Sergio Lara of Spain is Crowned Mr. Gay Europe 2009: Video

Sergio Lara of Barcelona took home the Mr. Gay Europe 2009 crown in Oslo, Norway Saturday night, according to organizers:

"This is the second year in a row that Spain wins the title of Mr. Gay Europe.Sergio is 26 years old, he is a psychology graduate, and he also has a music middle degree...Belgium, Estonia, Iceland, Ireland, Italy, The Netherlands, Northern Ireland, Norway, Romania, Russia, Spain and Switzerland came to the semi-final, and Spain, Iceland and Ireland met again in the super final. At the end of the night Spain was standing alone as the new Mr. Gay Europe – the second time in the five years long Mr. Gay Europe history. Netherland’s Jeffrey Zevenbergen (27) won the People’s Choice award with 15.7 percent of all the votes. The televote received 9329 genuine votes. Estonia’s Madis Räästas won the Challenge at the Tusenfryd Viking village, and Russia’s David Baramija won Nr. 1 Talent competition. Sergio Lara did not only win the Mr. Gay Europe title, he also grabbed the Mr. Gay Swim Wear 2009 title."

Watch a clip of Mr. Spain getting his crown, a clip of the swimsuit competition, and a clip of the entrants with the Mayor of Oslo, AFTER THE JUMP...

Check out what Russian contestant David Baramija did to win the talent competition (you won't see Carrie Prejean doing this!):

Watch a clip of Mr. Spain getting his crown, a clip of the swimsuit competition, a clip of the entrants with the Mayor of Oslo, and another shot of Russian Jesus, AFTER THE JUMP...

Norwegian Takes Eurovision Prize as Gay Boycott is Ignored

Here's Alexander Rybak, the 23-year-old Norwegian winner of the Eurovision Song Contest:

"Gay rights activists had called on singers and fans to boycott the contest on Saturday night, which was held in Moscow for the first time as the result of Russia’s Eurovision win, by Dima Bilan, last year. Earlier Saturday, the police detained 40 demonstrators who had gathered near Moscow State University, including a Briton and an American. None of the Eurovision performers withdrew or mentioned the gay rights rally from the stage, nor did the packed stadium give any indication that fans had stayed away."

According to The Local, however, Rybak did remark about the anti-gay Moscow crackdown: "Rybak criticised the authorities response to the protest, saying “we’ve had the biggest gay pride demonstration right here in this hall tonight.”

Watch Rybak perform the winning entry, AFTER THE JUMP...

Röyksopp Defends Against Space Invaders: 'Happy Up Here'

I was happy to hear that Norwegian electronic duo Röyksopp is coming out with a new album, called Junior. Here's the clip for the first single, called "Happy Up Here". It's directed by Reuben Sutherland.

Watch it, AFTER THE JUMP...

Britain's Former Top Cop Brian Paddick Marries Partner in Norway

The UK's former top cop, London mayoral candidate, and I'm a Celebrity Get Me Out of Here contestant Brian Paddick married his Norwegian partner Petter Belsvick in his home country over the weekend. Norway's marriage laws went into effect on January 1 after being legalized last June. Norway has offered same-sex civil unions since 1993, but the recent law made gender marriage neutral.

The Daily Mail reports: "They were joined by friends from Paddick’s stint on I’m A Celebrity, Get Me Out Of Here, at a party held in their honour in London last night. Guests at the bash at the Hempel Hotel in Paddington included Simon Webbe, Nicola McLean and George Takei."

Paddick greets Belsvick at the end of the UK reality show, AFTER THE JUMP...

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Queens of the Stone Age Singer Josh Homme Says He's No Homophobe

Queens of the Stone Age frontman Josh Homme has responded after remarks he made to a concertgoer at Norway's 'Norwegian Wood' festival last week circulated via YouTube.

After being hit with a shoe during a concert, Homme launched into a tirade, telling the guy who threw it, "I may have a 102 temperature and been puking for three days but I'll still butttfuck you in front of all your friends." He then proceeded to call the thrower a "chicken shit fucking faggot" and "a miserable fucking cunt."

Homme posted a letter online, saying, "My gay family and friends, as well as myself, know I am not a homophobe. For years now I've known gay is not a choice. You see, it's not the words, it's their intent. I never said, nor suggested, that being gay is wrong."

Watch the outburst and read Homme's full statement, AFTER THE JUMP...

Norwegian Parliament Legalizes Same-Sex Marriage

Norway's parliament has granted same-sex couples the right to marry and adopt children, and granted lesbians the right to be artificially inseminated:

"After a heated debate, the members of parliament adopted the text by a vote of 84 to 41. The three centre-left coalition parties in power and two opposition parties, the Conservatives and the Liberals, voted largely in favour of the law, while the Christian Democrats and the far-right Progress Party voted against it. 'This decision is of an importance comparable to universal suffrage and our law on parity,' Labour Party rapporteur Gunn Karin Gjul said during the debate. The most controversial part of the law is that which gives lesbians the right to be artificially inseminated. The sperm donor must be identified so that the child can seek out his or her biological father at the age of 18."