News: Outrage, Eric Brewer, Crocs, Serbia, Mark Foley, Germany

Supreme Court Justice Ruth Bader Ginsburg hospitalized, released...

Dear Harvey: Play about Harvey Milk opens at San Diego State.

Eric Brewer, Mayor of East Cleveland, Ohio, in women's lingerie photo scandal.

Kept: Reality show about NYC gays to be a reality.

Outrage (see my write-up here) is coming to HBO on October 5.

UK gay man targeted in blackmail scam: "The 49-year-old had arranged to meet a man in the town through a known gay social networking website. But when the victim arrived he was approached by men posing as police officers who demanded a 'fine' and took his bank card. It later emerged £200 in cash was taken from the man's bank account, which was used to buy a mountain bike, alcohol and cigarettes."

London, Ontario 'football hero', allegedly responsible for gay bashing of modeling agent Brandon Wright, has been arrested at the airport.

Rabbi: No Crocs on Yom Kippur.

The Fort Worth Star-Telegram talks to one of the gay brothers on this season's Amazing Race, which premieres on Sunday.

Brad Pitt joins Bill Clinton's Global Initiative.

Mark Foley hits the airwaves in South Florida.

Mysterious "lump" spotted forming around nearby star.

Mother of Ryan Keith Skipper speaks at Florida Hate Crimes Awareness Summit: "You may relive your pain, but you also relive your love. It keeps Ryan's memory alive and to me, that's an important thing. I don't want his death to have been in vain."

Reese Witherspoon ring sparks whispers of Gyllenhaal engagement.

Brokeback Mountain actor arrested for skipping out on hotel bill.

Carrie Prejean: Scantily-clad Halloween costume model.

UK teacher suspended after students found photos of him posing on a gay porn website.

Openly gay man tipped to be Angela Merkel's Foreign Minister in Germany. "[Can] a gay man, who sometimes takes his partner on official overseas trips, can function as a foreign minister. Could there, for instance, be snubs from President Ahmadinejad (who, after the execution of two gay men, told a Western audience: “We don’t have homosexuals, as in your country.”). Or jokes from Silvio Berlusconi (whose supporters recently used homosexuality claims to get rid of a critical editor)?"

Serbian prosecutor calls for ban on hate groups that caused cancellation of Belgrade's Pride parade: "Serbian authorities withdrew approval for gay activists to hold a rally in central Belgrade on Saturday after soccer hooligans and the extremist groups Obraz (Face) and Association 1398 threatened to attack the parade. 'The two groups were identified as those which must be outlawed immediately,' prosecutor Slobodan Radovanovic told B92 television."

Hillary Clinton on international violence against LGBT people: "We are starting to track violence against the LGBT community, because where it happens anywhere in the world, the United States must speak out against it and work for its end. Through our annual human rights report, we are documenting human rights abuses against LGBT communities worldwide. And we are seeking out partners at the United Nations such as Brazil, France, Sweden and the Netherlands to help us address these human rights abuses."

News: Kris Allen, Facebook, Grizzly Bears, Mark Foley, Houston

Project Gaydar: Your secret, if you have one, is not safe with Facebook.

Meet the father of Prop 8.

Anderson Cooper needs a ride.

Ossett, UK man targeted by three men in attack: "All I can think is that they picked on me because I am gay. It's all a bit of a blur, all I remember is being laid out on the floor and waiting for the ambulance to arrive."

Grizzly Bears face huge population drops in Canada.

Command Sergeant Major Teresa L. King is the Army's first female top drill sergeant: "The eighth of 12 children, the sergeant major is the daughter of a sharecropper who grew cucumbers and tobacco near Fort Bragg, N.C. Her first job in the Army was as a postal clerk, a traditional position for women in those days."

Guess who's returning to Melrose Place?

Lindsey Graham on Obama: “If you asked me if the president of the United States is a socialist, I would say no. I think he’s an American liberal, that’s what I think he is. You know, Ted Kennedy was an American liberal, but we found ways to work together.”

Listen: Kris Allen drops first single.

Human Rights Campaign "endorses" National Equality March. AIDS rally and candelight vigil scheduled.

South Florida radio listeners to get inside Mark Foley's mind tonight.

Australian politico comes out, wins praise.

Houston mayor candidate Annise Parker attacked by anti-gay group: "Annise Parkers lifestyle that of being a HOMOSEXUAL is not the proper role model to lead the fourth largest city in the United States. The Bible speaks clearly against the lifestyle she represents, James 1:8 says, ‘A double minded man is confused in all his ways’. She does not believe in what the scripture says about her lifestyle which in return means she doesn’t believe in God."

Netflix awards million dollar prize to team for improving its online recommendations system.

Hugh Jackman kicks off Climate Week NYC.

Robbie Williams to reunite with Take That for one night only?

Montana gays and lesbians hold summit in Bozeman: "The first [summit] was to start networking so we’re not inventing the wheel, to see what everyone’s doing in the area and see what resources are available in the state. This year we’re bringing together up to 35 or 40 organizations to identify common challenges faced by the LGBT (lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender) community, so we can come together and support ourselves throughout the state. It’s been very fragmented in the past."

GYM sportsbar opening in Los Angeles, in the old Normandie Room space.

