News: Norway, Spice Girls, Talan Torriero, Gregg Araki, Taipei

University of Virginia attempts to deal with anti-gay football chant: "After a Cavalier touchdown, the marching band strikes up what, to an outsider, sounds like 'Auld Lang Syne.' But, to its tune, students and alumni sing the 'Good Old Song,' its lyrics written by Edward A. Craighill in 1895, its mention of all being 'bright and gay' a throwback to when 'gay' meant 'happy,' the line a launching pad for what’s since become a university tradition of negating the word 'gay' with gleeful (often drunken) shouts of 'not gay!'"

Spice Girls lipsync their way through Victoria's Secret fashion show.

Is Laguna Beach's Talan Torriero the next Aquaman?

Norway's Lutherans vote to allow clergy in same-sex partnerships to serve: "The compromise decision reflected the realization that the church may have to live with a deep split over the issue. After an anguished week of debate at its annual meeting, the church's 86-member governing synod voted 50-34 to make the change. Two members abstained. The meeting, which ended Friday, was held in the town of Lillehammer. The decision means that six of Norway's 11 bishops are likely to open the pulpit to gay clergy in partnerships. In a vote earlier in the year, those six bishops voted in favor of easing the ban. The church already allows gays to serve in the clergy as long as they are not living in a homosexual partnership."

Amherst College students apologize to five Hampshire College students who "were allegedly called names, threatened, spit at and were blocked from leaving the dorm" following a gay party at which they were guests: "Dozens of students gathered outside Valentine Dining Hall at the college yesterday carrying signs that said 'We're Sorry Hampshire' and "I don't want to be 'tolerated.' They also asked passers-by to sign a banner that said 'Please Come Back.'"

IndieWire chats with filmmaker Gregg Araki about his film Smiley Face. We previewed a couple John Krasinski stills from the movie in October.

AfterElton talks to Van Hansis and Jake Silbermann about their gay storyline as Luke and Noah on As The World Turns. Hansis: "My parents are so proud of me it sort of embarrasses me. My mom cried on the red carpet at the Emmys this year when she was asked about how she felt for her son to be nominated. It was actually really nice. It’s great to see your parents so proud of your accomplishments. Both my parents now go through the soap magazines at the grocery store and point to pictures of me and tell the cashier 'That’s my son!' They are generally busy during the day so I think they watch the show online. But they have always been my biggest fans and I couldn’t ask for anything more."

From the just-don't-get-it dept: Taipei restaurant gives a completely new meaning to potty-mouthed.

Esteemed design group Pentagram takes a look at the redesigned Advocate: "Today gays and lesbians are no longer an ignored minority, and the younger generations have experienced a saturation of media both from and about the community. Activism, while still important, is less in the mix, and issues like gay marriage, medicine and civil rights have shifted to the mainstream press. At the same time, the circulation of newsweeklies is changing as news and information is more readily available online. The magazine’s redesign reflects these transformations. The new Advocate is modern and vibrant while continuing to confront politics and difficult LGBT issues. Impressively, it manages to successfully straddle the line between opinion leader and entertainment magazine without losing its journalistic integrity and with a tone that is sophisticated, but not frivolous."

Rod McCullom on HuffPost: John Edwards and Barack Obama make mistake of repeating Republican talking points to attack one of their own. "...something funny happened to Senators Edwards and Obama on their way to Las Vegas. Maybe the high-roller suites have complimentary testosterone and egos on the pillows, or, possibly they bumped into Elvis, who told them, "A little less conversation and a little more action." They lost their mojos. Instead of throwing the hungry audience sound bites that were wrapped in juicy, red meat, the two candidates tossed stale, Republican talking points at frontrunner Hillary Clinton and the audience booed and hissed."

Without fanfare, Nicaragua drops anti-sodomy laws: "In adopting a new national civil code on Monday, the Nicaraguan National Assembly sidestepped the longstanding law that penalized sodomy between members of the same-sex with up to five years in prison by overwhelmingly voting to approve a new civil code that simply did not mention it."

