News: Whitney Houston, Syria, James Franco, Gay Ice Cream

NYT tells New York Senate: Vote on marriage equality.

Actor David Carradine found hanged in hotel room in Bangkok, Thailand.

She's written a letter to daddy.

Real Housewife of New Jersey Danielle Staub fights back against anti-gay slurs: ""If you wanna do that thing that Italian guys do out here in Jersey, do it, but I'm taking offense by it."

Ed Westwick gives good face.

Whitney Houston to return: album release date set.

Gays in Syria beginning to come out: "Most of those behind the bold move are born into the urban middle-class, "the driving force behind homosexual emancipation," adds the young reporter, speaking to AFP on condition that he not be identified. 'It's on the Internet that they truly come out,' he adds. The world wide web is a way for gays to 'overcome social restrictions' and unwind in safe anonymity, or to build up a circle of acquaintances, he says. Some 200 Syrian gays banded together to form a group labelled 'I'm just like you' which published an appeal for tolerance."

Eminem discusses Bruno stunt: "I'm thrilled that we pulled this off better than we rehearsed it."

Sacha Baron Cohen sued for Bruno Bingo stunt.

James Franco pulls out of UCLA commencement speaking engagement: "I deeply regret not being able to keep my commitment to giving the commencement speech at UCLA's graduation this year. Unfortunately the date conflicts with me needing to be on location to begin pre-production on my next film. I wish everyone in the 2009 class the best of luck in all of their future endeavors." Or, you know, maybe this is why.

Sit-in held at site of Cincinnati-area gay bashing.

NGLTF reports reveal need for religious voices in fight for equality. Report author: "The findings of these two reports are highly relevant for future battles on marriage and family equality because these are deeply moral issues. Faith voices have much to contribute to the debate and authentic religious-secular partnerships are essential to achieving human and civil rights for LGBT Americans."

KRXQ radio host Rob Williams and Arnie States incite violence against transgender children.

Documentary about NYC Restaurateur Florent to show at New York's New Fest.

Are Twitter and Facebook robbing us of compassion?

Tolerance lacking at Virginia law schools?

Scoop: Big Gay Ice Cream Truck coming to the streets of NYC.

Sundance Channel celebrates Pride with digital shorts.

Lesbian couple allege discrimination at Fresno hospital: "Orbin said the paramedic told the nurse on duty that she had collapsed after marching 14 miles for civil rights, and the nurse gave her a dirty look and said 'ooooh.'  She continued, 'I asked if Teresa could come back with me, but the nurse told me I was in a no visitor zone. When I asked her why everyone else had visitors, she said 'those people are different'."

News: Chris Pine, Twitter, Carrie Prejean, Iraq, Joe Jonas, Avedon

Arkansas GOP chair Doyle Webb believes a lesbian can't be trusted with the state's budget!

Jonas Brother is first to attempt wet T-shirt sex symbol shot (while invoking celebrity crush Daniel Craig).

New Tony Kushner play, The Intelligent Homosexual's Guide to Capitalism and Socialism with a Key to the Scriptures, begins previews in Minneapolis tonight.

Through they eyes of RIchard Avedon.

Together: Frankly, I'd rather see Hugh Jackman and Robert Pattinson as bound captives.

Effort to recall Portland Mayor Sam Adams holds kick-out party: "Organizers of Thursday’s event at Nick’s Famous Coney Island restaurant said they wanted to spread the word about their efforts. And they gathered a standing-room only crowd that spilled outside the small establishment - though it was unclear how many were simply patrons uninterested in the recall. While organizers have a number of people already involved, they are hoping other citizens will sign up too." Focus on Breedlove.

It kind of seems like they Photoshopped Chris Pine's head onto suits in these GQ shots.

Is the ill-conceived American Ab-Fab kaput? Are we lucky?

NYPD seeks ex-boyfriend in slaying of gay man in Brooklyn: "Tamiz Din, 50, was shot five times in the chest and stomach at 12:45 a.m. after he exchanged words with three men, police said. His wallet was not taken. Din, a livery driver for 20 years, had been due to testify in court today on assault and harassment charges he filed against Saleem Khan, his former boyfriend, police said. Din dated Khan, also a Pakistani immigrant, for 15 years before they split up in 2007."

Real life Twitter.

San Francisco activists to hold rally at Harvey Milk Plaza protesting executions of gays in Iraq on International Day Against Homophobia (IDAHO) this Sunday.

Joseph Gordon Levitt covers Vman.

