Toronto Fans Taunt A-Rod with Madonna Headshots

Blue Jay fans attempted to distract Alex Rodriguez by flashing images of Madonna during a three-game visit to Toronto. The Yanks lost 2 out of 3 in the series.

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Gay Pride Weekend Wrap

Wedded bliss was a special focus of San Francisco’s 38th Annual Pride Parade, the first to be held after the California Supreme Court decision to legalize gay marriage. The Dykes on Bykes tossed bouquets and San Fran Mayor Gavin Newsom was greeted like a rock star. Gay icons Cyndi Lauper and Margaret Cho were among celebrity attendees. Crowds were said to be "larger-than-usual." Full photo album here.

According to The Canadian Press, members of the Canadian Armed Forces participated in Gay Pride for the first time in Toronto, whose parade featured a grand marshal (Gareth Henry) who fled Jamaica after being persecuted for his sexual orientation.

The Twin Cities of Minneapolis and St. Paul in Minnesota attracted an estimated 125,000 celebrants, including an exceptionally proud terrier (who I hope was dyed humanely).

Chicago’s Gay Pride Parade went off without a hitch Sunday. Themed "Live, Love, Be Proud," the parade’s grand marshal was ex-marine Eric Alva (pictured), the first American casualty from the Iraq War and an openly gay man.

German Pride celebrated its 30th year by kicking off for the first time from the former East Berlin. One special participant was 95-year-old Rudolf Brazda, a survivor of Buchenwald concentration camp:

"It was a terrible time. I must say that I feel as though I were in paradise in this democratic society."

Other European Pride events held on Saturday included some in countries "seeing gatherings of gays and lesbians for the first time." At the Czech Republic’s first Pride, three people were jailed for throwing fireworks at some of the 500 marchers. Five dozen skinheads were arrested in Bulgaria for attempting to derail that country’s event.

Paris Pride was organized around "homophobia at school" and drew about 700,000. But why talk about it when you can just take a look?

Finally, marchers in Calcutta, New Delhi and Bangalore celebrated Gay Pride, marking the first parades in the latter two Indian cities. "Several hundred" participants were reported at the events, which were staged in advance of arguments before a Delhi High Court to overturn the antiquated law—Section 377—forbidding any sex that is "against the order of nature." Indians are rarely locked up for homosexuality, but the legal punishment is up to 10 years.

Gay-rights activist and New Delhi organizer Lesley Esteves says:

"Discrimination is widespread because there is no protection or law or societal understanding. There's discrimination in the workplace; there's discrimination in the family—it's on every level."

At least some of the onlookers were just there for the music.

As usual, there will likely be a dull roar from some gay quarters that Gay Pride isn’t necessary because being gay is nothing to be "proud" of (overlooking that it’s the suggestion to be ashamed that these events are counteracting) or that it’s counterproductive because all the "freaks" come out. I agree with JoeMyGod’s annual rant: "They wish we were invisible. We’re not. Let’s dance."

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News: Sean Penn, Nova Scotia, Parrots, Channing Tatum, HIV

Homeless man gets 35 years in prison for spitting on a police officer and saying he was HIV positive.

Sean Penn slams Obama's "phenomenally inhuman and unconstitutional" voting record, expresses optimism: "I don't have a candidate I'm supporting and I'm certainly interested and excited by the hope that Barack Obama is inspiring. I hope that he will understand, if he is the nominee, the degree of disillusionment that will happen if he doesn't become a greater man than he will ever be. This is the most important election, certainly in my lifetime, and maybe ever."

You'll never guess who is broke and living in a trailer with 20 parrots? Well, actually, you might.

Marriage equality bill introduced in Minnesota legislature: "The Marriage and Family Protection Act was introduced by Rep. Phyllis Kahn, DFL-Minneapolis, and Sen. John Marty, DFL-Roseville, on Friday. The bill would make marriage a gender-neutral proposition in Minnesota, allowing same-sex couples to marry. It would also protect religious institutions that have moral objections to same-sex marriage from being compelled to perform such ceremonies."

