' to become 'mutual commitment' in Salt Lake City? "Some legislators argued that the term 'domestic partnership,' at least in spirit, violated Utah's constitutional Amendment No. 3, which bans same-sex marriage and substantially similar civil unions. Salt Lake City Mayor Ralph Becker said Tuesday he will recommend to the City Council that the name be changed to the mutual commitment registry. The City Council likely will consider the recommendation at its April 1 meeting. If approved, the registry could be up and running as soon as April 7."
Ronald Haines, Episcopal Bishop who ordained lesbian in 1991, dies in Pennsylvania.
Karl Lagerfeld the subject of new documentary: "The film is Lagerfeld Gone Wild, with delights such as Lagerfeld discussing how gay people suck nowadays because they no longer outrage 'bourgeois social norms' and why prostitution should be legal. He's full of opinions."
Vienna LGBT group announces poster competition to raise awareness about homophobia in football: "With the European championships to be held in Austria and Switzerland this summer, Qwien said it wanted to draw attention to homophobia in football. 'By launching a Europe-wide poster competition, we will make an otherwise taboo topic public' during the championships, it said. Posters had to be submitted by the end of May. The best 50 would be selected and then a jury - including Icelandic film director Robert Douglas, Life Ball organiser Gery Keszler, the president of Hamburg's FC St. Pauli football club Corny Littmann, pop singer Jimmy Somerville and Tanja Walther of the the European Gay and Lesbian Sports Federation - would pick the best three. The winner would be announced on June 4. The 50 best posters would be displayed "at a public venue" during the championship itself, which runs from June 7-29." (official site)
L.A.'s first openly gay police officer seeks new trial in discrimination suit: "Former Sgt. Mitchell Grobeson wants a rehearing of a discrimination suit that sought up to $4.4 million in damages. A jury ruled for the city last year. A Superior Court judge on Tuesday took under submission Grobeson's motions for a new trial and reinstatement to the LAPD. Grobeson did two stints with the LAPD in the 1980s and 1990s before retiring on a psychological disability. The LAPD settled a previous suit by Grobeson in 1993 by promising to improve its hiring and training of gay officers."
Yesterday I posted about a 15-year-old gay student, now identified as Lawrence King, who was shot by a classmate in front of at least 20 other students in a classroom at his junior high school in Oxnard, California. King has now been declared brain dead and his body remains on a respirator for organ donation.
From the details that have emerged so far it appears that the shooting did, in fact, have to do with the fact that King was open about his sexuality.
"Police have not determined a motive in the slaying but said it appeared to stem from a personal dispute between King and the suspect...But several students at the south Oxnard campus said King and his alleged assailant had a falling out stemming from King's sexual orientation. The teenager sometimes wore feminine clothing and makeup, and proclaimed he was gay, students said. 'He would come to school in high-heeled boots, makeup, jewelry and painted nails -- the whole thing,' said Michael Sweeney, 13, an eighth-grader. 'That was freaking the guys out.' Student Juan Sandoval, 14, said he shared a fourth-period algebra class with the suspect, whom he described as a calm, smart student who played on the basketball team. 'I didn't think he was that kind of kid,' Sandoval said. 'I guess you never know. He made a big mistake.'...Several students said that a day before the shooting, King and several boys had some kind of altercation during the lunch period. If the suspect targeted King because of his sexual orientation, the case could rise to the level of a hate crime, authorities said. 'We've heard that and a lot of other things,' [Oxnard police spokesman David ] Keith said. 'But I can't say what the motive is until we finish our interviews.' [Ventura County Dist. Atty. Gregory] Totten said he could not comment on the specifics of the case until he reviewed the police investigation. But a hate-crime enhancement is something that prosecutors would consider as they move forward, he said. 'It's something we will look at,' he said. 'But the case is going to be reviewed as a murder involving the use of a firearm, and that carries a potential sentence of 50 years to life.'"
The 14-year-old suspect will be charged with first-degree murder.
Apparently King was in counseling for "some of his concerns and issues" according to the school superintendent.