Bah Humbug: The Bill O'Reilly Christmas Store is now open!

Sphere: Related Content

Gay Parade Draws Thousands in Taiwan

The fifth annual gay parade took place in Taipei, Taiwan over the weekend and organizers reported that ">the number of people participating jumped to 7,000 from last year's 2,000.

The AFP reports: "The parade reached its climax with a rally outside Taipei City Hall, where Taiwanese pop diva A-Mei was recognised as a goodwill ambassador by organisers for her support of the gay community. The singer, who performed some of her hit songs to the cheering crowd, endeared herself to the gay audience when she released a music video depicting a gay wedding scene several years ago. Despite the festive atmosphere, organisers hoped to get some serious messages across to the public."

Taiwan's parliament has been sitting on bills since 2003, one which would forbid discimination based on sexual orientation and another which would allow same-sex marriage and adoption, but little action has been taken. Organizers said they hoped the parade and rally would encourage lawmakers to move on the bills.

Gay rights supporters march in Taipei to demand respect [iht]
Thousands march in Taipei for gay rights [afp]

Sphere: Related Content

News: Newt Gingrich, Spice Girls, Taipei Pride, Dean Johnson

Gay businessman Tony Hoare bludgeoned to death walking his dogs in London. Motivation behind the attack is unclear.

NYC downtown icon and gay performing artist Dean Johnson dies: "The six-foot-six promoter was found dead by authorities in Washington, D.C., but remained unidentified until this week. Police are still investigating the cause...At times a porn star and at other times a rock star (he fronted Dean and the Weenies and later the Velvet Mafia), he was always recognizable by his height (often augmented by heels) and brazen eyewear..." More from World of Wonder.

Taipei, Taiwan to hold carnival and gay pride parade this month. The carnival is this weekend. Said city official Jason Yeh: "The theme of this year's gay carnival is 'Teach You How to Watch a Gay Film'. We want the public to watch gay films in a relaxed atmosphere so that they can understand gay-related issues."

Fall auctions to test the art market bubble: "Doom-mongers are dubbing the blitz of forthcoming London sales as 'judgment week'. It will begin on October 11 with the opening of the Frieze art fair, which attracts dealers from all over the world."

Male Missouri high school student crowned Homecoming Queen: "His mother, Mary Ann Zaggy, said her son wanted to surprise his steady girlfriend at the dance tonight when the honor is formally bestowed. 'It's no big deal,' said [Marcel] Coleman, the homecoming king, although he was unsure how the traditional king-queen dance would play out. The school body voted for Zaggy, but he may have upset some students who consider the homecoming court no laughing matter."

Street Angels to take to the streets to thwart anti-gay attacks in Sydney: "The GenQ Street Angels want volunteers with policing, military, security or medical experience to join. They could be patrolling in Sydney's Oxford Street precinct and the King Street strip in Newtown as early as the first weekend in November. Organiser and GenerationQ.net founder Andrew Stopps said he hoped the patrols would initially focus on Friday and Saturday nights between 9pm and 3am, when as many as 10,000 partygoers flood Surry Hills, Darlinghurst and Paddington."

Newt Gingrich says he won't run for president.

Spice Girls reunion concert sells out in 38 seconds.

Anti-gay artists Elephant Man and Sizzla nixed from Toronto concerts over homophobic lyrics.

The Captain + Tennille = Tori Spelling?

Anti-gay wingnut's daughter to star in production of The Laramie Project: "Amy Contrada, author of the vehemently anti-gay MassResistance blog and tireless crusader against the Laramie Project play, failed to report that her own daughter will star in Acton High School's production of the play this November. Despite the fact that her daughter will play a TV reporter and serve as a Moderator for the play, which sensitively chronicles the death of Mathew Shepard, Contrada remains committed to organizing an anti-gay forum at the same High School in October."