Spains's Operacion Triunfo (the equivalent to our American Idol) recently featured a hot gay kiss.

McGreevey: Dina paid for the wedding, and honeymoon.

All's well in the land of Ry-chen.

Toronto Lutheran parish to defy church, risk expulsion, ordinate gay man: "Lionel Ketola will be ordained tomorrow night by a non-traditional American Lutheran group that ordains gay candidates. Their ordinations are not officially recognized in Canada or the United States. But despite that, he will then be hired by Holy Cross Lutheran Church in Newmarket, Ont., as an associate pastor, where he has interned for the past two years. Members of Holy Cross will also take part in the ordination ceremony."

Channing Tatum's GI Joe gear looks less than comfortable.

Police in Brighton, UK appeal for witnesses following attack on gay man by gang of youths: "About seven boys verbally abused the man, spat on him, forced him to the ground and kicked him in George Street. One member of the group was wearing a hooded top and another had white three quarter length tracksuit bottoms with a navy stripe, police said."

Gay pride group to march on county offices in Nova Scotia: "The group will raise the gay pride flag during a 7 p.m. ceremony at the town’s Water Street gazebo to mark the International Day Against Homophobia. The gazebo is a couple of blocks from the Municipality of Pictou County’s administrative building, where the gay pride flag will not fly. A February resolution banned all except government and First Nation flags from the county’s official flagpole. The municipality said the controversial policy doesn’t target gay pride groups specifically, but allows equal treatment of all organizations that want the county to fly their flags."

Joe Lieberman defends pastor John Hagee: "He represents a lot of people in this country, particularly Christians who care about the state of Israel."

The legacy of Illinois' first openly gay legislator, Larry McKeon, who died this week: "Chicago had never held a meeting like this, for gays and lesbians interested in becoming cops, and for an hour and a half, bleached by ceiling lights, they asked questions. Two officers, among the few on the force willing to say they were gay, answered. Was the department planning to form a special gay unit? No. Did the department intend to set gay quotas? No. Was there a space on the application for sexual orientation? No. Leaning against a wall, watching, was the man who'd organized the meeting, Larry McKeon."

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News: Ben Cohen, Ryerson, Bachelor, Illinois, Arctic Icecap

Bad sign for the future of the Arctic ice cap: thickest, oldest, toughest ice melting...

British rugby stud Ben Cohen releases details on a night with his gay fans: "'Moving away from the more traditional rugby testimonial theme, the Ben Cohen Testimonial Committee is holding a ground breaking event at The Dorchester in London,' his publicist Jill Tipping said. 'BENediction is an exclusive evening of fun, feasting and frivolity aimed primarily at including his legions of fans in the gay community in the testimonial celebrations. Guests are promised a 'whole host of treats and surprises making this event a real one off and not to be missed. Ben Cohen fans need to make sure that they reserve their places quickly as they are expected to snapped up fast,' Tipping said. Of course, we are not sure how far Cohen will take the concept of 'one off,' but he has never been shy about marketing his physical assets."

If you missed the first episode of this season's The Bachelor (and I have a feeling many of you did), you can catch up real quick: this mess was what it was all about.

AfterElton looks at Jimmy Kimmel and the gays.

Beckham power shops and rocks the plain white tee.

Central Illinois' only gay newspaper shuts its doors: "The Flame is out. After 111/2 years of publication, Prairie Flame, central Illinois’ only newspaper that concentrated solely on gay issues and events, has called it a day...Volunteers distributed copies of each edition over much of the state, from Springfield to the Quad Cities, Joliet, Champaign and Effingham. Circulation was more than 8,000, and there were more than 200 places where the free newspaper could be found. But production costs kept rising, and ad revenue could not keep up."

Anderson Cooper underwent surgery for skin cancer: "I’ve been off for the last couple of days. I had minor surgery on Monday. I hadn’t planned on mentioning this, but I still have stitches and you’ll no doubt notice them tonight. Don’t want you to think I got into a fist fight with Charlie Rose."

