News: Michigan, Kris Allen, Boston Gay Bars, Kathy Griffin

3GS: Apple releases follow-up to iPhone. 3G now $99.

GALLUP POLL: 58% of conservatives favor gays in the military.

 Tween Idol.

Kris Allen signs record deal, discusses album.

Pat Steadman, first out gay man in the Colorado senate, sworn in.

Proposition 8 protest in Greensboro, North Carolina.

Faces of Us: "a photo campaign created with the purpose of bringing the fight for LGBT (Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Transgender) rights to the National spotlight. The campaign is still small, but growing, and shows the faces and identities of members of the LGBT community and allies who care about these issues."

Gay porn actor Timothy Boham (aka Marcus Allen) murder trial goes to jury: "Twenty-eight-year-old Timothy Boham testified Thursday that Denver businessman John Kelso committed suicide and that they had planned to make it look like a robbery for life-insurance purposes. But prosecutors say Boham shot Kelso during a robbery and a police detective testified this week that Boham confessed to the killing."

Two U.S. journalists sentenced to 12 years hard labor in North Korea.

Is the gay bar scene in Boston finished?

Kathy Griffin's My Life on the D List returning tonight at 10 pm: "Since 'D-List' premiered in 2005, Griffin’s career has moved in a different direction. So she thought her show should, too. 'It’s kind of silly to make the show about what it was four years ago, which was I can’t get a job, I’m going to go do stand-up at gay rodeo,' she said. 'It’s a very different place than I was in four years ago.' So this season, Griffin visits, among others, Lily Tomlin, Paula Deen, T.I., Gloria Estefan and Paris Hilton to get a glimpse into their lives."

Male model fix: Christopher Fawcett.

Signature collectors begin drive to recall Portland Mayor Sam Adams. Organizer Jasun Wurster: "This is a positive, non-partisan and intelligent campaign that is comprised of very talented volunteers who are solely focused on holding Sam Adams accountable for his civic transgressions."

Images from a cocktail party held by the New York Times in honor of same-sex couples that have made their wedding announcements in the paper.

Snow falls in North Dakota in June.

Cristiano Ronaldo exposed?

Jake Gyllenhaal and Anne Hathaway reuniting on screen for Love and Other Drugs.

Michigan shift in public opinion on gays called 'seismic': "In October 2004, a Glengariff poll showed 24% of Michiganders supported marriage rights for same-sex partners, and only 42% supported legal recognition of civil unions. In the new poll, support for same sex marriage was 46.5% and for civil unions 63.7%. Forty-eight percent of state voters said they opposed adding marriage rights, the only one of nine gay rights issues not winning majority support."

UK Catholic mother launches legal battle after son is placed with gay foster parents. Catholic church says adoption rights for gays amount to child abuse.

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

Neil Patrick Harris to host Tony Awards.

Court upholds convictions in Gwen Araujo murder case.

Madonna gets frisky at MET gala.

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Mariah Carey as a frump.

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

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

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

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

News: Jennifer Hudson, Nike, Luke Macfarlane, Dorota, Syphilis

Saving the elephants.

Brothers and Sisters star Luke Macfarlane to flex his stage chops in The Jazz Age.

Idol fail: Ryan Seacrest tries to high-five a blind contestant.

Barack Obama dines with conservative members of the media: "As you may have heard, Barack Obama did some socializing in Maryland last night. His host: conservative columnist George Will, who brought out some of the biggest stars in the right-wing media establishment for dinner, wine, and restrained hostility collegial conversation. David Brooks was there, as were Charles Krauthammer, Larry Kudlow, Rich Lowry, and the always perspiring Bill Kristol." Then, Obama meets with liberal members of the media: "The group included the Washington Post's E.J. Dionne and Eugene Robinson, the Wall Street Journal's Gerry Seib, National Journal's Ron Brownstein, the New York Times Frank Rich and Maureen Dowd, and MSNBC's Rachel Maddow, among others."

Lance Bass debuts new hair: faux-hawk with racing stripes.

Gay mayor of Nyack, NY and member of the Nyack 10, John Shields, won't seek re-election. He's also dropping his affiliation to the Democratic Party. Shields: "I don't think either party is serving the LGBT (lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender) community."

Nike: Because ballet is so gay. UPDATE: It's a student ad made without Nike's involvement.

Puerto Rico Civil Code shifting in committee: "...language that would have given same-sex couples access to all rights available to married heterosexual partners in Puerto Rico will be eliminated and, in exchange, they will only be given a few rights."

Proposition 8 kills gay ski week for Utah.

Transgender activist murdered in Honduras.

Carphone Warehouse customer referred to as "big gay" on his repair form.

John Barrowman writing Torchwood comic strip.

Sexually-transmitted disease rates soar: "Syphilis has increased each year since 2000 -- its rate is up 81 percent -- with gay and bisexual men representing 65 percent of cases, the CDC said. Douglas said many cases are occurring in HIV-positive men who are choosing other HIV-positive men as sexual partners. 'Within that relationship, they are less concerned about the transmission of other conditions. They're not using condoms. They believe that their partner already has got the worst they can get -- they've got an HIV infection,' he said."

