News: Venezuela, Kay Bailey Hutchison, Chapel Hill, Mormons

Marriage Equality New York holding rally tonight to protest anti-gay vote in Maine: "Please join us at a rally on Nov 4th in Union Square on 14th Street side at 5:30pm urging the NYS Senate to vote and in response to the votes on marriage equality across the United States."

50 Cent is a power ______.

Venezuelan police harassing and arresting LGBT citizens: "Like most of those arrested, our identity documents and mobile phones were taken away, we were beaten, our sexual orientation was insulted in degrading language, and we were refused permission to speak to the Justice Ministry officials and members of the National Guard who were present."

Mark Kleinschmidt becomes openly gay mayor of Chapel Hill, North Carolina.

Just Jared interviews Glee's Mark Salling.

Author details how Tom Cruise personally audited him for Scientology: "You tell the ashtray, 'Sit in that chair.' Then you actually go over and put the ashtray on the chair. Then you tell the ashtray, 'Thank you.' Then you do the same thing with the bottle, and the book. And you do this for hours and hours."

Fort Worth, Texas task force makes recommendations on expansion of gay rights in the city: "Jon Nelson, an attorney and chairman of the task force, called the recommendations 'one of the most far-reaching actions this city has taken, in the shortest amount of time.'"

Louisiana Justice of the Peace Keith Bardwell, who refused to marry an interracial couple, has resigned.

Female Spectacled Bears suddenly go bald in Leipzig.

Carrie Prejean - Miss California USA settlement details revealed: "We've learned the Pageant will fork over around $100,000 for Carrie's lawyers and publicists connected with the public battle royale. That money goes directly to her flacks and not into her bank account. We're told Carrie personally gets zilch. What Carrie walks away with: Her book comes out on Monday and we're told the Pageant won't fight her for writing it without its permission."

Sean Penn's son arrested at school.

Blu Dot tracks NYC abandoned chairs in "curb-mining" experiment.

Foundation for Reconciliation to deliver 2,000 signatures to Mormon leaders: "About 50 people are expected to deliver the petition to the offices of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints on Wednesday. Organizer Cheryl Nunn of Santa Cruz, Calif., says the petition is a reaction to the Salt Lake City-based church's support for Proposition 8, a 2008 ballot initiative that banned gay marriage in California."

Brad Pitt dresses up his beard with beads.

Facebook: the movie?

Seattle gay rights pioneer Paul Barwick reflects on applying for a marriage license in King County, Washington in 1971: We knew they weren't going to give us one, but damn it, they were going to have to tell us no to escort us out the door."

Early marriage equality advocates?

Gay Annapolis alderman candidate to file complaint over gay 'child molester' smears.

Dallas Morning News corrects article labeling OUT and The advocate "alternative lifestyle magazines."

Senator Kay Bailey Hutchison recommends gay man as U.S. Attorney: "Some Republicans are vehemently and unapologetically not ready for that. That could make it even harder for Hutchison to woo social conservatives in her bid to outflank and oust Gov. Rick Perry in March. "

Cyndi Lauper and Lady Gaga to hawk MAC lipstick for AIDS fund: "MAC Viva Glam Gaga Lipstick and Viva Glam Cyndi Lipstick, $14 each, will launch in North America on March 18 and globally throughout the month, with 100 percent of the proceeds being donated to the MAC AIDS Fund."

News: Texas, Lance Bass, New Brunswick, Scholastic, Curry

GLAAD announces inaugural GLAAD Media Awards in Advertising. Top TV winner was Orbitz commercial featuring Human Rights Campaign logo.

Lance Bass and his latest guy.

Scholastic backtracks on gay-themed book Luv Ya Bunches, says it will carry the book in its book fairs.

Two gay candidates vie for spot in Illinois General Assembly, and nobody's talking about their sexuality.

Adam Lambert and Katy Perry go on a Michael Jackson date.