Manchester United's Cristiano Ronaldo under fire for bullfight commercial: "The advertisement, for Fuji Xerox, shows the Portuguese winger taunting the bull with a football in the manner of a matador with a cape."

Ryerson University in Toronto sees gay bashing spike: "Ryerson's queer student group is scared homophobia is spreading across campus after its door was vandalized and grafitti saying 'gays must be exterminated' was left on a bathroom stall for at least three weeks. 'I have no doubt that we were targeted,' said RyePRIDE member Jesse Trautmann about a series of students' union stickers pasted on the group's door and nearby positive space posters on March 10. The office is located on the second floor of the Student Campus Centre. 'The amount of time it would have taken to cover the entire Rye- PRIDE sign — it was intentional.'"

Group pushes for "gay village" in Ottawa, Canada.

Madonna and Guy Ritchie still together, or just playing for the cameras?

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News: Patrick Swayze, Danny Noriega, Testosterone, Kelly Osbourne

Four openly gay Texas candidates advanced in yesterday's primary.

Patrick Swayze has FIVE weeks to live?!? Rep. confirms.

Boyfriend of Toronto gay bar owner Janko Naglic acquitted in murder trial: "The jury returned with its not guilty verdict around 10:15 p.m. Tuesday following a three-week trial that heard from an array of witnesses who testified about the deteriorating relationship between the accused, Ivan Mendez-Romero, and Naglic. On Tuesday night after the verdict, defence lawyer Laurence Cohen said he was "relieved," adding he'd never seen a jury in a murder trial return with a verdict so quickly. The jury retired around 4 p.m. Tuesday after Justice Gladys Pardu finished her nearly all-day charge. 'We did our best for Janko but ultimately we put it into the hands of the jury and we have to respect their decision,' Homicide Det. Sgt. Wayne Banks, the lead investigator on the case, said late Tuesday night."

Legally Blonde 3: Elle Woods goes to the United Nations.

Us Weekly editor Janice Min acknowledges the gay love.

Danny Noriega: Don't hate on my do-rag!

JC Chacez does Vegas.

Alan Duncan, first conservative MP to register for a civil partnership, explains how it all went down: "This is not a 'wedding'," he says. "You really just go into the register office and sign. There will be no Elton John-style stuff: no white suits, no John Inman, no flouncing about. It was on the beach in Oman, two weeks ago, during the parliamentary break. We were walking back after dinner. I did the asking but I think I knew what the answer would be. I said we had had a really good year and should we make it permanent? That was it....It is love - and in no way a political statement. It was entirely personal and mutual. The chemistry is great - we are always laughing. We are very similar: always punctual, tidy, organised; and he's very considerate. We have not had so much as a tense word, let alone an argument. We don't do huffiness. Apart from being very good-looking, James is very socially adept. He says he's really shy going into big social events, but the next thing you know, he's charming the person he's talking to."

Kelly Osbourne to release "camp" fitness DVD featuring drag queens...

Boyband mogul Lou Pearlman pleads guilty to $300m fraud scheme: "In a plea agreement, the music mogul has admitted running scams that defrauded investors and major banks for more than 20 years. Mr Pearlman entered a not guilty plea last year, but is scheduled to reverse that in court in Florida on Thursday. The charges carry a maximum of 25 years in prison and a $1m (£506,000) fine. Mr Pearlman, 53, is expected to plead guilty to two charges of conspiracy, money laundering and making false statements during a bankruptcy proceeding."

Heterosexual UK man files discrimination lawsuit citing years of anti-gay abuse: "Stephen English, 56, says he was called a 'faggot' even though he was happily married with three children. The harassment was so relentless, he claims, that he resigned after nine years as a salesman with a blinds company. He lost his claim for sexual discrimination at a tribunal and at an employment appeal tribunal but the state-funded Equality and Human Rights Commission has taken up his case and will pursue it to the Court of Appeal...The taunts started, he claims, when an area sales manager discovered that he had been to boarding school and lived in Brighton, which has a high proportion of gays in its population. 'He appeared to have assumed from these two facts that I had homosexual tendencies, despite the fact that I was happily married with three daughters,' he told the employment tribunal."

