News: Britney Spears, Turkey, Tyra, NYPD, Jock Itch, Ricky Martin

Religious right mounting opposition to NY marriage equality: "The Rev. Duane Motley of New Yorkers for Constitutional Freedoms says the Democratic governor is circumventing the Legislature and courts and slapping New Yorkers in the face. Motley says granting government benefits to gay couples will come at a cost to the state even as Paterson calls for cuts in spending because of looming deficits. Motley says Paterson shouldn't force the state to recognize gay marriages when they remain illegal in New York."

The New York Times takes on Tyra and her smiling eyes.

Britney Spears to join Grease as Sandy on Broadway?

Turkish court shuts down LGBT organization: "The court ordered the closure of the group for not eliminating words describing sexual identities of its members in its official name, Ergenc said. 'If we take out the words of lesbian, gay, bisexual and transvestites then it is not an association for them,' Ergenc said. The court found the association's name in violation of public morality."

Does David Beckham have jock itch?

Dina Matos McGreevey takes stand, talks about all the money she needs: "Matos McGreevey said she paid for her own car, insurance and clothes out of her salary as a hospital executive, estimated at $55,000 a year. She said being on the arm of a politician sometimes required three changes of clothes a day. Matos McGreevey's accountant, Kalman Barson, placed the value of their so-called gubernatorial lifestyle at $51,000 a month but acknowledged under cross-examination that he relied mostly on guesswork to derive the estimate. McGreevey's accountant puts the value of maintaining that lifestyle at a far more modest $16,000 a month."

NYPD captain accused of flashing man in the subway.

This dude supposedly has video of (real live!) 4-foot blinking alien that he'll show on Friday in Denver: "As impressive as it is, it's still one tiny portion in the context of a vast amount of peripheral evidence. It's really the final visual confirmation of what you already know to be true having seen all the other evidence...It shows an extraterrestrial's head popping up outside of a window at night, looking in the window, that's visible through an infrared camera." And, you know, it's definitely real because "an instructor at the Colorado Film School in Denver scrutinized the video 'very carefully' and determined it was authentic." Mmm hmm.

She bangs: Hillary Clinton gets endorsement from Ricky Martin.

Clive Owen gets shirtless on balcony, world watches.

Stephen Colbert grillls Family Research Council Pres Tony Perkins over same-sex marriage: "Many are shocked and outraged. I get the outrage, but shocked? That California is pro-gay? I assume these are the same people who were shocked when Elton John finally came out, even though he'd been wearing fuchsia sun goggles with windshield wipers for years."

Supreme Court to hear case on Christian doctor who refused to perform artificial insemination on a lesbian.

Al Gore's The Inconvenient Truth to become an opera: "La Scala officials say the Italian composer Giorgio Battistelli has been commissioned to produce an opera on the international multiformat hit for the 2011 season at the Milan opera house. The composer is currently artistic director of the Arena in Verona." Who's going to play the CO2?

Glaceau, makers of Vitamin Water, to remove Red Bull-bashing slogan "Wings are for fairies" from its ad vehicles: "The slogan was a direct reference to a winged cartoon character in a competitive campaign, We apologize if our attempt at humor offended anyone in any way and we plan to remove this slogan from all vehicles as soon as possible."

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Ricky Martin Buys His Own Island

Ricky Martin has reportedly bought his own island off the coast of Rio de Janeiro:

"According to Mexican newspaper El Universal, Martin, who has had his heart set on buying the land for several months, paid nearly $8 million dollars for the private island."

Martin was in Washington DC yesterday speaking at 'Call and Live: A Campaign Against Human Trafficking in Washington, D.C.' to launch a hotline that would aid in anti-trafficking and victim protection. According to TRN, "'Call and Live' is a hotline that is used to report human trafficking violations, and has already received over 55,000 phone calls to report wrongdoings. The IDB initiative against human trafficking is meant to be used by Latin nations in order to help their efforts to 'prevent, protect, and prosecute.'"

TMZ caught up with Martin on his way to the event, noting that the Puerto Rican singer is looking fine. Martin attributed his svelte figure to Capoeira.

Watch it, AFTER THE JUMP...

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News: Johnny Depp, Eureka Springs, Clark Gable, Bounty Killer

BOOK: Clark Gable was gay for pay. "David Bret’s angle on Clark Gable is this: Gable was 'gay for pay' and 'rough trade,' and he enjoyed having sex 'for bucks.' In addition, he 'would sometimes scrub his penis until it bled' and used a device to prolong erections. If these tidbits from the book’s first few pages aren’t too much information for you, you’re in luck. This breathtakingly trashy biography does not skimp on sordid anecdotes."

Johnny Depp the new, uh, face of Trojan condoms?

Gawker goes to the NYC Black Party.

