News: Spitting, Lohan, Chris Carmack, Bay to Breakers, Tina Brown

Activists' Paris arrest on International Day Against Homophobia leads to meeting with Human Rights Minister, Rama Yade, and promise to push for "a European initiative calling for the universal decriminalisation of homosexuality" at the United Nations.

Chris Carmack plays to his strengths.

Living Lohan to win award for most mind-numbing reality trash of the summer — watch.

Washington Post op-ed writer Kathleen Parker pens offensive column on Obama and Edwards' 'gay' relationship.

Jack Mackenroth not returning to Project Runway next season.

When Ellen wears a certain jacket, watch for a gay rights alert.

Catholic church offering "ex-gay" therapy in Poland: “When you want a candy for example, you can resist and have it later. And you can trade it for a piece of chocolate.”

Maryland senator Richard Madaleno hopeful at state's same-sex marriage prospects.

Gay Canadian peace activist barred from speaking at Catholic church because of his views on marriage. Bishop: "Everyone is always welcome to come to our church, but not everyone is welcome to speak in front of our congregation. If someone wanted to come talk about the environment, which is a wonderful thing, but was actively pro-choice (on abortion) we wouldn't allow them to present either. It just doesn't add up."

The Big Gay Sketch Show's Paolo Andino talks Cuba, cash, and cookies with QueerCents: "Both my mother and father started from nothing when they came to this country as teens. Castro only allowed women to take two dresses and a pair of shoes out of the country. My parents didn’t believe in an allowance, I mowed lawns from the age of 10 to earn some spending cash. My favorite thing to buy was a half-gallon of Heavenly Hash Ice Cream for the family — I always liked to splurge!"

Tina Brown working on spy film about Noel Coward.

Jake Gyllenhaal steps out in spandex again. Is a marriage proposal in the works?

Gay British soldier claims he was dropped from the Special Air Services (SAS) over his sexuality: "Army sources expressed anger at the claims by former Corporal Kenna, saying that he was never a proper member of the SAS, but was 'a general duties soldier' in support of the regiment at Hereford. 'He wasn’t required to pass the SAS fitness tests and failed the one he did do,' one source said. The sources said the corporal was ousted from the special forces because it was considered he was unsuitable for that line of work, although he had served in the SAS for two years, including tours in Iraq."

Freaks come out for San Francisco's Bay to Breakers race.

Christian registrar in the UK taking government to tribunal over refusal to perform same-sex civil partnerships: "Miss Ladele, who has worked in the registration service for nearly 16 years, said she held 'orthodox Christian beliefs' about marriage and same sex unions. She said in a statement: 'The law places a duty on local authorities to provide civil partnership registration, but does not require all registrars to take part in the registration process. My local authority provides a civil partnership service, but it is one that it agrees does not actually require my involvement. Since 2004 I have therefore been asking to be excused from civil partnership duties, allowing my colleagues to do these duties instead."

The president of Poland, the leader of Uganda, and the UK Home Office named to the Human Rights Hall of Shame "for their actions in the past year in endangering LGBT people's dignity, families, and safety." Here are last year's winners.

Man dies in spitting contest.

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News: Helen Keller, Gay Music, Rosie O'Donnell, NY Marriage

"Pro-family" groups urge parents to keep their children out of school on April 25's "Day of Silence", a day of raising awareness about tolerance and anti-gay bullying. They also accuse GLSEN of exploiting the murder of Lawrence King.

Website names The 50 Gayest Songs of All Time.

Say it isn't so. Lance Bass declares himself single, rips boyfriend from MySpace "top friends" list.

Maryland weighs new approach on same-sex unions: "Concerned that they won't be able to muster the votes for a comprehensive bill on same-sex unions this year, state lawmakers are considering a tactical shift toward legislation that would grant a number of rights to gay and lesbian couples but stop short of full-fledged marriage or civil unions."

Fort Lauderdale magazine flushes anti-gay Mayor Jim Naugle's latest column about gay restroom sex. City Commissioner Cindi Hutchinson: "I just want all this nonsense to stop. I don't want to talk about the bathroom thing again.''

Rosie O'Donnell: the junk food portrait.

New York's legal posturing on Same-sex marriage examined: "Last week in Manhattan, a State Supreme Court justice, ruling in a divorce proceeding, recognized the Canadian marriage of two New York City women, known publicly as Beth R. and Donna M. — or Mom and Mommy to the two young children they had been raising together. Less than two years after New York’s highest court refused to legalize gay marriage, leaving it up to a divided Legislature, courts in Rochester and Manhattan, as well as state and local officials, have begun to carry out what some say is the de facto legalization of gay marriage — and gay divorce — in New York for the price of, say, a ticket to Toronto."

Matthew McConaughey launches line of surf attire called Just Keep Livin'.

