News: Barney Frank, Bullied, Missing Emails, Steve May, Birdwatcher

White House has new excuse for missing emails: we threw away the hard drives.

Mangina: Make Me a Supermodel's Perry demonstrates how to do "a proper tuck".

Ryan Phillippe gives Jake Gyllenhaal and Reese Witherspoon his blessing.

Arizona Republican Steve May rescinds Congressional bid after mom and pop refuse to release him from family business: “(My parents) always see my behavior as erratic because they’re dishonest. Sobriety showed me that they were engaged in … evil behavior that I want nothing to do with."

Judge anticipates more dirt in McGreevey divorce trial: "If Dina Matos McGreevey presses a claim that she was duped into marrying New Jersey's gay ex-governor, she'll likely endure a mountain of embarrassing evidence exposed at the trial. 'This week was just the tip of the iceberg,' Union County Superior Court Judge Karen Cassidy cautioned the warring former first couple at a hearing Thursday."

Kate Beckinsale tells Allure she'd rather eat vagina than sushi: "I have to say, sushi freaks me out more than almost anything. At least a vagina would be warm. [laughs] My publicist has literally turned a funny color and is going to go have a lie-down. He's throwing up now, as well. I find a lot of things kind of funny and I often say what's on my mind, and then get nine texts from all my friends going, 'What's the matter with you?' But I haven't ever made a big attempt to have any particular image. And I don't really worry about it."

Good news, Wentworth Miller fans. Prison Break has been picked up for a fourth season.

Mr. DeMille, your estate is ready for its close-up.

Barney Frank calls for decriminalization of small amounts of marijuana on Real Time with Bill Maher: "Frank offered no details on his legislation, and it's not at all clear that he could ever get it to the House floor for a vote. A Frank aide was unaware of his plans other than his statement on HBO. Frank has introduced legislation in previous years to allow the use of 'medical marijuana,' although the bills never made it out of the House Energy and Commerce Committee. Asked by [Bill] Maher as to why he would push a pot decriminalization bill now, Frank said the American public has already decided that personal use of marijuana is not a problem. 'I now think it's time for the politicians to catch up to the public,' Frank said. 'The notion that you lock people up for smoking marijuana is pretty silly. I'm going to call it the 'Make Room for Serious Criminals' bill.'"

Hire your own paparazzo.

Bullying Billy: The NYT explores the case of one Fayetteville, Arkansas boy whose parents say has become a target for torment.

Mika steps up security after death threats: "Apparently the 24-year-old crooner has been forced to step up security after receiving some dodgy death threats from over-zealous fans. But the Grace Kelly star seems determined to put on a brave face, insisting: 'I'm absolutely fine - don't worry about me - I'm not scared.' In fact, far from shying away, he's promising to be much more flamboyant. 'I want to make my shows even more dramatic,' he told us."

Rediscovering God: Britney Spears negotiating to sing gig at Mel Gibson's Holy Family Catholic Church in Malibu.

Welsh TV birdwatcher Iolo Williams says his tight-fitting shorts have found him a new audience: "The dad-of-two, married to wife Ceri, told Wales on Sunday: 'A friend of mine, a girl who lives in Newport, told me about one of her mates who is gay, and said they have an informal gay club. One thing they did was tape my S4C programmes wearing my tight shorts and would get together in a bar to watch it. I was a little bit surprised at first but absolutely delighted. If they all watched my programmes it would probably double my audience!' Game-for-a-laugh Iolo said he’d would be more than happy to pop out for a pint with his newfound fanbase."

I Love My Boo: NYC safe sex campaign targets young Black and Latino gay and bisexual men. "One of the elements of this campaign that I love is that the language reflects it's target audience. It's current and even a little hood. ... Beautiful images of brothers loving and respecting each others bodies and souls. Now that's not something you see everyday."

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Towleroad Guide to the Tube #247: Brit Awards Edition

The Arctic Monkeys and Take That each won two awards last night at the Brit Awards: "The Sheffield band [Arctic Monkeys] won the coveted Best British Group award. They also walked away with the Best British Album award for Favourite Worst Nightmare. Take That won Best British Live Act and Best British Single for "Shine", voted for by commercial radio listeners and The Sun Bizarre column readers. Gary Barlow described it as 'unbelievable'."

Mika and Beth Ditto opened the show with a medley of "Love Today", "Standing in the Way of Control" and "Grace Kelly" (above). Below, Kylie Minogue performs "Wow", Leona Lewis performs "Bleeding Love", Amy Winehouse performs "Love is a Losing Game", and Rihanna trots out "Umbrella" another time with The Klaxons.

A full list of winners AFTER THE JUMP...

