Fort Worth Gay Activists Demand Independent Investigation Into Rainbow Lounge Incident, Mayor Moncrief Apologizes, Dustin Lance Black, Hair

Gay activists in Fort Worth, Texas are demanded that an independent investigation be conducted into an incident that occurred on June 28th, in the early morning hours, when city and state police inspected the Rainbow Lounge, a gay bar in the city, that went badly wrong and left six patrons arrested and one in hospital, with accusations of police brutality and institutionalized homophobia.

Tuesday evening, gay activists met with City Council, and expressed anger, frustration, and a growing impatience, and demanded that they and their concerns be heard. The meeting, which went well into the night, was interrupted several times as activists were removed from City Council chambers. Towards the end of the night, Mayor Mike Moncrief said that at this point he and Police Chief Jeff Halstead are unable to offer a report on what happened since “we still don’t know,” delaying any decision as to whether an independent investigation will be called for.

After someone in attendance asked the Mayor why he not yet chosen to apologize for and to Chad Gibson, the twenty-six year who was hospitalized, Moncrief said “if you want an apology from your mayor, I am sorry for what happened in Fort Worth. I am sorry.” That statement drew scattered applause.

On Monday evening in Los Angeles, Dustin Lance Black and Cleve Jones were joined by the cast of Hair to announce more details on the October 11th National Equality March called for in May by longtime gay activist David Mixner and organized by Jones and Torie Osbourne. There are photographs of Monday’s “Be-In” press conference with the cast of Hair, featuring Gavin Creel, Dustin Lance Black, and Cleve Jones, and if you would like more information on how to participate in the March, you can visit Equality Across America here.

Sarah Palin Narcissist, Adam Lambert Hacked, Daniel Radcliffe Hearts Gays And Minds Not That You Think He Is, Bisexual Penguins, Terrible Timberlake

Sarah Palin writes an op-ed piece in Tuesday’ Washington Post, an attack ostensibly on President Obama’s cap and tax energy plan – “an enormous threat” to the nation’s economy – but surprisingly(sarcasm) she finds times to talk, albeit in the third person, about herself in the most vain manner, condemning the "chattering classes" whom. like a whore, she courts.

Adam Lambert has had all his social networking sites – Facebook, Twitter, etc – hacked, allegedly because Adam Lambert has the same, simple password for each.

Daniel Radcliffe talks about the new Harry Potter and the Half-Blooded Prince, the Twilight rivalry, being nude on stage, and perhaps most pointedly, about being pleased that people mistake him for being gay, Radcliffe saying “I grew up around gay people my entire life, basically, that’s possibly why I’m quite camp, and some people think I’m gay when I meet them, which I think is awesome.”

Harry and Pepper, you may have heard, broke up, in March, Harry beginning a relationship with Linda, recently widowed after her partner Fig died suddenly. Harry and Pepper are penguins – Magellanic penguins – at the San Francisco Zoo and their six year love story was celebrated as an example of a homosexuality in nature, but now it seems that the real story is about a sexual fluidity and a spectrum of sexual behavior.

Justin Timberlake behaving badly, like Justin Timberlake is apt to do.

David Paterson To Marry Gay Couple, Freddie Stroma, Chace Leaves Ed, TIFF Announcements, Toronto Virgin Festival Moves North, Meet Man-Madonna

The New York Post's Page Six is reporting that East Hampton residents had the police called to an Empire State Pride Agenda tea dance, held at a private residence that despite the attendance of Governor David A. Paterson. Paterson, an ally for gay marriage legislation in the state – that being an understatement, was asked by guest Heather Matarazzo, who is engaged to playwright Caroline Murphy, if he would marry the two, to which Paterson reported, with obvious enthusiasm, said yes.

So sexy Freddie Stroma tells Britain’s Now that although no one has ever asked him, he would appear nude for a role.

So sad, but true, it seems that Chace Crawford has moved out on Ed Westwick, that according to an Us exclusive.

The Toronto International Film Festival announced a selection of films scheduled to screen at the 2009 incarnation, including the somewhat surprising selection of Creation, a film by British director Jon Amiel, starring real life husband and wife Paul Bettany and Jennifer Connelly, set to open the Festival. Of note, Precious, the remarkable film by Lee Daniels, formally known as Push, a standout at Sundance.

Owing to the ongoing civil garbage strike in Toronto, the Virgin Music Festival announced it was moving this year’s event to Orillia, a number of stellar acts scheduled to appear including the Grizzly Bear, The Pet Shop Boys, Pixies, and Franz Ferdinand.

While the real Madonna is home, in the old country, visiting Milan, Italy, an impersonator, twenty-eight year old Elias Figueroa, “a poor boy from Chile” is living large as Madonna, claiming “some people can’t tell the difference between me and the real thing they don’t’ even realize I’m a man.” There is an obvious joke there, not, however, at the expense of Elias.

Episcopalians Support Gay Clergy, Bill Clinton Supports Gay Marriage, Hair Supports Equality, Channing Tatum, Christian Bale, Gisele And Tom Brady

A resolution seeking passage at the Episcopalian Church’s convention in Anaheim, California would end a ban on ordaining gay bishops that was passed three years ago and would allow for gay and lesbians to become an active part of the clergy. The Church, an American arm of the Anglican Communion, has been at war with itself over issues regarding the role of homosexuals, several branches worldwide breaking away when openly gay Bishop Gene Robinson installed the head of the New Hampshire dioceses six years ago.

