Ted Haggard Escort Mike Jones Says 'No' to Moment of Truth

Mike Jones, the escort who outed pastor Ted Haggard, has reportedly turned down a half-million dollar offer to appear on FOX's lowbrow game show Moment of Truth, in which contestants are given lie detector tests and asked to predict the results in front of friends and loved ones on national TV. Considering he's already failed the test once, Jones says he won't be doing it.

Laughed Jones: "It would be a ratings bonanza if I went on. But I volunteered to take a polygraph test when my story first broke, and I flunked it, so those things can happen. I'm not going to humiliate myself on national TV. And who needs $500,000 anyway? I could use $1,000."

Recently
Friend: Ted Haggard was a 'Sexaholic' and Used the Drugs [tr]
Ted Haggard 'Restored' to Colorado Springs [tr]

Sphere: Related Content

Friend: Ted Haggard was a 'Sexaholic' and Used the Drugs

Ted Haggard's close family friend Kurt Serpe shared an email with Colorado Springs' News 13 in which Haggard confessed the details of his relationship with escort Mike Jones. If you'll remember, back in 2006, Haggard said that he'd received a massage but not sex, and bought meth but didn't use it. His email to Serpe tells a bit of a different story. He also sent a letter to his congregation before leaving for his spiritual restoration.

Serpe, who says he has known the pastor for more than 20 years, said that Haggard sent him an email because he "asked Haggard point-blank for the truth." In the email, which you can read AFTER THE JUMP, Haggard says he met Jones at a Marriott hotel after asking for a masseur, that Jones masturbated him, and that he took drugs before three of his five visits with Jones. Serpe says "He craved sex, he was a sexaholic. This is something that he has been struggling with all of his life."

Earlier this week, it was reported that Haggard had returned to Colorado Springs but he has been forbidden to talk to the media. His "close family friends" on the other hand...

Read Haggard's email to Serpe, AFTER THE JUMP...

***Ted Haggard's E-Mail***

Updated: June 25, 2008 11:08 PM

October 3, 2007

I was referred to Mike Jones from the concierge at a Marriott hotel when I asked for a masseur. It was during the massage that it started to become sensual, and that led to him masturbating me. That was and is our only sexual contact, but it was immoral and it was this experience that caused me to confess immorality in my letter of resignation from New Life Church. During the conversation with Mike during and after the time he masturbated me, he told me about some drugs that he could get for me that would enhance my masturbation experience. I returned on five occasions and bought those drugs. I actually used them three times, throwing them away in shame before use two times. It is for these offenses that I confessed being immoral and deceitful.

These are the answers you have requested, but I do not know why you would say you deserve them? That seems odd to me.

God bless,

Ted Haggard

***

Former Pastor Ted Haggard Sexaholic, says Friend [newschannel13]

Sphere: Related Content

Ted Haggard 'Restored' to Colorado Springs

Though various reports have been published on the whereabouts of deposed megachurch pastor Ted Haggard — that he had moved to Arizona and that he had "quit" a "spiritual restoration program" he had agreed to undergo last February — current New Life pastor Brandon Boyd said Haggard had moved back to Colorado Springs where he was in "private business."

Haggard was forced from his position as the head of the megachurch following his admission of "sexually immorality" after escort Mike Jones came forward saying the pastor paid him for sex over a period of three years. Jones also said Haggard bought methamphetamine, which Haggard admitted he bought but didn't use.

Said Boyd: "They have moved back and they live in the original house that they lived in for many years."

The Gazette of Colorado Springs attempted to contact him personally:

"'I can't talk to you. I am forbidden from talking to the media,' Haggard said Saturday evening after answering the doorbell at his home on Old Ranch Road in north Colorado Springs. He declined to elaborate. Haggard and his wife, Gayle, are still listed as the owners of the five-bedroom, three-bath home, whose market value was assessed at $715,000 earlier this year, according to the El Paso County Assessor's Office. It sits behind a gated entrance on 5.1 acres two miles from the 14,000-member megachurch Haggard founded in his basement...Haggard's gate stood open at the time of the visit, about 5:30 p.m. Saturday. Water was burbling from an electric fountain in the front yard, and five vehicles sat near a multi-car garage, including two motorcycles and a cream Cadillac Escalade."

Sphere: Related Content

News: Hubble, Ian Thorpe, South Park, Sean Hayes, Poland

New York Post theater columnist Michael Riedel questions whether Sean Hayes is "virile enough" to play romantic lead to Anne Hathaway in revival of Promises, Promises.

Britney goes to South Park to escape the paparazzi.

The NYT talks to gay New Yorker Brendan Fay about the Polish President's use of his wedding video: "[Krzysztof W. Kasprzyk, Poland’s consul general in New York] said he did not know why President Kaczynski’s staff members used Mr. Fay’s image. 'Probably they were just looking for a useful picture,' Mr. Karkowski said, 'a visible sign of what he and his followers are against and what, supposedly, his political opponents are for.'"

