News; Jane Russell, Episcopals, Scott Heim, Heathrow, Paul Burrell

Iran's 'cure' for homosexuality: financial assistance for a sex change operation. Cleric: "Islam has a cure for people suffering from this problem. If they want to change their gender, the path is open."

Jane Russell shows Hollywood how a real movie star works Oscar's red carpet.

Singer-songwriter Ne-Yo may not be gay, but he is fast.

Elton John talks to CBS about his AIDS Foundation and recent reports that cases among young gay men are on the rise: "We are facing an uphill battle again in countries that you thought you'd crossed, you'd done that, you've covered that territory. Because people think, 'Well, you know, even if I do get HIV, I'm going to be OK.' They don't realize the toxicity of the drugs they have to take. And I just think it's so reprehensible, with the information available to them. But they do it and so we have to help them."

Da-Tah: a Scissor Sisters mash-up album, free for download. (via arjan writes)

Gay couple told to cool the PDA at swank New York restaurant Cipriani? "A gay editor was dining with another young man recently when a Cipriani staffer asked the duo to turn and face the bar. The waiter conveyed to them that Cipriani is a 'family restaurant' and they might offend other diners. The restaurant contends their actions were less gay bashing and more preserving the sanctity of fine dining from what one witness called 'blatant crotch-grabbing.' 'There was an unfortunate incident a few weeks ago where two individuals were acting inappropriately in a sexual manner at the bar of an upscale restaurant. It should go without saying that this behavior is completely unacceptable for anyone, regardless of sexual orientation,' a spokesman for the restaurant asserts."

That other awards show, The Independent Spirit Awards, was a touch less formal than the Oscars.

The Miami Herald talks to Gay American Heroes project founder Scott Hall.

Archbishop of Canterbury Rowan Williams backing secret plans to create "parallel" church for American conservatives defecting over the church's gay policy: "According to insiders, Dr Williams has given his blessing to the plans to create an enclave for up to 20 conservative American bishops that would insulate them from their liberal colleagues. The scheme would allow them to remain technically within the Episcopal Church but under the care of like-minded archbishops from abroad. The Primate of the West Indies, Archbishop Drexel Gomez, a moderate conservative, has agreed to participate, and other primates could be recruited. However, the initiative is likely to infuriate liberal leaders of the Episcopal Church, who will see it as an attempt to undermine their authority and interfere in their affairs."

Pastor Ken Hutcherson's hate sermon: "If I was in a drugstore and some guy opened the door for me, I’d rip his arm off and beat him with the wet end."

Wolverine shows off his washboard abs.

AfterElton talks to Michael K. Williams about Omar and the developments surrounding his character on last night's episode of The Wire [SPOILERS].

Novelist Scott Heim talks to the Boston Globe about his new book We Disappear and his escape from crystal meth addiction: "The drug didn't do anything for me anymore. It was just keeping me alive. It wasn't about pleasure; it was just obliterating the sadness. You don't write when you're on drugs because the last thing you want is to be alone. Crystal meth was erasing me, and the deeper I got I saw only three outcomes: death, prison, or recovery."

First look inside London Heathrow Airport's new Terminal 5.

Brit tabloid News of the World charges Diana butler Paul Burrell of leading 'secret gay life': "Paul IS a greedy liar, a devious snake. He's also ruthless and selfish. He's always made out that he's this happily-married family man when in reality he's gay and only interested in sex with men. He told me he hadn't slept with Maria for years. He's constantly on the lookout for gay pick-ups all over the world. And he shamelessly uses his back catalogue of Diana stories to hook his targets. He tells them all sorts about her to get them in the sack. His taste is for pretty, younger guys. He'll brag about his wealth and royal connections. There are plenty out there who fall for it."

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Jake Shears Penning Musical Version of Tales of the City

Spinner reports that Scissor Sisters' Jake Shears has been hard at work on a set of tunes for a musical version of Armistead Maupin's Tales of the City.

Spinner reports: "Since his pal, Jeff Whitty, sent him a note asking him what he thought of the books a year ago, Shears has been coming up with ideas and melodies. 'Over a year ago, I got a note from him saying, 'What do you think of 'Tales of the City?' I'm crazy about 'Tales!' I grew up on the books,' Shears enthuses. 'They were a big part of my teenager-hood. They're just great, great books with amazing characters and I love the era. My heart just started racing. I got very excited about it.' He's spent almost a year working on the project already, amassing 15 numbers. 'It's poppy and since there's no arrangement yet, all of our writing is just piano and my voice,' he explains. 'As it take shape, it's gonna even take on more of a style.''

