HARD GAY GOSSIP and LGBT NEWS TIDBITS! Heath, McSteamy, Radcliffe, Dylan, Garland, Hatch, George, Janet, More!

August 21, 2009.
FINAL HEATH LEDGER FILM TO BE RELEASED THIS YEAR! VIDEO TRAILER!
The Imaginarium of Doctor Parnassus, Heath Ledger’s very last movie has finally found a buyer. Sony Pictures Worldwide Acquisitions Group is in advanced talks to pick it up, with plans for it to go out theatrically, probably this year, via Sony Pictures Classics. It’s also expected to be a lucrative home video title due to the Ledger angle and the other star power. Terry Gilliam’s adventure also features Johnny Depp, Jude Law and Colin Farrell, who replaced Ledger in various fantasy scenes after the thespian died during the flick’s production in January 2008.

2008 photo of a shirtless Heath Ledger from the new movie, The Imaginarium of Doctor Parnassus

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The Parnassus deal with Sony has long been in the works and could be made official soon. Reps on the deal, including sales agent John Sloss, remained mum. The film will probably go out in the fourth quarter through various distributors in European territories including the U.K., France, Germany and Italy, plus Australia and New Zealand.

The Imaginarium of Doctor Parnassus is a fantastical morality tale, set in the present day. It tells the story of Dr Parnassus and his extraordinary ‘Imaginarium,’ a travelling show where members of the audience get an irresistible opportunity to choose between light and joy or darkness and gloom. It won accolades at the Cannes Film Festival earlier this year.
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Watch the just released official video trailer of The Imaginarium of Doctor Parnassus with Heath Ledger:

The Imaginarium of Doctor Parnassus trailer
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May 15, 2009 photo of Richard Hatch. He should try out for Survivor again. He could live off the fat for months!

RICHARD HATCH, FIRST GAY SURIVIOR WINNER, IS BACK IN PRISON, CITES PREJUDICE!
Richard Hatch of Survivor fame is back behind bars. The reality star’s sister, Kristen, claims he was sent to jail again because he granted TV interviews to Access Hollywood and the Today show. Hatch was taken to the Barnstable County Sheriff’s Office in Bourne after being arrested at his sister’s Newport, R.I., home, where he had been living under house arrest after serving nearly four years in prison for tax evasion. Hatch was convicted in 2006 for not paying taxes on the $1 million prize he won on the CBS reality show's first season.

Hours before his arrest, Hatch, 48, told Today host Matt Lauer he believed the judge in his case discriminated against him because he’s gay. In court papers filed earlier this year, Hatch complained of widespread prejudice in the justice system against homosexuals. A spokesman for the U.S. Attorney's office said Hatch's claims are baseless, and in a May court filing prosecutors pointed out that Hatch offered no evidence to support the allegation he was prosecuted because he is gay. Former U.S. Attorney Robert Clark Corrente—whose office oversaw the case—told WPRO-AM that Hatch is "delusional."

Meanwhile, the American Civil Liberties Union says it’s unfair that Richard Hatch has been jailed for granting unauthorized interviews. His lawyer says the federal Bureau of Prisons told her it’s because Hatch gave one radio and two TV interviews after the approved appearance on NBC’s Today show. Steven Brown of the ACLU’s Rhode Island chapter says it’s appalling to think Hatch has been punished for speaking to the media. He says even if interviews can be restricted for safety reasons inside prison walls, that shouldn’t be a concern once a person is living in a private home. Whatever happened to the First Amendment and the concept of free speech?

Cartoon of a psychiatrist and his patient

NEARLY HALF OF LGBT COMMUNITY IN THERAPY!
Gays and lesbians get mental health treatment at twice the rate of heterosexuals, a study published August 14, 2009 in the BMC Psychiatry journal concludes. The group least likely to seek treatment? Heterosexual men. Researchers at the UCLA School of Public Health studied data from over 2,000 people and found that 48% of lesbian, gay, and bisexual men and women have received treatment in the past year, compared to 22% of straight people.

"The pervasive and historically rooted societal pathologizing of homosexuality may contribute to this propensity for treatment by construing homosexuality and issues associated with it as mental health problems," said Susan Cochran, professor of epidemiology at the UCLA School of Public Health and one of the study's authors. Many LGBT individuals do not have diagnosable disorders but seek treatment for psychological distress, the report shows. The study also found that ethnic and racial minorities are less likely to use mental health services. To learn more, go check out The Advocate article.

Photo montage of actor Daniel Radcliffe, star of Harry Potter and Equus

HARRY POTTER WALKS THE TALK!
Daniel Radcliffe, multi-millionaire, super gay-friendly actor who was the subject of a detailed profile on this blog last month, recently made a “large and generous” donation to the The Trevor Project, a national organization in America focused on crisis and suicide prevention efforts among lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender and questioning youth. Radcliffe’s gift will help fund The Trevor Helpline, as well as the organization’s national education and advocacy work.

“I am very pleased to begin my support of The Trevor Project, which saves lives every day through its critical work,” said Daniel Radcliffe, who recently turned twenty. “It’s extremely distressing to consider that in 2009 suicide is a top three killer of young people, and it’s truly devastating to learn that LGBTQ youth are up to four times more likely to attempt suicide than their heterosexual peers. I deeply hope my support can raise the organization’s visibility so even more despondent youth become aware of The Trevor Helpline’s highly trained counselors and Trevor’s many other resources. It’s vitally important that young people understand they are not alone and, perhaps even more important, that their young lives have real value.”

“We’re incredibly grateful to Daniel for his truly inspiring and historic generosity and support,” said Charles Robbins, executive director and chief executive officer of The Trevor Project. “He is setting a meaningful example for millions of young people around the world by embracing diversity and demonstrating that he cares deeply about the well-being of LGBTQ youth.”

