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

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

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

Save the Earth, piss in the shower.

New El Niño may be second-strongest.

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

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

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

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

Leonardo Dicaprio hits the beach in Ibiza.

Pepto-Bismol ice cream: hangover cure?

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

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

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

Movieline interviews photographer Bruce Weber.

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

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

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

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

75% of Poles against same-sex marriage.

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

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

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

Annie Lennox, backwards and forwards.

News: Hugh Jackman, Kalamazoo, Submarines, Michael Savage

Friend and activist David Mixner is hospitalized. We wish him the best for a speedy recovery.

U.S. Military developing super-fast submarine.

Hugh Jackman to star as P.T. Barnum in a musical circus film with pop songs written by Mika.

Angie Zapata's murderer has a MySpace page, created by killer Allen Andrade's brother.

SPOILER? Ugly Betty's makeover.

Siew Kum Hong, former Singapore NMP, honored: "Siew was named the winner of the 2009 Dignity Prize, a biennial award presented by gay advocacy group, People Like Us, on Saturday evening at the opening reception of Indignation, Singapore’s annual gay pride festival. Organisers say the prize serves to recognise the contributions of an individual in Singapore who has spoken up for equal rights for LGBT people."

Racist, homophobic Laguna Beach actor Jason Wahler arrested in shoe attack.

Tentacled creature washes up on Welsh beach.

Two Beluga whales pregnant at Shedd Aquarium in Chicago: "Shedd officials say the belugas should be pregnant for between 14 and 16 months. They'll still be on public display at the aquarium."

Kalamazoo, Michigan anti-discrimination ordinance back on the ballot in November: "The Kalamazoo City Commission voted unanimously Monday to reaffirm its support for the ordinance that was officially suspended Friday when challenge petitions were certified by City Clerk Scott Borling. City Attorney Clyde Robinson now will draft ballot language that will be presented to the commission at its Aug. 17 meeting. Commissioners must approve the language for it to appear on the Nov. 3 ballot." The Stonewall Democrats executive director Jon Hoadley has stepped down from his position to fight this ballot measure.

Domestic partners register across Wisconsin: "About 20 people had lined up in the hallway outside Dane County Clerk Robert Ohlsen's office by 7:30 a.m., but the promise of long-awaited legal benefits didn't appear to draw an immediate flood of applicants elsewhere in the state. Milwaukee County Clerk Joe Czarneki said his office had taken about a half-dozen applications. Winnebago County had 18 applications, and Outagamie County had 16."

Matt Maggiacomo visits the Big Gay Ice Cream Truck.

Homophobic attacks in London's East End going unreported, police say.

Gay former NFLer Esera Tuaolo comments on Hawaii coach Greg McMackin's "faggot" slur: "These are the things that we are fighting so hard to get rid of and to have someone of his stature to say something like that is not right, not right at all."

Posters: AIDS is D.C.'s Katrina.

Bollywood superstar Saif Ali Khan not afraid to play gay.

Gay man wins landmark case in Poland: "The Regional Court in Szczecin has ruled that a homosexual Polish man should receive zł.15,000 in damages from a female neighbor who called him a 'fag' (pedał). The man, identified as Ryszard G., decided to sue his 50-year-old neighbor, Anna S., after she repeatedly called him 'fag,' including at a grocery store in the presence of customers and on the stairwell of their residential block."

Chaz Housand, an assault victim who believes he may have been attacked over his sexual orientation, is attacked by Town Hall columnist for suggesting it might possibly be a hate crime.

Artist takes on Damien Hirst.

Beyonce, Lady Gaga, and Britney Spears dominate VMA nominations. Partial list.

Just a couple more Brazilian beauties.

The New Yorker embraces hatemonger and birther nut radio host Michael Savage. Media Matters: "Savage doesn't preach hate. (That's so cliché, people.) Instead, the host merely engages in some old-fashioned 'rabble rousing.' Sure, he broadcasts an 'antipathy for liberals.' And yes, he does show flashes of an 'immoderate' and 'incendiary style.' But deep down, Savage is really just a throwback to 'garrulous old-school New York radio personalities.' In fact, Savage isn't all that much different than famed shock jock Howard Stern. Besides, The New Yorker loves the 'counter-culture feel' of Savage's program."

News: Barney Frank, Astronauts, The Unborn, Mark Sanford, Mariah

Michelangelo Signorile talks to Barney Frank on gay rights issues, DOMA, etc.

Astronaut Alan Bean now paints the moon.

Mariah Carey wins Photoshop Lifetime Achievement Award for new album cover.

Queens, NY man killed over gay hustler fee.

If Daniel Radcliffe wanted to shock people, he wouldn't go nude, he'd play a gay drug dealer.

Thousands march peacefully in Jerusalem Gay Pride parade: "In past years, the gay pride event in the holy city provoked violent protests, even stabbings, by ultra-Orthodox Jews and extremists. But this year, except for one egg-throwing incident, there were no clashes. Police said they arrested the egg-tossing protester. Others put up signs and demonstrated in an ultra-Orthodox section of Jerusalem, far away from the parade."

Poland gets openly gay rabbi.

New technology creates model of unborn child using ultrasound.

Perez Hilton sues Black Eyed Peas manager, apologizes for using slur. Matthew Shepard Foundation rejects donation from Hilton: "We do not know the details of the lawsuit, whether it has been filed, the nature of his claims or the likely outcome. But because the lawsuit presumably involves the physical attack prompted by Mr. Hilton's admitted use of an anti-gay slur, the Foundation will be unable to accept any funds obtained in such a manner."

