Irish President Mary McAleese Refuses Invitation To Be 2011 NYC St. Patrick’s Day Parade Grand Marshal Because Parade Refused To Allow Gays To Participate, University Of Rhode Island LGBT Students Occupy Library Demanding End To Discrimination And Harassment, Portia de Rossi Now Portia Lee James DeGeneres, Joe Jonas And A Mystery Male, Hugh Jackman, Jeremy Abbott Guys With iPhones Fun, Matthew Mitcham

Irish President Mary McAleese has turned down an invitation to be the grand marshal of the New York City 2011 St. Patrick’s Day Parade – the historic 250th anniversary of the event – because the parade continues to bar gays the right to participate, Irish Central reports. In her place, St. Patrick’s Day Parade officials are said to be considering New York Archbishop Timothy Dolan.

The Providence Journal on the occupation of the University of Rhode Island’s library by the Gay-Straight Alliance since Thursday, at 12:01 am EST, demanding that university officials formally acknowledge that gay, lesbian, bisexual, and transgender students have suffered discrimination, determined to continue their “peaceful and nonviolent” protest until their demands are met. Brian Stack, the president of the Gay-Straight Alliance, says that the organization has been trying to attract the administration’s attention since January to discuss instances of discrimination and harassment. “We have had students throwing used condoms into (gay) students’ rooms, drawing offensive images on people’s doors and an epidemic of people yelling ‘faggots’ as they drive by the GLBT Center,” said Stack. In August, URI President David M. Dooley, after meeting with representatives from the GLBT Center, wrote on his blog “That any of our students should have to live with harassment and fear should be intolerable to all of us. No one would want to endure what some of our GLBT students have endured and no one should have to, at least while at URI. It’s that simple.” Stack said that the group wants better facilities, increased budget for programs, a handbook of policies for reporting bias and hate crimes, sensitivity training for resident assistants, and regular meetings with President Dooley. By 6:00 pm, Stack says an estimated 700 hundred students had signed a “Stop the Hate” petition, Stack adding that “Interrupting hate is one of the best things we can do. There’s so much hate, and not much interrupting.”

Portia de Rossi, who married Ellen DeGeneres during the brief window of opportunity between May of 2008 and November 4th, 2008 when same sex marriage was legal in California, has had a request for a name change honoured by the courts. According to the Los Angeles Times, today at a closed hearing in Los Angeles County Superior Court, her name officially became Portia Lee James DeGeneres.

Joe Jonas paid a visit to the doctor’s Thursday, accompanied by a blond mystery male.

Hugh Jackman spotted Thursday out and about in New York City.



American Olympic figure skater Jeremy Abbott makes an appearance on Guys with iPhones; the 25 year old unfortunately fully dressed. (Site NSFW)

Is it possible for Matthew Mitcham to be cuter?