Provincetown arsonist strikes again: "In a little more than 10 minutes, flames destroyed a wooden shed belonging to artist Arthur Cohen at his property near Allerton Street. The blaze is at least the 16th arson fire in Provincetown since Oct. 17, Jennifer Mieth, a spokeswoman for the state fire marshal, said yesterday. No one was injured in the fire and Cohen, who was in New York at the time, was expected to arrive yesterday in Provincetown, according to a family member. Cohen declined to comment about the fire yesterday when reached by phone. On Monday, a landlord's report of a 2-foot square of burned shingles at a framing shop at 288 Bradford St. — little more than one-tenth of a mile from the Cohen property — was added to the list of arson fires, Mieth said."

Will & Grace creator Max Mutchnick said his own "internal oppression" held him back from making bigger statements with regard to gays on that show.

120-year-old photo of Helen Keller and Anne Sullivan on Cape Cod discovered: "The photograph, shot in July 1888 in Brewster, shows an 8-year-old Helen sitting outside in a light-colored dress, holding Sullivan's hand and cradling one of her beloved dolls. Experts on Keller's life believe it could be the earliest photo of the two women together and the only one showing the blind and deaf child with a doll — the first word Sullivan spelled for Keller after they met in 1887 — according to the New England Historic Genealogical Society, which now has the photo."

USA Today talks to Anne and Christopher Rice about their new books. Christopher: "She has created her own myth-ology. There's no following in those footsteps. So I keep my work a lot smaller and more focused. I would go insane comparing myself to her."

Jackson steals Mariah Carey's look.

Mississippi lawmakers propose bill banning unwed couples living together from adopting in attempt to stop gays from doing the same.

HIV+ British bareback porn actor speaks out: "'They told me that most of the work would be bareback, and that they would normally check certificates from GUM clinics.' On the various shoots he took part in during his short on-screen career he noticed laxity in the ad hoc system of checking the HIV status of performers. 'I presented a certificate about half the time. They would normally take your word for it. At my local clinic you have to pay £25 to get a certificate.' He was told everyone else was HIV negative, but never saw anyone else's certificates. Clyde has been in two or three bareback DVDs and other scenes that went online. 'We did not work under the best conditions most of the time, it was quite low budget and cramped. For most of the time I was getting paid £100 per scene.'

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Maryland AG: Same-Sex Marriage 'a Basic Matter of Fairness'

Maryland Attorney General Douglas F. Gansler threw his support behind same-sex marriage yesterday, becoming the state's first elected official to do so.

"Gansler, a Democrat, testified in favor of a Senate bill that would remove gender language from the state's marriage law. Last year, Gansler successfully directed the defense of the law, allowing only male-female unions, during a constitutional challenge in which Maryland's highest court ultimately left the question of gay marriage to lawmakers. 'In five, 10, 15 years, there is no question in my mind we will have gay marriage in the state of Maryland and across the United States,' said Gansler, who acknowledged his arguments would be unpopular with some but that he was obliged as the state's top lawyer to seek justice. 'It would be wrong for me to have this job knowing there's something so wrong in our society and just ignore it,' Gansler said."

According to the Baltimore Sun, at yestterday's Senate Committee meeting "Senators considered several measures related to same-sex unions. One bill would allow gay marriages; another would set up civil unions for same-sex couples, but not marriage. A third would change the state constitution to prohibit same-sex unions."

Added Gansler, who admits the road to same-sex marriage will be a tough one, "I don't know that we'll have the political courage to pass gay marriage. We'll probably end up getting civil unions, and I understand that, but I think we can at least start the dialogue...Why wouldn't gay people be allowed to marry? What is the possible justification for that? All of us have gay friends, right? If you say to somebody, I'm not going to stand up for you, what good are you?"

Md. attorney general backs gay marriage bill [baltimore sun]

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Obama and McCain Sweep Potomac Primaries: VA, MD, DC

Barack Obama resoundingly defeated Hillary Clinton in yesterday's Potomac primary.

The WaPo reports: "On a day when there was huge turnout in the area, the senator from Illinois won Virginia with about 64 percent of the vote. In Maryland, where the polls were kept open an additional 90 minutes because of bad weather, he was winning with about 60 percent to Clinton's 37 percent. He was headed for an even bigger win in the District, where he was attracting about 75 percent of the vote. The lopsided wins mean Obama will emerge with a clear majority of the 168 pledged delegates at stake in the area, as well as a widening lead overall among the more than 65 percent of pledged delegates who have now been accounted for nationally. When superdelegates are added to the calculations, Obama and Clinton are still in a highly competitive race, but Obama has seized the overall lead."

The importance of Texas and Ohio for Clinton has become strikingly clear. The question is, can she stop the momentum?

Some are asking whether a pledged delegate win for Clinton is no longer a real possibility?

Clinton was criticized for refusing to congratulate Obama on his wins...

Obama has a campaign-within-a-campaign targeting the superdelegates.

According to CNN this morning, Obama's delegate count is at 1215 while Clinton's is at 1190. John McCain's stands at 812 to Mike Huckabee's 217.

McCain had a tougher time against his last remaining challenger, but pulled out wins in all three primaries.

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Maryland Rallies for Marriage Equality at Annapolis Statehouse

Marriage equality advocates rallied on the steps of the Maryland state house last night as the state Senate is scheduled to begin deliberating same-sex unions later this week.