A gay junior high school student in Oxnard, California was shot in front of dozens of other classmates yesterday, the L.A. Times reports:
"The shooting was not gang-related, said [Oxnard police spokesman David] Keith, who added that the school had not been a particular trouble spot before. 'It looked like it was personal between the two of them,' he said, declining to elaborate. Some students said the victim, whose name was not disclosed, sometimes wore makeup and feminine jewelry and had declared himself gay. They said he was frequently taunted by other boys and had been involved in an argument with the alleged shooter, an eighth-grader who also was not named, and others Monday. During the lunchtime argument, one of the boys shouted at Tuesday's victim, 'You better watch your back,' said one student who witnessed the encounter. Police said they had not determined a motive for the crime. Keith said investigators had also heard that the victim was gay but did not know whether that was true or whether it figured in the attack. They were sorting through several other possibilities as well, he said: 'Which are true and which are rumor, we're trying to figure out.'"
The student's condition is reportedly critical, but improving.
The L.A. Weekly takes a look at Jeremy Bernard and Rufus Gifford, the gay SoCal-based couple who have raised millions of dollars for Barack Obama's campaign:
"Once the checks are rolling in, Bernard and Gifford then have the full attention of a congressional or presidential candidate, giving them the chance, behind the scenes, to promote their own political issues. It's a level of access gays once only dreamed of, but they are living it. 'Being gay makes you inherently political,' says Gifford, comfortable with using his proximity to power to influence the candidate. 'You see what's right and what's wrong, and you need to do something about it.' Bernard and Gifford have very little, if anything, in common with the Old Gay approach typified by the Human Rights Campaign's need for straight actresses to peddle an agenda. They are the new guard, or New Gays, who are more politically savvy. The New Gays cultivate, work with and fund gay political candidates. They withhold their talents and money from straight politicians who don't follow through on their promises, while supporting those with what they view as a progay track record. And they never seek the straight world's approval for their own gay existence. The New Gays understand their power in today's political system, and they use it. And in this winter's slog of primaries, they just might use it to propel a candidate toward the White House."
"Before the cops arrived, the shrink told her she was going back to the hospital and she offered no resistance. She said, "Is something wrong?" She made hot chocolate and waited. Her mom, Lynne, got extremely agitated, accusing Sam of engineering the impending commitment. We're told Brit told her to "shut the hell up." She demanded silence, sat on the floor and wrote notes to people who were there as they waited. When emergency personnel arrived, Brit went on the gurney without resistance..."
Hopefully Spears will soon get the help she so desperately needs.
"There are many actors in this room tonight including my fellow nominees who have given me that sense of regeneration. Heath Ledger gave it to me. In Monster's Ball, uh, that character that he created seemed to be almost like an unformed being retreating from themselves, retreating from his father, from his life, even retreating from us, and yet we wanted to follow him and yet were scared to follow him almost. It was unique, and then of course in 'Brokeback Mountain' he was unique, he was perfect. And that scene in the trailer in the end of the film is as moving as anything I think I've ever ever seen."
Backstage, Day-Lewis said: "I thought he was beautiful. I just had a very strong feeling I would have liked him very much as a man," he said. "I admired him very much. I'm absolutely certain he would have done many wonderful things in his life. We should leave him alone and we should leave his family alone to suffer their unimaginable grief in private, and it's not going to happen," Day-Lewis said backstage. "We should just stop encouraging people to have greater and greater interest in raking over every detail, which is none of our business anyhow."
Ledger's photo was the final image presented in the night's In Memoriam tribute as well. Reports also began to emerge over the weekend that the actor's death may have been from natural causes because of low levels of toxicity in his blood. These reports are unconfirmed.
Full list of SAG Award winners after the jump...
Movies:
Actor: Daniel Day-Lewis, "There Will Be Blood."
Actress: Julie Christie, "Away From Her."
Supporting actor: Javier Bardem, "No Country for Old Men."
The first "webisode" called "So Many Choices" depicts situations related to hooking up online, heavy drinking, and unsafe sex. In the online forum, the webisode's characters ask questions about their behavior specifically addressing those issues.
The City of West Hollywood provided funding to produce the first episode, which contains content probably too provocative for most government programs.
Said Susan Cohen, director of the Center’s Health Education and Prevention Department: We’re grateful the City of West Hollywood has funded this initiative, through our WeHoLife.org program, to promote healthy living among those who live, work and visit West Hollywood. Of course, we know it also has the potential to stimulate safer sex discussions among anyone with a computer and we will be monitoring web traffic, with the hope that we can secure funding for the remaining 11 webisodes."
VIEW the first episode, AFTER THE JUMP (warning NSFW)...
As it seems their site may be having some bandwidth issues, here's the episode on YouTube.