Prominent Australian LGBT journalist Iain Clacher dies.

The shirtless tennis showcase begins in Melbourne.

Jennifer Hudson to be in spotlight at Super Bowl.

Dinners with Dubya: "Before I know it, I have a Heineken in hand, and the president of the United States has a 'non-beer' in his, and we begin an unscheduled tour of the White House residence. He continues to address me as Smitty, a name I haven’t been called since Little League."

Drunken Golden Globes guest approaches Brad Pitt to tell him he's ugly.

New category for trans- and homophobic attacks considered in Scottish parliament: "Creation of a new category of aggravated offence for attacks on gays, lesbians and transgender people would probably result in an initial increase in the number of reported offences, it was claimed yesterday. But they said proposed legislation would encourage more people to come forward and change the climate in the long-term."

Dorota, the beaten down maid of Blair Waldorf on Gossip Girl, has her own Facebook page.

Ryan Seacrest Records Some Vaguely Gay Action at the Emmys

I have no idea what's going on here.

Ryan Seacrest spent some time with a video camera backstage at the Emmy's last night. His interest seemed to gravitate toward a shirtless Jeff Probst and another hairy dude named Vic.

Watch it, AFTER THE JUMP...

News: Ryan Seacrest, Howl, Ang Lee, Jay Brannan, The Cock

UK teen fights for his life after anti-gay attack: "Michael Causer, 19, was battered on Friday morning in Tarbock Road, Huyton, as he walked home after a night out. Today police described the attack as a hate crime. Locals said Mr Causer was never involved in trouble or fighting. One friend told the ECHO: 'Michael is just a tiny lad really. He’s not very big at all. He wouldn’t hurt a fly. He’s a little sweetheart. I can’t believe this has happened to him. Everybody’s thoughts are with his family. I can’t believe Michael has been attacked because of his sexuality. It’s disgusting.' Friends said Mr Causer lived with his parents in Whiston and has two sisters and an older brother. Residents said he was delighted after getting a job at a hairdressing salon."

Ryan Seacrest attacked by a shark!

Ang Lee holds open casting call for Elliott Tiber film in Brattleboro, Vermont.

Those of you attending Stockholm EuroPride in Sweden may want to check out this concert on August 1 conducted by New York's Jonathan Sheffer with several guest opera singers. We hear John Cameron Mitchell is also in town for a performance of Hedwig Wednesday night.

U.S. Olympic team's Ralph Lauren outfits on display.

Harsh lighting does not suit Daniel Craig.

WordPerfect creator Bruce Bastian writes $1 million check to fight Proposition 8 at San Francisco HRC dinner: "Supporters of the effort to ban same-sex marriage already have taken in more than $1.2 million from out-of-state contributors for the fall campaign. And even before Bastian, a co-founder of the WordPerfect software company, opened his checkbook, gay and lesbian rights groups and their supporters from around the country had put more than $1.3 million into the fight against the ballot initiative."

A Mexican man's journey to see Jay Brannan.

Colorado bans WTF license plate: "Other combinations banned by the state include KKK, ASS, HEL, FAG, COP, FBI, GAY, JEW, JAP, WOP and CAT."

Samantha Ronson and Lindsay Lohan love The Cock.

Obama supporter's car keyed: "The words 'white power' and 'I'm gay' were etched into the car of Karen Wastradowski last Saturday. Wastradowski had left her car in the driveway of her home when the vandals struck. She filed a report with Vancouver police. Wastradowski said a blue "Elect Obama" sign in her yard could have caused the crime."

Howl: James Franco to play beat poet Allen Ginsburg. “I’ve certainly read ‘Howl.’ I was very into the beatniks when I was in high school, and I still am. So I certainly have read Howl many times.”

Shia LaBeouf's pre-DUI arrest confession: "It’s not something that is conducive to being a role model. … And I don’t know how to do it like a gentleman. I don’t know how to have one drink."

AfterElton calls out science fiction author Orson Scott Card (Ender's Game) for a homophobic essay in the Mormon Times: "In this essay alone, he calls us liars, says that we have 'sex-role dysfunctions,' and that we’re 'tragic genetic mix-ups' (even as he indicates elsewhere in the essay that humans have an absolutely unalterable 'long mammalian tradition of heterosexuality'). Previously, in a long history of anti-gay screeds, Card has said he supports anti-sodomy laws that would criminalize same-sex behavior (though he grants that we shouldn't all be thrown in prison and labeled sex offenders — just enough of us to set an example so that we all go into hiding, living lonely, miserable, fearful lives)."

Show us the proof.

Mario Lopez named host of Extra.

Canadian court claims Nigerian asylum seeker "cooked up" story that he's gay to obtain refugee status: "According to court documents, the man mixed up the names of gay bars he claimed to frequent in Winnipeg, called no witnesses to support his claim, and although he joined the gay lobby group EGALE, he could not describe that organization's function and was therefore accused by the board of only joining up to bolster his claim."

Gay Comic Panic Strip: American Idol

SIMON: You kissed me!

RYAN: Relax, it didn't mean anything.

SIMON: Well, I can't!

And yes, this is the authentic transcript.

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