The Baltimore Sun reports: " The first hearing on legislation to legalize same-sex marriage will be held Thursday before the Senate Judicial Proceedings Committee. The panel also will consider a constitutional amendment to ban same sex-unions as well as bills to create domestic partnerships that would replace civil marriage and to allow so-called covenant marriage, a legally distinct matrimony that's optional and limits grounds for divorce. The fight for gay marriage moved to the legislature after the Maryland Court of Appeals in September upheld the existing state statute de fining marriage as a union between a man and a woman. Activists said Monday that civil unions would not be an adequate compromise."

The demonstrators also made more than 115 visits with lawmakers to make personal impressions on those who will be considering the measures.

Gay Rights Advocates Rally For Marriage - VIDEO [wjz]
Activists call for gay marriage at Annapolis rally [baltimore sun]

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News: Writer's Strike, Lance Bass, Maryland, Val Kilmer, Florida

Michael Eisner says deal has been reached in writer's strike.

Charlize Theron impressed by breasts of Harvard's Hasty Pudding drag boys.

Anti-gay Pastor Ken Hutcherson's wife attends school board meeting to discuss public reaction since her Hutcherson appeared at Mount Si High School on Martin Luther King, Jr. Day: "My family is boldly called names like 'bigot', 'homophobe' and we've been permanently branded in the valley."

Wouldn't a divorce have been simpler, loser?

Speakers exchange "verbal fisticuffs" in Florida in debate over gay marriage ban.

Forces against same-sex marriage in Maryland vow to step up their attacks: "Del. Donald H. Dwyer Jr. is circulating a petition to take a constitutional amendment banning gay marriage directly to the floor of the House of Delegates without a committee vote. He also is seeking signatures to bring to the House floor a bill that would legalize same-sex marriage. While the Anne Arundel Republican is a fervent gay-rights opponent, he said Marylanders deserve to know their legislators' views. 'It's only when the votes are cast that we really know where people stand,' Dwyer said."

Gawker takes on Barry Diller...

Gorgeous shot of a bug covered in dew (via kottke)

BBC: Hundreds of gay Asians in marriages of convenience because of the shame faced in Asian cultures: "In my culture it's not acceptable to be gay. If I have a marriage of convenience it will give them the illusion that I'm straight and I can carry on with who I want."

TJ Maxx courting the gay dollar? What about those who are versatile?

Gay Christian man wins £47,000 in compensation from the Church of England: "John Reaney took the Hereford diocesan board of finance to an employment tribunal after his appointment as a youth worker was blocked. Bishop of Hereford Anthony Priddis has apologised and gay rights group Stonewall said the "substantial compensation" sent a clear message. Mr Reaney, from Colwyn Bay, Conwy, said he was delighted the case was over. 'Lesbian and gay Christians working within the Church of England are entitled to be treated with humanity,' said Mr Reaney, 42. 'I'm very grateful to Stonewall for supporting this case throughout.'"

Former Washington state Rep. Richard Curtis returning checks to campaign donors.

Lance Bass and beau on the rocks?

Toronto gay mag FAB bought up by Pink Triangle Press: "Pink Triangle Press is also publisher of the Ultimate Pride Guides in Toronto, Vancouver and Ottawa, as well as international gay travel mag The Guide. The combined circulation of PTP's print pubs is now 156,000, with a reach of about 275,000 monthly readers. Along with its operations in Internet, television and interactive media, PTP's total reach in the gay community is over half a million."

School ends blood drives because of anti-discrimination policy on sexual orientation: San Jose State University President Don Kassing suspended all on-campus blood drives last week, claiming federal donation guidelines that forbid gay men from donating blood conflict with the school's non-discrimination policy regarding sexual orientation. Kassing announced his decision to end blood drives in a Jan. 31 email to students. 'I recognize the importance of giving blood and we know that universities are significant sources of blood . . . however lacking further action by the FDA, we are guided by the clear mandates of our non-discrimination policy,' Kassing said in the email.

Justin Timberlake to hit the "Open Road" in new movie: "According to Variety, the 27-year-old Sexyback singer will play a young man trying to reconnect with his father (Jeff Bridges), a legendary athlete, as he struggles to get him home to his ailing mother’s bedside (Mary Steenburgen)."

Val Kilmer to be the voice of K.I.T.T. in the new Knight Rider.

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Same-Sex Marriage Bill to be Introduced Today in Maryland

A recent poll by the Baltimore Sun revealed that a majority of voters in Maryland support some sort of legalized same-sex union. Lawmakers today are planning to introduce a related bill today, WBAL reports:

"Sponsors said the bills will repeal current gender definitions in state marriage laws, allowing same-sex couples to marry. But the bill will include a caveat that no religious officials will be required to conduct or even recognize the unions. Sponsors said they have more than 50 sponsors in the House and Senate on the bill. But many lawmakers -- and Gov. Martin O'Malley -- have indicated no interest in taking up a gay marriage bill this year. Several Republicans plan to sponsor a rival proposal in coming days to amend the state constitution to define marriage as only between a man and a woman."

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News: Interview Magazine, Tony Romo, Gayelle, Finger Length

Hillary Clinton and Barack Obama exchange nasty radio ads here and here.

