Target Tries To Defend Donation To Anti-Gay Minnesota Gubernatorial Candidate, Anti-Gay Christian Student Suing Georgia University Advocated Gay Conversion Therapy, Basic Rights Oregon Campaign, Australian Labour Party Candidates Break Party Line And Support Gay Marriage, Tim Tebow Signs To Be Spokesperson For Jockey, Lance Bass Picks Up Marc Jacobs Ex Lorenzo Martone, Ryan Phillippe Mysterious Foot Injury, Zac Efron Mobbed Yet Again

On Tuesday, Target Chief Executive Officer Gregg Steinhafel released an e-mail addressing concerns by employees and customers about a donation made to MN Forward, a political action committee headed by staff assembled from outgoing Minnesota Republican Governor Tim Pawlenty’s administration that operates in support of Tom Emmer, the Republican candidate to replace Pawlenty. Emmer, like Pawlenty, opposes gay marriage, as well as strongly supporting Arizona’s SB 1070, an immigration bill that is transparently racist. Emmer is also on record advocating chemical castration for sex offenders. Steinhafel said that Target “rarely endorses all advocated positions of the organizations or candidates we support, and we do not have a political or social agenda,” adding “let me be very clear, Target’s support of the GLBT community is unwavering, and inclusiveness remains a core value of our company.” Target donated $100,000 in cash and $50,000 in branding consultation to MN Forward, an amount that makes the corporation the single largest donor to the group.

According to documents filed in court, anti-gay Christian Jennifer Keeton, the Augusta State University suing the school because she says officials threatened to expel her from its counselling program after she refused to participate in a “remediation” program meant to increase her acceptance and tolerance of gays, argued in class and in essays that homosexuality was a “lifestyle choice,” and that the “lifestyle” was the result of identity confusion. Court papers, filed on behalf of Keeton by the Alliance Defense Fund, also reveal that she publically advocated conversion therapy for gays, lesbians, bisexuals, and the transgendered. The remediation plan also called for more work to improve Keeton’s writing skills. According to Keeton and the ADF, the university is violating her right to free speech and the right to religious freedom.

Basic Rights Oregon, that state’s largest gay rights advocacy group, began a state-wide campaign last week aiming to change the stance of state voters who oppose gay marriage. Basic Rights Oregon says it hopes to place an initiative on the ballot as soon as 2012 asking voters to repeal the state constitutional ban on gay marriage they approved in passing Measure 36 in 2004. “Our hope is to reach many more people with the message and continue to inspire those one-on-one conversations that we feel are critical to building understanding and support for the freedom to marry, “according to executive director Jeana Frazzini. The campaign includes television ads, mail-outs, and neighbour canvassing.

In Australia, two more Labour Party candidate have come out in support of gay unions, defying the party line which opposes both civil unions and same sex marriage, and further embarrassing the first openly gay federal government minister, Penny Wong, who said Sunday she supports the Labour conceit that marriage is defined as that existing only between one man and one woman. Steven Lewis, the candidate for the seat of Wentworth, said that he believes “that those who are in a loving relationship of the same sex should have the same rights as heterosexual couples.”

Tim Tebow and Jockey have partnered, the former Focus on the Family parrot now a spokesperson for the ubiquitous line of underwear, Tim to be featuring in the Jockey catalogue, print and television advertisements, and on the company’s website. The amateur circumciser and Denver Broncos' quarterback said “I’m excited to represent the Jockey brand and to work with such an innovative company. I’ve long been a fan and consumer of Jockey, and think they make a quality product with a great fit.”

It is no secret that professional gay Lance Bass played a part in the breakup of Marc Jacobs and Lorenzo Martone, and now there are published reports that the twosome of Bass and Martone has been publically, um, flirtatious, with one another since forever, well forever being at least two years.

Ryan Phillippe is injured again, well, reinjured, spotted on set Monday wearing a black brace on his left leg like the one he wore earlier this year.

Zac Efron (and his quite pink lips) is mobbed yet again in New York City.