REPORT: Leaked Madonna track "4 Minutes to Save the World" not the version being released. Real version "way better"...

Testosterone level linked to depression in older men: "A study of about 4,000 men aged over 70 found those with lowest testosterone were three times more likely to be depressed than those with the most. Researchers suspect the hormone may affect levels of key brain chemicals."

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Toronto Maple Leafs and Jiri Tlusty Respond to Nude, 'Gay' Photos

Nineteen-year-old Toronto Maple Leaf rookie Jiri Tlusty, who told a Canadian gossip site "I am not gay or bi nothing" after the site published photos of him tonguing a companion alongside nude photos taken with a camera phone, issued a statement late Tuesday.

Said Tlusty: "I used poor judgment in this instance last season and I have learned a valuable lesson. It will not happen again and I have no further comment."

Maple Leafs general manager John Ferguson issued a statement as well: "Photographs were posted recently on the Internet without Jiri's knowledge or consent. He made a naive mistake as a teenager. It's a lesson in how something private can easily become very public in the Internet age. Hopefully it's a lesson that other people will learn from as well."

Maple Leafs coach Paul Maurice told SLAM Canada: "(Jiri's) handled it as well as anyone could handle it under the circumstances. It's an excellent learning experience for a young man. There has to be a new awareness (about new media). When you're in the public eye, you have to guard how you behave. I hope this young man can put this behind him quickly. I hope he has already."

NHL Toronto Maple Leaf Rookie Jiri Tlusty: "I am Not Gay" [tr]

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Ewan McGregor and Colin Farrell Wet Dream in Toronto

Love was flowing at the Cassandra's Dream premiere in Toronto as well, as Ewan McGregor laid one on his co-star Colin Farrell (or at least made an effort). Now that's a dream. Where's the shot right after this one?

Recently
Ewan McGregor Plays Whack-a-Mole [tr]
(image source)

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Jake Gyllenhaal Gets Bearded and Political in Toronto

As Brokeback-director Ang Lee grabbed yet another Golden Lion in Venice, Jake Gyllenhaal was giving really good face as he arrived at the premiere of the CIA-thriller Rendition at the Toronto Film Festival on Friday. He gave an interview to the Toronto Star about the film, answering a few questions about acting and politics:

"I get about 15 emails a day from my mother. And each one has links to all these political blogs she thinks I should check out. What I really liked about this script (Rendition), and what I really admired about Gavin (Hood, Rendition's South African-born director) is that politics is secondary to the human story. And as an actor I'm always interested in the human side of politics. The thing about this movie is that everybody believes they're acting out of the best intentions. They all think they're doing some kind of good. And they're all acting on what they've been told. But who's to say what you're being told is the truth? I think people question whether they're being told the truth in situations like this. And who can blame them? Even worse, a lot of people have even lost the want for the truth. I heard somebody say recently that people actually prefer ignorance. I know I do a lot of the time. The truth can be painful."

Jake made no mention of his rumored relationship with co-star Reese Witherspoon. View the trailer for Rendition after the jump...

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Ontario Cabinet Minister George Smitherman Weds His Partner

Deputy Premier of Ontario George Smitherman, who is the first openly gay Member of Provincial Parliament (MPP) in Ontario, Canada and the first openly gay cabinet minister, married his partner Christopher Peloso in a ceremony over the weekend.

The Toronto Star reports: "Smitherman, who as provincial health minister is a senior member of cabinet and often mentioned on the shortlist of future candidates for mayor of Toronto, acknowledged that such a public pronouncement of love would have political overtones. 'We haven't sought to make it political. It happens to be who I am and what I've done for almost my entire adult life so it's no surprise that it is going to have some political elements to it,' Smitherman said. 'It was going to make a statement wherever it was. Christopher's a northern boy (from Sudbury) so it's pretty appropriate we do it here,' he added. The guests were mostly extended family (four generations from both sides) with only three area politicians invited, as well as human rights lawyer Doug Elliott, a long-time friend, and former Toronto mayor Barbara Hall who made the wedding cake, along with 200 individual cupcakes."

