Obama Delivers 'Closing Argument' Speech in Canton, Ohio

Barack Obama delivered a 'closing argument' speech at a campaign rally in Canton, Ohio today, one week before the presidential election. Listen to the last eight minutes, AFTER THE JUMP...

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Scary World

A disturbing Halloween ghost is on display in Fairfield, Ohio. Watch the clip, AFTER THE JUMP...

In related news, Politico's Ben Smith reported over the weekend on a recent poll: "The poll asked voters whether they agreed with the statement that 'African-Americans often use race as an excuse to justify wrongdoing.' About a fifth of white voters said they 'strongly agreed.' Yet among those who agreed, 23 percent said they’d be supporting Obama...Anecdotes from across the battlegrounds suggest that there’s a significant minority of prejudiced white voters who will swallow hard and vote for the black man. 'I wouldn’t want a mixed marriage for my daughter, but I’m voting for Obama,' the wife of a retired Virginia coal miner, Sharon Fleming, told the Los Angeles Times recently. One Obama volunteer told Politico after canvassing the working-class white Philadelphia neighborhood of Fishtown recently, 'I was blown away by the outright racism, but these folks are … undecided. They would call him a [racial epithet] and mention how they don't know what to do because of the economy.' The notion that there might be 'racists for Obama,' as one Democrat called them, comes against the backdrop of a country whose white voters largely accept the notion of a black president."

Watch the clip on the Fairfield ghost, AFTER THE JUMP...

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Decisions, Decisions...

An Ohio farmer who creates an annual corn maze on his property has gone with an election theme this year:

"Fourth-generation farmer Bill Irons, 40, has been coming up with a different theme for each of the past eight years. His original inspiration: a picture of Larry Bird carved into a cornfield on an Indiana farm...Irons creates his design the old-fashioned way. He draws it out on graph paper, then enlarges it on 16 to 20 pages of graph paper that he tapes together and mounts on a board. The corn field gets special attention, too. It's planted in two directions - like the intersections on a grid, he said. The corn comes up extra thick that way. When the corn starts growing, Irons gets out his tractor, and sometimes a hoe. He grooms his creation the entire growing season. Irons chooses not to use a GPS device, a piece of technology that would guide him more easily through the cutting process. 'I use my head and my hands,' he said."

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Church: Katy Perry Going to Hell Along with the Gays

Havens Corners Church in Blacklick, Ohio offers a sermon on its sign about Katy Perry's "I Kissed a Girl" song.

Said the Rev. Dave Allison, pastor of the 100-member church: "It's not something that is really a shock if you're a scriptural person. We meant that as a loving warning to teens. … The Scriptures tell us that you should not do what the song tells you to do. The Scriptures are not ambiguous on this issue."

Some neighbors (who don't and do know the song in reference) have been sending in complaints. Said Wendy Olinski of Reynoldsburg: "It was obvious: 'If you're gay, you're going to hell.' At first I have to say I laughed hysterically because I was shocked. But that's going way too far. It's just rude."

Church turns pop lyrics into a bit of brimstone [columbus dispatch]

(via pageoneq)

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Rep. Stephanie Tubbs Jones Dies Following Aneurysm

Rep. Stephanie Tubbs Jones died at 6:12 last night after suffering a brain aneurysm late Tuesday while driving her car.

The Cleveland Clinic where she died released a statement: "Throughout the course of the day and into this evening, Congresswoman Tubbs Jones' medical condition declined. Medical doctors and neurosurgeons from Huron Hospital and Cleveland Clinic sadly report that at 6:12 p.m. Congresswoman Stephanie Tubbs Jones died. She dedicated her life in public service to helping others and will continue to do so through organ donations. Please keep her family and friends in your thoughts and prayers during this very difficult time."

The Cleveland Plain Dealer reports: "The 58-year-old Democrat, the first African-American woman in Congress from Ohio, was in her Chrysler about 9 p.m. Tuesday when a Cleveland Heights police officer spotted her driving erratically. When the car stopped, the officer found Tubbs Jones unconscious but breathing. She was rushed to Huron Hospital in East Cleveland, where tearful local leaders arrived throughout Wednesday."