Whitty wrote the book for Avenue Q.

According to Spinner, Scissor Sisters have also just begun working in the studio again on their third album:

"The flashy New York City five-piece are currently forcing themselves to hit the studio on a daily basis, to pen a host of new tunes. So far, Shears said they've come up with a handful of new 'really dancy' pop numbers and at least one sparkling rendition of someone else's song. 'We've started out with a really cool cover, which I'm not even gonna say what it is,' Shears says coyly. 'I mean, no one would know anyway. It's a pretty obscure song.'"

Previously
Jake Shears Interviews Dolly Parton in UK Special [tr]
Jake Shears Would "Take That" if Asked [tr]
Scissor Sisters' Jake Shears and Partner to Get Hitched [tr]

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Jake Shears Would "Take That" if Asked

Blessed with a bit off downtime between albums and tours, the Scissor Sisters' Jake Shears and Babydaddy reached out to recently re-formed boyband Take That and said they'd offer up Jake's services as an understudy. Take That recently canceled tour dates after band member Howard Donald ruptured his lung at a concert.

Said Shears to the UK's Daily Star: "I absolutely love Take That and would drop everything to join them on stage. It sucked that Howard got injured. I would have been him for a while if they’d asked. Right now I have time in my schedule and it means I’d get to dance again – though I’d probably pass on the backflips.”

Babydaddy chimed in: "I love the way Jake says he would drop writing our album to join Take That, but I adore them too so I’d tell him to go for it. Jake hasn’t danced for the past couple of months because we haven’t been on stage and I think he needs a little pick-me-up. He needs to get his dancing shoes back on. I don’t need to hear a word Gary says – I just love him. I know I’m not in the majority here, but I think he’s the sexiest creature ever."

And for a reminder of Take That at their campy peak, check out this gem:

(image above: kevin tachman/WENN)

Jake Shears And Babydaddy Scissor Gary Barlow [chart rigger]
JAKE THAT! [daily star]

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Scissor Sisters to Take Look Back with New DVD

Scissor Sisters are set to release a new DVD next month which includes a 90-minute concert shot at London's O2 Arena as well as a 40-minute documentary.

The documentary follows the band on their world tour and includes behind=the-scenes footage from the group's appearance on the soap opera Passions and a look at the making of their "She's My Man" video.

If the box art for the DVD feels strangely retro, there's a good reason. In the 70's and 80's, Drew Struzan designed hundreds of movie posters and related memorabilia, becoming known for a movie poster style that featured a "gallery of portraits".

The band, longtime fans of Struzan's work, asked the illustrator to design the artwork for Hurrah: A Year of Ta-Dah, which goes on sale November 12.

After the jump are a couple examples of Struzan's work, but there are many more posters here.

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News: Peru Meteor, Katherine Heigl, Grey Gardens, Brett Somers

Katherine Heigl's fiancé may one day repeat the words of Princess Diana: "There were three of us in that marriage."

Aussie Olympian Ian Thorpe cleared of doping charges leveled on him in May 2006. Investigator: "The evidence available does not indicate the use of performance-enhancing substances by Mr Thorpe. He has no case to answer."

Diamondback Prison in Oklahoma accused of hiring "homosexual predators" as prison guards.

Animated NYC subway map showing the construction of subway lines in sequential order.

MSNBC's Keith Olbermann hospitalized following emergency appendectomy: "Mr. Olbermann’s appendix apparently ruptured Wednesday, but he wrote it off as a stomach ailment and soldiered on. Though still feeling ill, he nonetheless reported for work Thursday night, when he anchored MSNBC’s analysis of President Bush’s prime-time address on the war in Iraq. It wasn’t until Friday afternoon that he decided it was time to seek medical attention, according to an MSNBC spokeswoman." Get well, sir.

CASTING ABOUT: Drew Barrymore and Jessica Lange to star in film version of Grey Gardens for HBO films. Jake Gyllenhaal and Tobey Maguire in negotiations to play Brothers.

Match Game regular Brett Somers dies at 83 after battle with stomach and colon cancer.