Smitherman became engaged to Peloso, whom he met in 1994 but didn't date until two years ago, last February.

Smitherman Weds Gay Partner [toronto star]
Ontario cabinet minister marries gay partner [ctv]

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News: Gianfranco Ferre, Toronto, Alan Hays, Time Capsule

Gay groups want Florida Rep. Alan Hays out of office. They claim he said that his cousin deserved to die after contracting HIV: "Minutes after the conference, Hays released a statement denying that he told two nurses and a regional manager for a nonprofit AIDS health-care program Wednesday that his cousin was 'queer as a three-dollar bill' and 'had that homosexual lifestyle and deserved what he got.'"

Tulsa, Oklahoma time capsule built to withstand a nuclear bomb is destroyed by rust: "When civic leaders unveiled their freshly-unearthed 1957 Plymouth Belvedere last night in a gala ceremony involving plenty of colorful lights, draped curtains, and Enya-like music, they were no doubt horrified to discover that the car had been reduced to a giant, tailfinned paperweight." (videos)

Rosie O'Donnell to meet with Price is Right producers about hosting gig. Meanwhile, she keeps on going about her time on The View: "I got to tell you, I've been hanging around with those heteros for a full year and it's not fun! Turn around one minute and they'll stab you in the back with a high heel. They will."

Gay killer on hunger strike for his inmate lover in Britain.

As Gay As it Gets: Toronto targets gay travelers with $300,000 campaign.

Fashion designer Gianfranco Ferre dies of brain hemorrhage at 62.

Scenes from the Folsom Street East leather-fetish party in NYC over the weekend. NSFW.

Australian man sentenced to nearly five years in prison after lover dies in shoelace sex strangulation: "Late in the night they moved to the bedroom to have sex with Fraser reluctantly agreeing to tie a shoelace around Moore's neck and pull it tight. Justice Anderson said during this activity Moore suddenly collapsed. Fearing Moore was dead, Fraser covered his body with clothing and bedding and left the home. He was caught after the shoelace was found by police and revealed his DNA. Fraser pleaded not guilty to murder at the start of his trial but later accepted a prosecution offer to admit to the lesser offence of manslaughter. Justice Anderson said while he accepted Fraser did not intend to kill Moore, he described the man's conduct was grossly negligent or reckless."

For Father's Day, a selection of celebrity DILFs.

Investigation uncovers "extensive destruction" of RNC emails: "House investigators have learned that the Bush administration’s use of Republican National Committee email accounts is far greater than previously disclosed — 140,216 emails sent or received by Karl Rove alone — and that the RNC has overseen 'extensive destruction' of many of the emails, including all email records for 51 White House officials."

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News: T.R. vs. Diddy, Toronto Cops, Anna Nicole's Fridge, Carrots

A Staten Island pastor has petitioned the U.S. Supreme Court over anti-gay billboards he erected which local borough officials said "conveyed an atmosphere of intolerance...not welcome in our borough." The pastor, Rev. Kristopher Okwedy, says that his First Amendment rights were violated: "It's a freedom-of-speech issue. It's not an attack on anybody. I want to be able to speak what I want, when I want. To restrict what people say in this country would compromise liberty."

Residents of West Hollywood's Dicks Street remain firm on keeping street name. Background...

Report: T.R. Knight and P. Diddy exchange words after Diddy's security detail boots Grey's cast from seating area at pre-Grammy party: "Puffy was supposed to sit in the same VIP area that had four tables - two were for him and two were for the 'Grey's Anatomy' cast. But he was very, very late, and there are a lot of 'Grey's' castmembers, so T.R., Kate and Sara were at a table set up for Puffy. This guy goes up to T.R., Kate and Sara and started demanding - 'Get out! Get out now! Move it!' - T.R. was furious..."

