News: Singapore, Sam Adams, Cubs, Matthew Mitcham, GI Joe

Singapore women's group AWARE votes out anti-gay fundamentalist leaders in dramatic seven hour stand-off. Background.

Britain's former top cop and London mayoral candidate Brian Paddick to front campaign encouraging same-sex couples to hold hands in public: "The photos are being used to create a same-sex love map of the world. David Watkins, the group's founder, said: 'Hand holding is a simple, liberating gesture that is essential to our communities' health, visibility, and respect.'" Site: A Day in Hand.

Thousands of Cubs fans go deaf at Wrigley Field.

Log Cabin Republicans making gains in NY assembly on marriage equality.

Matthew Mitcham exits Mexico City as swine flu escalates.

El Salvador in last minute gay rights ban: "After weeks of public debate and protest, El Salvador’s Legislative Assembly approved an amendment to the constitution to ban marriage between same-sex couples and same-sex couples’ ability to adopt a child.  This amendment was proposed in the final hours of the current Legislative Assembly session, which ends April 30th."

L.A. Times: Same-sex marriages gradually gaining legal ground.

Eiffel Tower destroyed in trailer for G.I. Joe: The Movie with Channing Tatum, Dennis Quaid.

Loving: this self-portrait of Provincetown resident and filmmaker John Waters at Ptown's McMillan Wharf.

Marc Jacobs to marry in Provincetown.

Dog food vs paté? No difference, much of the time.

The Oregonian calls on Portland Mayor Sam Adams to resign in wake of recent investigations: "An investigation by The Oregonian's Ryan Frank and Brent Walth raised the questions, in a story published Friday, of whether the encounter took place earlier in the year and what it really amounted to. Whether that is the center of the AG's investigation remains to be seen, as does whether any of the conduct described, implied or suspected adds up to criminality." Phone calls...

Male model fix: Joey Kirchner.

Ed Westwick works up a sweat.

Missouri state senator Jolie Justus weds her partner in Iowa.

Manohla Dargis memo to Hollywood: "Enough with the gay slurs, the gay baiting, imitating, limp-wristing, so-not-funny lisping — in other words, enough with the hating...Try this simple test: Every time you feel the need to mock or denigrate gay men or lesbians, replace that joke with an equally vicious dig about African-Americans or Jews. Doesn’t sound so funny anymore, does it?"

Last week in holy crimes...

Miss California: Redefining breasts for the rest of us.

Obama appoints lesbian to become Assistant Secretary, Administration on Aging, at HHS.

AKA accidental wood.

Sweeps warning issued to cottagers: "Sweeps is the time local media often finds itself in bed with the cops to carry out sting operations of men cruising for sex. Just last week we got a report from a Bakersfield, California location where one customer saw not just cop cars and a cop van parked outside, but also a news van for a local television station. I'm sure it was a joint sting in which the media gets to film and photograph those men cops arrest. In fact, I would not be surprised to learn a reporter instigated the whole thing, asking the police to come along so they could get some good footage."

News: Jesus Christ, Football, Susan Boyle, 100 Days, Sean Penn

Obama's 100 day Gay Report Card. Emma Ruby Sachs in HuffPost: "And when it comes to actual change in the lives of LGBT people, nothing has been done. Obama has failed to hand in any of his assignments."

Brian Sims: a gay college football story.

Guess who wants to play Susan Boyle in the movie?

Sean Penn files for divorce.

Guido Westerwelle hopes to be Germany's first openly gay foreign minister: "I am convinced that today one’s private life is no longer an obstacle. Some other countries may have had a problem with the fact that Angela Merkel became the first female chancellor of Germany. Of course she does not wear a veil on the red carpet when she visits certain Arab states. The American secretary of state (Hillary Clinton) must also hold talks in countries in which women are systematically oppressed. The decision as to who we send as a government representative rests solely with us Germans based on our political and moral standards.”

BUTT magazine holding open call for submissions of gay-themed video art.

Estranged wife of Nevada governor wants veto override of domestic partnership legislation.

