July 13, 2009Sacha Baron Cohen’s feauxmosexual fashionista Brüno the movie led the U.S. box office with its weekend debut, bringing in an estimated $30.4 million. The mockumentary, which follows a flamboyant gay Austrian fashion model as he seeks fame and fortune in America, beat the opening total posted by Cohen’s previous breakthrough film, Borat, which amassed $26.5 million.
Brüno in Berlin wearing pink "body suit" with entourage photo
However, Borat opened in far fewer cinemas – 800 as opposed to Brüno ‘s 2,756. The figures are no surprise, considering the over-the-top world-wide promotional stunts by Mr. Cohen. Although many LGBT groups have reservations about the movie, I say lighten up. It’s all in fun. If we can’t laugh at ourselves, then shame on us! Besides, I think it opens up new and helpful dialogue about the plight of gays in every day situations.
Ganesh, Verdic (Hindu) Astrology symbol picture. Is that a trunk on her face or is she just glad to see us?.
365gay.com reports that India’s Supreme Court agreed July 9 to hear a petition from a Hindu astrologer who is seeking to annul a recent landmark ruling by the Delhi High Court that decriminalized gay sex. The ignorant Sushil Kumar Kaushal claimed “even animals don’t indulge in such activities,” adding that allowing gay sex would help spread HIV/AIDS, in spite of the disease having run rampant in the country precisely because gay sex has been illegal. “If such abnormality is permitted,” he continued, “then tomorrow people might seek permission for having sex with animals.” The poor man can’t even be original in his flawed arguments. The hearing is scheduled for July 20, 2009.
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Television "yoga expert" Swami Baba Ramdev of India self-promo photo.
The Advocate.com announced another stumbling block in the search for gay equality in India. The leading television yoga expert in India also filed a petition challenging last week’s ruling, saying that homosexuality is a “disease” that can be cured by yoga. Swami Baba Ramdev (pictured) filed the petition in Supreme Court charging that the lower court erred in legalizing “unnatural sex acts.” He said that the “congenital defect” of homosexuality could be treated through yoga, breaking exercises, and meditation techniques. Last week, the Delhi High Court overturned the British colonial era ban on gay sex, but under the Indian legal system, anyone can challenge a court decision in a higher court. The Indian government and pro-gay groups will have an opportunity to respond to the petitions. I should hope so. When did astrologers and yoga experts become qualified to determine the civil rights of minorities?
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Flamboyant Pope Benedict XVI photo In preparation for his meeting with Pope Benedict XVI in Italy, President Barack Obama held a meeting with members of the Catholic media at the White House July 9, reports Fox News. During the 45-minute meeting, Obama said that he is “wrestling” with his Christian faith and “concern for gays and lesbians.”
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Pope Benedict XVI greets President and Mrs. Obama in the Vatican library on Friday July 10, 2009. Who do you think is wearing the prettiest dress?.
Dan Gilgoff, of the U.S. News and World Report, said Obama stated, “For the gay and lesbian community in this country, I think it's clear that they feel victimized in fairly powerful ways and they're often hurt by not just certain teachings of the Catholic Church, but the Christian faith generally. And as a Christian, I'm constantly wrestling with my faith and my solicitude and regard and concern for gays and lesbians.”
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Rev Eric Lee, President of the LA Southern Christian Leadership Conference photo.
July 10 2009: A 50-year-old civil rights organization founded by Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. is seeking to oust the president of its Los Angeles chapter over his support of marriage equality in California, reports The New York Times. The Atlanta-based Southern Christian Leadership Conference (SCLC)is threatening to remove the Reverend Eric Lee, who actively worked to prevent the passage of Proposition 8, the California ballot measure to ban same-sex marriage. Lee told the Times that his work against the hateful proposition created tension with black clergy, but said he believes that banning gay marriage "is a clear violation of civil rights and I have to speak up on that." Although the national organization has a publicly neutral stance on the issue, the local board of directors stated they stand behind the Reverend. Lee told the Times he sees this is a failure in the SCLC leadership, stating, "Dr. King would be turning over in his grave right now."
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Australian flag photo
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The Australian Sex Party reports that on July 8, 2009 Senator Sarah Hanson-Young of the Greens Party introduced the Marriage Equality Amendment Bill 2009 in Australia’s Federal Parliament proposing to grant gay couples equal rights.
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The Australian Green Party's Senator Sarah Hanson-Young photo
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The Bill seeks to remove all discrimination based on sexuality and gender from the Marriage Act. It will also require Australia to recognize same-sex marriages legalized abroad. Senator Hanson-Young introduced a petition of more than 30,000 signatures of support, saying: "The Rudd Government can no longer hide behind the lame excuse of the community not being ready for same-sex marriages in Australia."
