Michigan Anti-Gay Assistant Attorney General Banned From University Of Michigan Campus; Personal Protection Order Also Issued Against Him

The Detroit Free Press is reporting that Michigan assistant attorney general Andrew Shirvell has been banned from the University of Michigan campus, and that Chris Armstrong, the openly gay president of the Michigan Student Assembly, who has been the subject of hysteric attack by Shirvell via a personal blog, has filed a personal protection order against him. As well, the University of Michigan issued a statement of support Thursday for Armstrong that said the university “does not tolerate bigotry of any type.” Shirvell was issued the trespass warning September 14th, spokesperson for the University of Michigan police Diane Brown explaining that Shirvell is forbidden from coming onto any campus property, and that the order was issued had received a complaint “about him being a possible suspect in harassing or stalking behaviour.” Surprisingly, Shirvell is appealing the order. That order from Armstrong alleges that since being elected this past spring the assistant attorney general has verbally attacked him at campus events, called the office where Armstrong was completing a summer internship in Washington, D.C. and complained about him, followed Armstrong’s friends to events hoping to find Armstrong, and protested and took pictures outside Armstrong’s residence, an occurrence that has prompted a visit from police on more than one occasion. Armstrong said in his filing that Shirvell’s action “have been incredibly distressing” and “make me feel unsure about my own safety,” and that since he came to the University of Michigan believing it to be a safe, secure place for gay, lesbian, bisexual, and transgender students “His actions have not only threatened that, but have been an outright attack on my ability to live my life openly and be honest about who I am.” Attorney General Mike Cox, who is on record stating “Mr. Shirvell’s immaturity and lack of judgement outside the office are clear,” has to date rejected calls to fire the assistant attorney general, citing free speech, however Thursday Michigan Governor Jennifer Granholm, via Twitter, wrote that “If I was still Attorney General and Andrew Shirvell worked for me, he would have already been fired.”

Russian Gay Rights Activist Nikolai Alekseev Permitted To Protest Airlines Not Celebrate Sexual Minorities, Troy Williams, Annise Parker, Brad Goreski Left Rachel Zoe A Little Less Amiably Than Let On, Aaron Tveit, Joe Jonas Stained Jeans, Ryan Gosling Rocks A Tank Top

Interfax reports that the leading Russian gay rights advocate Nikolai Alekseev has been granted permission by the prefectures of Moscow’s Central Administrative District to hold a protest, but not a parade, a statement released by the prefecture’s spokesperson reading “The district prefecture officially states that its official gave no consent for a gay pride parade to be held on October 1, contrary to what gay pride parade organizer Nikolai Alekseev wrote in his blog. Alekseev asked for permission to hold this rally after an incident that happened to him at a Moscow airport. The incident was not directly related with sexual minorities. After receiving an application the prefecture gave consent for holding the picket. The application did not state that the protest has anything to do with sexual minorities. If the picket turns into a rally other than as stated in the application, law enforcement agencies will be ordered to immediately disperse the rally.” The protest is scheduled to take place October 1st, between 1:00 pm and 5:00 pm, and Alekseev has yet to comment on whether he intends to obey or defy the authorities, acting Moscow Mayor Vladimir Resin saying Wednesday that he intends to continue fired mayor Yuri Luzhkov’s stance of anti-gay hate and forbid any and all authorizations of gay pride parades in the Russian capital.

The Salt Lake Tribune profiles Troy Williams, the 40 year old “Mayor of Salt Lake City,” who in 1991 returned from his Mormon mission to Great Britain determined to continue doing the sacred work of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, including defending the sanctity of marriage between one man and one woman. Williams baptized ten converts to the LDS faith until coming out, saying “I had sublimated my sexuality into religion, as Mormon gays usually do,” Williams saying he was “saved” by his gayness.

Houston Mayor Annise Parker, the first openly gay elected mayor of a major American city, tells Business Week that since elected to office she no longer receives death threats, adding that “People assume the toughest decision in my life was coming out. But being gay isn’t tough – it’s who I am. What’s been tough is learning how to be social, and how to adapt to public life.”

Yesterday, I posted a People magazine piece that the parting of stylist Rachel Zoe and Brad Goreski was peaceful, the decision an amicable one. Today, Popeater.com reports that their separation was anything but amiable, writing that “Brad was sick of doing all the work while Rachel got all the credit, while Rachel feels used by Brad. She feels as if she taught him everything and the second he got a chance to leave her high and dry he did.” Popeater.com adds that high drama between the two at New York Fashion week in early September marked the beginning of the end, “the final straw was when Brad appeared on the cover of the New York Times style section. Rachel hit the roof and reminded him he was her assistant and it was called ‘The Rachel Zoe’ show not the Brad Goreski show. That was the moment that the two of them were over.”

Paper magazine presents Aaron Tveit, who appears in Howl as Peter Orlovksy, longtime lover of Allen Ginsberg, played by James Franco. Hotness abounds.

Joe Jonas, whose tight jeans have an odd stain, and Ashley Greene spotted Wednesday in Los Angeles.



An equally tight-jeaned Ryan Gosling spotted on the set of Drive Wednesday, Gosling all tanked-up.

Senator Saxby Chambliss Removes Staffer Who Left Comment On Blog Saying “All Faggots Must Die;” Issues Public And Private Apology

United States Senator Saxby Chambliss (R-Georgia) apologized Thursday to Joe Jervis, author of the blog Joe.My.God. for threatening, violent comment originating from the senator’s office that read “All Faggots must DIE,” according to the Atlanta Journal Constitution. The offending comment was left on the site an hour or so after the United States Senate voted to stall the repeal of the military ban on openly gay and lesbian service members. A prepared statement from Chambliss reads “The office of the Senate Sergeant at Arms has concluded its investigation, and I responded to that report immediately with the removal of a member of my staff. I commend the Sergeant at Arms, Terrance Gainer, and his staff for their very thorough and professional work. I have called Mr. Jervis, the blog’s author, and apologized to him personally, and I am sorry for the hurt this incident has caused. Regardless of one’s position on issues and policies, such comments are simply unacceptable, are not befitting those who work in the U.S. Senate, and I will not tolerate them from my staff.” That the staffer has been removed as opposed to being fired has fuelled speculation that the source of the comment was in fact a military liaison hired by the Pentagon to work in Chambliss’ office. For his part, Jervis – who paraphrases the phone conservation he shared with Senator Chambliss – has accepted the senator’s public and private apology, saying “I consider the matter closed. The gentleman is no longer in Chambliss’ office. I’m pretty sure if he were a direct Chambliss hire, we would know his name. I don’t think he was Chambliss’ to fire. I was never calling for this guy’s head. I just wanted the senator himself to address the issue and say that this can’t happen in my office. He has done that.”

Closeted 50 Cent Encourages Gays To Commit Suicide

50 Cent – a spectacular failure given his earlier modest success – who likes to decorate his Twitter page with images of automatic handguns, and who recently tweeted “Perez Hilton called me a douchebag, so I had my homie shoot up a gay wedding. wasnt his, but made me feel better” offers another anti-gay hate-fuelled tweet – timely too, given the week’s events – that reads “If you a man and your over 25 and you don’t eat pu**y just kill your self damn it. The world will be a better place. Lol” Ignoring the grammatical and spelling mistakes (which are deeply depressing) 50 Cent, nee Curtis Jackson is hilarious. How to tell? The Lol prompt, naturally. He’s also clearly closeted too. How to tell? Start with his obsessive gay-baiting and work from there.