Tributes to Jones from her colleagues came immediately. Barack Obama released this statement: "It wasn't enough for her just to break barriers in her own life. She was also determined to bring opportunity to all those who had been overlooked and left behind -- and in Stephanie, they had a fearless friend and unyielding advocate." Hillary Clinton, whom Tubbs had strongly supported in the early half of the campaign called her "one of a kind, unwavering, indefatigable."

Tubbs Jones had a 100% rating from the Human Rights Campaign and fought for same-sex domestic partner benefits, funding for AIDS treatment and prevention, stricter hate crimes laws, and against the banning of gay adoption over her career.

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News: Ugly Betty, Morehouse, Boyzone, Latvia, Sharon Stone

Meet Ohio's Sally Kern...GOP Representative Jeff Wagner: "As much as some people would have us to believe otherwise, this country was founded on Christian principles. One of those long honored principles is the tradition of holy matrimony. One man and one woman joined together in a union that goes as far back as Adam and Eve. As our society has gotten further from that standard (not just homosexuality, but easy divorce, cheating on a spouse, etc.) we see a continued collapse of the basic building block of society the family unit. As that traditional family erodes, we see more sexually transmitted diseases, kids without parents, heartbroken people and I believe a host of mental and physical illnesses..."

Ugly Betty headed to Broadway?

High-profile Canadian murderer of gay man Jeffrey Lalonde commits suicide in prison.

Batman gets a milk moustache...

Roman Catholic Cardinal Jānis Pujāts calls on Latvian government to declare gay pride marches unlawful, compares gays to drug addicts and alcoholics...

Following last week's eulogy in the NYT, New York magazine weighs in with its final words to meatpacking restaurateur Florent Morellet.

Gay couple receives $15,000 in damages from homophobic teen: "Five years ago, the 17-year-old, who can not be named because he was a juvenile at the time, threw a roll of toilet paper and a firecracker on the couple's lawn. In a related incident, the teen also threatened the couple by saying he would like to 'wreck his fist' on their faces. The boy was arrested, but police never charged him. He was instead asked to apologize to the couple and seek psychiatric help. That didn't satisfy Wouters and Thibault who felt the boy's apology was made only to keep him from being charged in criminal court. They took the case to the rights commission."

Black, all-male Morehouse College battles homophobia from within: "Brewer, 22, didn't come to Morehouse with the intent of changing it. But he found that he had no choice. He had arrived here from Oklahoma City pretty comfortable with himself: outspoken, proudly smart and, at 5 foot 9 and 300 pounds, hard to miss. Early on, he decided he wouldn't water down his gay identity. And that, historically, has been a problematic strategy at Morehouse. The 141-year-old college has played a key role in defining black manhood in America. But with a past steeped in religion, tradition and machismo, it has struggled to determine how homosexuality fits within that definition."

Texas high school criticized for putting photos of gay couples in the yearbook.

Sex and the City publicity juggernaut achieves orgasm in Manhattan.

Boyzone performs the Full Monty...

Cyndi Lauper, Charo, and the nephew of Harvey Milk to grand marshall San Francisco gay pride parade.

McCain commercial features woman wearing Barack Obama t-shirt.

Chinese not happy with Sharon Stone's statement that the earthquake was "karma": "That prompted the founder of one of China's biggest cinema chains to say his company would not show her films in his theaters, according to a story in The Hollywood Reporter...Ng See-Yuen, founder of the UME Cineplex chain and the chairman of the Federation of Hong Kong Filmmakers, called Stone's comments 'inappropriate,' adding that actors should not bring personal politics to comments about a natural disaster that has left five million Chinese homeless, according to the Reporter. UME has branches in Beijing, Shanghai, Chongqing, Hangzhou and Guangzhou, China's biggest urban movie markets."

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Fired UT Administrator Dixon Says Column Was 'Divine Mandate'

Former University of Toledo associate vice president of human resources Crystal Dixon, who was fired from her job after writing a column for the Toledo Free Press in which she said gays "violate God's divine order," talked to reporters at her church yesterday, and told them she had a divine mandate to write the column.

Said Dixon: "Whether you agree with me or not is really not the issue. The real issue is that I, like every citizen in the United States, have a First Amendment right to exercise free speech and to express my religion. I did so as a private citizen and I have been fired by a university that I have loved, served, and supported for many years."

