News: Peter Cook, Bermuda, James Dobson, Iran, IBM, San Diego

Truth Wins Out launches effort to block Focus on the Family founder James Dobson's induction into the Radio Hall of Fame. Wayne Besen: "It is outrageous and insulting that James Dobson would be nominated for the Radio Hall of Fame. We believe that character counts and nominees should have careers based on honesty and integrity - not discrimination, distorting research and outright lying."

Iran state media Photoshops missile test image to make it seem more impressive.

Massachusetts Supreme Judicial Court rules benefits to gay couples following the 2004 marriage decision can't be applied retroactively.

Spotlight on Jennifer Hudson's album cover.

Following GLAAD's lead in April, Californians Against Hate launches boycott of San Diego's Manchester Grand Hyatt.

Divorce drama: beefcake GQ cover of Christie Brinkley's husband Peter Cook unearthed from 1981.

California's Kern County rebuffs conservative group, refuses to ban same-sex marriages: " The Campaign for Children and Families hoped the passage of a gay marriage ban in Kern County would embolden other counties to follow suit. But supervisors declined to act on the measure after Bernard Barmann, the county's lawyer, said it would be illegal for the county to adopt its own same-sex marriage ban. The Kern County clerk's office stopped offering all marriage ceremonies on June 15, the day before gay marriage became legal."

What's inside "Just for Men" hair color?

Bermuda man who attacked gay man with a machete gets seven years in prison: "Cooper, 26 – older brother of the murdered Cooper twins – had a history of violent crime and homophobia before he launched the attack on Shawn Nusum, 25, in the early hours of November 15 last year. His Supreme Court trial heard how he had taunted Mr. Nusum, of St. David's on previous occasions over his sexuality, calling him a 'faggot' and similar names. On the night in question, the pair got into a dispute in Club Ovation, Water Street, St. George's, when Cooper taunted Mr. Nusum once again. He later lay in wait for Mr. Nusum, and as he left the premises he hit him about the face with a machete. The victim suffered a fractured nose, jaw and cheekbone. A cut to his left eyebrow has left him unable to raise it, and he will be permanently scarred."

T.R. Knight and Mark Cornelsen take the kids out for a ride.

Michael Jackson arrives in Vegas wearing pyjamas, a dreadlocked wig, a surgeon’s mask, a baseball cap and sunglasses.

A Guide to the Philadelphia Gay and Lesbian Film Festival which kicks off tonight.

Michelle Williams planning Heath Ledger film: "The actress - who was left devastated when her former fiance was found dead in his apartment after an accidental drug overdose in January - wants the actor's friends and co-stars to share their stories on him so little Matilda can see her father through their eyes."

Former gay porn model "Lamar" killed in head-on collision following Chicago's black gay pride celebration.

Lesbian adopted by lover into IBM family fights for share of fortune: "Patricia Spado was adopted by Olive Watson, the daughter of Thomas Watson Jr, in 1991 when the pair were both in their 40s and at a time when gay couples were not allowed civil partnerships. They lived together for 14 years but, a year after the adoption, their relationship ended. Miss Spado, now 60, claims the purpose of the adoption was to allow her to qualify as an heir to Miss Watson's inheritance."

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News: Polo, Jeff Gannon, Jerusalem, Sacha Baron-Cohen, Banksy

With Gay Pride parade in Jerusalem set for Thursday, Haredim choose this year to avoid public protest.

Mario Lopez attempts to recreate a classic.

VV: Why isn't anyone fucking anymore? "The city has shut down all but two bathhouses and every known sex club in Manhattan, as well as citing bars, clubs, and private parties where inspectors find any men-on-men action. The few entrepreneurs still out there complain about apathy and different priorities among younger gay men."

Nomination of homophobic surgeon general James Holsinger may be dead: "Sen. Jim Bunning (R., Ky.), a staunch supporter of surgeon general nominee James W. Holsinger Jr., suggested yesterday that the doctor’s quest for the top U.S. medical post is at an end. During a telephone news conference, Bunning said he doubted the nomination would move forward. He cited the Democratic leadership’s blockage of several Bush administration-backed judicial appointments. 'They are not moving any positions of consequence,' he said."

May 15: Universal sets release date for Sacha Baron-Cohen comedy about gay Austrian journalist Bruno.

Banksy works exceed expectations at London urban art auctions.

Washington Times columnist >Wes Pruden cavalier over millions of AIDS deaths: "We were all supposed to be dead now, done in by AIDS, the gift of the gays. After that it was SARS, bequeathed to the world by China. Then it was avian flu, which, to be fair to the alarmists, did in fact result in the deaths of millions. The millions were all chickens, true, but chickens have feelings, too. You could ask the folks at PETA."

Rex Wockner chronicles the same-sex marriages in San Diego in photos.

Prince Harry gets in uniform to honor Britain's fallen.

Gay Polo League plays in first tournament ever.

Slate: Gay culture war about to turn chemical. "If the idea of chemically suppressing homosexuality in the womb horrifies you, I have bad news: You won't be in the room when it happens. Parents control medical decisions, and surveys indicate that the vast majority of them would be upset to learn that their child was gay. Already, millions are screening embryos and fetuses to eliminate those of the "wrong" sex. Do you think they won't screen for the 'wrong' sexual orientation, too?"

