Fully-Clothed 'Streaker' Interrupts New Zealand Naked Rugby Match

A fully-clothed "streaker" interrupted a naked rugby match by New Zealand's All Blacks rugby team on St. Kilda Beach on July 12, 2008 in Dunedin, New Zealand. The nude match was meant to draw attention to the Tri-Nations test match against South Africa. It was organized by Bottom Bus (and the name was taken quite literally), a tourism company in the country.

You may remember the All Blacks as the team who enjoys performing the shirtless Haka dance before games.

The NY Daily News published a full gallery of the images. One more AFTER THE JUMP, along with the link to the full gallery. Both are NSFW...

Naked Rugby [new york daily news]

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Sportrait: Paul Bester

Meet Paul "Pretty Boy" Bester, a 19-year-old rugby player from South Africa now living in Georgia. He was discovered by Bruce Weber while playing rugby. Weber shoots him for this spread in August's L'Uomo Vogue.

More shots, AFTER THE JUMP...

(via Models.com)

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Thanks For Being Good Sports

I'm all done filling in for Andy. I hope to be back in the future, and I hope some of you will visit me at Boy Culture from time to time. A big thanks to Andy and Michael for the opportunity.

You guys have been so great to me these past four days, here is a little present—from the June 25, 2008, issue of Italian Vanity Fair, "Fashion Rugby" is a shoot by Giampaolo Vimercati featuring some of his country's sexiest rugby stars modeling (aka running like animals on a rugby field) alongside model Omahyra.

Happy 4th to those of you who celebrate it, and enjoy the rest of the rugby guys AFTER THE JUMP.

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A Gay Old Time in Dublin, Ireland This Week

An advertisement for the Bingham Cup (via flickr user dufspix) which begins tomorrow in Dublin, Ireland.

The BBC reports: "The Bingham Cup is in its fourth year and is being hosted this time by Dublin-based rugby team, the Emerald Warriors. Organisers hope the tournament will promote rugby as an all-inclusive sport which everyone can play, regardless of sexuality. 'People when the hear the word gay and rugby in a sentence they tend to react, there is an immediate 'those two things don't belong together',' said organiser Nick Costello."

The city's 25th gay pride festival also begins tonight and is set to last for 10 days.

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News: Burger King, Alek, Keshishian, Rugby, Cuba, Kevin Spacey

Cuba to offer free gender reassignment surgery under national healthcare plan: "Cuban doctors are currently training with Belgian surgeons, said Mariela Castro, daughter of President Raul Castro and director of CENESEX, Cuba's sex education center, who also said that 28 people are seeking the procedure, last performed in 1988 to massive public protest."

Dublin bookies taking bets on Bingham Cup gay rugby tournament.

Robert Downey, Jr.: Burger King saved my life.

World Health Organization says threat of global heterosexual AIDS pandemic over: "Dr De Cock, an epidemiologist who has spent much of his career leading the battle against the disease, said understanding of the threat posed by the virus had changed. Whereas once it was seen as a risk to populations everywhere, it was now recognised that, outside sub-Saharan Africa, it was confined to high-risk groups including men who have sex with men, injecting drug users, and sex workers and their clients."

Gerard Butler to star in stage sequel to Phantom of the Opera?

New Philadelphia police commissioner Charles H. Ramsey implementing policies to make officers, community, feel safer: "My goal is to create an environment where officers don't feel intimidated in any way. If they want to acknowledge [their sexuality], they should feel comfortable doing it." Also, "[LGBT people] don't have faith that the police will do something (if a hate crime is reported). We want to make sure they feel comfortable telling us about any issue that needs to be addressed...We need to be very sensitive to that."

Olivia Newton-John headlines Gay Pride in Los Angeles.