Tyler Clementi Reportedly Reached Out For Help Online Before Committing Suicide; Authorities Reportedly Discover Clementi’s Body In Waters Near Columbia University; Friends Of Ravi Dharun Say He Was Prankster And Not A Homophobe

Gawker.com is reporting that 18 year old Tyler Clementi, the Rutgers University freshman who ended his life leaping off the George Washington Bridge after a roommate allegedly broadcast a sexual encounter over the Internet likely reached out for advice, albeit from it strangers, at justusboys.com, beginning a thread titled “college roommate spying” under the moniker cit2mo on September 21st. The tale, of homophobia, Twitter, and a web cam ends with Clementi leaving a Facebook message “Jumping off the gw bridge sorry” serves as a reminder that social media and the murky anonymity that often accompanies can be far more dangerous than anyone readily admits, the irony that the gay young man, a gifted violinist and scholarship student asked his roommate, 18 year old Dharun Ravi for privacy September 19th, hopefully not lost on anyone. The Daily News, meanwhile, reports that the body of Clementi has been apparently discovered by authorities Wednesday near the Columbia University boathouse, some 30 block north of the bridge. No official identification has been made, but the body is believed to be that of Clementi. Dharun and another Rutgers undergraduate, Molly Wei were charged with two counts of invasion of privacy for the original incident September 19th, Dharun facing two additional charges of invasion of privacy for his failed attempt September 21st to use the webcam to capture and broadcast a second sex scene. Dharun and Wei were friends in high school, according to the Daily News, 17 year old Michael Zhuang, a neighbour and former classmate of Ravi saying “I think he’s good person. I don’t think he’s a homophobe. It would’ve been no different if it was a girl in the room.”

Western New York Native Joshua Holts Sentence To Four Years In Prison For Gay Bashing But No Hate Crime Stipulation, Norman Oklahoma City Council Proclaims October GLBT History Month And Earns Death Threats From Certain Constituents, Australian Prime Minister Julia Gillard Refuses To Allow Labour Party To Support Same Sex Marriage Proposal While Tasmania Advances Marriage Equality, Islamic Extremists Threaten Jakarta Gay International Film Festival, BBC Less Than Realistic Portrayal Of Gays, Anderson Cooper To Host Syndicated Talk Show, Mike “The Situation” Sorrentino Said To Have Small, Um, Situation, Run Kellan Lutz, Social Lance Bass

The Buffalo New reports that Cheektowaga, New York resident Joshua Holts was sentenced Wednesday to four years in prison for the brutal attack on Scott Wright, a gay man, beaten repeatedly outside a Springville bar. The attack was captured on security cameras and show Holts beating Wright into a semi-conscious state as he pleaded for mercy. The camera also shows Holts returning moments later, kicking and stomping Wright as he lay on the sidewalk. The attack occurred on August 8th, 2008 and has left Wright permanently injured, recent surgery preventing him from returning to the court Wednesday for sentencing. Holts, who pleaded to a charge of second-degree assault October 19th, 2009, but soon after withdrew his plea, prompting a jury trial, argued that Wright had made an unwanted pass at him, which Holts “categorically denied” throughout the trial. Despite Holts having yelled several anti-gay slurs at Wright during the assault, the judge did not believe that enough substantive evidence existed to add a hate crime stipulation.

Tuesday night, according to the Oklahoman, Norman, Oklahoma City Council passed a resolution proclaiming October Gay, Lesbian, Bisexual, Transgender History Month, the vote 7-1. Sadly, council members say that they have been harassed with e-mails and phone calls from constituents opposed to the proclamation, Ward 7 Council Doug Cubberly saying that several messages left on his answering machine “threatened my livelihood.” Mayor Cindy Rosenthal said that the proclamation was brought to council “because of a problem in the community,” adding that “It doesn’t create a special status for anyone. It simply calls for dignity and respect for all people.” She said that those who wish to use the month to study the history of the gay community in Norman “can do so” and that “Others can ignore it. That’s the nature of a free society.”

From the Australian Broadcasting Corporation details on the proposal by the Green Party to amend that country’s Marriage Act, and a response from Prime Minister Julia Gillard saying that she will not allow her Labour Party members to vote with conscience. Greens Senator Sarah Hanson-Young says that the Prime Minister will face pressure from within her own party and out, saying that the Labour Party are “going to have to start justifying their outdate view, their view to keep discrimination to a group within the community that is growing louder and stronger and bigger.” ABC also reporting that Tasmanian gay rights advocate Rodney Croome says the Prime Minister is making a political miscalculation ignoring the advances made by gays at the state level, Tasmania’s Upper House yesterday voting to recognize same sex marriages from interstate as well as international as being legal. Says Croome “It really says something when the Tasmanian Upper House is more progressive than a Labour, a national Labour leader and I’d say to Ms. Gillard, take your cue from the Tasmanian Upper House and adopt a more practical and pragmatic approach to this issue.”

According to the Guardian, members of the Islamic Defenders Front targeted the Q! film festival in Jakarta, the masked Islamic extremists chanting homophobic slogans and accusing the organizers of the international gay film festival of blasphemy, threatening to burn down a venue of the screening did not stop. Festival co-founder and director John Badalu told the Jakarta Post he and his team were committed to completing the festival according to schedule, saying “We’re still going to go on.”

A study commissioned by the BBC finds that gay, lesbian, and bisexual individuals want to see more authentic depictions of their lives, while agreeing that the corporation has made “great progress” in its portrayal of gay people and gay relationships.

The Hollywood Reporter says that Anderson Cooper is closing a deal to host a syndicated daytime talk show, scheduled to begin production in late summer, 2011. Cooper will also act as executive producer, the show described as being a topical format that will examine everything from celebrities and pop culture to social issues and wide-interest news stories.

From the latest Star magazine: “Mike ‘The Situation” Sorrentino may dazzle the ladies with his amazing abs, but another area of his anatomy is much less impressive! ‘I wouldn’t even call it a one-night stand, because he only lasted a few minutes,’ Florida club promoter Melody Eckerson tells Star about their tryst in the Jersey Shore’s cast Miami Beach pad. Things started out normal enough and Melody admits she was even imagining what it would be like to be his girlfriend. But she got a huge surprise when the reality star dropped his pants and reveals – a very tiny Situation. ‘Let’s just say, I’m thinking of my pinky,’ Melody tells Star.”

Kellan Lutz, smoking sexy, natch, seen Wednesday arriving at a Sherman Oaks gym.



Lance Bass spotted Wednesday attending a screening of The Social Network in New York.

Proposition 8 Justice Vaughn Walker Intends To Retire In 2011, New Moscow Mayor Same Anti-Gay Stance As Old Moscow Mayor, Ronnie Kroell Rightly Disparages A-List NYC, Brad Goreski Is A Free Bird, Vampire Diaries Man-Flesh, Shirtless Ryan McPartlin

United States Chief District Judge Vaughn Walker is retiring, the justice who ruled August 4th that California’s gay marriage ban in unconstitutional notifying by letter President Obama Wednesday that he will leave the court in February, according to the Associated Press. Walker is retiring after a 21 year career as a federal judge, the 66 year old chief judge of the Northern District of California since 2004. He did not offer a reason.