If you missed it, check out our Daniel Radcliffe page, with over 31 photos, some nude.

Watch this fan video of the "Irresistible Daniel Radcliffe":

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Photo of the very diplomatic Janet Napolitano

HOMELAND SECURITY SECRETARY QUERIED IF SHE’S A LESBIAN!
Janet Napolitano, interviewed by The New York Times Magazine, told Deborah Soloman, said, “I just happen not to be married.” When queried if she was dating anyone, Napolitano answered, “Yes, my staff.” It’s nice to see someone not freak out when her sexual orientation is questioned!

Photo of a person watching video on a computer. This is not what my friends watch, but when I googled "guy watching video photo" looking for pictures, all that came up was gay porn, and needless to say, I didn't get much done after that!

MORE PEOPLE WATCH VIDEOS ON LINE BUT REVENUE STILL LACKS!
On Aug 14, 2009, Reuters reported that viewership of online videos has spiked, but continues to fall short of delivering profits for media and entertainment companies, and one analyst expects the market to reach a critical mass in 2011.

U.S. Web users spent an average of 212 minutes watching videos in the month of July, an increase of 42 percent compared to the year before, the Nielsen study said, marking a 12 percent increase over the month before. The numbers are encouraging for websites that show and produce online video, but the industry has been largely unable to generate profits because of low advertising rates and consumer reluctance to pay for content.

Dan Rayburn, an online video expert and principal analyst at Frost & Sullivan, said the spike is the latest of “several sudden surges” that have occurred in the sector. But he added that sustained growth will depend on more consumer adoption of technology to make watching online video easier, such as the Roku player and game device Xbox 360. “We need to wait really until sometime in 2011 until some of these numbers start to add up,” Rayburn said.

Photos of George Michael: On the left, a current picture of the now hefty singer. On the right a shirtless, Speedo-clad hunk of a Michael from the '80s.

LEGENDARY GAY CROONER ARRESTED AGAIN!
George Michael, 46, was arrested near London on suspicion of driving under the influence of drink or drugs in the early morning hours of Wednesday, August 12, 2009—only two months after getting his license back. The singer was breathalysed at the side of the road and taken into police custody after his silver £60,000 Range Rover crashed into the back of a tractor-trailer.

He was held at the police station for almost five hours before being released without charge. Laurie Rowe, the driver of the truck that was hit, said: “He seemed completely disorientated, like he had no idea what was going on. He looked totally dazed and even tried to climb into the cab of my lorry. He kept saying he was worried he would go to jail.”

The singer had his license taken away for two years and was sentenced to 100 hours community service after he was found slumped at the wheel of his Mercedes in North London in October 2006. He admitted a charge of driving while unfit in June the following year, saying he was guilty due to a combination of tiredness and having taken prescription drugs. He also has on his record an arrest in a public toilet for possessing crack cocaine.

Michael confirmed the new incident Saturday but said in a statement he had been "stone cold sober" and didn't want his fans or family "worried by what they are reading." He’s just a lousy driver? Ya think?

Watch this video of George Michael singing “Careless Whisper” when he was still lean and hot:

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Still photo from the much-talked-about video showing a nude Eric Dane romping around his pad with two naked women, showing every little thing. Okay, so it's not so little!

McSTEAMY ANYTHING BUT IN NUDE FILM!
I never thought I’d say it, but Eric Dane, better known as "McSteamy" on Grey’s Anatomy, looks better with his clothes on. Although he has nothing to be ashamed of in the endowment department, he needs to make a few hundred trips to the gym before he allows himself to be filmed au naturel again. In a so-called sex-tape with his actress-wife Rebecca Gayheart and former Miss United States Teen Kari Ann Peniche, now making its rounds on the Internet, he’s far from hot. View the home movie here, if you like, but be forewarned: It’s boring as hell!

Recent photo of rock star/folk singer Bob Dylan

BOB DYLAN TREATED LIKE A COMPLETE UNKNOWN!
The Daily Mail reported another music legend was taken into custody by police in a quiet seaside town after complaints that there was “an old scruffy man freewheeling down the street and acting suspiciously.” A 22-year-old female officer detained him and demanded to see his identification papers.

Then she radioed her older colleagues at the police station to ask if anyone knew who Bob Dylan was. “I'm afraid we all fell about laughing,” said Craig Spencer, a senior officer in Long Branch, New Jersey. “If it was me, I'd have been demanding his autograph, not his ID. The poor woman has taken rather a lot of abuse from us. I offered to bring in some of my Dylan albums. Unfortunately, she doesn't know what vinyl is either.”

It was in 1965 that Dylan wrote “Like A Rolling Stone,” with its line: “How does it feel to be on your own, a complete unknown?” He finally found out while staying at the Ocean Place Resort in Long Branch. Before taking part in a concert with Willie Nelson and John Mellencamp, he decided to stroll through the town's Latin quarter. That’s when residents called to complain there was an old scruffy man acting suspiciously,” said officer Spencer. “It was an odd request because it was mid-afternoon. But it's an ethnic Latin area and the residents felt he didn't fit in.” It’s hell to get old, isn’t it, Bob?

Watch Bob Dylan singing “Like a Rolling Stone,” live in 1965:

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And finally, just for fun, watch this video of legendary female impersonator Jim Bailey doing Judy Garland, voice and all, with a bonus clip of his appearance on the original Joan Rivers Show:

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Photo of orange and white Felindre Poet Cup Narcissus Daffodil Jonquil narcissus poeticus from the author's free flower photo website http://www.freefishcaretips.com/photos27

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

==copyright 2009==