Huffington Post's Barbara Ehrenreich on Hillary's nasty pastorate: "You can find all about it in a widely under-read article in the September 2007 issue of Mother Jones, in which Kathryn Joyce and Jeff Sharlet reported that 'through all of her years in Washington, Clinton has been an active participant in conservative Bible study and prayer circles that are part of a secretive Capitol Hill group known as the 'Fellowship,' aka The Family.' Sean Hannity has called Obama's church a 'cult,' but that term applies far more aptly to Clinton's 'Family,' which is organized into 'cells' -- their term -- and operates sex-segregated group homes for young people in northern Virginia. In 2002, writer Jeff Sharlet joined the Family's home for young men, foreswearing sex, drugs, and alcohol, and participating in endless discussions of Jesus and power.

There's a new wolfman in town.

Australian Olympian Ian Thorpe against boycott of Beijing Olympics over Tibet crackdown.

The gay divide in doctor's advice: " Gay men are much more likely than straights to consult a medical specialist, while lesbians are more reluctant than heterosexual women to go to a family doctor -- if they even have one. The study for Statistics Canada found 29% of gay men consulted a medical specialist in a one-year period compared with 19% of heterosexual men."

Barack Obama gets his own plushy doll.

Ted Haggard escort Mike Jones told to keep his pants on in Naked B4 God: "In sharing his story, Jones drops tidbits about not just Haggard, but Paula Woodward, the TV reporter he first talked to (and who was in the audience at the premiere) and Peter Boyles, on whose radio show he went public. And on opening night, he also dropped his shorts around his sneakers — showing his jones as he demonstrated how he would massage Art. But that was before someone suggested to director Michael Dempsey that the full-frontal nudity that had been part of the play when it debuted in California might violate Denver ordinances."

Hubble telescope detects first-ever organic molecule on a planet orbiting another star: "Hubble found the tell-tale signature of methane in the atmosphere of the Jupiter-sized extrasolar planet HD 189733b. Under the right circumstances, methane can play a key role in prebiotic chemistry – the chemical reactions considered necessary to form life as we know it. Although methane has been detected on most of the planets in our Solar System, this is the first time any organic molecule has been detected on a world orbiting another star."

Hugh Jackman isn't the only X-Men cast member enjoying the beach in Sydney.

The Daily Mail looks back on Sir John Gielgud's men's room arrest: "And so, despite his brand-new knighthood, one of the most celebrated men of the times found himself that October in a Chelsea lavatory well-known as one of London's favourite pick-up joints, looking for his usual evening's entertainment. But this time, his eye lighted not on a fellow member of the underground homosexual community, but on a plain-clothes policeman."

Sphere: Related Content

Naked B4 God: Ted Haggard Escort Mike Jones Takes the Stage

Mike Jones, the escort who exposed New Life pastor Ted Haggard is taking his story to the stage in a play premiering in Denver entitled Naked B4 God.

Jones told the Rocky Mountain News: "It gives me a chance for people who don't want to spend a lot of time reading the book. It's much bigger than just the headline people saw in the papers...I'm up there actually doing a performance. I actually go through and act out some of the sequences of what I was going through. I just don't stand there and just talk."

Producer Chris Johnson told the paper that the play adds another dimension to Haggard's story:

"It moves into the realm of a national debate, really, touching on the topics of religious hypocrisy, the culture that breeds such secrecy. News stories are kind of ADD, where they move on to the next biggest headline and yesterday's headline is kind of forgotten about. I wanted to bring this story back to life to not necessarily preach to folks but to maintain that dialogue...There's some hesitancy with going with a non-actor for anything theater-related. It's a very big risk, but it's one we're willing to try...We took some test footage of him, and he has a personality and he has some presence onstage. Director Mike Dempsey worked really hard with him to make sure he was able to not only connect with the material, but also to connect with the character...One of the things I'm trying to get out there is, unfortunately, a lot of people see this story and because of the labels that are involved - prostitution, sex, drugs, religion - they think they understand the story based on stereotypes. For Mike, this was a very difficult decision. It's adding insight to the story."

Naked B4 God runs from March 13 - 22 at The Bug Theater in Denver.

Sphere: Related Content

Ted Haggard Quits 'Spiritual Restoration', Cuts Ties with Church

Reverend Ted Haggard, the New Life church pastor who agreed to undergo a "spiritual restoration" aka "pray the gay away" following revelations that he was involved with escort Mike Jones, has reportedly quit that program and cut ties with his old church.

Haggard was forced from his position as the head of the megachurch following his admission of "sexually immorality" after Jones came forward saying the pastor paid him for sex over a period of three years.

The Denver Post reports: "Ted Haggard's leadership of New Life Church for many years was extraordinary and the depth of spiritual maturity that is found today in the church is in large part attributed to his leadership as the founding senior pastor," the statement said, adding that the church's 'overseers' and 'restorers' would not make further comment about Haggard's 'spiritual restoration.' New Life added that Haggard has joined another mega-church, Phoenix First Assembly of God, and that its founding pastor, Tommy Barnett, is overseeing an 'accountability relationship' with the disgraced Colorado pastor. Barnett could not be reached Tuesday night. New Life has been at odds with its former pastor since he left. In its statement Tuesday night, church officials said, 'New Life recognizes the process of restoring Ted Haggard is incomplete and maintains its original stance that he should not return to vocational ministry. However, we wish him and his family only success in the future.'"