Acting Moscow mayor Vladimir Resin (replacing the fired Yuri Luzhkov) said he will continue the policy of not authorizing gay pride parades in the Russian capital, that despite a purported parade to take place this Friday permitted by the prefecture of the Moscow Central District intended to protest Swiss Airlines after the carrier removed Russia’s most prominent gay rights activist Nikolai Alekseev from a flight to Geneva and turned him over to authorities who held him against his will for days. According to Interfax, Resin said Wednesday “I don’t support that. None of them have contacted me.”

Ronnie Kroell, the smoking star of Make Me a Supermodel and of a Playgirl spread, asks particular profound question: “Why during the most crucial stages of the Equality Movement, are garbage shows like A-List NYC being made? EPIC FAIL.”

Brad Goreski and Rachel Zoe have parted ways – amicably, according to People magazine. The 33 year old said “I love Rachel and she’s taught me everything I know. But there’s a point where either I do it now or I’ll never know what it’s like to spread my wings and soar.” Rachel, stating the obvious, said “No one’s ever going to be Brad to me.”

Smoking sexy shirtless man-flesh from the Vampire Diaries.

Shirtless smoking sexy Ryan McPartlin from Monday’s Chuck.

18 Year Old Gay Rutgers Undergraduate Tyler Clementi Commits Suicide After Two Fellow Students Record Him Having Sex In Dorm Room And Broadcasting It Over Internet, Despite Seven Suicides In Lat Year Including Four Gay Students Minnesota School District Refuses To Change Neutrality Policy

1010 WINS New York on 18 year old Tyler Clementi, a gay Rutgers University student who was allegedly secretly taped having sex in his dorm room, and who leapt to his death off the George Washington Bridge last week, his car and wallet found nearby. Two fellow Rutgers undergraduates – Dharun Ravi and Molly Wei – both 18 years old – have been charged with two counts of invasion of privacy after they allegedly placed a camera in Clementi’s room, recording and transmitting a sexual encounter over the internet. Under New Jersey privacy law, it is a crime to transmit or view images that depict nudity or sexual content with an individual without that person’s consent, both of the suspects freed on bail facing a sentence of up to five years in jail. Late Wednesday, an attorney for the Clementi family confirmed that Tyler took his life, his body yet to be found.

Pioneer Press reports on a meeting Monday at the Anoka-Hennepin School District in Minnesota, a district where seven students have committed suicide in the last year, including four reportedly victims of anti-gay discrimination. Justin Anderson, a graduate of Blaine High School in the spring of 2010, told the meeting he considered suicide, a gay man overwhelmed by a hostile environment, told that gays were disgusting, their actions sinful. “I never heard any one teacher or student speak out against it,” Anderson said. “I became depressed ... I would think tonight’s the night I’m going to (commit suicide). Tammy Aaberg attended Monday’s meeting, her 15 year old son Justin killing himself this July after coming out to his parents six months before, after being rushed to the hospital in January, having stabbed himself in the stomach, himself a victim of harassment at Anoka High School, whose authorities and staff did nothing to intervene. Monday, Aaberg and others called on the district to change the policy which suggests that “staff must remain neutral on issues of sexual orientation” and go about create a climate where all students feel safe and supportive. The district reading from a prepared statement said the neutrality policy encourages faculty and staff to intervene when they see students being harassed, and added that the district makes exhaustive efforts to eliminate hostile environments in classrooms, Superintendent Dennis Carlson saying “We are advocates for students when it comes to their learning, safety and well-being.” In the summer of 2009, the Minnesota Human Rights Department ruled that two teachers in the Anoka-Hennepin district made inappropriate remarks that implied a 11th-grade student was gay, the district agreeing to pay the student’s family $25,000 in a settlement, the teachers ordered to undergo sensitivity training and placed in unpaid leave.

Bishop Eddie Long Accuser Jamal Parrish Speaks Out And Paints Picture Of Grotesque Systematic Abuse, Church Of Jesus Christ Of Latter-day Saints Elder Apologizes For Pain Proposition 8 Involvement Brought, Minnesota Catholics Collect Anti-Gay Marriage DVDS Demanding Church Focus On Concrete Social Issues Like Homelessness

Fox-5 talks with Jamal Parrish, one of the four men filing suit against New Birth Missionary Baptist Bishop Eddie Long alleging sexual coercion, Parrish telling a tale of an overt abuse of authority and manipulation by Bishop Long who preyed on the young men in the most grotesque manner imaginable. “You finally have a father that you’ve always wanted for and always dreamed of,” said Parrish. “He would just walk away from you if you don’t give him what he wants. So you end up turning into something you never thought you would be, which is now a slave to a man that you love. So, while the media and the rest of the people around the city, around the country look at us like how could grown men let another man touch him, what you have to understand is this man has manipulated us since childhood. This was our father and we loved him.” Parrish also directly addressed Bishop Long, saying “Why you can sit in front of the church and tell them that you categorically deny it. You can’t say that to our face. And you know this. You are not a man, you are a monster.”

Sunday, September 19th, an estimated 90 members of Oakland, California diocese of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints met with Elder Marlin K. Jensen, LDS historian and prominent member of the General Authorities, the church’s hierarchy, according to a report from Religion Dispatches an opportunity for Elder Jensen to hear the hurt felt by families in the area over the Mormon Church’s unprecedented involvement in promoting and passing Proposition 8. “During the one-hour meeting, thirteen gay and straight Mormons came to the microphone. Many expressed their love for the faith, as well as the profound pain caused by the LDS Church actions towards gays and lesbians. Gay Mormons recalled years of prayer and fasting, attempted heterosexual marriages promising to ‘cure’ them, and Church-prescribed aversion therapy. Gay and straight Mormons spoke of how their families and neighbours had been divided by the Yes on 8 campaign. And some expressed their anger over the Church’s leading role in a political campaign that gave California and the Mormon community a ‘license to hate’ homosexuals.” Elder Jensen the apologized, telling those in attendance “To the full extent of my capacity, I say that I am sorry ... I know that many very good people have been deeply hurt, and I know that the Lord expects better of us.” The source – Religion Dispatches – tries to frame the meeting and Jensen’s response as something bigger, writing with an obvious optimistic stance that “It was not, to be sure, an apology for Proposition 8 itself. It was not a renunciation of Mormon doctrine on homosexuality. But it was a significant acknowledgment of the experience of gay Mormons and their allies, an instance of dialogue between Church leadership and membership. It was, in short, a reason for hope.”

The Minnesota Tribune on the launch Monday on ReturnTheDVD.org, a site started by a group of Catholic Minnesotans to protest a DVD drafted and distributed by the Catholic Church throughout the state supporting a ban on gay marriages, defending traditional marriage, the Church denying accusations that the DVD is in any way a politically statement. According to Paul Lipetzky, of St. Louis Park, a life-long devout Catholic, the DVD, mailed to at least 400,000 Catholic homes beginning Wednesday is “misguided,” saying “We just disagree that this is a priority. It’s really not a matter we should be about as compassionate Christians. I think we should stress inclusiveness and the poor and people in need.” The group intends to collect the DVDs and return them to the offices Minneapolis/St. Paul Archbishop John Nienstedt (who, despite proclamations that this campaign is not political, contends that a constitutional amendment banning gay marriage is needed) asking the Archbishop to focus on homelessness instead of “misguided priorities.”