New Provincetown police chief walks daily Commercial street beat: "We’re going to take an aggressive approach, and hate crimes will not be tolerated on any level...Certainly [I haven’t worked in such a heavily gay community] to the extent that I have here in Provincetown, but I’m not shy about it. I feel we need to provide a safe haven, a safe environment. I know there have been a few incidents over the years that have given the community of Provincetown a black eye. I don’t want to see that continue. ... We’re going to take an aggressive approach, and hate crimes will not be tolerated on any level. But I do try to put a positive spin on things, and a lot of good things have happened as well."

Shots ring out in Montreal's gay village. Four arrested.

250 same-sex couples signed up so far to marry in San Diego County in June: "The most popular location is the County Administration Center in downtown San Diego. There are 186 wedding appointments at the center so far. Clerk Greg Smith is shifting employees around to meet the demand and said he will be able to handle about 300 weddings a day."

Filmmaker Alek Keshishian on board for sequel to 1991's Madonna documentary Truth or Dare: "And the film will act as a reunion for Madonna - she has reportedly signed up most of the original production team for the new venture. Keshishian is set to film the superstar over three weeks as she goes about her day-to-day life in London, according Britain's The London Paper. A source tells the publication, 'It's like an In Bed With Madonna but made for today. She leads an amazing, high-paced life now and Alex thought the time was right to do another documentary of her life and career.' The original documentary followed the star as she embarked on her hit 1990 Blonde Ambition tour, and proved a hit with fans, grossing £29 million (£14.5 million) at the global box office."

Heatherette to design costumes for "Sticky and Sweet" tour?

Dina Matos McGreevey jealous that her daughter is enjoying the good life?

Kevin Spacey refuses to travel light: "He's got bodyguards, several publicists, a makeup artist, a personal hairdresser, someone who's styling him. There are so many people, it's ridiculous."

Binghamton, New York mayor raises gay flag for first time.

Melbourne gay rights activist and author Dennis Altman becomes Member of the Order of Australia (AM) in the Queen's Birthday honours list.

Genre editor Neal Boulton takes on homophobic bully: ""I was at my bar American Trash last night and Neal Boulton was there. One of the usual meatheads got wasted and picked a fight with a guy he thought was a fag. He called him a fag. and some guy who we figured out later was Neil stepped in and gave the guy who called the gay guy a fag a major pounding out on the sidewalk. Boulton got hit pretty hard but slugged back big time. It was nothing till we realized who was fighting who and that Neal is gay and all. Dude had balls."t

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UK Male Athletes Take It Off for Cancer and Cosmo

Yesterday I posted a photo of London Wasps rugby star Danny Cipriani (warning: NSFW). Well, his fellow rugby athletes Tom Rees, Simon Shaw, and James Haskell joined him in the photoshoot that will appear in the June issue of Cosmopolitan UK.

That shot plus two additional ones, AFTER THE JUMP (warning: possibly NSFW)...

As I mentioned yesterday, the athletes will be donating items for an eBay auction benefiting the Everyman campaign for male cancer.

Below, left, Aston Villa footballer Nigel Reo-Coker. Below, right, Joe McFadden, star of the UK's Heartbeat and The Crow Road.

previously
Rugby Star Danny Cipriani Raises Money for Male Cancer [tr]
Austrian National Rugby Team are Fantastic Losers [tr]
Just Cavalli Underwear Campaign Features Italian Rugby Beefcake [tr]
Sportrait: Danny Cipriani [tr]
British Rugby Star Ben Cohen Says Sport Ready for Gay Player [tr]
Rugby Ad: From London to Paris, with Love [tr]

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Rugby Star Danny Cipriani Raises Money for Male Cancer

Back in March I posted about emerging British rugby star Danny Cipriani.

Cipriani, a 20-year-old fly-half for the London Wasps, recently posed strategically with a rugby ball (doing what rugby players seem to like to do best) to help kick off the male cancer Everyman Campaign. The shoot was done in conjunction with Cosmopolitan magazine and those involved will be donating items (like signed balls) to raise money.

Check out Cipriani's photo, AFTER THE JUMP (warning: probably NSFW)...

For more Danny Cipriani, click here.