Tony Romo can't shake off the albatross that brought down the Dallas Cowboys.

Underground movement underway by lesbians who don't want to be called 'lesbian' anymore. Their replacement name: Gayelle.

Washington state legislature has largest gay caucus in the U.S.: "Marko Liias, a 26-year-old Democrat from Mukilteo, started the legislative session earlier this month, replacing former Rep. Brian Sullivan, who left the Legislature for the Snohomish County Council. Liias' arrival gives Washington six openly gay lawmakers, ahead of California's five. That makes Washington the state with the largest Capitol gay caucus, according to the Gay and Lesbian Victory Fund, a Washington, D.C.-based political action committee. 'Anything that we can do, me as an individual, or us as a state, to be leaders on this issue and be role models is excellent,' Liias told The Associated Press Wednesday. 'The message really is, everyone deserves a stake in Washington, and everyone has a stake in Washington's future.' Liias joins Reps. Jamie Pedersen, D-Seattle, Jim Moeller, D-Vancouver and Dave Upthegrove, D-Des Moines, and Sens. Ed Murray, D-Seattle, and Joe McDermott, D-Seattle." (CORRECTION: Victory Fund issues - statement: NH has most out legislators)

CLICK HERE if you're interested in knowing the funky name for the new James Bond film.

And guess who else has a new name? P Diddy.

Publisher Sandra Brant and editor-in-chief Ingrid Sischy leave Interview magazine.

Ceremony to be held on Monday in Westminster will remember Holocaust victims, including gays: "Groups such as the Roma, gay people and people with disabilities who also suffered under Nazi rule will be commemorated through song and imagery along with victims of other genocides.The event is part of a wider programme of education in Westminster's youth centres to explore the issues of racism, homophobia and sexism."

A closer look at finger lengths.

John Travolta had an obsession with Heath Ledger: "I wanted to meet him because I was very impressed with him from the very beginning. His agent introduced me to him at a party, and I just fell — I used every accolade. Actors need other actors to be inspired by, and he was 'my' actor....My feeling on Heath is I don't want to lose him at any age, 28 or 88, like Marlon Brando. I didn't like his passing, he was special to me, and he was a friend. At any age you don't want to lose someone like that — he was a valuable guy. I am truly sorry and my heart goes out to everyone who knew him and loved him, and actually, my heart goes out to me, I really don't like it. I don't like it…"

New South Wales police fight back against accusations of homophobia related to the recent surge of anti-gay violence in and around Sydney: "It should be pointed out that it can be very difficult for police officers to ask a victim whether they believe a crime was motivated by homophobia, or if it is a hate-related crime, especially if the victim has not voluntarily stated their sexuality. It is a sensitive topic that can lead to allegations of police either making inappropriate assumptions about someone’s sexuality or, or on the other hand, not treating a crime as a hate crime."

Jude Law spends a day at the beach.

Queerty talks to author Tom Dolby about his new book The Sixth Form.

Berlin film fesitval Panorama arthouse sidebar featuring a bunch of gay films: "Discrimination against gays and lesbians is one of this year’s hot topics in Dokumente and the subject of several films, including 'Das andere Istanbul,' by Doendue Kilic; 'East/West — Sex & Politics,' by Jochen Hick; 'Suddenly, Last Winter,' by Gustav Hofer and Luca Ragazzi, as well as Rosa von Praunheim’s 'Tote Schwule — lebende Lesben.'"

Maryland marriage bill gets new sponsors.

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Majority in Maryland Support Some Form of Legal Same-Sex Union

A new poll by the Baltimore Sun reveals that a majority of voters in Maryland back some form of legalized same-sex union:

"Nineteen percent of likely voters said they support gay marriage, and 39 percent said they back civil unions, meaning that nearly three out of five believe the state should formally recognize same-sex relationships. Maryland law bans same-sex marriage. Thirty-one percent of those polled said they disagree with granting either form of same-sex unions, but only half of those opponents said a constitutional amendment is needed to ban them. Eleven percent said they were not sure or declined to answer the question."

The challenge to a law that defines marriage as between a man and a woman failed last September when the state's high court upheld it. The battle has since been taken to the legislature but the paper notes a lack of consensus among lawmakers may hold up any progress on the issue, at least for now.

Majority favors legalized unions [baltimore sun]

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News: Jamie Oliver, PETA, Mr. Gay, DNC, Swordfish, Clay Aiken

Pam Spaulding covers the unsavory details and unpleasant memories emerging from the DNC anti-gay discrimination trial filed by former LGBT outreach director Donald Hitchcock: "We all know the party has had to figure out how to placate the LGBT constituency and keep the gay press at bay while trying to tap the religious vote; you'd think they'd want to put more effort into getting non-voters to show up at the polls. Way too much energy is being spent on the wrong things -- revisionist history, posterior-covering maneuvers, bickering -- there's so much to be done in 2008 and folks need to keep their eyes on the ball."

UK 'naked chef' Jamie Oliver to slice up obese human corpse on TV in order to prove point about overeating? Oliver: "This all stems from shoving s*** in your mouth. This man ate himself to death."