Brit Awards 2008

British live act: Take That. (chosen by BBC Radio 2 listeners).
Critics' Choice Award: Adele.
British breakthrough act: Mika. (chosen by BBC Radio 1 listeners).
International male solo artist: Kanye West.
British male solo artist: Mark Ronson.
International female solo artist: Kylie Minogue.
International group: Foo Fighters.
British female solo artist: Kate Nash.
International album: Foo Fighters, “Echoes, Silence, Patience & Grace.”
British group: Arctic Monkeys.
British single: Take That, “Shine.” (Chosen by live public phone-in.)
British album: Arctic Monkeys, “Favourite Worst Nightmare.”
Outstanding contribution to music: Paul McCartney

Check out our previous guides to the Tube here.

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Mika vs Boyzone: Who Cuts the Cheese?

British tabloid The Sun reports that sexually secretive pop star Mika put his new track "I Gave It All Away" up for sale to other artists, but when Brit band Boyzone, who recently announced they're reuniting, wanted it as their comeback single, he reneged on the offer.

A spokesman for Boyzone told the tab: "It’s a real shame because it’s an incredible song and we all loved it."

Sources told the tab: "Boyzone loved it. They thought it was perfect to launch their comeback so they recorded it and it sounded great — a certain No 1. Just like the title of the track, Mika gave it all away. But then he took it back again....He is keen to start writing for other pop artists as well as himself. But Boyzone isn’t really what he had in mind. He was hoping to work with some more interesting artists — Boyzone are a bit too cheesy."

That's certainly the pot calling the kettle black.

You may have missed...
Jason Bellini Asks Mika, "Does Sexuality Matter?" [tr]
Mika on Out, Doesn't Come Out [tr]

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News: David Beckham, Nellie's, Condoleezza Rice, Chris Crocker

Condoleezza Rice denied audience with Pope Benedict over U.S. foreign policy: "The US secretary of state Condoleeza Rice indicated to the Vatican that she urgently needed to meet Benedict XVI. She was on her way back into the viper’s nest of the Middle East and it would have been no bad thing to meet her counterparts with the credentials of a papal audience. Ms Rice had hoped that the audience could be fixed for early August at Castelgandolfo, the papal summer residence, when Benedict XVI returned from Lorenzago in the Dolomites, but she was told the Pope was on holiday. She insisted but to no avail. Vatican diplomats were adamant and 'Benedict XVI is on holiday' continued to be the official reply."

Hot java: One Venti Beckhammato, please...

Lesbian activist Robin Tyler calls on Arnold Schwarzenegger's lesbian chief-of-staff Susan Kennedy to resign: "I am not only extremely disappointed in the Governor's lack of courage, but am especially disappointed in Susan Kennedy, his chief of staff, whose "same gender wedding" I attended in Hawaii several years ago. Since I attended Susan's wedding, why is she so against attending mine? Both Arnold and Susan know that it is unconstitutional for the majority to deny a minority equal protection under the law."

Chris Crocker inks reality "docu-soap" deal: "It's going to pretty much be the 'Chris Crocker experience. We consider him a rebel character that people will find interesting. He's going to be a TV star."

Kathy Griffin engaged to Apple co-founder Steve Wozniak?

Pop star Mika threatened with lawsuit over name, by Belgian reggae artist Mika: "I was called Mika before him and have registered the name. Even though his real name is Mica, I think he should change it."

The Washington Post takes a look at gay D.C. sports bar Nellie's: "What sounds like a gay slur isn't: Nellie's pays homage to Schantz's great- and great-great-grandmothers, both named Nellie, one of whom is captured in sepia-toned photographs on the wall. True to its theme, the sports bar sticks to showing games on its TV monitors and displaying tennis rackets, oars and trophies as decorations; the bathroom sinks once wet the hands of spectators at Washington's old Griffith Stadium."

Sydney police accused of ignoring gay bashing: "The officer told me how stressful the court process would be and said, ‘Do you realise that nine out of 10 gay men don’t report incidents because they are afraid?’ I said I wanted to press charges anyway, and they said, ‘The men are only going to get off free.’"

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Towleroad Guide to the Tube #174

RUDY GIULIANI: Tough new ad from MoveOn regarding Giuliani's relationship with the Iraq Study Group.

BODY FLEX: With Greer Childer.

MIKA: New video for "Happy Ending".

KATHY GRIFFIN: Chats about her "Suck it, Jesus" Emmy acceptance comments on last night's Larry King Live.

Check out our previous guides to the Tube here!

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News: Lesbian Bishop, Mika, Iranian Gays, Daniel Radcliffe

Andrew Sullivan marries his partner in Provincetown.

Mika shows off his helium heels in new video for "Happy Ending". How appropriate!

Lesbian refuses to back down to conservative objections after being nominated to be a Bishop by the episcopal Church: "I am honored and humbled to be named a nominee for Bishop of Chicago and to be included in the company of my fellow nominees, all of whom are faithful, accomplished leaders in God's church. Since the day last winter when I was asked to make myself available to this nominating process, my discernment prayer has been that God would continue to lead me to serve God's new creation in the church. I believe that accepting this nomination is what God is asking of me, and I will strive to respond to that call faithfully and with grace."