Cristiano Ronaldo and the sweet taste of success.

Keanu Reeves frolics in the surf.

LETTER: The full letter from The Rt Rev Richard Chartres to Rev Martin Dudley following Dudley's marriage of two gay priests.

Jeff Gannon now blogging at the National Press Club.

Germany divided over prospect of gay Lutheran bishop: " Horst Gorski, a senior cleric from Hamburg, is standing for the post of bishop of Schleswig in northern Germany against Gerhard Ulrich, a senior cleric from the Schleswig area. The incumbent bishop is retiring in September. Gorski is a widely respected theologian and he helped set up a centre for gay and lesbian Lutheran pastors. His open homosexuality angers some Lutheran conservatives who argue his election as bishop would leave many Christians with no spiritual home."

Pittsburgh paper: Rural gays isolated, but still stigmatized.

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Veteran Bob Lehman and Tom Felkner are First Married in San Diego

Bob Lehman, a former Marine, and Tom Felkner were the first same-sex couple married in San Diego this morning, at just after 7am.

"Veteran Bob Lehman and Tom Felkner were among more than 200 couples expected to get married in the county Tuesday, the first day that gay weddings could be legally performed in this county after the state Supreme Court last month struck down a statewide ban on same-sex unions. Other couples getting married in the morning included Christopher Dye, 45, a Web page designer from North Park and his partner, Daniel Szpak, 46, a registered nurse. They have been together 13 years and got married around 7:30 a.m.."

Couples arriving early were met by a single protestor on the steps of the county building, who left less than an hour later.

MORE MARRIAGE NEWS...

60 couples set to wed in the OC...

"Acting mayor" Eric Garcetti marrying same-sex couples in L.A. while Mayor Villaraigosa is in Israel.

Gay marriage supporter in San Francisco collapses at City Hall, and anti-gay protestor proclaims: "God killed him for loving fags!!"

States gird for legal challenges..."Legal challenges could crop up immediately, Georgetown University law professor Nancy Hunter said. For example, a couple from Kansas could travel to California to wed and have a car accident in Colorado on the way home. Hospital visitation and authority to make medical decisions for a spouse likely would become an issue in a state that prohibits gay unions."

Divorce lawyers licking their chops...

The story of one couple wed in SF in 2004 headed to California from Chicago to get married once again..."Kind of bittersweet to be going through it again. I was really happy the first time and I was saddened and shocked when it was invalidated."

A news clip of coverage from KTLA, AFTER THE JUMP...

And our ongoing coverage...
Star Trek's George Takei and Brad Altman Talk Marriage [tr]
Outside City Hall [tr]
Inside City Hall: Del and Phyllis Cut the Cake [tr]
Same-Sex Marriage Legal in California [tr]
The First Same-Sex Couple to Marry in L.A. [tr]
5:01 PM [tr]

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Gay Marriage Foes File Request to Suspend Unions Till Election

Hoping that a measure on this November's ballot constitutionally banning same-sex marriage might be approved by voters, groups who fought the recent lawsuit resulting in the legalization of same-sex marriage have filed papers asking the court to suspend any unions until after the election:

"The organizations, including the Proposition 22 Legal Defense Fund and the Alliance Defense Fund, filed a request with the court Thursday afternoon seeking the delay until after the November election. That's when the state's voters will likely decide a proposed constitutional amendment to limit marriage to opposite-sex couples. 'Permitting this decision to take effect immediately - in the light of the realistic possibility that the people of California might amend their constitution to reaffirm marriage as the union of one man and one woman - risks legal havoc and uncertainty of immeasurable magnitude,' the filing states. A spokesman for San Francisco City Attorney Dennis Herrera said they would fight any delay in issuing the marriage certificates to gay couples. Lawyers for the city are expected to file a legal response next week."

In related news, SF mayor Gavin Newsom reacted angrily to reports out of San Diego that the county might allow clerks there to refuse to perform same-sex marriages:

"On Wednesday, San Diego County Clerk Gregory Smith said he would consider allowing clerks to bow out of processing such marriages if they had moral or religions objections. 'I was pretty shocked about all that, candidly, and pretty outraged,' Newsom told Reuters in an interview. 'This is a civil marriage that civil servants have a responsibility to provide, so for civil servants on religious grounds to start passing judgments, they, I think, are breaking the core tenet of what civil service is all about. I've got very strong religious beliefs. So now, all of a sudden, I don't have to do certain things, even though that's my responsibility as mayor?'"

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GLAAD Pulls Out of Event at Venue Owned by Anti-Gay Developer

GLAAD pulled out of a "Pride Rocks" event scheduled for the summer at San Diego's Manchester Grand Hyatt after discovering that the venue's owner, Doug Manchester, helped fund foes of same-sex marriage and their recent ballot petition drive:

"Manchester, a local developer, contributed $125,000 to a drive to put a same-sex marriage ban before voters in November. Backers of the ban have said this week that they have gathered enough signatures to qualify the proposed constitutional amendment for the ballot. The president of the gay and lesbian alliance , Neil Giuliano, said in a news release that Manchester's decision to fund an initiative that would 'hurt loving, committed gay couples makes it impossible for us' to take part in an event that promotes his hotel. Giuliano urged other members of the gay and lesbian community to withdraw from the event also."