Too good for Newsweek: Clay Aiken's above-it-all interview reveals nothing about his fight on a plane, Kelly Ripa and homophobia, Ford commercials, or high school football.

2007 Darwin Awards announced: "the Darwin Awards commemorate those who improve our gene pool by removing themselves from it."

Spanish national election set for March 9 seen as showdown over values: "Antonio Poveda, president of the State Federation of Lesbians, Gays and Transsexuals (FELGT), a group essential in organizing massive gay pride demonstrations in favor of same-sex marriage, said his group wasn't planning any street protests. But they would be engaging in public information campaigns ahead of the election, he said. Poveda said Spain has become one of Europe's most progressive countries in same-sex issues, with same-sex marriage continuing to have 60 percent approval. He thinks the recent attacks on gay marriage by conservative Catholics will backfire because 'people are sick of having that type of doctrine imposed on them.'"

Florida man catches swordfish with bare hands: "It has not been determined if the fish was sick, or had been recently caught. After a few photos, and some cuts and bruises on the man who caught the fish, the fish was released."

Madonna denies that 'Raising Malawi' charity is actually a front to funnel money into Kabbalah. REP: "The reality is - and it's never been a secret - that the Raising Malawi organization was co-founded by Madonna and Michael Berg, who is one of the spearheading executives of the Kabbalah organization. The Raising Malawi organization is completely separate from the Kabbalah, and they are run as two separate organizations. Accountability will be very clear and very specific, and all funds will be accounted for."

Who's the gayest of them all: waxed muscledudes battle for the gay sash in L.A.!

Maryland Insurance Administration's definition of "domestic partnership" inspires outrage from "pro-family" groups: "To qualify for coverage under the new regulation, domestic partners must be at least 18, can be straight or gay, and must have lived together for at least six consecutive months. The definition incensed Republican lawmakers, the Maryland Catholic Conference and a group promoting traditional values, which said it sanctifies cohabitation by straight couples. 'Now you can just say, 'I break with thee,' and you're gone, you can enter into a new relationship,' said Del. Michael D. Smigiel Sr. (R-Cecil), noting that Maryland law requires married couples to separate for a year before seeking a divorce. Added Doug Stiegler of the Maryland Family Protection Lobby: 'This legalizes cohabitation. It's a huge cultural change.' Although they did not attack same-sex couples directly, opponents said the state insurance agency should not be in the business of telling insurance companies who qualifies for medical coverage."

Critically-acclaimed queer hip-hop opera Bash'd headed back to Toronto and then to off-Broadway in June.

PETA killed 97% of the dogs, cats, and other pets it took in for adoption in 2006: "During that year, the well-known animal rights group managed to find adoptive homes for just 12 pets. The nonprofit Center for Consumer Freedom (CCF) is calling on PETA to either end its hypocritical angel-of-death program, or stop its senseless condemnation of Americans who believe it's perfectly ethical to use animals for food, clothing, and critical medical research. Not counting animals PETA held only temporarily in its spay-neuter program, the organization took in 3,061 'companion animals' in 2006, of which it killed 2,981. According to Virginia's Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services (VDACS), the average euthanasia rate for humane societies in the state was just 34.7 percent in 2006. PETA killed 97.4 percent of the animals it took in. The organization filed its 2006 report this month, nine months after the VDACS deadline of March 31, 2007. 'Pet lovers should be outraged,' said CCF Director of Research David Martosko. 'There are thousands of worthwhile animal shelters that deserve Americans' support. PETA is not one of them.' In courtroom testimony last year, a PETA manager acknowledged that her organization maintains a large walk-in freezer for storing dead animals, and that PETA contracts with a Virginia cremation service to dispose of the bodies. In that trial, two PETA employees were convicted of dumping dead animals in a rural North Carolina trash dumpster."

UGLY: Dad sodomizes 18-year-old stepson with metal object and beats him with a baseball bat to avenge rape of 8-year-old daughter.

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News: Amy Winehouse, Venus, Karl Rove, Jay Brannan, Gyllenspoon

STUDY: Same-sex marriage would benefit Maryland's coffers to the tune of $3.2 million dollars annually.

Amy Winehouse cancels entire tour because something is missing.

Delete, delete, delete. Scott Bloch, the head of the federal agency investigating Karl Rove's political operation and its perhaps improperly deleted computer files, is now in the "hot seat" himself, for the same activity: "Recently, investigators learned that Mr. Bloch erased all the files on his office personal computer late last year. They are now trying to determine whether the deletions were improper or part of a cover-up, lawyers close to the case said. Bypassing his agency's computer technicians, Mr. Bloch phoned 1-800-905-GEEKS for Geeks on Call, the mobile PC-help service. It dispatched a technician in one of its signature PT Cruiser wagons. In an interview, the 49-year-old former labor-law litigator from Lawrence, Kan., confirmed that he contacted Geeks on Call but said he was trying to eradicate a virus that had seized control of his computer."

Lesbian novelist Jane Rule dies of liver cancer at 76: "She was the first Canadian woman writer to write about being gay as if it was part of the normal life."