Jim Key, Chief Public Affairs Officer at The Center, told me: "We’re blending digital, scripted entertainment—in the form of sexy gay 'soap operas'—with online forums to stimulate discussions regarding real-world sexual situations many gay men face today. Traditional HIV prevention programs – social marketing campaigns, condom distribution, discussion groups, etc. – just aren’t as effective at reaching young gay men. Fewer young gay guys are part of the 'bar culture,' so outreach efforts are more difficult than they used to be and even fewer are interested in coming to discussion groups intended to promote safer sex. Most young gay men are, however, online frequently and enjoy online video, so we intend to reach them 'where they are.' We think this is especially important given some recent alarming stats regarding the HIV infection rate among gay youth. New York City health officials recently reported that new HIV infections among gay and bisexual men, under the age of 30, rose 32% between 2001 and 2002."
Jane Cantillon's documentary The Other Side: A Queer History about gay life in Los Angeles in the 50's, 60's, and 70's is currently seeking distribution, according to World of Wonder. This trailer features clips of men discussing entrapment by the police in the secret early gay bars of L.A. Cantillon's email address is at the end of the clip.
Sundance Film Festival, which begins tomorrow, to feature more than 40 gay-related films: "Alan Ball, one of the creators of 'Six Feet Under' and the writer of 'American Beauty,' will be showing 'Towelhead,' about a young Arab-American girl who gets involved with an army reservist living in her neighborhood. Craig Lucas, the director behind 'Longtime Companion' and 'The Dying Gaul' is back with 'Birds of America,' starring Matthew Perry and Hillary Swank. His new film focuses on three siblings who are suddenly reunited and working through various identity issues. Director Tom Kalin returns to Sundance after 16 years with 'Savage Grace,' starring Julianne Moore as a mother who tries to cure her son of being gay. The film is produced by 'Boys Don’t Cry' producer Christine Vachon, whom Huang says has a special knack for bringing outsider queer films into the mainstream."
Virginia lawmaker Lionel Spruill trying to introduce legislation to ban rubber testicles from the backs of trucks: "They're offensive to some folks. It's OK to express yourself, but citizens have the right not to be subjected to something vulgar."
Europe's first gay nursing home opens in Berlin: "The newly built, four-storey nursing facility in the German capital could accommodate 28 patients in state-of-the-art rooms with private bathrooms and enough space for some of their own furnishings, said Christian Hamm, an architect and nursing home board member. 'When you're old … you certainly don't want to give up your identity and live in some hostile environment, possibly sharing a room with someone who despises you.' Potential residents are already signing up and have expressed delight at the prospect of living out their twilight years in a gay- friendly environment."
Gay T-shirt spotted in United Arab Emirates raises eyebrows: "Believe it or not, a T-shirt with sexually suggestive message — 'I am not gay but my friend is' — is being sold in one of the markets in Al Ain City. The offence is being committed despite the regular inspections by the concerned authorities to ensure that items sold in the city’s markets are complying with the local customs and traditions. An Emirati resident here complained recently that he found the offensive message on his 10-year-old son’s T-shirt. The father of the boy was astonished and wondered how such T-shirts entered the country."
Tracey Ullman to debut new comedy show on Showtime in the spring: Tracey Ullman's State of the Union will feature a kaleidoscope of original characters and impersonations in a wide collection of irreverent and hilarious skits that range from sardonic parody and social satire to Bollywood musicals. The limited series is a snapshot of modern day America as seen through the brilliant comedic mind of Tracey Ullman."
San Francisco Presbytery becomes first in nation to consider openly gay deacon as minister: "Lisa Larges, who has been blocked from ordination for more than 15 years, won on a 167-to-151 vote of the local presbytery's ministers after three hours of debate. Larges said the ban on gay ministers 'puts upon the door of the church an 'Unwelcome' sign for all gay, lesbian, bisexual and transgender persons and their families.' The action allows Larges, a deacon at Noe Valley Ministry Presbyterian Church in San Francisco, to submit to an oral exam later this year. 'It has been a long battle and I have been through a lot of discrimination,' said Larges, her voice shaking. 'The church is a beautiful, messy thing, and it's about loving the church in spite of the church.'"
Teen gay bashes straight couple after mistaking short-haired girlfriend for a man: "The boy, 16, has been charged in juvenile court with the assault, occurring after asking the man and his girlfriend if they were 'two gay guys.' They then became "f$%^ing gay bastards" as they were thrown to the ground, punched and kicked on a busy Dublin street."
