News: Winnipeg, Brenda Dickson, Nepal, Sam Adams, Stephen Harper

Gambino mob hitman didn't mean to tell everyone he was gay: “'He didn’t want to make an announcement to the world,' said one person with knowledge of the case who spoke on the condition of anonymity because of the dangers facing Mr. Mormando. 'He wanted the judge to know what risks he took — why he wasn’t just your average cooperator, someone who had simply broken the code.'"

Sam Taylor-Wood's sleeping Beckham image to appear on condoms in Spain.

Why Hello There: 'Welcome to My Home' star Brenda Dickson wrongly imprisoned for four months!

Rep. Alan Grayson launches website to document those who have died because they had no health care.

James Franco makes silent appearance on SNL.

Boston DJ Barry Scott denied new trial against Provincetown police.

Nepal to seek status as LGBT tourist destination: "Nepal government has held a series of meetings with well-known international tour operators and non-profit organisations to promote Nepal as a potential destination for LGBTs, the Kantipur online said on Thursday. Nepal Tourism Board (NTB) officials hope that LGBT arrivals will give a boost to the number of visitors to the country as the government mulls new way to bring in a million foreign tourists in the Nepal Tourism Year 2011."

WATCH: John Mayer's music video for "Heartbreak Warfare".

McCain supporters' testosterone dropped on election night.

Ethiopia pleas with international community for food aid.

Pee Wee Herman plans comeback: "I don't want anyone for one second to think that I am titillated by images of children."

Philadelphia Gay News serves as test run for U.S. Census ad.

LAPD cuts ties with the Boy Scouts.

Uganda bill that would penalizes gays with death put off until 2010: "Parliament was too busy, just now, to handle the important matter of the Anti- Homosexuality bill. Apparently it is very, very far ahead in the future, but that gives you time to check in with your MP and tell them how much you support the Bahati Bill." American Evangelicals are playing role in efforts there to exterminate gays...

Fatal men's bathhouse fire now a homicide investigation in Winnipeg: "The bathhouse's owner, Somchai Pengpharsuks, told the Free Press last week he believed the blaze was set by two men on the building's second floor. He said the incident was potentially hate-motivated, according to information he received, because the bathhouse is frequented predominantly by gay men. Both men died of smoke inhalation in a fire that police believe was "deliberately set," said a police spokesman.

Glee planning "all Madonna" episode.

Former Oregon senator to lead new recall effort against Portland Mayor Sam Adams: "The PAC's treasurer, Teresa McGuire said this time around opponents will use paid signature collectors, much the same as other nonprofit campaigns."

Canadian Prime Minister Stephen Harper hires homophobe speechwriter: "Referring to former Prime Minister Pierre Trudeau's 1969 decision to decriminalize homosexuality, Hannaford wrote in 2005, 'Fine, said lots of people. Leave gays alone? Fair enough. But, let 'em be Boy Scout leaders? Have each other's benefits? Adopt kids? Marry each other? Ridiculous. Anybody seeking political office who suggested it would have been laughed off the hustings. Yet, the Liberals are ready to legalize gay marriage. How did we get to this point?'"

Gay Porn Twin Taleon Goffney Gets 3-8 Years for Burglaries

Yesterday, Taleon Goffney, who has been incarcerated for over a year for burglaries committed with the aid of his twin brother Keyontyli, was sentenced in a Philadelphia court. The two brothers acted together in gay porn videos on the internet.

The Philadelphia Daily News reports:

"Goffney yesterday pleaded guilty to two counts each of burglary and criminal conspiracy under a plea deal between his attorney, Michael F. Gushue, and Assistant District Attorney Caroline Keating. As part of the agreement, Goffney, 27, identified his twin, Keyontyli, who is free on bail and attended the hearing, as a co-conspirator in the burglaries. Keating alleged that Keyontyli Goffney, who is to appear in court Aug. 6 for his role in the burglaries, served as a driver and a lookout in the crimes. During yesterday's proceeding, she and Gushue disagreed on the original terms of the plea agreement, which included a guilty plea with consecutive two-to-four-year sentences. Attorneys later renegotiated the deal. Afterward, Gushue said that he and Goffney, who, he said, plans to complete his college degree while incarcerated, were content with the outcome. 'I think he's had an epiphany,' Gushue said. 'He's a bright young man.' Other charges, including criminal trespass, receiving stolen property and possession of an instrument of crime, were dropped."