Did Jake Gyllenhaal and Reese Witherspoon join the mile-high club?

Separated at birth? Venus much more like Earth than previously thought.

Seattle groups hold forum on anti-gay attacks.

Judge rules case challenging Wisconsin's gay marriage ban can proceed.

Giuliani under fire for secret Hamptons trips funded by taxpayers. Anderson sticks it to him last night -

Rhode Island Assembly gets second gay lawmaker: "Democrat Frank Ferri rolled to victory in yesterday’s special election for the District 22 House seat, defeating Republican Jonathan Wheeler and independent Carlo Pisaturo Jr. to win the seat formerly held by fellow Democrat Peter T. Ginaitt. Ferri took 53 percent of the vote, 896 in total. Wheeler was second with 33 percent, and Pisaturo a distant third."

North Carolina POLL: Does a candidate's sexual orientation matter?

Shortbus actor and musician Jay Brannan in concert in London.

Gay man jailed in Hong Kong for blackmailing his lover: "A gay blackmailer who threatened to tell a Hong Kong primary school teacher's employers about their one-night stand was Thursday beginning a three-year jail term. Alex Lo Man-nam, 21, extorted nearly 4,000 US dollars from his 34-year-old victim with threats to tell his school they had sex when Lo was under 21, the age for gay legal consent in Hong Kong. He also got his victim to buy him presents including a pressure cooker, a computer, printer and clothes after targeting the teacher in June after their one-night stand."

Wingnuts accuse Alaska Airlines of offering deals unavailable to those who are "sexually normal".

According to a new Hunter College national poll, Hillary Clinton is winning the gay vote: "In the first public, political survey ever conducted by a university-based team of scholars with a nationally representative sample of lesbian, gay and bisexual (LGBs) Americans, results released today show that Senator Hillary Clinton has the support of 63 percent of LGB likely voters in the Democratic primaries, followed by Senator Barack Obama with 22 percent and John Edwards with 7 percent. The Hunter College Poll also finds that during the process of 'coming out,' LGBs become more liberal and more engaged in the political process than the general population."

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News: Al Gore, Arctic, Todd Haynes, Wide Stance, J Lo

Maryland House Speaker Michael E. Busch says he believes in civil unions: "I think people should have the same rights as far as probate is concerned, as far as health care is considered, as far as visitation and all those things."

The New York Times looks at Todd Haynes' Bob Dylan film I'm Not There: "Todd Haynes’s Dylan film isn’t about Dylan. That’s what’s going to be so difficult for people to understand. That’s what’s going to make “I’m Not There” so trying for the really diehard Dylanists. That’s what might upset the non-Dylanists, who may find it hard to figure out why he bothered to make it at all. And that’s why it took Haynes so long to get it made. Haynes was trying to make a Dylan film that is, instead, what Dylan is all about, as he sees it, which is changing, transforming, killing off one Dylan and moving to the next, shedding his artistic skin to stay alive. The twist is that to not be about Dylan can also be said to be true to the subject Dylan."

Al Gore frontrunner for Nobel Peace Prize "in a controversial move that could place saving the planet above saving people from war and conflict."

An animated study of the melting of the Arctic ice pack.

Ugly Betty's subversive flamboyance.

Alabama minister dies during autoerotic undertaking. Gary Aldridge "was found hogtied and wearing two complete wet suits, including a face mask, diving gloves and slippers, rubberized underwear, and a head mask." There was also another detail that the Montogomery Advertiser failed to mention in their story on the late pastor.

J Lo is assembling a lovely collection of body tents but still hasn't announced that she's pregnant.

I Love New York 2 contestant "Unsure" is sure of one thing: he enjoys showing his naughty bits off to the gays.

"Wide stance" enters the lexicon.

The Daily Show's Samantha Bee: "It's been months since the Minneapolis High Court found Larry Craig gay. Now that his petition of 'not gay' has been thrown out, it's official: Larry Craig is gay in the eyes of the law."

Gawker heads inside NYC's "Slingback" party.

Lesbian who was thrown out of New York restaurant women's room by bouncer because she looked like a man, files civil rights lawsuit: "He began pounding on the stall door saying someone had complained that there was a man inside the women’s bathroom, that I had to leave the bathroom and the restaurant. Inside the stall door, I could see him. That horrified me, and it made me feel extremely uncomfortable. I said to him, 'I’m a female, and I’m supposed to be in here.' After I came out of the bathroom stall, I attempted to show him my ID to show him that I was in the right place, and he just refused to look at my identification. His exact words were, 'Your ID is neither here nor there.'"

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News: Matt Damon, Maryland Marriage, NYC Subway, Brazil

UK Stonewall equality organization announces award nominees: "Coronation Street actor Antony Cotton, comedian Sue Perkins, singer-songwriter Rufus Wainwright, rapper Mz Fontaine and The Feeling vocalist Dan Gillespie-Sells are nominated for Entertainer of the Year."