At the Michael Sandy murder trial in New York, revelations that the killers joked about attack: "Some of the young men now accused of killing him gathered in an apartment and read newspaper accounts of the attack, the youngest one told investigators. In street slang referring to murder, the oldest one joked, 'So, do you want to catch a body today?'"

Fascinating interview with gay Iranian couple who fled to Turkey: "We do not ask for much in life. I want to have a 40 meter apartment in Iran where I can live with my partner, the person I love. Get up in the morning and go to work, work, and feel at peace when I return home. That’s it. Just a quiet life with my boyfriend. I’d like to reach this dream and not be hanged or stoned for loving someone."

What some gay men would do for Mariah.

Alleged photo of Pete Doherty abusing cat surfaces.

Daniel Radcliffe coming to Broadway with Equus. Nerves about "baring it all" remain..."It will be amazing, but I will be terrified because I was talking to Richard Griffiths about playing New York and he said the most stupid thing you can do is underestimate New York audiences."

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News: Wii Fit, Giant Squid, Beckham Invasion, Larry Flynt, Mika

Larry Flynt's investigators are currently looking into at least 20 high-profile political sex scandals, some of which involve "high ranking Republican and Democrat members of the Senate and the House."

Mika shows off cartoons from Life in Cartoon Motion in London exhibit.

Bush's policies have made Al Qaeda a powerhouse again: "Six years after the Bush administration declared war on al-Qaeda, the terrorist network is gaining strength and has established a safe haven in remote tribal areas of western Pakistan for training and planning attacks, according to a new Bush administration intelligence report to be discussed today at a White House meeting. The report, a five-page threat assessment compiled by the National Counterterrorism Center, is titled 'Al-Qaida Better Positioned to Strike the West,' intelligence officials said. It concludes that the group has significantly rebuilt itself despite concerted U.S. attempts to smash the network."

This should be common sense, but one shouldn't walk through a thunderstorm while listening to your iPod.

British invasion: Beckhams arrive at Heathrow for flight to Los Angeles.

Adult film maven Michael Lucas to lose his trademark pout.

Navigating the linguistic seas of cross-cultural slurs: "Language is always guilty. What could be more common than the verb ''get''? We Cubans use coger for anything that is taken, held, grasped, grabbed, etc., while in other Hispanic countries, the verb has the lubricious meaning implicit in 'I`m gonna get you.' In much stronger terms. In the lands that first identified the syndrome we call 'machismo' (as a malaise, I should add), words for homosexual abound. Sometimes they are as simple as the Spanish for 'bird' or 'duck,' which lend themselves to endless wordplay. Through the process known in literary studies as metonymy, there are pejorative allusions to gayness, such as 'one can see his feathers,' i.e. he is a bird, meaning queer. 'Bird,' as we all know, is British slang for 'chick.' And that word in Spanish, pollo, is archaic Cuban slang one can hear in old Beny Moré songs in which the great singer brags about how chicks dig him. And these are only the vicissitudes of staying within one language."

David Mixner recalls lunch with Lady Bird Johnson.

Orlando Bloom says he won't be getting naked on the London stage, although it might help if the play he was performing in actually had any opportunities for nudity.

Giant squid washes up on Tasmanian beach: "one of the biggest ever found, weighing in at 250 kilograms, with a cross-section as big as a truck tyre and longer than a station wagon."

Scientists spot planet with water outside our solar system: " But the planet itself would be hell for humans. Orbiting cheek by jowel to the star, at a distance that is 30 times closer than that between the Earth and the Sun, parts of the planet's atmosphere reach 2,000 degrees Celsius (3,600 degrees Fahrenheit). This seething temperature is reached on the side of the planet that always faces the star. By comparison, the other side of the planet is relatively balmy, with a low of 500 C (932 F). Tinetti's team used NASA's Spitzer orbiting telescope, using its infrared sensors to pick out the tiny signature that occurs when water vapour absorbs light from a star."

The man forever associated with Ted Haggard has something to say in Colorado Springs.

Do you have a lot of moles? You may have a better chance of living longer.

Wii Fit prepares to combat couch potato-ism: "The title is set to include more than forty different activities, from aerobics to yoga poses to muscle conditioning, and it will even measure your BMI. Plus, as can be seen in the trailer, there are a number of other fun minigames -- yes, we know, minigames on the Wii! -- that also serve to improve balance and coordination." The videogame system may soon be #1 worldwide.

And a very happy birthday today to Trent, our friend at Pink is the New Blog!

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Jason Bellini Asks Mika, "Does Sexuality Matter?"

From Jason Bellini's Here & Now.

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Mika Pens Song for John Travolta

Or Edna Turnblad, anyway...