T.R. Knight steps out with boyfriend Mark Cornelsen: We all have AIDS.

Survey shows increased support for gay marriage in Ireland: "Eighty-four per cent of respondents to an opinion poll conducted this month by Lansdowne Market Research said they supported civil marriage or civil partnerships for gay and lesbian couples. This is the same figure as a similar survey carried out in November 2006. However, 58% said gay and lesbian couples should be allowed to marry in registry offices, compared to 51% in the previous survey."

Did Heath Ledger father a love child?

Could Al Gore be brought in for clean-up duty at the convention? "Let’s say the elders of the Democratic Party decide, when the primaries end, that neither Obama nor Clinton is viable. Let’s also assume — and this may be a real stretch — that such elders are strong and smart enough to act. All they’d have to do would be to convince a significant fraction of their superdelegate friends, maybe fewer than 100, to announce that they were taking a pass on the first ballot at the Denver convention, which would deny the 2,025 votes necessary to Obama or Clinton. What if they then approached Gore and asked him to be the nominee, for the good of the party — and suggested that he take Obama as his running mate? Of course, Obama would have to be a party to the deal and bring his 1,900 or so delegates along."

Madonna on the paparazzi: "The paparazzi are out of control. I haven't been to Los Angeles in quite a while, and I don’t watch television here or in England, and I was told there's now a television show where the paparazzi are the stars of the show—is that true? That they film each other doing paparazzi jobs? Which gives them more fuel. I usually found that type kept their distance—they definitely do in England, because it's illegal to photograph children. But that's not how it is here. They get this close, and don't care how much they scare your children. Being famous has changed a lot, because now there's so many outlets, between magazines, TV shows, and the Internet, for people to stalk and follow you. We created the monster."

Gay couple faces harsh realities in move from New Jersey to Idaho.

Is Regent Entertainment circling gay publications Out and The Advocate?

HIV-positive Canadian Martin Rooney takes on U.S. travel ban: "I said I was on disability. He said what's my disability. I said I have HIV. He hauled me into a backroom. ... He put on a set of rubber gloves to hold each of my fingers. Nobody else wore rubber gloves. Then he fingerprinted me, photographed me, ran me through the FBI's most-wanted list and told me to go back to Canada and not return until I came back with a waiver. I felt like I was being treated like a terrorist."

Arkansas gays converge on Eureka Springs for 'Diversity Weekend': "Homosexual and transsexual residents say that living in Northwest Arkansas has its benefits, such as the small-town atmosphere, natural beauty, and amenities such as shopping and restaurants. But many lament the limited social venues and a lack of connectivity within their own community. 'There is a fairly large population of people that are gay, lesbian or bisexual, but there is no community,' said Fayetteville resident J. Judd Harbin."

Ricky Martin battles human trafficking in Cambodia

Human rights groups halt concerts by 'murder music' singer Bounty Killer: "In Germany, Bounty Killer's performance in Essen was cancelled and other German concert dates are now in doubt as gay human rights groups are coordinating a Europe-wide campaign to halt his 'Deadly Alliance' tour of the Netherlands, France, Belgium, Italy and Switzerland."

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Ricky Martin Gives Naked Thrill in Hotel Sauna

Don't get too excited. Ricky Martin has been visiting Calcutta, India on a private humanitarian trip to the Sabera Foundation, which helps impoverished orphans and women who have been widowed or abandoned. He also paid a visit to Mother House and visited Mother Teresa's tomb. He also extended another kind of humanitarian effort to one local who met him naked in the hotel sauna:

"This huge Ricky Martin fan actually had the good fortune of sharing a sauna bath with the singer at the Grand Oberoi hotel in Kolkata. Dutt shared his experience, 'I was in the health club on Tuesday evening, when I saw this guy who looked so much like Ricky proceeding towards the sauna. I was not sure if it was him because he had a moustache and a beard. When I asked him if he was Ricky Martin, he smiled and said, ‘you have the wrong person’. He was nude. I noticed that he had a huge tattoo on his left arm and another one in the lower pelvic region. He had henna on his feet and a beaded anklet on his right ankle. He was extremely congenial. After about 30 minutes in the sauna, he wrapped himself in a towel and went out of the room...Soon he was back asking me to help him locate the keys of his locker room, which he had misplaced. Finally, he found them and said with a sheepish smile, 'my mum always complains about my absentmindedness'. After he dressed and left, I was sure that it was Ricky and that he wanted to hide his identity. So I ran to him and asked for an autograph. He obliged and was extremely humble and friendly."

