Montréal Hub
11/02/2008
Governor Sarah Palin Prank Called by Fake French President

Montreal comedy duo Marc-Antoine Audette and Sebastien Trudel prank-called Governor Sarah Palin yesterday pretending to be French President Nicolas Sarkozy. Not only did Palin's aide hand off the call but Palin stayed on the phone conversing for six minutes before the duo revealed to her that she had been fooled.
When fake Sarkozy told her he hoped she would be president one day, Palin replied: "Haha, maybe in eight years."
Palin also responded to a compliment on heer hunting abilities: "Oh, very good, we should go hunting together. I think we could have a lot of fun together as we're getting work done. We could kill two birds with one stone that way."
While the fake Sarkozy asks her if she's married to Joe the Plumber and tells her that "We have the equivalent of Joe the Plumber in France. It's called Marcel, the guy with bread under his armpit," Palin does not pick up on the joke.
Obama spokesman Robert Gibbs remarked on the call, saying, "I'm glad we check out our calls before we hand the phone to Barack Obama."
Listen to the call, AFTER THE JUMP...
Sphere: Related ContentPosted by Andy in Canada, France, Montréal, News, Nicolas Sarkozy, Sarah Palin | Permalink | Comments (21)
07/23/2008
News: Robert Novak, New Yorker, Katy Perry, Montreal, Gavin Newsom
Yuengling Beer distributor's driver fired following anti-gay assault on Brad Walsh, photographer boyfriend of fashion designer Christian Siriano.

Vanity Fair takes jab at New Yorker cover.
OK: Justin Timberlake and Britney Spears to reunite.
Eurogames get underway on Thursday in Barcelona: "More than 30,000 tourists are expected to attend the Olympics-style games which could pump 30 million euros (47.6 million US dollars) into the local economy, according to Barcelona gay sports group Panteras Grogues (Yellow Panthers) which is organising the event."
Send Newsom in: SF Mayor obtains city computer codes from imprisoned city computer tech Terry Childs after week-long stand-off: "The first thing I want you to know, Mr. Mayor, is that when you walk out of this room, you will have the computer codes."
Hispanics make up 22% of new HIV cases: " So far, the toll of AIDS in the nation's largest and fastest growing minority population has mostly been overshadowed by the epidemic among blacks and gay white men. Yet in major U.S. cities, as many as one in four gay Hispanic men has HIV, a rate on par with sub-Saharan Africa."
Project Runway winner Christian Siriano discusses his new fashion line...

Male model Bruce Hulse recalls his first gay-themed shoot with Herb Ritts: "His request was one I might not normally have accepted, but I knew that Herb would take exquisite and tasteful photographs that would be seen by the world as art. I also didn't want to pigeon-hole myself as being homophobic. I wanted to be receptive to any and all ideas, as long as they involved the right team and the best photographers."
The New Old Gays: Apparently, swish is back.
Rihanna takes a ride into "Disturbia" with David LaChapelle.
Syndicated columnist Robert Novak cited after hitting a pedestrian with his black Corvette in DC. Claims he didn't know he hit anybody but witness says victim was splayed across the front of his car.
35-year-old Swedish serial killer of gay men sentenced to life in prison.
Robert Mapplethorpe remembered by some of his subjects.