Dixon is suing the university.

Previously
Ohio College Administrator on Paid Leave for Remarks About Gays [tr]
Suspended UT Administrator Crystal Dixon Fired, Will Sue [tr]

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News: Al Reynolds, Playboy, The Mole, 90210, Ohio University

Obama VP nomination hint?

Al Reynolds Jr. unloads in long MySpace rant: "...I have been called a gigolo, a freeloader, unemployed, a sham and many other things that don’t bear repeating. People on television, radio and the internet have spoken disparagingly of my life, my sexuality, my career and my integrity..."

Your first look at the cast of the 90210 spin-off.

Ohio University freshman kicked out by roommates before even arriving, because he's gay: "That was when I found out their real motivation. 'Listen, we do not have a friend moving in. We were just trying to be nice; we both just feel really uncomfortable living with a homosexual.' Now what am I to do? I can’t leave because I’m not allowed, and I can’t stay because I fear for my own safety. I’ve been talking back and forth with them and they feel that I am obligated to leave because of their discomfort. I wonder if they realize mine — especially when I read their statuses on Facebook declaring X is a homophobe at 8:58 p.m., and X hates faggots at 9:21 p.m."

Pastor John Hagee apologizes for anti-Catholic statements. McCain calls the action "laudable." What about his anti-gay statements? Oh yea, nonsense.

Joaquin Phoenix recording an album.

California high school teacher inadvertently displays gay porn to class during Adobe Photoshop demonstration: "The incident happened during a project in a computer graphic arts class Monday morning, according to several students. The impression was the image was accidentally projected during a lesson on how to use Adobe Photoshop. As the image remained on the screen four to five seconds, several students say it sent the teacher scrambling to quickly take it off the screen."

Playboy to enter gay market with cable VOD channel: "Playboy plans to initially offer Time Warner Cable subscribers 20 hours of gay male programming. The service is slated to begin operating next month. Although the Playboy brand has been linked with heterosexual men’s entertainment since its magazine's first issue in 1953, the company now describes itself more generally as "valuing sexiness and style" and is seeking more ways to diversify and boost its revenue."

Girls love gay male porn.

NYT features Barney Frank's best one-liners: “So, apparently, same-sex marriage is the V8 juice of America.”

Meet The Mole's gay competitor, 25-year-old restaurant manager Bobby.

Sean Penn heads up Cannes Film Festival jury.

Michael Moore making sequel to Fahrenheit 9/11: "Sequel will pick up where "Fahrenheit 9/11" left off. In the time since, Bush's popularity has plummeted, while the Iraq war continues and the economy falters."

STUDY: Music influences perception of wine. "Heavy rock music like Jimi Hendrix or The Rolling Stones is a good accompaniment to a Cabernet Sauvignon, while opera buffs might prefer a 2006 Syrah, said the study by psychologists at a British university. The research, in collaboration with a Chilean wine producer, indicates that different types of music stimulate different parts of the brain, and prime us to taste wines in a corresponding way. For example when a powerful piece of music such as Carmina Burana is heard, a Cabernet Sauvignon is perceived as being 60 per cent more powerful, rich and robust than when no music is heard."

Gay Peace Corps. volunteer on being gay and in Mozambique.

The story behind news anchor Sue Simmons' "what the fuck" outburst: "Maybe that will teach Chuck to stop reading things on his computer monitor and start paying attention to Sue. It looked like a spat between two people who have worked together for so long that they know each other’s rhythms a little too well. And, of course, they have worked together, for ages — or at least since 1980. There was Chuck Scarborough, reading something on a computer screen embedded in the desk and not listening to his co-anchor, Sue Simmons. So she let him have it in what sounded like mock derision."

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Suspended UT Administrator Crystal Dixon Fired, Will Sue

Earlier this month, I posted about University of Toledo associate vice president of human resources Crystal Dixon, who was suspended after writing an article in the Toledo Free Press slamming gays. Late last week, UT decided to fire her. 13ABC interviewed Dixon on Friday, about an hour after she was let go, calling the decision a "lack of courageous leadership." She also says she's suing the university.

