Federal judge rules that gay couple denied benefits should receive compensation: "U.S. 9th Circuit Court of Appeals Judge Stephen Reinhardt deemed the
denial of healthcare and other benefits to the spouse of federal public
defender Brad Levenson to be a violation of the Constitution's
guarantee of due process and discrimination on the basis of sexual
orientation, which is prohibited by California state law."
Mary Cheney and Heather Poe welcome new baby: "Sarah
Lynne Cheney was born Wednesday morning at Sibley Hospital in
Washington, weighing 6 pounds and 14 ounces. She is the seventh
grandchild of the former vice president and his wife, Lynne."
Incoming gay Detroit City Council member Charles Pugh talks of AIDS crisis in city: “There needs to be more money targets at the crisis areas."
David Vitter won't comment on the Louisiana justice who refused to marry an interracial couple because he isn't familiar with Loving v. Virginia, the Supreme Court case which lifted the ban on interracial marriages.
Anti-gay evangelicals met with protest at Syracuse University: "Pesto, a junior from Westchester County, said he saw the Deferios’
signs earlier in the day. It made him uncomfortable, he said, so he
made his own sign. 'Corduroy skirts are a sin,' it said, referring to
what Michelle Deferio was wearing. 'I was just making a gay joke,' he said. But friends saw him and joined in, standing with him and making signs of their own. Other students came and, by 6:30, there were about 70 people at the scene, holding signs, cheering and challenging the Deferios."
Mall Santas and doctors neckties are to be avoided if you want to escape the flu.
Gay couples blast DOMA in new court filing: "DOMA marks a stark, and unique, departure from the respect and
recognition the federal government has long afforded to State marital
status determinations."
Lutherans upset over gay clergy split to form new denomination: "Leaders of Lutheran CORE said Wednesday that a working group would
immediately begin drafting a constitution and taking other steps to
form the denomination, with hopes to have it off the ground by next
August. 'There are many people within the ELCA who are very
unhappy with what has happened,' said the Rev. Paull Spring, chairman
of Lutheran CORE and a retired ELCA bishop from State College, Pa."
The editors of Modern Tonic present a weekly music update here on Towleroad. The rest of the week, they scan the pop culture landscape for movie, TV, book and Web recommendations in their daily email.
TODAY'S FEATURED NEW RELEASES AND FREE DOWNLOAD:
It’s hard to be Robbie Williams. A gigantic star all over the world, he's ignored in the U.S. (where he currently lives — in Los Angeles — with actress Ayda Field. Sorry, boys). So here comes Reality Killed the Video Star (out digitally today, on CD 11/17), his 8th studio album, and the speculation starts again: will this be Williams' rocketship to American stardom or another one-way trip to Planet Oblivion? Sure, he's got a stateside cult following, but boy band refugee Williams deserves a Justin Timberlake-size audience. The good news? Reality's the best thing Williams has done since his U.S. debut compilation, The Ego Has Landed. Produced by Trevor Horn — the former Buggles main man — Reality, a pun on Horn's "Video Killed the Radio Star," plays to Williams' strengths from start to finish. First single "Bodies" (FREE DOWNLOAD OF FRED FALKE EXTENDED REMIX HERE) layers monk-ish chanting over an Art of Noise robot groove. "Blasphemy" is a theatrical ballad that sounds like Williams' audition for the roadshow of Hedwig and the Angry Inch. And "Starstruck" confronts Robbie's lack of U.S. commercial respect head on. As longtime fans we're used to our fellow citizens' deaf spot, but the reality is we'd like it to change.
Tori Amos used to be a "Cornflake Girl" (to quote a hit title), and sometimes she’s been just a flake —From the Choirgirl Hotel anyone? But as an interpreter of others' songs she’s been damn near peerless. Her take on Nirvana's "Smells Like Teen Spirit"? Inspired. Covering Eminem on Strange Little Girls? Ballsy. And now the woman who suckled a piglet at her breast in the booklet for Boys for Pele brings us a juicy Christmas morsel called Midwinter Graces. This being Amos, a straight-up holiday album won't do. She mixes obscure traditional tunes like the Victorian "Candle: Coventry Carol" with seasonally-inspired originals such as "A Silent Night with You." It’s a gift from a "Snow Angel," to quote an Amos original, that’ll sound just as delightful long after the holidays have passed.
On her debut The Bridge Melanie Fiona, the Toronto-based child of Guyanese parents, layers Motown-flavored R&B over sharp-edged lyrics that mix the bitter with the sweet in finger-snapping harmony. The results? 12 potential singles as catchy as a Raphael Saadiq retro jam with extra-added hip-hop attitude. First single "Give It to Me Right" anchors the hook from The Zombies' "Time of the Season" to a non-stop plea for slamming sex. "Bang Bang" is even more lascivious, wherein Fiona wants to "introduce ya to my Lucy" to a beat that can only be called shagalicious. And when you treat her bad, you better "Walk On By," a tune that channels Mavis Staples' earthy soul squeals in a tale of hell-hath-no-fury-like-a-woman-scorned. Perhaps that’s Fiona's way of warning you that The Bridge is one that you won’t want to burn.