Mika has just released his third single, entitled "Big Girl (You Are Beautiful)".

When entertainment site Me-Me-Me asked Mika if he preferred big girls, the coy singer replied, "Well, my mum’s big. And my auntie."

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Mika on Out, Doesn't Come Out

Mika is on this month's cover of OUT magazine, and reportedly sticks to his talking points.

"Anyone can label me, but I'm not willing to label myself...Anybody who says that I don't talk about sexuality or that I don't politically sexualize my music because of taboos, because of being afraid of [not] selling records, is completely wrong. I've made a record that doesn't compromise in any way what I'm allowed or not allowed to say in my lyrics."

A source told Towleroad that OUT originally requested Mika for the cover of their April issue, in order to coincide with the release date of his album in the U.S., but were refused.

According to our source, Mika's "handlers" wanted to do a cover but only if it came out a few months down the road, because they were concerned about breaking into the mainstream market were Mika pigeonholed as a "gay artist" right out of the gate.

You may have missed...
Mika's Gay Fanbase Missing in Action? [tr]
Mika Reports Death Threats for Silence on Sexuality [tr]
Rising Pop Star Mika Talks About Life in Cartoon Motion [tr]
Cracking Mika's Enigma Code [tr]
Pop Phenom Mika Takes Manhattan in Candy-Coated Showcase [tr]

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Mika's Gay Fanbase Missing in Action?

Is pop star Mika's refusal to answer questions about his own sexuality rubbing one segment of his potential fanbase the wrong way? The singer has reportedly been wondering why he's not as popular among gay people as he feels he should be: "I don't understand it. I've never taken sides on any gender. I like to confuse people but it would appear that the gay scene hasn't embraced my sound, or indeed, my look. I just hope all that can change in the future."

You may have missed...
Highlights from the 2007 Coachella Music & Arts Festival [tr]
Mika Reports Death Threats for Silence on Sexuality [tr]
Rising Pop Star Mika Talks About Life in Cartoon Motion [tr]
Cracking Mika's Enigma Code [tr]
Pop Phenom Mika Takes Manhattan in Candy-Coated Showcase [tr]

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News: Mika, Antarctica, Mitt Romney, McSteamy, Lesbian Arabs

Mayor of Lithuania's capital Vilnius, has backed bus drivers who refused to drive buses emblazoned with gay tolerance advertisements. Said Mayor Juozas Imbrasas: "We tolerate people of any kind of sexual orientation, nevertheless with priority for traditional family and seeking to promote the family values, we disapprove the public display of homosexualists’ ideas in the city of Vilnius."

Mika bemoans price of fame: "It's sad but I just don't have a private life anymore. I have to focus on my music and I have absolutely no time for anything else."

Human Rights Watch calls on Iran to end home raids and mass detentions intended to "counter immoral behavior": "In Iran, the walls of homes are transparent and the halls of justice are opaque. This ‘morality’ campaign shows how fragile respect for privacy and personal dignity is in Iran today."

Barney Frank tired of people asking him about his sling. Memo: "I appreciate the concern expressed by many about why my arm is in a sling. In order to avoid having to repeat the same conversation, I am sending out this Dear Colleague. I ruptured a tendon in my left arm using a curling machine in a gym, and I had it surgically repaired yesterday at Bethesda Naval Hospital. I’ll be using the sling for a week or two, but I feel fine. Thanks for not asking."

Men's Health is all about great abs but all McSteamy serves up some good face to go with them.

Iraq off the table for Prince Harry: "He is a magnet for jihadists."

Antarctica sees ice melt the size of California...in a single month: "Satellite data collected by the scientists between July 1999 and July 2005 showed clear signs that melting had occurred in multiple distinct regions, including far inland and at high latitudes and elevations, where melt had been considered unlikely...Evidence of melting was found up to 560 miles inland from the open ocean, farther than 85 degrees south (about 310 miles from the South Pole) and higher than 6,600 feet above sea level."

In Republican debate, Mitt Romney says he'd like to see the size of Guantanamo doubled: "I am glad [detainees] are at Guantanamo. I don’t want them on our soil. I want them on Guantanamo, where they don’t get the access to lawyers they get when they’re on our soil. I don’t want them in our prisons, I want them there. Some people have said we ought to close Guantanamo. My view is we ought to double Guantanamo."

Eddie Murphy II: Is rapper Mase a fan of transgender prostitutes?

Lesbian Arabs unite to break down taboos: 'We are Palestinian, we are women, we are gay'.

North Carolina lawmakers argue over whether gays should be included on a list of potential 'bully targets' in schools: "Disagreement focuses on its description of bullying as including acts that are motivated by bias against "any actual or perceived characteristic" of a victim from a list that includes race, gender, disability and sexual orientation. The bill doesn't try to grant special protection to homosexual students - it simply states the fact that they are among the potential victims that school administrators should keep an eye on, said Rep. Rick Glazier, the sponsor. 'Special attention has got to be given to those who suffer the most bullying,' Glazier, D-Cumberland, explained. 'We cannot protect them by pretending that differences don't exist, aren't perceived to exist.'"

