Barack and Michelle Obama Cast Their Votes

Barack and Michelle Obama cast their votes in Chicago a short time ago:

"The family was ushered inside ahead of a line of their Hyde Park neighbors that wrapped around the block and cheered upon their arrival. Fellow voters inside watched in silence and snapped cell-phone pictures. Obama kissed the cheek of the poll worker who took his ballot, then watched while she fed it into a machine. The crowd broke into applause when a smiling Obama held up his validation slip and said, 'I voted.'"

Watch it, AFTER THE JUMP...

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Michelle Obama on The Tonight Show

Michelle Obama appeared on the Tonight Show last night and spoke with Leno about Barack's grandmother, campaigning, their children, the economy, military spouses, negative ads, wardrobe expenses, Sarah Palin, and a few other topics. Watch it, AFTER THE JUMP...

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Towleroad Guide to the Tube #352

STEPHANIE CUTTER: Michelle Obama's chief of staff slams John McCain over 'pig in lipstick' nonsense. Where was McCain when one of his supporters called Hillary Clinton a bitch?

RAPE KITS: MSNBC is onto Sarah Palin...

GAVIN NEWSOM: Speaks out against Prop. 8. If you missed our interview with him at the DNC, check it out here.

9 TO 5: The musical opened the other night, and when it abruptly halted mid-performance because one of the sets malfunctioned, Dolly Parton, who was in the audience, saved the day by giving an impromptu performance. She rocks.

Check out our previous guides to the Tube here.

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Elisabeth Hasselbeck Suggests Michelle Obama Has Something to Hide

View host Elisabeth Hasselbeck showed her support for Cindy McCain at the RNC by taking a swipe at Michelle Obama, suggesting that Obama is keeping some sort of devious secret.

"Cindy came into our hair and make-up room fresh as can be. And unlike another wife of a political candidate who shall remain nameless, she didn't come with a list of topics that we weren't allowed to touch. Nope. That's because she has nothing to hide."

Except, of course, most of her tax returns.

Watch the clip, AFTER THE JUMP...

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Hollywood Greets Michelle Obama at 'LGBT Reception' Fundraiser

Michelle Obama spoke at an 'LGBT Reception' fundraiser at the home of CAA managing partner Bryan Lourd and his partner Bruce Bozzi Wednesday night (photo not from event).

From Patrick Range McDonald's pool report:

"Approximately 300 donors attended the fund raiser, which took place in the wealthy, Los Angeles neighborhood of Holmby Hills. Minimum contribution for a guest was $1,000 to get through the door. Supporters who raised $25,000 were given access to a VIP room, where Obama met with them and briefly spoke. All money went to the Obama Victory Fund. Some of the entertainment industry figures who attended the fund raiser were Kevin Huvane, managing partner of CAA, actress Kate Bosworth, actress Helen Hunt, producer Paula Weinstein, actress Salma Hayek, openly gay fashion designer Tom Ford, openly gay producer Bruce Cohen, and actress Reese Witherspoon. Former South Dakota senator Tom Daschle, who was in Los Angeles campaigning for Barack Obama, was also a guest. Los Angeles gay community leaders who attended the event were Los Angeles City Councilman Bill Rosendahl, West Hollywood City Councilman John Duran, and restaurateur David Cooley, all of whom are openly gay."

Obama spoke briefly and touched on gay and lesbian issues DOMA, 'Don't Ask, Don't Tell', and gay adoption, according to McDonald. She also spoke about the Iraq war.

The Daily Breeze reported that this and another fundraiser at the home of Samuel L. Jackson raised $1.5 million for the Obama campaign.

The full pool report here...

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Michelle Obama Speaks to LGBT Delegates at Convention Lunch [tr]

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Michelle Obama Speaks to LGBT Delegates at Convention Lunch

Before heading over to the Pepsi Center on Tuesday we stopped by the luncheon for LGBT Delegates Hosted by Rep. Barney Frank, with Rep. Tammy Baldwin, the Gay and Lesbian Victory Fund and Human Rights Campaign.

But the big event of the luncheon was an unscheduled appearance by Michelle Obama. I got a nice surprise when, after her speech, she stepped down and walked over to some of us and I was able to shake the hand of this impressive woman.

