Frederick Bousquet Models Gold Body Suit In Rome, Ricky Berens Stays Covered-Up Wins Gold, A Nation Turns Its Lonely Eyes To Joe DiMaggio Nude

Frederick Bousquet, last seen on my blog offering a full frontal web camera portrait of him nude, competes at the 2009 FINA World Championships Friday in Rome, wearing a full piece gold lame body suit that left little to the imagination, not that the twenty-eight year French swimmer is at all hard on the eyes, because he is not. No, no he is not.

The United States men’s swim team, led by Michael Phelps, Ryan Lochte, David Walters, and the bare butted Ricky Berens, captured gold Friday in the 800 meter free style, at the 2009 FINA World Championships in Rome, breaking a world record. Unfortunately, Berens did not suffer a wardrobe malfunction.

An exhibition at San Francisco gallery Modernism features a full frontal black and white nude of Joe DiMaggio, taken in a postgame shower probably around 1940. The photograph was taken anonymously, is part of series titled Hunted and Gathered, and is on view until August 29th, and is available here.

Quakers Recognize Same Sex Marriage, Gay Mormons Join National March For Equality, Maine Gay Marriage Opponents, Portugal Upholds Gay Marriage Ban

The Quakers Friday, at their annual meeting in York, Britain, agreed to sanction gay marriage, resolving to “treat same sex committed relationships in the same way as opposite sex marriages, reaffirming our central insight that marriage is the Lord’s work and we are but witnesses.” The Quakers, formally known as the Religious Society of Friend, who have recognized same-sex relationships since the nineteen-sixties, also intend to “engage” with the Government to change laws in the United Kingdom so as to legalize gay marriage.

A group of gay and lesbian Mormons – Affirmation – have formally endorsed the National Equality March on Washington, scheduled for October. The group has also asked that members “step up and do three things that will make a difference” in attaining equal rights for all homosexuals, that includes coming out.

Opponents of Maine’s gay marriage law, set to take effect September 1st, say that have collected more than 100,000 signatures, more than enough to force a referendum asking whether voters agree or disagree with the law. At least 55,087 signatures must be verified by September 4th for the referendum to occur.

The Constitutional Court of Portugal Friday voted 3-2 to uphold the country’s ban on gay marriage, ruling on appeal filed two years ago by a lesbian couple who sought to marry. The Court based the decision on the definition of marriage in Portugal which states that it exists between two people of different genders. The Portuguese constitution, however, forbids discrimination based on sexual orientation.

Hawaii Football Coach Drops Faggot Bomb Behaves Badly, Ryan Lochte Wins Gold, Annie Leibovitz, Anti-Domestic Partnership Signatures, Taylor Lautner

Hawaii Warriors football head coach Greg McMackin said Thursday, at a college football preview in Salt Lake City, Utah, that the Notre Dame Fighting Irish defeated the Warriors in the Hawaii Bowl 49-21 because they did “this little faggot dance.” The comment was made in front of a number of reporters, and cameras. Moments later, according to reports, realizing what he had said, McMackin implored the media not to cover the use of the word “faggot” that the head coach used three times. He then apologized. You can hear both the offending comments and subsequent apology here.

Ryan Lochte set a new world record while winning a gold medal Thursday in the men’s 200 meter individual melody at the 2009 FINA World Championships in Rome. The previous record was held by Michael Phelps, who opted to sit out the race.

A lawsuit was filed Wednesday in New York City against Annie Leibovitz by an art finance company - Art Capital Group Inc - that had lent the famed photographer twenty-four million dollars against the value of her works and personal properties, claiming that Leibovitz violated the terms of the agreement.

An estimated 137,689 signatures have been collected in Washington State by opponents of the state’s expanded and strengthened domestic partnership bill, some 14% more than is needed to place a referendum on the November ballot. The signatures need to be verified, a process that will take at least two weeks.

Two Taylors – Lautner and Swift – at work Thursday in Los Angeles, Taylor Lautner finally filming something other than a Twilight movie, and offering a peek at his sexy new physique.

Jackson Custody Case, UCLA Cancels UndieRun, Male Models Model Short Shorts In Times Square, Chace Crawford All Alone, Jonathan Bennett, Ryan Lochte

A tentative agreement has been reached that would see Michael Jackson’s mother Katherine retain custody of his children, while Debbie Rowe, the biological mother of two of the three children, will keep her parental rights.

UCLA administrators, for what seems like the umpteenth time, has informed the student body that the annual three times a year Underwear Run is ending, that due to concerns for safety. The event, an unofficial tradition begun in 2002 during finals week, attracts large numbers of students, and an equally large number of non-students, whom administrators feel “have little consideration for the well-being of our students or the surrounding community.”

It might not be thousands of undergraduates in their underwear, but it is three very cuter than cute male models in Times Square in their short shorts and swimming briefs eating McDonalds.

Chace Crawford, sans boyfriend Ed Westwick, out last night in New York City at the launch of the BlackBerry Tour, alongside Chloe Sevigny, Chace looking a little fey.

I have literally no idea at all who Jonathan Bennett is – an actor, apparently - except that when he works out shirtless, he is smoking sexy.

I do, however, know who Ryan Lochte is, one of my favorites, in or out of the pool, Ryan in Rome at the 2009 FINA World Championships where he competed this morning in a 200 meter backstroke heat.

Harvey Milk To Receive Presidential Medal Of Freedom, E. Lynn Harris Autopsy Results, Albania To Legalize Gay Marriage, Madonna Celebration

Harvey Milk will posthumously receive the highest civilian honor available to an American citizen, the Presidential Medal of Freedom. The award will be given out at a ceremony at the White House on August 12th, at which time President Obama will present Harvey’s nephew Stuart Milk with the medal.

The Los Angeles County Coroner’s office has released the conclusions of an autopsy performed on E. Lynn Harris, determining that Harris died last Thursday of heart disease, complicated by a hardening of the arteries and high blood pressure. He was 54. Harris was in Los Angeles on a book tour promoting his newest novel Basketball Jones, when he took ill, collapsing in his hotel room.

Albania, somewhat surprisingly, has announced that it intends to legalize gay marriage. Prime Minister Sali Berisha said that “despite the debate the law might provoke, discrimination is unacceptable.”

The complete Celebration, Madonna’s new single from the forthcoming greatest hit collection of the same name, has leaked; the Material Girl turned Yoga Mother returning to a gayer club sound of old.

Untitled from Jacques Peterson on Vimeo.

Charges Against Gay Utah Couple Dropped, Domestic Partnership Opponents Want Privacy, Outgames Hate Crime, Michael Phelps, Leonardo DiCaprio

Salt Lake City, Utah, prosecutor Sim Gill said late Wednesday that the trespassing charges brought against a gay couple, Derek Jones and Matt Aune, have been dropped. On July 9th, the two were detained by the security staff of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints after being observed “kissing and hugging.” They were asked to leave, and upon refusing, were detained and cited by the police for trespassing. According to Gill, the couple was not aware that the property was private, belonging to the Mormon Church, and therefore was not “intending” to trespass because they believed the walkway to be public. The incident inspired a number of “kiss-in” demonstrations and served as another reminder of the discord between the gay community and the LDS Church.

The opponents of a new domestic partnership law in Washington State have won an appeal to have a temporary restraining order in place to protect the names of those who signed petitions seeking repeal of the law. The anti-gay group has filed a request with a federal judge seeking to have the names kept private. By law, those names become a matter of public record, and a gay rights organization has made it clear it will publish a list of those who signed seeking a referendum in November.

Jesper Schultz, a thirty-one year man, has been jailed and charged with committing a hate crime after he threw three firecrackers onto a field at the World Outgames in Copenhagen, Denmark.

Michael Phelps was back in the pool Wednesday, despite the threats that he would boycott competition until FINA banned bodysuits, and rallied, emphatically, from yesterday’s loss at the 2009 World Championships by winning the men’s 200 meter butterfly, breaking his own record in the process.

Mr. DiCaprio, Leonardo, alone again in London.