Related
Austrian National Rugby Team are Fantastic Losers [tr]
Just Cavalli Underwear Campaign Features Italian Rugby Beefcake [tr]
Sportrait: Danny Cipriani [tr]
British Rugby Star Ben Cohen Says Sport Ready for Gay Player [tr]
Rugby Ad: From London to Paris, with Love [tr]

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Austrian National Rugby Team are Fantastic Losers

The Austrian national rugby team suffered a horrible defeat 48-0 by Lithuania over the weekend, but drowned their sorrows in a mass striptease (and a rousing rendition of "Singin' in the Rain") in a public square in Vilnius, which, of course, was filmed by a bystander and posted on the internet.

Reuters reports: "The video, put out by a blogger on social community website Virb and then taken up by the Lithuanian news portal Delfi, showed a group of 20 men singing and stripping off their clothes on a street in central Vilnius, while people in a nearby bar clapped and cheered. 'Yes, these were the men we played against on Saturday ... I guess the defeat could have prompted them to do that,' Lithuanian rugby federation President Aleksandras Makarenka told Reuters. Delfi quoted the Vilnius police chief as saying stripping in public could be considered an act of hooliganism -- but by then the Austrian team had gone home."

Let's hope they lose more often.

Watch it, AFTER THE JUMP (warning: portions NSFW)...

(warning: NSFW) And a bit more here.

Previously
Just Cavalli Underwear Campaign Features Italian Rugby Beefcake [tr]
Sportrait: Danny Cipriani [tr]
British Rugby Star Ben Cohen Says Sport Ready for Gay Player [tr]
Rugby Ad: From London to Paris, with Love [tr]

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Just Cavalli Underwear Campaign Features Italian Rugby Beefcake

Roberto Cavalli's new black and white underwear campaign for Just Cavalli featuring the Italian rugby team Montepaschi Viadana "is styled to resemble old High School and College Year Book team photos from the 1940s and 50s" according to JockoHomo.

I've chopped up the main ad here into bite-sized pieces. Click to enlarge. You can see the complete ad AFTER THE JUMP...

Fashion Windows writes: "Shot by photographer Gianpaolo Sgura in the team’s official locker-room, the black & white, yearbook style rendition of the ad gives it a classic and innocent look with varsity boys’ impishness. The advertising campaign features Aldo Birch, Ross Curlew, Matthew Harvey, Hayden Pedersen and Kaine Robertson (Kaine is also playing in the Italian National Team), all members of the Montepaschi Viadana team. Founded in 1970, the Montepaschi Viadana team has played in the National Excellence Championship Super 10, Italian Cup and the prestigious European Competition 'Heineken Cup'. The ad featuring the Italian rugby players will run starting June 2008 in a selected number of Italian and international magazines."

And here's the whole ad:

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News: Taxes, Ken Livingstone, Titanic, Milo Ventimiglia, Scientology

On tax day, a reminder of how the U.S. inflicts extra financial burden on gay citizens.

The last meal on the Titanic, which went down 96 years ago today. Researchers have a new theory behind the sinking — rivets.

ABC's Jake Tapper calls attention to the "Compassion Forum" appearance of Clinton and Obama at Messiah College, which I posted about last week. One of his readers asks, ""Shouldn't Democratic presidential candidates, both of whom are explicitly on the record as being in favor of gay rights, avoid schools like this as assiduously as previous generations of politicians were urged to avoid Bob Jones University? How can politicians appear at a college that espouses these ideas and then turn around and court the gay community at the same time? How can the two leading Democratic candidates appear on stage at this college and not be questioned by the press about the hypocrisy of appearing there?"

Kentucky GOP Rep. Geoff Davis on Obama: "I’m going to tell you something: That boy’s finger does not need to be on the button. He could not make a decision in that simulation that related to a nuclear threat to this country." Davis apologizes...

The gay Navy lieutenant from Melrose Place, Jason Beghe, escaped the clutches of Scientology and now he's speaking out on video: "It’s very, very dangerous for your spiritual, psychological, mental, emotional health and evolution. I think it stunts your evolution. If Scientology is real, then something’s fucked up."