Ricky caught in the buff! [daily news & analysis]

Previously
Ricky Martin Shows Puerto Rico What He's Made Of [tr]
Ricky Martin's Out and Proud Dirty Doppleganger [tr]
Ricky Martin Shakes His Bon Bon at LAX [tr]
Ricky Martin Outed by Hollywood Skincare Guru Ole Henriksen? [tr]

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Ricky Martin Shows Puerto Rico What He's Made Of

Ricky Martin has been making the rounds in Puerto Rico where he performed late last week at Las Fiestas de la Calle San Sebastian in San Juan. No report on who he's signaling in the audience with this move. He was later spotted sans companion on the front of a luxury yacht.

Las Fiestas de la Calle San Sebastian performance AFTER THE JUMP...

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Ricky Martin's Out and Proud Dirty Doppleganger

You know, everybody really can put away their Ricky Martin fantasies and stop wondering whether or not what Ole Henriksen said about the singer is true, because the singer has an adult film doppelgänger who can satisfy your needs better even than, say, porn star Mary Carey (look her up) can take care of the heterosexual men who want to bed Mariah.

I find it extremely amusing that there's a Martin porn-a-like who can really shake his bon bon.

More shots after the jump...

This guy knows it, as he's even given himself the name Ricky M. and he's definitely "Livin' La Vida Loca". If you'd like to fulfill your hot Latino heartthrob fantasies or, I suppose, your farmboy ones (what's he dreaming about on his John Deere tractor - cornholing?) you can find the full monty photos over at Queerclick. (site NSFW, but don't worry, there's an interstitial page coming up first).

And just for clarification, by "out and proud" I meant it in the Biblical sense. I have no idea if Ricky's twin is on the team or strictly 'gay for pay'.

Recently
Ricky Martin Shakes His Bon Bon at LAX [tr]
Ricky Martin Outed by Hollywood Skincare Guru Ole Henriksen? [tr]
Ricky Martin Wants Some Little Rickys, But with Whom? [tr]

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Ricky Martin Shakes His Bon Bon at LAX

While we're on the topic, in other prurient airport news, singer Ricky Martin showed off his coin slot at LAX over the weekend as well as a brand new buzzcut. Photos via Just Jared, where you'll find some more.

Martin has so far not responded to statement's that beauty expert Ole Henriksen made last week to the Swedish press last week, essentially outing the singer.

Ricky Martin Shakes His Bare Bon-Bon [just jared]

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Ricky Martin Outed by Hollywood Skincare Guru Ole Henriksen?

Hollywood skincare guru Ole Henriksen's comments about Ricky Martin have been receiving international attention.

In an interview with E's Ted Casablanca, Henriksen perhaps broke the client confidentiality rule when asked who he'd take on a romantic getaway (aside from his partner).

Said Henriksen: "I’d go for Stig Tøfting [former Danish soccer player], but since he’s straight, I’d say my client Ricky Martin."

Additional remarks were published by a Swedish media outlet, which quoted Henriksen as saying (loose translation): "[Ricky Martin] is a little more open about it these days than he used to be...I don’t know if he has a boyfriend."

Ricky Martin spoke out on the issue of closeted celebrities following Mexican pop star Christian Chavez' disclosure that he was gay earlier of this year.

At that time, Martin said: "Life is too short to live closed up, guarding what you say. [Christian] has to be free in many aspects. I wish him much strength."

You may have missed...
Ricky Martin Wants Some Little Rickys, But with Whom? [tr]
Mario Testino Moving in Next to Ricky Martin in NYC [tr]
Ricky Martin's Puerto Rican Parade: It's Good to be King [tr]
Christian Chavez on Coming Out: "I Felt Free..." [tr]

(source)

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News: Venezuela, Andy Roddick, Melting Glaciers, Lynne Cheney

STUDY: America's youth rejecting Christianity because of hypocrisy and homophobia. "A new book based on research by the California-based research firm The Barna Group found that church attitudes about people in general and gays in particular are driving a negative image of the Christian faith among people ages 16-29. 'The Christian community's ability to take the high road and help to deal with some of the challenges that this (anti-gay) perception represents may be the ... defining response of the Christian church in the next decade,' said David Kinnaman, Barna Group president and author of the book, UnChristian: What a New Generation Really Thinks About Christianity. 'The anti-homosexual perception has now become sort of the Geiger counter of Christians' ability to love and work with people.'"

Assessing the disaster that is Britney's album cover art.

Venezuela looks ready to outlaw discrimination based on sexual orientation.

Three people in Cheney's office reportedly tried to silence MSNBC's Chris Matthews: "I thought on the 10th anniversary it would be good to celebrate the First Amendment, which gives us all our living. We reviewed in brief the remarkable experience of covering the Clinton [scandal] and the defense of the war with Iraq. And the difference in these two cases was that although I was extremely tough on Clinton, there was never any attempt to silence me — whereas there was a concerted effort by [Vice President Cheney’s office] to silence me. It came in the form of three different people calling trying to quiet me."