Said Dixon in the article, "As a Black woman ... I take great umbrage at the notion that those choosing the homosexual lifestyle are civil rights victims. I cannot wake up tomorrow and not be a Black woman. Daily thousands of homosexuals make a life decision to leave the gay lifestyle."

She concluded: "My final and most important point. There is a divine order. God created human kind male and female (Genesis 1:27). God created humans with an inalienable right to choose. There are consequences for each of our choices, including those who violate God's divine order."

Said Dixon: "I have great faith. This is a far bigger picture than just Crystal Dixon....I have a wonderful, absolutely wonderful legal team. I have received hundreds of emails from across the country. Even received an email from Iceland, today. Basically encouraging me, basically telling me to stand strong...There are three issues - first of all, my right to free speech. Anyone has the freedom in this country to express their opinion as an individual. And secondly, clearly, religious discrimination, and also race discrimination at the very least."

As for what she wants from the university, Dixon said: "We're just going to see how this plays out."

UT administrator fired for speaking out [13abc]

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Ohio College Administrator on Paid Leave for Remarks About Gays

Crystal Dixon, the University of Toledo's associate vice president of human resources, was placed on paid leave after she published an article in the Toledo Free Press in April responding to a piece in the paper about gay rights, WTOL reports.

Said Dixon: "As a Black woman ... I take great umbrage at the notion that those choosing the homosexual lifestyle are civil rights victims. I cannot wake up tomorrow and not be a Black woman. Daily thousands of homosexuals make a life decision to leave the gay lifestyle."

She concluded: "My final and most important point. There is a divine order. God created human kind male and female (Genesis 1:27). God created humans with an inalienable right to choose. There are consequences for each of our choices, including those who violate God's divine order."

Said Rob Salem, UT clinical law professor and board member of Equality Toledo: "The problem for me is that this is somebody that is charge of a major department of a major institution. She talks about .... homosexuality being a choice. And those views are refuted by the American Medical Association, the American Psychological Association."

Gay rights and wrongs: another perspective [toledo free press]
Gays not civil rights victims, UT administrator argues [wtol]

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Larry Craig Will Be First in Line When This Hits Boise

A new film called Tearoom that screened recently at the Whitney Biennial reflects on the Larry Craigs of the 1960's:

"For two weeks in the summer of 1962, using a two-way mirror, police in the central Ohio town of Mansfield secretly filmed the activity in a public men's room in the town square. The surveillance recorded dozens of men having sex, resulting in more than 30 prosecutions for sodomy, with at least a year in prison time for each. Decades later, acclaimed filmmaker William E. Jones -- his Massillon is an autobiographical documentary about growing up in a nearby town -- acquired the Mansfield footage while working on another project. The images so fascinated him that he's been screening it, unaltered by further editing, as the 56-minute Tearoom. Shot without sound, in grainy color 16 mm, it's a stunning document. The men range in age from their 20s to their 60s. They are white and black, fat and thin, in a banker's suit or name-patched mechanic's uniform. Faces humorless, eyes on the door, they masturbate, give handjobs and blowjobs, and perform anal sex; a few exchange money. Michael Sicinski, in Cinema Scope magazine, called Tearoom 'one of the most soberingly revelatory political films of recent years' and "a cinematic document of vital importance to the history of gay culture in the United States."

And in a roundabout way, of the U.S. Senate.

There's a book available as well.

Tearoom [pittsburgh city paper]
Tearoom [william e jones]
Tearoom [book]

related
A Holiday Visit to the Larry Craig Men's Room [tr]

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It Goes On: Hillary Clinton Wins Texas, Ohio as McCain Clinches

Wins in Ohio, Texas, and Rhode Island for Hillary Clinton on Tuesday gave her the momentum she needed to continue in the race, although Barack Obama, who won Vermont, still holds a lead in delegates.

Said Clinton: "No candidate in recent history — Democratic or Republican — has won the White House without winning the Ohio primary. We all know that if we want a Democratic president, we need a Democratic nominee who can win Democratic states just like Ohio."

This morning, on CBS' The Early Show, Clinton hinted at a 'dream ticket' with Obama, saying "that may be where this is headed, but we have to decide who is on the top of the ticket."

McCain sealed the Republican nomination.

Full results.

