Prince Edward Island Gay Community Shows Support For Gay Couple Whose Home Was Destroyed By A Likely Deliberate Fire, Charges Against Three Of Eleven Suspects In Bronx Anti-Gay Attacks Dropped, Lawsuit Against Sacha Baron Cohen Alleges Bruno Filmmaker Purposely Incited Riot At Yes On Proposition 8 Rally In 2008, Madonna To Open Gyms Named For Worst Album, Jake Gyllenhaal New Beard Alert

CBC reports that the Prince Edward Island gay community is rallying around a same sex couple whose home in Little Pond was destroyed by fire, likely deliberately. Jim Culbert, who owns and operates a gay-friendly bed and breakfast in Vernon Bridge, said Tuesday that he has offered a safe haven for the two men, saying “If the boys need a place to move to in a friendly environment, my community is obviously welcoming to same-sex people. I could see, if they could come down or want to come and meet me or talk to me, what the community as a whole could (do to) help them.” In the early hours of October 18th, as I previously posted, the two awoke to the sound of window being broken, and a fire erupting inside their home. The fire is being investigated as a crime. The two men, who have no spoken publically, moved to the Island from British Columbia five years ago, and in that time their home has been broken into, and their mailbox destroyed. A friend of the couple, Maureen Campbell-Hanley, said “I do know that some of the harassment would have been intended to make fun of their sexual orientation.” There are no suspects, and the couple allegedly intends to move out of the province.

CNN reports that charges have been dropped against three of the eleven suspects arrested in connection with a series of disturbing anti-gay attacks in the Bronx earlier this month, the district attorney’s office saying that there does not exist enough evidence to continue with cases against Bryan Almonte, Steven Caraballo and Brian Cepeda, all 17 years old, Assistant District Attorney saying “After a thorough review of the evidence, there is insufficient evidence to prove criminal conduct beyond a reasonable doubt.” All three of were held in custody since their arrests. At the same time, the district attorney’s office announced that one of the suspects, 26 year old Luis Garcia, was indicted by a grand jury in the attacks on two gay teens and two adult men, one gay, one straight. The grand jury brought charges of gang assault and robbery against Garcia, who now faces a maximum sentence of 15 years for the gang assault charge and 25 years for the robbery charge.

Mike Skiff, an openly gay cameraman who covers events in the Los Angeles area “involving the gay community” filed a suit Tuesday in Los Angeles Superior Court, according to TMZ.com, alleging that while filming a Proposition 8 rally November 2nd, a production crew from Sacha Baron Cohen’s Bruno (including Cohen) he was injured when the filmmakers deliberately incited a riot by carrying Yes On Proposition 8 signs and encouraging participants “to enhance the dramatic effect of what they may capture for their film.” The complaint alleges cause of action for assault, violation of civil rights and inciting riots. Skiff has uploaded a video of the event on YouTube.com, available at the link.

Madonna is to open a chain of fitness centres throughout the world; the first to be opened in Mexico City on November 29th reports the Associated Press. The gyms are to be called Hard Candy Fitness (?) and a statement released Tuesday said that the gyms “will open in major cities around the world,” including Argentina, Asia, Brazil, Europe, and Russia.

Jake Gyllenhaal and Taylor Swift are allegedly dating, Us magazine reports, the timing perfect since Swift has a new album out, Speak Now, and Jake’s new film Love and Other Drugs is set to open November 24th, not to suggest that theirs is an arranged relationships of um, convenience.