Manchester welcomes gays and lesbians to his hotel and restaurant, the San Diego Union Tribune reports, but doesn't want to see them married.

related
Same-Sex Marriage Foes in California Ready to Submit Petitions [tr]
California High Court Preparing Pro-Gay Ruling on Marriage? [tr]
Schwarzenegger Calls Gay Marriage Ban 'a Total Waste of Time' [tr]

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Schwarzenegger Calls Gay Marriage Ban 'a Total Waste of Time'

California Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger spoke out at Friday's Log Cabin Republican convention in San Diego about efforts in the state to put a measure constitutionally banning same-sex marriage on the state's ballot in the upcoming election.

Rex Wockner wrangled the full quote: "Well, first of all, I think that it would never happen in California because I think that California people are much further along with that issue. And, number two, I will always be there to fight against that, because it would never happen. I think we need a constitutional amendment so that foreign-born citizens can run for president, but not about gay marriage. That's a total waste of time."

Opponents of marriage equality said at the beginning of April that they have nearly one million signatures supporting the anti-gay measure. Schwarzenegger's statement has been hailed as a salvo against those efforts.

Said Geoff Kors, executive director of Equality California: "This is extremely significant, and it's an enormous event to have our Republican governor come out against this ballot measure, which is opposed by Democrats as well. It makes this opposition a bipartisan issue."

Schwarzenegger has continually vetoed and promised to veto legislation that would legalize same-sex marriage in the state. His position on that remains unchanged.

Following, his statements, one LCR member urged the governor: "Arnold, I loved all your movies. ... Take your shirt off!"

Teased Schwarzenegger: "Why stop there?!"

Arnie: Marriage-ban effort "a total waste of time" [rex wockner]
Fun with the Governator... [rex wockner]
Governor against amendment to ban gay marriage [sf chronicle]
(image: rex wockner)

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San Diego Mayor Jerry Sanders Addresses Log Cabin Republicans

Rex Wockner spent some time yesterday at the Log Cabin Republicans National Convention and reports on San Diego Mayor Jerry Sanders' appearance there. Sanders, you may remember, surprised voters by reversing his position on civil unions and endorsing gay marriage at a press conference last September (video AFTER THE JUMP).

The San Diego Union Tribune also reported on the gathering: "Sanders did not broach the gay marriage issue in his brief remarks at the Town and Country Resort and Convention Center in Mission Valley, choosing to use the occasion for a stump speech for his re-election. But immediately after he left, organization president Patrick Sammon told the delegates that Sanders had taken a stand for 'marriage equality.' Following his change of heart last year, Sanders signed a resolution from the City Council in support of same-sex marriage in a case being decided by the state Supreme Court. 'The mayor took a courageous stand and signed that resolution,' Sammon said to wild applause. 'He could have vetoed it.' Same-sex marriage is a polarizing issue within the Republican Party and in the San Diego mayor's race. Republican Steve Francis, Sanders' chief rival in the June 3 election, said he would have vetoed the resolution. He is opposed to same-sex marriage and instead favors civil unions."

Said Sanders, according to Wockner: "I'm proud of the political opportunity that this brings in terms the interaction and the issues and the people you're bringing here. I understand Gov. Schwarzenegger and [former U.N. Ambassador] Bolton are coming in tomorrow and I think that really tells you how important all of these issues are to all of us and how important the Republican Party -- how important Log Cabin Republicans are to the whole process."

Wockner talked to LCR President Patrick Sammon about Arnold Schwarzenegger and John McCain, and said that the group is likely to vote to endorse McCain during the convention.

Said Sammon: "We're pleased he was nominated. Our posture during this campaign was stopping Mitt Romney. We're proud of the role we played with our ad campaign and, you know, Sen. McCain, we endorsed him in his Senate re-election in 2004; in 2000 a lot of our members were very supportive of his campaign, and certainly this time as well. We know he's someone who's an inclusive Republican who understands the party needs to get back to its core principles and we are excited about the campaign ahead."

Photo above by Rex Wockner. More at his blog.

AFTER THE JUMP, Jerry Sanders' press conference from last September...

Journalistic objectivity in action [rex wockner]
Sanders lauded as friend of gay community [san diego union tribune]

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News: Bats, Clay Aiken, Figure Skating, John Bolton, Dr. Laura

Dan Savage lost his mother on Monday, and today penned a beautiful column about her. We offer our sincerest condolences. May she rest in peace.

David Beckham in trouble with the law.

Open wide: Clay Aiken demonstrates amazing oral technique.

John Caldera, an aide to San Francisco Supervisor Ross Mirkarimi, will carry the Olympic torch in San Francisco today: "As someone who is openly Gay, Latino and a U.S. Navy Veteran, I have learned to respect the many subsets of our society. At times, I agree to disagree with those who have conflicing ideas ordeals than mine and at times, through respect and discourse, mutual understanding is possible but in the end I always remember the immortal words of the great humanitarian, John Lennon: 'All we are saving is give peace a chance…'" (via outsports)

Elsewhere in SF, gays protest the torch's arrival.