Nightmare Garden: Actor from British children's TV series claims on-set injury and anti-gay harassment: "Isaac Blake claimed he suffered an injured pelvis while wearing the chunky brown and pink costume to entertain millions of viewers as one of the three Tombliboos. The 28-year-old said he had to go to hospital and was forced off work for a week after being made to bend over for long spells for closeup shots while wearing the suit. At an employment tribunal, Mr Blake, a trained dancer, also alleged that he was discriminated against and verbally abused for being homosexual. He claimed a colleague called him a 'bitch' and a 'faggot' but when he made a formal complaint he was told to 'shut up and get on with it'."
Kennith H. Burns, founding member of pioneering L.A. gay rights group Mattachine Society, dies at 81 of lung failure: "In 1953, when McCarthyism was strengthening its grip on the national consciousness, Hay and other Mattachine leaders with communist ties were ousted and Burns assumed a prominent role in the organization. The society moved in a more conservative direction during Burns' tenure as Mattachine president in the mid- to late 1950s. Along with other Mattachine leaders, including Harold Call and Don Lucas, he urged members to temper their public image and assimilate into society. 'We must blame ourselves for much of our plight,' Burns said during this period. 'When will homosexuals ever realize that social reform, in order to be effective, must be preceded by personal reform?'"
Fabio offers up Details on George Clooney West Hollywood catfight: "He laid a hand on me, so it would have been self-defense if I had beaten him down. I could have fucked him up. Oh my god, I could have beaten the shit out of him. I was so pissed off. Right then, I could have knocked him over and beat him. I could have punched him in the face while he was on his back. That's how you really hurt someone—their face can't amortize the punch so it takes, it takes the whole impact."
Stuart Ellanson, an inmate serving life sentence for murder of gay man gets 15 additional years for holding a dental technician hostage at the prison: "He held the woman captive in a storage room in the prison's health complex for about five and a half hours before releasing her. He was then arrested. Ellanson is serving a life term for murder as a hate crime in the stabbing death of a man in Superior in 1991. The criminal complaint said Ellanson told investigators he killed the man because he was gay."
Outsports looks at the aquatic side of Project Runway's Jack Mackenroth: "'Swimming just came fairly naturally to me, and I really enjoyed it,' said Mackenroth, now 38. And he was very good at it, too. He has three All-American titles and set a national record at the 2006 Gay Games in Chicago in the breaststroke leg of the 4-by-50 meter medley relay. Also in 2006, he finished 12th in the 50-meter breaststroke at the Masters World Championships in Stanford, Calif. 'Swimming has been rewarding,' said Mackenroth, who played soccer and baseball as a youngster and now admits that he, 'was hopeless at all of the other sports.'"
Scotland's hate crime laws to be widened to include sexual orientation, gender identity, and the disabled: "It aims to strengthen the law to protect disabled people and those from the lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgendered communities by extending statutory aggravations to cover crimes motivated by malice or ill will towards victims."
RESEARCHER: Heterosexual couples have something to learn from same-sex couples: "In a series of studies Green conducted with Michael Bettinger and Ellis Zacks, lesbian couples were found to be emotionally closer than gay male couples who, in turn, were found to be emotionally closer than heterosexual married couples. 'It all comes down to greater equality in the relationship,' Green said in a statement. 'Research shows that lesbian and gay couples have a head start in escaping the traditional gender role divisions that make for power imbalances and dissatisfaction in many heterosexual relationships.' Heterosexual couples could learn from gays couples about sharing housework and childcare, using softer communication in conflict and having more nurturing behaviors toward one another and their children, the researchers conclude."
Researchers today report that methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA), which has up till now been confined mainly to hospitals, according to Reuters, is now being transmitted sexually by gay men in large urban areas — notably San Francisco, Boston, L.A., and New York.
Reuters reports: "Sexually active gay men in San Francisco are 13 times more likely to be infected than their heterosexual neighbors, the researchers reported in the Annals of Internal Medicine. 'Once this reaches the general population, it will be truly unstoppable,' said Binh Diep, a researcher at the University of California, San Francisco who led the study. 'That's why we're trying to spread the message of prevention.'...This superbug can cause life-threatening and disfiguring infections and can often only be treated with expensive, intravenous antibiotics."
MRSA can be passed by human contact or by bacteria left on surfaces.
The SF Chronicle published a graphic today showing cases per 100,000 persons in each of its zip code areas, along with the percentage of male same-sex couples living in those areas.