Gay man forced out of dying partner's room at Oregon Health and Science University hospital: "The nurse said, 'Christopher is very ill. There are some life and death decisions that have to be made and now is not the time for friends to be in the room.' I'm like, 'we don't have any friends in the room'."

Florida to get Jesus vanity plate.

Amsterdam park notifies visitors that they are approaching a 'gay cruising area':  "The signs 'clearly indicate what is happening in each zone; also those where gay men are known to practice 'cruising',' municipal spokeswoman Manon Koffijberg said...'If you don't want to be confronted by a vision of that sort, the signs allow you to avoid specific areas,' said Ms Koffijberg."

Australian curry company denies homophobic attack at Sydney fair.

Channing Tatum courted for Twilight role.

Vampire outtakes.

Astronomers snap the most distant object they've ever seen.

A look at Trouble the Water, the documentary about Hurricane Katrina.

Washington man pleads guilty in gay immigration fraud case: "A man accused of advising straight immigrants to claim homosexuality - and potential persecution in their home countries - when they applied for asylum has pleaded guilty to conspiracy to commit immigration fraud."

Senior Thai monk plans to offer "manners course" for monks who wear make-up and carry pink purses.

Alberta, Canada adds sexual orientation to human rights laws: "But the move to expand protections under the Human Rights, Citizenship and Multiculturalism Act was accompanied by a provision allowing parents to pull their kids from school discussions of religion, sexuality or sexual orientation — a move that could let parents yank students from classes on such topics as evolution."

The Deets on Stu Rasmussen's Climb to Mayor

Details profiles Silverton, Oregon's transgender mayor Stu Rasmussen, who might be getting a reality show.

Writer Kayleen Schaefer was there the night Stu was sworn in:  "Longtime mayor Ken Hector, who lost his bid for re-election by 519 votes, stands quietly next to the man who beat him. He's dressed in a red sweater vest. To honor Hector's 16 years of service, Rasmussen presents him with a crystal clock. "Now you'll have plenty of time on your hands," he says. Rasmussen then places his left hand on a Bible, raises his right hand in the air, and pledges 'to uphold the Constitution of the United States, the Constitution of Oregon, and faithfully perform my duties as mayor.' After some handshakes, he takes a seat on the dais, puts on a pair of reading glasses, and props his chin atop the crimson-tipped fingers he once used to rebuild a Chevy Suburban engine. He leans forward and, in the voice of a man introducing a burlesque act, says, "You're probably wondering why I've asked you here."

(image lisa kereszi for Details)

Oregon Trans Mayor Stu Rasmussen to Get Reality Show?

You may remember last November when Stu Rasmussen of Silverton, Oregon became the nation's first transgender mayor. A production team is now shopping Stu's story to interested networks.

The Statesman Journal reports: "Camera crews from Los Angeles rolled into town Monday to begin filming a teaser for the show...At a packed City Council meeting Monday night, the crew from production company RDF USA began filming the project...Lead producer Gerald Massimei said Silverton has exceeded their expectations. 'It will make a phenomenal background for a really interesting story,' Massimei said. 'There is something really special about this town...We want to invite people, if they see us filming, to come say hi to Stu. Don't be afraid of the cameras.' The show would be centered around Rasmussen and his challenge as a transgender person living in a small town. It would also look at the mechanics and intricacies of local government, including some 'hot button' issues such as the Silver Creek Dam, Rasmussen said. 'I have a big ego, but not big enough to think this is going to be Stu-centric,' he said."

The production activities as covered by Showbiz Tonight, and another brief clip of Rasmussen which I've posted before, AFTER THE JUMP...

Gay Couple Beaten Unconscious in Hate Crime on Oregon Beach

Samson Deal, 22, and Kevin Petterson, 22, two Seattle-area men who were taking a spring break weekend on the Oregon coast at Seaside, were beaten unconscious around 3 am early Sunday morning after leaving a beach campfire they were sharing with some other people and taking a walk together.

