News: Will Young, National Equality March, Shot Put, Bernie Madoff

Muslim footballers agree to play Paris gay team: "Bebel director Zahir Belgharbi insisted there had been 'a misunderstanding' and sent out a statement through club lawyer Benedicte Puybasset indicating they were indeed ready "'to play the match'." Background.

Obama swastika carved into Massachusetts golf course. GOP Tweets clip of Hitler praising Pelosi.

Rad: Guess who's returning to Broadway?

Rex Wockner's report on the National Equality March: "The praise for Obama inside HRC's fancy dinner and the denunciations of Obama in the streets of D.C. seemed to unequivocally confirm the split that's emerged in the gay community in the aftermath of the passage of Proposition 8 in California."

Listen: Michael Jackson's new track "This Is It".

Girls Gone Wild creator Joe Francis attended National Equality March: "The 'Girls Gone Wild' creator told us, 'With the gay movement, it's personal. The same religious-right [bleep]holes who took away my civil rights and put me in jail for a year because they don't like what I do for a living have taken away gay rights. I know firsthand how it feels to have your civil rights stripped from you.' Francis added, 'P.S., lots of lesbians marched, too.'"

Taylor Lautner strips for GQ.

Singer Will Young pregnant in new video.

Gay Navy veteran Joseph Rocha in the Washington Post: "I even saw "don't ask, don't tell" used against heterosexual female service members who had reported being the victims of sexual assault. If my chief acted on their statements, he would be forced to punish a friend of his, so the easiest way to make the problem go away was to scare the women into silence by saying something like: 'You weren't sexually assaulted by a male in my unit. I hear you're a lesbian.' After all, homosexuals have no rights in our military. You can't sexually assault someone who doesn't exist."

Male model fix: Joel West.

100-year-old breaks shot put record in Sydney: "All eyes were on Ruth Frith, from Brisbane, as she arrived for day two of the World Masters Games, hoping to win gold in the shot put and feeling pretty confident as she was the only competitor in the over-100s category. But her 4.07 metre (13 ft 4.2 in) throw on Sunday didn't just win her gold, but also broke a world record."

Justin Timberlake used to get called "sissy" by the football players.

Jesus Luz gets $18K for half hour of DJing in Brazil.

The Obamas and art: demand innovation, not admiration.

Russian singers and writers call for end to discrimination against gays: "They met after a local official tried to close Moscow's longest-running gay club, Dusha i Telo, where many of the artists have performed. Activist Nikolai Alekseyev, who called the meeting, said it was the first time celebrities had come together publicly to denounce homophobia."

AIDS cases trending upward in Montana...

Bernie Madoff in prison brawl.

Toys"R"Us reprimanded by sixth grade class for gender discrimination: "According to the youngsters, the Toys"R"Us Christmas catalogue featured 'outdated gender roles because boys and girls were shown playing with different types of toys, whereby the boys were portrayed as active and the girls as passive', according to a statement from Ro."

Montana High Court Upholds Historic Same-Sex Parent Custody Ruling

Montana's Supreme Court yesterday upheld a ruling by a Missoula, Montana district court judge last October, awarding custody rights to Michelle Kulstad. Kulstad had raised two kids with her partner Barbara Maniaci for nearly a decade. The kids were legally adopted by Maniaci, who sought sole custody when the couple split.

The Flathead Beacon reports: "The Supreme Court on Tuesday backed District Judge Ed McLean's ruling last year that granted Michelle Kulstad joint custody of the two children — a 9-year-old boy and a 6-year-old girl. The children were adopted by Kulstad's former partner, Barbara Maniaci, in 2001 and 2004. State law does not allow both members of a same-sex partnership to adopt. After the relationship ended, Kulstad filed in January 2007 to receive parenting rights. Maniaci, who is now married to a man, filed a motion to dismiss Kulstad's petition."

Justice James Nelson addressed anti-gay discrimination "in the strongest of language," reports The Missoulian:

"In his specially concurring decision, Nelson denounced discrimination against gays and lesbians as 'bigotry' and called it 'a prevalent societal cancer grounded in bigotry and hate.' ... 'I remain absolutely convinced ... that homosexuals are entitled to enjoy precisely the same civil and natural rights as heterosexuals, as a matter of constitutional law,' he wrote. Nelson sided with the 6-1 majority that upheld a ruling giving parental rights to a Missoula woman who had been in a 10-year lesbian relationship that included two children legally adopted by the other woman in the partnership. The other woman had left the relationship and married a man, and did not want to grant parental rights to her former lesbian partner. The court ruled that the former partner has a 'parental interest' in the children and a right to joint custody. Nelson said the case shows that until the courts recognize homosexuals as 'equal participants with heterosexuals in our society ... with exactly the same civil and natural rights, lesbian and gay citizens will continue to suffer homophobic discrimination.' ... 'Regrettably, this sort of discrimination is both socially acceptable and politically popular,' he wrote."