I also finally had a chance to meet Pam Spaulding of the excellent blog Pam's House Blend on Monday of the Convention. Pam has a brief clip of the crowd going nuts over Michelle Obama's introduction.

You can listen to a longer clip of Michelle Obama's remarks to the LGBT delegation, AFTER THE JUMP...

For our full DNC coverage, click here.

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Towleroad Guide to the Tube #345DNC Highlights Monday Night

Nancy Pelosi, Rep. Jesse Jackson Jr, Michelle Obama, Caroline and Senator Edward Kennedy.

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News: Convergence, Mark Spitz, Gaydar, 90210, Barney Frank

STUDY: Gaydar is real.

Mark Spitz says he could take Michael Phelps: "I know everything there is to know about how to beat Michael, and he would know how to beat me. We'd probably tie."

90210's Brenda Walsh: Did you miss her?

Barney Frank to review FDIC policy that excludes same-sex couples: "Frank, one of two openly gay members of Congress, is chair of the influential House Financial Services Committee, which oversees legislation and government regulation of the nation’s banks and other financial institutions. 'He will talk to the FDIC to see if they have the authority to do something about this administratively or whether a legislative remedy is needed,' said Steve Adamske, Frank’s press spokesperson."

One of the first Native American tribes to legalize same-sex marriage has a wedding on the way: "The Coquille Indian Tribe on the southern Oregon coast recently adopted a law recognizing same-sex marriage, despite an amendment that Oregon voters approved to the Oregon constitution in 2004 to prohibit gay marriage. As a federally recognized sovereign nation, the tribe is not bound by the Oregon Constitution."

ENDA co-signs DOMA: "A little-discussed provision of the Employment Non-Discrimination Act (ENDA) would allow employers to give health insurance coverage and other benefits to married opposite-sex couples and deny those same benefits to the partners of their gay and lesbian employees who are legally married in Massachusetts and California."

T.R. Knight and Mark Cornelsen offer up some PDA.

Chad Allen joins General Hospital: Night Shift for three episodes Michelle Obama and Colorado first lady Jeanne Ritter use Denver Post editorial to launch 'Delegate Service Day': "With the help of Volunteers of America, Democrats Work and Metro Volunteers, delegates from across the country will volunteer with dozens of community service projects in and around Denver. Volunteers will tackle projects ranging from building houses for veterans, to assembling care packages for troops overseas, to bringing meals to home-bound seniors and cleaning up public parks."

Curious who the new Bachelor is?

Florida town of Ponce de Leon sides with school principal who outed student and went on gay 'witch hunt': "When a high school senior told her principal that students were taunting her for being a lesbian, he told her homosexuality is wrong, outed her to her parents and ordered her to stay away from children. He suspended some of her friends who expressed their outrage by wearing gay pride T-shirts and buttons at Ponce de Leon High School, according to court records. And he asked dozens of students whether they were gay or associated with gay students."

Leaves of grass: Chace Crawford and Ed Westwick have a moment alone.

New Amy Winehouse album influenced by The Wizard of Oz: "And according to a report in the Sun newspaper, the singer has sampled the 'Wicked Witch of the West' in a new track. 'She loves the surreal look, sound and score. One of her new songs heavily samples the theme tune,' a source told the newspaper. 'And the soundtrack and score will be a theme running throughout the record.' The unnamed source described the song as 'really interesting, if a little bizarre,' adding: 'I suppose that’s what you would expect from her at the moment.'"

John Barrowman working on new album called Music Music Music.

Convergence: Intel and Yahoo working to bring the web to television seamlessly with current programming. "TV watchers can access a news story, sports score or weather forecast from the Web by clicking an on-screen icon with the remote control, Intel Senior Vice President Eric Kim said today at the Intel Developer Forum in San Francisco. The software will be given for free to TV-service providers. A drop in the price of computer-processors brought on by increasing competition has sent Intel, the world's largest chipmaker, seeking growth with consumer-electronics devices. For Yahoo, owner of the second most-used Internet search engine, offering content on TV may yield more viewers for its Web ads."