Madonna to collaborate with Elton John? Elton: "Madonna is a great artiste and I think I shoot my mouth off too much, really. Who wouldn't want to work with her?"

Police accused of harassing LGBT gathering during opening week of UN General Assembly: "On Wednesday night, September 26, without provocation, officers from the 9th Precinct of the New York Police Department attacked lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender community members who were attending an event organized by the Sylvia Rivera Law Project (SRLP). At the celebration, in front of M & R Bar, at 356 Bowery Street, two people were violently arrested without cause. Others were pepper sprayed in the face without warning or cause, and injured. Most of the people attacked by the police were people of color, and many were transgender."

7,000, including hecklers, show up for North Carolina's Pride Fest.

Sphere: Related Content

News: O.J. Simpson, Humberto, Macalester, Amy Winehouse

New Jersey school district split over film depicting same-sex parents: "Emily describes her interracial family — her father is of European descent and her mother’s background is Asian — this way: 'It doesn’t mean you have to be a rat to marry a rat. You can be a rat and marry a mouse.' But at another point in a state-approved educational video shown to third graders here, Daniel introduces his parents: 'These are my two dads.' Another child says, 'It’s really cool have to two gay dads, because they brought us into a home, and they adopted us, and they love us.' That was enough to entangle this wealthy suburb of 45,000, about 15 miles east of Philadelphia, in a heated debate among parents and educators."

Hurricane Humberto's record blow-up: "Humberto didn't exist until late Wednesday afternoon, and wasn't even a tropical storm until almost midday, strengthening from a tropical depression with 35-mph winds to a hurricane with 85-mph winds in just 18 hours, senior hurricane specialist James Franklin said at the National Hurricane Center in Miami. 'To put this development in perspective, no tropical cyclone in the historical record has ever reached this intensity at a faster rate near landfall. It would be nice to know, someday, why this happened,' Franklin said."

Big Brokeback Mountain screening at the Castro Theater this Sunday — props and costumes from the film on display.

OJ Simpson questioned in Las Vegas casino theft.

Almost married in Iowa: "Inside the Polk County Administration Building, we traversed a hallway, followed by TV crews and cameras. We signed and notarized our application, and headed to the courthouse to waive the three-day waiting period, which required a judge’s signature. Our plan was to be married in Iowa City by dusk. When we met the judge, Pam and I introduced ourselves, and explained our request. His response was devastating: 'I apologize, but the judge just issued an immediate stay, pending appeal to the Iowa Supreme Court. I am so sorry.'"

Kylie Minogue readies "2 Hearts" for release.

HIV variant offers fresh vaccine hope.

Oregon bigots struggle to get 55,179 valid signatures necessary to suspend gay rights laws from going into effect on January 1: "Let's just say that we're not there yet."

Tallest building in China rises above Shanghai.

Lesbian mom battles Amazon over Tuition and Textbooks Sweepstakes.

Amy Winehouse's childhood album. Today is her 24th birthday.

Neil Patrick Harris talks to Ellen about no longer having to hide his boyfriend David Burtka at the Emmys.

Student car at Macalester College vandalized in hate crime: "A Macalester student's car was 'vandalized with homophobic graffiti and damaged' last Saturday night or Sunday morning, according to a Bulletin Flash sent Tuesday to the Macalester community. The car was parked North of campus, near the corner of Summit Ave. and Fry St. There is no evidence Macalester students were involved in the crime. The Executive Board of Macalester College Student Government (MCSG) called for 'a student response' in a statement sent to students on Wednesday. 'We support every student who is a part of this community, and this will not go overlooked,' the MCSG statement said. 'We are a small community and this will undoubtedly send ripples to every corner of campus.'" Macalester was recently named the most gay-friendly college in the country by The Princeton Review.

Gay rights activists in Taipei demonstrate outside Nicaraguan embassy over country's sodomy laws.