Lack of support from London Mayor Ken Livingstone leaves 2008 International Gay & Lesbian Football Association World Championship with a funding shortfall: "Peter Tatchell of Outrage! described as 'scandalous' the lack of any funding or support from City Hall. 'Ken Livingstone is organising billions of pounds for corporate mega events like the 2012 Olympics but can’t give a few thousand pounds to help host the gay football world championship.'"

A really mean box of jelly beans, which I'm actually really curious to taste.

Project Runway is getting not one but two spin-offs on Lifetime: "The first of them doesn't have a title yet, but Weinstein said it will look at the Project Runway world through the eyes of the show's models. The second, dubbed Project Pygmalion, is a makeover series that will turn its winner into a high-society socialite."

Somebody got carried away at the tattoo parlor.

Rick and Steve: The Happiest Gay Couple in the World wins big at Italian animation festival: "Cult hit half-hour show about three gay couples in the fictional 'gay ghetto' of West Lahunga Beach took the Pulcinella nod for TV series of the year. The Pulcinella for TV series for all ages went to RAI Fiction’s 'Acqua in bocca' (Water and Bubbles), about two fish in a tank and their interaction with an Italian family, from helmer Guido Manuli."

Milo Ventimiglia dreamt of being a fighter pilot.

GYM bar in NYC to open up its locker room.

Queerty talks to author Scott Heim about his new novel We Disappear: "There were all these different disappearances in the book–including Scott Heim the writer disappearing into Scott the character—I liked this idea of readers not knowing where one starts and the others begin. There are a lot of things in the book that are total fiction. The danger of doing this blurring is when people do read this as a memoir."

Tom Cruise and David Beckham to buy a soccer team together?

A townhouse in New York's West Village transformed, part of New York magazine's excellent new occasional real estate section, Vu.

Fight to allow gay blood donors heats up in Scotland.

Judicial Watch calls on FEC to investigate Elton John's Hillary Clinton benefit concert: "Recent news reports suggest that Hillary Clinton and Hillary Clinton for President have accepted an in-kind contribution from a foreign national, Sir Elton John, in contravention of federal electon laws. On behalf of Judicial Watch and its supporters, I hereby request that the FEC investigate this matter."

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News: Ben Cohen, Ryerson, Bachelor, Illinois, Arctic Icecap

Bad sign for the future of the Arctic ice cap: thickest, oldest, toughest ice melting...

British rugby stud Ben Cohen releases details on a night with his gay fans: "'Moving away from the more traditional rugby testimonial theme, the Ben Cohen Testimonial Committee is holding a ground breaking event at The Dorchester in London,' his publicist Jill Tipping said. 'BENediction is an exclusive evening of fun, feasting and frivolity aimed primarily at including his legions of fans in the gay community in the testimonial celebrations. Guests are promised a 'whole host of treats and surprises making this event a real one off and not to be missed. Ben Cohen fans need to make sure that they reserve their places quickly as they are expected to snapped up fast,' Tipping said. Of course, we are not sure how far Cohen will take the concept of 'one off,' but he has never been shy about marketing his physical assets."

If you missed the first episode of this season's The Bachelor (and I have a feeling many of you did), you can catch up real quick: this mess was what it was all about.

AfterElton looks at Jimmy Kimmel and the gays.

Beckham power shops and rocks the plain white tee.

Central Illinois' only gay newspaper shuts its doors: "The Flame is out. After 111/2 years of publication, Prairie Flame, central Illinois’ only newspaper that concentrated solely on gay issues and events, has called it a day...Volunteers distributed copies of each edition over much of the state, from Springfield to the Quad Cities, Joliet, Champaign and Effingham. Circulation was more than 8,000, and there were more than 200 places where the free newspaper could be found. But production costs kept rising, and ad revenue could not keep up."