Keanu Reeves wants to sing show tunes.

Charleston's City Paper asks, is Lindsey Graham gay?

Gabriel Rotello at World of Wonder posts a comical reminiscence about an interview he once did with the late Charlton Heston: "Finally, someone sent word that the cameraman was ready and I rose to escort the tottering titan down to the basement. It was then that I discovered what a careless PA had missed. At the top of the stairs hung a huge, poster-sized photo of the queerest of all the queers, Miss RuPaul, in full drag, giving major attitude and practically screaming "I AM GAY, GAY, GAAAAAAY."

Dr. Laura gets weekly segment on FOX News.

Mysterious illness decimating bat populations in Northeast: "This summer, it could affect everything from outdoor barbecuing to farming. In one of nature's most efficient if little-known feats, bats consume as many as 1,200 insects an hour after emerging from their sheltering places every night. This prodigious airborne feeding substantially controls mosquito populations and helps prevent plant-eating insects from damaging crops. The long-term effect of what appears to be a major die-off of bats is not yet known, but the possibilities clearly worry scientists."

Regarding Brandon Davis' "faggot" outburst we posted about earlier. Davis told TMZ: "I would like to apologize for the poor word choice when provoked by the paparazzi on Thursday, April 3rd. They by no means reflect my views and upbringing. I was taunted by the photographers and when they used vulgar sexual remarks against my mother I reacted as any son would."

Query to the National Post: Can figure skating make you gay?

John Bolton, former U.S. Ambassador to the United Nations to speak at Log Cabin Republican convention in San Diego this weekend.

Diane Sawyer takes on Rosie O'Donnell.

Jeff Klausner, San Francisco's director of STD prevention and control, targeting gay cruising sites in effort to promote safe sex: "Over the past few weeks, Klausner has been working with the city attorney, the National Institutes of Health, the California Department of Public Health, and the Department of Public Health in New York, whose large gay community also uses social networking sites for sex, in an effort to track down Adam4Adam's thus-far-anonymous and secretive owners. His aim: To get the site to slap the equivalent of a surgeon general's warning on its hookup forums and at least make users aware of the dangers of the anonymous, multiple-partner unsafe sex that is its stock-in-trade."

Pushing Daisies has a gay character.

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Judge Rules Again for School District in Anti-Gay T-Shirt Suit

In a case that has been underway since 2004, U.S. District Judge John Houston ruled Tuesday in favor of school officials who pulled Tyler Chase Harper from class for wearing an anti-gay T-shirt.

"Tyler Harper sued the Poway Unified School District in 2004 alleging his freedom of speech and religion rights were violated when he was pulled out of class earlier that year. The self-described Christian wore a shirt during the school 'Day of Silence,' which is intended to promote tolerance of gays and lesbians. The shirt said 'I Will Not Accept What God Has Condemned' on one side and 'Homosexuality is Shameful, Romans 1:27' on the other. Harper was removed from class, but not otherwise disciplined. His suit was aimed at a school district policy aimed at eliminating 'hate behavior' that offended students in certain minority groups based on race, gender or sexual preference."

After Harper graduated, the case continued with his sister Kelsie as a replacement plaintiff.

In Tuesday's ruling, Houston "wrote that a school 'interest in protecting homosexual students from harassment is a legitimate pedagogical concern that allows a school to restrict speech expressing damaging statements about sexual orientation and limiting students to expressing their views in a positive manner.'"

The San Diego Union Tribune adds: "While the school district has won three previous rulings, lawyers for the students and free speech activists said Houston's ruling has the potential of greatly expanding school officials' power to censor student speech."

Poway again wins free speech decision over anti-gay T-shirt [san diego union tribune]

Previously
Tyler Chase Harper Finally Loses Anti-Gay T-Shirt Lawsuit [tr]
Tyler Chase Harper and his Anti-Gay Shirt are Back [tr]
Fashion Statement [tr]

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Students at San Diego State Hold "Rally Against Hate"

Responding to a spate of recent anti-gay incidents on their campus, students at San Diego State University held a rally on the "Free Speech Steps" there, led by by three lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender student organizations.

The San Diego Union Tribune reports: "The most recent one involved the publication of a letter in the personals in the alternative student-run newspaper, The Koala, attacking an SDSU administrator in charge of Greek campus life for being gay. The letter directed at Doug Case concluded, 'If I ever see you with your . . . poodle again I am going to jump kick it in the face.' At the rally, Case spoke before about 200 students with his dog, a cocker spaniel named Angel, by his side. 'Somebody tried to intimidate Angel and me,' Case said. 'I will not be intimidated. . . . The best way to respond to hate speech is to exercise your right to free speech and to protest intolerance.' Other incidents included the theft of a student organization's rainbow flag displayed at the student union – the third time in four years that such a theft occurred – and the pelting of students with eggs during an off-campus rally in support of gay marriage."

The rally reportedly drew a crowd of 200.

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News: Herbert Muschamp, Utah, Dexter, Britney Spears,

Russian gay activist Nikolai Alexeyev to speak in Chicago on Saturday at Matthew Shepard March.