British university student expelled for leaving homophobic comments in a group on Facebook.

STUDY: 16,000 couples wed in first year of UK civil partnerships. "London was the area with the highest number of ceremonies, about 4,000, followed by the South-East, which accounted for about 2,700. Today's report also reveals that 10 per cent of the men and almost a quarter of the women involved in a gay wedding were previously married-The average age for males registering a same-sex partnership was 47 and for females nearly 44. The average age gap between partners was eight years for men and six years for women."

Elton John bangs balls with Andy Roddick at benefit tournament.

Ricky Martin receives key to the city of Miami.

Fragrance industry sniffing out Madonna.

The big melt: Glaciers disappearing from Montana's Glacier National Park "eight years ahead of schedule."

Tennessee attorney general Bob Cooper releases opinon to judge saying that the state's constitution presents no barrier to same-sex couples who want to adopt: "In it, Cooper wrote that, under the state constitution, same-sex couples should be eligible to adopt children as long as the court finds the placement to be in the child's best interest. Cooper found the constitution doesn't mention adoption, meaning the process is governed solely by statutes. Tennessee law doesn't require people petitioning for adoption to be married."

Lynne Cheney booed on The Daily Show, says terrorist attacks worldwide don't affect American interests.

This is a particularly hypnotizing optical illusion.

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News: Doris Lessing, Young Frankenstein, Madonna, Golden Compass

POLL: More than half of straight Americans want gays treated equally.

Major sex exhibit opens in London: "The first item on display is a 50 centimetre (20 inch) plaster fig leaf which was used to hide the private parts of Michelangelo's "David" from Queen Victoria in the 19th century."

Florida's Okeechobee County School Board bans "sex-based clubs" to halt formation of gay-straight alliance: "In a unanimous vote Tuesday, school board members adopted the policy that bans any club that is 'sex-based or based upon any sexual grouping, orientation or activity of any kind.' District officials have said the new policy, which takes effect immediately, aims to ban clubs that challenge the district's abstinence-only education."

National Gay & Lesbian Task Force's Matt Foreman posts new op-ed on ENDA.

Madonna cuts $100 million+ deal with Live Nation. NYT: "The deal, which was first reported yesterday on The Wall Street Journal’s Web site, is the latest example of how tough times for record labels and concert promoters have set off a free-for-all over the rights to the various revenue streams created when a musician becomes a star. Instead of sharing in only one piece of the income — say, CD sales — companies are angling to share in all of an artist’s business lines, like publishing, merchandise sales and endorsement fees."

Young Frankenstein's Broadway transition experiences pre-opening controversy: "The latest members of the Down-on-Mel Club are some members of the Dramatists Guild - furious at him for not paying his dues - and a small but vocal group of gay people who work backstage and bristle at what they believe are some insensitive jokes in the show."

Bloggers in the backseat: David and Trent test drive Manhattan's newest cinematic experience.

REPORT: U.S. funding anti-gay groups in Africa.

Ricky Martin still fabulous.

Into the great wide open: three visitors have had to be rescued after falling into Doris Salcedo's gigantic crack at the Tate Modern. More on the vast crack that is "Shibboleth".

Doris Lessing wins 2007 Nobel Prize in Literature.

Final trailer for The Golden Compass arrives.

Michelle Rodriguez sentenced to six months in prison.

Jeffrey Montgomery, director of Michigan's Triangle foundation, steps down after 16 years: "Spurred to bring awareness to anti-gay violence, he and two friends founded the advocacy group the Triangle Foundation in 1991, and Montgomery was suddenly a point person for the area's gay community. 'We were making enough noise to get noticed,' said Montgomery, who remembers living off his savings when the organization got started. Today, the Triangle Foundation is one of the state's leading gay rights and advocacy organizations with a $1 million budget and programming that ranges from victim services to camps for gay, lesbian and transgender youth."

Iranian President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad's aide says the translator at Columbia misquoted his remarks about gays: "'What Ahmadinejad said was not a political answer. He said that, compared to American society, we don’t have many homosexuals,' presidential media adviser Mohammad Kalhor said."

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News: Virgin America, Rosie O'Donnell, Google NASA, Ricky Martin

Anti-gay Fort Lauderdale Mayor Jim Naugle calls in to Michelangelo Signorile, hangs up after 10 minutes.

Virgin America announces in-flight air-to-ground broadband: "But even more interesting...VA will also be offering what amounts to a fleet-wide, airborne social network. Guests on one plane will be able to interact with other guests on that plane -- and with flyers on other planes within the VA fleet -- using Red. As I understand it, they've got some pretty ambitious plans in the works for in-flight interactivity. This could get really interesting."