MUSIC NEWS:
Susan Boyle will perform the song that changed her life ("I Dreamed a Dream") on tonight's "Dancing With the Stars." She is also scheduled to perform live on NBC's "Today" show on November 23, the day her debut album, also titled I Dreamed a Dream, is released.
Britney Spears made her Australian concert debut last Friday, and (surprise!), a whirlwind media frenzy surrounded it.
Aussie media has made a big deal about her partial lip-synching and how
fans have stormed out of the concert because of it. Apparently, Britney
is "extremely upset" over the controversy.
Hot Chip have announced a release date of February 10, 2010 for their next album, One Life Stand.
Swedish Electro-pop trio Miike Snow will be touring the U.S. next spring. Two of the band's members, Christian Karlsson and Pontus Winnberg, have written and produced songs for Britney Spears (winning a Grammy for "Toxic"), Madonna and Kylie Minogue, among others, under the name Bloodshy & Avant.
Green Day's well-reviewed musical, American Idiot, based on their 2004 album, now winding down a successful run at California's Berkeley Repertory Theater, is confirmed to open on Broadway. No date or theater has been announced yet.
A threesome of compilations in ten years is a bit much, but since Britney Spears is high on "3" these days we’ll give her a pass, especially when The Singles Collection includes that hot track and 16 more of Spears’ single releases. (The single CD version is released today; a deluxe box set — pictured — will be released November 23).
If it’s change you want out of Washington, D.C., Obama’s not the only brother who’ll make you say 'Yes We Can.' Rapper Wale's (pr. wah-LAY) debut joint Attention Deficit — on Mark Ronson’s label — finally drops after years of well-regarded "mixtapes."
Snow Patrol's the band mainstream alternative didn't know it was waiting for. Their super-catchy arena anthems ("Hands Open," "Chasing Cars," etc.) are collected on the two-disc best-of Up to Now, as well as lesser known tunes from 1998 up through their 2003 breakthrough "Run."
Mini Viva: "I Wish" From the Xenomania production powerhouse comes the frothy duo of Frankee Connolly and Britt Love. “I Wish” is Euro-pop and proud, with an L.A.-set video that adds extra digital color to the land of Hollywood dreams.
Massive Attack: "United Snakes" A sinister tune from 2006 gets a high-tech new video from Massive Attack. Black-and-white geometric shapes morph into menacing configurations on this creepy, provocative clip with vocals from 3D.
Jamie Cullum: "Don’t Stop the Music" The jazzy Brit makes a sexy swing of this Rihanna track, while his baby grand piano, over-stimulated by Cullum’s “jazz hands,” experiences an explosive climax of its own. From new album The Pursuit, due in February.
Pixie Lott: "Cry Me Out" The latest U.K. thrush advises her ex to cry her out of his system in this gorgeous black-and-white homage to ‘30s Hollywood glamour, complete with an Esther Williams synchronized-swimming segment.
Nathaniel would live inside a movie theater but for the poor internet reception. He blogs daily at the Film Experience.
YOUR FEATURE PRESENTATION
You're barely a reel into Lee Daniel's Precious (based on the novel Push by Sapphire) before you begin to realize that maybe Job didn't have it so bad after all. Claireece "Precious" Jones is suffering. She's obese, she's a welfare mother of a disabled child, she's pregnant again, kicked out of high school, her parents abuse her, neighborhood kids taunt her. She's illiterate on top of that... as the twee incorrectly spelled opening credits foreshadow.
Before too long, though, "Precious"has enrolled in an alternate school for girls who are slipping through the cracks. She blossoms, as much as a continually trampled living thing can, under the guidance of a new teacher (Paula Patton). The further she steps away from her nightmare home life, the more she begins to see new possible futures. It's already hell at home but her abusive mentally ill mother Mary (Mo'Nique in an Oscar-winning performance... four months from now that is, just wait) is ready to drag her to the next circle when she realizes her meal ticket is transforming into a girl that might actually fly away.
Add a third party (Mariah Carey's weary social worker, miles from Glitter) to this tug of war for Claireece's soul, and you have an absolutely riveting drama. For all of the misery, the film is remarkably energizing.
Because Precious is so vividly felt, staged and acted (it's a sure fire Oscar contender) and because the tub-thumping for the movie comes from a bullseye as big as Oprah Winfrey, whose every recommendation seems to be treated with disdain in some corners (despite a track record that's not entirely disdain-worthy... just hit and miss like anyone else's verbal thumbs up) reactions to Precious will undoubtedly be just as vividly delivered.
Vermont lawmaker relieved of masturbation charges: "Perkett said his review of the evidence found that Flanagan did engage
in the conduct alleged — masturbation in open view inside a men’s
fitness room at the YMCA — in late July but did not do so
intentionally. 'I don’t believe beyond a reasonable doubt
that he intentionally engaged in the conduct,' Perkett said. 'More
importantly, I don’t believe I could prove it beyond a reasonable
doubt.'”