13 Year Seth Walsh Dies Ten Days After Suicide Attempt; Bullied For Years For Being Gay

A sad update on a previous post, the Tehachapi News reporting that Seth Walsh, the 13 year old Tehachapi, California, who hung himself from the a tree in his backyard after years of being bullied and tormented at school for being gay, died Tuesday afternoon, nine days after falling into a coma. Tehachapi police, according to a report, interviewed some of those who taunted Seth September 19th, the day he attempted suicide, and determined that despite their ridicule, their actions do not comprise a crime, Tehachapi Police Chief Jeff Kermode saying “Several of the kids that we talked to broke down into tears. They had never expected an outcome such as this.” Judy Walsh, Seth’s grandmother said “He died as yesterday afternoon. He passed away a natural death. He is in the process of being an organ donor.” Judy has repeatedly appealed for forgiveness and tolerance within Tehachapi, saying “We are hoping the community will develop more tolerance for different people. He was different. He knew he was different. He was a very long boy, very kind. He had a beautiful smile. He liked fashion, his friends, talking on the phone. He was artistic and bright.” She added that no one individual is to blame for the young man’s death, and appealed for kindness toward one another and for the community to reject anger and vengeance. “We all let him down,” she said. “It’s not any one person’s fault, or one individual.” A memorial service is scheduled for Friday at 3:30 pm, at which time the family intends to celebrate Seth’s short life. Below is a video created by Seth’s sister that was uploaded while he was in the hospital on life support.

GLAAD Survey Confirms True Blood Gayest Television Series

The Gay & Lesbian Alliance Against Defamation released its 15 annual “Where We Are On TV” study, an exhaustive examination of scripted LGBT primetime characters in the 2010/2011 television season on network and cable, HBO’s True Blood found to be the most inclusive program, the Alan Ball created series featuring six regular and recurring LGBT characters. The report reveals that LGBT characters account for 3.9-percent of all 587 characters in 84 scripted series in the 2010 fall network television season, an increase from the 3-percent recorded last year, GLAAD President Jarrett Barrios said “The increase in lesbian, gay, and bisexual characters on primetime television not only reflects the shift in American culture towards greater awareness and understanding of our community, but also a new industry standard that a growing number of creators and networks are adopting. The recent critical and commercial success of shows like Modern Family and Glee clearly indicate that mainstream audiences embrace gay characters and want to see well-crafted stories about our lives.” For the fifth consecutive year, ABC continued to lead other broadcast networks in LGBT representation, offering 11 LGBT characters our of 152 series regular characters. ABC Family also performed well, with seven series regular LGBT characters. CBS remained last with only one LGBT character out of 125 series regulars.

Indianapolis Mayor Investigates Why Family-Run Just Cookies Refused To Honour Request For Rainbow-Coloured Cupcakes; Radio Show Initiates First-Ever Annual Gay Cupcake Party, Gang Leader Who Ordered Murder Of Member Suspected To Be Gay Sentenced To Life Without Parole, Utah Pride Hosts Family Acceptance Conference, Michael Steger Wanted To Play Gay, Ryan Buell On Accepting Bisexuality, Jake Gyllenhaal New Beard, Ryan Gosling, Kellan Lutz Shirtless Basketball

An update on a previous post, WXIN-59 reporting that the Indianapolis office of the mayor and a local radio show are responding to a complaint that Just Cookies refused to honour a request by a LGBT group from the Indiana University-Purdue University to create rainbow-coloured cupcakes to mark National Coming Out Day. Last week Just Cookies owner David Stockton said he refused the order because “we’re a family run business and we have two young impressible daughters.” A spokesperson for Mayor Greg Ballard, a Republican, said “It’s unacceptable. They are in the City Market, it’s an equal accommodations establishment.” Meanwhile Radio Now’s The Scotty Show announced they are hosting the 1st Annual Gay Cupcake Party Friday, October 1st, afternoon DJ “Rayne” saying “It was definitely one of those things that hit home, you know our position with the gay community is so strong, we definitely want to be a part of it as much as we can, this had to be brought to light.”

The Baltimore Sun on 24 year old Timothy E. Rawlings Jr. who was sentence Tuesday to life in prison without parole, Rawlings the leader of the gang 92 Family Swans (and a father of a 3 year old boy) who ordered Steven Parrish killed because Parrish was perceived to be gay. Baltimore County Circuit Judge Robert N. Dugan sentenced Rawlings saying that the killing was “senseless, brutal, unprovoked, cold-blooded, premeditated murder” and that he “ordered this murder with the same casual attitude of someone walking into a fast-food restaurant and ordering one of the specials off the menu.” At trial five months ago, Rawlings was found guilty of first-degree murder, conspiracy to commit murder, and two hate crimes in connection with killing of Parrish May 29th, 2008, who was 18 at the time, and was stabbed, beaten, his head stomped. Prosecutors showed that Rawlings ordered that two men kill Parrish after discovering that he had exchanged salacious phone messages with another man.

The Utah Pride Center will host its first Family Acceptance Regional Conference October 8th through the 10th, the conference according to the Salt Lake Tribune “aims to address risks, such as depression and homelessness, faced by many lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender youths by training family members and mental health providers. In 2009, 42-percent of those surveyed at the Homeless Youth Resource Center in Salt Lake identified as LGBT.

Ryan Buell, host of A&E’s Paranormal State who came out as bisexual tells AfterElton.com that the hardest thing about coming out as bisexual is that so few inside and outside the gay community believe it exists.

30 year old Michael Steger tells HollywoodLife.com that when 90210 producers announced one of the three main male characters would come out, Steger wanted it to be his character, saying “I think I would have approached it organically and honestly. I would have been excited”

E! reports on Jake Gyllenhaal and his new beard.

A tight-jeaned Ryan Gosling on the set of Drive, a film slated for release in 2011 co-starring Bryan Cranston, Carey Mulligan, and Christina Hendricks.

Kellan Lutz and his roommate Dickey Doo (his real name) play a game of pickup basketball Tuesday in front of their shared Van Nuys home, shirtless, natch.

Gay 13 Year Old Asher Brown Shoots Himself In The Head After Suffering Years Of Unchecked Harassment At School; School And School District Denies Any And All Culpability

It is hard not to understate how horrific the Houston Chronicle report that 13 year old Asher Brown, an eighth grade straight-A student at Hamilton Middle School in Cypress, Texas took his own life last week is, the young man with the mile-wide smile shooting himself in the head after enduring constant harassment and torment from other students, “bullied to death” his parents say all because he was gay. According to the Chronicle, Brown was found on the floor on his stepfather, David Truongs’ closet at the family’s home around 4:30 pm Thursday, September 23rd, using his stepfather’s 9mm Beretta to kill himself. That morning he came out to Mr. Trurong, who said he was as supportive as the moment allowed, saying “We didn’t condemn it.” His parents tell a tale of chronic cruelty that went unchecked by those who were meant to protect the boy, saying that Asher had been called names, routinely harassment, and tormented from fellow students since he enrolled in the Cypress-Fairbanks Independent School District run school two years ago, the latest incident occurring the Wednesday before he took his own life, another student tripping Brown as he walked down a flight a stairs at the school, the boy hitting the stairway landing, while another student kicked his books everywhere, and proceeded to kick Asher down the remaining flights of stairs. His parents say they made several visits to the school to complain about the harassment, and his mother Amy says she made repeated phone calls that were never returned. Monday, Cypress-Fairbanks Independent School District denied having received any complaints from Brown’s parents, district spokesperson Kelli Durham saying no students, school employees, or the boy’s parents ever reported any incidents of bullying. That statement has rightly infuriated Mr. and Mrs. Truong, Amy saying “That’s absolutely inaccurate – it’s completely false. I did not hallucinate phone calls to counsellors and assistant principals. We have no reason to make this up ... it’s like they’re calling us liars.” David Truong added “We want justice. The people here need to be held responsible and to be stopped. It did happen. There are witnesses everywhere.” Funeral services for Brown are Saturday.

