GAY LGBT NEWS ROUNDUP! MADONNA DADT OUTGAMES BRüNO JOAN RIVERS MILK MORE!

July 31, 2009
More anti-gay violence marred the World Outgames in Copenhagen after the opening night homophobic attack on three men. Two explosive devices were detonated, the Advocate reports: "Before the men’s 4x200 track relay in the afternoon, two bombs were thrown onto the track exploding instantly, according to a witness in an e-mail obtained by The Advocate. Dean Kogan, a runner from the Seattle Frontrunners, was taken to hospital with injuries to his right hand from flying shrapnel. Kogan was later released from the hospital, and is expected to recover. Participants from the field were unharmed but a little shaken up. Less than an hour later, a second bomb was thrown in another stadium. Luckily, no one was injured, but track events were delayed for 90 minutes.”
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Picture of one among several posters for the World Outgames promoting Love of Freedom and Freedom to Love

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A 31 year-old Copenhagen man was charged with committing the hate crime. Last Friday, three Outgames attendees were attacked by two drunken men who called the gays “homo pigs.” Those homophobes, 28 and 33, were also arrested. Police said they have prior criminal records for drug abuse.

Listen to the official World Outgames song, “Freedom to Love,” on Windows Media, by clicking here.

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Watch the Opening Ceremony Video from World Out Games 2009 in Copenhagen:

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Shirtless British actor Ricky Whittle copying David Beckham's Armani underwear ad photo

Towleroad.com reports that Ricky Whittle, an actor on the popular British soap Hollyoaks, imitated David Beckham's well-known Armani underwear rope ad for the UK's Now magazine: "He clung onto a rope and had temporary body art applied to his arms and torso to recreate the footballer's tattoo heavy look. But rather than spend hours in the gym to maintain his hot body, Ricky insisted he guzzles down a diet of Chinese food, pizza and kebabs. He said: 'I've no idea how I keep in shape because I eat like a pig!' Talking about his idol, he added that Beckham is an athlete that 'looks amazing'. The cheeky actor then joked: 'I'm not being funny but even I'd go there!'"

Nelsan Ellis' gay charactger Lafayette Reynolds from HBO's True Blood photo

HBO scored the highest among 15 networks for its representation of gay characters last season, according to a report by the Gay & Lesbian Alliance Against Defamation (GLAAD). In its third annual Network Responsibility Index, GLAAD found that of HBO’s 14 original prime-time series, 10 included content reflecting the lives of gay, bisexual and transgender people. That totaled 42 percent of the network’s programming hours, in series such as True Blood, Entourage and The No. 1 Ladies’ Detective Agency.

Keir Gilchrist as gay son Marshall (bottom right) with Showtime's United States of Tara cast photo

Showtime ranked second, with 26 percent of its programming hours featuring gay characters or themes. Series included The L Word, Weeds, and The United States of Tara, a new comedy about a family whose teenage son is gay. GLAAD added, "By contrast, on NBC and CBS only 8 percent and 5 percent, respectively, of prime-time hours included LGBT characters.” Of all the networks that received failing grades (NBC, CBS, A&E, Sci Fi and TBS) from GLAAD’s Network Responsibility Index, so far only the Sci Fi Channel has responded. Mark Stern, Sci Fi’s executive vice president in charge of original content, made a statement to TV Guide saying they are trying for more diversity, but also acknowledged that the network has a way to go. He touted two new series, a new Stargate and the Battlestar Galactica spin-off Caprica, that are slated to feature complex main characters in same-sex relationships.

Watch this great gay clip video of Showtime’s The United States of Tara, produced by Steven Spielberg:

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Albania's Prime Minister Sali Berisha photo

The Associated Press reports Albania plans to legalize gay marriages. Albania’s governing Democrats have proposed a law allowing same-sex civil weddings in the small, predominantly Muslim country. An announcement on the government Web site Thursday said the bill “may spark debate” but was needed to stop discrimination against gay couples. Current law only recognizes heterosexual marriages. Prime Minister Sali Berisha said the move followed requests from equal rights groups. His Democrats, who control 74 of parliament’s 140 seats, are expected to easily pass the law.

Iraqi gays are saying they felt safer under the repressive regime of Saddam Hussein, whose statue is being toppled in this photo

365gay News says the Washington Blade reported that U.S. soldiers have been accused of aiding in the execution of gay Iraqis. The charges were made by two unnamed, gay Iraqi refugees during a fundraiser event at the Human Rights Campaign headquarters. Several violent images of a beheaded gay Iraqi were shown to the audience by one of the men, who goes by the name “Hussam.” He shocked the audience by claiming U.S. soldiers have also detained and executed Iraqi men perceived to be gay. Images were shown of a U.S. soldier standing over a group of naked men chained together who Hussam claims were gay. Hussam said he possesses images of their execution but did not show them to the audience.

