News: Van Gogh, Greece, Dom DeLuise, Quebec, 911, Supreme Court

Two arrests made in Oakland Park anti-gay assaults: "Victor Gonzalez, 21, and Pargu Leandro, 25, both of Deerfield Beach, were jailed in connection with the April 6 early morning attack that left Craig Cohen, 47, on life support and caused severe head injuries to David Villanova, 27. Gonzalez and Leandro each face attempted murder, battery and robbery charges" Background.

Turns out Gauguin may have cut off Van Gogh's ear, and may also have been seriously infatuated with him.

Teen arrested for swearing on 911 during emergency call for her seizing father.

Actor Dom DeLuise dies at 75.

Openly gay Iraq veteran Anthony Woods running for Ellen Tauscher's seat in Congress.

Vandals strike gay community center in Burlington, Vermont.

Little Britain to be feature film for Ben Stiller's production company Red Hour: "Creators & stars Matt Lucas and David Walliams have just finished penning a script for the film that sets the action in Las Vegas. 'We’re really happy with it, but the whole film project is still kind of dependent on how much we can raise our profiles in America' says Walliams."

Politico on Obama and the consideration of a lesbian Supreme Court Justice. But did we already have one?

Vote for the Worst is holding an auction to benefit Relay for Life and the American Cancer Society. One of the items is a painting of Adam Lambert.

Fake memoirist James Frey has a "secret" about Oprah Winfrey, lost passage suggests.

David Ogden Stiers (Major Charles Winchester from M*A*S*H): I'm gay.

Classified. White House has no plans to release NYC Air Force One flyover photos: "So we're not gonna see the fruits of this cruel joke?"

Rebellious Iowa counties stir up opposition to marriage equality, call for resolution.

Writer-performer Mario Baldessari "sets out to slam bigotry" in D.C. production of Fat Gay Jew.

All the outfits at the MET's Costume Institute Gala.

Greek court rules same-sex weddings held on the island of Tilos last June invalid: "We will appeal within May ... but I fear the appeal court's decision won't be different, considering how conservative Greek courts are."

Paula Abdul's new single, "Here for the Music".

Curly-haired pigs.

Carrie Prejean gives Joe.My.God the tweet of death.

Quebec government supports LGBT seniors with $500,000 in projects: "Marguerite Blais, the cabinet minister responsible for seniors, and representatives of the gay and lesbian communities made the announcement in Montreal today. The new initiatives are centred around education campaigns that highlight the isolation felt by many homosexual seniors.Laurent McCutcheon of the gay helpline Gai Ecoute says homosexuality is taboo in many institutions which serve the elderly, leading many Quebec seniors to hide their sexual orientation. Blais says her support for the projects came after statements made during Quebec-wide public consultations in 2008 on issues facing the elderly."

News: Wisconsin, Grey Gardens, Rainbow Flag, Quebec, Stevie Nicks

Domestic partnership bill advances in Nevada...

Wisconsin Supreme Court asked to review 2006 civil union, same-sex marriage ban vote.

Quebec HIV prevention campaign asphyxiates Chihuahua: "The campaign focuses on objects highly appreciated by homosexuals, using evocative symbols to offer the target audience a different take on the issue."

Will Lindsay Lohan play Stevie Nicks on film? "Over my dead body."

Meghan McCain gets six-figure book deal: "on an as-yet-unknown subject..."

Just Jared interviews Southland's Benjamin McKenzie: "To be completely honest, they’re hinting about a few things, but before the seven episode run, you’ll see a romantic, um, sexual interaction."

Manchester University in UK caught filing Homo Britannicus, a book on the history of man, in the gay section of the library.

Harlow Cuadra appeals guilty verdict in murder of rival porn producer.

First impression: Ab not looking too Fab.

The hand of God? (via sticky - nsfw)

W talks with Sally Quinn, who bought Grey Gardens from Little Edie in 1979. What was the stench like? "You can imagine. 20-30 years of cats. There was no kitty litter in that house."

Former student files lawsuit against Indian River High School in upstate New York over harassment, anti-gay bias: "The lawsuit claims that district employees wouldn't allow former student Charles P. Pratt, 20, to start a Gay-Straight Alliance in 2004 and that Superintendent James Kettrick, who was the high school principal at the time, 'displayed utter and willful indifference' to the harassment Mr. Pratt said he was subjected to at school."

Gay former manager of the Bay City Rollers and ex-con, Tam Paton, dies at 70.

AfterElton launches its Hot 100.

Michael Jackson creates chaos in Beverly Hills.