Clinton and Obama's speeches above, McCain's and Huckabee's below (via Talking Points Memo).

In Texas, a gay bar toasts Hillary...
KOS: Delegate numbers DAUNTING for Clinton.
Pam Spaulding: Pollsters flummoxed, Gender, education, and Latino vote mattered...
Time to get ugly?
Intelligencer: Will Obama be able to enter hand-to-hand combat?
Did Clinton campaign darken Obama's skin color in ad leading up to primaries?
POLLS: Clinton's late attacks worked.

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First Look: Obama's Targeted Texas and Ohio Gay Ad Buy

Earlier today the Advocate reported that the Obama campaign was doing targeted ad buys in Ohio and Texas in advance of the primaries there on March 4th. According to the Advocate, "Full page ads will appear starting this Friday in Outlook Weekly of Columbus, the Gay People's Chronicle of Cleveland, the Dallas Voice, and OutSmart, which is Houston based."

They report: "[Obama LGBT steering committee member Eric] Stern called the coordinated buy 'the icing on the cake' in terms of the Obama camp's outreach to the gay community in Ohio and Texas. 'It's a direct appeal to LGBT voters asking for their support,' he said, adding that the ad includes information about how people can get involved with the campaign. The Obama campaign has actively been trying to cut into the longstanding ties between gays and lesbians and Hillary Clinton."

Towleroad has obtained a "generic" version of the ad which you can see AFTER THE JUMP...

The Ohio and Texas versions, according to Stern, "include specific information on voting in those states and how to get involved with the campaign locally." Stampp Corbin, the Co-Chair of the National LGBT Leadership Council, was the catalyst behind making these ads happen as a part of their efforts to mobilize and energize LGBT voters in Ohio & Texas.

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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: Barack Obama, iPhone, Vermont, Minke Whale, Charmin

Poll shows Barack Obama pulling ahead of Clinton in Iowa: "Most Democratic likely voters in Iowa, 55 percent, say they're more interested in a 'new direction and new ideas' than in strength and experience, compared with 49 percent in July -- a help to Obama, who holds a substantial lead among 'new direction' voters." And Obama struggles with spin...

Smartypants with iPhone tries to use method in latest Apple commercial to ask why plane hasn't taken off yet and gets read by pilot: "If the passenger with the iPhone would be kind enough to use it to check the weather at our alternate, calculate our fuel burn due to being rerouted around the storms, call the dispatcher to arrange our release, and then make a phone call to the nearest Air Traffic Control center to arrange our timely departure amongst the other aircraft carrying passengers with IPhones, then we will be more than happy to depart. Please ring your call button to advise the Flight Attendant and your fellow passengers when you deem it ready and responsible for this multi-million dollar aircraft and its passengers to safely leave."

Guardian gone: Now, everybody will be squeezing the Charmin.

Latvian government minister and newspaper owner praise international anti-gay group Watchmen on the Walls pledge fight against homosexuality at "human rights' conference, slam Arnold Schwarzenegger for "teaching homosexuality" to children.

18-foot-long Minke whale discovered swimming lost, 1,000 miles up the Amazon river: "Environmentalists are now considering the best way to transport the mammal from the Tapajos River, where it was last seen, back out to the Atlantic Ocean. 'It is in good condition,' veterinarian Milton Marcondes from the Brazilian Humpback Whale Institute told the Associated Press. 'We couldn't do a blood exam, so we don't know how it is doing internally, but we gave it antibiotics as a precaution.' He added that it would be easy for the whale to become ill as a result of the stress of being so far from its natural habitat."

South African guesthouse owner turns away gay guests: "We are certainly not gay-friendly, this is a Christian household. We have never had a gay couple staying in the house and we prefer to keep it that way. We hereby cancel this order and exercise our right of admission."

Popstar Azis continues to stir the pot in Bulgaria with racy magazine cover: ""I am ready to do anything for a high rating for my show! As you can see from the pictures, I sold my body, or as we say it, got a tuning." (NSFW)

British police officer among men nabbed in restroom sex sting: "The officer, who has not been named, was fined 13 days' pay following an investigation into 'cottaging' at toilets on Harrison Drive, Wallasey. Six people have been charged under the Sexual Offences Act - two have pleaded guilty, four are awaiting trial. Another 32 people, including the officer, were issued with cautions over the incidents."