Noted Broadway actor George Grizzard dies at 79: George Grizzard, a versatile actor who achieved his greatest renown on the stage, playing everything from Shakespeare to Shaw, from Neil Simon to Edward Albee, died yesterday in Manhattan. He was 79 and lived in Manhattan. His death, at New York-Presbyterian Hospital/Weill Cornell Medical Center, was caused by complications of lung cancer, said his partner, William Tynan, who is Mr. Grizzard’s only survivor."

New York Times architecture critic Herbert Muschamp dies after cancer battle.

Prosecutors will seek the death penalty for Harlow Raymond Cuadra and Joseph Manuel Kerekes in the January slaying of gay porn producer Bryan Kocis: "Prosecutors said they have two legal reasons to put the two Virginia Beach, Va., men to death in the slaying. One, they said, is the men killed Kocis while perpetrating another felony. In this case, the other felonies are robbery, arson, theft and criminal conspiracy, the prosecutors said. Two, they said, is that the men created a grave risk to other people while committing the killing."

Harvey Fierstein reinvents A Catered Affair.

Republican state Senator Jeannemarie Devolites Davis and Democratic challenger J. Chapman Petersen battle for the gay vote in Virginia: "Davis is fighting for her political life against what all agree is an overwhelming Democratic advantage. As a result, her race with Petersen at times looks more like a nomination fight between progressive Democrats than a Virginia general election. Davis talks often of her support for greater gun restrictions and increased transportation funding. And in front of some audiences, she talks about her belief in gay rights."

More Milo all tied up.

Pianist Marc Peloquin premieres work based on gay sadomasochism: "Its rigor, its rugged insistence and its almost painful pianistic difficulties bring to my mind the intensity of the S-M experience."

University of Utah Pride Week images censored by school in agreement with the Lesbian Gay Bisexual Transgender Resource Center for being overtly sexual.

A group of San Diego clergy protest at City Hall over the city's support for overturning same-sex marriage ban: "The group was led by Bishop Roy Dixon from Faith Chapel Church of God in Christ, Pastor Timothy Winters of the Bayview Baptist Church and Bishop George McKinney of St. Stephen's Church of God in Christ. They touted the 2000 passage of California's Proposition 22, which defined marriage as between a man and a woman only."

Director Q. Allan Brocka (Eating Out) documents the recent art gallery opening of "Just Britney".

Michael C. Hall's Dexter returns for second season with record-breaking ratings: "Showtime’s 'Dexter' returned with a vengeance Sunday, becoming the cabler’s first series to score more than 1 million viewers with a premiere seg. Skein’s second-season opener snagged 1.09 million eyeballs at 9 p.m., a whopping 67% above the serial killer drama’s 2006 series premiere. More impressively, seg was up nearly 40% over the show’s 2006 season average of 624,000 viewers, according to Nielsen data." Dexter is great. If you have a chance to watch it, do.

Second death twist in mysterious case of NYC club icon Dean Johnson.

Britney Spears is not a Chris Crocker fan: "She thinks he's creepy and that all his videos are an obvious attempt at fame. She finds it insulting and difficult to watch."

Ubisoft, makers of a Scrabble game for the Nintendo DS, has apologized after some users became offended that the game contained the word "lesbo" as an allowable word choice: "In the game there is a 'junior' version that omits offensive words, but lesbo is not considered an offensive word in the Scrabble dictionary. Ubisoft merely apologized if offense was caused, they are not pulling the game."

Finding a letter from Joan Crawford in the trash.

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Most Wanted: The Andrew Cunanan Musical

A two-week workshop production of a new musical based on Versace serial killer Andrew Cunanan opens tonight at the La Jolla Playhouse.

According to the North County Times, "The musical's creators say the Versace murder by the Filipino-American social climber, Cunanan, was the obvious inspiration for Most Wanted, but not the message. [Composer Mark] Bennett said the musical instead will explore American pop culture, racial relations (Cunanan and playwright [Jessica] Hagedorn are Filipino-Americans) and the seductiveness of celebrity, money, power and fame. 'The important thing for me in writing this piece was to address the question of why this culture of celebrity is so prevalent today,' said Hagedorn, whose play about Filipino culture, 'Dogeaters,' had its world premiere under [Playhouse artistic chief Michael] Greif's direction at the Playhouse in 1998. 'And how do people of color play into that? This play explores the dark side of the American dream. What does it really mean to be a person of color in this country? What does being American mean? Does it mean you are fine if you are famous?'"

The L.A. Times reports on the show and its unconventional narrator: "Some time later, as composer and playwright pecked away in Hagedorn's apartment, their drag queen rose to the rescue. Previously given a cameo in the script's back pages, she started 'shaping and shaping and shaping herself,' as Hagedorn puts it, complete with a sassy and savvy demeanor. Named Stormy Leather, the drag queen became the sardonic, all-knowing mainspring for telling and commenting upon the story -- which would now be framed by her act as mistress of ceremonies at Uncle Buck's, a cabaret that's supposedly in San Diego, but spiritually closer to 'The Twilight Zone.'"

The musical has been in development since 2004, when the NEA created controversy by awarding its creators a $35,000 grant.