“When it comes down to our armed services … who potentially have contributed to atrocities like that, I’m just appalled,” said Dana Beyer, a transgender activist and Chevy Chase, Md., resident who attended the event. “And I hope that we will pursue this through the government, through the State Department and through the Department of Defense because this just can’t be left standing.”

Several members voiced their skepticism of the events that Hussam detailed in his speech. “It’s very difficult for me to believe that my country would allow its military to engage in the conduct that has been apparently documented,” said Chris Farris, a gay D.C. resident who also attended the event. “I would urge the U.S. government to react.”

Iraqi flag photo

Meanwhile, Jennifer Vanasco, editor in chief of 365gay.com said in a Wednesday story that the LGBT situation in Iraq continues to deteriorate. "Iraqi gay men—and straight guys who are too flamboyant or too Western—are being hunted down by militants in Iraq and publicly executed. USA Today reports in a chilling story: 'At least 82 gay men have been killed in Iraq since December, according to Iraqi LGBT. The violence has raised questions about the Iraqi government’s ability to protect a diverse range of vulnerable minority groups that also includes Christians and Kurds, especially following the withdrawal of U.S. combat troops from Iraqi cities last month. Mithal al-Alusi, a secular, liberal Sunni legislator, is among those who blame the killings on armed militant groups such as al-Qaeda and the Mahdi Army militia. Iraqi gunmen go into cafes, drag gay men out of them and shoot them in the street.'”

Photo of Rep Alcee Hastings from Florida

The Sun reported Florida Congressman Alcee Hastings (D-Fl) submitted and then immediately withdrew an amendment that would have withdrawn the military’s funding to carry out the provisions of its Don't Ask, Don't Tell policy, which prevents gays from serving openly in the military. The Democrat said he reluctantly pulled the measure under pressure from Democratic congressional colleagues and the White House.

"I would, however, like to note that it is most unfortunate that we are not addressing Don't Ask, Don't Tell at this time," Hastings said in announcing his decision. "We should not be appropriating funds to enable qualified service members to be booted out just because they are honest about whom they are." The congressman also took aim the White House for not providing leadership ON DADT. "What is the holdup, then? Last month, 76 of my colleagues and I sent a letter to President Obama urging him to take leadership on this issue and to work together with Congress to repeal this law. More than a month later, I have yet to receive an official response."

Check out MSNBC’s Rachel Maddow interview of Rep Alcee Hastings on why the White House pressured him to withdraw his amendment to halt the funding of Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell (“The Time is Not Right”):

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Singer Elephant Man also known as O’Neil Bryan photo

The Advocate said complaints from Toronto LGBT rights advocates prompted concert promoters to oust a high-profile Jamaican dance hall artist known for anti-gay lyrics, according to the Toronto Star . Elephant Man, also known as O’Neil Bryan, was scheduled to perform at the Caribana Celebrity Ball this Sunday at Circa nightclub. A spokeswoman for the club told the Star that after gay activists complained to the venue, Circa asked the outside promoter to remove the artist from the lineup. According to numerous sources, including the 2008 book Dark Side of the Tune: Popular Music and Violence, the Jamaican patois lyrics celebrate stamping on a gay man and setting him on fire. Critics have charged a number of dance hall artists with inciting mob attacks against gay people in Jamaica. Protests also greeted Elephant Man when he was issued a visa to perform in Canada in 2007, resulting in police monitoring his concerts for anti-gay lyrics.

Swimmer Ricky Berens smiling innocently photo

No butts about it (Well, maybe one cute one!), champion swimmer Ricky Berens caused quite a stir at the FINA World Championships in Rome when he was forced to swim with a ripped suit last Sunday, July 26. The U.S. effort was nearly hampered when Ricky Berens, who swam the third leg, ripped his suit on the deck before the race began—and then had to swim with the hot Italian sun shining right through to his backside. He said he had no other choice.

Ricky Berens swimming with ripped suit exposing his rear end in Rome Sunday

"I kind of freaked out for just a second," he said. "I felt like [the split] was almost down to my knees. I felt like I was putting on a pretty good show." You don’t hear me complaining.

Recent photo of Madonna in Milan, where she was caught wearing the same dress as Whitney Houston

Madonna has a new single, called “Celebration.” Her rep took the opportunity to tell Gossip Cop that the recent paparazzi photo showing her arm in a less than celebratory light (See picture above) was altered. “Her arms do not look like that in real life," he said.