And they're telling you, they're young and they're not going...

The Mozcake of dreams...

Florida teen spends night in jail for saggy pants, blames David Beckham and Prince Harry.

Neptune, New Jersey Township Committee to take up question of whether or not residents should be allowed to display rainbow flags: "Ref: Display of sexual orientation flags. More and more, we are noticing flags being displayed on (Shark River Hills) properties declaring the occupants' sexual orientation or proclivity — not just the multicolored "gay' striped flags, but also banners indicating fetishes and or other "lifestyle' choices. While this type of display may be acceptable in certain gay enclaves, there is simply no justification for it in a family oriented neighborhood..."

Police to investigate gay pizza party in Brooklyn's Carroll Gardens.

Farrah Fawcett released from hospital: "The 62-year-old actress, who was first diagnosed in 2006, was hospitalized in Los Angeles after a routine treatment for anal cancer, which has spread to her liver. The procedure caused bleeding inside her abdominal wall."

Gay Former Parti Quebecois leader Andre Boisclair Quitting Politics

Former Parti Quebecois leader Andre Boisclair, who resigned as leader in May after elections in which his party had the worst showing in decades, has announced that he is quitting politics, effective November 15th. On that date, he'll give up his seat as Member of the National Assembly for Pointe-aux-Trembles.

CTV reports: "A career politician, first getting elected at age 23, Boisclair had been a cabinet minister in the PQ governments of Lucien Bouchard and Bernard Landry. After the 2003 provincial election, Boisclair studied at the prestigious John F. Kennedy School of Government at Harvard University. He was going to take a job in the corporate sector in Toronto when Landry quit as party leader in 2005. Boisclair bested Marois to take the leadership."

Boisclair's tenure was marked by several controversies which included his appearance in a Brokeback Mountain sketch on Canadian TV.

The sketch featured George Bush and Canadian Prime Minister Stephen Harper shirtless inside a pup tent. George Bush fondled his nipples before throwing two cherries at Harper. The cherries then appeared strategically placed atop two mounds of whipped cream on Harper's chest. The tent unzipped and Boisclair, peeking his head through, said "Quebec won't get mixed up in something like that." The sketch, of course, was immediately broadcast over Canadian news networks, prompting criticism from those who felt that Boisclair's participation was not fitting of a statesman.

Boisclair also made news in the run-up to his election, when he acknowledged that he used cocaine. Rather than dampening his efforts, however, the confession caused his numbers to soar in the polls. At that time, a former cabinet member said, "We Quebecers fancy our heroes a little bit cheeky, defeatist, hesitant, unsure of themselves, alcoholic, a little or even a lot unreliable, a little bit fraudulent or even a little drugged. We like to say they are like us."

Openly Gay Parti Québécois Leader Andre Boisclair Resigns

Following March elections in which Parti Québécois had its poorest showing in decades, openly gay leader Andre Boisclair bowed to pressure and resigned today. Boisclair's party appeared to have little faith left in his ability to push for a third referendum on independence for the French-Canadian province.

Said Boisclair: "I would have loved to be the leader of the party. It's not possible for me. Somebody else will have to do it."

Boisclair's tenure has been a unique one, notes the International Herald Tribune: "When he was elected leader of the Parti Quebecois in November 2005, Boisclair, 41, made headlines for being openly gay and admitting to using cocaine while serving as a cabinet minister. His relative youth also marked a stark departure from previous sovereignty leaders, most of whom traced their roots to the PQ's founding in the late-1960s."

Last November, Boisclair was criticized for participating in a skit on Canadian TV which used Brokeback Mountain to parody the relationship between George Bush and Canadian Prime Minister Stephen Harper. The sketch featured Bush and Harper shirtless inside a pup tent. George Bush fondles his nipples before throwing two cherries at Harper. The cherries then appear strategically placed atop two mounds of whipped cream on Harper's chest. The tent unzips and Boisclair, peeking his head through, says "Quebec won't get mixed up in something like that."

According to the IHT, "Boisclair fought back tears at the press conference announcing his resignation. He said the sovereignty movement would rebound. 'I'm deeply convinced that this brave nation will assume its freedom,' he said."

News: Bono, Andre Boisclair, Dolly Parton, Texas Triangle

Anti-gay group MassResistance taking predatory photos of gay youth? More...

Bono is knighted. Just don't call him Sir.

Saudi King Abdullah publicly condemns "illegitimate foreign occupation" of Iraq. Crooks and Liars: "Wow, talk about Bush really losing his base."