Giorgio Armani is a Speedo guy.
Katy Perry and the media's "kiss" of hypocrisy: "Not only is the media sending a mixed message in heralding Perry, they’re undermining any stand they might want to take in support of gays in the future. How can anyone heed their warnings not to disrespect gays when they roll out the red carpet for an artist who has done exactly that? The real point seems to be they’ll do anything for an audience."
Car-free zone in Montreal's gay village a huge success: "Even the naysayers, those who were opposed to closing the street, have changed their tune as the terrasses stay packed from Wednesday to Saturday night and merchants are dancing to the tune of ringing cash registers."
The International Herald Tribune goes on a shopping trip in Provincetown but mostly at the Marc Jacobs boutique.
Hartford Courant: 2010 Census must count gay marriages. "Bureau officials should acknowledge the reality that same-sex couples are legally married in the United States — and fix their procedures for counting and describing America's estimated 780,000 same-sex couples and their families. They should certainly stop altering the accurate responses of same-sex couples who describe themselves as married. Decisions about data collection should not be driven by political and value-laden judgments about marriage. They should be grounded in the demographic and legal realities of this nation."
Posted by Andy in AIDS/HIV, Britney Spears, Crime, Gavin Newsom, Giorgio Armani, John McCain, Justin Timberlake, Magazines, Marc Jacobs, Models, Montréal, New York, News, Rihanna, Robert Mapplethorpe, San Francisco, Sweden | Permalink | Comments (13)
06/09/2008
News: Burger King, Alek, Keshishian, Rugby, Cuba, Kevin Spacey
Cuba to offer free gender reassignment surgery under national healthcare plan: "Cuban doctors are currently training with Belgian surgeons, said Mariela Castro, daughter of President Raul Castro and director of CENESEX, Cuba's sex education center, who also said that 28 people are seeking the procedure, last performed in 1988 to massive public protest."

Dublin bookies taking bets on Bingham Cup gay rugby tournament.
Robert Downey, Jr.: Burger King saved my life.
World Health Organization says threat of global heterosexual AIDS pandemic over: "Dr De Cock, an epidemiologist who has spent much of his career leading the battle against the disease, said understanding of the threat posed by the virus had changed. Whereas once it was seen as a risk to populations everywhere, it was now recognised that, outside sub-Saharan Africa, it was confined to high-risk groups including men who have sex with men, injecting drug users, and sex workers and their clients."
Gerard Butler to star in stage sequel to Phantom of the Opera?
New Philadelphia police commissioner Charles H. Ramsey implementing policies to make officers, community, feel safer: "My goal is to create an environment where officers don't feel intimidated in any way. If they want to acknowledge [their sexuality], they should feel comfortable doing it." Also, "[LGBT people] don't have faith that the police will do something (if a hate crime is reported). We want to make sure they feel comfortable telling us about any issue that needs to be addressed...We need to be very sensitive to that."
Olivia Newton-John headlines Gay Pride in Los Angeles.

New Provincetown police chief walks daily Commercial street beat: "We’re going to take an aggressive approach, and hate crimes will not be tolerated on any level...Certainly [I haven’t worked in such a heavily gay community] to the extent that I have here in Provincetown, but I’m not shy about it. I feel we need to provide a safe haven, a safe environment. I know there have been a few incidents over the years that have given the community of Provincetown a black eye. I don’t want to see that continue. ... We’re going to take an aggressive approach, and hate crimes will not be tolerated on any level. But I do try to put a positive spin on things, and a lot of good things have happened as well."
Shots ring out in Montreal's gay village. Four arrested.
250 same-sex couples signed up so far to marry in San Diego County in June: "The most popular location is the County Administration Center in downtown San Diego. There are 186 wedding appointments at the center so far. Clerk Greg Smith is shifting employees around to meet the demand and said he will be able to handle about 300 weddings a day."

Filmmaker Alek Keshishian on board for sequel to 1991's Madonna documentary Truth or Dare: "And the film will act as a reunion for Madonna - she has reportedly signed up most of the original production team for the new venture. Keshishian is set to film the superstar over three weeks as she goes about her day-to-day life in London, according Britain's The London Paper. A source tells the publication, 'It's like an In Bed With Madonna but made for today. She leads an amazing, high-paced life now and Alex thought the time was right to do another documentary of her life and career.' The original documentary followed the star as she embarked on her hit 1990 Blonde Ambition tour, and proved a hit with fans, grossing £29 million (£14.5 million) at the global box office."
Heatherette to design costumes for "Sticky and Sweet" tour?
Dina Matos McGreevey jealous that her daughter is enjoying the good life?
Kevin Spacey refuses to travel light: "He's got bodyguards, several publicists, a makeup artist, a personal hairdresser, someone who's styling him. There are so many people, it's ridiculous."