More AFTER THE JUMP...
They report: "Although researchers have stopped short of declaring this form of staph a sexually transmitted disease, the infections are found where skin-to-skin contact occurs during sexual activity. Most of the infections are limited to the skin surface, but the bacteria can invade deeper tissues or disseminate through the bloodstream. According to the federal Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, various forms of MRSA are causing 95,000 of these more costly and potentially life-threatening infections annually in the United States and 19,000 deaths. Until last year, staph infections had never been linked to sexual activity."
The best defense against preventing the spread of the bacteria is soap and water. Said Dr. Chip Chambers, director of infectious diseases at San Francisco General: "Taking a shower after sexual contact may minimize contamination. Ordinary soap will do. It dilutes the concentration of bacteria. You don't need antibacterial soap."
Box Turtle Bulletin takes a look back at ONE, the nation's first gay magazine to be shipped through the U.S. mail. ONE was founded by the early gay rights group the Mattachine Society of Los Angeles and had an early subscriber base of around 2,000 people:
"By today’s standards, an early edition of ONE might look rather tame. There were no racy pictures, and even its fiction was mostly limited to depictions of longing and desire. There was rarely any evidence of physical contact in its pages. But what the magazine lacked in raciness, it made up for in audacity. ONE’s editorial tone was bold and unapologetic, covering politics, civil rights, legal issues, police harassment (which was particularly harsh in ONE’s home city of Los Angeles), employment and familial problems, and other social, philosophical, historical and psychological topics. And most importantly, ONE quickly became a voice for thousands of silent gays and lesbians across the U.S., many of whom wrote letters of deep gratitude to ONE’s editors. But in a sign of those times, all letters to the editor were published anonymously — from “m” in Winston-Salem, North Carolina or from “f” in Beaumont, Texas. ONE filled a very critical role for gays and lesbians during a very dark time..."
ONE debuted in 1953, it wasn't sent out by mail until 1958, following the Supreme Court's pro-gay ruling on "ONE Inc. v. Olesen, a landmark decision that allowed a magazine for gays and lesbians to be sent through the U.S. mail."
If you just woke up, some major drama went down in L.A. last night. Most of you know I really only blog about Britney in brief unless she's beating an SUV with an umbrella or something.
A clearly dazed (intoxicated?) Spears was transferred to Cedars-Sinai Medical Center at 12:30 am for mental evaluation and drug testing and is under suicide watch. Her son Jayden reportedly arrived in a separate ambulance.
Video of Spears arriving at the hospital, AFTER THE JUMP. Good lord, it's like the President has been shot or something.
Page Six reports: "Orlando Bloom is about as far from a goth as you can get which is why his decision to paint his Los Angeles mansion all-black is so shocking. The house, which he paid $2.7 million for this August, is nestled on Outpost Drive in the Hollywood Hills, the same neighborhood that Charlize Theron and Scarlett Johansson call home. And both blonde starlets are reportedly annoyed with Orlando for his decision to paint it black, since most Outpost Drive residents paint their homes white to reflect the sun. 'Orlando went completely the other way,' a source tells British newspaper The Sun. 'It’s a bit weird, but that’s Orlando — he’s an original guy.' How come the hot guys get to be 'original' while the average joes are labeled 'weird'?"
Same-sex marriage supporters turn out to testify in Vermont: "Members of the Vermont Commission on Family Recognition and Protection heard only statements of support for moving past civil unions to same-sex marriage during the two-hour hearing at Montpelier's Statehouse. It was a startling switch from the legislative hearings on civil unions in the same building seven years ago, which attracted hundreds of divided Vermonters who passionately argued both for and against a legal recognition of same-sex couples."
Anderson Cooper taking suggestions for AC360 voiceover intro personalities. Coop: "While we have not made a final decision, I thought I'd let you know about our four finalists, and if there is anyone else you think should be considered, please let us know. In no particular order, the four people we are considering hiring to introduce 360 everynight are: Fran Drescher, Clint Eastwood, Paul Reubens (aka Pee Wee Herman), Cher. Personally, I'm arguing for Fran Drescher, but I'm keeping an open mind." (via popnography)
< 710-year-old copy of the Magna Carta sold at auction for $21.3 million by David Rubenstein, of The Carlyle Group: "Bearing the seal of King Edward I and dated 1297, it is one of 17 known copies of the historic tract that defined human rights as the foundation for liberty and democracy as it is known today. It is one of two that exist outside Britain; the other is in Australia."