Tennessee Senator Admits Adultery Defends Anti-Gay Policy, Matthew Mitcham Art Exhibit, Pouting Phelps, One Life to Live Gaiety, Ryan Phillippe Runs

Despite being outed as fraudulent hate-mongering homophobe masquerading as a conservative Christian, Republican Tennessee State Senator Paul Stanley stands behind a record that includes fighting to have a ban in place forbidding unmarried couples – read gay couples – from adopting, that after being resigning from office after admitting to an affair with a twenty-two year old intern. He leaves office August 10th in the wake of an extortion plot gone wrong that exposed the Senator’s dalliance.

The art exhibit Matt Dive Gold – about, naturally the beautiful Matthew Mitcham – opened in Rome, Italy, on July 24th and will run until September 30th. Matthew’s friend Jonathan Turner, the curator, has culled the work of twenty artists who have interpreted Mitcham in ways wondrous.

Not that Michael Phelps pouts a lot – he does – but Phelps’ coach Bob Bowman’s statement Tuesday that he will withhold Phelps from competition until the governing body of the sport, FINA, bans bodysuits coming as it did mere moments after Michael lost his first race in three years, was, at best, bad form and at worst, another indication of how far removed from reality amateur athletics has gone. Phelps, post-pot fiasco, might want to be thought of as contrite, and not egotistic.

One Life to Live is about to get gayer, as you likely know, and the actors playing the characters of Oliver Fish – the supposed straight police officer – and Kyle Lewis – the out medical student – played respectively by out actor Scott Evans and Brett Claywell, talk about the daytime drama’s return to all things gay and their character’s romantic arc.

Ryan Phillippe, who played gay on One Life to Live in 1992, breaking barriers, and who is formally known as the most beautiful man on earth, out and about Monday in Los Angeles, running as only Ryan can, of course, by which, I mean, beautifully.

Saskatchewan Marriage Commissioner Must Perform Gay Ceremonies, Kevin Rudd Affirms Heterosexuality, Kid Rock Thinks Twitter Gay, Mika, Patrick Wolf

Orville Nichols, the Saskatchewan marriage commissioner who was fined two-thousand, five hundred dollars by the province’s Human Rights Commission after Orville refused to marry a gay couple because it contradicted his religious beliefs, has lost his case on appeal. In 2005, Nichols would not perform the civil ceremony for a same-sex couple, who promptly filed a human rights complaint, which was heard in 2007. At that time Nichols told the hearing that although he had no issue with gays and lesbians marrying, the Bible instructed him to believe that “God hates homosexuality.” Nichols appealed and the Commission ruled again against him last Thursday. In rendering a ruling, the Commission said that allowing a “public official to insert their personal beliefs into decisions about who should not receive a public service would undermine the protection of the Saskatchewan Human Rights Code.”

Although stating that he fully accepts “the integrity of same-sex relationships,” Australian Prime Minister Kevin Rudd has instructed the Labor Party not to soften its stance on legalizing gay marriage, as two sides of the Party – the Left and Right – prepare for this Saturday’s rules debate at the Labor Party’s national conference. It is expected that at the conference Rudd and his allies within the Party will be confronted by the Left to reword Australia’s Marriage Act which defines marriage as that only existing between a man and woman. A number of those on the right, outside the Party, who support Rudd, are on record as wanting the Prime Minister to “reaffirm his commitment to heterosexual Australia.”

I have gone on record as being ambivalent about Twitter – more and more, the social networking site seems little more than a phishing scam – but Kid Rock is a tad more emphatic, telling an interviewer that Twitter, well, in Rock’s words “it’s gay.” Good gay, bad gay, he never really makes that clear.

Mika, mighty mysterious about his sexuality, although his gayness seems, um, obvious, has a new, yet to be titled album scheduled to be released in September, and he talks about barriers, Lady Gaga, and a new song Toy Boy.

Patrick Wolf, thankfully, out and proud, talks fashion, being nearly naked in a jock strap, and Lady Gaga.

Out Solider James Wharton, Bradley Larson, Wanda Sykes Sets Out With Family, Adam Lambert Lashes Out, Grace Jones Dazzles, Gavin Rossdale Rumors

James Wharton, a trooper with the Household Calvary Regiment, is the first gay serviceman to appear on the cover of Solider, the United Kingdom armed forces’ magazine. Wharton, twenty-two years old, came out at sixteen, when he began training. The magazine chose James as its cover boy to celebrated diversity and Pride. The British Army lifted the ban on gays serving openly in 2000.

A forty-one year old bartender, Bradley Larson, who worked at the Rainbow Lounge, in Fort Worth, Texas, was killed Sunday morning in a car accident.

Wanda Sykes and wife Alex take their two oh so cute twins – Olivia Lou and Lucas Claude – for an afternoon stroll in Los Angeles.

American Idol runner up Adam Lambert, currently on tour with American Idol Live, apparently had a bit of diva moment in Tacoma, Washington, a fan alleged ruining Lambert’s just polished nails and Adam responding with a hail of expletives.

Grace Jones – still the spectacular revolutionary – rocked the Hollywood Bowl in Los Angeles Sunday evening, garnering great reviews.

Adding more fuel to the fire that is the speculation of the supposed sexuality of Gavin Rossdale, an article that reveals Boy George was rejected for full membership as a Hare Krishna in the nineteen eighties, because of his sexuality, that according Marianne Elliott-Said, who tells a story of George, Gavin Rossdale, and his then boyfriend Marilyn visiting her at a Krishna Temple.

Washington State Domestic Partnership Opponents, Senator Gillibrand Holds DADT Hearings, Anglican Divide, Pink, Michael Phelps Defeated, Rafael Nadal

Sadly, on Saturday opponents of a new law in Washington State that will extend and strengthen domestic partnerships – offering same-sex couple all rights afforded opposite-sex couples except marriage in name – delivered petition signatures forcing at least a delay in the implementation of the legislation until the signatures can be counted and verified. The law – Senate Bill 5688 - was to take effect Sunday. If there are at least 120, 577 authentic signatures, there will be a referendum placed on the November ballot seeking to overturn the law. If there is not, the law will take effect immediately. Campaign spokesperson and lead anti-gay hate monger Gary Randall is confident that there are enough signed petitions to force a public vote, saying “I feel our signatures are pretty clean.”

New York Senator Kirsten Gillibrand says she will hold hearings in the fall in the Senate in an effort to expedite the repeal of the American ban on gays serving openly in the military. The Senators says that “the policy is wrong for our national security and wrong for the moral foundation upon which our country was founded.”

Rowan Williams, the leader of the Church of England, says that inclusive, liberal churches considering the ordaining gay clergy and creating rites meant to bless gay marriages risk the continued division of the Church into “two styles of being Anglican.”

Pink calls out Christina Aguilera for being a closeted lesbian. I think? Although is that not black calling kettle?

German swimmer Paul Biedermann continued his upsetting ways Tuesday in Rome at the 2009 FINA World Championships, defeating favored American Michael Phelps in the 200 meter freestyle, the first loss for Phelps in any race in three years. In winning, Biedermann broke the previous record held by Phelps. The race, however, was not swum with scandal, questions raised prior to the start of Biedermann’s Arena X-Glide swimsuit.

Rafael Nadal was spotted recreating and relaxed in Mallorca, Spain, Nadal scheduled to return to the ATP circuit in Montreal, Quebec on August 8th, for the Men’s Canadian Open, after rehabbing. And yes, I know it is formally called the Rogers Cup, but I hate Rogers.

Prince Casiraghi Caught Changing Captured Nearly Nude

Perfect Prince Pierre Casiraghi, twenty-two years old, the youngest son of Princess Caroline of Monaco and grandson of the late Princess Grace, who has a bit of reputation as a playboy, is caught changing out of his skintight wetsuit on board a yacht while on vacation, Pierre proving his princely lineage by packing quite the royal scepter. A warning, the link and pictures are NSFW.

Swimmer Ricky Berens Bares Butt

Ricky Berens, one of the members of the United States men’s 4 x 100 relay team had a wardrobe malfunction, one that demonstrates the tightness of the soon to be banned swimsuits, Ricky revealing his rear just as he leaves the blocks and dives into the pool at the 2009 FINA World Championships. Not that anyone minds – Berens being more than a bit of cutie.