Pastors planning to "incite hate crimes" to test Matthew Shepard Act?: "We're going to declare the whole counsel of God, including those parts that some may consider 'inciting a hate crime' to see if the attorney general is going to come down and arrest a group of peaceful clergy exercising their First Amendment rights."
NYC Mayor Michael Bloomberg speaks out about cabbie who ejected gays for hugging: "I thought the taxi driver's behavior -- if it is as reported -- was a disgrace. Somebody's orientation has absolutely nothing to do with whether they can ride a taxi. That kind of attitude doesn't fit with what this city's become."
GYM sportsbar a hit in West Hollywood. "...a dedicated sports bar, where the audio and video are played
simultaneously, is something most people haven't seen before, says Gym
co-owner Rich Schmutzler: "When we first started, I got a lot of Scooby
Doo faces, like, 'huh?' "
The National Organization for Marriage is short on cash.
Chelsea erotica shop putting massage on display tonight: "Manworks.com, the leading erotic male masseur listings company in New York
City, will host a live erotic massage demonstration in the window of The Blue Chelsea, an erotica shop on 8th Avenue NYC on Friday, Nov 6th from
6pm-10pm. Every hour, a new male masseur will demonstrate the rubbing
techniques he uses to calm and relax his clients."
Boyzone honored by UK gay rights group Stonewall: "The late singer and his Boyzone bandmates were hailed as entertainers of the year at the high-profile gay event.
Mr Cowles fought back tears as he collected the award on behalf of the band – and received a standing ovation from the crowd. He said: 'Hi everyone, I'm Stephen's man, husband, whatever. You know what I mean. Thank you everyone for voting.'
He said that the Irish group had always 'loved and supported' his husband in everything he did."
Salt Lake City elects first openly gay city council member: "Stan Penfold, a gay man and the director of Utah Aids Foundation, has won the race to fill Salt Lake City’s District 3 council seat.
Penfold outpaced Phil Carroll to represent the Avenues and Capitol Hill, replacing outgoing Councilman Eric Jergensen."
Thomas E. Perez, Assistant Attorney General for the Civil Rights
Division, testified today on ENDA before the Senate Committee on Health,
Education, Labor and Pensions. Here's his testimony.
Rue McClanahan hospitalized: "I'm currently having some maintenance on the old ticker"
Dede Scozzafava opens up about campaign drop-out: "There were calls going that were calling me a child killer, there were pieces of mail that said I was a homosexual lover."
Brokeback Mountain author Annie Proulx donates early draft to New York Public Library: "The early draft shows that the story, which was later adapted into an
Oscar winning hot film starring the late Heath Ledger, had early
working titles such as Bulldust Mountain and Swill-Swallow Mountain."
150 people rally in L.A. on Prop 8 anniversary, including openly gay Los Angeles Police Commissioner Rob Saltzman: "Also among the rally speakers were Robin Tyler and her (legal) wife
Diane Olson, and their attorney Gloria Allred, who has filed several
marriage lawsuits on their behalf. Matt Weinstein from the US
Department of Commerce also urged same sex couples and domestic
partners to fill out the 2010 US Census forms when they come around –
noting the historic change in policy of now including gay people."
Anti-gay sign investigated as hate crime in Maine: "A hand-painted, plywood sign that had a threat directed at homosexuals
was found nailed on a tree in the front yard of a Route 156 residence
on Friday, police say."
A look at Ultimate Fighting, its gay-friendly and not so gay-friendly fighters, and its gay fans: “Any guy involved in grappling is the furthest thing from homophobic
in the world. I honestly think it would have no impact
whatsoever with not only our fighters or our fan base. The guys in the
UFC, everybody is so cool, it’s great sportsmanship, everybody has
respect for each other. I honestly, it wouldn’t be a big deal to me and
most of the guys I know in this sport, it wouldn’t be a big deal for
them either.”
Minor league hockey player Justin Bourne: End the gay slurs. "In my days as a hockey player, I did nothing but contribute to hockey's
culture of homophobia and prejudice against gays. I used gay slurs more
times than I'd like to admit. Six months after I left my last
professional locker room, I felt a twinge of regret, followed by a
full-out, stomach punch of regret. And by the time I finished the first
draft of this column, I was disgusted with myself."
Dancing with the Stars' Derek Hough: I'm not gay, but I almost played one on Cougar Town: "It would have been perfect. With all the rumors going
around, I thought it would be really funny because it's just not true.
But I was like, you know what? If that's what you want to see."
Rihanna discusses assault: "I went to sleep as Rihanna and woke up as Britney Spears."
Conservative Washington Times highlights Marine Corps Commandant Gen. James T. Conway's opposition to lifting ban on gays in the military: "But Gen. Conway has gone further than others in stating his opposition to a change in policy, according to the former official, who has been privy to private conversations on the matter. "He feels very strongly that [removing the ban] would be disruptive, and he opposes it," said the former official.
Gen. Conway's private remarks stand in contrast to public utterances by other service chiefs, who have restricted themselves to repeating a well-rehearsed mantra: If Congress introduces a bill to repeal the ban, they will discuss it with the chain of command. If Congress changes the law, they will follow the law."
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