Rosie O'Donnell admits to breaking own bones with a hammer as a child: "My hands and fingers usually. No one knew. My secret. Proof, that I had some value, enough to be fixed."

British politician accused of winning local election by slinging homophobic comments, court hears: "The court heard Mr Smith was devastated by the way he had lost his seat to Ms Grell by 28 votes. He later moved to northern England. In the final weeks of canvassing, people slammed doors in his face and, after his defeat, he was abused, threatened and spat at, the court heard. Leyton resident Naomi Robinson told the court she was shocked to hear Ms Grell call Mr Smith a paedophile during the election campaign. She said: 'Miss Grell told me to ask him [Mr Smith] about his 14-year-old boyfriend as she was driving away from the front of the house. I was quite shocked actually. I was not sure whether to believe it was true or not.'" UPDATE: Accused claims political conspiracy against her.

Scientists find "slight hint" of cancer risk for 10-year cell phone users.

Ricky Martin closes on swank Manhattan condo at a $3.5 million discount: "Martin's 2,637-square-foot pad with 11-foot ceilings includes a great room, a gourmet eat-in kitchen, a dining room and a study off the master suite. The residence features oak floors and a master bath with a 'wet room.'"

Becks bares it for 2008.

UK students behind "racist/homophobic/sexist" Facebook group: "The creator of the group defends it in a disclaimer, accompanying the comments. He says: 'This group is tolerant of all racial groups, genders, people of all different sexual persuasions. It welcomes anyone and everyone. Join us. It’s just a bit of a laugh.' But the group – as demonstrated by its name – does go on to write discriminatory things about all different types of people."

Berets and briefs rock the 2xist underwear show at NYC fashion week.

You've seen the video, now meet the Missionaries. And watch the MSNBC report.

Led Zeppelin to reunite for one-off comeback concert in London.

Google founders get private jet parking space from NASA.

Ann Arbor, Michigan man pleads guilty to a misdemeanor assault and battery charge for shouting homophobic slurs and hurling a dresser drawer at a pair of pedestrians.

Conservatives protest gay textbook bill in Sacramento: "'The Campaign for Children and Families' claimed students would be forced to read about gay history and exposed to 'bisexual propaganda.' The group called for a veto. 'This is not teaching them the birds and the bees,' said Randy Thomasson of the Campaign for Children and Families. 'This is saying a boy can wear a girl's dress. This is saying you might want to engage in bisexuality or transsexuality. This would revolutionize sex education.'..The bill's supporters said they believe the bill would build tolerance and non-discrimination in public schools."

180?: CNN shortens Anderson Cooper's "ambitious programming block" to one hour. UPDATE: Variety report debunked...

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News: Hillary Clinton, Estonia Pride, Gael Garcia Bernal, Mike Jones

Jim David on The Gay Squirm Factor: "It's enough to make you want to move to Scandinavia, where nobody cares about the gays. If it just wasn't so freaking cold."

Gael Garcia Bernal and Diego Luna host human rights benefit in Mexico City: "The $300-a-plate meal in the capital will benefit Mexico's Commission for the Defense and Promotion of Human Rights as well as Witness, an organization founded by singer Peter Gabriel that promotes the use of video and film to document human rights abuses."

Former Andy Warhol sidekick Bob Colacello to W magazine: "I'm presumably gay. I believe in going out, not coming out. It takes more courage to be openly Republican than to be openly gay in New York today. I'm a bit of a contrarian."

Putting it all online? Recent developments in "cloud storage" solutions from Google, Microsoft, and Apple.

Tropical Depression 4 forms in Atlantic. Will become "Dean" if named...

Ricky Martin shows off his skills.

Gay Pride march in Estonia takes place peacefully: "An estimated 300 people gathered in the historic part of the city to celebrate their sexuality, protected by private security officers and an increased police presence. Despite fears of a repeat of last year's violence, when Estonian skinheads injured several marchers by hurling missiles, the event passed off without any significant incident. About halfway down the route, anti-gay demonstrators formed an alternative procession. About a dozen mostly Russian-speaking men, women and children chanted 'no pride' at the marchers."

Ted Haggard escort Mike Jones in new play about soldiers who "go AWOL after being exposed to friendly-fire nerve gas in an all-base orgy."

British military puts gag order on soldiers' blogs: "Members of the Armed Forces and MOD Civil Servants must seek prior permission from [MoD media authorities] if they wish to communicate about defence via books, articles or academic papers; self-publish via a blog, podcast or other shared text, audio or video; take part in external questionnaires, polls, surveys or research projects, speak at conferences, private engagements or other events where the public or media may be present; or contribute to any online community or share information such as a bulletin board, wiki, online social network, or multi-player game..."

Britney Spears' hot tub hook-up talks to Access Hollywood.