Cristiano Ronaldo Returns, Michael Phelps, Ryan Lochte, Mad Men Yourself, Christian Bale A Method Man, Gavin Rossdale, Madonna A Sinewy Muscle Girl

Cristiano Ronaldo was in action Sunday with his new team, the Real Madrid, in a pre-season match, after an off season of sex and short shorts, Ronaldo returning to form.

Michael Phelps too, after an off-season/suspension, returned to form at the 2009 FINA World Championships in Rome, Phelps leading the United States men’s swim team to gold in the 4 x 100 relay event Sunday, ably aided by the always cuter than cute Ryan Lochte.

Now you can Mad Men yourself, which is actually quite fun and not nearly as awkward as it sounds.

Christian Bale on the set of his new film The Fighter makes with the method madness of acting.

Gavin Rossdale, dogged by those incessant rumors of bisexuality, doing dad duty Sunday in Los Angeles, adorable son Kingston by his side as the twosome made their way through a farmer’s market in Beverly Hills.

Memo to Madonna: The whole Material Girl persona, remember? Desperately Seeking Susan, rebelling against conformity, confessing to Rolling Stone that you slept way to the top, the Truth or Dare period with its bisexuality, it had style and wit, but beyond that was engaging and knowing and, gasp, not so serious. It was fun! The new stage, this one, with the Kabbalah and adoptions, and that workout schedule/surgery meant to defy time – it’s both humorless and dull. And as these pictures prove, from an outing last night in London, it cannot be that comfortable for you Madonna, in fact it looks a little painful.

Mark Leduc, Merce Cunningham, GLAAD Television Rankings, Walter Cronkite And Gay Rights, Whale Carcass Discovered On Docking Ship, Gates 911 Call

On Wednesday, Mark Leduc, Canadian Olympic silver medalist for boxing in the 1992 Barcelona Games, died. He was 47. According to a report he was found at his home the previous Sunday, unconscious, in a sauna, and is thought to have died of heat stroke. I had the pleasure, albeit brief, of meeting Leduc, a Canadian sports legend, who came out just after his success at the Olympics, in Toronto at a Pride event in the late nineteen-nineties, and was struck by how soft-spoken and how sweet a man he was.

One of the most influential figures in modern dance, Merce Cunningham, has died. He was 90. Mr. Cunningham, like fellow choreographers George Balanchine and Martha Graham, reinvented the aesthetics of movement, but Cunningham was more of modern that any, charting new territory with daring and wit. Mr. Cunningham collaborated on several occasions with his husband, the modernist composer John Cage.

GLAAD’s third annual Network Responsibility Index was released Monday, a means to measure the quantity and quality of gay, lesbian, bisexual, and transgendered individuals on television, and found that HBO ranked the highest of all fifteen networks surveyed, with LGBT characters on several shows, including True Blood. Showtime too, scored well, with The L Word, The United States of Tara, and Weeds. Of networks, ABC ranked highest, the LGBT community served well by Brothers and Sisters, Desperate Housewives, and Ugly Betty. A&E, CBS, and NBC were among those networks who received the lowest rankings.

A fascinating, great piece on how, in the early nineteen-seventies, one lone gay activist helped change the mind of CBS News stalwart Walter Cronkite on reporting the struggles and successes of the gay rights movement, and in turn changed forever the way major media covered gay issues.

A story about a dead whale impaled on the bow of a Princess Cruise Lines ship that docked Saturday in Vancouver, British Columbia, the truly is obscene.

The Cambridge Police have released the 911 call placed in the saga of angry academic Henry Louis Gates, and not surprisingly, the woman who placed the call, never mentions the word “black” once. She also suggests that she is not sure a crime is being committed, saying “I don’t know if they live there or they just had a hard time with their key.”

Prop 8 Opposed But 2010 Or 2012, Jared Polis, Sarah Palin, Dean Sheremet Give Thanks, Shia Sighting, Jesus Lutz, New Moon Soundtrack, Robert Pattison

A meeting Saturday in San Bernardino, California of some one hundred leaders of the organization to repeal Proposition 8 made two things completely clear: one, everyone in attendance wants the voter ban on gay marriage in the state repealed, and two, not everyone can agree on the best date to place a referendum on the ballot – 2010 or 2012. A number of those in attendance contend that November 2010 is too soon, since the language needed to appear on that ballot must be delivered to the attorney general’s office by September 25th, 2009.

On Friday, Representative Jared Polis, a Democrat from Colorado who was the first openly gay non-incumbent to be elected to the United States Congress in 2008, set another first joining the American Air Force Academy’s supervisory board. The board is designed to report to both Congress and the Pentagon on progresses made by the academies and to make recommendations for change. Polis, who was appointed to the post by Democratic House Speaker Nancy Pelosi, is on record as opposing the military ban on gays serving openly, and his placement is thought a signal that the Obama Administration intends to repeal the “don’t ask, don’t tell” policy.

Sarah Palin, whose craziness is thankfully predictable in a world where little else is, gave a rambling, vaguely coherent farewell address this afternoon in Fairbanks, Alaska, as she formally resigned her position as governor of that state. The speech – which is a generous definition for what transpired – was about the media and perhaps the first amendment, but beyond that, your guess is as a good as mine.

Dean Sheremet, the very cute soon to be ex-husband of Hollywood home wreaker Le Ann Rimes, who has a total of ten updates on his Twitter account, tweeted Saturday “Thanks to everyone for all the support through a very difficult time!”

Shia LaBeouf, according to his tee shirt, thinks he is a dad, the best dad on earth. He is not.

Jesus, too, takes to a tee shirt as a tool of expression, and Jesus is number one.

Chris Weitz, director of the next Twilight installment, New Moon, told the audience at Comic-Con Thursday that both Bon Iver and Thom Yorke are to contribute all new songs each to the film’s soundtrack.

Twilight hotness, meanwhile, Robert Pattison, departs Los Angeles Sunday afternoon, after arriving there Friday, fresh from an appearance at Comic-Con Thursday.

Pride Charlotte Celebratory, Fort Worth Police Officer Who Raided Rainbow Lounge Violent History, San Francisco Joins Prop 8 Suit, Toronto Blue Jays

Despite the presence of an estimated five hundred protestors, including hateful homophobes Michael Brown, director of the Coalition of Conscience, a fake Christian organization and Lou Engle, who aided in the passage of Proposition 8, Pride Charlotte, North Carolina took place without incident, the day a celebration for gays and allies alike. Those demonstrators were required to sign a pledge assuring that they would not engage in name calling or hate mongering rhetoric.

It was reported Wednesday that one of the officers who was on scene June 28th at the Rainbow Lounge raid in Fort Worth, Texas, thirty-two year old Jason R. Ricks, was the subject of a number of internal disciplinary actions, including an arrest in 2006 for alleged punching a bus driver, an assault charge that was later dropped, but that according to police documents raised concerns about Ricks among his superiors.

The City of San Francisco Thursday filed a motion with Chief United States District Judge Vaughn Walker to intervene in the federal lawsuit that challenges the constitutionality of Proposition 8. A hearing on the motion has been scheduled for August 19th.

A great piece on the “moribund” Toronto Blue Jays that uses the sad specter of the rumored Roy Halladay trade to discuss the many missteps the organization since the team last won the World Series in 1993, including that of general manager J.P. Ricciardi.

E. Lynn Harris, Dean Sheremet No Longer Living As Beard, Ryan Gosling Gives, Shia Rides, Hugh Jackman, Prince William’s Charitable Donation

E. Lynn Harris has died. He was 54. Mr. Harris, an African-American writer whose first novel, Invisible Life, published in 1991, broke barriers by dealing with the details of a gay black man whose double life is one of pain and torturing lies. His third novel, And This Too Shall Pass, about a professional football player struggling with his sexual identity, was a New York Times bestseller. Harris, whose place in the canon of great gay authors is secure, was unique in that his work was as widely read by heterosexual black women as it was by homosexuals of all colors. On a reading tour, Mr. Harris, who lived primarily in Atlanta, took ill in Los Angeles on Thursday, dying that evening. An autopsy is being conducted.