Buju Banton show axed in Richmond, Virginia.

Tom Cruise shows off his jogging hair.

20 protest outside "ex-gay" conference near Melbourne, Australia: "They waved placards that read 'Hands off queer kids' and 'You can’t straighten me out', and had a heated debate with organisers about whether it’s possible to become straight."

Former Florida Rep. Mark Foley Has a New Radio Show

Mark Foley is set to reveal what's inside his mind to those who will listen in South Florida, on a new radio show. Via PR web:

"Former Congressman and member of the Ways and Means committee, overseeing healthcare, will tape his first Talk Radio show on WSVU 960am, Tuesday September 8th, 2009. Congressman Foley will give a real Washington D.C. insiders view into the healthcare issue as well as the inner workings of how public policy is made in Washington D.C.. WSVU's general manager Chet Tart says, 'During these incredibly changing times, it's important that we hear the voice of a true Washington D.C. insider.' Beginning September 22nd at 6pm, "Inside the Mind of Mark Foley" will premiere on 960am in North Palm Beach, Florida. You can listen worldwide by going to www.seaviewam960.com. WSVU 960am is an Adult Standards music station catering to an older audience that is concerned with the current healthcare issue. 960am plays your favorites from Frank Sinatra, Dean Martin, Barry Manilow and Barbara Streisand.

Mark Foley Breaks Silence, Won't Accept Full Blame in Page Scandal

MArk Foley tells the AP he's "trying to find his way back" in the wake of the underage page scandal that forced his resignation from Congress in September 2006:

"Foley insists he did nothing illegal and never had sexual contact with teens, just inappropriate Internet conversations. Investigations by the FBI and Florida authorities ended without criminal charges. And while he concedes his behavior was 'extraordinarily stupid,' he remains somewhat unwilling to accept full public scorn. These were 17-year-olds, just months from being men, he insists. 'There was never anywhere in those conversations where someone said, 'Stop,' or 'I'm not enjoying this,' or 'This is inappropriate' ... but again, I'm the adult here, I'm the congressman,' Foley said. 'The fact is I allowed it to happen. That's where my responsibility lies.'"

Just months from being men.

Foley denies there is any hypocrisy involved, even though he was co-chair of the Congressional Missing and Exploited Children's Caucus which helped to create a law protecting children on the internet.

Says Foley: "The work I was doing was involving young children ... You know, you hear the term 'pedophile.' That is prepubescent. At the end of the day, they were instant messages that were extraordinarily inappropriate."

Adds Foley: "In public life, you dream of the day they'll name a hospital after you, or a bridge or a post office," Foley said, twisting a gold band on his ring finger identical to one his high-society dermatologist boyfriend wears. If I had a post office named after me today, they'd probably return to sender. It's not a pleasant place to be. It's not what I envisioned ... working this hard all my life to end up in an ash heap because of a momentary lapse of judgment."

Foley blames the "demons" inside him for doing what he did - those demons being sexual abuse by a priest, drinking, drugs, and cigarettes. He's been through a treatment program and now says he'll take it "a day at a time."

AFTER THE JUMP, the Mark Foley scandal in seven minutes.

AP Interview: Foley breaks silence on sex scandal [ap]

Officials: Former Florida Rep. Mark Foley Won't Face Charges

Bet you almost forgot about him. An investigation has been ongoing since Foley stepped down over his inappropriate online communications with underage pages, and two federal law enforcement officials told the AP they were expecting no charges:

"The officials, who spoke on condition of anonymity because they were not authorized to discuss the case, said the results of a state investigation would be announced Friday. They said neither state nor federal charges were expected, although an FBI investigation has not been closed yet."

As a refresher, the Mark Foley scandal in seven minutes, AFTER THE JUMP...

Pelosi to Foley Investigators: No Access to House Computers

Last week I posted that the Florida Department of Law Enforcement had put in a request with House Speaker Nancy Pelosi to try to gain access to House computers in their criminal investigation of former Florida Rep. Mark Foley and his communications with underage pages.

That request has been denied.

Yesterday, the Palm Beach Post published an opinion piece arguing that investigator's should have access to the machines:

"Unfortunately, members of Congress have tried to use the 'speech or debate' clause to avoid searches for incriminating material. A federal appeals court ruling this summer, associated with the Jefferson case, extended congressional rights so far that the Justice Department correctly has appealed it. Prosecutors fear that the ruling might prevent them from speaking with congressional aides, a practice vital to probes into the dealings of imprisoned lobbyist Jack Abramoff. The effect on Foley's case isn't clear, since the FDLE is not a federal agency. Still, the state now should go to court, because there remains a workable solution. Rep. Pelosi should allow the FDLE access. Foley should be allowed to declare which files he thinks are protected. If a judge agrees, those files would be withheld. Rep. Ron Klein, D-Boca Raton, has the correct perspective: 'I don't think any of us are above the law,' he said. 'If there was a law that was broken, they should turn it over.' A lawmaker's legislative materials should be off-limits. But we already know that Foley sent all those lewd messages to former pages. In a milder exchange, he said of a teenager's shorts, 'Love to slip them off of you.' That remark has nothing to do with lawmaking. The public deserves to know whether it had to do with law-breaking."