News: Gina Gershon, Tel Aviv, Sam Nunn, MTV, Scott McClellan

Missouri joins 10 other states in push to halt California's same-sex marriage law from going forward: "The other states filed a brief Friday asking the court to postpone action pending the results of a November ballot question in which California voters could overrule the decision. The ballot question was certified in California on Monday, prompting Nixon’s action. 'Regardless of how California decides to proceed, Missouri does not recognize same-sex marriages performed in California or any other state,' Nixon spokesman Scott Holste said Tuesday." UPDATE: Court gives green light to marriage.

John Mayer's hot rod.

Openly gay candidates win state legislature seats in California and Montana.

New York State Assembly passes bill banning transgender discrimination: "...the New York State Assembly voted 102-33 to amend the state’s human rights law to include anti-discrimination protections based upon gender identity and expression. The bill (A.6584a), known as the Gender Expression Non-Discrimination Act (GENDA) bans discrimination against transgender people in housing, employment, credit, public accommodations, and other areas of everyday life."

Airlines contemplating putting passengers on the scales?

Gay days kicks off in Orlando, Florida.

Gay community center opens in Tel Aviv: "A new mezuzah was affixed to the entrance to a building on the campus of the 'Dov Hoz' school in Tel Aviv on Tuesday, one covered in the rainbow flag of the Gay Pride movement. After decades as the home of the 'Workers' children's school' serving the children of the Labor Party elite, and later a local high school, the building is now home to Tel Aviv's first-ever Gay and Lesbian community center. 'The image of God can be seen in every person, and therefore, this building is not only a community center, but a house of God' said Rabbi David Lazar at a ceremony to bless the affixing of the building's mezuzah."

Prison Break's Dominic Purcell shows some insight.

Former Georgia senator Sam Nunn says it may be time to reconsider "Don't Ask, Don't Tell": "I think [when] 15 years go by on any personnel policy, it’s appropriate to take another look at it — see how it’s working, ask the hard questions, hear from the military. Start with a Pentagon study."

Crystal ("you are a whore") Conners denies having affair with Bill Clinton.

More Prince William seamen photos.

Scott McClellan memoir docu-drama in the works?

MTV fined $498,000 by UK regulator for offensive content: "The music broadcaster was fined for material carried on its TMF, MTV U.K., MTV France and MTV Hits channels, including uses of the word 'motherf***er' and 'f**k' in music videos and for airing racist and homophobic texts including such sentiments as 'the white race will triumph' and 'death to all gays' on MTV France."

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Towleroad Guide to the Tube #270

GAY BACHELOR: MyPartner.com (a Towleroad advertiser) kicks off nationwide search for Most eligible Gay Bachelor.

LAURA BRANIGAN: The Filipino prisoners are back, performing "Gloria".

FAMILY: One of three powerful new PSAs shot by Babel director Alejandro González Iñárritu for the Montana Meth Project. View the others here.

BARACK OBAMA: Gets a gay marriage question on Hardball.

Check out our previous guides to the Tube here.

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Rare White Killer Whale Sighted Off Alaska

This is pretty cool. Researchers recently spotted a white killer whale off the coast of Alaska:

"The white killer whale was spotted with its pod about two miles off Kanaga Volcano, part of Alaska’s Aleutian Islands, on February 23. At the time, Kodiak-based Oscar Dyson was on a research expedition for NOAA’s Alaska Fisheries Science Center, assessing pollock fish stocks near Steller sea lion haulout sites. The white whale is a fish-eating type of killer whale, as were all the killer whales photographed on the expedition. Fish-eating killer whales are the most frequently seen whales around the Aleutian Islands during the summer. The winter sightings represent important evidence that they may be common year-round. Few white killer whales have ever been seen, according to Fearnbach, much less scientifically documented. This whale is likely not a true albino because it still has signs of darker pigmented areas on its body. However, because of its prominent coloring, the white whale serves as an indicator for movements of killer whales in the North Pacific."

I don't know why but I love this stuff. Last month there were two other incidences of white animals that I noticed but didn't have time to post here. This seems like a good occasion to do so. Check out Scotland's white stag and Montana's white moose, AFTER THE JUMP...