Anderson Cooper underwent surgery for skin cancer: "I’ve been off for the last couple of days. I had minor surgery on Monday. I hadn’t planned on mentioning this, but I still have stitches and you’ll no doubt notice them tonight. Don’t want you to think I got into a fist fight with Charlie Rose."

Manchester United's Cristiano Ronaldo under fire for bullfight commercial: "The advertisement, for Fuji Xerox, shows the Portuguese winger taunting the bull with a football in the manner of a matador with a cape."

Ryerson University in Toronto sees gay bashing spike: "Ryerson's queer student group is scared homophobia is spreading across campus after its door was vandalized and grafitti saying 'gays must be exterminated' was left on a bathroom stall for at least three weeks. 'I have no doubt that we were targeted,' said RyePRIDE member Jesse Trautmann about a series of students' union stickers pasted on the group's door and nearby positive space posters on March 10. The office is located on the second floor of the Student Campus Centre. 'The amount of time it would have taken to cover the entire Rye- PRIDE sign — it was intentional.'"

Group pushes for "gay village" in Ottawa, Canada.

Madonna and Guy Ritchie still together, or just playing for the cameras?

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Sportrait: Danny Cipriani

English rugby stud Danny Cipriani is set to make his debut for England against Ireland this weekend, ousting star Jonny Wilkinson from the top spot. Though the news is big in the rugby world, Cipriani's already been busy making news elsewhere, however.

He was recently rejected in a competition on the British version of the reality show My Super Sweet Sixteen for being too skinny. Huh?

Cipriani also still lives with his mother and dated transgender model Larissa Summers. We'll definitely be keeping an eye on this one.

Two more shots AFTER THE JUMP...

(source)

previously
Sportrait: John Cena [tr]
Sportrait: Riley Skinner [tr]
Sportrait: Jo-Wilfried Tsonga [tr]
Sportrait: Michael Phelps [tr]
Sportrait: Brett Favre [tr]
Sportrait: Raúl [tr]

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Rugby Stud Ben Cohen Attempts to Recreate Fatherhood Poster

Rugby stud Ben Cohen spent some time in the studio recently attempting to recreate a famous poster from the 80's featuring model Adam Perry which was apparently the DILF equivalent of the famous Farrah Fawcett poster. Cohen poses here with one of his twin girls. See the Daily Mail for a shot with both of them.

(via queerty)

Previously
British Rugby Star Ben Cohen Says Sport Ready for Gay Player [tr]
Fresh Off Beefcake Blitz, Ben Cohen Prepares Return to Rugby [tr]
British Rugby Stud Ben Cohen Planning a Gay Night in London [tr]

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Irish Cultural Minister Slams Gay Rugby 'Apartheid'

Northern Ireland's first gay rugby team The Ulster Titans have come under fire from Minister for Culture, arts and Leisure Edwin Poots who claims the team is "promoting a form of sporting apartheid," according to the BBC.

Said Poots: "I just cannot fathom why people see the necessity to develop an apartheid in sport. It would be unacceptable to produce an all-black rugby team or an all-white team or an all-Chinese team. To me it's equally unacceptable to produce an all-homosexual rugby team and I find it remarkable that people who talk so much about inclusivity and about having an equal role in society would then go down the route of exclusion."

Apparently Poots didn't read the fine print on the team's website, echoed to the BBC by team founder Declan Lavery: "We are the Ulster Titans Rugby Club, open to all men regardless of age, experience, race or sexual orientation. Northern Ireland's first team identifying with gay men and we are committed to equality, inclusion and the greatest sport in the world."

So, Mr. Poots, you are free to join should you so wish. I'm sure they'd even let you wear drag.

Poots hits out at gay rugby team [bbc]
(team photo source)

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Jawbone: Technology We Can Get Behind

With regard to the Ben Cohen post, check out this commercial for the Jawbone Bluetooth headset. It claims to eliminate outside noise from your phone call. How it does so is the interesting part.

I can't think of a better way to shut up a loud rugby team.