Photo of the cover for Madonna's new song "Celebration," showing her smoking, for which she has been receiving flack in the press

For your auditory and viewing pleasure, complete with boytoy Jesus Luz, listen to the new Madonna single “Celebration” Video:

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Photo of openly gay John Barrowman from the new Torchwood: Children of the Earth on BBC, in which he runs around without any clothes, something he purportedly enjoys. Again, no complaints here!

John Barrowman, star of TV shows Torchwood and Doctor Who, shared a brief kiss on the lips with David Tennant at the Comic Con convention last weekend in San Diego. Tennant, who plays the title character in Doctor Who, introduced Barrowman at the comic and sci-fi convention before going in for the kiss. Barrowman, who is an out gay entertainer/actor, reacted by laughing and pretending to faint. He was at the convention to promote the start of the new Torchwood mini-series, Children of Earth, in the US.

Here’s the Video of David Tennant kissing John Barrowman and much more at Comic Con in San Diego July 26 2009:

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Photo of gay couples kissing in Salt Lake City to protest the arrest of two gay guys on Mormon Temple grounds several weeks ago

The Salt Lake City couple who kissed on a plaza adjacent to the Mormon Temple in Salt Lake City earlier this month and were arrested will not be charged, the Salt Lake Tribune reports: "The privately owned plaza, with its wide promenade and gate-less entrance, is too inviting and appears too much like a public passageway. Consequently, Salt Lake City Prosecutor Sim Gill said Wednesday he will not prosecute a gay couple cited for trespassing after they shared a kiss on the plaza. 'The two individuals believed -- albeit mistakenly -- that they had the right to be there,' Gill said. 'Fairness requires that either that property be not open to the public or you condition that [openness] in a way that the person who comes on understands that it is private property.'

Photo of a protest in Salt Lake City against the arrest of two gay kissers earlier this month

“Gill said his decision not to prosecute this particular case ‘should not be viewed as limiting’ the ability of the church to enforce its private-property rights on the plaza in the future. 'Going forward,' he said, 'working toward clarity [on the plaza] serves everyone's interests in this community.' Gill's analysis cites the lack of signs on the plaza that indicate visitors are entering private property 'at will,' meaning they can be ejected at any time for any reason." The incident inspired demonstrations and protest Kiss-Ins in Salt Lake City and San Diego, and prompted two activists to launch a nationwide Kiss-In, which will take place on August 15th in cities around the nation.

Photo of Harvey Milk, gay political pioneer, who will receive the Presidential Medal of Freedom posthumously Aug 12 2009

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The Victory Fund says President Obama will honor San Francisco's first openly gay Supervisor, Harvey Milk, with a Presidential Medal of Freedom at the White House on August 12. Harvey Milk's nephew Stuart Milk, will accept the award. Stuart told the media, "The President’s action today touches the core of our very human hearts and my uncle would be so proud of this high honor. His election was, for him, a beginning–a chance to make real change. That change is happening, but we still have so far to go. I hope this recognition inspires LGBT Americans everywhere to heed Harvey’s call to run for office, to serve openly, to live proudly with authenticity and to demand the equality that we all deserve."

Photo of Billie Jean King from a TV special about her life

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Lesbian tennis legend Billie Jean King will also receive the Presidential Medal of Honor on the same day. Obama said, "These outstanding men and women represent an incredible diversity of backgrounds. Their tremendous accomplishments span fields from science to sports, from fine arts to foreign affairs. Yet they share one overarching trait: Each has been an agent of change. Each saw an imperfect world and set about improving it, often overcoming great obstacles along the way. Their relentless devotion to breaking down barriers and lifting up their fellow citizens sets a standard to which we all should strive. It is my great honor to award them the Medal of Freedom." Additional recipients this year are Ted Kennedy, Nancy Goodman Brinker, Pedro Jose Greer, Jr., Jack Kemp, Rev. Joseph Lowery, Joe Medicine Crow, Sandra Day O'Connor, Sidney Poitier, Chita Rivera, Mary Robinson, Janet Davidson Rowley,Desmond Tutu, and Muhammad Yunus. Read more here.