Scientology spokesperson Tommy Davis speaks out about Paul Haggis defection: "In his first extensive interview since the resignation, Davis says Haggis’ letter is based on a series of misunderstandings. The church’s San Diego branch was erroneously named as backing Prop 8, he says. And he argues that his comments on CNN about disconnection have been mischaracterized. He declines to say whether, in light of his explanations, he believes Haggis might become reconciled to the church."

Morrissey returns to the stage.

Crowd of more than 1,000 turns out in New Brunswick, New Jersey to counter-protest six members of the Westboro Baptist Church

Jonathan Capehart: Harry Reid "crazy like a fox" with Hate Crimes bill.

CHART: Does policy trail public opinion on gay rights?

Seattle Gay and Lesbian Film Festival winners announced: "The Man Who Loved Yngve," directed by Stian Kristiansen, wins Best Feature Film.

Curry spice found to kill cancer cells.

Someone poured scalding water into Channing Tatum's wetsuit on the set of his latest film, but he's ok.

Fort Worth police appoint LGBT liaison: "[Sarah] Straten, who serves as the liaison in addition to her full-time job as a neighborhood police officer in the far north part of town, hopes the position will become an official, full-time one. She’s made it clear that she wants the job."

Alan Ball offers some spoilers for the upcoming season of True Blood.

Judge Tena Callahan talks about the courage she needed to summon in order to declare Texas' ban on same-sex marriage unconstitutional and proceed with a gay divorce case: “I was sitting at my dining room table and I was thinking, I’ve got to make this decision, I’ve got to rip this Band-Aid off and I’ve got to make this decision. My dad always used to tell me that a billion people can believe in a bad idea, and it’s still a bad idea. And that man taught me to have the courage of my convictions and to do what’s right — it’s always the right time to do the right thing. And as I’m sitting there and all this is going through my head, I’m looking at the back of this bag, and I went, ‘Oh my God, I just got my answer.’"

Scientology Spokesman Tommy Davis Storms Out of ABC Interview

Scientology spokesman Tommy Davis did not have a good weekend. In addition to getting a letter from director Paul Haggis renouncing the cult for gay bashing, ABC's Martin Bashir was mean to him in an interview, asking him questions like "Do you believe that a galactic emperor called Xenu brought his people to earth 75 million years ago and buried them in volcanoes?"

Bashir's line of questioning eventually caused Davis to have a hissyfit, rip off his microphone, and storm out on camera.

Watch, AFTER THE JUMP...

Crash Director Paul Haggis Quits Scientology Over Gay Bashing

Paul Haggis, director of Crash and Million Dollar Baby, has written a scathing letter to Tommy Davis, spokesman for Scientology head David Miscavige, announcing his departure from the Church of Scientology, citing the Church's attitude toward gays and lesbians and their position regarding Proposition 8 in California, among other things.

Here's an excerpt: 

As you know, for ten months now I have been writing to ask you to make a public statement denouncing the actions of the Church of Scientology of San Diego. Their public sponsorship of Proposition 8, a hate-filled legislation that succeeded in taking away the civil rights of gay and lesbian citizens of California – rights that were granted them by the Supreme Court of our state – shames us.

I called and wrote and implored you, as the official spokesman of the church, to condemn their actions. I told you I could not, in good conscience, be a member of an organization where gay-bashing was tolerated.

In that first conversation, back at the end of October of last year, you told me you were horrified, that you would get to the bottom of it and “heads would roll.” You promised action. Ten months passed. No action was forthcoming. The best you offered was a weak and carefully worded press release, which praised the church’s human rights record and took no responsibility. Even that, you decided not to publish.

The church’s refusal to denounce the actions of these bigots, hypocrites and homophobes is cowardly. I can think of no other word.  Silence is consent, Tommy. I refuse to consent.