KOMO4 reports: "When Deal and Petterson finally came to, the two nursing students knew just how serious their injuries were. 'The whole event -- I really don't remember a lot, because I sustained a lot of head trauma,' said Deal. 'I've never had a face trauma like this or anything like that. It's pretty bad,' Petterson said.  Thinking back to the attack, the two men said they believe it was their sexual orientation that made them a target. 'All of the sudden, someone asked if were gay, called us 'fags,' then started punching us,' said Deal. The victims said three or four young men dressed in black attacked them, letting loose punch after punch. The attack left the two men severely injured and bruised. Petterson's right eye is so badly damaged he plans to see a plastic surgeon on Wednesday"

FOX12 reports: "Investigators said the beatings are hate crimes. The Seaside police chief said he has put two full-time detectives on the case and they are trying to find any witnesses who were on the beach Sunday morning and may have seen who was responsible for severely beating the two men. There were several people who were sitting next to the fire in front of the Best Western Hotel at the time of the attack and police would like to talk to them. Anyone with information in the case should contact Seaside police."

Watch KOMO4's interview with the couple, AFTER THE JUMP...

News: Aretha's Hat, New York, James Franco, Endangered Species

Gay bashing reported by student at DePaul University: "I fell to the ground, and the person that kicked me said, 'I know who you are and I know that you're gay.' That person and two other people just started kicking me and punching me and like I was pinned to the ground, so I couldn't really go anywhere. They were calling me things like queer and fag."

Aretha Franklin gives her hat to the Smithsonian Institution.

Zac Efron has a big bro crush on Leonardo DiCaprio.

Openly gay celebrities in Australia advised not to discuss it: "One celebrity talent manager, who did not wish to be named, told news.com.au he advised clients not to discuss their sexuality, even if everyone knew they were gay, because homophobia was still rampant amongst the gatekeepers of the Aussie media, particularly in television."

Oregon Elections Division throws out complaint against Portland Mayor Sam Adams.

Prosecution winds down in gay porn murder trial of Harlow Cuadra: "More than 50 witnesses have been called so far..."

Phelps church targets school in Plattsburgh, Vermont for Laramie Project production.

Author talks of growing up gay and Black in the South.

London stabbing victim clings to life, gives authorities info: "A man came to the premises, it would appear, and, from the information given by one of the surviving victims, it was a homophobic attack. That is a line of inquiry that we are pursuing."

Brad Pitt pays a visit to Capitol Hill.

Sotheby's to auction one of earliest photos of New York City.

Greek community and LGBT community to bond on U of Michigan campus.

James Franco gets book deal for collection of short stories: writing has "claustrophobic" and "immediate" sense of place.

UK teen gets two years in juvie institution for murder of gay truck driver.

Jon Stewart unloads on CNBC.

Jake Gyllenhaal back in spandex.

Endangered Species Act may be reversed by Obama: "The White House will announce today that it is reconsidering another controversial last-minute environmental rule by President George W. Bush, an Obama administration official said Monday night. The Bush-era rule loosened the way the Endangered Species Act guides federal projects, such as roads and dams. The change, finalized in December, eliminated a requirement that federal agencies consult with experts about potential effects on endangered plants and wildlife before allowing projects to go ahead. Instead, federal agencies can determine on their own whether their projects would harm protected species.

Posh Spice thinks she's Inspectress Gadget.

Every swear word in the history of The Sopranos.

Michelle Williams named guardian of Heath Ledger Oscar.

Uganda Minister of Ethics and Integrity, Dr. James Nsaba Buturo says he will submit a bill on homosexuality to the Parliament: "He says the provision in the penal code on homosexuality is too small to cover all concerns in homosexuality. Buturo says the government will not only end at making laws against homosexuality but will also engage in sensitizing schools and churches in the fight against this vice.The President of Defend the Family International, Scott Lively says it is good for the government of Uganda to criminalize homosexuality but the government should subject the criminals of homosexuality to a therapy rather than imprisoning them. Lively says this is aimed at the criminals recovering from homosexuality which is the main objective of those fighting homosexuality and not to punish homosexuals through imprisonment. He says even schools should borrow this idea of therapy in dealing with gay students."