The cast: "Most Wanted stars Daniel Torres (whose Broadway credits include 'The Pirate Queen' and 'The Woman in White' and the off-Broadway production of 'Altar Boyz') as the central character Danny Reyes, a bright, working-class minority youth who earns a scholarship to an elite private school, then goes astray. Broadway veteran Ken Page ('Cats,' 'Ain't Misbehavin'' and 'The Wiz') co-stars as Stormy Leather, the drag queen who narrates the story. And Arthur Acuna plays both Danny's father and fashion designer Apolo Serra."

'Andrew Cunanan--The Musical'? [la times]
Playhouse unveils workshop musical inspired by SD serial killer's quest for fame [north county times]
(top image: LA Times)

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News: Hobbits, Marcia Brady, Gay GOP, Nude Sunbathing

Remains of human "hobbits" discovered in Indonesia.

L.A. Times no fan of Boy George's fashion line: "Been wondering what clever Boy George is up to lately? Of course, you haven't. Despite that, here's a sneak peek at his latest endeavor -- a retro punk clothing line called B-Rude. We don't really want to hurt him (or his feelings), but this bright neon, ripped, safety-pinned sportswear is so been there/done that. It's a blatant rip-off of the late designer Stephen Sprouse's '80s collections...he only person I could see wanting to wear this stuff is teen idol/punkette poseur Avril Lavigne. Hey, she's already got the crass finger flip down pat."

Political fallout for San Diego Mayor Jerry Sanders unclear following his tearful press conference yesterday in which he changed his position and threw his support behind a resolution urging the California Supreme Court to overturn the state's ban on same-sex marriage.

Provincetown beachgoers receive retroactive nude sunbathing tickets from Cape Cod National Seashore undercover police.

The Bahamas Christian Council battling to keep LOGO off the air on Cable Bahamas. BCC PrResident John Humes: "I don't think it would be in the best interest for Cable Bahamas to proceed with incorporating this channel. There may be a market there but we already have enough problems with what we have now [in terms of channels on Cable Bahamas]. And to bring a gay agenda into the mix, we will not stand by idly and allow that to happen, for sure."

Britney Spears' patience with the media is wearing thin.

200 rally in Hollywood marriage equality protest at Arnold Schwarzengger's Walk of Fame star.

Salon's Gay Guide to the GOP: "On one end, there is Rudy Giuliani, a former New York mayor who has lived with gay friends, favors gay domestic partnerships, and sometimes dresses in drag. At the other end, there is Alan Keyes, who calls lesbians 'selfish hedonists,' even though his only daughter is a lesbian. There exists, shall we say, a veritable rainbow of variation in between."

Brady Bunch shocker: Behind-the-scenes "sexual hijinks" between Marcia and Jan.

World Cup of gay soccer to kick off in Buenos Aires.

20/20 to cover "ex-Gay" conference Love Won Out tonight: "It's about people who have to make tough choices in their lives."

UK schools urge police intervention in cyber-bullying cases: "The threat of legal sanctions on top of school disciplinary measures, including the confiscation of mobile phones and temporary bans or restricted access to the internet, is recommended in far tougher guidance to combat the increasing incidence of this form of bullying. Research for the new campaign found one in three 12-15-year-olds reported having been cyberbullied, a higher proportion than other surveys. Teacher unions, too, say members are being subjected to demeaning and offensive attacks through pupils' videos and comments on websites."

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San Diego Mayor Says Daughter is Gay, Reverses Marriage Position

San Diego Mayor Jerry Sanders was expected to veto the resolution passed yesterday by the City Council that urges the California Supreme Court to overturn California's ban on same-sex marriage.

Sanders, whose position on the issue has been to support civil unions but not same-sex marriage, instead made an emotional shock announcement at a press conference last night. (Full raw press conference video here)

Said the mayor: "Two years ago, I believed that civil unions were a fair alternative. Those beliefs, in my case, have since changed. The concept of a 'separate but equal' institution is not something that I can support."

The reason? Sanders' daughter Lisa (middle in photo), is a lesbian. Lisa reportedly told her father that she was gay and in a committed relationship four years ago, and Sanders said he could no longer deny her the rights offered to everyone else in the country.

Said Sanders: "In the end, I could not look any of them in the face and tell them that their relationships -- their very lives -- were any less meaningful than the marriage that I share with my wife Rana."

MSNBC reports that Sanders said "he thought of friends and members of his staff who are gay" when making his decision: "I just could not bring myself to tell an entire group of our community they were less important, less worthy or less deserving of the rights and responsibilities of marriage than anyone else, simply because of their sexual orientation...I want for them the same thing that we all want for our loved ones. For each of them to find a mate, whom they love deeply and who loves them back. Someone who they can grow old together and share life's experiences."

Sanders is a Republican former police chief.

Jerry Sanders press conference [video]
Sanders Makes Emotional Statement In Support Of Gay Marriage [msnbc]
San Diego Mayor Reverses Objection to Gay Marriage After Daughter 'Comes Out' [ap]

You may have missed...
San Diego City Council Votes to Support Same-Sex Marriage [tr]

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San Diego City Council Votes to Support Same-Sex Marriage

The San Diego City Council yesterday voted 5-3 to add their support to an "amicus brief" which already has the support of Los Angeles, San Jose, Long Beach and Oakland and other California municipalities.