Bozeman City Council Passes Resolution Supporting Seven Same Sex Couples Suing Montana For Full Marriage Equality

Bozeman City Council Monday night unanimously approved a resolution supporting the seven same sex couples suing the state of Montana for marriage equality, Bozeman becoming the first city in the state to adopt such a stance, the Bozeman Daily Chronicle reports. Bozeman city commissioners intend to forward their resolution to the governor, attorney general, and state legislators, Mayor Jeff Krauss saying “This is an opportunity to lead. It’s an opportunity to convince those individuals – those open-minded individuals – to respect the minority.”Monday’s meeting was attended by an estimate 50 citizens, at least 15 people on either side of the issue addressing council prior to the vote. Rick Vaught, opposed to the resolution, said that the city and its elected officials “needs a reality check,” and that homosexuality is an epidemic that breeds sexually transmitted disease, drug addiction, and paganism, adding “Jesus did not die on the cross for you and me to set our own rules. City commission – stand against God if you will, but be assured you will not stand very long.” The resolution approved by the commission Monday states that “although the ‘marriage amendment’ in the Montana Constitution precludes same-sex marriage, it does not preclude same-sex couples from having the same fundamental rights of equal protection, individual dignity, privacy, due process and the pursuit of life’s basic necessities guaranteed to all Montanans under the Montana Constitution’s Declaration of Rights.” Mayor Krauss, who son plays football with the son of one the seven same couples suing the state, sponsored the effort to compose and pass the resolution, and said, despite his often conservative view, he did so because he believes that government, at all levels, is intended to protect individual rights of all citizens.

Beijing Authorities Arrest, Hold In Custody At Least 80 Men In Public Park Sex Sweep

The Associated Press reports that Beijing police raided a popular gay meeting place in a public park in the capital city’s Haidian district, an estimated 80 men taken into custody Saturday and Sunday nights, Guo Ziyang, a gay rights activist said. Ziyang, the project manager with the Beijing Working Group of Gay movement, a non-governmental group that advocates for gay equality said that during the raids – arriving ahead of China’s National Day holiday this Friday – the men were taken to a police station, questioned, and asked to show their identification cards. He added he was told some of the men were made to take blood tests. The Global Times newspaper quoted Zi Xiangdong, a spokesperson for Beijing’s Public Security Bureau, who said that the raids were a part of the city’s annual security inspection ahead of the National Day holiday, although he would not or could not say what, if any laws the men were suspected of violating. United States-based Chinese AIDS activist Wan Yanjhai, the founder of the Beijing Aizhixing Institute, said his organization “strongly condemned” the raids, calling them “extremely rude, violent and lacking in legal basis. He called on the police to issue an apology and to release the men, of all whom remain in police custody.

Michigan High School Bans Transgender Senior From Running As Homecoming King; American Civil Liberties Union Intend To Intercede, Indiana Youth Group Files Complaint Against Bureau Of Motor Vehicle, Minnesota Evangelicals Support Catholic Church Opposition To Same Sex Marriages, Atlanta Gay Community Contends Bishop Eddie Long Doth Protest Too Much, Wear A Little Adam Lambert, Survivor Shannon Elkins Says He Is Not A Homophobe But Wants To Protect Butthole, Tom Hardy Helps Vancouver Homeless, Chris Hemsworth

Some seniors at Mona High Shores High School in Muskegon, Michigan say administrators stole the homecoming king crown from the rightful winner – Oakleigh Reed or Oak, a transgendered student, that according to Wood-TV. Assistant Superintendent Todd Geerlings is quoted saying that the issue is a simple one, since the ballots offered only two choice – vote a boy for king and vote a girl for queen, and according to Geerlings the 17 year old Oak is still listed as a female. Oak, who is an honour student, campaigned for one day on Facebook to for the title of homecoming king, earning an overwhelming majority of the votes, although the school now disputes the final results since they contend the voting was suspended. Last Monday, Oak says that the principal “told me that they took me off because they had to invalidate all of my votes because I’m enrolled at Mona Shores as a female.” The American Civil Liberties Union may take legal action on behalf of Oak, and his fellow students have launched another Facebook campaign demanding reparation as well as planning a protest October 1st. Meanwhile his mothers says “He was voted for homecoming king and, according to the votes, he should have been homecoming king, and it’s just sad, and it breaks my heart that all these people all voted and it was taken away, it was completely taken away from him.” Late Monday, the ACLU said it wanted to intercede on Oakleigh’s behalf, Jay Kaplan, an attorney saying that the incident “raises some concern about how the school has chosen to treat people based on gender.”

Courthouse News updates a previous post, the Indiana Youth Group, a non-profit organization that supports young individuals “who self-identify as gay, lesbian, bisexual, transgender, or questioning their sexual identities” filed a federal lawsuit against the state Bureau of Motor Vehicles claiming discrimination and a violation of First Amendment right to free speech, the BMV denying an application by the IYG two consecutive years for a special license plate.

WCCO on a coalition on evangelical ministers who gathered Monday in Plymouth, Minnesota there to show support for a 12-minute DVD produced and distributed by the Catholic Church called “Marriage: Unique for a Reason, part of national campaign organized by the United States Council of Catholic Bishops demonizing gay marriage. Pastor Jim Anderson said that “A strong and documented case can be made for society being harmed by too much same-sex marriage. Natural marriage poses no danger to society, no matter how pervasive.”

According to Atlanta’s CBS, the city’s gay community angered at allegations made against New Birth Missionary Baptist Bishop Eddie Long, four sexual coercion lawsuits filed against the anti-gay marriage preacher. Philip Rafshoon, the owner of Outwrite Bookstore, asking “Why would anyone spend so much time and energy fighting gays? Why is it so important to them? Perhaps they have something to hide.”

Adam Lambert, according to HollywoodNews.com, has had his second tattoo of an infinity symbol has been made into a pendant to be sold for charity, Lambert saying “My infinity tattoo really represents what life is like for me at this stage. It’s all about energy and the energy I get from my fans. When I am on stage and the fans feed me their enthusiastic energy, I am able to feed off of it and give it right back to them ... It’s all about the energy flow. With the money from this pendant going to Donors Choose, it will be a great help to the students in need, so thank you.”