Just one year ago today, a four-member oversight board announced that after three weeks of intense counseling that Haggard was "completely heterosexual".

New Life cuts last ties with Haggard [denver post]
Haggard Quits Re-Straightifying Program [joemygod]

Previously
Church Overseers to Ted Haggard: Get a Job [tr]
Exodus: Ted Haggard Moves to Arizona for "Fresh Start" [tr]
New Life Church Holds 'Day of Hope' for Ted Haggard [tr]

Sphere: Related Content

News: Mars Glacier, Tobey Maguire, Royal Blackmail, Lakota Tribe

New York radio host Steve Malzberg says gays don't care about the hangings going on in Iran or the statements of Ahmedinejad.

Tobey Maguire steps out in a military buzz-cut.

Royal blackmailers Ian Strachan and Sean McGuiganplead not guilty The junior member of the Royal Family, who cannot be named for legal reasons, was not directly involved and is not due to be a witness. The two men were charged that "between January 1 and September 12, this year, with a view to gain for yourselves, made an unwarranted demand for £50,000 from a male with menaces".

Remember the battle over the estate of dead hedge fund manager Seth Tobias and his go-go boy pal Tiger? Well, a new porn star has come forward to discuss his relationship but his interview sheds no light on the banker's mysterious death: "'Seth was a really good guy, a great guy. I had a lot of fun,' Parker, 24, told PageSix.com. The porn star from Memphis, Tenn., said he met Tobias 3½ years ago at Micky's, a gay bar in West Hollywood. They met four or five times over the next year and a half at Parker's house in the Hollywood Hills. 'Seth knew I was a hustler and knew how much I charged . . . I did what I got paid to do . . . I was very well taken care of.'"

Active glacier found on Mars: "We have not yet been able to see the spectral signature of water. But we will fly over it in the coming months and take measurements. On the glacial ridges we can see white tips, which can only be freshly exposed ice."

Ted Haggard photo found in home of New Life Church gunman: "Among the items taken from a search of gunman Matthew Murray's home was a picture of former New Life pastor Ted Haggard, according to police documents released Wednesday. Murray lived in the Englewood home in with his father, mother and brother. The family was very devout and the parents had home-schooled both children, neighbors said. According to the police documents, officers confiscated a Beretta, ammunition, a pamphlet entitled 'Fall of America,' literature on Youth With A Mission, a Bible, a journal, a pistol, a homicide investigation manual, prescription pills, several hard drives, gun cases and boxes of ammunition."

Uruguay's new civil union law offers hope to Brazilians.

Apple settles lawsuit with Think Secret rumor site. Site shuts down.

Colin Farrell's mane event.

Lakota tribe withdraws 150-year-old treaty with the United States, secedes: "We are no longer citizens of the United States of America and all those who live in the five-state area that encompasses our country are free to join us. This is according to the laws of the United States, specifically article six of the constitution. It is also within the laws on treaties passed at the Vienna Convention and put into effect by the US and the rest of the international community in 1980. We are legally within our rights to be free and independent."

MSNBC: Larry Craig a winner, Mike Huckabee a loser.

You can still vote for the Hottest Brazilian of 2007.

He may be an irresponsible turd like K-Fed but at least Jamie Lynn Spears picked a cute one.

She's lucky he's dead because Mr. Whipple might have squeezed her to death.

I never did trust those calorie-counters on the cardio machines at the gym: "Even if you wanted to get a rough estimate of the calories an average person your size might burn at the gym, you might not want to trust the displays on cardio machines, with the possible exception of treadmills, said William Haskell, an exercise physiologist at Stanford. And with treadmills, the calories are not accurate if you hang on the bars. Dr. Haskell once studied people using treadmills. Hanging onto the rails reduced the number of calories burned by 40 to 50 percent. The same thing happened with stair-climbing machines. 'I’ve seen people hanging on stair climbers who think they are doing 1,200 calories an hour,' Dr. Haskell said. 'They probably are doing 600 calories an hour.' As for the calorie counts on machines like stationary bicycles and elliptical cross trainers and stair climbers, all bets are off, researchers said."

Sphere: Related Content

News: Voyager 2, Liza Minnelli, Morocco, Florida Gay Marriage Ban

Group proposing amendment to ban same-sex marriage in Florida reaches necessary 611,009 signature goal: " One of the signatures belongs to Gov. Charlie Crist, although the state's top Republican has not trumpeted the issue during his first year in office." And why is this significant?

Liza Minnelli collapses, tumbles off stage in Sweden...

Human Rights Watch demands Morocco overturn the convictions of six men sentenced to prison for homosexual conduct: "The men have been in jail since they were first arrested by the police between November 23 and 25, 2007, after a video circulated online – including on YouTube – purporting to show a private party, allegedly including the men, taking place in Ksar el-Kbir on November 18. Press reports claimed the party was a 'gay marriage.' Following the arrests, hundreds of men and women marched through the streets of Ksar el-Kbir, denouncing the men’s alleged actions and calling for their punishment."