News: Gwen Araujo, Uruguay, Anton Yelchin, Madonna, New Zealand

Neil Patrick Harris to host Tony Awards.

Court upholds convictions in Gwen Araujo murder case.

Madonna gets frisky at MET gala.

One of People's Sexiest Men Alive 2003 tag-teamed by a gay escort and a dominatrix?

Pro-gay judge Carlos Moreno added to Obama Supreme Court justice shortlist.

Uruguay to lift military gay ban: "The defense ministry confirms that Minister Jose Bayardi has signed a decree lifting the ban imposed by the 1973-85 military dictatorship. The army said Wednesday it has received the decree, which has yet to be signed by President Tabare Vazquez."

Court: Florida must recognize adoptions by same-sex couples granted in other states.

Bill O'Reilly on same-sex marriage in 2002: "Look, I couldn't care less, to tell you the truth.... You want to get married? Knock yourself out. Go to Vegas. Have a good time. If you can get that changed, I'm not going to jump up and down and say I think it's wrong, because I don't."

NOM telling its minions to vote "no" on New Jersey lawmaker's marriage equality poll. Vote yes.

Star Trek's new Pavel Chekov gets a Vman profile.

Equality California opens Inland-area office: "Equality California is also adding field-organizing offices in Fresno, San Diego, Orange County and Sacramento, and hopes to open one in Palm Springs. It now has locations only in San Francisco and Los Angeles, along with a legislative office in Sacramento. The number of staff members who will focus entirely or primarily on marriage-related issues will skyrocket from 2 to 25 people."

British Apprentice contestants rebrand seaside town of Margate into gay resort destination.

Man saves kangaroo from shark-infested ocean. Surgeon saves frog from lawn mower!

Auckland, New Zealand police looking for man deliberately infecting young men with HIV: "He targets young and vulnerable guys. He makes them feel special and tells them that he loves them. They feel they love him. They become besotted with him. He develops a grip on them. He cuts them off from their family and friends." 

Mariah Carey as a frump.

Christopher Hitchens on Wanda Sykes' White House Correspondents Dinner performance: "The president should be squirming in his seat. Not smiling. The black dyke got it wrong. No one told her the rules."

Greater Philadelphia Tourism Marketing Corporation unveils gay-inclusive ad campaign: “Dear guys who like guys and girls who like girls ... We’re into that in Philly. In fact, we have a place affectionately referred to as the Gayborhood. Heck, our street signs even shout, ‘We love everyone — gay, straight and not exactly sure.’ So come hang out with us and bring your favorite guy or girl. It’ll be fabulous.”

$10,000: Carson Kressley unfairly targeted for appearance fee at Australian bushfire charity event?

EW: Ryan Seacrest, end your gay-baiting banter. "This season, however, has been mercifully light on ''Ewww! You're a homo!'' back-and-forth. That is, until (Tuesday) night, when during a discussion of Danny Gokey's boogie moves, Ryan tried to score a laugh by declaring, 'I love it when Simon criticizes dancing. Randy, we've seen [Simon] dance in Vegas in those heels he wears. Not really a lot of rhythm.' Really, Ryan? In 2009, you're still courting Emmy nominations as Best Reality-Show host by using tired cross-dressing barbs"

Hundreds March for LGBT Equality in Rainy Philadelphia Rally

Hundreds of soggy but determined demonstrators marched through the streets of Philadelphia on Sunday at the National Equality Rally, touted by organizers of the city's Equality Forum as the largest LGBT rally in a decade and the first outside of the nation's capitol.

Eleven/Five reports: "The cold and rain wasn’t enough to dampen the spirits of those that braved the wet weather today at the National Equality Rally. We marched around Independence National Historic Park and rallied in front of Independence Hall and the Liberty Bell. The energy was very positive despite the ever present anti-gay protestetors. It was great to see and hear from so many of those that started the fight for equal rights for GLBT people back in 1964 in those early demonstrations. There were a lot of great speakers that had a great deal to say on ENDA, DADT and DOMA. It’s too bad that so much of the street festival was rained out, still many stuck it out!"