In February, a rare white stag was spotted in the Scottish highlands: "The John Muir Trust is now keeping the stag's location secret for fear of poachers. 'To see him amongst the other stags was truly thrilling because he does look like a ghost: you do a double-take,' Trust Partnership Manager Fran Lockhart, who filmed the stag, told Reuters. White stags are seen as a magical and powerful force in many mythologies. The animal's ghostly glow comes from a recessive gene which causes leucism, a condition which reduces the normal brown coloring in hair and skin. They are not albinos, which have red eyes due to lack of pigment."

And also in February, Flickr user Pizzler uploaded a bunch of images of a white moose that was spotted (coincidentally) near Whitefish, Montana which is fairly close to Glacier National Park. A great disguise for the winter, but probably not too easy to hide during the summer months.

Check out all Pizzler's photos here.

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GOP Montana Lawmaker Plays 'Gay Prank' on Fellow Legislator

The Montana Human Rights Network and the Western Montana Gay and Lesbian Community Center are calling on Montana Rep. Denny Rehberg (R) to apologize for a childish prank he played on Idaho lawmaker Mike Simpson:

"On a congressional trip to the Middle East last month, Rehberg left an 'Idaho Travel Package' on the airplane seat of Rep. Mike Simpson, R-Idaho. The contents included a stuffed sheep with gloves attached to it, a Village People CD, books on cross-dressing and sign language and a T-shirt that reads, 'My senator may not be gay, but my governor is Butch.' The shirt referred to Sen. Larry Craig, R-Idaho, who was caught in a men's airport bathroom sex sting, and Idaho Gov. C.L. 'Butch' Otter. Rehberg's travel bag was first reported by The Hill newspaper, which covers Congress. It said Rehberg was proud of the gift bag and quoted him as boasting, 'I spent a bit of time putting the things together.' It said Simpson was amused but not surprised at Rehberg's action."

Said Montana state senator and director of the Human Rights Network Christine Kaufmann: "It's bad enough that Congressman Rehberg consistently votes against equality for gay and lesbian people; we've kind of come to expect that. But when he uses his gay and lesbian constituents as the subject of pranks, it's beyond the pale."

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News: Beatles, MRSA, Vanessa Williams, Jamaica, Maria Shriver

Mob of 20 attacks two gay men in Jamaica: "After days of harassment and threats, a Jamaican mob attacked two gay men, putting one in the hospital with serious injuries, while the other is missing...The group broke into the home of the men and attacked them, authorities told The Associated Press. One man had his left ear severed, his arm broken in two places and his spine possibly damaged; the other man, who was chased from their home, has not been found, according to the report."

Welcome to the just-opened Hard Day's Night Hotel in Liverpool: "The four-star, 110 room Beatle themed hotel opens its doors to the public... and is only a stone's throw away from the site of the famous Cavern Club."

Gay rights activist and psychotherapist Myra Riddell dies at 81.

This is why the Spice Girls tour is ending.

Anti-gay graffiti found in DC police station men's restroom: "'It's extremely offensive, so we're taking it very seriously,' [Police Chief Cathy] Lanier said. Lanier sent an e-mail to police department personnel Thursday night that said, 'All members of this department put their lives on the line every day, and I will not tolerate any member treating another police professional with disrespect.' Lanier said she will 'impose the most serious penalty' if the perpetrator is found to be a member of the department. The graffiti was found in an area that is accessible to both officers and civilians, Lanier said, so it is not clear who may have left the message."

New Chicago Episcopal bishop Jeffrey Lee shows support for gay clergy: "'That's one of the tragedies afflicting the church right now,' he said. 'So many of us seem to think that salvation depends on our theological correctness.'"

Gay Republicans flocking to McCain?

First lady of California Maria Shriver joins Kennedys in 'surprise' Obama endorsement.

SF health officials apologize to gay community for MRSA scare: "We regret that our recent news report (1-14-08) about an important population-based study on MRSA USA300 with public health implications contained some information that could be interpreted as misleading. We deplore negative targeting of specific populations in association with MRSA infections or other public health concerns, and we will be working to ensure that accurate information about the research is disseminated to the health community and the general public."

San Francisco-based music journalist Adam Block dies.

Police break up suspected 'gay' party in India: " A team, led by deputy police commissioner Bhujangrao Shinde, raided the Agrawal bungalow at Yeoor and detained six persons, including the main organiser, Sahil Bhoricha (24). Liquor bottles and condoms were seized from the bungalow. Entry to Yeoor Hills was restricted during the operation. Ashok Row Kavi of Humsafar Trust, a gay rights group, condemned the action as unfair, given that all the men detained were adults and were not found violating any law. A magistrate denied the police custody of those arrested."