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Matt Damon Possessed to Fight Poverty

Matt Damon's body is taken over by the voices of Michelle Obama, Cindy McCain, and Michael Bloomberg among others in this new campaign from anti-poverty group ONE.

Says Damon (and others): "Thanks to everyday Americans who chose to make a difference, millions of lives have been saved in the world's poorest countries. 41 million more children have been able to go to school. 3 million more people living with AIDS have access to lifesaving medication. 3 million fewer children die each year from preventable diseases. But there's still more to do. In this election year, please join the millions of Americans from every party, Democrats, Republicans, Independents, who are coming together as ONE. We welcome your voice."

Watch it, AFTER THE JUMP...

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Harper's Bizarre: Tyra Banks Has Delusions of Grandeur

Yesterday I pointed to the bizarre photo shoot Tyra Banks did for Harper's Bazaar in which she portrayed Michelle Obama as First Lady. Now, there's a behind-the-scenes video in which Laura Brown, Articles Special Project Director for the magazine, attempts to justify the shoot and in the process wins the kiss-ass prize of the year.

Watch it AFTER THE JUMP...

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News: Anderson Cooper, Whale Shark, Henry Cavill, Ageing

Killer of Australian Matt Leveson refuses to look family in the eyes: "It was a bit cowardly. We would have thought he would have at least have had the courage to come and see the court."

Restored taxidermy 32-foot whale shark specimen to be unveiled 73 years to the day after it was caught — off Fire Island, NY.

Anderson Cooper not a fan of Living Lohan.

Gen X author Douglas Coupland on how men view their age: "I have this theory about men and aging. We have two ages: the age we really are, and the age we are in our heads. Most men are almost always about 31 or 32 in their heads — just ask them. Even Mr. Burns from 'The Simpsons' is 31 in his head. One of the most universal adult male experiences is of standing before a mirror and saying, 'I'm sorry, but there's been a horrible mistake. You see, that's not really me in the mirror there. The real me is tanned, throws Frisbees, and kayaks the Columbia River estuary without cracking a sweat.'"

Henry Cavill likes to go "full bore" into things.

Man who was on death row for 23 years for killing a man he met in a gay bar has death sentence vacated because he had ineffective legal counsel in sentencing phase: "Van Hook, 48, was convicted of murdering a man he met in a gay bar. He never denied strangling and repeatedly stabbing David Self in Self's apartment in Cincinnati in 1985, but claimed temporary insanity. 'We think it is the correct decision under the circumstances, and we think there is even more evidence than they discussed that will support their decision,' Keith Yeazel, the Columbus attorney who has represented Van Hook in his federal appeals, said of Monday's ruling."

Stonewall Democrats report 27% increase in LGBT convention participants: "National Stonewall Democrats announced that a record number of lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender (LGBT) delegates -- more than 350 -- will attend the Democratic National Convention in Denver, Colorado. This represents approximately 6% of total convention attendees and is 27% increase from the 282 LGBT participants in 2004."

Morgan Freeman in good spirits. The car he was in, not so much.

Smile with your political affiliation: Tyra Banks portrays Michelle Obama in photo spread.

Classic horror films to get gay re-do: from cult director David DeCoteau: "The projects, some of which will be released theatrically by Regent in the fall, include Edgar Allan Poe's 'The Pit and the Pendulum' and adaptations of works by H.G. Wells and Sir Arthur Conan Doyle. New features will also be made for 'The Brotherhood' and 'The Invisible Chronicles,' two ongoing TV/DVD series. All of the legendary tales in the slate will be refashioned to include gay themes, as was DeCoteau's recently released Poe adaptation 'House of Usher.' The only film confirmed for release this Fall is the 'pansexual' film noir 'Playing With Fire,' starring Susan Anton and Michael Bergin."

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Amy Winehouse, Michelle Obama Invade Fire Island Pines

Amy Winehouse and Michelle Obama were among those attending the annual Fire Island Pines Invasion over the Fourth of July holiday. The event was documented by Pines Punch.