Tom Cruise angered by publication of fatsuit photos.

Milo Ventimiglia thinks it's time to get mysterious for Nixon Watches.

Gay and lesbian Ohioans "eager" for Governor Ted Strickland to test limits of laws surrounding state's same-sex marriage ban.

A visit to the virtual queer red light district (nsfw).

Broadway Cares/Equity Fights AIDS hit hard by stagehand strike.

Same-sex marriage supporters get vocal in Vermont: "More than 20 people testified before the Vermont Commission on Family Recognition and Protection at its public hearing at Lyndon State College, and throughout the 90-minute session, only two people stood up to speak against same-sex marriage. This was the second forum held by the 11-member commission and the second time that a strongly supportive audience turned out. Major anti-gay groups in the state are boycotting the hearings. Joseph Gainza of Marshfield floated one theory on why gay marriage has not become a divisive topic during the hearings: Most straight Vermonters, including him, noticed that the sky did not fall down after the Vermont Legislature legalized civil unions for same-sex couples seven years ago. 'The change came and you realized that nothing in your life has changed,' said Gainza. 'The only difference is that your neighbors have some rights they didn't have. And none of your own rights were taken away in the process.'"

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With Mary Wiseman, Ohio Gets its First Openly Gay Judge

Ohio Governor Ted Strickland this week replaced retiring Common Pleas Court Judge John Kessler by appointing former Dayton city commissioner Mary Wiseman to replace him. In doing so, Strickland apparently gave Ohio its first openly gay judge.

The AP reports: "Officials with gay rights group Equality Ohio say Wiseman's appointment makes state history. Forty-five-year-old Wiseman says she's proud if the gay community sees her as a role model and says she believes the rest of society can grow more comfortable about gays and lesbians in public office. Strickland gave Wiseman the news more than a week ago. On Monday, he said he's happy if he broke a barrier, while noting he made his choice because of Wiseman's qualifications."

Earlier this month, Daniel Anders took the bench in Philadelphia, giving that city its first openly gay male judge. And of course, earlier this year, Judge David Young became TV's first openly gay judge. Justice for all.

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News: Australian Bums, Gabrielle, Gordon Ramsey, Arctic Melt

   Activist Australians going for world-record moon attempt — at President Bush: "Bush is coming to Sydney. Thousands of police, total CBD lockdown, draconian new laws to stifle all protest. Just so nothing disturbs Howard’s moment of glory. APEC’s agenda is more free-market madness, more nuclear power, more warmongers deciding how best to fuck the world over. Is this the future we want? Let’s tell Bush what we really think about his visit. Only 4000 cheeks are needed to make the biggest moon in history – a world record Australia can really be proud of. There will also be an official ‘21 bum salute’ for the 21 countries in APEC."

   Michael Woulfe, costume designer in Hollywood's "golden age" including Judy Garland's gown for A Star is Born, has died at 89.

   Tropical storm swirls off east coast, could become Gabrielle in coming days and threaten seaboard cities including New York. Models.

   MELT: Ice-free arctic could be here in 23 years. "The Arctic ice cap has collapsed at an unprecedented rate this summer and levels of sea ice in the region now stand at a record low, scientists said last night. Experts said they were "stunned" by the loss of ice, with an area almost twice as big as Britain disappearing in the last week alone. So much ice has melted this summer that the north-west passage across the top of Canada is fully navigable, and observers say the north-east passage along Russia's Arctic coast could open later this month. If the increased rate of melting continues, the summertime Arctic could be totally free of ice by 2030."

   Chef Gordon Ramsay demonstrates how to grill his own testicles: "The other day I was standing too close to the hob when I was cooking. I was wearing cotton trousers and underneath I was going commando. Then suddenly I felt this searing heat - my b***s were burning. I burnt my right b*****k and I'm in absolute agony. You wouldn't believe how much this hurts."

   Puncture: Vampires in SoHo?

   Art on the playa: Burning Man's twisted trucks.

   Britney Spears and Criss Angel pull it together for the VMAs.

   Restrictive 2257 regulations set to go into effect against adult entertainment sites that could kill social networking sites like Manhunt, etc. You have until September 10 to object.