Survivor: Nicaragua resident homophobe (and massive closet case) Shannon Elkins, who tried to out fellow contestant Sash during a Tribal Council last week, offers an awkward (and equally offensive) explanation, telling FancastNews.com that “I’m not a homophobe ... As far as the gay bashing, I didn’t bash any gays. I didn’t say, ‘I hate gays.’ I didn’t say, ‘Gays are stupid.’ I stereotype, my brother. It’s like the show Waterboy, people think we ride airboats to work, we have no teeth, and we wrestle alligators for a living. Well people from Louisiana think people from New York are either in the mob or gay. I stereotype like everybody else stereotypes. I was concerned that he was gay and I was protecting my butthole ... I don’t have to ask Sash if he’s gay. Look at the kid, he gay.”

Tom Hardy spotted in Vancouver, British Columbia, speaking with a homeless man and his dog, the hotness that is Hardy giving the man an autograph and money.

Chris Hemsworth was seen Saturday night at an opening at the Los Angeles County Museum of Art.

3M Donates $100,000 To Anti-Gay Political Action Committee MN Forward

Following in the footsteps of Target and Best Buy, 3M, another Minnesota-based corporation contributed $100,000 to MN Forward, an anti-gay political action committee campaigning for Republican gubernatorial candidate Tom Emmer, the Minnesota Independent reports. 3M has historically been progressive and supportive of lesbian, gay, bisexual, and transgendered rights, the Human Rights Campaign awarded the company a 100-percent rating on their Corporate Equality Index and a perfect rating on their Buying for Equality guide, similar to those earned by both Best Buy and Target. The donation to MN Forward was revealed last Wednesday through campaign finance disclosures, a 3M spokesperson saying “That donation is about advancing public policy that will foster a more competitive business environment,” echoing a similar sentiment spoke by both Best Buy and Target, all of whom claimed to be politically active in an effort to sponsor sound business policy, and not an overt stance of support for a specific candidate and/or social issue. To date, according to the Minnesota Independent, “response from progressive organizations has been muted compared to the reaction against Target’s donation. Some have called for boycotts, and a petition was started on Change.org though it has only garnered around 200 signatures at the time this article was posted. The two organizations at the forefront of the Target boycott – MoveOn.org and the HRC – have remained largely mute of the further corporate donations to MN Forward.

National Organization For Marriage Files Suit Against Florida And Maine Claiming Campaign Laws Chill Free Speech Right, New Yorkers March For Marriage Equality, London Michelin Starred Dim Sum Restaurant Subject Of Sexual Harassment Suit By Gay Waiter Claiming His Nipples Were Source Of Constant Unwelcomed Attention, 11 Year Old Tyler Wilson Wants To Be Cheerleader But Two Classmates Broke His Arm, Is Darren Criss Cast As Chris Colfer’s Glee Boyfriend?

Courthouse News reports that the vehemently anti-gay marriage political action committee National Organization for Marriage filed a federal suit against Florida, claiming that the state’s campaign law unconstitutionally limits its right to free speech. The non-profit, which claims to be non-partisan, says it should be excused from “a panoply of burdens: including registrations, recordkeeping and extensive reporting requirements” because adhering with those burdens “would simply not be worth it.” The complaint states that NOM intends to spend $5,000 in Florida to publish advertisements on radio, television, by direct mail and on the Internet against candidates for the Florida Legislature who support same sex marriage legislation, the organization saying “NOM does not wish to reveal the candidates’ names in this complaint, because it does not wish to divulge its strategy at this early date.” NOM argues that with court intervention (the irony) the Florida Secretary of State will employ the state’s campaign law to stymie its efforts. Nom filed similar suits in Maine, as well as California and New York.

The New York Daily News on a protest Sunday attended by an estimated 300 hundred proponents of same sex marriage equality in Manhattan’s Foley Square, angry at the absence of action by state legislators in passing a law affording gays and lesbians the right to marry. Brian Silva, the events director of Marriage Equality New York, the lead organizer of the march, said “The love, families and relationships of all New Yorkers deserve to be treated equally under the law,” while Manhattan Borough President Scott Stinger told the crowd that the lack of marriage equality “is a New York state disgrace.”

The Independent on a seemingly odd incident at a Michelin starred Chinese restaurant in London’s Soho area, 31 year old openly gay waiter Vincent Ma, a former employee at Yauatcha, filing a lawsuit alleging workplace discrimination, arguing he was the victim of homophobic abuse and harassment by both staff and customers. In the complaint, Ma, who is diabetic, says “I was losing weight and, due to the tightness of the company uniform, a black T-shirt, my body figure was being shown. On one occasion, my nipples were popped out due to low temperature and one manager said to me it was sexy.” On another occasion he says his nipples were pinched by a gay customer, and when he complained to the duty manager, the response was “Do you like it?” Ma says “My loss of weight leads me to look attractive, but it brought me troubles as I suffered from sexual harassment from some duty manager. I can’t tolerate their actions when it becomes frequent and aggressive: I was the centre of the world that everyone makes jokes on.”

From WTOL-11 in Toledo, Ohio news that two 11 year old Glenwood Middle School students were charged late last week, one with felonious assault, the other with assault in connection to an attack August 31st on Tyler Wilson, a 11 year old classmate, beat up, his arm broken in the incident, because he successfully tried out for the cheerleading squad of the Findlay Steelers. The two boys allegedly taunted Tyler prior to the assault. Tyler, who, at 11, is remarkably secure, said “I think it’s kind of sad because they won’t accept me for who I am. I think they’re jealous ... that I get to hang around a bunch of girls.” Tyler’s mother Kristy, who wants the two assailants prosecuted to the fullest extent of the law, added “Boy or girl, the boys and girls put a lot of time into supporting their teams and they deserve respect. That it’s not right to treat people like that. Whatever choices people make to do with their life, that’s their choice.” The football team, the Findlay Steelers, by the way, fully support Tyler, who may require surgery to repair his broken arm.

Darren Criss, who played Matt Dallas’ brother on Eastwick, has been cast as Blaine, a new character on Glee, described as a cute and charismatic gay student from a rival glee club called the Dalton Academy Warblers, and as Entertainment Weekly reports, that news has many speculating that Criss, and not cute Chord Overstreet will be the much discussed first boyfriend of Chris Colfer’s Kurt Hummel.

Two Of Five Maine Gubernatorial Candidate Support Same Sex Marriage, Ann Coulter To Gays: Marriage “Not A Civil Right – You’re Not Black,” Zachary Quinto Angels In American Photo Call, Book Claims Humphrey Bogart Worried He Was Gay, Criminal Minds Star Kirsten Vangsness To Wed Girlfriend, Kellan Lutz Parties For PETA, Trevor Donovan Pink Party

WBZ-38 reports that Maine Democratic gubernatorial candidate Libby Page and independent gubernatorial candidate Eliot Cutler both say they support efforts to recognize same sex marriages, Mitchell saying “Yes, I will continue to lead on this issue until Maine ends discrimination in our marriage laws. It is a matter of human fairness and constitutional fairness and it is past time for Maine to adopt marriage equality.” Cutler too said he strongly supports same sex marriages “as a matter of equal protection under the law,” adding “I don’t believe that religion should be making laws for government, or that government should be making laws for religion.” Republican Paul LePage, currently considered the front runner in the race, just ahead of Mitchell, said he could not support same sex marriage, and changes to bring about marriage equality, saying “I support and trust the voters’ decision to keep the current law defining marriage as the sacred union of one man and one woman.” Maine Democrat Governor John Baldacci signed into law a gay marriage bill passed by both the state House and Senate in May, 2009, however a voter referendum passed on November 3rd, 2009 effectively eliminated that right. The state still offers domestic partnerships.