Gay rights pioneer Frank Kameny spoke at the rally (he's in video 4, AFTER THE JUMP. The Philadelphia Inquirer reports: "[Kameny] organized the 1965 protest in front of Independence Hall after he was fired as an astronomer in the Army Map Service for being gay. Unable to obtain a routine hearing from the federal government's civil-service director, he decided to travel to Philadelphia to make a point: He wanted to demonstrate that he deserved the same rights as the men who gathered there to write the Constitution. Kameny gained plenty of notoriety, but he never did get his job back. Nor was he ever compensated for being unfairly dismissed. But as he told the rain-soaked crowd yesterday, he finally achieved a kind of 'closure' this year. When Obama held the swearing-in for his new civil-service director, John Berry, Kameny was invited to the ceremony. 'And,' he added with a laugh, 'I had the satisfaction of watching the swearing-in of an openly gay man. It was almost like a fairy-tale ending.'"

CBS News reports: "A few counterdemonstrators held religious signs at the margins of the gathering, and one preached with a bullhorn as the marchers filed past." Said Equality Forum executive director Malcolm Lazin: "We don't wilt, and we don't melt. We are here for equality now."

Four clips from the march and rally, AFTER THE JUMP...

News: Danny Gans, Senegal, David Paterson, Eels, Cam Gigandet

Michelangelo Signorile talks to Carrie Prejean's defenders.

Director of Miss California USA Shanna Moakler's gay rights ad. State Director: 'Fifteen minutes about up...'

Vegas performer Danny Gans dies suddenly.

The View: Dolly Parton on the 9 to 5 musical.

NY Governor David Paterson says Giuliani "a generation behind" on same-sex marriage, expresses hope for bill's passage: "I don't think the votes are there yet. Maybe they're three or four votes short, maybe more. But they can get there, and as evidence of that I would cite the growth from 40 to 85 votes in the Assembly in 2007. The percentage of votes we have now in the Senate is higher than it was two years ago at this time in the Assembly. And they didn't think they had a shot."

Star Trek premieres in L.A..

Gay youth leader in Senegal declares: "The homosexuals will not escape lynching. They will be fish food."

John Legend takes his pecs dog-walking.

Obama names Eric Goosby new U.S. Global AIDS coordinator: "Goosby, who is straight, replaces gay physician Mark Dybul, who was appointed by President George W. Bush and who has been credited with putting in place the multi-billion dollar U.S. Global AIDS program initiated by Bush and approved by Congress. The Global AIDS coordinator works out of the U.S. State Department and has the rank of ambassador at large."

Gay etiquette with the Countess de Lesseps of New York's Real Housewives...

Executive Director of non-profit organization Colours, serving Philadelphia's gay and lesbian community charged with using organization's funds for herself: "Dorena Kearney, 52, was charged with misusing $138,000 in government funds for personal expenses such as cosmetic surgery, a cruise and pet supplies."

Eels in crisis.

Cam Gigandet has junk in the trunk.

Run, Blago, Run: Former Illinois Governor gets street art treatment in Chicago.

Coral Gables attorney says firm fired him for being gay, files suit: "Shortly after his employment began, however, (firm chairman Jose) Astigarraga articulated his discomfort with the fact that plaintiff was gay, criticizing plaintiff for not 'fitting in' with the attorneys at the law firm and suggesting to plaintiff that he consider leaving the firm."

Comedian Stephen Fry struggling with new book: "It's different because the first volume (Moab Is My Washpot) was a private memoir of childhood - it didn't involve having to put in people who have now become well known. It's something I haven't yet grappled with. There is pressure. The trouble with it now, is the moment it starts, it would have to be at university and it would be Hugh [Laurie] and Emma [Thompson] and all that sort of thing. It becomes a showbiz biography and I'm keen for it not to be too much. Why would I want to involve people without their permission?"

Moscow authorities renew opposition to Gay Pride events...

Gay Sex Stings Played Role in Arlen Specter's First Switch, to the GOP

Arlen Specter was originally a Democrat who was wooed by the Republican party in 1965. Specter explains he had an interest in being Philadelphia DA. At the time he was an attorney who had been investigating corrupt judges.

Explains Specter in a C-SPAN interview: "They went after gays. They had a theater called the Family Theatre on east Market street where gays assembled and the vice squad would go and arrest them and take them before magistrates who would extort large sums of money to discharge them or then if they didn't pay off, to hold them, and I had convicted quite a number of magistrates in this probe and the head of the Democratic party didn't like that because these were a lot of very powerful political leaders."

Specter was then wooed to run on the Republican ticket.

Watch the interview with Book Notes, AFTER THE JUMP...

(via ben smith)