Can you hear me now? New York City subway stations to be wired for cell phone service: "The cellphone network will start in six downtown Manhattan stations in two years. Once it is shown to be working properly, Transit Wireless will have four more years to outfit the rest of the underground stations. Under the agreement, the first six stations are to be those at 23rd Street and 14th Street on the Eighth Avenue line, 14th Street on the Seventh Avenue line, 14th Street on the Sixth Avenue line, and Eighth Avenue and Sixth Avenue on the L line. All areas of the stations, including entryways, mezzanines, platforms and transfer passages, will be wired. The system will be designed to allow a seamless connection between the train and street level, so that users will not lose calls as they move in or out of the stations, according to Gary Simpson, president of Nab Construction, a Queens company that is a partner in the wireless venture."

Two elementary school boys charged with criminal sexual conduct after allegedly forcing another boy to perform oral sex during school bus ride.

Bette Midler, Cloris Leachman, Carrie Fisher, Lynn Whitfield, Joanna Gleason, Ana Gasteyer and Debi Mazar join Meg Ryan, Annette Bening, Eva Mendes, Debra Messing, Jada Pinkett-Smith and Candice Bergen in remake of The Women currently shooting in Boston.

Matt Damon: "After Iraq, the Bush administration disgusts me."

Amy Winehouse disappoints at Britain's MOBO awards.

Britney Spears continues downward spiral: heads to the club after judge accuses her of substance abuse.

Forget football. David Beckham to design costumes for the Spice Girls: "David has been helping out a lot ahead of the Spice Girls tour, which starts in December and has offered to give them fashion advice. He has been looking at pictures of Julien Macdonald's collection on the internet and has also studied other designer collections. He is drawing different strengths from various fashion designers, but obviously Victoria will have the final say."

Brazilian football player Richarlyson continues to be tailed by gay rumors.

Democratic Maryland Governor Martin O'Malley in shift on support of same-sex marriage. Backs civil unions now, following the Court of Appeals' recent decision to uphold the state's ban on same-sex marriage. Senate President deals second blow, says he won't support legislation to legalize same-sex marriage or civil unions.

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Maryland High Court Upholds Gay Marriage Ban

In January 2006, Baltimore Circuit Judge M. Brooke Murdock struck down a 1973 state law which defined marriage as between a man and a woman, saying the law was discriminatory and "[could not] withstand constitutional challenge." Murdock added: "When tradition is the guise under which prejudice or animosity hides, it is not a legitimate state interest." The case was brought by nine same-sex couples arguing that the Equal Rights Amendment in Maryland's constitution was discriminatory.

In December 2006, Maryland's highest court heard arguments in the appeal of that decision by the state.

The court issued their ruling today, and upheld Maryland's ban on same-sex marriage.

According to the AP, "Maryland's 1973 ban on gay marriage does not discriminate on the basis of gender and does not deny any fundamental rights, the Court of Appeals ruled. It also said the state has a legitimate interest in promoting opposite-sex marriage. The decision left open the possibility that the Legislature could still take action on the issue. 'Our opinion should by no means be read to imply that the General Assembly may not grant and recognize for homosexual persons civil unions or the right to marry a person of the same sex,' Judge Glenn T. Harrell Jr. wrote for the majority."

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Maryland's Highest Court Hears Gay Marriage Case [tr]

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The Herndon Climb: It's That Time Again

Well, it's that time of year again when upperclassmen at the US Naval Academy in Annapolis grease up the Herndon Monument obelisk so dozens of shirtless plebes can fulfill the ritual of graduating to midshipmen, which they do by climbing to the top of it.

Photographer Matthew Randall has the event well-documented. These are a few of our favorites. A silent video of the struggle, after the jump.

2007 Herndon Monument Climb [allrand photography]

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2006 Herndon Climb: Greasing Up the Pole [tr]
Smells Like Team Spirit [tr]
Wetter, Greasier, Fleshier [tr]

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News: Americone Dream, Gay Ski Week, Lou Pearlman, Heat

Earth's temperature record "smashed" in January: "The temperature of the world's land and water combined — the most effective measurement — was 1.53 degrees Fahrenheit warmer than the 20th-century average of 53.6 for January, breaking the old record by more than one-quarter of a degree. Ocean temperatures alone didn't set a record. That didn't just nudge past the old record set in 2002, but broke that mark by 0.81 degrees, which meteorologists said is a lot, since such records often are broken by hundredths of a degree at a time."

Al Gore announces "Live Earth" concerts.

Stephen Colbert gets his own flavor of Ben & Jerry's, Americone Dream. Colbert: "I'm not afraid to say it. Dessert has a well-known liberal agenda. What I hope to do with this ice cream is bring some balance back to the freezer case."

Boy band tycoon Lou Pearlman on the run from the FBI? Idolator: "There are now 16 suits pending against Pearlman, seeking a total of $134 million. His alleged transgressions are hard to encapsulate--the Orlando Sentinel has an entire Pearlman archive--but one of the most pressing accusations is that he was running an ambitious Ponzi scheme to bilk investors. Considering the scope of the investigation, we're sure Pearlman will show up soon; in fact, we're guessing you can find him right now at some undisclosed Disney nightclub, where he's eating fistfuls of Mars bars and asking the waiters if they can hit a mid-range falsetto."