New York Times to end paid content service "TimesSelect" at midnight Tuesday: "The Times said the project had met expectations, drawing 227,000 paying subscribers — out of 787,000 over all — and generating about $10 million a year in revenue. 'But our projections for growth on that paid subscriber base were low, compared to the growth of online advertising,' said Vivian L. Schiller, senior vice president and general manager of the site, NYTimes.com. What changed, The Times said, was that many more readers started coming to the site from search engines and links on other sites instead of coming directly to NYTimes.com. These indirect readers, unable to get access to articles behind the pay wall and less likely to pay subscription fees than the more loyal direct users, were seen as opportunities for more page views and increased advertising revenue."

Meteor that struck Peru on Saturday causes mysterious illness among villagers: "Residents complained of headaches and vomiting brought on by a 'strange odor,' local health department official Jorge Lopez told Peruvian radio RPP. Seven policemen who went to check on the reports also became ill and had to be given oxygen before being hospitalized, Lopez said. Rescue teams and experts were dispatched to the scene, where the meteorite left a 100-foot-wide (30-meter-wide) and 20-foot-deep (six-meter-deep) crater, said local official Marco Limache. 'Boiling water started coming out of the crater and particles of rock and cinders were found nearby. Residents are very concerned,' he said." More...

Scissor Sisters' Ana Matronic lashes out at lenient sentence given to UK gay bashers who attacked her friend in July 2006: "I am really horrified and disgusted that, in particular, the one person who instigated this attack did not get sent to jail. She seems like a true menace and someone who is quite capable of doing this type of thing again. I was really shocked when I found out what had happened."

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Scissor Sisters' Jake Shears and Partner to Get Hitched

This spring will see a civil union between Scissor Sisters' Jake Shears and his partner of eight years — Chris, an art student at Yale who has thus far remained out of the spotlight. The two recently moved in together in an apartment in Tribeca in Manhattan. The Sunday Mirror reports that they will hold their ceremony in New Jersey in the spring followed by a lavish party in Manhattan:

"Kylie, Matt Lucas and Little Britain's David Walliams and Geri Halliwell have been ordered to clear their diaries for a 'glorious' day in Springtime in New York. The ceremony itself will be in nearby New Jersey where same sex marriage is legal. I hope the guests pack their sunglasses as Jake has been talking about making it technicolour, with brightly coloured daffodils and tulips, a striped wedding suit, a flock of white doves and confetti at the beginning and end. Jake, whose band sold out three nights at Greenwich's O2 arena last week, popped the question after splashing out on a love nest in New York with Chris."

A source told the paper: "They are both blissfully happy with their apartment and the wedding is the next thing. They're ready to show everyone they're together."

Scissor Misters [sunday mirror]
(photo: Kevin Tachman/WENN)

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Scissor Sisters Work Mud and Tartan for European Crowds [tr]
British Presenter Has His Way with Jake Shears [tr]
Scissor Sisters Play the Austrian Alps [tr]

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Scissor Sisters Work Mud and Tartan for European Crowds

The music festivals across the pond are in high gear and the Scissor Sisters have been taking it all in. This weekend they played the Oxegen Festival in Dublin (below) where Jake Shears flaunted his piggish tendencies with a roll in the mud during "Filthy, Gorgeous".

The group then headed up to Scotland for T in the Park (Above) where they rocked a set of custom Tartan plaids designed by Zaldy. Love those shorts and knee socks on Del Marquis.

Photos by Kevin Tachman/WENN. Click to enlarge.

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Vienna Life Ball Brings out the Glitter to Fight AIDS [tr]
Scissor Sisters Play the Austrian Alps [tr]

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British Presenter Has His Way with Jake Shears

British presenter Steve Jones of Transmission with T-Mobile wanted a little taste of Jake Shears much to Shears' surprise (and pleasure) during a show last Friday night. The Scissor Sisters appeared with The Gossip's Beth Ditto and Yoko Ono.

(screencap source

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Vienna Life Ball Brings out the Glitter to Fight AIDS

The 15th Annual Life Ball took place in Vienna on Saturday night, drawing 4,000 partygoers and more than 40,000 spectators to its opening ceremony. The Ball, which last year, according to the International Herald Tribune, raised $1.5 million to fight AIDS, featured a fashion show by Heatherette and musical performances by the Scissor Sisters.

Scissor Sisters photographer Kevin Tachman sent us these shots. Above, Lance Bass is kissed by Traver Rains, one half of Heatherette, as he ends his runway walk.