Binghamton, New York mayor raises gay flag for first time.
Melbourne gay rights activist and author Dennis Altman becomes Member of the Order of Australia (AM) in the Queen's Birthday honours list.
Genre editor Neal Boulton takes on homophobic bully: ""I was at my bar American Trash last night and Neal Boulton was there. One of the usual meatheads got wasted and picked a fight with a guy he thought was a fag. He called him a fag. and some guy who we figured out later was Neil stepped in and gave the guy who called the gay guy a fag a major pounding out on the sidewalk. Boulton got hit pretty hard but slugged back big time. It was nothing till we realized who was fighting who and that Neal is gay and all. Dude had balls."t
Posted by Andy in AIDS/HIV, Cuba, Heatherette, Ireland, James McGreevey, Law Enforcement, Los Angeles, Madonna, Melbourne, Montréal, New York, News, Philadelphia, Provincetown, Robert Downey Jr., Rugby, Sports | Permalink | Comments (10)
04/29/2008
Canadian Woman Settles Complaint with Montreal Gay Bar
You may remember in May of last year I posted about Audrey Vachon, a Canadian woman who filed a complaint after being thrown out of Montreal's Le Stud bar because it has a "men only" policy.
The Canadian Press reports that the bar and Vachon have settled the discrimination complaint: "Bar Le Stud and Audrey Vachon, the 21-year-old woman who launched the complaint, agreed to keep the terms of the settlement confidential. Quebec's human rights commission says businesses have the right to attract a particular clientele but not to discriminate by excluding other customers. Vachon sat down at the bar with her father for an afternoon beer a year ago when staff told them women were not allowed. Le Stud owner Michel Gadoury said at the time women had been banned most nights since the bar opened 11 years ago."
Posted by Andy in Canada, Discrimination, Gay Bar, Montréal, News | Permalink | Comments (30)
07/16/2007
Quebec on Alert After "Barbaric" Anti-Gay Beating
The victim of a vicious anti-gay attack in Quebec City on July 1 has come forward, the Canadian Press reports:
"Philippe, who did not release his last name, says four men with shaved heads followed him after he left the Le Drague gay bar in downtown Quebec City on July 1. After calling the 24-year-old man derogatory names, the assailants knocked him to the ground. In a melee lasting less than 60 seconds, the men punched and kicked him repeatedly. The victim spent two days in hospital and doctors needed eight screws to reassemble his jaw."
The attack has prompted gay rights groups to hold a brunch "to condemn homophobia" during upcoming gay pride festivities. The brunch will be held at a venue at Place d’Youville in Quebec City, where the man was targeted.
Said Olivier Poulin, president of Gay, Lesbian, Bisexual and Transgender Quebec: "This man who was attacked is not alone. He has a community with him. He wanted to make sure other young people would not have to face attacks such as this. It’s very symbolic to hold [the meeting] a few steps from the (provincial) national assembly, a few steps from city hall and a few steps from where the young man was attacked."
Sphere: Related ContentPosted by Andy in Canada, Crime, Montréal, News | Permalink | Comments (9)
08/03/2006
Outgames AIDS Awareness Spot
COCQ, a Quebec-based AIDS awareness group, created this spot to run at the Montreal Outgames, instructing athletes to protect themselves during extracurriculars.
(possibly NSFW, and you also might want to turn your volume down before watching)
Sphere: Related ContentPosted by Andy in Advertising, Health, Montréal, Outgames, Sports | Permalink | Comments (7)
05/01/2006
Club Unity Burns in Montréal

Montréal's largest gay club, Unity, was badly damaged by a fire that broke out on Friday when the nightclub was closed. Firefighters battled the blaze for four hours.
Fire Department Chief of Operations Michel Denis says the fire, which apparently began on a rooftop terrace, was "probably an accident." Employees of Unity watched Friday as their workplace burned. Said performer Mathieu Montpetit: "I was woken up today by a call from my manager telling me not to come to work tonight, so I came to see if it was really true."
The three-level nightclub sustained at least $1 million in damages.
Above photo by Yannick et Francis (flickr)

Posted by Andy in Canada, Montréal, Nightlife | Permalink | Comments (4)



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