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Highlights from the 2007 Coachella Music & Arts Festival

[by Arjan Writes, guest blogger] Over the last few years, the Coachella Music & Arts Festival has grown into one of the biggest outdoor music festivals in the country. When Madonna appeared last year, she added a mainstream flavor to the event and brought a whole new audience with her. This gave organizers the confidence to grow the event and turn it from a 2 to 3 day event. Set in the scorching desert three hours east of Los Angeles, this year's event was action-packed with some of the hottest talents of the moment perform.

There were many great moment, but here are a few of the highlights (click images to enlarge):

Bjork returned to Coachella playing on Friday night wowing the crowd with new tracks ("Earth Intruders") and old favorites ("Hunter," "Army Of Me," "Pagan Poetry"). She appeared in a costume that looked like The Last Emperor meets Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat. 

The Red Hot Chili Peppers played an energetic set on Saturday. They mixed it up a little and covered Stevie Wonder's "Higher Ground" with a few bars of Donna Summer's "I Feel Love."

Perfectly coiffed and styled, The Feeling turned it up a few notches for their show on Sunday afternoon. Openly-gay frontman Dan Gillespie-Sells (above and right) stayed true to form. He introduced the last song "Love It When You Call" with "I will leave you with this little tune, my darlings."

Mika (left) appeared a little earlier on the mainstage. Dressed in a simple white tee and "cartoon motion" military pants, he went over very well with the crowd of boarder dudes and rock chicks who had settled early in front of the stage in anticipation of Rage Against the Machine later that day.

Break out act The Klaxons (below, right) presented a fresh, exhilarating sound on Sunday that had me dizzy on my feet from beginning to end. Set included the delicious "Golden Skans." This is a band to watch.

Members of British band Placebo have never made a secret of their sexuality. Singer Brian Molko (below, left) is bisexual and bassist Stefan Olsdal is openly gay. The group played a tight, soaring rock set that included a remake of Kate Bush's "Running Up That Hill."

Tiesto made the Dutch proud when he headlined the mainstage and closed the Saturday program. This was the first time a DJ was chosen in favor of a rock act to get this honor. Tiesto played a pre-programmed set that was timed in conjunction with compelling visual effects. He included older fan favorites and tracks from his new album "Elements of Life."

Peaches (left) rocked her set on Friday night. This chicks knows how to bring it. The brash performer kept a steady pace accompanied by the handsome JD Samson on keys and drummer Sam Maloney. After opening the show with her light saber routine, she jumped on the drum set while chanting "Impeach my bush, impeach my bush."

Rufus Wainwright played songs from his new album "Release The Stars" on Saturday in a packed Mojave tent. Appearing in a robed "gay messiah" costume, he played the piano and acoustic guitar. He was backed by a full band including a horn section. He was quoted saying, "It's great to be here in the desert, where all the rejects had to go and the Jews and the homosexuals."

Dance lovers were in for a treat well with kicky sets by French DJ David Guetta, Felix da Housecat and Paul van Dyk. Faithless delivered a powerful performance on Friday night, sending the crowd into frenzy with live renditions of "Mass Destruction" and the pumping " Insomnia."

Arjan is the author of the music blog Arjan Writes, where you can find new music, free downloads, album reviews, and artist interviews. More on each of these artists there.

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News: Easter Parade, Spandau Ballet, Spray-On Computer, Ohio

Bush vs. Clinton - whose economy is stronger? Each claims his own. Economist Larry Kudlow: "Every expansion has a little different coloration. The Clinton years were colored by the technology boom and the dot-com boom, which ultimately produced a bubble that burst. The Bush years were colored by the tremendous housing boom from the Greenspan interest rates, and we're undergoing some kind of a bubble bursting right now."

Is Easter the new Gay Pride?

True: 80's power ballad group Spandau Ballet set to reform.

Pop singer Mika seems intent on attempting to control his image. The singer, whose album Life in Cartoon Motion entered the Billboard 200 chart at #29, continues to be annoyed by those wondering about his sexuality. Says Mika: "Sexuality in pop is genderless. If you look at icons such as Bowie or Prince, has it got to do with actual sexual orientation? No. Has it got to do with style, beauty and class, irrelevant to whether you want to f**k them? Yes."

Queer Eye's Thom Filicia getting his own show on the Style Network. [Dress my Nest...lets him riff on an individual client's favorite outfit as the basis for making over an important room. If you like khakis and topsiders, that will be reflected in Filicia's design. If you're more into pearls and cashmere, the makeover will reflect that elegance. Primary vendors are Crate & Barrel, Pottery Barn and West Elm."