See the commercial, AFTER THE JUMP...

Previously
Partying Princes Drown Sorrows with Defeated Brit Rugby Team [tr]
Rugby League "Wang Dance" Captivates Australian Sports Fans [tr]
Sportrait: Busted French Rugby Players [tr]
Rugby Ad: From London to Paris, with Love [tr]

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British Rugby Star Ben Cohen Says Sport Ready for Gay Player

Rugby player Ben Cohen gave a short interview to Outsports and says he doubts there would be opposition in the sport to a gay player:

"My impression is that it would be fine to be able to ‘come out’ in rugby. Most rugby players are cool about it and think that people should be allowed to live their lives how they want to, but I can’t speak for everyone. The key thing is the individual needs to be able to take the pressure of top-level rugby and the knowledge that his teammates know he is gay. I don’t know for sure, but my feelings are that if he were completely open about it, after the first bit of banter, things would calm down. We all take banter all the time about different things. It’s a bloke thing, isn’t it? Would there be opposition? This is the 21st century. Or would [the question] be where would the most interest come from? The media I would suggest. The players and fans would be more interested in his standard of playing I would suggest....One of my aunties is a lesbian and lives with a female partner. We are all laid back about it because it has always been the same. I grew up in an open-minded environment because my Dad worked in the nightclub industry, so it has never been much of a shock to meet up with a gay guy. I am more interested in the personality of the person than what their sexuality is, and whether we can have a good conversation. I like a good chat."

Cohen also admits to being "gobsmacked" at knocking David Beckham off the top of a list of 'gay icons' in the Sunday Times.

Previously
British Rugby Stud Ben Cohen Planning a Gay Night in London [tr]
Ben Cohen Strips Down for Men's Health [tr]
Ben Cohen Gives Good Face [tr]

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Towleroad Guide to the Tube #225

JOHN KERRY: Endorsing Obama, John Kerry quotes MLK: "The time is always right to do what is right." Move seen as slap to former running mate John Edwards.

ASK HILLARY: Clinton releases video in which she answers questions from young voters.

CONSERVATIVE CATFIGHT: Pat Toomey and Tony Perkins argue over whose candidate is more liberal.

SANDBACH RUGBY CLUB: Male bonding. I featured a link to this a while back, but it's worth revisiting (NSFW).

Check out our previous guides to the Tube here

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Fresh Off Beefcake Blitz, Ben Cohen Prepares Return to Rugby

Fresh off a beefcake media blitz, rugby player Ben Cohen is ready to return to the game: "...standing on a chilly touchline at Richmond's Athletic Ground, is an older if not noticeably wiser athlete who sees no reason why he cannot regain the England jersey he last wore over a year ago."

The Guardian points out that he's got a fanbase that isn't necessarily attracted to him for his athletic abilities: "Cohen does not enjoy the uncritical adoration of everyone within the macho world of English rugby but admirers of his physique are unfazed by the summer fall-out at Northampton which caused him to leave the club he joined as a 16-year-old. Nor, on a recent promotional visit to Prowler, a specialist gay outlet in Soho, did anyone query his decision to reject England's call in the build-up to the World Cup. Or ask whether flogging topless calendars for his testimonial year is not a slight come-down for a 29-year-old World Cup winner who should still have plenty to give his chosen sport."

Cohen remains coolly unfazed by those who might criticize the courting of his gay fans: "Some people are really homophobic but my auntie's a lesbian and it really doesn't bother me. We're in the 21st century. They're happy and that's what it's all about. You're only on this earth once, you only get one shot at it."

Previously
British Rugby Stud Ben Cohen Planning a Gay Night in London [tr]
Ben Cohen Strips Down for Men's Health [tr]
Ben Cohen Gives Good Face

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Rhydian the Rugby Player

I've posted a few videos of the UK's current X-Factor favorite Rhydian Roberts. Today, the Brit tabloid Daily Mail chronicles his transformation from busted-up rugby player to peroxide pop singer.