More from the Flathead Beacon: "Justice James Nelson concurred with the decision, but added: 'Maniaci and her defense team attempt to avoid the one issue that makes this case uniquely important — the elephant in the room: whether homosexuals in an intimate domestic relationship each have the right to parent the children they mutually agree that one party will adopt (or, presumably, conceive.) The District Court and this Court have properly answered that question in the affirmative...Sadly, however, this case represents yet another instance in which fellow Montanans, who happen to be lesbian or gay, are forced to battle for their fundamental rights to love who they want, to form intimate associations, to form family relationships, and to have and raise children — all elemental, natural rights that are accorded, presumptively and without thought or hesitation, to heterosexuals."

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

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

Meet the father of Prop 8.

Anderson Cooper needs a ride.

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

Grizzly Bears face huge population drops in Canada.

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

Guess who's returning to Melrose Place?

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

Listen: Kris Allen drops first single.

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

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

Australian politico comes out, wins praise.

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

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

Hugh Jackman kicks off Climate Week NYC.

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

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

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

Buju Banton show axed in Richmond, Virginia.

Tom Cruise shows off his jogging hair.

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

Court: Montana Church Not Obliged to Share Anti-Gay Donor Records

Anti-gay religious groups like the Alliance Defense Fund are overjoyed by the decision of a federal appeals court in Montana which ruled that the Canyon Ferry Road Baptist Church of East Helena does not have to make campaign finance disclosures related to the Montana Marriage Protection Amendment, a 2004 ballot initiative that passed by a 2 to 1 margin.

The court explained it ruled that way "because [the church's support]  — use of some printer ink and a foyer table -- was 'extremely minimal.'"

The L.A. Times reports: "Religious rights groups opposed to according legal status to gay marriage cheered the decision of the U.S. 9th Circuit Court of Appeals panel as a precedent that could protect the identities of donors to other ballot initiatives in the West -- including California's narrow passage in November of Proposition 8, which defines marriage as only between a man and a woman. Much of the financial support for Proposition 8 came from Mormon and Catholic churches, which are now fighting for repeal of a state law requiring that the names of donors be made public."

Of course the Mormon and Catholic churches (via the Knights of Columbus) contributed millions of dollars in non-monetary and monetary contributions to the passage of Prop 8. That's a far cry from printer ink and a table:

"Montana State Solicitor Anthony Johnstone, who argued before the appeals court that the church activity, though minimal, was subject to the disclosure law, said he doubted the ruling would have any broad implications as it reaffirmed each state's right to define what constitutes a significant contribution."

News: Sarah Palin, Sperm Washing, Zac Efron, Lady Gaga, NYPD

McCain's top lawyer, Trevor Potter, is gay: "As the campaign’s general counsel, Potter has been identified by newspapers such as the New York Times and Washington Post as one of the nation’s most highly regarded experts on U.S. election laws. Potter has been credited with helping draft the McCain-Feingold Act, a bipartisan federal measure that reformed federal campaign finance laws. But few mainline news outlets have reported on Potter’s other role as a high-level, openly gay adviser to McCain."

Kevin Sessums takes a look at the trend of sperm washing: "Most of the gay men who go the surrogacy route are HIV negative, but because of the 'sperm washing' technique initially developed for heterosexual couples dealing with infertility issues, HIV positive men, who are living long and healthy lives because of the drugs now available to them, are also increasingly becoming fathers."

Lady Gaga puts on her Poker Face.

Lawrence King's killer Brandon McInerney to undergo psychiatric tests: "Ventura County Superior Court Judge Kevin McGee appointed psychiatrist Ronald Thurston and psychologist Marlene Valter to examine McInerney and determine whether he has the ability to understand the nature of the criminal proceedings and assist his lawyers in his defense."

Tyra Banks looking for "ex-gay" wannabes.

David Beckham being loaned out to Italy.

Elton John's new AIDS musical not as radical as it seems.

This is what a young Matthew Perry looks like?

First it was on, then it was off. Now, the divorce between Little Britain creator Matt Lucas and his partner Kevin McGee looks to be nearly complete.

Gay NYPD officer found guilty of sexually harassing two male sergeants and creating a lewd, hostile work environment: "Lt. Kieran Crowe, 50, denied the allegations, and blamed his behavior on 'jock itch.' Sgts. Dominic Coppola and Sean Gallagher filed an internal complaint against Crowe in 2004, when all three men worked at the Office of Equal Employment Opportunity at Police Headquarters. They also sued the city and the NYPD in Manhattan Federal Court. The sergeants said Crowe, a 23-year NYPD veteran, simulated masturbating and wiggled his tongue at them in a sexually suggestive manner in the 12th-floor office which, ironically, investigates harassment in the workplace."