Sphere: Related Content

News: Posh and Katie, Gay Depression, Prince Charles Praise

Following a court ruling that said a same-sex Rhode Island couple can marry in Massachusetts, the Providence-based lesbians did just that: "Becker's mother, Marjorie, stood near the women, reminding them to hold their bouquets at their stomachs, not their chests. Her father, William, couldn't stop saying how proud he was of his daughter and soon-to-be daughter-in-law. 'It's rare that you can change the world,' he said."

Lost stars Dominic Monaghan and Evangeline Lilly to marry.

Stepford Wives unite: the mirror has two faces.

Olympian Ian Thorpe is back in Australia after his three-month stay in Los Angeles. Thorpe had wanted to spend some time in the United States to escape the media glare but ended up getting just the opposite.

Taiwanese Survey: "Almost 13 percent of homosexual college students are suffering from severe depression and are three times more likely to attempt suicide than their heterosexual counterparts."

Prince Charles praises the late openly gay priest Harry Williams in foreword to a newly-published book of his essays, Living Free: "Harry Williams proved to be a star; a man of intense humanity and warmth whose humour and originality created an aura of approachability. His courageous willingness to open up his inner soul and being and to speak from the heart about his own experience of the vicissitudes, complications and agonies of life struck a powerful and immediate chord with huge numbers of undergraduates."

Sphere: Related Content

Taipei Mayor Raises Gay Flag Over City Hall

Taipei Mayor Ma Ying-jeou raised a rainbow flag over City Hall on Sunday for the first time. This is the gayest motion by a public official in that country since the President of Taiwan, Chen shui-bian, compared U.S.-Taiwan relations to Brokeback Mountain.

The flag was given to Ma by San Francisco Mayor Gavin Newsom. At Sunday's ceremony, Ma said: "Tolerance is a necessary virtue for any world-class city. Homosexuality is a natural phenomenon that cannot be suppressed away nor spread beyond its natural bounds. Gay rights are a part of human rights. We want Taipei to be a multifaceted city filled with love, peace and tolerance."

And in a move sure to both further piss off China and prove to the world that in taking on the social traditions across the Pacific, their stereotypical nuances will not be left behind, "the crowds danced, waving rainbow-colored pompoms in a routine set to 'Go West' by the Village People."

All kidding aside, we applaud Ma's actions and wish Taiwan a very gay Pride.

Ma Attends Gay Rights Event [taipei times]

Sphere: Related Content

News: Suri Cruise, Public Masturbation, Heat

End global warming, extend daytime hours: Are you ready to jump?

Shortlist for Britain's prestigious Mercury Prize in music: Arctic Monkeys, Isobel Campbell and Mark Lanegan, Editors, Guillemots, Richard Hawley, Hot Chip, Muse, Zoe Rahman, Lou Rhodes, Scritti Politti, Sway, Thom Yorke. Last year the prize was won by Antony and the Johnsons.

Spawn of Tom Cruise or Cabbage Patch Doll? You decide.

Gay Taiwanese college student claims parents drugged his coffee, committed him to psychiatric ward for 56 days after he told them he was gay: "Su told reporters Monday in Taipei that he had breakfast with his parents April 29 -- soon after they learned he was gay. He got up to use the bathroom and on his return noticed some white powder on the rim of his coffee cup but, thinking nothing of it, drank his coffee. He quickly became drowsy. On his way to the hospital, feeling faint, he heard a doctor telling him: 'Your father put drugs in your coffee, but it is all for your own good.'"

All-time hottest temperature record in Britain may be smashed today.

Who is the hottest gay journalist in New York?

Hundreds expected for mass public masturbation in Britain.

Miracle machine? Power Plate sales skyrocket after Madonna purchase: "It may feel like standing on a spin dryer, but celebrities including Jonathan Ross, Colin Montgomerie, Sadie Frost and Donatella Versace are all fans. The machine is also being used by several premiership football teams, including Manchester United and the German team trained with it during the World Cup."

Sphere: Related Content