I joined the Church of Scientology thirty-five years ago. During my twenties and early thirties I studied and received a great deal of counseling. While I have not been an active member for many years, I found much of what I learned to be very helpful, and I still apply it in my daily life. I have never pretended to be the best Scientologist, but I openly and vigorously defended the church whenever it was criticized, as I railed against the kind of intolerance that I believed was directed against it. I had my disagreements, but I dealt with them internally. I saw the organization – with all its warts, growing pains and problems – as an underdog. And I have always had a thing for underdogs.

But I reached a point several weeks ago where I no longer knew what to think.

Read the full, letter, AFTER THE JUMP...

News: Oscar Wilde, El Niño, Pepto-Bismol, Vladimir Putin, Iraq

U.S. military probing claims by Iraqi refugee that servicemembers were involved in the executions of gays in Iraq.

Provincetown player Ryan Landry stars as Oscar Wilde in production of Moises Kaufman's Gross Indecency.

Save the Earth, piss in the shower.

New El Niño may be second-strongest.

The Majority: Condé Nast's 'A-gay' tower of power?

Bolivia bans all circus animals: "Bolivia has enacted what animal rights activists are calling the world's first ban on all animals in circuses. A handful of other countries have banned the use of wild animals in circuses, but the Bolivian ban includes domestic animals as well."

Phyllis Schlafly unleashes on the National Education Association for supporting gays at its annual convention in San Diego.

Allen Thornell, LGBT leader in Georgia, dies after suffering stroke.

Leonardo Dicaprio hits the beach in Ibiza.

Pepto-Bismol ice cream: hangover cure?

Murses and the dudes who dig them. (via the awl)

Stonewall Shooting Sports: Gay Utah group to join gun rights march in Salt Lake City.

Killer of gay seaman August Provost, who committed suicide while in custody, had tried to kill himself twice before.

Movieline interviews photographer Bruce Weber.

Maybe the only reason to see the new G.I. Joe flick?

The NYT visits the John Bartlett boutique: "It’s not as if this store is exclusively gay; it’s just secure in its sexuality. Contrary to current film and television, there is a large segment of confident gay men out there who aren’t that obsessed with fashion. They work hard, and just need some nice clothes for jobs and second dates."

What Tom Cruise, John Travolta, and Will Smith will be wearing this fall.

Russian PM Vladimir Putin shows off his macho self again. FLASHBACK: A river runs through Russia: Fishing with Pin-up Putin.

75% of Poles against same-sex marriage.

Glenn Beck: Don't get violent, even though I've been riling you up for years.

Error rate increases as signatures are counted in Washington state anti-gay ballot measure.

Massachusetts teen held on $1000 bond after anti-gay assault: "According to the victim, he and his female friend were walking on Bay Street when they were approached by a group of four boys. They identified two of the four as Ambers and Gregg, who appeared to be intoxicated when they directed their attention toward the victim in an aggressive manner. Though she tried to keep Ambers at a distance, the victim’s friend told officers her attempts were futile. Reports say Ambers and Gregg shouted homosexual slurs as they punched and kicked the teenager until he fell to the ground."

Annie Lennox, backwards and forwards.

Are Scientologists Threatening to Out John Travolta if He Leaves?

The Daily Mail reports that John Travolta has been in a state of crisis since the death of his son Jett:

Say neighbors: "We often see John driving himself around at night. It's sad to see. You rarely catch sight of him during the day. We used to see him driving around on a buggy with his son. Now it's just John by himself. He's always been a night owl, but now even more so."

According to the paper, Travolta's faith in Scientology has been broken by Jett's death and the religion's inability to help his son, but the cult is threatening to expose him if he tries to kiss it good-bye:

"But if rumours buzzing around Hollywood this week are to be believed, it's not just the death of his beloved son that has been torturing Travolta of late. His distress, say sources close to him, has been compounded by the first cracks in his 34-year relationship with the Church of Scientology, the cult-like religion of which Travolta is a prominent and generous benefactor. And there are dark mutterings that if he carries out private threats to leave, the organisation will go public with embarrassing details of his private life, including, it is claimed, allegations of past homosexual relationships."