Now that the separation of Hollywood home wrecker Le Ann Rimes and her husband of seven years Dean Sheremet has been confirmed, Dean might now be able to live freely, as a gay man, rather than beard.

Ryan Gosling was out and about in Los Angeles on Thursday, being both gorgeous and generous.

Apparently everyone’s favorite Hollywood hobo has tired of walking and/or skateboarding to and from, and has violated his DUI suspension by cruising the canyons and valley’s of Los Angeles Friday on a scooter.

Hall of Fame DILF and the sexiest man alive Hugh Jackman, in New York City's West Village with daughter Ava and son Oscar, don’s his Adidas I Love Seoul shirt again, but this time pairs it with mesh shorts, the big tease!

Stepping comfortable in the shoes worn by his mother, Prince William worked for charity Friday, taking a group of homeless youth from the Centerpoint in Newcastle, England, up a Cumbrian mountain.

Les Lye, Joe Cox Lives Up To His Name, Roger Federer Welcomes Twins, Jake Gyllenhaal Dodger Blue, Zac Efron Runs, David Beckham Buys

Les Lye died Tuesday. He was 84. Lye, who starred as the only adult on the popular Saturday morning series You Can’t Do That On Television, is a Canadian icon, whose contribution to this county’s culture should always be remembered, the show, like Les, quintessentially Canadian in the all the best ways.

Joe Cox – the aptly named Georgia Bulldog quarterback – offers his Sporting News profile, the accompanying picture explaining why Joe Cox is aptly named, although if circumcised is his middle name, perfection has been hit. To explain, tucked in amid details on what is on his iPod, his bookmarked websites, and his dream date, is a photo of Joe and his perfectly flaccid penis. Just a thought Joe, but in the future, you might want to opt for wearing of athletic supporter with cup.

Roger Federer announced the arrival of twin daughters – Charlene Riva and Myla Rose –born to Federer and wife Mirka on Wednesday.

Jake Gyllenhaal, pretend heterosexual extraordinaire at the Los Angeles Dodger’s game Wednesday night, at they battled the Cincinnati Reds. Jake was joined by his brother in-law Peter Sarsgaard, while Jake continues to dress like an odd amalgamation of Zac Efron and David Beckham.

Zac Efron, meanwhile, in Vancouver, British Columbia, making a run for it from his car to condo.


David Beckham, meanwhile, in Los Angeles, dressed like Ryan Phillippe, out and about at the Grove – where else – with boys Brooklyn, Romeo, and cutie Cruz.

Navy Charges Sailor With Murder Of August Provost But Insists No Evidence Killing Was Hate Crime

A sailor has been charged in the killing of August Provost. Petty Officer 2nd Class Jonathan Campos has been charged with sixteen counts in relation to the murder of Provost on June 30th at Camp Pendleton, California, including murder, arson, and unlawful entry. The Navy, in announcing the charges, made clear that they do not contend the murder of Provost, who was gay, was a hate crime, but that Campos killed indiscriminately. However, Provost’s Aunt Rose Roy of Beaumont, Texas, said that she was ‘not sure the charges will settle our questions about August being harassed or murdered for his sexual orientation. We are waiting for more information from the Navy.”

Matthew Mitcham Exhausted, Mitcham Art Exhibit, Daniel Radcliffe Hates Homophobes, Cat Cora Delivers, Adrian Grenier, Zac Efron, Comic-Con Twilight

Matthew Mitcham – the only diver at the 2009 FINA World Championships competing on all three boards, the one meter, three meter, and springboard – finished a disappointing and distant ninth in the three meter event, after qualifying in fifth position. Mitcham, an Olympic gold medalist, hinted that the World’s in Rome are more an extended training session that serious competition, a way for Mitcham to measure his body’s response to intense exertion, saying that Rome “was getting a feel for how to do so many events.” He said that fellow divers regard his ambitious goals as “crazy.” After the diving events conclude, Mitcham will stay in Rome to open a multi-media art exhibit inspired by the man himself, called Matt Dive Gold, created by an Italian friend.

Daniel Radcliffe graces the cover of the new Attitude magazine, the U.K. gay publication, and says “I loathe homophobia. It’s just disgusting and animal and stupid and it’s just thick people who can’t get their heads around it (homosexuality) and are just scared. “ He also comes out – politically – as a Liberal Democrat.

Top Chef Cat Cora and her wife Jennifer have had a baby boy, Cat delivering Nash Lemuel on July 19th. The couple has three boys – Zoran, Caje, and Thatcher.

HBO’s Entourage actor Adrian Grenier, not particularly interesting, out and about in and around Miami Beach, Florida, drinking lots, then diving in to the warm Atlantic where he offered a glimpse of his butt crack, that too not particularly interesting.

Zac Efron, in Vancouver, British Columbia, at work on The Death and Life of Charlie St. Cloud, still so curiously cute.

A trilogy of today Twilight hotness, Kristen Stewart, Robert Pattison, and Taylor Lautner, make the scene in San Diego, California, at Comic-Con, Stewart rocking a right on Minor Step tee shirt.

Canadian Conservatives Lie, Henry Louis Gate Arresting Officer Will Not Apologize, Gates Remains Angry And Annoying, New Jersey Corruption Charges

Canadian Conservative Industry Minister, with a straight face, said Thursday that the decision to refuse tourism funds to the Montreal based gay festival Diverse/Cite was done out of “regional fairness,” adding that the province of Quebec receives a total of 42% of federal funding. The statement made by Clement, who, historically, demonstrates a kind of spectacularly stupid political acumen rarely seen, ignores the obvious, which is that the Conservative Party, despite promises to the contrary, is making sponsorship choices based on content.

The officer who arrested angry academic Henry Louis Gates last week after arriving at Gate’s rented home in Cambridge, Massachusetts in response to a call that two black men were breaking into said home, and only after Gates refused to show any identification, said Thursday that it was “disappointing” that President Obama commented on the incident. Sergeant James Crowley, an expert on racial profiling, in an interview, was responding to Obama’s comments that the Cambridge police department “acted stupidly.” The charges of disorderly conduct have since been dropped against Gates, a Harvard professor who specializes in African-American studies, but Crowley said neither he nor the Cambridge police department will apologize, arguing that he was following protocol.

To be fair, knowing the little I do of Gates (it is a long, but unfortunate story that involves Tina Brown) it is not difficult to imagine the pompous professor refusing to simply show the on scene officer identification, which would have resolved the event without incident, and you best belief the arrest and aftermath will be used in a seriously self-aggrandizing manner by the teacher.

Like the Sopranos, but minus the music, the F.B.I. Thursday morning executed a massive money laundering raid in New Jersey, arresting at least forty, including the mayors of three of the state’s city’s (Hoboken, Ridgefield, and Secaucus), state legislators, and men who might or might not be rabbis. The money laundering ring was of the international variety, trafficking in fake designer handbags and human organs.

Gay Rights Are Not Civil Rights At Least In Texas, Burning Books That Affirm The Gay, T.R. Knight Reveals All, Big Brother Gayness, Madonna Celebrates

Another anti-gay story from deep in the heart of the Texas, this one about Virginia Miller, who owns a large billboard in Gatesville, Texas, and who allowed one Oen Dollins, of Gatesville, a former minister to pay three-hundred dollars for three days to have the sign read “Gay Rights Are Not Civil Rights” Miller, defended the decision and the message, said neither she nor Dollins meant to offend anyone, but that “he wanted to get the message to black people that it’s not fair that they’re the ones who suffered, they’re the ones who paid the price, and now everything they fought for is being hijacked.” Miller added that she has received death threats since news of the sign spread. It has since been removed.

While the fifties were fabulous and fun culturally, the political climate of repression, not so much, this is why one Wisconsin couple’s attempt to bring back book burning is nostalgia gone wrong. Meet Mr. and Mrs. Maziarka – Jim and Ginny, if you would rather; a couple from West Bend, Wisconsin who in February went on record as objecting to a number of titles in the local library’s young adult section as being too homosexual in nature, too “gay-affirming.” Ginny sought balance, books that affirmations of heterosexuality, written, say, by “ex-gays.” The library, being public, disagreed with Jim and Ginny and well, things went from bad to worse quite quickly, the Maziarka’s claiming other titles in the library contained passages of “explicit raunchy sex act” and a lawsuit was filed and calls for books to be burned, and well Jim and Ginny continue their battle to bring censorship and “common sense” back as community values, where they belong.

