Russian Gay Activists Stealthy Stage Not One But Two Pride Parades In Moscow, White House Statement On Release And Pardon Of Malawi Gay Couple, Wale Hates No One And Agrees To Perform At Black D.C. Pride, Dennis Hopper, Alexander Pato Stretches, Cristiano Ronaldo Thrusts, Andy Roddick

In Moscow Saturday, two Gay Pride parades proceeded without any arrests, Russia’s infamously anti-gay authorities opting not to intervene for the first time since activists attempted to hold the event in the capital city in 2006. However, the absence of police state-sanctioned brutality was like the result of cunning and planning by gay activists, instead of a welcoming by arch-conservative authorities. 25 activists participated in the first parade, a short demonstration that lasted approximately 10 minutes. Hours later, a smaller international contingent of gay activists unfurled a long rainbow flag, and chanted “Russia without homophobes!” Parade organizer Nikolai Alexeyev said this year’s absence of arrests, accompanied by violence was not due to a change in attitudes towards gays by officials, but because the activists had properly planned. “Our military planning was why there were no arrests,” said Alexeyev. “We had to organize these parades under strict secrecy, we turned away anyone we didn’t know.”

The White House released a statement Saturday regarding the released and full pardon of Steven Monjeza and Tiwonge Chimbalanga by the Malawi president, Presidential press secretary Robert Gibbs saying the two men are not criminals and that their struggle is not unique. The statement calls for an end to “the persecution and criminalization” of sexual orientation and gender identity.

Wale, the Washington D.C. based rapper who cancelled his scheduled appearance at the D.C. Black Pride Festival, abruptly late last week, without explanation, leading to speculation he did not realize the event was gay-related, announced that he intends to perform , taking to Twitter to say “I’m cancelling what I was supposed to be doin .. to go... yeah ILL BE THERE!! I’m not scared nor do I have hatred for ANYBODY.”

Dennis Hopper has died. He was 74. He succumbed to complications from prostate cancer. Hopper, who was an artist, a photographer, and a champion of modern art, was an architect of independent American film, the director and co-star of the 1969 movie Easy Rider. The film, which was written by co-star Peter Fonda and the great, late Terry Southern, seems quaint in comparison to all that has followed it – with its counterculture message of dropping out – but it revolutionized movies, and ended the dominance both creatively and financially of big Hollywood studios. Hopper may have descended into a sad self-parody in later years, but his influence resonates today.

Alexander Pato seen stretching, the 20 year old curly-haired cutie’s role for Brazil in the upcoming FIFA World Cup of Soccer in question owing to a lingering muscle injury.



Cristiano Ronaldo. What he is doing, well, um, he can do as much and as often as he like.



Andy Roddick may have been eliminated in the third round of the French Open in straight sets to Russian Teimuraz Gabashvili, but he is adorable as always.