Scissor Sisters' Anamatronic and actor Alan Cumming. Amanda Lepore prepares for her walk-on.

Another Heatherette Life Ball model.

The Scissor Sisters perform. Porn star Jenna Jameson (left) takes the stage.

Jake Shears makes some adjustments.

Seth Kirby and Ana Matronic with musical group The Ones. Heatherette's Richie Rich, Mario Testino, Sharon Stone, Traver Rains. Stone told the crowd: "It's very important for us to remember that the AIDS and HIV situation is a situation that began from love, and it's a situation that will end with love...We have to constantly remind ourselves and others that there is no shame that love cannot cure; there is no hatred, no controversy and no walls that cannot come down when faced with the power of love and dignity."

Amanda Lepore walks the walk.

All photos: Kevin Tachman / WENN

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Towleroad Guide to the Tube #119

"BUSH FATIGUE": George Bush Sr.'s understatement of the year. More...

SCISSOR SISTERS: Video for the new single "Kiss You Off". (source: socialite's life)

SANJAYA: Appears on the Ellen show.

OUCH: Four-year-old sacked during last weekend's CSU football game. (source: deadspin)

Check out our previous guides to the Tube here!

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Scissor Sisters Play the Austrian Alps

Scissor Sisters photographer Kevin Tachman sent us these shots from the annual Top Of The Mountain show at the Silvretta Arena Ischgl-Samnaun in Ischgl, Austria this past weekend. Tina Turner, Bob Dylan, and Elton John have played the show before, which is meant to mark the end of the official ski season there.

Said Tachman, "The altitude had Jake reaching for the oxygen tank and Ana Matronic toasting to high altitude effects of alcohol." That's some venue!

You may have missed...
Scissor Sisters Appearance on Passions [tr]
Scissor Sisters Appearance on Passions - Part 2 [tr]

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News: Damien Hirst, Jake Shears, Gaydar, Steve Irwin, Woodpecker

British bachelor gets dream date with Anderson Cooper — for $21,000.

In ironic hanging, Steve Irwin portrait replaces Germaine Greer's at Australia's National Portrait Gallery. At the time of Irwin's death, Greer had slammed the animal lover, saying "The animal world has finally taken its revenge on Irwin, but probably not before a whole generation of kids in shorts seven sizes too small has learned to shout in the ears of animals with hearing 10 times more acute than theirs, determined to become millionaire animal-loving zoo-owners in their turn."

Britney Spears' rat nest goes up for sale for a cool million. But she wastes no time replacing it.

Scientists: May be too late to save polar ice caps.

The Guardian reflects on gay "dating" site Gaydar and its founder Gary Frisch, who plunged eight floors to his death from his apartment balcony in south London last week: ""Some people are uncomfortable with Gaydar because it encourages a culture, almost through peer pressure, which kind of obliges users to reference themselves by their sexual preferences and the size of their equipment. You won't generally find that someone will call themselves, say, librarian3. It's going to be cocklover72 or something. You feel obliged to be that way because it's part of the culture. If you were to step outside that culture you would just look odd."

Gay Jamaican who appeared on TV anonymously has attempted suicide after residents in his community recognized his pendant and IDed him.

Damien Hirst offers up butterflies to Hollywood: "Indicative of how important his attack on Hollywood is for him, Hirst is flying more than 100 members of his staff into LA for the event and the Oscar parties. His first Hollywood show is not just about those tired old warhorses, money and celebrity. It’s also about credibility."

Love Comes Quickly for Pet Shop Boy Neil Tennant and Jake Shears.

Shame: How the Bush administration honor's America's troops: "Behind the door of Army Spec. Jeremy Duncan's room, part of the wall is torn and hangs in the air, weighted down with black mold. When the wounded combat engineer stands in his shower and looks up, he can see the bathtub on the floor above through a rotted hole. The entire building, constructed between the world wars, often smells like greasy carry-out. Signs of neglect are everywhere: mouse droppings, belly-up cockroaches, stained carpets, cheap mattresses."

Judy Garland (aka Rufus Wainwright) brings Carnegie Hall to London.

Robotic birdwatcher to search for ivory-billed woodpecker thought extinct.

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Ta-Dah! Scissor Sisters Appear on Passions — Part Two

Here's part two of the Scissor Sisters' appearance on the NBC soap Passions.

And part one if you missed it!