Targeting new recruits, Toronto police plant themselves in the gay village. Constable Gail Steed: Our service wants to reflect our diverse communities in the city. We don’t ask anybody to tell us their sexual preference, we just strive to get an accurate representation of the city.”

What's up Doc? New hi-tech material for use in warships, autos, and engineering components is made from carrots!

Ontario, Canada's first openly gay cabinet minister George Smitherman has announced he'll wed his partner this summer.

Ted Haggard Betting Pool formed to wager on how soon the now "completely heterosexual" pastor of New Life Church will fall off the wagon.

Unmoderated social networking tool at Barack Obama's campaign website leads to display of anti-gay, racist slurs.

Happy Birthday Abraham Lincoln. But was he gay?

Anna Nicole's depressing diet: Slim-Fast and Methadone.

Beatles catalog headed to all major music download services. Yellow Submarine iPod rumored...

Rather than suffer in silence, gay retirees now fighting for their rights in court: "We have a responsibility to fight, both for ourselves and for the gay men and lesbians who are a generation above us who feel too afraid to say who they are."

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News: Key West, Brazil, Beckham Scientology, Wax Cowell

Michael J. Fox will attend George W. Bush's upcoming "State of the Union" address at the invitation of Rhode Island Rep. Jim Langevin, who has been confined to a wheelchair for most of his adult life.

Meet Mr. Brazil 2007.

Heidi Cullen, the Weather Channel's foremost climatologist, says AMS should not approve meteorologists who disagree with scientific theories on global warming: "Meteorologists are among the few people trained in the sciences who are permitted regular access to our living rooms. And in that sense, they owe it to their audience to distinguish between solid, peer-reviewed science and junk political controversy. If a meteorologist can't speak to the fundamental science of climate change, then maybe the AMS shouldn't give them a Seal of Approval. Clearly, the AMS doesn't agree that global warming can be blamed on cyclical weather patterns. It's like allowing a meteorologist to go on-air and say that hurricanes rotate clockwise and tsunamis are caused by the weather. It's not a political statement...it's just an incorrect statement."

While David Beckham bides his time in Spain taking phone calls from Tom Cruise, Victoria Beckham says she wants nothing to with Scientology. "Tom spoke to David for hours about Scientology. He feels it could help to lift him out of the blues over his football career. But Victoria is having none of it. She can’t see the point of joining something like that where you have to donate money."

Diana Ross to be American Idol mentor this season.

Idol frightfest: wax likenesses of Ryan Seacrest and Simon Cowell make their debut.

While some threats to high school gay-straight alliance groups have been quashed in Virginia, they are struggling in gay-friendlier Toronto area.

Focus on the Family has its sights set on Key West Gay Spring Break. (via fundie watch)

Scientists reveal how 1918 flu epidemic killed over 50 million: "Essentially, people are drowned by themselves."

Still on tap for Apple? Widescreen video iPod and tablet Mac.

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Technology Leads to Break in 40-Yr-Old Gay Murder Case

After using technology to reconstruct facial images of two slain cold-case murder victims, and publishing them on a website, two completely independent tips, one from a friend and one from a family member, helped identify one of the victims as Richard "Dickie" Hovey.

Hovey disappeared in 1967 when he was in his late teens. He was a native of Fredericton, New Brunswick who moved to Toronto to follow his interests in being a musician. A one-time friend of Hovey's told the Toronto Sun, "We thought he just left town, because in 1967 we were always getting on the road, hitchhiking, going away. We were all in our late teens and it was quite normal for somebody to go to Toronto and try to get work up there, and the circle I ran around with, there were a lot of musicians ... and we figured Dickie had just hit the road. It’s a bit of a shock because I always figured he had gone on and lived a life of some sort."

Hovey's remains, and those of the unidentified male found with him, were found naked with their hands bound. They were killed, investigators think, by someone they met in Toronto's gay village. CTV reports that "police say a sexual predator was working in downtown Toronto, particularly in the Church and Wellesley Streets area at the time."