Ben Smith at Politico.com reports on Homocon – a GOProud organized fundraising event held at the Manhattan apartment of openly gay PayPal founder Peter Thiel, and attended, prominently, by Ann Coulter, a controversial choice since Coulter’s causal anti-gay rhetoric is on record, including calling former Democrat presidential candidate a “faggot.” Coulter Tuesday - as she is want to do – explained her hate and ignorance as humour, saying “The people who get gay jokes are gays,” adding that when she addressed a Christian crowd “Out of sweetness they don’t laugh at the gay jokes.” Coulter reiterated GOProud’s contention that gay marriage is not a fundamental right, and therefore not a critical issue, unlike the economy and national security, Coulter saying that marriage “is not a civil right – you’re not black,” referencing that gay men and women are among the wealthiest in the country. “Blacks,” she said, “must be looking at the gays saying, ‘Why can’t we be oppressed like that?’” Coulter said that “Right wingers have always liked gays. Look at all of Ronald Reagan’s gay friends. Look at my personal hero Joe McCarthy and his quote unquote ‘special assistant.’”

A photo call via Broadway World of the New York City revival of Tony Kushner’s Angels In America, which has been in previews since September 14th, opens October 28th, and is set to run until February 20th, 2011, the production starring Zachary Quinto and Robin Weigert.

The Daily Mail on a new biography titled Bogart: The Making of a Legend, which claims Humphrey Bogart feared he was gay. Darwin Porter says that during Bogart’s second marriage to actress Mary Philips, he was impotent, questioned his sexuality, and was consumed with suicidal thoughts, the author Darwin Porter writing that Bogart confided in a friend “If only Mary didn’t make it worse. When I can’t perform she mocks me and ridicules me. I should never have married her,” and alleged confessed to another friend contemplating suicide, Bogart saying “But I never get beyond the thinking stage. I just can’t see myself taking a razor to my throat.” Bogart, who died in 1957 at the age of 57 from cancer, also, according to the book, bedded thousands of women before marrying Philips.

E! reports that Criminal Minds star Kirsten Vangsness (who will star in the show’s spinoff Criminal Minds: Suspect Behaviour) intends to marry fiancée Melanie Goldstein in the year 2013, regardless of whether gay marriage is legal in America at that time. “We’ve come to the conclusion that we’re going to do it in 2013 – no matter what,” says Vangsness. “Melanie wants us to go to every place that it’s legal and just collect marriage certificates from places like Sweden and Mexico like people collect Disney pins. We want to put up a whole wall of them.”

Kellan Lutz spotted Saturday evening at the PETA 30th Anniversary Gala and Humanitarian Award ceremony at the Hollywood Palladium.



Trevor Donovan – delicious as always, spotted attending the Pink Party Saturday.

New Birth Missionary Baptist Bishop Addresses Ambivalently Sexual Coercion Allegations Telling Congregation “I’m Under Attack”

Embattled head of the New Birth Missionary Baptist Church Bishop Long for the first time publically addressed allegations he sexual coerced young men into in having inappropriate sexual relationships, according to the Atlanta Journal-Constitution, telling the congregation of thousands Sunday morning that “I am not going to try this case in the media, it will be tried in the court of justice and decided in the court of justice. Please hear this: I’ve been accused. I’m under attack. I want you to know as I said earlier I am not a perfect man ... But this thing I’m going to fight. I feel like David against Goliath, but I’ve got five rocks and I haven’t thrown one yet.” Never actually denying the allegations – or even directly acknowledging the four lawsuits filed this week against the bishop this past week by young men alleging that at time when they turned to the bishop for guidance and support, he abused his position of authority, sexually abusing the four under the auspice of a religious experience. Immediately following the first Sunday service, Long held a brief news conference, accompanied by his wife, the bishop did not take questions, instead saying “On the advice of counsel, I am not going to address the allegations and the attacks. I want this to be dealt with in the court of justice not the court of public opinion. I am going to fight. Fight very vigorously. Things New Birth has stood for ... we will continue to do.” Long will address a second service this morning, however the press will not be permitted access,

Bishop Eddie Long Had Boys From LongFellows Youth Academy Carry Sex Self-Check Cards; Long Will Address New Birth Missionary Baptist Congregation Twice Sunday, Archbishop Of Canterbury Says Previous Posture Opposing Openly Gay Clergy An Untruth

The Associated Press reporting that New Birth Missionary Baptist Bishop Eddie Long, accused by four young men of sexual coercion, used a program at the LongFellows Youth Academy as a “rite of passage,” teaching the boys about interest rates, Social Security, and sexual control, demanding that they carry a card listing three things they could do instead of have sex. The Academy trains an estimated 100 students during a four month session for $500 per person, Long and a board of advisers including Baltimore Ravens linebacker Ray Lewis creating a daunting program meant to act as an exercising of the mind and body, as well as taking a vow of sexual purity, the young men carrying a “SEX Self-Check Card” at all times listing their vision for life, a favourite scripture, and “3 thing you could be doing instead of having sex.” In a promotional video since removed after the lawsuits were filed, Long states “Our methodology here at LongFellows is to invade and bring about a culture with these young men that they start believing in a standard that they have something that they hold to, that they never give up or never give in, do the things that they are ordained to do.” Long, through attorneys, has steadfastly denied all allegations, and will address the congregation at NBMB Sunday, twice, with additional security being brought in.

Archbishop of Canterbury Rowan Williams tells the Times of London, according to the Guardian that his previous opposition to openly gay clergy was in fact an assumed conservative stance meant at the time to protect the Anglican Church, and neither an accurate nor truthful presentation of his personal view, telling the Times “I think if I were to say my job was not to be true to myself that might suggest that my job required me to be dishonest and if that were the case then I’d be really worried. I am not elected on a manifesto to further this agenda or that. I have to be someone who holds the reins for the whole debate. To put it very simply, there’s no problem about a gay person who’s a bishop. It’s about the fact that there are traditionally, historically, standards that the clergy are expected to observe. So there’s a question about the personal life of the clergy.”