Justin Timberlake mocks Britney with GQ clip?

Gays at black colleges struggling to find community: "It's a tug-of-war that's emerging at other black schools, where students say outdated rules and homophobia block them from forming the gay campus voice common at majority white institutions. At Hampton [University], where rules govern everything from overnight guests to student dress, officials insist they don't discriminate against gays. They say they're simply enforcing the regulations on student groups, and there just isn't space for another one."

<---Paging Lance Bass?

Anti-gay Catholic leader William Donohue thought a South Park parody targeting him was hilarious: "Maybe I do come across too tough on TV. I thought it was hilarious and our staff thought it was hilarious. I said, listen, I said I have no defense except I'm gonna go with it."

Scientists unveil "spray-on" computer.

John McCain on lying about conditions in Iraq: "Of course I’m gonna misspeak. I’ve done it on numerous occasions. And I probably will in the future. I regret that when I divert attention to something that I’ve said from my message. But that’s just life. And I’m happy, frankly, with the way I operate. Otherwise it’d be a lot less fun."

First gay health clinic in Ohio opens in Cleveland.

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Mika Reports Death Threats for Silence on Sexuality

Pop star Mika, whom Arjan profiled for Towleroad last week, says he's been receiving gay death threats because he won't discuss his sexuality. He told the Evening Standard:

"I get hate messages all the time, a death threat. It was over whether I am gay or not. He wasn't happy that I won't talk about my personal life like that. Sometimes I think that I have made it, other times it is a bit worrying...I never talk about anything to do with my sexuality, I don't think I need to. People ask me all the time. In order to survive I've shut up different parts of my life, and that's one of them, especially this early in my career, I don't really feel that it's necessary to know in terms of my music. Some people make records that are defined by their sexuality, but mine really are not. It does play a lot with campness. It has a theatricality to it. Why not? It's pop music. If you're 14-years-old and you're gay, well, just do whatever you want. I'm not confused and I don't have any barriers about the way I live my life. That's why I don't want to put it under the microscope."

Not surprisingly, Mika didn't want to talk about it with Arjan either.

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Rising Pop Star Mika Talks About Life in Cartoon Motion

[by Arjan Writes, guest blogger] Mika is just everywhere these days. People are raving about this new pop sensation whose debut album Life In Cartoon Motion debuted at #1 in the U.K. a few weeks ago. His single “Grace Kelly” also shot to the top of the British pop charts and held the coveted position for more than four weeks.

The Lebanese crooner who lives in London is now ready to conquer North America. He has been playing showcases in the U.S. to promote the U.S. release of his album next week.

Turned off by mediocre television singing contests and inspired by great songwriters of the ‘70s, Mika’s infectious brand of flamboyant pop has struck a cord with a broad audience, including gays. One of his standout tracks is “Billy Brown”, which describes the journey of a married man who discovers that he’s attracted to men.

Much has been written about the way you got your record deal. How did it exactly come about?
It is quite a story. I was studying classical music in London until a year ago. I always knew I wanted to do pop music. So I was sort of living a double life. Studying classical music during the day and writing pop songs in the evening. I sent out a lot of demos but nobody really got into what I wanted to do. The commercial people rejected me and the indie crowd did not accept me either because I was too melody-based. So I continued doing the same thing. I got in touch with some people who were associated with a big label and they wanted me to become somebody I was not. I refused to do that. I ended up going to Miami on a regular basis to work there independently on my music. With borrowed studio time and musicians doing stuff for free, I ended up with a solid demo. In the meantime, the record company that initially dismissed me had completely changed their tone and wanted to sign me.

Is it true you wrote “Grace Kelly” as a response to those label heads that wanted to change you?
Yes. I wrote “Grace Kelly” as a screw-you song to those label people that wanted me to be somebody I was not. But ironically, one year later, it was the song that got me signed!

For people not familiar with your music, how would you describe your sound?
Hyper-real pop.  It has this hyper-reality to it, hence the cartoon title.

Pop has become such a dirty word. How do you do pop differently?
I’m trying to reclaim pop. Television singing contests, like X Factor or American Idol, have introduced a bad side of pop music. Especially in the U.K., pop music has lost its face and the artistry has been forgotten about.

Do you think bands like Scissor Sisters have laid a foundation for you?
I wonder about that. I am a fan of Scissor Sisters and part of what we do comes from the same place. But it is different because I’m a solo artist.

Blogs in particular have championed you in the U.S.. How do you feel about that?
There is no real agenda with online press so blogs tend to be brutally honest. So to get positive reactions from blogs really means a lot to me.

How did the song “Billy Brown” about a gay affair come about?
I was reading about a similar situation in a paper in London. It seemed to have a lot relevance to people and I thought it would make a good theme for a pop song. As soon as I started to play it, people were saying 'oh this happened to a friend of mine, or this happened to so and so.' I was surprised nobody had written about it before.