Plus...
Scissor Sisters Conjured up on Passions (photos) [tr]
(thanks alan)

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Scissor Sisters Infomercial Appearance on Passions

The Scissor Sisters are conjured up on Passions, and the label rings up sales with a fairy wand. (photos)

What's the name of that album again? No, tell us again.

I suppose this is about as entertaining as things get on a daytime soap when there are no gratuitously shirtless guys around.

You may have missed...
Scissor Sisters Wrap Up UK Tour [tr]
Scissor Sisters Soar in U.K., Struggle in U.S. [tr]
Scissor Sisters Cutting It Up Again [tr]
(thanks, alan)

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News: Shirley Q. Liquor, Scissor Sisters, Colombia, Pete Wentz

Masterfoods privately pissed about Snickers snafu: "Reportedly, the candy giant is operating in full crisis mode inside the company, trying to resolve the Snickers anti-gay ad issue and ensure it never happens again. The phrase our source heard used was, 'heads will roll.'"

Fall Out Boy Pete Wentz rates anal sex a "10".

Iowa house approves bill protecting gay and lesbian students from harassment. Bill moves back to Senate for debate: "It also assures that private religious schools are free to offer their anti-homosexual teachings."

Colombian Constitutional Court rules that same-sex couples should have the same property rights as heterosexual couples: "The decision applies to those who have been living together for two years. A gay rights group, which had sought the clarification from the court, said at least 100,000 couples would benefit. A court source said it did not mean same-sex civil unions - which are part of a bill currently being debated in Congress - had been approved."

Slade from The Real Housewives of Orange County takes to the waterfall in nude modeling gig.

The Scissor Sisters are appearing on the NBC soap Passions today and tomorrow.

GLAAD condemns Shirley Q. Liquor: "While our work at GLAAD is about promoting fair, accurate and inclusive media representations of the LGBT community, this issue has risen to a level of visibility and importance that we feel compelled to add our voice to those speaking out against this awful portrayal. Based on what we have heard from community members and read about this character, we are joining those taking a stand against Knipp's offensive caricature. We recognize that this performer has a right to free speech and expression, but we also have the right to condemn his performance and speak out against this harmful depiction."

Feeling stressed? Sniff an armpit.

Mitt Romney to announce Presidential bid next week in Michigan: "Romney is seeking to convince the GOP's conservative flank, whose support is pivotal in GOP presidential nomination contests, that he shares their values and stands with them on social issues, including abortion and gay marriage. But he's been forced to explain inconsistencies in his record from when he ran as a moderate in his two previous campaigns -- a successful bid for Massachusetts governor in 2002 and an unsuccessful challenge to U.S. Sen. Edward M. Kennedy, a liberal icon, in 1994. Romney supported abortion rights until two years ago, when he says he had a change of heart during a legislative debate on stem cell research. He has also taken positions sympathetic to gay rights in the past, although he opposes gay marriage."

The Who are set to headline Britain's Glastonbury Festival.

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News: Beefeaters, Provincetown Pirate Cash, Brandon Davis, Dirt

A guide to the 50 best webcams in New York City. (via curbed)

Jake Shears in Baby New Year diaper dance.

14-year-old boy is youngest ever to cross Atlantic solo, from Gibraltar to Antigua. Mom: "I did get quite scared when I found out he had to tie a rope around his waist and dive into the water to fix something, and when he was talking about sharks. But you cannot expect your kids not to go out. You don’t want them staying at home, fixed to the computer. They need to be out there, fulfilling their ambitions, otherwise life will pass them by. I just wish more kids had the opportunity to do these things."

Critics aren't digging Courtney Cox's Dirt. For the record, neither did I.

After 522 years, Tower of London to get first female Beefeater.

Provincetown to create its own barter currency: Dune Doubloons. "The Unitarian Universalist Meeting House is behind the idea — slated to be rolled out on Jan. 15 — to create a local, legal barter currency that residents can use to exchange skills and services. UU Meeting House Rev. Alison Hyder said most people living in town have a skill, resource or interest that could be of use to someone else. By using the paper barter currency, called 'dune doubloons,' residents can pay for a pie or putting up storm windows or guitar lessons without using real cash. 'Affordability is obviously one of the most pressing problems people face here,' Hyder said. 'This will help them stay afloat while saving ‘real’ money for other bills.'

Have you ever looked up gluttonous pig in the dictionary?