The history, or so they say: "According to legend, in 1976 a Cherry Grove man in drag (Teri Warren) was denied service at the Botel, a Pines restaurant & bar owned by John B. Whyte (who died at 75 on March 22, 2004). Upon hearing about this blatant discrimination against one of her sisters, the newly crowned Homecoming Queen of the Arts Project Cherry Grove, PANZI (Thom Hansen) took it upon herself to lead a small group of 9 brave Cherry Grove girls in a water taxi into the Pines harbor one hot afternoon for what they expected to be a confrontational welcoming by the Pines men. On the contrary, the Pines men were so surprised and entertained by this “Drag Queen Invasion” in the middle of the day that they welcomed them all to drinks at the Blue Whale bar for what now is a yearly celebration and tradition."

Invasion [pines punch]

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News: Dark Knight, Gay Youth, Ravello, Ian McKellen, Uganda

Here's a list of the groups that are lobbying the Senate to remove the HIV travel ban.

The Dark Knight has its premiere and it's a big night for Christian Bale. But it was an even bigger night for the late Heath Ledger. His family paid him tribute as did his co-stars.

Reese Witherspoon cuts Jake Gyllenhaal off from his normal habit of swearing like a sailor: "Some of (the things she insists on) are run-of-the-mill. He has to take off his shoes when he’s in the house; trash must be taken out when the can is three-quarters full; and no feet on the coffee table."

PBS debates airing full-frontal Ian McKellen in broadcast of Royal Shakespeare Company's King Lear next year.

Some San Franciscans are objecting to a plan by the Presidential Memorial Commission of San Francisco that would rename the Oceanside Water Pollution Control Plant as the George W. Bush Sewage Plant: "What we didn’t expect was that most of the opposition was coming from people who didn’t want to name anything. They just wanted to forget about the past eight years and move on or they felt that this is a facility that does something really quite useful and it would be inappropriate to put his name on it. […] If you get to the point where people are defending the sewage plant, that’s a sign that things have not gone so well."

Brad Blog: Alabama Attorney General Troy King, who last week was the subject of rumors that he was to resign in the wake of a gay sex scandal, was the client of gay GOP consultant Ralph Gonzalez, who was killed in a double-murder suicide last year.

The Washington Post on the coming out process and its emergence at earlier and earlier ages: "He has grown so used to the stares and laughter of strangers that their insults slip off his 118-pound frame like an oversize shirt. 'I think I've dealt with it so much my whole life that it really doesn't bother me anymore, not as much as it used to,' Saro says. 'If you have a birthmark on your leg for so long, you don't even notice it.' Saro, who first said he liked boys to a classmate in sixth grade, is like many of today's lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender youths who openly discuss their sexual orientation and identity with friends, and sometimes family, before entering high school."

Whoopi Goldberg to join cast of Xanadu on Broadway.

Britney shoots video for Madonna tour.

Uganda's State Minister for Ethics and Integrity Dr James Nsaba Buturo says that opponents of gays should not be afraid of retribution because God will protect them: "It's true gays are rough people but men of God should not fear their intimidation. Ugandans should strengthen their mobilisation against the gay movement because the government is also committed to support them."

Gore Vidal home in Ravello, Italy to open as luxury hotel next spring.

FIRST LOOK: Project Runway designers enter the workroom.

Miss USA Crystle Stewart discusses her fall at the Miss Universe pageant: "I think I'm going to have to take some walking classes. I would never have thought in a million years that I would fall down at the Miss Universe pageant _ right after Miss USA fell last year. I always wondered: My God, if that happened to me, what would I do? Things happen. I'm perfectly fine. I'm going to move back to New York and get on with my life." Watch it.

Ruminations on a gay and straight brother...

The schedule for this year's Comic-Con in San Diego has been released.

Politics of Fear: Cartoonists respond to the Barack and Michelle Obama New Yorker cover, and Salon asks if the Bush era has killed a lot of liberals' sense of humor.

Philosopher Mark Vernon: I was a gay priest.

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Towleroad Guide to the Tube #321

MICHELLE OBAMA: Brave New Films exposes attacks on the Democratic candidate's wife.

BIG BROTHER: An interview with gay cowboy Steven Daigle. More here.

HOLDING TREVOR: The trailer for the new film with Brent Gorski and Jay Brannan.

CENTER OF THE UNIVERSE: Jarrah Gurrie's short is playing July 16 at Outfest in L.A.