Madonna reveals title and release date of upcoming greatest hits album.

Nicole LeFavour, D-Boise, Idaho's only gay legislator, kicks off first-ever Pride Week in Twin Falls: "Tuesday's evening event downtown at Pandora's drew about 60 people. LeFavour commended the group on holding the event in a conservative area not known for progressive politics. 'To see this community do what you are doing this year - and against all odds - is so powerful,' she said. 'And I can't overstate how powerful it is to changing policy in the state of Idaho. Nothing gives me more hope than what is happening this week.'"

Governor Mark Sanford and mistress: emails. Rush Limbaugh says South Carolina Governor Mark Sanford's infidelity is Obama's fault.

Almost Famous: 24 hours with Max Steele.

In case you were wondering: models do diet.

More insight into the phone call the Obama administration had with senior members of the LGBT Caucus: "We expect our president to lead, not follow. Support is something you do when you run for president. Actually work towards passage of legislation is something you do when you ARE president. What has Barack Obama done since taking office to advance ENDA? And finally, not a word about the anti-gay DOJ brief comparing us to incest and pedophilia. Apparently, we don't even merit an explanation, let alone an apology."

Eddie Cibrian tools around on his hog.

Alexis Arquette hangs around with 'Hung' dude Thomas Jane.

Randi Reitan: I ask President Obama for full equality for my gay son. "My youngest child is gay. As parents we were ignorant about homosexuality when Jacob came out to us as a 16 year old young man eleven years ago. We embraced him and we told him we loved him that night, but we were clueless about what it meant to be gay. We had to educate ourselves. Another part of your message on Sunday addressed the importance of education. I ask you now to educate yourself about homosexuality."

Towleroad Guide to the Tube #496

BILL MAHER: Takes on Obama. Stay off TV, get some work done.

ROSIE O'DONNELL: Life after The View, a CBS profile.

PROJECKT P.I.W.O.: Polish students create stunning light show in 11-storey building.

THE POLITE UMBRELLA: Excuse me, can I get by?

For recent Guides to the Tube, click HERE.

Rome, Zagreb, Warsaw, Athens: Gay Pride Across Europe

Many Gay Pride celebrations are taking place this weekend. One is in Rome:

"Costumed demonstrators carrying rainbow flags and signs reading 'freedom for all' attacked the conservative government of Premier Silvio Berlusconi. They demanded rights for same-sex couples and the recognition of gay marriage. Activists dressed as fake clergy with colorful hats and signs reading 'No Vatican' protested what they say is the church's excessive influence on Italy's policies."

One thousand took to the streets in Warsaw (right), 2,000 in Athens.

Zagreb, Croatia had a similar spirit but a much different tone (photo below):

"In Croatia, another mostly Roman Catholic country, about 500 gay activists marched through Zagreb. No violence was reported, but about 50 people held a counterdemonstration and shouted anti-gay slogans. One was led away by police after trying to break through a cordon that authorities had created around the Gay Pride parade to protect it."

Video of today's parade in Rome, AFTER THE JUMP (warning: nsfw moments)...

News: Bret Michaels, D.C., Jesse Helms, Dan Choi, Connecticut

D.C. Board of Elections and Ethics hears four hours of testimony on anti-gay referendum: "Both sides presented legal and political arguments about whether the same-sex marriage issue should be in the hands of voters or the politicians who represent them."

Bret Michaels says the Tony Awards people would have cared more about his self-inflicted on-set accident if it had happened to Liza Minnelli, Dolly Parton, or Elton John.

Transgender woman beaten at bus stop in Seattle: "The victim, who told police that she sometimes wears a skirt, said the attack was a result of that, the report stated. During the confrontation, several of the victim's assailants uttered a slur for a gay man as they struck and kicked the victim, then knocked her to the ground, the report says. The attacking youths also tried to pull off her backpack. The group then fled."

Researcher: Cougars love Adam Lambert. What about Cougays?

Oceanside, California resident pleads "not guilty" in assault on gay rights activist during recent torch relay protesting Proposition 8.

Living Sasquatch!

Britney Spears announces second round of tour dates.

Dan Choi joins No H8 Campaign.

City of Seattle fights to keep identities of its LGBT employees private after request from City Light employee affiliated with conservative Christian organization opposed to gay rights.

Cristiano Ronaldo bought by Real Madrid for world record transfer fee of £80million, spends night with Paris Hilton.

Paul Schindler at Gay City News does an excellent job of summing up the chaotic events that have occurred this week with regard to marriage equality in New York.

Man arrested for 'revenge' pissing at Motor City Pride in Detroit.

Something is happening in Iran.

North Carolina resolution in honor of Jesse Helms inspires mass walkout, vote of "no" from gay lawmaker.

Kellan Lutz gives good tank.

Virginia prison segregated women who "looked gay": "For more than a year, Virginia's largest women's prison rounded up inmates who had loose-fitting clothes, short hair or otherwise masculine looks, sending them to a unit officers derisively dubbed the "butch wing," prisoners and guards say."

Greenwich, Connecticut a magnet for NYC same-sex weddings.

British ambassador to Poland in hot water for promoting gay pride march in Warsaw: "Ric Todd has been told by the country's civil rights ombudsman that he has 'exceeded his authority' and Roman Catholic groups have accused the ambassador of representing the 'homosexual lobby'. The problem arose after Mr Todd, who has been our man in Warsaw for almost two years, gave gay rights leaders a UK Guide To Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual And Transgender People And Their Rights, translated into Polish, earlier this week."