T.R. Knight graces the cover of the new Entertainment Weekly, inside telling why he left Grey’s Anatomy, explaining that his character – George – was slowly, but surely disappearing, and that, big surprise, ABC and the show’s producer’s advised him not to come out so close to the Isaiah Washington incident.

Gaiety galore, at last, on the British version of Big Brother, as former Mr. Gay U.K. contestant Charles Drummond and Rodrigo Lopez coupled up, sharing a bath and kisses, and generally relieving the boredom that is reality television.

More news on the Madonna greatest hits hullaballoo titled Celebration, scheduled for released September 29th, including details on two new songs that will appear on the CD, and the cover art created by one "Mr. Brainwash", the result an obvious homage to Andy Warhol’s Marilyn Monroe silkscreen series.

Brandon McInerney To Stand Trial, Small San Diego Kiss-In, Matthew Mitcham, Shia Sexy Man Friend, Taylor Lautner Lean, Leonardo DiCaprio Lurks

After three days of preliminary hearings. Venture County Superior Court Judge Ken Riley found sufficient evidence to hold Brandon McInerney to stand trial for the murder of Lawrence King. Judge Riley deemed the murder to be premeditated – he categorized the killing as taking place with the “cold-blooded precision of an executioner” – and added the special circumstance to the charges that McInerney was lying in wait. The start date for the trial is yet to be determined.

A small crowd, estimated to be thirty, gathered Wednesday evening in front of the Mormon Temple in San Diego, California’s University City area, staging a peaceful protest – a kiss-in - organized by the Empowering Spirits Foundation, a national gay, lesbian, bisexual, and transgendered group that had hoped to encourage a conversation between themselves and representatives of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. The event was scheduled after two similar events in Salt Lake City, Utah, after two gay men were arrested and charged with trespassing for kissing on Mormon property.

Matthew Mitcham has recovered from his missed opportunity in the men’s ten meter platform dive to move into the semi-finals of the men’s 3 meter springboard at the 2009 FINA World Championships in Rome. Canadian Alex Despatie is first.

Guess which Hollywood hobo was walking around the Los Angeles area Wednesday with one smoking sexy man?

Taylor Lautner, out and about in Los Angeles Wednesday, apparently having already lost most of the weight he gained for Twilight’s New Moon.

Leonardo DiCaprio, in London where he is filming the new Christopher Nolan movie Inception, along side Cillian Murphy and Ellen Page, still seemingly unaware that attempting to hide from the prying paparazzo leaves one looking, um, stupid.

Canadian Conservative Government Denies Funding To Montreal Gay Festival, Rupert Everett Deems Michael Jackson Freak, Alice In Wonderland Trailer

The Canadian Conservative government, under the guise of the Ministry of Tourism, has rejected funding for Montreal’s gay, lesbian, bisexual, and transgendered annual cultural festival Diverse/Cite that despite assurances that the organization easily qualified for funding under the guidelines set out by the Marquee Tourism Events Program. Diverse/Cite had requested one-hundred and fifty-five thousand dollars in funding. The MTEP is an invention of the Stephen Harper led Conservatives, meant to insure that political inventions not occur similar to one experienced by the Liberal party under their run sponsorship program. The portfolio was recently removed from Diane Ablonzy and awarded to Tony Clement after Ablonzy was criticized by members of her caucus for funding the Toronto Gay Pride Festival, including lunatic fringe right wing MP Brad Trost, of Saskatchewan.

Rupert Everett says that it is lucky Michael Jackson died when he did, stating “I think it was fortuitous that he died.” Everett also argues that Jackson, in life and death, is a lesson in the excesses of celebrity, adding that Michael “was a freak. He looked like a character from Shrek.”

While not opening until March 5th, 2010, Tim Burton’s Alice in Wonderland is one of the most buzzed about movies, and a new teaser trailer has just been released, certain to add to the interest. The film stars the wondrous Mia Wasikowska, who was so great in the first season of HBO’s In Treatment, as well as Burton stalwarts Johnny Depp and Helena Bonham Carter, and Anne Hathaway.

Federal Investigation Into Rainbow Lounge Raid, Diversity Task Force Created, Solar Eclipse, Jackson Doctor Offices Raided, Treasonous Birthers

Led by Mayor Mike Moncrief, the Fort Worth City Council late Tuesday passed a resolution requesting a federal, independent investigation into a police raid on the Rainbow Lounge in the early hours on June 28th. The United States attorney’s office in Dallas, Texas must now consider the request. The resolution comes exactly one week after a raucous city council meeting with the general public in which a number of gay activists, demanding answers on why the Rainbow Lounge was the target of a raid and how that raid quite quickly grew out of control leaving six arrested and one hospitalized, were ejected.

Also on Tuesday, in an attempt to mitigate the collateral damage from the raid and the aftermath, the Fort Worth City Council passed a resolution to form a Diversity Task Force to aid in helping city officials “on better customer service for GLBT citizens, increasing awareness of anti-discrimination policies, and facilitating communication between the city and the GLBT community.

Across Asia, millions are watching a spectacular solar eclipse, the longest to occur this century, with an odd combination of celebration and fear.

A number of officials from the Drug Enforcement Agency, the Houston police, and the Los Angeles police have raided the Houston, Texas clinic of Doctor Conrad Murray, Michael Jackson’s physician, Wednesday morning, executing search warrants.

In the past few weeks, I have noticed that quite quietly, hiding under the radar, American conspiracy theorists – “birthers” – who claim Barack Obama is not a United States citizen because no birth certificate exists as proof, therefore he cannot, by law, be President, has grown and in doing so managed to gain some sense of credibility: well, as much credence as a lunatic fringe movement can. The problem, outside of the obvious, that it is a distraction from say policy discussion on health care, the military ban on gays serving openly and staggering poverty, is that it is nothing less and nothing more than retrograde racisms masquerading as patriotism. The video below is from a town hall meeting led by Delaware Republican Congressman Mike Castle, who is ambushed by a woman who should – in all honesty – being arrested and charged with treason. I realize she is a mental patient, but she would kill you if you dared disagree with her version of America.

San Diego Kiss-In Planned For Wednesday, Carrie Prejean Book Deal, Matthew Mitcham, Thomas Daley, Taylor Lautner, Dashing Matt Damon

The first kiss-in outside of Utah is scheduled for San Diego Wednesday evening, the peaceful protest planned to initiate a conversation between leaders of the Church of Christ of Latter-day Saints and the gay, lesbian, bisexual, and transgendered community, that after a gay couple was arrested and charged with trespassing after they kissed in front of the LDS Temple in Salt Lake City, Utah, on July 9th. The demonstration is set for a Mormon Temple in La Jolla, California, and is being organized by the Empowering Spirits Foundation.

Former Miss California and fatal mistake Carrie Prejean has signed a book deal with Regnery Publishers, titled Still Standing, in which Prejean purportedly will discuss “how she has been forced to battle the left’s double-standard on free speech and the bias against conservatives, particularly conservative women, who stand up for their beliefs.” Regnery Publishing is home to Newt Gingrich and right-wing extremist Michelle Malkin, and has a number of books arguing that climate change and global warming are left-wing myths.

Matthew Mitcham made a mistake on his final dive Tuesday evening in Rome, that dropped him from second place to fourth, causing the Australian to miss an opportunity to medal in the men’s 10 meter event at the 2009 FINA World Championships. Fifteen year old Thomas Daley, from Great Britain, seen below, scored four perfect sets of ten on his final dive to win the event. Daly, a bit of idol, is the first British individual to ever win a world diving event.

Taylor Lautner might have gained muscle mass and weight to secure the role of Jacob in the Twilight franchise, but he is eager to shed the pounds.

Matt Damon and wife Luciana, out and about in New York City on a summer’s Sunday night.

January Jones, Mad Men Marketing Mania, Robert Pattison Cheapness, Hugh Dancy Cad, Rafael Nadal Walking Talking Training Sexiness

The complete January Jones interview by Jack Nicholson in Interview magazine is now available, Jones talking about the origins of her name, the fast and furious pace of Mad Men, and more.