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Photo of Massachusetts Attorney General Martha Coakley.
On July 8, 2009, Martha Coakley, the Attorney General of Massachusetts filed a lawsuit challenging the federal Defense of Marriage Act (DOMA). It’s the third challenge filed in the last six months. The main complaint in the new brief is that DOMA unfairly limits Massachusetts’ right to include same-sex spouses in Medicaid and to bury same-sex spouses in a veteran cemetery, along with other federally funded programs and this infringes on the state’s jurisdiction over marriage rights and definition. The lawsuit contends the federal government has no right to interfere with the rights of states, a path long advocated by ultra-conservatives. The implications are mind-boggling!
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General Motors axed gay video photo.
According to 365gay Newswire, General Motors has ordered all videos created for their June 28 Chevrolet “Gay Day at the Movies” promotion removed from YouTube. The videos, which featured amateur footage of two “go go boys” washing a Camaro wearing nothing but yellow underwear with the word CAMARO on it, were suddenly deemed “inappropriate” by GM. Read the full USA Today story here.
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AIDS Activists protesting at Capital rotunda photo.
365gay.com reports: A group of AIDS activists was arrested July 9 2009 for unlawfully demonstrating in the Capitol rotunda. Sgt. Kimberly Schneider said 11 men and 15 women each face a charge of unlawful assembly, disorderly conduct and loud and boisterous behavior. Schneider said the group entered the rotunda, located beneath the Capitol dome, and linked themselves together with a white chain at about 10 a.m. The area is usually crowded with tourists, but police restricted the traffic while they made arrests
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AIDS Activists arrested in Capital rotunda photo.
The activists carried signs in support of funding for needle exchange, HIV/AIDS housing and programs aimed at fighting AIDS. They chanted, “Fight global AIDS now,” and, “Clean needles save lives.” They marched in a circle before lying down on the floor. The activists were part of a coalition of five AIDS groups from Washington, Philadelphia and New York. They included ACT UP Philadelphia, DC Fights Back, Health GAP, New York City AIDS Network and Housing Works. For more information check out the story on the always informative Rod2.0 website.
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Ryan Reynolds-The Green Lantern comparison photo by Variety.
The Hollywood Reporter announced July 9 that Ryan Reynolds has been chosen to play The Green Lantern in the upcoming comic book hero movie, beating out Justin Timberlake, Bradley Cooper, and Jared Leto. They just need to agree on money and specifics. Warner Bros is planning to start shooting in January at Fox Studios Australia in Sydney with a budget of around $150 million. Plans are to have the flick in theaters by June 2011. Be sure to visit our Ryan Reynold's page, where you'll find more great photos of the ripped actor, most shirtless, some naked!
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7-9-09 Photo of Chaz and girlfriend Jennifer Elia.
And finally, Chaz Bono and his girlfriend Jennifer Elia made an appearance at the 2009 Outfest Opening Night Gala of “La Mission” at the Orpheum in Los Angeles on July 9, marking the first time he’s been out in public since announcing his sex change.
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Singer Michael Buble photo
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In case you missed it, watch this video of crooner Michael Buble telling a dirty joke on E’s Chelsea Lately July 7, 2009: UPDATE! 1-4-10.This video is no longer available because the parent company of E! and Chelsea Lately, Comcast, has deleted hundreds of videos from their shows, even ones taken from Chelsea Handlers's official video channels. Apparently, they don't appreciate free publicity. Needless to say, we won't be posting any more Chelsea Lately or E! videos. So as to not disappoint, here is the text of the Michael Buble joke:
A nice Italian couple, Maria and Luigi, go upstairs on their wedding night, and as they get upstairs Luigi takes off his shirt and Maria runs downstairs and she says, ''Mama, Mama, Luigi took offa his shirt. He got hair everywhere.'' And Mama says, ''You get up the stairs and do your wifely duty.'' So she goes back upstairs and Luigi takes off his pants. She runs downstairs and says, ''Mama, Mama, Luigi took offa his pants. He got ahair everywhere!'' And Mama says, ''You get up the stairs and do your wifely duty!'' So she goes back up. Luigi takes off his sock; he takes off the next one and half of one foot is chopped off. She runs downstairs and says, ''Mama, Mama, Luigi got ahair everywhere and he got a foot and a half!'' And Mama says, ''Step aside doll, this is a job for your Mama!''
Photo of Michael Buble singing
Now, you’ve got to check out this video of Michael Buble singing “Sway”:
Photo of red and yellow Crimson Alabama Honeysuckle Vine blossoms from the author's free flower photo website http://www.freefishcaretips.com/photos73 Also visit http://www.galechesterwhittington.com/ for free humor, short stories, poems, and book excerpts from the award-winning gay author
==copyright 2009==
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