Shooter at New Life, Ted Haggard's former Mega-church, may be a victim of the church's ex-gay reparative therapy program.

Spice Girls reveal their aircraft: Spice One.

Arctic ice melting at alarming pace: "An already relentless melting of the Arctic greatly accelerated this summer, a warning sign that some scientists worry could mean global warming has passed an ominous tipping point. One even speculated that summer sea ice would be gone in five years...'The Arctic is often cited as the canary in the coal mine for climate warming,' said NASA climate scientist Jay Zwally, who as a teenager hauled coal. 'Now as a sign of climate warming, the canary has died. It is time to start getting out of the coal mines.'"

Plaque to be laid commemorating site of early gay bar, honoring Black Cat Cafe's role in San Francisco's gay rights movement.

Gay cruise plans March takeover of tropical island in Australia.

Ben Cohen gets suddenly modest for Gay Times.

Spain recognizes UK couple's civil partnership after protracted campaign: "Their campaign paid off, as the Spanish government has now agreed to recognise the civil partnerships of UK lesbian and gay couples. 'We visited the British Consul on 29th November to change our status in our passports,' the couple told PinkNews.co.uk. 'We have made a little bit of history by becoming the first UK same-sex couple resident in Spain to have their civil partnership acknowledged in law and in the observations section of our passports.'"

Voyager 2 probe reaches edge of solar system...

Isaiah Washington shows up unannounced to join Grey's Anatomy cast on "diversity day" at the writer's strike: "Asked if Washington was with the Grey's group, Heigl, who had previously publicly criticized Washington told The Daily News, 'He's not with me.' But Washington denied there were problems with his former co-workers. 'They're former castmates. I've been in over 25 movies, I have lots of former castmates.' he said."

Gay Washington D.C. council member calls for transit police probe after recent alleged anti-gay assault on Metro train.

Sphere: Related Content

News: Dana Perino, Mexico City, Pedro Andrade, Hate Crimes Act

NYT nails Congress for failure to pass Matthew Shepard Hate Crimes act.

White House spokeswoman Dana Perino admits she didn't know what the Cuban Missile Crisis was: "I was panicked a bit because I really don't know about . . . the Cuban Missile Crisis...It had to do with Cuba and missiles, I'm pretty sure."

Snubbed by Barbara Walters: Larry Birkhead not as fascinating as he thought.

New York City remembers pioneering gay rights activist Bob Kohler: " With candles and signs held high, and with pill bottles and ceramic pots filled with some of Mr. Kohler’s cremated remains, dozens of his friends and admirers marched through the streets, chanting to the beat of a drummer, stories of Mr. Kohler’s courage in more than six decades of activism spilling from their lips. Some cried as they stepped down West 13th Street, Seventh Avenue and Christopher Street to Sheridan Square, ending up at the Hudson River piers, a refuge for many gay youths in the area. 'Till the very end he struggled for us, all of us,' said Jennifer Flynn, 36, a friend and member of a group of mostly lesbian activists who helped to care for Mr. Kohler as he battled cancer in his final days. 'He could have lived a comfortable life somewhere. He could have ignored everyone.'"

Washington state gay rights leaders expect to see more advances in the coming legislative session: "Advocates say they'll push for expanded rights in areas such as property, retirement and pension benefits in the 2008 session."

Jude Law gets a birthday kiss from Jonny Miller.

Mexico City grants gay prisoners conjugal visits.

Missionaries shot dead at training center before gunman shoots four more at New Life Church, where Ted Haggard once preached: "A gunman in a black trench coat and a high-powered rifle entered the church's main foyer about 1 p.m. and began shooting, according to the source at the church, who spoke to The Associated Press on condition of anonymity because the police department had asked that it release all information. The church's 11 a.m. service had recently ended, and hundreds of people were milling about when the gunman opened fire. Nearby were parents picking up their children from the nursery. The gunman was killed by a member of the church's armed security staff, the source said. Four people were shot, and the source did not know whether the shooter was one of the four. A SWAT team was searching the building for an explosive device, but the source could not confirm any details."

NYT: The 53 places to go in 2008, and the 70 best ideas of 2007.

Lance Bass' ex Pedro Andrade has a new gig as a host for LXTV: "I just found my spot, and I'll be right here if you need me."

Anti-gay Scout leader arrested for molesting young boys: "Mr. Evans sued the city in his role as a leader of the Sea Scouts, an affiliate program of the Boy Scouts. The city, after providing free berthing for a Sea Scouts boat for 60 years, said in 1998 that a Boy Scout policy barring gay scouts and atheists violated Berkeley’s rules against discrimination. The city said the Scouts would have to leave the berth or pay $500 a month rent. Mr. Evans sued for discrimination and for violating the Scouts’ First Amendment rights. The California Supreme Court ruled in favor of Berkeley."

Israel recognizes same-sex adoptions from overseas: "This is another step toward equality and the abolition of discrimination toward same-sex couples. The time has come for the state to recognize these couples, just as it recognizes the adoptions of heterosexual couples."

Sphere: Related Content

Ted Haggard Escort Mike Jones Claims Larry Craig Was His Client

Mike Jones, the escort behind the Ted Haggard scandal, claims that Idaho Senator Larry Craig was his client.

