Ontario Catholic Church Reconciles With Gay Parishioner And Preaches Tolerance, Sky Gilbert Give Stupid Quote Regarding Censorship, Salt Lake City Pride, Fort Worth Progress, Homophobe Rampage Jackson Wants Everyone To Lighten Up, Joe Jonas iPhone Fun, Ryan Phillippe Sex Face

In Cobourg, Ontario, an update on a previous post regarding the Roman Catholic Diocese of Peterborough and Jim Corcoran, a former alter server at St. Michael the Archangel Parish. Corcoran, 51 years old, openly gay and in a monogamous, twenty-year relationship, took the Diocese to the province’s Human Rights Tribunal over allegations that Corcoran had his rights violated when a bishop and twelve parishioners took action to remove him from his voluntary position. Sunday, Corcoran sat in mass, along with those twelve parishioners, and heard a homily on the virtues of tolerance delivered by Bishop Nicola De Angelis, who said that “nobody has the right to humiliate or slander their brother and sister,” as well as addressing the “hateful and discriminatory will” and “distaste towards homosexuality” that Corcoran alleged in the complaint made to the HRT was rampant among the parishioners. Bishop De Angelis added that “great in society is the one who is capable to respect the dignity of each person regardless of our differences in language. Regardless of the color of our skin, regardless of our sex or sexual orientation.” The homily comes a week after Corcoran withdrew his complaint, stating that he and the bishop had resolved the dispute, although neither party will say what constitutes the resolution. At some point during the drama, the twelve parishioners alleged that Corcoran was having a relationship with Father Hood, the parish priest. Father Hood had initially invited Corcoran to participate in the celebration of mass, and had begun to implement changes meant to encourage inclusiveness.

In Toronto, the dispute between the Pride Committee and the organization Queers Against Israeli Apartheid continues, a coalition called for an end to censorship appearing at City Hall Monday. Pride has effectively banned QuAIA from participating in any and all Pride sanctioned events, including the parade, and that decision has angered some, including playwright Sky Gilbert who said that the ruling to exclude the extremist group is “the final nail in the anti-sex coffin, sounding the death knell for those who celebrate our bodies in all their splendid difference and exuberance,” the playwright apparently momentarily confused about QuAIS’s mission statement.

Thousands celebrated in Salt Lake City, Utah Sunday morning, the city’ Pride Parade the culmination of three-day weekend-long Utah Pride Festival. According to organizers, this year’s attendance surpassed last year’s, which had set a record.

Almost a year after the raid on Fort Worth’s Rainbow Lounge, the city’s police department appears t o have forged historic relations with the gay community, that event June 28th the catalyst for a change, particularly for the re-energized gay community that now seems cohesive and mobilized.

Someone named Quinton Rampage Jackson is somehow still talking, the, um, UFC star and actor defending being quoted last week as saying that “acting is kind of gay.” Taking to his blog today, Jackson wrote, with caps on, “EVERYBODY LIGHTEN THE FUCK UP! LET’S HAVE FUN! THAT’S THE MOST IMPORTANT THING WE CAN DO RIGHT NOW! THERE’S TOO MUCH NEGATIVITY IN THIS WORLD, SO LET’S JUST FOCUSE ON THE POSITIVE THINGS AND I GUARANTEE IF WE DO THAT THINGS CAN ONLUY GET BETTER!” I don’t know Jackson, nor would I want to do, but I’m guessing he is a fan of irony.

Joe Jonas, sadly fully clothed, re-appears on Guys with iPhones. (Site NSFW)

Ryan Phillippe, seen arriving at the annual Butterfly Ball Saturday night, Phillippe giving the most salacious, sexually suggestive expression.