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Scissor Sisters Conjured Up on Passions

The Scissor Sisters will make their daytime TV debut in February, on two episodes of the soap Passions airing February 8 and 9.

Kevin Tachman, the group's photographer, sent in these shots and provided this synopsis of the storyline:

"In this two-episode arc, young witch Endora (Nicole Cox), a big fan of Scissor Sisters, conjures them up in Tabitha’s (Juliet Mills) living room. The band, extremely disoriented, plays their first song and then suddenly disappears into thin air, leaving Endora wanting more. After Endora is put to bed, she decides she wants an encore. This time she makes them appear at the hottest club in Harmony, The Blue Note, where she is dressed as a Scissor Sister groupie. Realizing they are no longer at their concert, the band is once again confused, but decide to keep on playing for the excited crowd."

A few more shots from the set after the jump...

You may have missed...
Scissor Sisters Wrap Up UK Tour [tr]
Scissor Sisters Soar in U.K., Struggle in U.S. [tr]

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Scissor Sisters Wrap Up UK Tour

Scissor Sisters finished their UK tour (at which they've been setting attendance records) on the 26th at Wembley Arena in London. Kevin Tachman, the Sisters' tour photographer sent us a few shots from the festivities and the party afterwards, including this photo of Jake Shears getting cozy with a very happy Sir Ian McKellen.

Brit songstresses Sophie Ellis-Bextor (pictured here with Babydaddy) and Lily Allen also showed up at the post-concert soiree.

More shots of the concert after the jump...

Thanks to Kevin Tachman (website) for the great shots.

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News: Mars, Ricky Martin, Mexico City, Paul Rudnick Play

University of Wisconsin-Madison professors consider leaving after gay marriage amendment defeat, citing lack of benefits.

Scissor Sisters set attendance record at stadium in Birmingham, England.

It'll be a gay ol' New Years in Edinburgh when Robbie Williams joins the Pet Shop Boys in concert and they perform their collaborative homage to Madge, called "She's Madonna". The song is to be released as a single in January.

Actor sends out press release about Tom Cruise gay sex polaroids just in time for Rome wedding. Of course, timing had nothing to do with it: "Understandably, Mark is trying to completely avoid the media coverage of Mr. Cruise's Scientology wedding..."

Legislation recognizing gay unions in Mexico City gets public airing.

Mars Rover celebrates 1000th day with crater porn.

Ricky Martin abandoned his child when he was younger — his inner child.

In Regrets Only, Paul Rudnick asks, what if 'fashionable' gays went on a one-day strike in support of gay marriage? Rudnick: "Certainly there are plenty of straight designers and straight caterers. But still, I think if we were being absolutely realistic, if all the gay people at a certain level of Manhattan socializing decided to take the day off, they could make a lot of trouble."

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News: Iraqi Gays, Moby vs. Macho, Spooky Scissor Sisters

As Iraq disintegrates, gays in Bagdhad fearing for their lives: "Thamir and other gay men complain about frequent mistreatment by police, accusing them of blackmail, torture, sexual abuse and theft. 'Policemen raped me several times at gunpoint and threatened to hand me over to extremist groups if I refuse.'...For him, the Saddam era seems like a 'golden' time because homosexuality was discreetly tolerated."

Jakenstein? Scissor Sisters get spooky for Halloween.

Heterosexual Moby appalled by "macho culture": "I'm straight but I've grown up around gay people and gay clubs. They are superior to straight people. If you have a gay child you're more inclined to be a prouder parent."

Will & Grace creators Kohan and Mutchnick planning new sitcom based on themselves: "Kohan, who is straight, and Mutchnick, who is gay, have been friends since their teen years at Beverly Hills High School. Like 'Will & Grace,' their project for CBS is a buddy comedy about a quartet of characters -- a gay writer and a straight writer, who are best friends, and their hot young assistants."

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News: Star and Al, Clinton's Leg, British Sex Survey

MSNBC runs entire segment on Clinton's pale leg.

Star Jones sends ultimatum to the Enquirer, threatens to sue over story that her marriage to Al Reynolds, Jr. is a sham: "You have also chosen to state that Mr. Reynolds is gay. While Mr. and Mrs. Reynolds believe that everyone should be free to make their own choice concerning sexual preference and that there is nothing wrong with being gay, you have nonetheless chosen to falsely state that Mr. Reynolds is gay." One has to do something to stay in the headlines.