Jones dropped the bombshell while appearing on the "Bulldog Bill Feingold Show" in Palm Springs.

According to KESQ Palm Springs: "Feingold asked whether the Senator had seen Jones in a hotel room. Jones responded, 'No, he came to see me.' Jones then added, 'His travel records to Denver have been documented. That's what I wanted to say.' NewsChannel 3 asked Senator Craig's office to comment on the allegations that Craig came to Denver to see Jones, who calls himself a gay escort. Craig's office said in response, 'Mike Jones' allegations are completely false.'" Craig's office also added, "clearly anyone can make an accusation absent of details that would be easy to refute."

The station reports, "Jones is not alleging that he has had sex with Senator Craig but that he is alleging the senator came to see him. 'One of the things I was good at was figuring out what people did for a living when they came to see me by things they said or their actions,' Jones said on-air Wednesday night. 'So be in a position where you have to guess what people did for a living, occupation-wise. Someone comes in to you and the first question they say to you is 'do you follow politics?' and you would say, 'yes'. 'Oh.' 'the weather is cold outside, isn't it? What would you think that person is involved with? I will just tell you a gentleman came in and said that exact thing to me.'"

Asked Feingold "Did he look similar to Senator Craig?"

Jones responded, "I've been with many politicians and all I can tell you is for a fact, that Larry Craig is a hypocrite."

Joe.My.God also reports that Jones told him of Craig when the Craig scandal first unfolded: "I asked Mike if he could prove his claim, but he said that while he didn't have voice mail messages to backup his claim, as he did with Ted Haggard, he would nevertheless come forward IF Craig did not follow through on his resignation."

UPDATE: Mike Rogers of BlogActive, who outed Larry Craig before Craig was arrested in the Minneapolis airport, claims that Mike Jones is lying to juice up his book sales. Rogers had a phone conversation with Jones and challenged him to bring out the proof.

Alleged Haggard Escort: 'Sen. Craig Visited Me' [kesq] (with video)
Bombshell From Mike Jones: "Larry Craig Was My Customer" [joe.my.god]

Sphere: Related Content

Marc Jacobs Targets Right-Wing Hypocrites Haggard and Craig

Racked reports on the front window display of the Marc Jacobs menswear store on Bleecker Street in New York and reveals that deposed pastor Ted Haggard and Idaho Senator Larry Craig are both tops!

What we'd really like to see, however, is a pair of Larry Craig-branded tap shoes.

Sphere: Related Content

Shamhunt.Net, Where Self-Hating Americans Find Love

Our friend Aaron over at Narcissism 101 has just introduced us to the latest social networking site. Don't miss the profiles of Ted Haggard, Bob Allen, and last but not least, Larry Craig.

Sphere: Related Content

Church Overseers to Ted Haggard: Get a Job

You may remember that last week deposed New Life pastor Ted Haggard sent an email to supporters asking for their financial support in order that he and his wife obtain degrees in psychology and counseling as they moved into the Phoenix Dream Center halfway house.

Overseers at New Life Church were stunned at Haggard's request and released a statement that Haggard's actions were a no-go: "Mr. Haggard's solicitation for personal support was inappropriate. It was never the intention of the Dream Center that Mr. Haggard would provide any counsel or other ministry. Mr. Haggard will not be moving in or working with the Dream Center. He will not be doing any ministry. He will be seeking secular employment to support himself and his family."

Sphere: Related Content

News: Ang Lee, Malaysia, Amy Winehouse, Uganda, Sean Penn

Malaysian minister vows to go ahead "with plans to open a church embracing homosexuals, bisexuals and transsexuals, despite government protests."

Jake Gyllenhaal's basketball buddy Austin Nichols busted for DUI.

Researchers: 250,000 to 350,000 cases of breast and colon cancer a year could be prevented worldwide if people spent 10 or 15 minutes in the sun each day. "The mechanism by which vitamin D works is only partly understood, but it slows the rate of cancer cells' growth. It is made when the body is exposed to the sun's UVB rays."

"Brilliant" gay white rappers break out at the New York Fringe Festival.

Lust, Caution: Ang Lee's latest slapped with NC-17 rating.

After bloody brawl with husband, Amy Winehouse text messages Perez Hilton.

Ted Haggard in "cash for Heaven" offer.

Marine sergeant found guilty of "improperly touching" four junior Marines: "The club was crowded that night, and the four Marines — who then were lance corporals — said at first they thought Agosto was joking when he sidled up to them throughout the night and placed his hand on their thighs as they stood together. But they said he repeated his advances, convincing them he was making homosexual overtures. One said Agosto leaned over and whispered in his ear: 'You know you want to.'"

Human Rights Watch calls on Uganda to repeal sodomy laws.

Sean Penn: shirtless activist.