American Gladiator Alex Castro has a gay porn past: "Before he joined the cast of NBC's recently relaunched American Gladiators and began wielding gigantic Q-tip shaped battle thingies, Alex Castro, the drop-dead gorgeous massive mound of muscle, was wielding more "personal" and impressive clubs as a highly-paid gay porn model."
Mars closest to Earth and brightest in recent and coming days: "In addition to being at its closest to Earth December 18, Mars will be more-or-less at its brightest on Christmas Eve. December 24, Mars will be at opposition (perfectly opposite the Sun, with the Earth on the other side). December 23, Mars will likely attract the most attention, as it rises extremely close to the Moon, and will even be occulted (or blocked-out) for viewers in the West - A prime digital camera opportunity, either way."
Last month I reported that Uruguay was set to legalize civil unions. Now, with the Senate's approval, it has been done: "Under the new law, gay and straight couples will be eligible to form civil unions after living together for five years. They will have rights similar to those granted to married couples on such matters as inheritance, pensions and child custody. Uruguay's Senate passed the bill unanimously after the lower house approved it last month, a congressional spokesman said. The country's center-left president is expected to sign it into law. Several cities, including Buenos Aires and Mexico City, already have gay civil union laws on the books. Uruguay's law would be the first nationwide measure in Latin America, which is home to about half the world's Roman Catholics."
While we're on the topic, in other prurient airport news, singer Ricky Martin showed off his coin slot at LAX over the weekend as well as a brand new buzzcut. Photos via Just Jared, where you'll find some more.
Martin has so far not responded to statement's that beauty expert Ole Henriksen made last week to the Swedish press last week, essentially outing the singer.
The pissed off son of James Caan challenged the photographer to a fight before unleashing the F-word:
"You tryin to be nice about it? I saw you shootin me while I was eatin a cheeseburger. Fuckin jack-off. I'll give you a thousand dollars to come fight me, how bout that? $2000. $2500. Ten grand if you'll fight me. Get a real job, you faggot."
Los Angeles Lakers coach Phil Jackson said that a reprimand he received from the NBA regarding some post-game comments on Tuesday night was deserved.
The AP reports: "The Spurs made 13 3-pointers in their 107-92 victory on Tuesday night, and Jackson was asked if too much penetration was leading to open outside shooters."
Said Jackson: "We call this a 'Brokeback Mountain' game, because there's so much penetration and kickouts. It was one of those games."
The NBA fired off a quick response to Jackson's remarks. Said NBA spokesman Brian McIntyre: "The remarks are in poor taste, and the Lakers have assured us such remarks will not occur in the future."
GLAAD also issued an alert. Said President Neil Giuliano: "Phil Jackson’s been coaching long enough that he should be able to talk about the Lakers’ performance without resorting to cheap gay jokes."
Jackson thanked certain journalists, including some gay reporters, for understanding it was an innocent joke. But he did issue an apology and admitted he understood why some found it offensive.
Said the coach: "In retrospect, it wasn't really funny. When you take it out of context, it wasn't funny. It was a poor attempt at humor and I deserved to be reprimanded by the NBA. If I've offended any horses, Texans, cowboys or gays, I apologize."
Of the controversy, he said, "It's societal right now. Some people can do it. Some people can't. That's something that's appropriate for certain categories."
This month, British men's style magazine ARENA is having a relaunch, with L.A. Galaxy's sometime player David Beckham on its cover. In the issue, Beckham discusses life in Hollywood, as well as his close friendship with TomKat:
"We respect their religion. We respect everything they do and believe in. But they have never turned around to us and said, 'You have to be a part of this', because that's not what they're about. It's never been about that. There's been nothing shoved down our throats because friends don't do things like that. They are amazing people who are just so positive about life and they have been great to us."
Beckham recently announced that he would make his final appearance for the Galaxy this season in a charity match that would pit the Galaxy against "Hollywood United FC" to raise money for the Red Cross and Salvation Army to help wildfire victims.
According to the AP: "The Hollywood lineup is expected to include actors Anthony LaPaglia, Jimmy Jean-Louis and Costas Mandylor; musicians Steve Jones and Vivian Campbell; and former World Cup players Frank Leboeuf, Richard Gough, Joe-Max Moore and Eric Wynalda. Former Galaxy standouts Lalas and Mauricio Cienfuegos also are set to play."