Designation of October as Lesbian and Gay History Month by Philadelphia School District unhinges some parents.

1949 British sex survey unearthed in archives reported 1 in 5 men as having had a homosexual experience.

Newsweek: Americans can't handle the truth.

NewNowNext excerpts the LOGO Scissor Sisters special. Here's Jake Shears on the labeling of the Sisters' sound as 'gay music': "They love the stamp, and it also seems like it's almost like 'gay' means you’re like Grade-B beef, y'know? It's like sticking 'gay' in front of our names is very much like y'know... It's very second-tier, which is frustrating. But we're also part of a tradition of gay pop musicians. Look at Pet Shop Boys or Georgia Michael or Erasure or, who else? Frankie Goes to Hollywood. There's an emotional resonance in all of those artist's music that makes it different than other people's music. And I'd like to think that we have that resonance. And then there are also bands that have that that weren’t even gay. Take a band like ABBA; there's something in their music that can stand next to Pet Shop Boys or some of George Michael's biggest pop songs. I don’t know what it is and I'm not sure if you can really put your finger on it. But there is, I think, a trajectory of groups with gay people in them that have a certain emotional quality that's not necessarily seen or heard in a lot of other music."

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Scissor Sisters Soar in U.K., Struggle in U.S.

The Scissor Sisters will appear on Dancing with the Stars this week as well as Late Night with Conan O'Brien in an effort to get their tunes in front of an American audience to whom they are virtually unknown, even though their single has soared to #1 in the UK.

Jake Shears told Billboard: "American music fans are just as musically open-minded as their British counterparts. But the powers that be in the U.S. may not be as open-minded. Which, to a degree, will hold us back in the U.S. ... Tons of Americans would love our music, but they don't know we exist. People have lots of preconceived notions about us. But they get over them by hearing us or seeing us live. People just need to be exposed to this song ("I Don't Feel Like Dancin'")-- and our music in general. They'll get it. People may look at us and think, 'What a bunch of weirdos.' But give them time and they'll see that we're pretty special."

These shots, by Kevin Tachman, are from Saturday night's VFest at the Pimlico Racetrack in Baltimore on Saturday. Check out more of his shots here.

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Scissor Sisters Cutting It Up Again

The Scissor Sisters get a rave review for their new album Ta-Dah from the Times of London:

"In Britain we expect a certain amount of camp from our entertainers — and yet it’s hard to imagine that there might have been a British Scissor Sisters, a band who understood the straight-up disco potential in covering Pink Floyd’s Comfortably Numb for their debut single. Being out about your sexuality is one thing, but such is the lingering tribalism left by punk’s year-zero approach, that being out about the unholy triumvirate of 1970s genres — soft-rock, beard-rock and disco — is another thing entirely...If Scissor Sisters have felt any kind of pressure to extend the run of hits spawned by their first album, you wouldn’t know it by listening to this guileless, celebratory record. Might Tell You Tonight is a cry for a home where new love waits for the first time, allied to an industrially adhesive chorus."

Celebration was hardly part of the process in creating the album, however, according to a cover article by Tom Donaghy in this month's Out magazine. During the recording of Ta-Dah, Jake Shears slid into a depression which was compounded by the death of the namesake of one of their first album's hits, Shears' friend Mary.

Said Shears, who apparently met Mary on a phone chat line when he was 15 : "She looked out for me. I was somehow getting into gay bars, and she would drive an hour to wait in the parking lot until I was ready to go home. She’d struggled with obesity for a long time and didn’t understand why someone she thought was living 'a fabulous life' would want to be her friend. I wrote the song to reassure her."

"Mary" was probably my favorite song off their last album. Never knew the affirming story behind it.

Check out Out's Jake Shears cover after the jump...

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New Scissor Sisters Single: "Don't Feel Like Dancing"

You can get your hands on the new Scissor Sisters single now, and it's a disco-pumped treasure trove of the references the band has been digging since their debut: the Bee Gees, early Elton, George Michael, it's all here. There's some country in there too.

As far as a debut from their sophomore effort it's pure safety, but I'm not complaining. The track is loads of fun. I'll surely be picking this one up.

Get the single while you can.

Photo by Kevin Tachman, part of his great set of shots taken at the Coney Island Siren Festival.

New Scissor Sisters: "Don't Feel Like Dancing" [stereogum]

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Scissor Sisters Play Coney Island