According to this report, former President Bill Clinton says he supports gay marriage.

The producers of Hair have partnered with Cleve Jones and the National Equality March and have cancelled the show’s October 11th, 2009 performance so that the cast can participate in the March on Washington to demand equal rights for the LBGT community, including an American nation-wide legalization of marriage. The decision to attend said Oskar Eutis, artistic director, reflected the spirit of the play, and of “its message of change and hope and inclusion.”

Smoking sexy Channing Tatum graces the cover of the August GQ.

Christian Bale is now not only angry, but really, really careful to count calories.

Gisele Bundchen baby bump or not, the new Mrs. Tom Brady was out and about Friday in Malibu lunching with ladies, while husband Tommy paid a visit to an area pharmacy. He still plays football, right?

Gay Groups In California Divided Over When To Fight Prop 8, Porterville California Prop 8 Battle Wages On, Fred Phelps’ Adam Lambert Protest Fails

A coalition of gay rights groups in California said Monday that placing an amendment on the 2010 ballot to overturn Proposition 8 – the gay marriage ban – is risky because the twelve months alloted is too little time to try and convince voters to support same-sex marriages, arguing that the costs are many and the outcome is not certain.

Last month, I suggested that Porterville, California, a city in the Central Valley area of the state, is ground zero for the battle about and over Proposition 8. Porterville’s city council passed a resolution supporting the voter amendment effectively eliminating the right of gay men and women in the Golden State to marry – the sole city in California to do so, and the response from proponents and opponents continues. An empathic, thoughtful letter to the editor of the Porterville Recorder authored by local pediatrician, Doctor Katherine Hall, published on June 17th, still resonates with readers, it remains one of the most commented articles, and its premise – Hall writes that the council’s endorsement of Prop 8 “is an example of how public misperceptions can harm society. By preventing the LGBT individuals from marrying the person of their choice, Proposition 8 has infringed on their human rights and encouraged them to live lives of deception” – articulates how misguided and uninformed the Porterville motion is.

Demonstrations, by definition, tend to be a gathering of many, not a few, so it is unfair to suggest that the Fred Phelps planned protest Sunday in San Jose, California against Adam Lambert was little less than, um, a couple of pedestrians wandering the walkways of the city and happening upon each other. It started strong – the Phelps fiasco – with calls that American Idol and its participants were “fag enablers” for including Adam Lambert, and ended with two hapless heterosexuals and nothing more. Fred, these failures do not bode well.

“Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell” Debate, Maura Tierney Issues Statement, Barney Frank In Swim Trunks, NPH Emmy Host, Prima Donna Review, Bizarre Jon Gosselin

Using the guidelines employed by allied countries regarding gay men and women serving openly in the military as evidence, yet another attempt to repeal the ridiculous United States “don’t ask, don’t tell” policy.

Maura Tierney has released a statement that a tumor was found in her breast and that surgery is required, but until the course of treatment will be unknown. Last week, NBC announced that Parenthood, which stars Tierney, would be debuted in mid-season because of an undisclosed illness affecting Maura. I wish her well and a quick return.

Barney Frank, who is the Democratic Congressman representing the fourth district of Massachusetts, out and about in a swimming pool, playing volleyball, with other men, in a swimming pool, all of whom are playing volleyball.

Neil Patrick Harris was officially named the host of the 2009 Emmy Awards, but of course because you read this blog, you already knew that. You’re welcome! What you might not have known – till now – is that Neil Patrick intends to use his “robot” voice to emcee the affair.

The New York Times has a not too terribly kind review of Rufus Wainwright’s original opera Prima Donna.

Ed Hardy, the Axe Spray of clothing, the line’s designer Christian Audigier, Jon, from Kate and Jon Plus Eight, a big, plastic yellow penis, and a child. Seriously, anyone’s guess is as good as mine – anyone’s!

Perez Hilton Steals, Freddie Stroma Dances In His Underwear, Alan Ball Recues, January Jones Cover Girl, Ryan Phillippe, Reese Witherspoon Tipsy

Is there a bottom to the bad behavior of Perez Hilton, and if there is will a team of engineers and physicists be needed to find it? The latest miscreant maneuver: appropriating an entire blog entry from David Badash’s The New Civil Rights Movement titled Does the US Constitution Already Make Gay Marriage Legal, and passing the piece off as his own. Articulate, intelligent, and nuanced, I am certain Hilton, who can barely speak and spell, did not understand a single word, let alone single thought David put forth, but there, on PerezHilton.com, was the article, the comments from Hilton’s readers alive with praise and pride for Perez.

It seems only yesterday that I implored you to meet British actor Freddie Stroma, and now an effortlessly erotic seven or so minute video of young Mr. Stroma promoting a new line of Acne Underwear is available, that is so smoking sexy.

Alan Ball’s True Blood may have saved HBO.

Mad Men’s January Jones – please let her be nominated for an Emmy – graces the cover of the August Interview, inside, she is interviewed by her former co-star and friend Jack Nicholson.

Ryan Phillippe, the most beautiful man in the world, out and about Sunday with Abbie
Cornish, at a Los Angeles liquor store, Ryan scowling and skulking and remaining sexy doing so.

His ex meanwhile, Reese Witherspoon had already visited a liquor store and then some, as a clearly drunken Reese alongside pretend heterosexual Jake Gyllenhaal, who is very angry, leaving the Hollywood Bowl Sunday night after seeing Jenny Lewis.