Inside the Hillary Clinton fundraiser at The Abbey in West Hollywood: "...we hear people starting cheering loudly in the VIP room and camera flashes seep through the curtain separating us common folk. She's coming! The crowd begins to chant "Hillary! Hillary!" and it really starts to feel like a rock concert. Then at about 9:00 we see it, her bright red jacket slips through the maroon curtain and the crowd is in a frenzy! 'We Love You Hillary!' and 'You're Fabulous!' seem to be the shouts of choice."

Artist constructs Stephen Colbert portrait out of 768 mini Rubik's Cubes.

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Ricky Martin Wants Some Little Rickys, But with Whom?

The AP reports that Ricky Martin says he wants to adopt kids, "one from each continent" perhaps.

Martin: "It's something we want to begin to create this year, a family of many colors. I want to do it right. I don't want any problems or misunderstandings. ... Some think as celebrities we can manipulate the system to have a quicker adoption."

It's unclear who we refers to, but perhaps he's just using the royal "we". We don't know.

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Mario Testino Moving in Next to Ricky Martin in NYC

Photographer Mario Testino has snatched up a 2,600 sq. ft. residence at Ian Schrager's Manhattan residence development 40 Bond Street, says the Wall Street Journal:

"Mr. Testino, who's based in London and is well-known for portraits of celebrities such as Princess Diana and her sons, will have Ricky Martin as a neighbor; the Puerto Rican pop singer has signed a contract to buy a similar, $6.3 million apartment in the loft-style building. Contracts are set to start closing in mid-July. Both the Testino and Martin apartments will have three bedrooms, 3½ baths, 10-foot tilt-and-turn windows and 11-foot ceilings. Pritzker Prize-winning architectural firm Herzog & de Meuron designed the 40 Bond project, a 28-unit apartment and town-home development wrapped in greenish cast-glass designed to evoke cast-iron buildings of New York's SoHo. Amenities include 24-hour hotel-like concierge services."

Sweet lawn.

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Ricky Martin's Puerto Rican Parade: It's Good to be King

Ricky Martin made a ride down New York's Fifth Avenue on Sunday as King of the annual Puerto Rican Day Parade. The NYT reports, "There were the requisite celebrities, including Geraldo Rivera; Jennifer Lopez and her husband, Marc Anthony; and Ricky Martin, so idolized that the organizers anointed him not the grand marshal of the parade, but the 'king.'"

He was joined by tens of thousands of his compatriots.

Said Martin prior to the event: "The opportunity to share with many Puerto Ricans, remembering our island, and waving a sea of Puerto Rican flags will be an incredible experience. There are Puerto Ricans in politics, in the Army, in art and business that have made a great contribution to the United States. We are a generous people, and we are strong in the face of adversity. We are a glad, enthusiastic town with a great sense of unity."

And several well-defined sets of abs as well.

Photos via A Socialite's Life and Just Jared, where you can find plenty more.

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News: Iceberg Skeleton, Marc Jacobs, Alabama Fistfight, Paris Hilton

Man arrested for 2005 gay rape in Santa Fe, New Mexico: "The victim told police he was drinking at the Swig nightclub in May 2005 and next remembers waking up in a car in a wooded area. He went to police and was then treated for injuries at a hospital where physical evidence including a DNA sample was collected. Nevada law forced Gonzales to give a DNA sample after he was arrested for attempted robbery in October which put him in the national database."

Melting iceberg off Newfoundland reveals mystery skeleton.

Not so fast: Paris Hilton called back before judge.

Analyst predicts Apple will sell $45 million iPhones by 2009: "While this may seem like a bold prediction, we believe a number in this area is not as far of a reach as some may think."

STUDY: More women experimenting with bisexuality. "The survey, released Thursday by the CDC’s National Center for Health Statistics, found that 11.5 percent of women, ages 18 to 44, said they’ve had at least one sexual experience with another women in their lifetimes, compared with about 4 percent of women, ages 18 to 59, who said the same in a comparable survey a decade earlier."

Kentucky's creationist museum in sex scandal: "The man who plays Adam in a video aired at a Bible-based creationist museum has led a different life outside the Garden of Eden, flaunting his sexual exploits online and modeling for a clothing line that promotes free love. After learning about his activities Thursday, the Creation Museum in Kentucky pulled the 40-second video in which he appears."

Man in wheelchair gets hooked to grill of semi-truck, gets ride of his life.

Ricky Martin set for ride down Fifth Avenue in NYC as king of the Puerto Rican Day parade. Martin: "The opportunity to share with many Puerto Ricans, remembering our island, and waving a sea of Puerto Rican flags will be an incredible experience. There are Puerto Ricans in politics, in the Army, in art and business that have made a great contribution to the United States," he said. "We are a generous people, and we are strong in the face of adversity. We are a glad, enthusiastic town with a great sense of unity."