The "friend-of-the-court" brief is directed at the California Supreme Court and urges the court to overturn the state's ban on same-sex marriage.

The North County times reports: "Mayor Jerry Sanders has pledged to veto the council's decision to join in the legal brief in support of same-sex marriage. 'He is for civil unions, not for gay marriage,' said Fred Sainz, Sanders' spokesman. 'He believes that the city's efforts should be centered on fiscal stability and the managerial health of the city.' The council can overturn the veto with a majority vote. About 100 people on both sides of the issue packed the council chamber."

Gay Marriage Backed [san diego union tribune]

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News: Pete Wilson, North Carolina, Tom Brady, Grace Paley

Short story writer, poet, and activist Grace Paley has died after a battle with breast cancer, at 84: "A published writer since the 1950s, Paley released only a handful of books over the next half century, mostly short stories and poems. Writing was a passion, but not a compulsion: She never felt the need to put every experience into words. Her fiction, although highly praised, competed for time with work, activism, family and friends. 'None of it happened, and yet every word of it is true,' she once said of her fiction. 'It's truth embedded in the lie.'"

Gays to protest unveiling of statue of former mayor, senator, and governor Pete Wilson on Saturday near Horton Plaza in San Diego because he "turned a cold shoulder to the gay community when it complained about police harassment." Human Relations Commission chair: "We refer to the Wilson years as the Dark Ages."

Is nudity all Mariah Carey has left?

Gays in Poland draw up list of political enemies: "There’s a parliamentary election coming. We want to enable the gay community to make a conscious choice and this is the reason for creating a list with the names of the people who have hindered us from achieving our goals."

One of the new Timbaland/Duran Duran songs, "Skin Diver", has leaked.

Reichen Lehmkuhl talks to the Windy City Times about his jewelry collection, Fly Naked: "The name actually came from a dare we had in pilot training; during a solo flight, you could take your clothes off while in the cockpit and you actually fly naked. So I ended up putting that on my license plate, and Udi Behr [ of LoveandPride.com ] saw it and said, 'That’d be such a great name for a jewelry line.' So over the next year, we developed the jewelry and came up with the pieces. It’s a very masculine line. The jewelry is made of titanium, which is what a lot of aircraft is made from—and the [ items ] are focused on aviation. For example, there are propellers and even dog tags [ in keeping with ] the military theme. Coming from the military myself and having to live in the closet under Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell, I really sympathize with those who are in the military who are living a lie, so I find it really important to do as much work as I can to lift the ban."

Chip Arndt talks about his new initiative, CPR to AAA.

DNA held its "sexiest men alive" party which drew Big Brother contestants and cover models to Will & Toby's in Taylor Square.

Nick Lachey offers up an O-face.

Russian activist interrogated over outing of politician: "On June 21, gay activist Nikolai Alekseev took part in the NTV talk show 'K baryeru!' during which he called deputy of the State Duma Alexander Chuev, member of pro-Kremlin party Fair Russia, 'gay, a coward and a hypocrite' who is only using orthodoxy and fight against homosexuality to reach his political goals."

Renovated theater opens to host North Carolina Gay and Lesbian Film Festival in Durham, beginning today.

New England Patriot QB Tom Brady's former girlfriend Bridget Moynahan had a baby boy yesterday. Brady, as you may know, is the daddy.

Gay Catholics want the term "family" back.

A look at Christiane Amanpour's exploration of God's Christian Warriors, which explores fundamentalism in America...

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San Diego Firefighters Claim Threats After Gay Pride Complaint

Four firefighters who complained to the state's Department of Fair Employment and Housing because they were teased by colleagues and taunted with sexual innuendoes during a gay pride parade they were instructed to ride in say they have received "threats" since going public with their complaint.

NBC San Diego reports: "Capt. John Ghiotto spoke with NBC 7/39 Monday. He said he's received threatening phone calls in light of his and the three other firefighters' complaints. 'This is not what I wanted. This is not where I wanted this to go,' Ghiotto said. 'But… we had no other choice and hopefully this will make us a stronger department.' Ghiotto has been a firefighter for 28 years, 19 of them in San Diego. He said he and another firefighter have been transferred to another station. Their complaint has led to a new policy within the department, which states they will rely solely on volunteers for future parade participation."

The threats against the firefighters, who seek the right to file a sexual harassment lawsuit against the San Diego Fire-Rescue Department, were not specified.

Firefighters: Threats Made Over Gay Parade Complaints [nbc san diego]

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San Diego Firefighters Sue Dept for Gay Pride Sexual Harassment

Four of San Diego's city firefighters have filed a request with the state Department of Fair Employment and Housing asking for the right to file a sexual harassment lawsuit against the San Diego Fire-Rescue Department after they say they were forced to participate in the San Diego gay pride parade that took place on July 21. The firefighters say that while taking part in the parade they were sexually harassed, according to 10news:

"During the parade, the firefighters said, bystanders taunted them with sexually explicit comments and colleagues called to tease them for participating in the event. 'I was forced into a situation that would compromise what I hold true and what I believe in,' engineer Jason Hewitt said in a statement. The four contend the department failed to protect them from sexual harassment and didn't immediately act to correct the situation, Stirling said."