Below, a vlog Rhydian posted yesterday, along with his most recent performance.

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News: The Joker, Ted Kennedy, Iran, Brendan Fraser, Sheep

Another kind of gay panic? UK woman may have been killed because she discovered boyfriend's gay identity on his mobile phone.

A look at Brazil's new gay magazine, Junior.

Iran President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad offers to be an observer at U.S. presidential election: "The proposal came in a speech to volunteers with the Basij, a pro-regime militia. He said he was prompted by a belief that Americans would vote against the current administration in a truly free poll. However, the terms of Ahmadinejad's offer appeared to betray some confusion about the potential candidates. 'If the White House officials allow us to be present as an observer in their presidential election we will see whether people in their country are going to vote for them again or not,' he said."

British traffic warden spat on by homophobe.

Online bookie writes €100,000 check to sponsor the Bingham Cup gay rugby tournament: "He said the event was highly appropriate for their brand, before adding this was not the type of company that does what people might expect a bookmaker to do. 'This might raise a few eyebrows when it comes to town, but we're not scared of that.' Richie Whyte, the Bingham Cup's tournament director, said he was delighted at the deal. 'Paddy Power has an innovative and risk taking approach to the market.'"

Mitt Romney's anti-gay marriage message hitting Iowa mailboxes.

Heath Ledger as the Joker - revealed...yay or nay?

Missoula, Montana holds rally against anti-gay hate crimes: "Two recent instances of alleged anti-gay violence in Missoula provided the impetus for the rally. Earlier this month, [Jess] Keith was beaten by a group of four women who she said verbally assaulted her with homophobic remarks. That same weekend, a 22-year-old University of Montana student was attacked by four unknown men while crossing the campus footbridge. The victim was shoved to the ground and kicked repeatedly in the chest and back, police said, and his assailants screamed anti-gay epithets during the attack. Sgt. Casey Richardson and Capt. Dick Lewis of the Missoula Police Department were on hand to visit with audience members and show their support at the rally. 'We want everyone to know that we’re available,' Richardson said."

Madonna in deep shit for dyed sheep.

Brendan Fraser's hair makes a comeback.

Ted Kennedy signs multi-million book deal to write memoirs: "Neither Kennedy's office nor the publishing house would reveal the size of the package, but a publishing figure familiar with the deal said Kennedy's payment was one of the largest in history, eclipsing the $8 million given to New York Senator Hillary Clinton. Former President Clinton and former British Prime Minister Tony Blair each got a reported $10 million for their memoirs."

Rainbow flag, hung in honor of visit by openly gay legislator Sen. Scott McCoy, snatched from flagpole at Dixie State University in St. George, Utah. McCoy: "Obviously someone had a problem with the fact gay people were on campus. I find it hard to believe this person just coincidentally took it."

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Rugby Player Gavin Henson: Bullies Should Not Be Tolerated

We haven't checked in with Welsh rugby player Gavin Henson in a while. Henson, who has more attention paid to his various hairstyles than any European athlete aside from Beckham, has been absent from rugby for more than a year due to suspension and injury, but appears to be returning to the spotlight. He's still very well known in Wales (partly due to his girlfriend Charlotte Church, with whom he had a baby), and so his recent endorsement of a new anti-bullying campaign has not gone unnoticed.

Said Henson: "It’s very important that we protect children from bullying; no child should be made to feel singled out and everyone has a right to be themselves, which is why I am supporting the defeat bullying campaign. Nobody at the Ospreys likes bullies. I’m lucky because it’s a great place to be and all the boys in the squad feel the same as I do about bullying – bullies should not be tolerated. Children who are being bullied should talk to someone who they feel comfortable with. If they don’t feel they have anyone to talk to they should definitely call ChildLine, a service provided by NSPCC Cymru/Wales who can offer help and advice, even if they just want a friendly person to talk to."