Robbie Williams becomes a bear.

Britney Spears' family finally takes control of the situation.

Western Montana Gay and Lesbian Community Center hold "skate against hate" in Missoula to raise awareness about anti-gay violence there.

Gerard Butler and Jonathan Rhys Meyers party it up in L.A.

Ohio health officials to study smoking habits of gay teens: "Health officials are allocating $60,000 to identify the smoking habits of those teens and develop a tobacco-prevention campaign for them. Ohio Department of Health spokesman Kristopher Weiss says gay, lesbian, bisexual and transgendered community has a smoking rate at about 40 to 60 percent. As part of the Lesbian, Bisexual, Gay and Transgender Community Youth and Young Adults Anti-Tobacco Social Marketing Project, officials will form focus groups among youths ages 12 through 20 at an LBGT center in Columbus."

Melbourne, Australia holds gay pride march...

Vanessa Williams to be honored as "Ally for Equality" by the Human Rights Campaign. More...

Second memorial service for Heath Ledger held in L.A.: "Tom Cruise, Katie Holmes, Sienna Miller, Lindsay Lohan, Ellen Degeneres and other celebrities gathered at the Sony Pictures lot on Saturday to remember Heath Ledger. This service comes a week after a smaller gathering that included ex-girlfriend Naomi Watts was held in Beverly Hills. Other mourners included Heath's father Kim, representatives from CAA (the agency that represented Heath), director Todd Haynes, and actress Shannyn Sossamon who was Heath's co-star in "A Knight's Tale". "I'm Not There" director Haynes spoke at the service."

Police raid gay bar in Philippines, arrest 10 for alleged prostitution: "The men were nabbed inside the Male Bucks Hosto Bar in Angeles City around 1:30 a.m. Sunday. Members of the raiding team used a female informer who posed as a customer. The informer told authorities that the "entertainers" were dancing on stage clad only in their underwear."

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News: The Joker, Ted Kennedy, Iran, Brendan Fraser, Sheep

Another kind of gay panic? UK woman may have been killed because she discovered boyfriend's gay identity on his mobile phone.

A look at Brazil's new gay magazine, Junior.

Iran President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad offers to be an observer at U.S. presidential election: "The proposal came in a speech to volunteers with the Basij, a pro-regime militia. He said he was prompted by a belief that Americans would vote against the current administration in a truly free poll. However, the terms of Ahmadinejad's offer appeared to betray some confusion about the potential candidates. 'If the White House officials allow us to be present as an observer in their presidential election we will see whether people in their country are going to vote for them again or not,' he said."

British traffic warden spat on by homophobe.

Online bookie writes €100,000 check to sponsor the Bingham Cup gay rugby tournament: "He said the event was highly appropriate for their brand, before adding this was not the type of company that does what people might expect a bookmaker to do. 'This might raise a few eyebrows when it comes to town, but we're not scared of that.' Richie Whyte, the Bingham Cup's tournament director, said he was delighted at the deal. 'Paddy Power has an innovative and risk taking approach to the market.'"

Mitt Romney's anti-gay marriage message hitting Iowa mailboxes.

Heath Ledger as the Joker - revealed...yay or nay?

Missoula, Montana holds rally against anti-gay hate crimes: "Two recent instances of alleged anti-gay violence in Missoula provided the impetus for the rally. Earlier this month, [Jess] Keith was beaten by a group of four women who she said verbally assaulted her with homophobic remarks. That same weekend, a 22-year-old University of Montana student was attacked by four unknown men while crossing the campus footbridge. The victim was shoved to the ground and kicked repeatedly in the chest and back, police said, and his assailants screamed anti-gay epithets during the attack. Sgt. Casey Richardson and Capt. Dick Lewis of the Missoula Police Department were on hand to visit with audience members and show their support at the rally. 'We want everyone to know that we’re available,' Richardson said."

Madonna in deep shit for dyed sheep.

Brendan Fraser's hair makes a comeback.

Ted Kennedy signs multi-million book deal to write memoirs: "Neither Kennedy's office nor the publishing house would reveal the size of the package, but a publishing figure familiar with the deal said Kennedy's payment was one of the largest in history, eclipsing the $8 million given to New York Senator Hillary Clinton. Former President Clinton and former British Prime Minister Tony Blair each got a reported $10 million for their memoirs."