The New Yorker’s Talk of the Town has this interesting item about the making of the Mad Men season three promotional advertisement by the AMC marketing team, revealing that the upcoming season is all about change in a “world gone mad,” and that in addition to the cross promotion with Banana Republic, the New York Mets have partnered with the series to create a Mad Men seating area at Citi Field for one of their upcoming games.

Robert Pattison, while so sexy, is purportedly not the best tipper.

Hugh Dancy, while so sexy, is purportedly a bit of a cad. Nonetheless Hugh talks to BlackBook about his new film Adam, his pending nuptials to Claire Danes, and rebelling.

Rafael Nadal is back training, which can only mean one thing: lots and lots of pictures of the sexy Spaniard sweaty and shirtless.

Matthew Mitcham Moves To 10M Final, Men Defending Marriage In Maine And Acting Odd, Charlotte Pride Under Attack By Bigots, Henry Louis Gates, Jupiter

Matthew Mitcham came from thirteenth place Tuesday to secure a second place qualifying position for the evening’s men’s 10 meter platform diving finals at the 2009 FINA World Championships in Rome, in which he is expected to medal.

A men only group – The American Society for the Defense of Tradition, Family, and Property – based in Pennsylvania is in Maine this week, spreading their message that traditional marriage is under attack and that non-traditional marriage (that would be gay, if you’re keeping score) is a direct threat to society because child need a man and woman to function and grow. The group, which seems to total three, also contends that couples who “shack up” and then marry at City Hall are not entering into real marriages, but, unfortunately, the ASFDTFP is not able to argue that issue while on their state visit.

On a much more serious note, Box Turtle Bulletin has comprehensive coverage and analysis of a threat made by members of two vehemently and violently anti-gay groups masquerading as Christians to march on Charlotte, North Carolina’s Pride Festivities beginning July 25th. The theme of the planned protest is "God Has A Better Way," which sounds seemingly innocent and innocuous, but is neither, and, in description, sounds more like a terrorist action.

Harvard’s Henry Louis Gates, an academic of considerable renown, was arrested Monday by Cambridge police after Gates, returning home from a trip to Europe, found his front door stuck and had to push to open it. That image prompted a neighbor to call the police and report that two black men were trying to break into the home. The charges have now been dropped, the city of Cambridge issuing a statement that the arrest was “regrettable and unfortunate.”

Anthony Wesley, an amateur astronomer from Australia, early Monday morning detected an “earth size” dark scar near the southern pole of Jupiter, and NASA officials Tuesday confirmed that the planet the discovery, Jupiter apparently being hit by an object in the last few days. The discovery comes exactly fifteen years to the day after the planet was struck by a comet on July 19th, 1994.

Ryan Phillippe Shirtless, Michael Urie, The Temperamentals Gay Single Night, Neil Patrick Harris Belts Out Songs On Batman, Chace Celebrates Birthday

Ryan Phillippe, the most beautiful man in the entire world, in Los Angeles Saturday, along side girlfriend Abbie Cornish, Phillippe in the flesh, shirtless, and then later Ryan riding his motorcycle, still scowling, still skulking, still so sexy.

The unsinkable, unstoppable Michael Urie, still off Broadway starring in The Temperamentals, was visited backstage Saturday by Ugly Betty co-star American Ferrera, Urie a cavalcade of cuteness. By the way, it was just announced that The Temperamental performance scheduled for Tuesday July 28th is gay singles night – all of the fabulous, fun details here.

An episode of the animated series Batman: The Brave and the Bold titled Mayhem of the Music Meister! will feature the ample talents of one Neil Patrick Harris. The episode featuring Harris will premiere at Comic-Con International in San Diego before airing this fall.

One of People’s most eligible, um, bachelors, Chace Crawford celebrated his twenty-fourth birthday Saturday in New York with hometown friends from Dallas and Gossip Girl co-star Sebastian Stan and Toby Hemingway, an actor and new “friend” of Mr. Crawford.

Brandon McInerney Hearing Begins

The preliminary hearing in the case against Brandon McInerney, accused of killing Lawrence King, began Monday. King was fifteen when he was murdered, alleged shot by McInerney, then fourteen, in February, 2008 in a classroom at the E.O. Green School Oxnard, California. McInerney is charged with murder and with a hate crime and is being tried as an adult. Ramiro Albarran, a police officer, today testified that he interviewed students in the days after the shooting, all of whom corroborated the district attorney’s contention that King was murdered because he was gay. The officer stated that a student told him that Brandon “and his friends were going to jump Larry King, beat him up, and shank him.” Albarran added that the student said “Brandon didn’t like Larry King because Larry King was gay and dressed like a girl.”

Adam Lambert Loathes Hateful Westboro Baptist Church, Pop Star Kim Comes Out As Transsexual, Michael Phelps, David Beckham Booed, Matthew Mitcham

Adam Lambert, in San Diego, his home town, gives an exclusive interview to the Chaparral, the College of the Desert in Palm Desert, California, and Lambert talks about Goldfrapp, the cuteness of Kris Allen, the hacking of his Twitter account, and of the Westboro Baptist Church, and their failed attempt to protest outside the American Idols Live concert in San Jose, Lambert saying that despite the Church’s "God Hates Fags" signs, that he thinks “God hates hate more.” Lambert also says that “I’m Jewish. And clearly gay. And I get a lot of fan mail and gifts that are trying to express Christian ideals and Bible scriptures. It’s awkward because that’s not my belief system. I respect people for the intention in which they’re giving these gifts, because I know it’s out of love and hope, but it doesn’t match my belief system at all, so I kind of wish there’d be a little bit more respect for that.”

German sixteen year old pop star Kim, promoted to purportedly be the next big thing in Britain, was born Tim, and is the youngest person to have ever fully transitioned.

Michael Phelps, who seemed eager to court controversies after his record setting performances at the Beijing Olympics, is in Rome for the 2009 FINA World Championships and reportedly wants to stay off and under the radar, preferring to train with as little distraction as possible.

The great David Beckham American soccer experiment that saw the star play for the Los Angeles Galaxy, according to American fans of the sport, not so much of success, if his reception Sunday in Los Angeles at Beckham’s first home game is any indication the home crowd confronted him with a chorus of anger and disapproval, Beckham at one point so upset he went towards a group particularly demonstrative in an attempt to quiet the raucous fans, only to fail badly.

Matthew Mitcham began competing in the men’s 10 meter preliminaries Monday in Rome, at the 2009 FINA World Championship, Matthew heavily favored to medal in the event.

David Boise Op-Ed On Prop 8, India Supreme Court Will Not Stay Delhi Decision To Legalize Homosexuality, South Africa Stumbles In HIV/AIDS Care

David Boise, who, along with Ted Olsen, is suing the state of California in an effort to overturn Proposition 8, arguing that the voter amendment passed last November 4th by a 52 % majority is invalid because limiting marriage to those of the opposite sex is unconstitutional. Today, Boise has written an op-ed piece for the Wall Street Journal, arguing, among other points, that sexual orientation is not a behavior that can be regulated by the state, but a natural characteristic, that the passage of Proposition 8 was the “residue of centuries of figurative and literal gay-bashing,” and that due process and equal protection take precedent over the expression of religious freedom.

Arguing that there “no threat of consequences” the Supreme Court of India refused to accept a stay in the recent ruling by a New Delhi high court that overturning that capital city’s criminalization of homosexuality. In announcing the refusal, the Supreme Court stated that it would wait for the government of India to present its case in a hearing that has now been set for September 14th.

The South African government continues to compromise the delivery of the best public health information and treatment in the battle to combat HIV/AIDS, a kind of community driven movement towards male circumcision in popular demand without the involvement of the government.

Second Salt Lake Kiss-In Confrontational, Silent Partners, Madonna Mourns, Eric Sehn, Jonas Brothers Baseball, Zachary Quinto Quite Blue

The second “kiss-in” demonstration Sunday in support of two gay men arrested and charged with trespassing for kissing in public along a plaza owned by the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints in Salt Lake City, Utah, turned temporarily confrontational when the gay activists and their allies who had planned the protest were met by the hate mongering homophobic organization America Forever, who accused gays of “leading a persecution movement against American religions.” While no arrests were made and the protest ended peacefully, there were reports of a drive-by kiss planted on one of the American Forever participants by an unidentified man on roller skates.