Said Hovey's family in a statement: "We are very relieved to be able to bring our brother home after years of anguish. We loved him dearly."

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News: Borat Frat Boys, Palm Springs, Heroes Closet Case, Nigeria

Nigeria may pass legislation banning any form of association between gay people, including dining together at a restaurant: "Other activities prohibited under the proposed law include belonging to gay clubs or reading books, watching films or accessing Internet sites that 'promote' homosexuality." Opposition is scant because of fear of reprisal from the government and religious groups.

Just who is the hottest Brazilian of 2006?

New York Film Critics name United 93 best picture...

Palm Springs considers branding itself a "hate-free" city: "'Not in Our Town' is the name of a campaign the commission hopes will help the public learn to support people who are gay, lesbian, transgender or bisexual; of another race or ethnicity; of another religion or gender; or have a physical or mental disability."

Andy Roddick: card shark.

South Australian police create gay liaison positions within force: "SAPOL's acting director of Human Resources, John Bruhn, says the initiative is directed at better policing of gay hate crimes. 'Those sort of crimes are generally under reported and that's one of the key drivers in us setting up this network,' he said. 'So we can do better at helping and supporting the gay community in dealing with those things.'"

Same-sex shenanigans from the Toronto set of Hairspray: "a certain young male Hairspray star has left one local lad heartbroken. Sources say the two met midway through production and ended up spending many quiet nights together in the actor’s Minto Yorkville suite. Promises to stay in touch were reportedly made but since filming ended the teen star hasn’t called or e-mailed his Canuck lover."

Did NBC send its gay character Zach from Heroes back into the closet? "Two scenarios seem the mostly likely: for unknown reasons, NBC suddenly shied away from the idea of a gay character. Or Dekker's management wanted Zach to be straight."

Civil Partnerships prepare to celebrate first anniversary in Britain: "Civil partnerships have quickly and seamlessly become a feature of British national life. The statistics are compelling: more than 15,500 couples registered civil partnerships in the period from last December to September this year, suggesting that government predictions of 22,000 partnerships by 2010 are a huge underestimate. But perhaps more significant is that among the 15,500 pledging their union were a cabinet member - Ben Bradshaw, the Fisheries minister - and among those planning to tie the knot are Adam and Ian from The Archers, which, lest we forget, is 'an everyday story of country folk'."

Judge rejects request from "duped" frat boys to remove scene and halt sale of Borat DVD.

Matthew McConaughey's leisure suit chic.

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NHL Endorses Film about Gay Pro Hockey Player

In an unusual move for an organization with no openly gay athletes, the National Hockey League and the Toronto Maple Leafs have allowed filmmakers to use their logos and uniforms in a new film about a gay couple who become guardians of a boy questioning his own sexuality:

"Actor Tom Cavanaugh plays a gay ex-Leaf in a comedy film Breakfast With Scot currently being shot in the GTA and Hamilton. He's one-half of a homosexual couple — his partner is the team lawyer — whose lives are turned upside down after becoming guardians of Scot, 'a budding queen of an 11-year-old boy,' according to the storyline."

Said Cavanaugh, who is Canadian and best known for his work on the TV series Ed: "I never in a million years thought when we finally went to shooting we'd be donning Leaf sweaters. I thought it'd be that thing where it's the Toronto Razorbacks or whatever. There's something instant to the viewer when you put on a Leafs jersey or any Original Six jersey. It's harder to tell the story asking the public to remember this is supposed to be the NHL, even though we have to call it the NHA. You have to give full credit to the NHL and the Leafs for signing on. It also shows the possibility for if someone were to come out, perhaps it wouldn't be as big a deal as we think."

Past and current Maple Leaf captains were supportive of the film. Said former player Darryl Sittler: "Obviously, it's the real world we live in and I have no issues with it at all. To me, those things have come a long way and they should."

Would this have played out this way if it were taking place in America? I doubt it.

Here's a link to a review of the novel Breakfast with Scot that appeared in Salon in 1999.