Winner or loser? Kevin Federline to walk away with a cool million in Britney Spears divorce settlement.

Daily Kos on the threatened Bush veto: "Bush's veto sends troops to Iraq without rest, without armor, and without training. No president in American history has ever abandoned troops in the field to die. But George W. Bush is about to show you he's "man enough" to do it, just to prove he can."

Patti LuPone to headline Gypsy revival in New York. Arthur Laurents to direct.

Openly gay Parti Quebecois leader Andre Boisclair criticized after party has worst election showing in decades: "PQ Leader Andre Boisclair is openly gay and his sexuality became an issue during the campaign when a radio host proclaimed the PQ 'a club of fags' and said local factory workers wouldn't vote for a gay leader." Candidate Rachel Gagnon: "We have to ask ourselves whether Quebecers, generally, are ready to live with homosexuality."

American Family Association pissed that Allegheny College is holding a two-day colloquium that begins today on gay, lesbian and transgender issues.

More reasons to love Dolly Parton: "When I have sex with my husband these days, I fantasize I am with someone like Keith Urban or a petite, hot young woman."

Lesbian journalist Kay Longcope, who started the Texas Triangle newspaper when she moved to Austin in 1992, has died of pancreatic cancer.

Tortilla artist Joe Bravo is a sensation in Mexico, breaking gallery attendance records.

Australia's first gay cruise hit by drug bust: "Police and sniffer dogs inspected all passengers before boarding and five people were detected with drugs on them. A 38 year-old Surry Hills man was found with 20 tablets and charged with supply, while three others – a 26 year-old from Wantirna in Victoria, 35 year-old from Glenmore, Victoria and a 37 year-old from Darlinghurst – were charged with possession of GHB, speed and LSD. A fifth man, 55 years-old, was cautioned for possessing a gram of cannabis."

Video highlights from the Sampson hearing on the firing of U.S. attorneys.

Madonna plans retrospective of her 25 years in show biz: "The singer also mentioned that she would love to throw a party for all of her friends that would, 'celebrate all the designers', such as Jean Paul Gaultier and Christian Lacroix, who have created famous and groundbreaking designs for Madonna over the years."

Conservative groups in Minnesota fighting gay hospital visitation rights: "What we object to is the creation of these domestic partner statuses, which is really marriage by another name and that's what we see they are attempting to do."

News: Sundance, Fire Island, Gavin Newsom, Andre Boisclair

Openly gay Parti Quebecois leader Andre Boisclair "fighting for his political life" as he is reprimanded by members of his own caucus. Begins new push for referendum on sovereignty.

Jennifer Hudson on being an American Idol contestant: "You've been abused, misled and brainwashed to believe whatever they want you to think. You become a character – I became the girl in the turkey wrapping."

AIDS Project Los Angeles and New York's Gay Men's Health Crisis launch Tweakends, a site intended to provide information and generate discussion about the dangers associated with the use of crystal meth.

Blogger receives threat from Philadelphia meat man over TV appearance: "Your (sic) a fag, and that fine, but keep it to yourself. Trust me, if I ever walk by you on the street with my kids and I see you kissing or holding hands with some dude, I'll brake (sic) every bone in your gay little body. Keep your shit behind closed doors, so children can't see you."

SF Mayor Gavin Newsom caught in affair with wife of friend and campaign manager Alex Tourk: "The details of the months-long 2005 affair, widely rumored at City Hall for sometime, have not been confirmed by Newsom's team in much detail. And neither the campaign manager nor his wife returned several phone calls from the Mercury News...But friends and City Hall insiders say Newsom, at the time in the middle of his divorce from Kimberly Guilfoyle, and Ruby Rippey-Tourk, had the affair while she worked as his appointments secretary -- a job last year." Apologizes: "I want to make it clear that everything you've heard and read is true, and I am deeply sorry about that."

Fire Island's Pavilion rises again.

Wisconsin gay marriage supporters spent a record amount of over $4 million in their battle to fight the proposed anti-gay amendment, but still lost.

The Bay Area Reporter takes a look at what was gay at Sundance, reporting on films Save Me, For the Bible Tells Me So, Life Support, Tuli, An American Crime, Smiley Face, Trade, Year of the Dog, A Very British Gangster, and Protagonist.

The Italian Prime Minster Prodi and the Vatican are headed for a showdown over gay marriage: "The last time church-state relations were this strained was more than 30 years ago, when the Vatican, a city-state in the center of Rome, lost back-to-back battles against divorce and abortion, both of which voters approved in popular referendums."