A new film that explores the consequences of the United States military ban on gays serving openly – Silent Partners – screened Thursday in Los Angeles, the thirty minute documentary examining the three “spouses” of military personal who wait for their partners to return from active duty.

Madonna visited the Marseilles, France home of one of the two workers killed Thursday when a stage that was being built for a concert collapsed. Accompanied by daughters Lourdes and Mercy, Madonna went to the family home of Charles Criscenzo before heading to the area hospital where the eight worker injured in the accident are recovering. The concert scheduled in Marseilles for Sunday was cancelled.

Eric Sehn, a Canadian who hails from Edmonton, Alberta, and swims for the Texas A & M men’s NCAA team, dives at the 2009 FINA Championships in Rome on Friday, Sehn a study in concentration and cuteness.

The Jonas Brothers continue to play pretend baseball while on their current concert tour, allowing Kevin Jonas the opportunity to continue to play pretend heterosexual.

Zachary Quinto, dog Noah nowhere in sight, was a vision in various shades of blue Saturday side by side with Sarah Paulson, the twosome at the opening reception of Jessica Lange: 50 Photographs 1992 – 2008.

Matthew Mitcham Medals At World Championships, Grant Nel, Glee Cast Comes Out For OutFest, Channing Tatum, John Barrowman, Grace Jones, Heidi Klum

Olympic gold medal winner Matthew Mitcham is in the hunt for a trifecta of medals in three different events at the 2009 FINA World Championships in Rome, Italy, winning his first medal Saturday in the 1 meter springboard, earning it “a huge surprise” to Mitcham whose skill in springboard diving is a recent development, and not an event that Matthew favors. Mitcham dives next in the ten meter competition, beginning Tuesday, which he is favored in, and then the 3 meter. No diver has ever medaled in three different diving events at one competition.

Mitcham, as I had previously posted, has a new synchronized diving partner, Grant Nel.

The cast of Ryan Murphy’s Glee was on hand Saturday in Los Angeles at the city’s gay and lesbian film festival, formally known as OutFest, including Jane Lynch, Lea Michele, Cory Montheith, Matthew Morrison, and Chris Colfer, who seems poised to the show’s breakout star, amid fierce competition. The series debuts September 16th, on FOX.

GQ cover boy and newlywed Channing Tatum, in Sydney, Australia, out and about with wife Jenna Dewan, on hand for a screening of his new film G.I. Joe: The Rise of the Cobra.

Hall of Fame DILF and Torchwood star John Barrowman, filming an episode for the British series Fifth Gear, survived “a terrifying high-speed” car crash when the Subaru he was driving rolled four times. Barrowman, who was treated at the scene and did not suffer any injuries, said he “was lucky to walk unscathed,” but that he received a “ticking off” from his mother later.

Grace Jones appeared at the Stuttgart Jazz Open and at the Latitude Festival, as always, larger than life.

Pregnant Project Runway host Heidi Klum, out and about in New York City, with her child at their West Village neighborhood playground, enjoying a mid-summer’s day, however, according to the New York Post’s Page Six via Time Out, the scene was anything but idyll, as the paparazzi were “attacked” by hoards of parents and their children throwing water balloons in an effect to drive the photographers away. Only in New York kids, only in New York.

Lawrence King Teacher Speaks For First Time, San Diego Pride Reminder Of Struggles Ahead, Episcopalian Inclusivity Intended To Aid In Growth

After seemingly endless and often inexcusable delays, the pretrial hearing in the murder of Lawrence King by his classmate Brandon McInerney is scheduled to start tomorrow, Monday, in Ventura, California. Dawn Boldrin, the teacher whose classroom Larry was murdered in, for the first time speaks publically to the Los Angeles Times, and she tells, briefly of noticing the obvious troubles both boys were struggling with – Brandon with family, Larry with his sexual identity – and tells a heart breaking tale of a gift she presented to King five days before his death. Boldrin, herself one of many victims of that day, has suffered from anxiety and debilitating depression since, and this past April, the school fired her, and doubts she will ever teach again.

San Diego, California celebrated Saturday, the Pride Parade drawing thousands of participants, and thousands of spectators, the spectacle serving for many as a reminder that equality, while in reach, in a time of Proposition 8, the Rainbow Lounge raid, and the military ban on gays serving openly, remains the goal.

The American arm of the Anglican Church, the Episcopalian Church, is counting on gays or rather the inclusion of gays to aid in the Church’s growth, that according to this article from the New York Times.

Adam Lambert And Kris Allen On And Off-Stage, Chris Pine, Orlando Bloom, Vatican Wild About Oscar Wilde, Amazon Deletes George Orwell

Adam Lambert and Kris Allen – Kradam for those in the know – last night in Los Angeles at the Staples Center, on stage for the 2009 American Idols Live tour, Lambert looking a little butch in his denim vest, the twosome making quite the cute couple Friday at an Idol promotional event.

Chris Pine, so fine is he, in the slavishly trendy Silver Lake district of Los Angeles, cell phone and coffee in hand, just being divine.

Orlando Bloom, who has his Los Angeles area home burglarized Wednesday, thieves reportedly stealing over five hundred thousand dollars of personal goods, returned to the scene of the crime Thursday, and despite the loss, Orlando managed to look lovely.

The official Vatican newspaper – L’Osservatore Romano – has heaped praise on none other than Oscar Wilde, saying he “was a man constantly looking for the beautiful and the good, and also a God that he never challenged.” Wilde, who was baptized Catholic, converted just before his death in 1900.

Amazon.com in vain Friday, trying to find an excuse as to why the online retailer seemingly randomly deleted digital editions of George Orwell’s 1984 and Animal Farm from it’s Kindle application, finally stating it was because the company had no right to use them in a self-serve style.

Walter Cronkite

Walter Cronkite, the paradigm of everything good about journalism, has died. He was 92. Cronkite anchored the CBS Evening News from 1962 to March 6th, 1981, ending each broadcast with the famed “and that’s the way it is.” During the time, of presidential assassinations, of civil rights movements, of space exploration, of war, and of Watergate, Cronkite remained a constant who believed devotedly in the tenets of journalism, and saw the role of the media in way large and important, that it was a central pillar of society.

Cristiano Ronaldo Meets Elton John, David Beckham, Zac Efron Dives, Hugo Boss Model Arrested, Mad Men Most Memorable Moments And Spoilers

Cristiano Ronaldo, what appears to be an assortment of female impersonators, and Elton John, together, pictures often, sadly, saying more than words ever could.

Regardless of whether or not the great David Beckham North American soccer experiment can be deemed a success, Mr. Beckham, seen here leaving a hotel in New Jersey, is still smoking sexy.

Zac Efron, preparing for his role in the film The Death and Life of Charlie St. Cloud, in Vancouver, British Columbia, dons scuba gear, including wet suit, and dives not so deep into the Pacific Ocean.

Joshua Walter, a twenty year old Hugo Boss model, was arrested Thursday morning, charged with numerous offenses stemming from a crime spree started on June 14th at a Dunkin Donuts in Queens, New York.

AMC has assembled a video compilation of the top ten most shocking moments on Mad Men, the show set to premiere its third season Sunday August 16th, and the montage, while longish, is accompanied by amazing commentary by cast and creator Matthew Weiner, consequently there are obvious spoilers for those who yet to revel in the richness of the best series on television, and there are obvious hints of what is to come for those, like myself, who need to know.

Countdown to Season 3: The 10 Most Shocking Moments from 'Mad Men' @ Y! TV

Freddie Stroma Strikes Several Poses In And Out Of Acme Underwear

Freddie Stroma, so sexy, and so suddenly straight, has another Acme Underwear advertisement, this one features Freddie free forming on a gymnastic rings while modeling the 2009 Fall/Winter line of underwear, although, graciously, Stroma strips towards the end, offering a fleeting glimpse of Freddie’s, um, ass, so the clip might be considered NSFW.