Funniest Line Ever: Conan O’Brian said Wednesday night a guy has been arrested for the second time for having sex with a horse. “Apparently this man can’t take nay for an answer.”
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The London Paper reports that Sascha Baron Cohen has stepped up his personal security after a militant Palestinian group threatened him over its portrayal in the film Brüno. The al-Aqsa Martyrs’ Brigades said that it was “very upset” that it featured in the film, starring Baron Cohen’s gay Austrian alter ego. “We reserve the right to ­respond in the way we find suitable against this man,” it said in a statement. “The movie was part of a conspiracy against the al-Aqsa Martyrs’ Brigades.” The offending scene involves­ the London-born comic mocking Ayman Abu Aita, who was identified as the group’s leader but now claims to have severed all links to it. Brüno told Abu Aita in the film, “I want to be famous. I want the best guys in the business to kidnap me. Al-Qaeda is so 2001. Your king Osama looks like a kind of dirty wizard or a homeless Santa Claus.”
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Watch this Video of Sascha Baron Cohen on Letterman July 7 2009 talking about the Terrorist Interview Scene from Brüno:

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This weekend (July 25 2009) the annual NYC Underwear Run broke the Guinness record for the most people gathered in just undies. Check out the Video:

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Photo of a naughty Mattesons smoked sausage. Now that's forked!

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Reuters reports that a saucy radio advertisement for sausages which encouraged listeners to reveal "where you like to stick yours" was criticized by Britain's advertising watchdog on Wednesday. The ads for Mattesons smoked sausages elicited 21 complaints from listeners who said they were offensive because of the sexual innuendo and should not have been aired when children were likely to be listening. "Think about all the things you can stick this tasty, extraordinarily large sausage in," one ad said. "Mmm... Pizza, pasta, stir fry. You have any ideas? Give me a call and tell me where you like to stick it." Kerry Foods, which makes the sausages, said its ads were intended to be tongue-in-cheek and were not designed to be offensive. The Advertising Standards Authority ruled the ads should not be aired at times when they were likely to be heard by children.
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Watch this hilarious “Video Compilation of Inappropriate Commericials,” some gay as hell:

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Photo comparison of gay actor Rupert Everett before and after plastic surgery

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Out gay actor, Rupert Everett, who is currently starring in Broadway's Blithe Spirit, has been getting a lot of flack recently from the gay media for his complacency about gay equality. Queerity.com called him an “aging gay adoption foe and serial complainer who may not care much about equality." They went on to say “he certainly cares about surface level beauty,” and then showed a before and after picture of his recent plastic surgery. “He's barely recognizable to us—and that's a compliment. Finally, Rupert, something you can be proud of.” Everett was also criticized recently by Rod 2.0 for saying Michael Jackson “was better off dead.” Read that article here.
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If you want your new child to look like this photo of a shirtless Brad Pitt, read the following article

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ktla.com of Los Angeles reported on July 28 2009 California Cryobank announced that it has started posting photos of celebrities who resemble their donors “to give prospective clients a better idea of what their potential offspring might look like.” So now you can have a child that looks like your favorite movie star! Scott Brown said the sperm bank is choosy, accepting fewer than 1 percent of people who apply to be donors. The screening process includes genetic testing, regular blood tests, a three-generation family medical history, and a sperm count/quality in the top 15 percent of the population, he said. Their database will return a list of donors who each have two or three celebrity look-alikes. Users also can choose from an existing library of celebrities to generate a list of matching donors.

Photo of John Travolta kissing a guy, from a British tabloid

The Daily Mail reports that John Travolta has been in a state of crisis since the death of his son Jett. Say neighbors: "We often see John driving himself around at night. It's sad to see. You rarely catch sight of him during the day. We used to see him driving around on a buggy with his son. Now it's just John by himself. He's always been a night owl, but now even more so." According to the paper, Travolta's faith in Scientology has been broken by Jett's death and the religion's inability to help his son, but the cult is threatening to expose him if he tries to kiss it good-bye. "There are dark mutterings that if he carries out private threats to leave, the organization will go public with embarrassing details of his private life, including, it is claimed, allegations of past homosexual relationships."

Comedienne and roastee Joan Rivers, comedian Carl Reiner, and comedienne Kathy Griffin arrive at the Comedy Central Roast of Joan Rivers in Los Angeles on Sunday, July 26, 2009 photo

Don’t forget to watch the roast of Joan Rivers on the Comedy Channel to be aired Sunday, August 9. It promises to be hilarious.

In the meantime, watch this Video of the Red Carpet Interviews by Dana Ward on MaximoTV before the July 26 taping of the Comedy Central ROAST of JOAN RIVERS:

Photo of blue purple Caesar's Brother Siberian Iris from the author's free flower photo website http://www.freefishcaretips.com/photos44

Also visit http://www.galechesterwhittington.com/ for free humor, short stories, poems, and book excerpts from the award-winning gay author

==copyright 2009==