Rumors have been circulating about your own sexuality. Are you gay?
I don’t' really discuss that. I don’t feel I really need to. My music speaks for itself. I have total freedom with what I do musically and the way that I live my life. And I feel really comfortable with that.

Are you ready to conquer America?
Breaking into the U.S. market as one lump is a little scary, but nowadays it is not necessary as much because you can do a lot of online stuff.

Do you ever pinch yourself?  It is pretty amazing what’s happening to you.
Totally. It feels like I’m living one of my pop songs. It is like a hyper-reality. [Laughs]

What is your live show like?
We’ve been able to re-create the energy from the record. It is just a little bit louder and more aggressive.

Time for some fun questions. Do you prefer Kylie or Madonna?
Kylie at the moment. She’s gone through some amazing few months. She’s a magnet.

Do you have any guilty pleasures?
[Laughs]  Where do I start? My music collection from complete trashy pop, the most ridiculous collection of novelty records from Japanese pop to French baby pop. 

What can we wake you up for in the middle of the night?
I tend to be a little grumpy if you wake me up when I’m sleeping. There’s not much that will get me up. [Laughs]

Arjan is the author of the music blog Arjan Writes, where you can find new music, free downloads, album reviews, and more artist interviews. Life in Cartoon Motion has its official U.S. release on March 25.

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Cracking Mika's Enigma Code

British pop star Mika, whose album seems to have been out forever already but doesn't officially drop in the U.S. until March 27, has stuck to a policy of telling journalists he doesn't answer questions about his sexuality, but in his latest quote to a Brit tabloid his facade appears to be cracking a bit:

"People say, 'You don't talk about sexuality because you're worried about success in the US'. I say, 'Have you heard the f*****g album?' There's a song about a married man who has a homosexual affair. There's no enigma."

If it's so obvious, why not just say it and be done with it? In any case, here's the new video for "Love Today" which appeared yesterday — you may have already heard it on several TV commercials.

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News: Mika, Ted Haggard, Dolphins, Rhode Island Rally

Valentine's Day same-sex marriage rally planned at Rhode Island statehouse.

UK pop star Mika reigning over the Brit charts: "The 23 year-old phenom went straight to No 1 on the UK album charts this week with his 11-song disk, moving 107,732 copies of the eclectic new album, and adding to an unparalleled string of No 1s for a debut artist: No 1 single 'Grace Kelly,' which has held the top spot now for 4 weeks running. The infectious single is also the No 1 itunes song in the UK, No 1 on the national and regional airplay charts, No 1 video download, as well as holding down the No 1 video slot in the country. The charismatic newcomer also owns the No 1 album on itunes, an incredible launch for an artist who was turned down by virtually every record company with his visionary brand of groundbreaking, kiss-goodbye-the-cookie cutter songmaking."

New Life church has paid Ted Haggard cash to keep his heterosexual trap shut: "Haggard signed a non-disclosure agreement with his former congregation, New Life Church, and received an unknown sum of what could only be described as hush money. The agreement included a clause that forbids either Haggard or New Life from stating how much his silence was worth."

Diamond Jim, an English Springer Spaniel, took 'Best in Show' at the Westminster Kennel Club competition last night: "Diamond Jim beat out the Dandie Dinmont, a pair of white poodles and a petit basset griffon vendeen, plus an Akita and a Bouviers des Flandres that pitted a husband and wife against each other."

Dolphin receives world's first artificial fluke.

Carjackers steal openly gay Filipino comic Anton Diva's car in Manila with friend inside: "Cariño had just gotten off the vehicle when two men seized the car keys and forced him back in the car. He said at least four men boarded the vehicle and forced him at gunpoint to lie face down in the back of the car where he was punched, kicked and blindfolded. Cariño said he did not cry for help for fear of being shot even after sensing that the car had reached a toll gate. He said the carjackers took his cell phone and wallet before abandoning him in Marilao, Bulacan."

December shooting at black "gay house" party in Chicago draws attention to need for community tolerance of gays and lesbians. Activist: "Thank God nobody died. But out of that tragic incident, we're able to find our voice and our strength. After we called everyone together, we did something that's never been done before in this town. We just said to everybody, `We need to bring this community together with people who are responsible and call them to be accountable.'"

Ontario, Canada cabinet minister George Smitherman, who recently announced he'll wed his partner Christopher Peloso, jokes about what he'll wear to the wedding: "Probably a thong." He then said "linen" would be a good bet.

Britney Spears takes one more trip down the road to ruin.

DNC Treasurer Andy Tobias responds to criticism of Howard Dean and the DNC's efforts for the gay community at the recent LGBT Caucus.