Fire Chief Tracy Jarman, a lesbian, has apologized to Fire Capt. John Ghiotto, Engineer Jason Hewett and firefighters Chad Allison and Alex Kane and says she's having the the city's Equal Employment Investigative Office take a look at the situation, according to the San Diego Union-Tribune. The city's firefighters have participated in the gay pride parade for the last 15 years without incident.

Says CBS8: "They're trained to risk their lives battling fires, but some local firefighters suggest nothing could have prepared them for the insults and obscenities they faced at this year's gay pride parade."

The Union-Tribune reports: "In statements filed with the state, the men said that along the parade route, they were subjected to offensive lewd comments such as, 'You can put out my fire,' and saw men blowing kisses at them. Then, they said, they had to endure protesters who yelled at them that homosexuality was a sin. Some comments were too risque to print."

So, according to the paper, they had to endure men complimenting them for their looks, as well as experience first-hand the religious bigotry gay people must endure every day.

Poor things.

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O'Reilly: San Diego Padres Gay Night is "Social Engineering"

Bill O'Reilly hissed at the San Diego Padres' decision to offer hats to kids on the same night they were having a gay night, accusing the baseball team of "social engineering".

Rex Wockner reports on the "Christian" presence (about 75 picketed before the game started) and the performance of the San Diego Gay Men's Chorus:

"Chorus member Fergal O'Doherty told me: 'The crowd cheered when we marched out. Rainbow flags were visible waving in every section. There was no audible booing or hissing, to our shock and surprise. It was a breeze. [T]he Christian wackos from El Cajon were so few in number and so pathetic on TV, using worn out sound-bite platitudes like 'lifestyle' and 'protect our children,' to the yawns and boredom of all present.'"

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2006 Gay Bashing Inspires Citizen Patrol at San diego Gay Pride

You may remember the horrific gay bashing that occurred following last year's Gay Pride in San Diego in which six people were taunted and attacked by a group of men with a baseball bat and a sharp object near Balboa Park following the festival.

San Diego businessman Bob Lehman organized the patrols in response to last year's attack, the San Diego Union Tribune reports: "The group is planning to have a dozen four-person teams deployed in two areas: in Hillcrest along University Avenue, with its restaurants, bars and shops; and outside the festival's Balboa Park venue...The patrols will give suggestions on how people can avoid becoming victims of a crime, and if patrol members see criminal activity, they are prepared to call police quickly, act as witnesses and help victims."

Members of the "Stonewall Citizens Patrol" will wear black jerseys and orange safety vests and monitor activity from 9 p.m. to 3 a.m. July 20 and 21 outside the park and along University Avenue from Fifth Avenue to Park Boulevard. Lehman even bought the group an SUV in which it will roll through adjacent neighborhoods.

The men who made the vicious attacks are currently serving sentences ranging from 32 months to 11 years in prison.

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Rare Northern White Rhino Death Leaves 13 Left in the World

A rare northern white rhinocerous named "Nadi" who was living at the San Diego Zoo, has died, leaving the dwindling numbers of the species at 13 in the world. Only five are known to exist in the wild, at the Garamba National Park in the Democratic Republic of Congo. Six are in captivity in the Czech Republic, and two others remain at the San Diego Zoo.

Nadi was thought to be over 40 years old, according to NBC San Diego: "Nadi was brought in from the wild in Africa in 1972 and was part of a group maintained in the Czech Republic. Nadi and another female rhino came to the Wild Animal Park in 1989 as part of a last-ditch effort to breed the critically endangered species. Although both females were of advanced years, zoo staff hoped that the presence of a new male rhino would inspire breeding. Reproductive efforts were undertaken throughout the early 1990s but no calves were produced."

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Tyler Chase Harper Finally Loses Anti-Gay T-Shirt Lawsuit

This is a case that has been ongoing since Fall 2004. In 2004, Harper wore a T-shirt to school which said "Be Ashamed, Our School Embraced What God Has Condemned'' on the front and "Homosexuality Is Shameful" on the back, to protest the school's "Day of Silence", a day in which students take a vow of silence to make a statement about tolerance of gays and lesbians.

The school principal told Harper he couldn't wear the shirt to school. Harper claimed the school's policy violated his rights to freedom of speech and religion, and the case was picked up by the conservative legal organization Alliance Defense Fund and has been climbing up through the court system ever since.

Yesterday, the U.S. Supreme Court refused to suspend the dress code of the school which Harper had challenged:

"In an 8-1 ruling, the Supreme Court agreed with a federal judge that Harper lost his ability to challenge the policy when he graduated last year. Last year, the U.S. 9th Circuit Court of Appeals allowed the policy to remain in effect pending the outcome of the lawsuit and sharply criticized the student's challenge. The appellate judges said the T-shirt was 'injurious to gay and lesbian students' and 'collides with the rights of other students in the most fundamental way.' The Supreme Court ruling Monday also set aside the appellate ruling. Justice Stephen Breyer dissented."

The case may not be completely closed however. U.S. District Judge John Houston is still considering the matter on behalf of Harper's younger sister, Kelsie, who is still enrolled at the school. And the Supreme Court's setting aside of the appellate ruling suggests they don't necessarily agree with the philosophy behind it.