We win. Keith Olbermann gets "second term" at MSNBC. Contract renewed for four more years.

David Beckham acts on Instinct.

Hallmark to release line of cards referencing sexual orientation: "Hallmark Cards Inc., which has built its $4.2 billion empire on sentiments for life's happier times, is releasing a new line of cards that will speak to those and other situations that the company says have either been ignored by greeting card companies or received only a smattering of attention from niche players...No topics were off-limits, said company spokeswoman Rachel Bolton, noting two cards that could be sent to gay people who have disclosed their sexuality. The cards don't directly refer to homosexuality, only extolling the person to 'Be You' or 'This is who I am' or featuring a rainbow, a symbol of gay pride."

Gay ski week at Whistler: a photo gallery. (via slog)

Hundreds rally for gay rights in Maryland after state legislators introduce two amendments to ban gay marriage: “When people have to leave the nation of their birth to participate in a basic right of citizenship, we do not have equal justice under the law. When there is hesitation about marriage equality, when there is discussion of setting up a separate but equal — but unequal — system, we do not have equal justice under the law. And we will be here until we get full equality under the law.”

Domain name timhardawayisgay.com for sale on eBay. Bargain.

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Maryland's Highest Court Hears Gay Marriage Case

Maryland's highest court heard arguments today in the appeal of a January ruling on marriage in that state by Baltimore Circuit Judge M. Brooke Murdock. In her decision, Murdock struck down a 1973 state law which defined marriage as between a man and a woman, saying the law was discriminatory and "[could not] withstand constitutional challenge." Added Murdock: "When tradition is the guise under which prejudice or animosity hides, it is not a legitimate state interest."

Opponents of same-sex marriage immediately appealed, and the case was argued today as dozens of gay marriage supporters rallied outside.

Said Dan Furmansky, executive director of Equality Maryland: "The times have changed. We're not invisible anymore. What we can't do is be legally married and legally related to our partners. ... We ask our fellow Marylanders today to walk a mile in our shoes."

But there was an entirely different issue for Doug Stiegler, executive director of the Maryland Family Protection Lobby: "When you talk about discrimination, the children in this case are being discriminated against. They're being denied a father and a mother. A family is a man and a woman and children."

Kenneth Choe, an ACLU attorney arguing on behalf of the plaintiffs, said: "The exclusion of same-sex couples from marriage violates the most fundamental guarantees of equality and liberty for all...It is not enough that there is a reason for including the included class. There must also be a reason for excluding the excluded class. The state could grant right-handed people but not left-handed people the right to marry simply by observing that marriage benefits right-handed people and their children."

The counsel to the General Assembly, Robert Zamoch, felt that Choe's hypothetical statute did not hold up, saying it would be "wholly arbitrary." Added Zamoch: "There is no fundamental constitutional right to same-sex marriage."

A decision from the court could be months away.

Maryland's highest court hears same-sex marriage arguments [international herald tribune]
Maryland Court Hears Same-Sex Marriage Arguments [washington post]

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Into the great beyond: Aaron Spelling, Patsy Ramsey, Harriet — Charles Darwin's 176-year-old tortoise, Anne Nicole Smith's inheritance rival.

Activist Larry Kramer makes amends with brother he demonized in The Normal Heart. "It was me learning through my activism and growth that being gay wasn't bad, and I wasn't going to let it be bad. And having to convince him and the world it wasn't bad, and him coming around. He and my lover are the two most meaningful people in my life."

More than 6,500 same-sex nuptials in Great Britain. Men have formed nearly double the number of civil partnerships than women in the first four months of their legality.

Gambling website puts odds on celebrities most likely to come out of the closet next. Top of the list? Vin Diesel, Jake Gyllenhaal, Oprah Winfrey, Keanu Reeves, Anderson Cooper...

Maryland Governor Ehrlich appoints openly gay judge to Baltimore District Court: "Ehrlich appointed Christopher Panos, 47, a special master in the city Circuit Court family division, to a fill a court vacancy. Panos and his partner of 17 years, Dennis Cashen, are raising a young daughter, Cate." Panos: "This is indicative of social progress within the form of a judicial nomination."

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REPORT: Gay Tucson man lured from car, then beaten, sexually assaulted, and robbed at gunpoint. The incident allegedly happened early this month but the victim has been to afraid to come forward until now. Police: "Since he won't file an official report on this we don't have an active case; however, we have been made aware this occurred."

On the eve of NYC's gay pride weekend, The Villager honors 80-year-old gay activist Bob Kohler: "Kohler has been an active fighter for gay rights since the 1960s, when he played a large part in founding the Gay Liberation Front, which was born out of the Stonewall riots, where a routine police raid of the popular Greenwich Village gay bar turned into a three-day-long riot when gays, for the first time, fought back. 'The G.L.F. — we did some pretty ballsy things…. We were very fierce and we were very angry, and we didn’t take any s—t from anybody.'"

Hair don't: Is Jon Bon Jovi turning into Barry Manilow?

How 'bout a little game of Gyllenball?

Maryland Governo