Rainbow flag, hung in honor of visit by openly gay legislator Sen. Scott McCoy, snatched from flagpole at Dixie State University in St. George, Utah. McCoy: "Obviously someone had a problem with the fact gay people were on campus. I find it hard to believe this person just coincidentally took it."

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News: Venezuela, Andy Roddick, Melting Glaciers, Lynne Cheney

STUDY: America's youth rejecting Christianity because of hypocrisy and homophobia. "A new book based on research by the California-based research firm The Barna Group found that church attitudes about people in general and gays in particular are driving a negative image of the Christian faith among people ages 16-29. 'The Christian community's ability to take the high road and help to deal with some of the challenges that this (anti-gay) perception represents may be the ... defining response of the Christian church in the next decade,' said David Kinnaman, Barna Group president and author of the book, UnChristian: What a New Generation Really Thinks About Christianity. 'The anti-homosexual perception has now become sort of the Geiger counter of Christians' ability to love and work with people.'"

Assessing the disaster that is Britney's album cover art.

Venezuela looks ready to outlaw discrimination based on sexual orientation.

Three people in Cheney's office reportedly tried to silence MSNBC's Chris Matthews: "I thought on the 10th anniversary it would be good to celebrate the First Amendment, which gives us all our living. We reviewed in brief the remarkable experience of covering the Clinton [scandal] and the defense of the war with Iraq. And the difference in these two cases was that although I was extremely tough on Clinton, there was never any attempt to silence me — whereas there was a concerted effort by [Vice President Cheney’s office] to silence me. It came in the form of three different people calling trying to quiet me."

British university student expelled for leaving homophobic comments in a group on Facebook.

STUDY: 16,000 couples wed in first year of UK civil partnerships. "London was the area with the highest number of ceremonies, about 4,000, followed by the South-East, which accounted for about 2,700. Today's report also reveals that 10 per cent of the men and almost a quarter of the women involved in a gay wedding were previously married-The average age for males registering a same-sex partnership was 47 and for females nearly 44. The average age gap between partners was eight years for men and six years for women."

Elton John bangs balls with Andy Roddick at benefit tournament.

Ricky Martin receives key to the city of Miami.

Fragrance industry sniffing out Madonna.

The big melt: Glaciers disappearing from Montana's Glacier National Park "eight years ahead of schedule."

Tennessee attorney general Bob Cooper releases opinon to judge saying that the state's constitution presents no barrier to same-sex couples who want to adopt: "In it, Cooper wrote that, under the state constitution, same-sex couples should be eligible to adopt children as long as the court finds the placement to be in the child's best interest. Cooper found the constitution doesn't mention adoption, meaning the process is governed solely by statutes. Tennessee law doesn't require people petitioning for adoption to be married."

Lynne Cheney booed on The Daily Show, says terrorist attacks worldwide don't affect American interests.

This is a particularly hypnotizing optical illusion.

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About the Banner #21

I shot the last banner while I was visiting family in Montana. That dog in the photo is a Border Collie named Gaby that belongs to the neighbors. Poor thing is scared of her own shadow. Actually, she's frightened of just about everything, but particularly of people — anyone — with a hat on. I don't want to know what made her that way, but I wasn't wearing a hat the day I took the photo, so maybe that's why she decided to take part in my little bucolic scene.

For more banners, click here.

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Missoula, Montana Assault Victim: Attack Was Hate Crime

Stevenpaul Richey, a 51-year-old Missoula, Montana man who was assaulted by two 20-year-old men in his apartment on May 8, says the attack was homophobic, reports the Missoulian.

Michael Daniel Lemay and Christopher Lance Newrider are being held at the Missoula County Jail on $100,000 bond. According to the paper, "they're accused of binding Richey's hands and ankles together with rope, then punching and kicking the man, shattering bones in his face, breaking two ribs and puncturing a lung."

From The Missoulian:

"Richey said he met his alleged attackers downtown at the Iron Horse in the late-night hours of May 7. Around 1 a.m. the trio left the bar, bought some beer at a store and headed to Richey's nearby apartment for more drinks and to play music. 'I just thought they were all-right guys who were looking to hang out and have a drink,' Richey said. But once inside Richey's apartment, one of the men stated that he “didn't like faggots,” Richey said, while the other hit him suddenly from behind...