If Beckham is such good friends with TomKat, why aren't they playing, along with Posh, Marc Anthony, and J Lo? Why not throw a few more paparazzi nutjobs in there as well? Now that would really raise some cash.
We contacted Jacobs, who offered Towleroad the photographic evidence (above).
Writes Jacobs in the HuffPost: "Notorious people have the right to dine where they please. I also think that they have to eat their own cooking. It's quite simple, really. If a person makes her money by being famous and that person has an addiction problem, she has the right to privacy to solve that problem. But if she proclaims her sobriety to get out of jail and then shows up at a bar, she has to expect that her public might inquire as to her truth. You can't have it both ways: sober for the police and the press; publicly drunk for real. In time, you are caught in the lie. It's one or the other, fame or privacy...How many adolescents in mid-America have heard Ms. Coulter saying they are 'faggots,' subhumans who should die, just so she could eat dinner at a gay-owned establishment and pay with blood money? How many lives have ended so that Ms. Coulter can giggle and guzzle in West Hollywood? I do not believe in bothering famous people when they are out in public. But Ann Coulter created her fame and fortune by cultivating a persona of hate. She has to be called to account. Next time, I hope the folks at Murano or any other public establishment will just say no to the Ann Coulters of the world. Let Ann Coulter eat her own cooking. I doubt she can stand the taste of what she dishes, but it's worth letting her try."
Director and co-creator, Dave O’Brien explains the premise behind the online advocacy series: "Young people live their lives online. We’re trying to influence the YouTube generation, so it just makes sense for us to reach them this way. And with the premier of the second episode, we’ve expanded the opportunities for visitors to the site to interact with each other. Now they can create their own profile, interact with other users directly, start new discussion threads, and post video comments. The beauty of this campaign is that it reaches anyone with a computer, anywhere, enabling people to engage anonymously if they prefer."
The L.A. Times also ran a long profile of the designer on Sunday:
Zimbabwe: Intelligence officers for the government of Robert Mugabe force opposition supporters to take down their posters and eat them. "Amnesty International cited a case on March 7, when three members of the Morgan Tsvangirai-led faction of the Movement for Democratic Change (MDC) were ordered by intelligence officers to take down election posters. According to Amnesty, the officials forced the opposition supporters to chew the posters and swallow them."
From the details that have emerged so far it appears that the shooting did, in fact, have to do with the fact that King was open about his sexuality.
"Once the checks are rolling in, Bernard and Gifford then have the full attention of a congressional or presidential candidate, giving them the chance, behind the scenes, to promote their own political issues. It's a level of access gays once only dreamed of, but they are living it. 'Being gay makes you inherently political,' says Gifford, comfortable with using his proximity to power to influence the candidate. 'You see what's right and what's wrong, and you need to do something about it.' Bernard and Gifford have very little, if anything, in common with the Old Gay approach typified by the Human Rights Campaign's need for straight actresses to peddle an agenda. They are the new guard, or New Gays, who are more politically savvy. The New Gays cultivate, work with and fund gay political candidates. They withhold their talents and money from straight politicians who don't follow through on their promises, while supporting those with what they view as a progay track record. And they never seek the straight world's approval for their own gay existence. The New Gays understand their power in today's political system, and they use it. And in this winter's slog of primaries, they just might use it to propel a candidate toward the White House."
"By today’s standards, an early edition of ONE might look rather tame. There were no racy pictures, and even its fiction was mostly limited to depictions of longing and desire. There was rarely any evidence of physical contact in its pages. But what the magazine lacked in raciness, it made up for in audacity. ONE’s editorial tone was bold and unapologetic, covering politics, civil rights, legal issues, police harassment (which was particularly harsh in ONE’s home city of Los Angeles), employment and familial problems, and other social, philosophical, historical and psychological topics. And most importantly, ONE quickly became a voice for thousands of silent gays and lesbians across the U.S., many of whom wrote letters of deep gratitude to ONE’s editors. But in a sign of those times, all letters to the editor were published anonymously — from “m” in Winston-Salem, North Carolina or from “f” in Beaumont, Texas. ONE filled a very critical role for gays and lesbians during a very dark time..."
"We respect their religion. We respect everything they do and believe in. But they have never turned around to us and said, 'You have to be a part of this', because that's not what they're about. It's never been about that. There's been nothing shoved down our throats because friends don't do things like that. They are amazing people who are just so positive about life and they have been great to us."