Partisan fistfight in Alabama Senate after Democrat calls Republican a "son of a bitch".

Marc Jacobs and Jason Preston: off again.

New documentary ShowBusiness: The Road to Broadway follows Avenue Q, Wicked, Caroline, or Change, and Taboo from rehearsals through opening night: "We see Kushner and composer Jeanine Tesori hammer out lyrics and music for 'Caroline,' while 'Avenue Q' creators Jeff Marx and Bobby Lopez -- young, enthusiastic, seemingly doomed -- haul their puppet musical from a 1999 workshop video to the Great White Way. 'Taboo,' a costume extravaganza about the life of nightclub creature Leigh Bowery , attracts tabloid gawking for Boy George's outre make up and O'Donnell's PR pugilism (she's the real star of the show, and that's a problem)."

Jackie Chan gay mobster comedy to get Hollywood makeover. Director Tennenbaum: " "I love [the] movie for so many reasons, including the fact that it is a fresh new idea [flamboyant mobster running a tough heterosexual gang], and has universal themes of humanity, tolerance, and a great sense of humor."

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Christian Chavez on Coming Out: "I Felt Free..."

Mexican pop star Christian Chavez, who came out of the closet in late February after an internet site published photos shoing Chavez marrying his partner in Canada in 2005, recently told a Mexican TV network that his life has changed for the better:

"Chavez, a member of the wildly popular Mexican band RBD, told the Televisa network that the public revelation allowed him to 'begin a healing process in which I left things behind and began many wonderful things.' Chavez said that fan support helped him overcome nervousness about an appearance in McAllen, Texas, shortly after his announcement. 'I was afraid to go on stage, but people were really, really nice,' he said. 'I felt free and could sing like I've never sung before.' He said the support was a reflection of a more open Mexican society, but he added that he still wants to fight for gays to be respected — not just tolerated."

The singer's disclosure even prompted Ricky Martin to speak up on the gay issue. He said of Chavez: "Life is too short to live closed up, guarding what you say. [Christian] has to be free in many aspects. I wish him much strength."

you may have missed...
Mexican Pop Star Christian Chavez : I'm Gay [tr]

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News: Joel Madden, Bush Impeachment, Brad Pitt, PlanetOut

Stock of beleaguered gay media powerhouse PlanetOut in free fall.

Which one of these men is named Tim and which is named Bob? Researchers at Miami University have "shown quantitatively that certain names are associated with certain facial features." So when somebody says, "You look like a (insert name here)" they may be right.

T.R. Knight to appear at Billy Eichner's Creation Nation in NYC tomorrow night. I had the opportunity to see this "live talk show" in January when Joan Rivers was the guest. It's a lot of fun and definitely recommended. Official Site.

Celebrity-stacked (Cyndi Lauper, Hal Sparks, Whoopi Goldberg, Lance Bass, Alan Cumming) AIDS Walk NY takes in $6,857,527.

Arjan chats with Good Charlotte singer Joel Madden who reveals his man-crush to be...Johnny Depp: "I support equality for all people. To me people are people and we really should live and let live. What others want to do with their life doesn’t affect me so people should have the freedom to do that. I really think we’re making progress. There would be less problems and hate in the world, if people stop thinking about others and just worry about themselves."

David Beckham meets The Queen.

New York's new legally married same-sex couples: Secure or not?

Ted Haggard in Alexandra Pelosi doc Friends of God: "You know all the surveys say that evangelicals have the best sex life of any other group." Pelosi: "Because Pastor Ted was my tour guide, he was so good to me. He took me under his wing. Most people think of evangelicals as being these holy roller, Jesus freaks, and Ted wasn't like that," she said. "It was interesting for me to say, these are good people. He was a reasonable, normal everyday man. So, it was hard to stomach what had happened."

Pitt's red carpet Gatsby moment. More here...

Ricky Martin plops down $8 million for a Miami recording studio.

SALON: Why Bush hasn't been impeached. "The truth is that Bush's high crimes and misdemeanors, far from being too small, are too great. What has saved Bush is the fact that his lies were, literally, a matter of life and death. They were about war. And they were sanctified by 9/11. Bush tapped into a deep American strain of fearful, reflexive bellicosity, which Congress and the media went along with for a long time and which has remained largely unexamined to this day. Congress, the media and most of the American people have yet to turn decisively against Bush because to do so would be to turn against some part of themselves. This doesn't mean we support Bush, simply that at some dim, half-conscious level we're too confused -- not least by our own complicity -- to work up the cold, final anger we'd need to go through impeachment. We haven't done the necessary work to separate ourselves from our abusive spouse. We need therapy -- not to save this disastrous marriage, but to end it."