Death row inmate Richard Laird, who was offered a retrial, is again sentenced to death for killing gay artist 20 years ago: "Laird and Frank Chester, now 39, of Tullytown, were both sentenced to death in 1988. Chester is also appealing. Prosecutors said the two abducted Milano, of Bristol Township, from a Route 13 bar on Dec. 15, 1987, and forced him to drive to nearby woods. Milano's body was found near his burning car. A medical examiner testified that he was slashed 'too many times to count.'"

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News: Gaysted, McFly, Grace Kelly, Molly Ivins, Al Franken

Columnist Molly Ivins has died of cancer at 62: Tribute: "But there was more to Molly Ivins than insightful political commentary packaged in an aw-shucks Southern charm. In the coming days, much will be made of Molly's contributions to the liberal cause, how important she was as an authentic female voice on opinion pages across the country, her passionate and eloquent defense of the poorest and the weakest among us against the corruption of the most powerful, and the joy she took in celebrating the uniqueness of American culture -- and all of this is true. But more than that, Molly Ivins was a woman who loved and cared deeply for the world around her. And her warm and generous spirit was apparent in all her words and deeds."

Princess Stephanie of Monaco says her late mother Grace Kelly would have approved of pop star Mika's chart-topping song referencing her: "He is very talented and handsome and I'm sure my mother would have liked the song very much." Said Mika of the icon: "The song is all about identity and what people expect of me and how I'm perceived. I think Grace Kelly was a rebel and I liked that about her, rather than actresses like Audrey Hepburn or Sophia Loren." (more on Mika...)

Aussie Olympian Ian Thorpe and Lachlan Murdoch team up to fight AIDS in Papua New Guinea: "Thorpe says the disease threatens to wipe out up to 30 per cent of PNG's future workforce. 'We've listened to what the local interests are, to what's required here,' he said. 'It's wonderful to be able to see Australian businesses and PNG businesses coming together.' The business coalition launch raised close to $1 million in pledges."

African LGBT leaders angry that British activist Peter Tatchell and his group Outrage! are getting into their business.

Brit boyband McFly takes it off in the new Attitude.

Gaysted: "Heterosexual people getting so wasted, they slip into seemingly gay acts. The loose definition: It is when you are soooo drunk (wasted) and dudes start dancing with you and you just sort of go along with it and then they start putting their arms around you and you just kind of keep rolling with it because you're drunk and you sort of think the dude is being your dancefloor bro, but then when you sober up you realize that the situash is sort of weird. when this happens, you tell your friends, 'dude, i got so gaysted last night.'"

Vogue editor-at-large Andre Leon Talley gets ready to offer fashion commentary on Oscar's red carpet.

High school wrestler from Valentine, Nebraska who spread Herpes to 24 guys on 10 different teams at a wrestling meet in late December not likely to have a valentine this year. (via deadspin)

Al Franken to run for U.S. Senate from Minnesota: "In a statement, Minnesota Republican Party Chairman Ron Carey said he was confident Minnesotans 'will reject Franken's divisive, scorched-earth attacks.' The state Democratic Party declined to comment. Should he win the Democratic primary in Minnesota, Franken would take on Republican Norm Coleman (news, bio, voting record), a first-term senator who is among the Democrats' top targets. Coleman declined to comment Wednesday."

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News: The Queen, Madonna, Mika, Tim Russert: Tool

Memo to Tim Russert: Dick Cheney thinks he controls you.

Madonna throws shade, debuts clothing line.

After short program, Lysacek leads Weir at U.S. Figure Skating Championships. Weir: "I got close. I'm going to keep fighting. To be in second place at the national championships, even though I've won three, it's still a great honor. ... It ain't over until the fat lady sings."

GLAAD's Neil Giuliano talks about Isaiah Washington incident: "Someone called earlier this week after seeing me on CNN and asked if I had any idea a week ago that this situation with Isaiah Washington would become such a big story. I had to honestly answer: yes. I knew the minute I saw it."

What we don't know: 42 of the biggest unanswered questions in science.

"(BLEEP) Bless You." The word "God" censored from The Queen for inflight broadcast: "The word God was removed seven times in all after an inexperienced employee of a California company that edits movies for in-flight entertainment was told to take out all profanities - including any blasphemy."

Dreamgirls headed back to Broadway: "Krieger said it was too early to discuss details about the revival, but theater insiders speculate that Oscar nominee Jennifer Hudson may be asked to reprise the role of Effie on stage." Bet Jennifer Holliday's thrilled with that news.

Convicted sex offender/gay porn producer Bryan Charles Kocis slain, torched in home (warning - site NSFW): "No formal suspects have been named, but Citizen's Voice is reporting that police have questioned three California men he was involved in a "business dispute" with, one of which presumably is Sean Lockhart. Kocis, 44, was best known for his complicated ongoing legal battle with Lockhart, better known as gay porn star Brent Corrigan, 21."

Mika to join Take That on tour?

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