New study on late Medieval French "brotherment" may help historical arguments for gay marriage: "For example, in late medieval France, the term affrèrement -- roughly translated as brotherment -- was used to refer to a certain type of legal contract, which also existed elsewhere in Mediterranean Europe. These documents provided the foundation for non-nuclear households of many types and shared many characteristics with marriage contracts, as legal writers at the time were well aware, according to Tulchin. The new 'brothers' pledged to live together sharing 'un pain, un vin, et une bourse' -- one bread, one wine, and one purse. As Tulchin notes, 'The model for these household arrangements is that of two or more brothers who have inherited the family home on an equal basis from their parents and who will continue to live together, just as they did when they were children.' But at the same time, "the affrèrement was not only for brothers," since many other people, including relatives and non-relatives, used it."

Five former leaders of "ex-gay" ministries in Australia condemn the practice. Melbourne Exodus leader: "There was not one person that I met or worked with who, in any genuine way, achieved the fundamental transformation from homosexual to heterosexual. The stress of attempting to change their sexual orientation, however, increased the risk of suicide, and absolutely led to erosion of self-esteem and increased levels of depression and self-deprecation at a very deep level."

Sphere: Related Content

News: Wii Fit, Giant Squid, Beckham Invasion, Larry Flynt, Mika

Larry Flynt's investigators are currently looking into at least 20 high-profile political sex scandals, some of which involve "high ranking Republican and Democrat members of the Senate and the House."

Mika shows off cartoons from Life in Cartoon Motion in London exhibit.

Bush's policies have made Al Qaeda a powerhouse again: "Six years after the Bush administration declared war on al-Qaeda, the terrorist network is gaining strength and has established a safe haven in remote tribal areas of western Pakistan for training and planning attacks, according to a new Bush administration intelligence report to be discussed today at a White House meeting. The report, a five-page threat assessment compiled by the National Counterterrorism Center, is titled 'Al-Qaida Better Positioned to Strike the West,' intelligence officials said. It concludes that the group has significantly rebuilt itself despite concerted U.S. attempts to smash the network."

This should be common sense, but one shouldn't walk through a thunderstorm while listening to your iPod.

British invasion: Beckhams arrive at Heathrow for flight to Los Angeles.

Adult film maven Michael Lucas to lose his trademark pout.

Navigating the linguistic seas of cross-cultural slurs: "Language is always guilty. What could be more common than the verb ''get''? We Cubans use coger for anything that is taken, held, grasped, grabbed, etc., while in other Hispanic countries, the verb has the lubricious meaning implicit in 'I`m gonna get you.' In much stronger terms. In the lands that first identified the syndrome we call 'machismo' (as a malaise, I should add), words for homosexual abound. Sometimes they are as simple as the Spanish for 'bird' or 'duck,' which lend themselves to endless wordplay. Through the process known in literary studies as metonymy, there are pejorative allusions to gayness, such as 'one can see his feathers,' i.e. he is a bird, meaning queer. 'Bird,' as we all know, is British slang for 'chick.' And that word in Spanish, pollo, is archaic Cuban slang one can hear in old Beny Moré songs in which the great singer brags about how chicks dig him. And these are only the vicissitudes of staying within one language."

David Mixner recalls lunch with Lady Bird Johnson.

Orlando Bloom says he won't be getting naked on the London stage, although it might help if the play he was performing in actually had any opportunities for nudity.

Giant squid washes up on Tasmanian beach: "one of the biggest ever found, weighing in at 250 kilograms, with a cross-section as big as a truck tyre and longer than a station wagon."

Scientists spot planet with water outside our solar system: " But the planet itself would be hell for humans. Orbiting cheek by jowel to the star, at a distance that is 30 times closer than that between the Earth and the Sun, parts of the planet's atmosphere reach 2,000 degrees Celsius (3,600 degrees Fahrenheit). This seething temperature is reached on the side of the planet that always faces the star. By comparison, the other side of the planet is relatively balmy, with a low of 500 C (932 F). Tinetti's team used NASA's Spitzer orbiting telescope, using its infrared sensors to pick out the tiny signature that occurs when water vapour absorbs light from a star."

The man forever associated with Ted Haggard has something to say in Colorado Springs.

Do you have a lot of moles? You may have a better chance of living longer.

Wii Fit prepares to combat couch potato-ism: "The title is set to include more than forty different activities, from aerobics to yoga poses to muscle conditioning, and it will even measure your BMI. Plus, as can be seen in the trailer, there are a number of other fun minigames -- yes, we know, minigames on the Wii! -- that also serve to improve balance and coordination." The videogame system may soon be #1 worldwide.

And a very happy birthday today to Trent, our friend at Pink is the New Blog!

Sphere: Related Content

News: Criss Angel, Rufus Wainwright, Thierry Mugler, Mike Jones

Ted Haggard escort Mike Jones talks to Deborah Solomon in the NYT magazine: "I’m really not this left-wing liberal like some people have tried to paint me. I think I’m very moderate. I’m a registered Democrat, but I’ve voted Republican. I voted for Bush in the last election."

Magician Criss Angel begins 24-hour Times Square cement box stunt: "About 100 fans gathered in the rain to watch the spectacle in a parking lot just off Times Square, the same spot where U.S. magician David Blaine spent two days in November shackled to a gyroscope hoisted in the air before escaping. Angel, 39, sat in a four-foot (1.2 meter) square clear box slowly being encased in cement that was suspended 12 feet above the ground as he spoke to reporters and fans. The box will be lifted to 40 feet later on Monday and Angel will try to escape on Tuesday morning before the box is sent plunging to the ground."