SPOILER: Meet Saul's new boyfriend on Brothers and Sisters.

Florida student receives Playboy Hugh M. Hefner First Amendment Award for sticking up for LGBT students: "Heather Gillman, 17, now a high school senior in Ponce de Leon, FL, received a $10,000 award for her fearlessness in speaking out on behalf of the rights of gay students. Gillman successfully sued the local school board after her high school principal banned students from wearing t-shirts, stickers, buttons, or symbols showing support of equal rights for gay students."

Helena, Montana library to keep Joy of Gay Sex book on shelf.

Barney Frank on being mobbed at Statuary Hall in the Capitol: "I have nothing to say except I know how Britney Spears feels."

Satirist apologizes for report some people took seriously that West Hollywood was banning Sarah Palin drag queens at this year's Halloween celebration. Plus, Tina Fey throws her a bone.

Lorne Michaels on how they got Palin for SNL.

NYT to publish narrative of Palin pick in Sunday magazine: "Having interviewed several of the Senator's chief aides, Draper details the process by which McCain ultimately chose his running mate (New York City mayor Michael Bloomberg was surprisingly high on the list). And the decision may have been even more impulsive than initially thought. Gov. Sarah Palin, who had never been on the VP shortlist, was advanced at the last minute by Schmidt and Rick Davis, and was picked after a chat with McCain at his ranch in Arizona." Massive article NOW ONLINE.

News: Montana, Hugh Jackman, Parasites, Ig Nobels, Tuna

Montana woman files appeal over historic Montana same-sex partner custody ruling.

Where did Charlie go when he was young? Tuna kindergarten.

Interested in what Shrek the Musical sounds like? Download a free tune.

Gold-winning gay Aussie Olympian hires "the man who helped turn Ian Thorpe into a multimillionaire, David Flaskas, to manage his career away from the dive towers." Mitcham has yet to score a major sponsorship - is homophobia to blame?

Canadian candidate who told a high school assembly gays should be executed is banned from future debates.

Senator Larry Craig gives farewell speech to empty chamber. Crapper goes unmentioned in colleague Mike Crapo's good-bye lauding the accomplishments of his retiring colleague : "It has been a privilege for me to serve with Senator Craig during my time in Congress. My wife, Susan, and I wish him and his wife, Suzanne, well as they begin a new chapter in their lives."

Police looking into violent gay bashing outside club in downtown Hamilton, Ontario, Canada: "The victim was treated in hospital. Shortly afterwards a man appeared at hospital with injuries to his hand. Police say the man bragged about his assault at the Embassy Club."

Hugh Jackman lookin' spiffy.

Catholic churches in Michigan town of Hamtramck urge voters to reject town's anti-discrimination that includes protections for sexual orientation: "We have to keep the morals and have the regular families and bring up children according to God's law. Keep it the way it was from the beginning."

Equality Maryland to honor transgender model Isis.

Alien parasites killing sharks off the coast of Oregon. Damn, those things look nasty.

I'm very sorry to report the passing of Rupert, the cutest deer ever.

Facebook censors gay men's retailer Priape: "Michael Ain, Priape's director of marketing and sales, says Facebook is treating Priape differently than it does similar pages aimed at heterosexual audiences."

Duke University to host Episcopal Bishop Gene Robinson: "Janie Long, director of the Center for Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual and Transgender Life-which organized Robinson's visit-said she hoped his appearance would help to open a campus conversation on faith and identity. 'This is something that I deal with with students quite frequently,' she said. 'And because I very much want students from all kinds of faith backgrounds-it's not students that are Christians, it's really all faith backgrounds-it's a chance for those students to be exposed to someone who I think is really an excellent role model in terms of balancing different parts of identity.'"

Madonna and A-Rod reportedly dine together in NYC.

Out Dartmouth runner Jamal Brown shares his experiences as an openly gay college athlete.

There are two out gay men on this season's Top Chef — meet them.

Broadway's Hairspray to close.

Annual Ig Nobel Prizes awarded.

CBS in trouble for Survivor peen moment that nobody saw.

A new comedy TV series based on the childhood memoirs of Simon Doonan by the writer of Beautiful Thing comes to the BBC: "This glittering and hilarious series delves inside Simon's youthful memories and his desire to escape suburban Reading and live amongst the 'beautiful people' - from his perspective as a window dresser in a New York department store."

CDC: 1 in 5 unaware they are infected with HIV.

Building in Bangkok's gay area collapses: "The collapse happened on Tuesday in Bangkok's Silom Soi 4 at around 4pm local time (10pm NZ time), when the Soi is largely unattended. There are no reports of fatalities or injuries. The four-story building, currently under renovation and operating as Roxy Club, partially fell to the ground, crushing motorcyles and furniture, leaving the street covered in large pieces of concrete and other debris."