   Ohio GOP congressman Paul Gillmor found dead in his apartment, of natural causes.

   ** The source of this item, Digital Media Wire, has issued a correction.  (below) PlanetOut planning 1 for 10 reverse stock split: "Companies typically carry out such transactions to reduce the number of overall shares, and in turn increase the share price. San Francisco-based PlanetOut has seen its share price drop from around $4.50 a year ago to hover closer to $1.50 in recent months. The troubled company was rescued from bankruptcy in July by an investor group ledthat included by Bill Gates, and is undergoing a restructuring that has recently seen the departure of CEO Karen Magee and CFO Daniel Miller, as well as Bob Allen Bob Cohen, chief of its top magazine titles. PlanetOut expects to enact the reverse split on or near Oct. 1." 

CORRECTION: *PlanetOut CEO Karen Magee has not stepped down, CFO Daniel Miller leaves at the end of the month, and Bob Cohen is the magazine chief who left as his magazine contract was not renewed.  Further, Bill Gates' Cascade Investments was one of six investors in the company's funding, but did not lead it. We apologize for the errors and will continue to hone the sources we tap for your news.

   One more word on Larry Craig from the Huff Post's Edward Ugel, though Cindy Adams may have said it more concisely.

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News: Alberto Gonzales, New Mexico, Prescott Bush, Death Cat

George W. Bush's grandfather Prescott Bush was part of 1933 coup planned by right-wing American businessmen: "The coup was aimed at toppling President Franklin D Roosevelt with the help of half-a-million war veterans. The plotters, who were alleged to involve some of the most famous families in America, (owners of Heinz, Birds Eye, Goodtea, Maxwell Hse & George Bush’s Grandfather, Prescott) believed that their country should adopt the policies of Hitler and Mussolini to beat the great depression." Why is this not a surprise?

Cast of Parting Glances reunites at L.A.'s Outfest.

Naked Boys Singing! to begin its ninth year off-Broadway.

Ohio Supreme Court rules that domestic violence laws don't conflict with a state ban on gay marriage: "In a 6-1 decision, justices rejected the argument that the domestic violence law is unenforceable in cases involving unmarried couples because it refers to them as living together 'as a spouse.' Chief Justice Thomas Moyer said in the opinion that lawmakers included many groups under the domestic violence law, not just unwed couples, and that describing people's living arrangements isn't the same as creating a law approximating marriage. The ban prohibited the government from creating any such approximation. 'The state does not create cohabitation; rather it is a person's determination to share some of life's responsibilities with another that creates cohabitation,' Moyer wrote. 'The state does not have a role in creating cohabitation, but it does have a role in creating a marriage.' The case was being closely watched around the country for the precedent it could set affecting a dozen similarly worded bans."

The cat who senses imminent death: "His accuracy, observed in 25 cases, has led the staff to call family members once he has chosen someone. It usually means the patient has less than four hours to live."

New documents reveal that Attorney General Alberto Gonzales committed perjury.

Gay people from New Mexico can now marry in Massachusetts!

Rage against the teleprompter: the growing trend (if two people can be called a trend) of news anchors rejecting vapid celebrity news.

Second Tennessee Williams Festival in Provincetown this September to honor playwright and poet Amiri Baraka.

Pan American Games - I think it's time to make a trip. More shots of hot Brazilian athletes, and some wallpaper.

UFO sightings shut down Stratford-Upon-Avon for half an hour: "Drinkers spilled out of pubs, motorists stopped to gawp and camera phones were aimed upwards as the five orbs, in a seeming formation, hovered above Stratford-Upon-Avon for half an hour. The unidentified flying objects lit up the otherwise clear night sky above Shakespeare's birthplace in Warwickshire on Saturday...Sceptics dismissed the UFOs as nothing more than hot air balloons, fireworks or even lanterns which had broken loose from a local rugby club. Others, however, claimed the speed and agility of the objects was unlike any known aircraft and said the odd movement, lack of noise and the length of time in the air discounted any man-made explanation."

Down the stairs: In case you missed the quickly-removed YouTube video, Pink has a few screencaps of Beyoncé's Orlando concert face-plant.