Bush nominates James Holsinger for Surgeon General. Holsinger founded Hope Springs Community Church which seeks to "cure" gays and lesbians.

Rufus Wainwright: "I do feel like I live a fabulous life. And I know that’s why a lot of the critics get so mad at me sometimes, because they’re just really jealous.

California Department of Corrections and Rehabilitation has begun allowing conjugal visits for gay and lesbian inmates registered as domestic partners: "The change will allow gay and lesbian inmates the same rights as other inmates, who are eligible to spend up to three days with family members in living areas -- usually trailers -- on prison grounds. Corrections officials say they are responding to legislation signed by former Gov. Gray Davis that awarded more rights to registered domestic partners and prohibited state agencies from discriminating against domestic partners...The changes were prompted by complaints from Vernon Foeller, 40, who was serving a 20-month sentence, convicted of attempted burglary, at the California Medical Facility in Vacaville. Foeller's request to have his domestic partner visit him last summer was denied, leading him to contact the ACLU."

Rosie O'Donnell is in Celebrity Detox.

Robbie Williams, football hero?

William Silver, the first openly gay man to apply for ordination in the Methodist Church, has died at 59 of complications from AIDS: "A grandson of Presbyterian missionaries in China, Mr. Silver hoped to follow them into the ministry when he entered the Union Theological Seminary in Manhattan in 1969. It was in his final year there, in 1973, that he came to terms with his homosexuality. Two years later, when applying to the Presbytery of New York for ordination as an assistant pastor at the Central Presbyterian Church on Park Avenue and 64th Street, he shocked committee members interviewing him by saying he was gay. 'It was like electricity had been sent through members of the committee as they sat upright, and we really didn’t know what to do,' Byron Shafer, one of the committee members, recalled in an oral history interview."

Death of American math genius Scott Johnson 20 years ago off Sydney Australia's North Head being investigated as murder by anti-gay gangs: "In 2004 Coroner Jacqueline Milledge ruled that violent gangs preying on homosexuals probably hurled three of the group to their deaths at Marks Park, overlooking Bondi Beach. She also determined that gay bashings in the park were common and that similar attacks might have occurred at gay beats at Alexandria and Randwick. Spurred by the findings, Johnson's brother Steve has hired US investigative journalist Daniel Glick and retired NSW detective John McNamara to determine if the same scenario occurred on Sydney's northern beaches."

Fashion designer Thierry Mugler becomes "Manfred" in extreme makeover. WARNING: Not safe for work at all.

Sphere: Related Content

News: Joel Madden, Bush Impeachment, Brad Pitt, PlanetOut

Stock of beleaguered gay media powerhouse PlanetOut in free fall.

Which one of these men is named Tim and which is named Bob? Researchers at Miami University have "shown quantitatively that certain names are associated with certain facial features." So when somebody says, "You look like a (insert name here)" they may be right.

T.R. Knight to appear at Billy Eichner's Creation Nation in NYC tomorrow night. I had the opportunity to see this "live talk show" in January when Joan Rivers was the guest. It's a lot of fun and definitely recommended. Official Site.

Celebrity-stacked (Cyndi Lauper, Hal Sparks, Whoopi Goldberg, Lance Bass, Alan Cumming) AIDS Walk NY takes in $6,857,527.

Arjan chats with Good Charlotte singer Joel Madden who reveals his man-crush to be...Johnny Depp: "I support equality for all people. To me people are people and we really should live and let live. What others want to do with their life doesn’t affect me so people should have the freedom to do that. I really think we’re making progress. There would be less problems and hate in the world, if people stop thinking about others and just worry about themselves."

David Beckham meets The Queen.

New York's new legally married same-sex couples: Secure or not?

Ted Haggard in Alexandra Pelosi doc Friends of God: "You know all the surveys say that evangelicals have the best sex life of any other group." Pelosi: "Because Pastor Ted was my tour guide, he was so good to me. He took me under his wing. Most people think of evangelicals as being these holy roller, Jesus freaks, and Ted wasn't like that," she said. "It was interesting for me to say, these are good people. He was a reasonable, normal everyday man. So, it was hard to stomach what had happened."

Pitt's red carpet Gatsby moment. More here...

Ricky Martin plops down $8 million for a Miami recording studio.

SALON: Why Bush hasn't been impeached. "The truth is that Bush's high crimes and misdemeanors, far from being too small, are too great. What has saved Bush is the fact that his lies were, literally, a matter of life and death. They were about war. And they were sanctified by 9/11. Bush tapped into a deep American strain of fearful, reflexive bellicosity, which Congress and the media went along with for a long time and which has remained largely unexamined to this day. Congress, the media and most of the American people have yet to turn decisively against Bush because to do so would be to turn against some part of themselves. This doesn't mean we support Bush, simply that at some dim, half-conscious level we're too confused -- not least by our own complicity -- to work up the cold, final anger we'd need to go through impeachment. We haven't done the necessary work to separate ourselves from our abusive spouse. We need therapy -- not to save this disastrous marriage, but to end it."