Check out our previous guides to the Tube here.

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MoveOn, FOX

MoveOn.org has started a petition urging FOX to stop smearing Obama using "racism, prejudice, and fear" to combat recent on-air Obama/Osama comments, the "terrorist fist jab" incident and Michelle Obama being identified as "Obama’s baby mama."

Ironically, Obama seems to have "moved on" from MoveOn.

Meanwhile, John McCain is employing one of the infamous Swiftboat Veterans For "Truth" to combat an assault on his service record by Democrats. You know, the men he called "dishonest and dishonorable" back in 2004 when they went after John Kerry. The only reason the Swiftboaters were so effective in maiming Kerry in 2004 was the fact that their service created the impression of insider knowledge. In this case, their main function would be as a brand to attract skeptical right-wingers into the McCain fold.

We'll see if truth really does win out, and whose truth it will be.

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News: Rea Carey, Justice Dept, Olympics, Monet, Barack Obama

Conservative Orange County Register says high court's decision on marriage was justified.

MAG: What's on Obama's iPod.

Matt Damon's summer look: flab with pornstache.

Rea Carey to succeed Matt Foreman as executive director of Gay and Lesbian Task Force.

REPORT: Justice Dept. politicized hiring practices to favor Republican candidates: "'Many qualified candidates' were rejected for the department’s honors program because of what was perceived as a liberal bias, the report found. Those practices, the report concluded, 'constituted misconduct and also violated the department’s policies and civil service law that prohibit discrimination in hiring based on political or ideological affiliations.'" FLASHBACK: DOJ Looking into Possible Firing of Atty Over Sexual Orientation...

Ad campaign for Dexter in Portugal features severed limbs in butcher cases and knifed corpses on the street!

British soldiers see 13 UFOs in sky above barracks: "I was on duty in the guard room when the other boys outside began shouting. I went out to see what the commotion was about and could see thirteen craft in the skies. They were zig-zagging, but I filmed two before they disappeared. They were like rotating cubes with multiple colours. I made a full report to my commanding officers and gave them my footage. The other lads were as amazed by it as I was."

Monet water lily painting goes for $80.5 million at Christie's, doubling previous record for the artist.

Washington D.C. city councilman and former mayor Marion Barry says he would support a bill legalizing same-sex marriage there.

Bill Clinton offers support to Obama; Obama asks donors to raise money for Clinton.

Orlando Bloom reveals his back end in the Canary Islands.

Justin Timberlake's 'Play' fragrance may smell clean but his feet are filthy.

Out swimmer Andrew Langenfeld to compete for a spot on the Olympic team in the 100-meter butterfly.

NYC Chelsea nightclub 1 Oak reacts to reports yesterday that they covered up a gay bashing at the venue. Page Six: "Club sources say the night was not promoted as a 'gay night' and that the attacker was re strained by security but broke away. The victim said 1Oak owner Scott Sartiano insisted on giving him a car to the hospital instead of calling an ambulance. A rep for the club said, '1Oak is committed to providing an environment of safety and security to patrons every night. This incident was handled by security and staff immediately and this type of inappropriate behavior will not be tolerated at 1Oak.'"

Art Fag City talks to Nayland Blake about who they'd all like to fuck.

Anti-gay assault suspect under arrest in Minneapolis: "A gay Twin Cities man, the apparent victim of a hate crime, was badly beaten last Saturday. He claims a stranger approached him near 6th and Cedar Ave. South in Minneapolis, and asked if he was gay. The victim answered yes proudly, and the suspect hit the man in the face, yelling that he hated homosexuals. Abdirizak Mohamed has been charged with assault in the fourth degree with bias—a hate crime with enhanced penalties."

Michelle Obama to give keynote address at Gay and Lesbian Leadership Council Gala DNC fundraiser on Thursday in New York.

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Towleroad Guide to the Tube #311

MICHELLE OBAMA: Her appearance on The View.

OLIVIA NEWTON-JOHN: A sneak peak at the upcoming series Sordid Lives.

EGG: First-ever video of human ovulation, to accompany these shots from last week.

GIVE IT 2 ME: The "making of" of Madonna's latest video.

Check out our previous guides to the Tube here.

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