New Zealand gym owner claims his business is down 30% since a Yellow Pages listing placed by someone else named his gym as a "homosexual gym". The Yellow PAges has apologized. Owner Ray Parker: "To say that my gym is a gay and lesbian gym and to imply it is only a homosexual gym, excludes 90% of the population. The business has suffered and suffered quite a bit. I'm looking at the sheet of paper next to me on the desk that says I'm down X amount of dollars, which is a huge amount of money and an apology is two cents worth."

Gay Canadian Paul Ciceri details 33 months in Abu Dhabi prison after, he claims, a friend he had met on vacation planted cocaine in his toiletries bag.

Tonsils might serve as HIV's passageway to the body: "Researchers stress that the risk of acquiring HIV through oral sex is far too low to warrant preventive tonsillectomies. But they say the finding might have implications for preventing transmission of the virus from HIV-infected mothers to their children through breastfeeding."

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News: Dublin, Hedi Slimane, Iraq Marine, L.A. Galaxy

Corporal testifies that "Marines in his unit began routinely beating Iraqis after officers ordered them to 'crank up the violence level.'"

Presidential hopeful Mike Gravel thanks the gays after HRC and LOGO decide to lift their under-funding ban and allow him to participate in the upcoming "gay debate".

Tired of the 'gay vague' look, Jesse Metcalfe channels Kevin Federline.

Proposal to offer same-sex couples the same financial benefits as straight couples to go before Australian cabinet following Human Rights and Equal Opportunity Commission report: "The commission found same-sex couples were discriminated against in 58 pieces of federal legislation under which they were denied basic financial and work-related entitlements, tax concessions and superannuation benefits available to heterosexual couples."

Flurry of confetti greets Beckhams at L.A. Galaxy welcome ceremony. Couple plans to open chain of exclusive international nightclubs.

SURVEY: "iPhone could emerge as the most successful product introduction of the 21st century". 1 in 3 reportedly want one.

Owner of London's popular G-A-Y bar considering buyout offer: "We consider the offer to be positive and are currently awaiting confirmation of that offer being confirmed before a final decision is to be taken. We anticipate the offer to be formalised in early August."

Indian singer Sonu Nigam accuses journalist Subhash K Jha of retaliation after the writer's sexual advances were rejected: "He used to harass me with his homosexual desires to an extent that my family was affected. We all know that the film industry consists of many gays and homosexuals. Even I have many gay friends but they have never tried to come close to me because they know that I am not interested in it. I’m not a fool that I don’t understand his intentions. I’m not a villager that I don’t know whatever is happening. I even told him about my girlfriends but slowly and slowly when he did not get any positive response from my end, he started criticising me in his articles and his feelings got bitter towards me."

Hilary Duff no "Stranger" to gay clubs.

Akron, Ohio wants in on the gay tourism dollar.

Hedi Slimane, Jeff Koons, and Dieter Rams to guest edit October issue of Wallpaper: "Each is designing his own cover for the London title, and each has been given his own 20-page section, said publishing director Andrew Black. In the Slimane segment, there's an interview with the designer by German artist Thomas Demand, and 10 collectible, poster-size photographs shot by Slimane. The photos are very personal ones, said Black: There are fashion shots, details from everyday life and abstract images. Slimane has been hands-on, in touch with the magazine's staff every day. "We're an eclectic title with so many disciplines of design — we decided to have three guest editors instead of one," said Black. He said the editors chose Slimane because "he's someone we've admired for a long time." And also, no doubt, a designer with some extra time on his hands since leaving Dior Homme."

Outhouse: Dublin, Ireland gets gay community center.

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Ohio Governor Strickland Signs Order Protecting Gay Workers

Pulling through a on a pledge he made during his campaign last fall, Ohio Governor Ted Strickland will sign an executive order today which forbids discrimination by employers on the basis of sexual orientation and gender identity.

A similar policy which had been in place under two previous governors was removed in 1999 by Governor Bob Taft.

Reports the Columbus Dispatch: "Strickland said yesterday he thinks the order is necessary to help prevent workplace discrimination but that it also has symbolic value. 'It's important to do this to send a message about Ohio that we are a state that values all of its citizens,' he said."

Equality Ohio has set up a website form to thank the governor.

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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."