Texas Alcohol Beverage Commission Administrator Apologizes For Rainbow Lounge Raid, Matthew Shepard Act Passed, Senator Kennedy Praises Passage

Alan Steen, administrator for the Texas Alcohol Beverage Commission, in a lengthy and at times emotional interview with the Dallas Voice, has said that the two agents involved in an incident at the Rainbow Lounge in Fort Worth on June 28th, committed clear “multiple violations” of the Commission’s protocol, saying “I don’t think you have to dig very deep to figure out that TABC has violated some of their own policies. We know that, and I apologize for that.” Steen, who said that the supervisor of the two TABC agents announced he was taking early retirement last week, is convinced that the raid on the Fort Worth gay bar was unwarranted and that the Commission should not “even have been there.”

The United States Senate late Thursday passed “the most sweeping expansion of federal hate crimes law since Congress responded four decades ago to the assassination of Martin Luther King Jr.,” according to the Associated Press. Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid, who helped battle Republicans who wanted the bill stopped, said that the act “recognizes that there is a difference between assaulting someone to steal his money, or doing so because he is gay, disabled, or Latino or Muslim.”

Senator Edward Kennedy, who proposed the bill in 1997, and was unable to attend the vote because of an ongoing treatment for cancer, released a statement, according to the Boston Globe, that praises the bill, saying “the Matthew Shepard Hate Crimes Prevention Act gives federal, state, and local law enforcement authorities the power they need to combat these brutal actions of domestic terrorism.”

California Removed As Defendant In DOMA Case, Hysteria In Fort Worth Police Rainbow Lounge Raid Reports, Bishop Gene Robinson Interview

Late Thursday, a United States district judge removed the state of California as a defendant in a pending lawsuit that challenges the 1996 Defense of Marriage Act, a federal law that prevents the American government from recognizing gay marriages. The judge ruled that California can no longer be considered a valid defendant because the suit is being brought by a couple, residents of the state, who married there before a voter amendment passed banning same-sex marriages in the state.

New details from the Fort Worth Police Department report on the events surrounding the inspection of the Rainbow Lounge made in the early hours of Sunday, June 28th, the document reading dramatically different from previous accounts, including details of the bar patrons, both female and male, seemingly sexually harassing the police and agents from the Texas Alcohol Beverage Commission. The report, written by officers, reads a lot like fiction, and suggests a situation the authorities allowed to quite quickly turn chaotic. What is not made clear in any of the reports is why the Rainbow Lounge attracted the attention of either agency.

Anglican Bishop Gene Robinson talks about the Episcopalian Church’s just concluded Convention, about his role in the two gay positive decisions made, one holding out the possibility of ordaining openly gay bishops, second, a resolution to initiate the implementation of rites to bless gay marriages.

Megan McCain Con Artist, Stage For Madonna Concert Collapses Killing One, Zac Efron, Leonardo DiCaprio, Models of the Runway

Megan McCain – daughter of hate crimes hating opponent John McCain – talks to Out about her newly carved out role as spokesperson for the young Republican Party, the one that is high on hearting the gays, that one, and she talks about her love of the gays and says Samuel Wurzelbacher (Joe the Plumber) “is a dumbass.” I hate to seem jaundiced, but Megan McCain is a political grifter, whose childish chatter belies not only her age, but that she is vapid, absent of any real understanding of policy, whose knowledge of history and of politics is brochure like in its thinness. She is not – NOT – the poster for anything new about the Republican Party and that her supposed support of homosexuals is regarded as meaningful is a sad comment in and of itself.

According to a report from the BBC, at least one person is dead and another six injured after a partial roof being constructed above the stage for a Madonna concert at the Velodrome Stadium in Marseille, France, collapsed. The concert, scheduled for Sunday, has been cancelled.

Zac Efron, in Vancouver, British Columbia till the end of September, stopped off at an area video arcade, being Efron- vescent.

Leonardo DiCaprio, who was once the Zac of his day, is still single, is still slouching, and is still wearing sagging pants.

Season six of the much delayed Project Runway is still over a month away, but Lifetime, who seized the show from Bravo, aims to milk Project for all it is worth, announcing a new spin-off titled Models of the Runway, all sixteen models to be met here, the show debuting immediately after Project.

Leaked Rainbow Lounge Video Raises More Questions Than Answers, John McCain Sees Matthew Shepard Act As Threat To America, Twitter Hacked

In Fort Worth, Texas WFAA TV, leaked documents by the Police Department, reports that the Rainbow Lounge was in fact targeted, but only, officials argue, because police cruiser video shows a man arrested two days earlier for public intoxication after leaving the gay bar. That incident allegedly prompted an inspection from both the Police and the Texas Alcohol Beverage Commission, and apparently acts as justification for the raid that fateful Sunday morning. The accompanying audio and video of that inspection, however, tends to suggest that the situation inside the Rainbow Lounge quite quickly deteriorated, with the investigating officials losing control.

The Republican Party is reportedly protesting the inclusion by Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid of the Matthew Shepard Hate Crimes Act as an amendment to a massive nearly seven hundred billion dollar defense bill. Reid is attaching the Act to the bill in an effort to pass the hate crime legislation because several Republican’s oppose the Act, including Senator John McCain, who said the Act “can harm … the United States of America and its judicial system.”

Twitter – still so ambivalent am I about what it even is supposed to so, let alone its usefulness – was hacked Wednesday, after an employee’s email account was broken into and information about the company was compromised, raising the usual questions about password protection and security.

Emmy Nominations, No January Jones But Thankfully Jim Parsons

The 2009 Emmy Award nominations were announced this morning in Los Angeles, by Chandra Wilson and Jim Parsons, Parsons particularly perfect as always despite the early hour, and he looks so cute when his nomination is announced.

Predictably, 30 Rock earned twenty two nominations, including, again, almost every actress who guest starred, although Selma Hayek was not and Mad Men captured sixteen nominations.

There were some obvious rights: Jim Parsons, for lead actor in a comedy series, so deceptively talented is he, Big Love for drama series, the show dark and daring in its third year, Aaron Paul for supporting actor in a drama series, phenomenal on Breaking Bad, The Flight of the Conchords for comedy series and star Jermaine Clement for lead actor in comedy series, the show so pitch perfect funny, Elizabeth Moss for lead actress in a drama series, who, like Parsons, is deceptively brilliant.

The obvious wrongs: Just one and that would be January Jones. That she, whose character of Betty Draper defined the second season of Mad Men, was not nominated is simply sinful.

The complete list of the nominees is available here.

Fort Worth Mayor Apologized But For What, Episcopalian Bishops Broach Gay Marriage, Evan Longoria, Ian Thorpe, Michael Phelps At The ESPY Awards

Fort Worth, Texas Mayor Mike Moncreif apologized Tuesday night at a raucous City Council meeting, but to whom and what exactly for? Many left in attendance – a number of gay activist had been ejected from the chambers – when the Mayor said “I’m sorry” assumed he was apologizing for the handling by Fort Worth Police Department and the Texas Alcohol Beverage Commission of a routine inspection at the Rainbow Lounge that left one individual hospitalized, six arrested, amid accusations of police brutality and misconduct, but Wednesday, a spokesperson for the Mayor said Moncreif was apologizing for those injured in the raid. You can watch the accompanying video of Moncrief and come to your own conclusions.

Late Wednesday, the Episcopalian bishops meeting in Anaheim, California voted to approve a measure best deemed a compromise on performing gay marriages. While there remains no introduction of an official rite for same-sex marriages, the Episcopalian Church will allow bishops to bless gay marriages in states where there are legal. Conservative Episcopalian’s still contend that the liberalization of the Church, the movement towards inclusion for gay men and women will anger the Anglican Church, and give credence to calls by the Anglican Church worldwide to separate from the American arm.

Tampa Bay Ray Evan Longoria, so sadly absent from Tuesday evening’s Major League Baseball All-Star game – in Los Angeles, so stunningly sexy.

Ian Thorpe is reportedly interested in becoming a boxer, albeit for charity.

Michael Phelps is seen arriving at the ESPY Awards Wednesday evening in Los Angeles, and looking, um, well, worn.