...'They attacked me before I ever saw it coming,' he said. 'Then they left me for dead. They just looked at me like a faggot.' Richey said the men took his cell phone and a small amount of cash from his home, but left other valuable items, like musical instruments and electronic equipment. One of the alleged assailants, Newrider, had recently escaped from a prerelease center and had a warrant out for his arrest. And while Richey suspects the men saw in him an easy target and a way to get some quick cash, he's convinced they attacked him because of his sexual orientation. 'They knew I was gay,' he said. 'It's just not something I hide. But they didn't let on to their homophobia until after we'd gotten back to my place.'"

Hospital staff says Richey would have died had a friend not discovered the victim. Said Richey: "They spent the first two days just trying to keep me alive. My head was so swollen I couldn't get my glasses on."

Montana's hate crime statute does not include crimes related to sexual orientation. Just one more reason we need a federal hate crimes law now.

Assault victim says attack was anti-gay [the missoulian]

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News, Montana, Anderson Cooper, MLK Parade, Lutherans

LGBT marchers battered with insults at Atlanta MLK day parade: "Y’all gay? OK, alright," one man shouted before backing away and turning around. "You can look at them and tell [they’re gay], they don’t need no signs."

Go west: gays buying up property in Red Lodge, Montana.

Nigeria is about to have a major crackdown on gays: "Though presented as a simple ban on marriage, the long-winded 'Prohibition of Relationships Between Persons of the Same Sex, Celebration of Marriage by Them, and for Other Matters Connected Therewith' will bar all expressions and endorsements of homosexuality."

Six Feet Under's Lauren Ambrose is the proud mother to a baby boy.

Jim McGreevey's wife is "eager to counter the version of events the ex-governor offered in his own memoir" according to the New York Daily News. Dina McGreevey: "I've had a lot of requests for interviews and appearances, but thought it best for my daughter and myself to stay out of the public maelstrom. But two years have passed and still I am the subject of much speculation as to the nature of my relationship with my husband. Enough is enough."

Just an itty bitty correction: David Beckham's L.A. Galaxy contract is worth $50 million, and not $250 million as first reported.

Because he announced he has found a lifelong male partner, openly gay Rev. Bradley Schmeling must face trial by a Lutheran committee who may defrock him: "The ELCA maintains it is simply following its own rules, which bar unmarried clergy — whether gay or straight — from having sex. The denomination believes that sex is reserved for marriage and marriage for heterosexual couples. Still, many Lutheran churches support ordaining partnered gays and perform same-sex blessing ceremonies despite the policy."

REPORT: Anderson Cooper renews his contract with CNN for more than $4 million a year.

Britney Spears has been busy checking out the gay nightlife in L.A. and Vegas.

Liza Minnelli and David Gest are finally ready to divorce...in Tennessee: "Before filing for divorce, Gest sued Minnelli for $10 million for assault, claiming that his wife had beaten him so badly during alcoholic rages that she caused him nerve damage and caused him to be hospitalized for five days. Minnelli countersued, claiming that Gest had stolen at least $2 million she earned while performing in shows he had produced. Lorraine Nadel, Gest's lawyer in the assault lawsuit and in the Minnelli countersuit, confirmed that legal battle was over. She said the settlement terms were confidential and would not say whether either paid the other any money."

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Gay Montana Police Officer Tapped for Afghanistan Mission

In November 2005 following a homophobic assault in Missoula, Montana, openly gay police officer Scott Oak volunteered to be a liaison between the GLBTI community and law enforcement there.

Oak's actions caught the attention of the U.S. State Department. They've tapped him to join the police force in Afghanistan for a year to "conduct training in human and civil rights, ethics, diversity and basic police operations" according to The Missoulian.

Oak has served in the U.S. Air Force, and jumped at the unique opportunity.

Said Oak: "It's just the way I'm hardwired. I come from a background in service with the military and law enforcement. I'm sort of set on offering those services wherever they're needed. Ideally, I think that by going over there and helping out as a civilian instructor it will make for a smoother transition and allow America to pull out of there more quickly. I want to go experience another culture without breaking my commitment to public service. I think I'll be fulfilling that by helping to build a police department kind of from the ground up. I could be training police on everything from human rights to building searches. But I think, because of my experience as the GLBTI liaison officer, I'll be helping to enlighten them about cultural diversity."

The Mayor of Missoula, John Engen, has promised Oak that his job will be waiting for him when he returns but the more difficult part of the job for the officer will be leaving behind his partner of 12 years and the teenage foster son they're raising together.