You may have missed...
Ice Melter: Rick DiPietro [tr]
Catherine Zeta-Jones Developing Gay Rugby Film [tr]

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Atty: Travolta Manny Kiss a "Customary, Non-Romantic Gesture"

John Travolta has sent his lawyer out to respond to speculation surrounding this photo of the actor kissing a man whom the lawyer reports is his male nanny manny.

"Martin insists that the smooch was harmless, and that Travolta's wife, Kelly Preston was also on board the plane which ferried him and the nanny home from Ontario, Canada. He said that his client's kissing another man was just a manner of customary greeting, and that Travolta kisses all those men and women whom he considers his close friends. 'As a manner of customary greeting and saying farewell, Mr Travolta kisses both women and men whom he considers to be extremely close friends. People who are close to Mr Travolta are aware of his customary, non-romantic gesture.'"

This raises a few questions...

> Is it really proper in this day and age of sexual harassment lawsuits to kiss the help?

> If Kelly Preston were a beard, would she really give a hoot that John was having a 'Gone with the Wind' moment on the tarmac?

> Does everybody have a manny these days?

Travolta's Tasty Take-Off Kiss [tr]

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Flying Star Reportedly Busy in Toronto

For those of you interested in a bit of unadulterated "gossip, rumor, conjecture" about a certain "flying star" spending a lot of time in Toronto lately, follow the jump. The rest of you, feel free to move on to the next item.

I formatted the post this way so those complaining that I cover reports like these don't have to read it. Those of you reading the item through feeds, I apologize.

There certainly seems to be a lot more action happening in Toronto than the shooting of a little movie called Hairspray. According to blog Lainey's Entertainment Update, a certain "flying star" has been getting busy at one of the city's exclusive private health clubs. Take it for what it is, folks — hearsay — but it certainly doesn't contradict some of the reports in the comment section of this post:

"Then the Flying Star's face took on a 'weird' expression…his eyes didn't move from Antony's face. At this point, he asked Antony to massage his stomach and Antony obliged. But then the sheet 'slipped' off, and since the Flying Star was not wearing underwear, Antony was treated to the Flying Star's standing excitement, and Antony quickly pulled the sheet back up, and all the while, the Flying Star kept smiling, kept staring. Next thing you know, the sheet 'slipped' again…Antony's starting to freak out at this point, sweating, uneasy - he pulls the sheet back up again, to no avail because wouldn't you know it, the sheet 'slipped' again …for the third time!!!"

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Travolta's Tasty Take-off Kiss

Originally printed in the National Enquirer: "John steals a smooch from an unidentified friend before the pair boarded Travolta`s personal 707 airplane together, in Hamilton, Ontario."

Travolta's in Toronto working on his Hairspray role as Edna Turnblad. Perhaps it's just the motherly role rubbing off on him. It's a photo that doesn't prove anything except that John Travolta knows how real men say good-bye.

(source)

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Iraq Hostage Jim Loney to Receive "Fearless" Award Tonight

The Toronto Star profiles gay Iraq hostage Jim Loney and his partner Dan Hunt, who says, "James had a lot of support (during his captivity). But I wonder how much he would have had if people had known he is gay?"

Loney will receive a "fearless" award tonight at Pride Toronto's annual gala event.

Said Loney: "I don't feel like a fearless person. Fearlessness means not being controlled by fear, even though fear is something all queer people feel in their lives — bashed, humiliated as they are."

Loney recently accused the Knights of Columbus of pressuring a Catholic Youth Leadership Camp to close because of their discovery that Loney, who worked there as a staff member, is gay: "Staff members say the camp has been shut down after their chairman made reference to Loney in expressing his concern that the event was promoting a homosexual lifestyle."

Loney was dismayed and publicly expressed his disappointment: "This is the litmus test for us: we love God as much as the one we love the least, and that's what we've been trying to be about, as a leadership camp. We want the teasing and the bullying and the harassment that comes with homophobia to stop. We want the teenage suicide and the self-loathing of the closet to stop. We want people to be able to speak freely about what they are and what they believe without fear."

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