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News: Thomas Roberts, Kentucky Derby, Gay Art, Steve Jobs

STUDY: Same-sex parents as good, if not better, than their straight counterparts at raising children: "The report says the strongest conclusion that can be drawn from empirical literature is that the vast majority of studies show that children living with two mothers and children living with a mother and father have the same levels and qualities of social competence. A few studies suggest that children with two lesbian mothers may have marginally better social competence than children in traditional nuclear families, even fewer studies show the opposite, and most studies fail to find any differences, says the 74-page study. The paper references about 100 studies on parenting and childrens development."

The NYT discovers a resurgence in "gay art", coaxes art critic and curator to admit, "I adore Butt".

Lodi, California mom expresses horror upon discovering gay penguin children's book And Tango Makes Three: "It's a book about homosexual penguins...You don't start teaching them at three years old about two men together and adopting a baby. And just because you sugar-coat it with penguins on the cover, doesn't make it an appropriate subject matter."

Seattle gay pride saved as groups reach agreement.

Screenwriter Russell T. Davies tops The Independent's list of the 100 most influential gay people in Britain.

Although he received only $1 in salary, Steve Jobs was the highest paid CEO last year based on stock options and other benefits. The Apple Chief Exec made a whopping $646 million.

Brad Pitt requests 'ass double' for new film.

25 years later, The Smiths remain a "potent force" in music: "To put the extent of their achievement into context, you need only remember that they arrived at a time in the early-to-mid Eighties when punk's rupture had long been papered over, when the new synthesised pop of Boy George and Wham! ruled the charts, and, more importantly, when sample-based dance music first began crossing into the mainstream and rock music seemed to be fighting a desperate rearguard action."

CNN's out gay anchor Thomas Roberts has left Headline News to pursue "new journalistic opportunities". He will certainly be missed.

Queen Elizabeth wasn't the only one showing off at the Kentucky Derby.

Ricky Martin said to purchase $7 million three-bedroom condo at Ian Schrager/s 40 Bond luxury condo development in NYC.

Nepal holds a 'Miss Transgender' contest: "Wearing an embroidered and sequinned red sari, 21-one-year-old Ria, also known as Raju Gurung, wore the Miss Transgender crown at a gay pageant Sunday in Pokhara city, a popular tourist destination. Though initially over a dozen people signed up to take part in the contest organised by NGO Sunaulo Bihani, many of them backed out at the last minute due to family pressure and the social stigma surrounding homosexuality in Nepal, a local daily said."

Bush calls Alberto Gonzalez the "Eternal General". (video)

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News: Tobey Maguire, Darth Vader, Cayman Islands, Jamaica

Extremely disturbing images of another brutal anti-gay mob attack in Jamaica. Sick.

Tobey Maguire's mom on her son's friendship with Leonardo DiCaprio: "I figured this subject would come up sooner or later . . . Those two are just free-spirited guys. Most of the friends they hang around with are gay. They're comfortable with that. But I think Leo and Tobey are the crossover between men and women. They have feminine traits they are willing to accept. They aren't ashamed to have any sort of title, even if that means someone calling them gay."

Jason West, who performed public ceremonies for two dozen same-sex marriages in 2004, lost his re-election bid yesterday: "Mr. West was defeated by a village trustee, Terry Dungan, in a 514-to-379 vote, according to unofficial results announced shortly after the polls closed. Mr. West had been charged with 24 misdemeanor counts of violating the state’s domestic relations law when he performed public marriage ceremonies for two dozen gay and lesbian couples in February 2004. The Ulster County district attorney later dropped the charges, saying that a trial would be needless and divisive."

Barbra Streisand to charge $1,000 per ticket in UK show.

Bush warns that Democrats could turn Iraq into terrorist breeding ground.

Philippe Starck lays his hands on a New York luxury condominium: Gramercy by Starck. "As we gazed at Philippe Starck's head emerging from the top of the building on a plasma screen, we wondered if the people who desire to buy into Starck's rich boy minimalism really want to live on a nothing-special stretch of East 23rd Street?"

The incredible, edible....anus?

Lifted by the Force of nature: Darth Vader hot air balloon.

Micron Technology Inc., whom I posted about last week, has added sexual orientation to its nondiscrimination policies: "The move comes after The Advocate revealed last week that the Boise, Idaho, company’s board of directors had ignored an unprecedented 55 percent shareholder vote in favor of adding both sexual orientation and gender identity to its nondiscrimination policies."

The Netherlands' recent court order that its territory Aruba recognize same-sex marriages has rekindled a gay rights debate in the Cayman Islands: "'We either fight the FCO, UK for self-determination on this issue of homosexual marriage or in short order we will face the same situa