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British Rugby Stud Ben Cohen Planning a Gay Night in London

Straight English rugby union stud Ben Cohen wants to let his gay fans know how much he appreciates their support. His rep tells Outsports: "Ben is currently in the middle of his testimonial year celebrating the last 10 years of his rugby career. He understands that a high proportion of his fans are gay and to thank them for their constant loyalty through good and bad times he is planning a gay night celebration in London in March. Full details will be announced later this year."

The shot above is from his 2008 calendar.

Embracing His Gay Fans [outsports]

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Ben Cohen Strips Down for Men's Health [tr]
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News: Heidi Fleiss, 50 Cent, Georgetown University, Banksy

Crimes: The cost of being LGBT in today's world.

REPORT: Ellen DeGeneres and Portia de Rossi ready to split.

Entertainment Weekly: Why didn't Brokeback Mountain change anything? "According to almost every person interviewed for this story, there just aren't any high-quality gay scripts in circulation. 'I swear to you, if there were projects that were visible and good, people would make them,' says Hairspray producer Craig Zadan, who, with Neil Meron, makes up one of the most successful gay producing teams in town. 'No one's brought them to us.' It doesn't help that the scripts that are out there can't seem to get off the ground. The Front Runner, about a cross-country coach who falls in love with one of his runners, and The Dreyfus Affair, about a romance between two major-league ballplayers, have been in development hell for years. And Zadan and Meron themselves have spent 16 years trying to get The Mayor of Castro Street, about slain gay civil rights icon Harvey Milk, on the screen. So gay film is caught in a bitter catch-22. Because studios don't greenlight gay movies, great writers don't bother crafting them — so there's nothing for the studios to produce."

British rugby player de-planed and de-pantsed.

Following hate crime, Georgetown University finally makes commitment to LGBT community: "At an open forum last night, President John DeGioia commendably announced that Georgetown will have a fully-staffed, fully-funded LGBTQ resource center by next fall. Three working groups will be created to address the creation of the resource center, the development of a better bias-reporting system and plans for LGBTQ diversity training during New Student Orientation."

What happens if you stay awake for eleven days straight?

Singapore's gay rights debate got ugly: "There were threatening, expletive-laced emails. One parliamentarian had his sexuality questioned. Another academic was flamed in blogs and had her phone number circulated. And the employer of one gay professional was questioned about their hiring him. The ugly turn of events, some may say, is only to be expected given the emotional nature of the subject matter — one that Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong had warned on Tuesday could polarise society."

Heidi Fleiss seeking studs for stud farm.

50 Cent and Lance Bass do book battle.

While Morrissey does NYC, Reichen Lehmkuhl does drag.

New study on the effects of chewing gum on weight loss: "A research study presented at the 2007 Annual Scientific Meeting of The Obesity Society, found that chewing gum before an afternoon snack helped reduce hunger, diminish cravings and promote fullness among individuals who limit their overall calorie intake. Calorie intake from snacks was significantly reduced by 25 calories. Overall, this study demonstrates the benefits of chewing gum and highlights the potential role of chewing gum in appetite control and weight management. Nutritionists say that even small changes in calories can have an impact in the long term."

Desperate Housewives to get gayer as Estimates eclipsed at Banksy auction. Bonham's specialist: "Today's results demonstrate that prices for Banksy's work continue to go from strength to strength. Perhaps the most incredible aspect of the Banksy phenomenon ...(is) that as a self-confessed guerilla artist, he has been so wholeheartedly embraced by the very establishment he satirizes. We are sure that this irony is not lost on today's buyers."

San Francisco Episcopal diocese okays blessings for same-sex couples.

David Beckham voted "manliest" in poll.

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Partying Princes Drown Sorrows with Defeated Brit Rugby Team

Princes William and Harry partied into the night on Saturday with members of the English rugby team following their rugby world cup defeat by South Africa at the Stade de France. It didn't appear that Harry was snorting vodka this time, just drinking straight from the bottle. Now word on whether he then went after outside centre Matthew Tait's nipple, as he seemed to have lost his shirt at some point during the night.

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