Adam Carolla makes misinformed remarks on gay parents: "We just get it spoon-fed to us [that] everything’s great, everything’s perfect, there’s no difference between, you know a couple of dads, a couple of moms, couple of bis and a couple of pre-op transsexuals, and a mom and a dad…no difference. Now look, I’m all for gays adopting but let’s not mistake it for being nearly as good as a mother and a father. It’s not nearly as good as a mommy and a daddy… all things being equal, it is much better for a mother and a father to raise a child than it is two of anything, all things being equal."

Focus on the Family's James Dobson talks about "dangers" of hate crime laws.

"Carrie Prejean Day" DOA in Vista, California.

Shanna Moakler just couldn't stand behind Carrie Prejean's lies: "The turning point for me, I guess, was when I was watching the Today show and she was sitting there continuing to lie. And it's obvious to everybody that the lying is still going on. I just couldn't stand behind her. I wasn't going to New York with this vendetta against her and hoping that she would be decrowned. But I was hoping that she would, at one point in time, stop pointing fingers at everyone in the world and take a little bit of accountability or a little bit of responsibility for herself."

U.S. Astronaut Mike Massimino is First to Twitter from Space

NASA astronaut Mike Massimino sent his first Twitter from aboard the Space Shuttle Atlantis. Shortly before launch, Massimino twittered "I'm going to put my spacesuit on, next stop: Earth Orbit!!".

Hopefully he'll tweet some photos.

Lenny Kravitz Twitters from the Shower Stall

Rock Lenny Kravitz is using his Twitter account to, among other things, share photos of himself in the shower.

Check out the full pic (nsfw), AFTER THE JUMP...

Gavin Newsom Announces He's Running for Governor on Twitter

San Francisco Mayor Gavin Newsom announced that he's running for Governor of California minutes ago on Twitter. He also made the announcement on Facebook, and a three-minute YouTube video. Watch it, AFTER THE JUMP...

News: Amazing Race, Aaron Schock, DOMA, Twitter, Muffins, UVA

Pelosi to Bay Area Reporter: Repeal of DOMA not a top priority.

Jared Polis considering introducing omnibus LGBT rights bill in the House.

Zac Efron's nut-tingling leftovers.

The current Amazing Race, which has at least two additional contestants who are gay but not identified as such, closets contestants because producers want them to play to their types. Mel White: "After Luke 'found out that Mike and I were being billed as gay, he wanted to be billed as gay,' but a producer said—and this is Mel paraphrasing a conversation he had with an unnamed producer—‘No, we’re establishing you as what we want you to be established. He’s established as deaf. You’re established as gay, so don’t be interrupting what we're trying to do here.’”

Mel White talks to AfterElton...

Elton John to perform at Andy Roddick's wedding this weekend.

1,000,000: Ashton Kutcher beats CNN in weeklong Twitter war.

Defense Secretary Gates remains cautious on "Don't Ask, Don't Tell" repeal: “Everybody in this room knows that this is a complex and difficult problem. [Then he noted that President Harry S. Truman had signed an executive order integrating the armed services in 1948] and that it was five years before the process was completed. I’m not saying that’s a model for this, but I’m saying that I believe that this is something that needs to be done very, very carefully.’’

Eli Manning: I'm better looking than Peyton.

Sarah Palin's anti-gay attorney general nominee REJECTED.

Ohio teacher resigns after taking high school students to gay bar: "Lori Epperson submitted a letter of resignation Thursday. She also sent an email to her supervisor and the school principal in which she admits to taking four female students to a club called Masque."

Tony Perkins at the Family Research Council has the lie-spewing turned up full throttle.

Britney Spears stalked by former American Idol contesant peeping Tomasina.

Stephen Colbert talks to the Brody Jenner of Congress, Rep. Aaron Schock.

Gay muffin tops!

Long Island gay and lesbian groups to honor Harvey Milk this weekend: "Milk's nephew, Stuart Milk, will accept an award on Saturday from the Long Island Gay, Lesbian, Bisexual and Transgender Services Network. Milk grew up on Long Island and graduated from high school there in the late 1940s — keeping his sexuality a well-guarded secret."

UVA students hold a rally against anti-gay hate: "Several hundred people gathered at UVA’s amphitheater last night for the Stand Against Hatred. The vigil and public forum was in response to the April 4 attack on a UVA student that was apparently motivated by anti-gay bias."

Maryland to protect the homeless under hate crimes statute: "The groundbreaking measure, championed by one of the legislature's most conservative Republicans, was approved in the House of Delegates four minutes before the General Assembly adjourned at midnight Monday. O'Malley (D) is reviewing the bill, which also adds penalties for violent crimes against people targeted because of their gender or disability."