Missoula to Afghanistan: Protect, serve abroad [the missoulian]

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Montana Gay Bashing Brings Out Gay Officer [tr]
Montana Sunrise [tr]

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Nemesis Rising Twins Excommunicated for Being Gay

Speaking of Montana, just north of where I'm at a meeting of Jehovah's Witnesses took place to decide the fate of Jacob and Joshua Miller, the identical twins who practice the faith and whose band Nemesis was followed this season in a LOGO reality show. The outcome was, well, what you might expect, according to a statement released by the brothers:

"The two of us were just informed that last night a Jehovah's Witness meeting took place in our hometown of Kalispell, Montana. At this meeting it was announced to all members of the Jehovah's Witness organization that we have been, as Jehovah's Witnesses would say, "disfellowshipped" (excommunicated) because of our homosexuality and our participation in our reality show, Jacob & Joshua: Nemesis Rising, on Logo.

According to Jehovah's Witness doctrine, being "disfellowshipped" means that we have been found guilty of unrepentant gross misconduct. Our immediate family is to have limited or no contact with us. And all other practicing Jehovah's Witnesses around the world are not to speak with us ever again.

Although we are no longer Jehovah's Witnesses, we have nothing but love for those individuals who have been asked to shun us. We will continue to be in contact with our family and those who truly love us unconditionally as long as they're willing.

We find it ironic that a religion whose members are asked to knock on the doors of strangers with a message of acceptance into paradise on Earth will not accept two of its own children for who they really are. Our wish for them is one of tolerance and understanding and we send to all of them a message of peace and love."

Another great example of how organized religion can be buckets of fun, love, and inclusion.

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Sunrise Montana

So I happened to wake up at the crack of dawn this morning, literally. Since I'm home for the holidays and it's not often I get to see immaculate sunrises over the foothills of the Rockies, I took a hike up the hill. Though I know shots of sunrises can be somewhat of a cliché, I thought I'd share the results, which were quite magnificent. Click to enlarge.

Hope to be back with you later today.

these are overlooking Missoula, Montana. There were also some elk up there which I tried to get close to, but they saw me and ran.

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Democrats Erase Republican Senate Majority with Montana Victory

Democrats have now picked up a Senate seat in Montana where Democratic candidate Jon Tester defeated incumbent Conrad Burns with 99 percent of precincts reporting.

This gives Democrats and Republicans even numbers in the Senate. One race, in Virginia, is still outstanding, where Democrat Jim Webb leads Senator George Allen by a slim margin. Should Webb win that election, Democrats will hold majorities in both houses of the U.S. Congress.

I'd like to make a special shout-out to my dad, William Towle, who spent the weekend working the phones in Missoula for Jon Tester in Montana. You did it!

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Went West

I'm back and would like to give Josh & Josh a big thanks for keeping everyone informed while I was away. Here are a couple shots I took at the Western Montana Fair horseraces. I was out west for an overdue family visit. We'll now return to our regularly scheduled programming.

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News: Lance's Other Guy, Hackers, Tony Bennett Kiss...

Like vultures, Westboro Baptist Church shows up at funeral for Montana Senator Max Baucus' nephew, slain in Iraq.

The pre-Reichen days: Lance Bass' closet companion Jesse.

Man who killed his classmate in 1985 for revealing he is gay is released from prison after serving 20 years: "Rosenkrantz of Calabasas was 18 when he was sentenced to a 17-year-to-life term for second-degree murder in the June 28, 1985, shooting death of his boyhood friend Steven Redman. The 17-year-old boy was shot 10 times after revealing Rosenkrantz was gay following their graduation from Calabasas High School."

Fighting the dog that moos: Focus on the Family just spent half a million dollars on new group to battle two anti-gay ballot measures in Colorado.

Paramount Pictures demands Tom Cruise take pay cut before greenlighting any more films: "Cruise fans fears that, unless the hardworking actor learns some humility, an illustrious career which has matured from the cocky boy of Risky Business and Top Gun to more naunced performances in The Last Samurai and Collateral may burn out. 'Right now,' said an insider close to the negotiations, 'he is simply too expensive to employ.'