Sphere: Related Content

Exodus: Ted Haggard Moves to Arizona for "Fresh Start"

Ted "Completely Heterosexual" Haggard moved out of Colorado on Wednesday, to set up home in Phoenix, Arizona. It had been rumored that Haggard and his wife would be moving to Iowa or Missouri.

The Rev. H.B. London of Haggard's New Life Church told the Associated Press he was glad that the deposed pastor was gone: "When he moved out of town today, there was a kind of relief on the part of the church that life can get back to normal. For the Haggards, it is the beginning of a huge new chapter. It's a brand new start for them, the beginning of a new beginning." Attendance at New Life Church has reportedly fallen 20% since the Haggard scandal began.

That new beginning will apparently include joining another church. This time it's Phoenix First Assembly of God, the church where televangelist Jim Bakker found himself after doing time in federal prison. The church leader, Rev. Tommy Barnett, reportedly told his congregation that Haggard was on his way.

A life change is in store for him, London told the AP: "Once you were in charge of a megachurch and a mega-staff and making mega-decisions, now your main decision is where you're going to school, where to eat and what you're going to do on your day off."

And a day off is a fabulous time for a massage.

Sphere: Related Content

News: Sun Flares, Lukas Rossi, Gay Chile, Ryan Seacrest

Two Chicago students file lawsuit so they can wear anti-gay T-shirt that says "Be Happy, Not Gay": "According to the suit, one school administrator ordered Zamecnik to remove the T-shirt and another official ordered her to cross out 'NOT GAY' with a marker. The suit alleges Zamecnik suffered unlawful discrimination and humiliation because school officials didn't agree with her viewpoint. Nuxoll did not attend the school at the time of the incident." It's Tyler Chase Harper all over again.

REPORT: Beckhams sick of Tom Cruise trying to convert them to Scientology. "Victoria is tired of Tom being on her back about Scientology. Victoria is an old-fashioned British woman who believes in God. She finds it quite annoying that Tom is bugging her so much. Not too long ago, Tom left 18 messages in one hour to get them to join the church. But when Victoria says no, she means no."

The Ted Haggard massage table, crucified by fundamentalists who had it pulled from eBay, has a second coming.

Sanitation worker disciplined for attempting to get glamour shots of Naomi Campbell's floor-scrubbing fashion show.

Ryan Seacrest is neither gay nor bisexual, according to an old flame.

We've already seen him lock lips with his lead singer Lukas Rossi, but now we learn that Tommy Lee is also an equal opportunity toe sucker.

You know you are a weather geek when...

Hot: Space probe reveals "impossible" images from our sun. "Hinode has sent back startling images of the Sun's outer limb. Where astronomers expected to see a calm region called the chromosphere, they saw a seething mass of swaying spikes...Another surprise sighting is that of giant magnetic field loops crashing down onto the Sun's surface as if they were collapsing from exhaustion, a finding that Golub describes as 'impossible'. Previously, scientists thought they should emerge from the Sun and continue blowing out into space. 'Almost every day, we look at the data and we say – what the heck was that?' says Golub, a member of the XRT science team."

The National Lesbian & Gay Journalists Association (NLGJA) has posted a gallery of shots from their recent New York benefit at ABC studios in Times Square.

Chile's first gay football team prepares to head to IGLF World Cup in Buenos Aires. Player: "There are a lot of spaces for the development of sports for heterosexuals, but we gays don’t have that. This is our space, and when we play, there’s nobody shouting abuse at us from the sidelines."

Here's the full article at The Stranger about anti-gay pastor Ken Hutcherson's alleged trip to Latvia at the behest of the White House.

Sphere: Related Content

Ted Haggard Massage Table on eBay

Now you can own Mike Jones' lavender massage table where all the hot Evangelical action with pastor Ted Haggard went down. As a bonus, Jones will autograph it for you and send you a signed copy of his book when it comes out in June. The book is titled I Had to Say Something. And we're so glad you did, Mike.

The proceeds go to charity. "All proceeds benefit 'Project Angel Heart', which provides people living with HIV/AIDS, cancer and other life-threatening illnesses nutritious home-delivered meals."

T'ain't the prettiest thing but if you're into roleplaying it could prove quite useful.

Ted Haggard Massage Table [ebay]

Haggard's massage table for sale on eBay [rocky mountain news]

Sphere: Related Content

New Life Church Holds 'Day of Hope' for Ted Haggard

Ted Haggard's New Life Church held what they billed a 'Day of Hope' yesterday for the disgraced pastor.

At the Sunday service, Pastor Larry Stockstill, part of the church's board of overseers, told the 14,000-member congregation: "Concerning Ted and his family, we have done extensive fact-finding into his lifelong battle with a 'dark side' which he said in his confession letter has been a struggle for years. We have verified the reality of that struggle through numerous individuals who reported to us firsthand knowledge of everything from sordid conversation to overt suggestions to improper activities to improper relationships. These findings established a pattern of behavior that culminated in the final relationship in which Ted was, as a matter of grace, caught."

Or as a matter of humiliation, depending on how you look at it.

Sphere: Related Content