Hacker proves crackability, clonability of RFID (radio frequency identification technology) tags planned for use in new passports: I spend most of my time making the RFID industry's life miserable," the doctorate student told AFP. "I am not anti-RFID. It has the potential to make people's lives easier, but it needs to be used responsibly. The industry and government needs to not be scared of us," Rieback said. "They need to talk with us and to work with us. Hopefully, together we can come up with some kind of reasonable compromise."

Jake Gyllenhaal gives a dog a bone.

Smoking rate higher in gay community: stress, targeted ads, club and bar scene cited. Researcher: "If you said you smoke because of job stress, well, for an LGBT person, stresses can include 'Do I come out at the office?' and 'Am I going to get fired if they find out I'm gay?' There's sort of an added layer for LGBT people."

Tony Bennett on receiving a surprise kiss from Elton John at a recent benefit concert: "I told the audience it was the first time I'd been kissed by a man. I liked it!"

UK gay rights group Stonewall announces first annual awards to honor positive contributions to gay community from individuals and organizations. Awards will be handed out in London on November 2nd.

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British activist Peter Tatchell makes list of greatest living heroes by readers of The New Statesman.

This is America in 2006: "The Happy Harbor Inn, a popular dockside restaurant in the southern Maryland town of Deale, displayed the sign next to its main entrance as saying, "ATTENTION BIKERS: NO COLOREDS, FAGS, CLUB ATTIRE, (no) EXCEPTIONS," according to two people who visited the restaurant on May 3." Since then, the sign has been modified, but not much.

Scott Oak, Missoula, Montana's openly gay police officer whom I posted about last November, is receiving national attention and is becoming the "poster boy for rural communities looking to reach out to the gay community" according to The Missoulian. Police Chief: "It's certainly a different kind of publicity than our department is used to getting. But I honestly don't see it as a bold step for the department. We are here to ensure that police are available to everyone, that's our job, and that's what Scott is doing. On the other hand, Scott obviously extended himself by volunteering for this position, and I think that puts him in a somewhat vulnerable position. It's incredibly brave."

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Montana Daylight

Some photos I recently took while in Missoula, Montana of the Montana Daylight train, which unfortunately won't get you very far if you're a gay boy looking to run away to the big city. The train, operated by a private tour company, makes a scenic trip from Sandpoint, Idaho to Livingston, Montana. In Montana you have a lot of time to do things like take pictures of trains.

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Bovine Remainders

In addition to football players and bears, Missoulians love their cows.

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Bears

I'm back from Missoula, Montana where they're obsessed with bears. I always wondered why honey is packaged in little plastic bears. Shouldn't they be bees? It's just not right, and reminds me of that scene in Best in Show where Parker Posey goes ballistic because she's trying to find a stuffed bee toy for her dog and all she can find is a bear in a bee costume. Bears can be cute and all, but in reality, they're dangerous wild animals. But I digress.

In Missoula they're obsessed with grizzlies. Montana's one of the last few places these bears live in the wild, aside from The Gauntlet in Silverlake. The U of Montana football team is the Grizzlies, featuring players like Casey, Mike, and Matt. Mmm hmm. Names of stores: Grizzly Construction, Grizzly Plumbing, Grizzly Tackle, etc.

The photo above is from the People's Market, which happens every weekend in the center of downtown. This particular weekend just happened to be homecoming weekend for the U. of M, and I caught part of the parade. I was in Montana to visit my family, do some canoeing, see my niece and nephew, and get out of L.A. for a bit. I was a bit worried about my family earlier this summer, because there were major forest fires less than a mile from their home which caused them to evacuate. But thankfully the hunky fire crews with helicopters saved the day. Alas, no photos of men with hoses.

Missoula is an interesting town, part redneck, part liberal college town, part Norman Rockwell, and part new celebrity money like Brad Pitt and members of Pearl Jam. If you're gay, this is your only option: AMVETS stands for American Veterans, yes, it's in the old Veterans of wars building (in the basement). Your other, more daring option for a brew, is Stockman's, the most heterosexual, don't-act-like-a-queer-or-you-may-be-tied-to-a deer-fence place in town. One of my friends from NY (who grew up in Missoula) and I had a few beers here once in a blizzard in December and then walked down the street and made out in a car in the darkness and the heavy falling snow. It was one of those hot and heavy first kiss sessions that still remains a fond memory. Missoula's a much better place for lesbians to live than gay men, even though this happened. It's one of the most liberal towns in Montana, and it was good to see my parents, my sister, and her kids.

Life's a bit different in Montana than in L.A. but definitely bearable.

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