Ten States Including Wyoming File Amicus Brief Opposing Judge Vaughn Walker Ruling That Gay Marriage Fundamental Right

Wyoming, and nine other states filed a legal brief Friday arguing that a federal court “exceeded its judicial authority” when it ruled in August that the United States Constitution requires legal marriage to include same sex couples, the Casper Star-Tribune reports Saturday. The amicus brief filed with the 9th United States Court of Appeals criticized Judge Vaughn Walker’s ruling striking down California’s Proposition 8, the voter passed ban that amended the state’s constitution to define marriage as that only existing between one man and one woman, Walker writing that “moral disapproval” was not sufficient to ban gays and lesbians the fundamental right to marry. The case is currently on appeal, and attorneys for both the plaintiffs and defendants expect it to reach the United States Supreme Court. Alabama, Florida, Idaho, Indiana, Louisiana, Michigan, South Caroline, Utah, and Virginia are the other states to join the 39-page brief, which argues that same sex marriage is not a fundamentally guaranteed rights, questions the legal grounds of the decision, and maintains that individual states, not the federal court system, holds the final determination regarding whether to allow gay marriage. Perhaps most troubling, the brief also argues that Walker’s definition of marriage as a the state’s approval of a couple’s choice to live with, commit to, and form a household and economic partnership with each other is a “staggeringly broad” definition that could lead to polyamorous or non-sexual marriages, stating “If public affirmation of anyone or everyone’s personal love and commitment is the single purpose of marriage, a limitless number of rights claims could be set up to evacuate the term marriage of any meaning.” The amicus brief does not necessary suggest that the states are joining the lawsuit, but rather expressing a volunteered opinion, however Jason Marsden of the Matthew Shepard Foundation, said it was “very puzzling” that Wyoming Attorney General Bruce Salzburg opted to participate given that in 2009 the Wyoming Legislature defeated a resolution to ban recognition of gay marriages performed in other states. “I thought it’d be pretty clear that the legislative branch, at least, doesn’t want to send this kind of message of lack of acceptance to its gay and lesbian citizens. But the attorney general appears to have taken another direction,” said Marsden.

13 Year Old Tehachapi California Boy In Critical Condition After Attempting To Hang Himself; Said To Have Been Routinely Bullied For Being Gay, Kimberly Pierce, Lindsay Lohan Granted Bail, Sam Page, Kellan Lutz

13 year old Seth Walsh is in critical condition, in an ICU unit since Sunday, in an induced coma after he apparently tried to take his own life, the Tehachapi News reports. Walsh is a student at Jacobsen Middle School and was reportedly bullied repeatedly because he identifies as gay. Tehachapi, California Police Chief Jeff Kermode said “On Sunday, September 19th, at 6:24 p.m., Tehachapi officers were dispatched to a possible suicide. The location was a home on White Oak Drive. When they arrived they found a 13 year old male lying on his back unconscious and not breathing. Police officers began CPR until paramedics arrived. The boy was flown to Kern Medical Center by air ambulance. It appeared the 13 year old had hung himself from a tree branch in the back yard. The police department is investigating the circumstances that may have led him to attempt suicide.” Friday, the family issued a statement to the Tehachapi News asking for privacy, the message in part reading “Seth is a 13 year old kind-hearted boy whom is fighting for his life in a coma in ICU in critical condition. The circumstances which led to Seth’s current condition are neither his family’s nor his friend’s focus at this time. Seth’s family is simply requesting respect for their privacy, positive support and prayers for Seth!” The message also reads “A negative action ... by adults and children ... will not solve or help anyone!”

Kimberly Pierce, the director of Boys Don’t Cry and Stop-Loss, is set to direct Wicked Lovely, according to the Hollywood Reporter, a fantasy novel by Melissa Marr. The novel is the first of three focusing on a female teenager who can see the hidden faery world but courts danger when she falls in love with faery king. Casting has yet to be announced.

Lindsay Lohan is to be freed on $300,000 bail, according to the Los Angeles Times, Los Angeles County Superior Court Judge Patricia M. Schnegg blocking an earlier ruling by Judge Elden Fox ordering Lohan to spend at least 30 days in jail for violating the parameters of her probation. According to the reports that earlier ruling was regarded as novel way to bypass the Los Angeles County jail system’s early-release policy with a decision to keep the actress behind bars for the next month.

In New York, smoking sexy Sam Page spotted on the Gossip Girl set.



In Los Angeles, Kellan Lutz spotted at Toast getting a salad for lunch, loving his toothpick.

Judge Leighton Rules Margaret Witt Be Reinstated In The Air Force Reserve; Says Of Witt “You Will Provide The Best Evidence That Open Service Of Gays And Lesbians Will Have No Adverse Effect On Cohesion, Morale Or Readiness ...”

Late Friday, United States District Judge Ronald Leighton ruled that Spokane, Washington native Margaret Witt can be reinstated in the Air Force Reserves despite the ongoing ban on openly gay and lesbian service members. Leighton, according to the Spokesman Review, ruled that Witt’s rights were violated and that evidence offered during a six-day trial demonstrated that her unit, the 446th Air Evacuation Squadron, did not suffer any loss of cohesion or morale from her service or other known or suspected gays or lesbians among its ranks. On the contrary, Leighton said, morale deteriorated after her suspension and subsequent discharge for being a lesbian. “She should be reinstated at the earliest possible moment,” Leighton said. “I hope,” Leighton added, that you will request reinstatement with the Air Force Reserves and the 446th. You will provide the best evidence that open service of gays and lesbians will have no adverse effect on cohesion, morale or readiness on this or perhaps any Air Force or military unit.” After delivering his ruling, Leighton, who originally dismissed Witt’s suit, but the 9th United States Circuit Court of Appeals, sent back the case, told Witt she’s become a central figure in a “long-term and highly charged civil rights movement,” and that might prove stressful. Leighton reminded her of something she said during her testimony that he hoped she would remember: she was forced to tell her parents she was homosexual because she was filing the lawsuit that they provided “unfailing love and support’ for her. “Notwithstanding the victory you have attained here today, for yourself and for others, I would submit to you that the best thing to come out of all this tumult is still that love and support you receive from your family,” Leighton said. “You are truly blessed.” At the conclusion of his ruling, the courtroom broke into an extended applause.

Fourth Lawsuit Alleging Sexual Coercion Filed Against Bishop Eddie Long, Unconfirmed Reports Bishop Long Will Step Down As Head Of New Birth Missionary Baptist Church, Moscow Arbitration Court Rules Indirectly Against Anti-Gay Prefect In Closing Of City’s Oldest Gay Club, Dublin Gay Prom, Chris Evans And His Smoking Sexy Arms

The Atlanta Journal Constitution reports that yet another lawsuit has been filed against New Birth Missionary Baptist Bishop Eddie Long - the fourth since Tuesday – Spencer LeGrande claiming he was 17 years old when Long allegedly took the then teen to Nairobi, Kenya, supplied him with an Ambien, and then sexually assaulted him. A spokesperson for the NBMC, Art Franklin, said “Bishop Long categorically denies the charges. We believe that it is unfortunate the young men have chosen to take this course of action. The defense team will review the complaints and respond accordingly at the appropriate time and in the appropriate forum.”

There are reports – unconfirmed – that this weekend Bishop Long intends to remove himself from the leadership position. There is also growing concern that Long’s actions, if true, are not simply hypocritical and a grotesque abuse of authority, but also may result in the church being financially ruined beyond repair since the sexual coercion involved the use of church funds.

Gay Russia reports that the Moscow Arbitration Court ruled that the closing of the capital city’s oldest gay club in November, 2009 was illegal. The All Russian Blind Society, landlords renting the space that housed Body And Soul, said that they were pressured by the Prefect to terminate the leasing agreement or the public funding for the organization allotted by the city would be affected. The All Russian Blind Society changed the lock, preventing the club owner from accessing the premises. The Court ruled August 9th that the All Russian Blind Society breached the lease agreement, the ruling not appealed by either two parties. The closing of Body And Soul came after a campaign for morality against the club initiated by the Prefect of the Moscow’s North Administrative District, one Oleg Mitvol. Nicolai Alekseev, Russia’s most prominent gay rights advocate, said Tuesday that “Although technically, this is a case against the All Russian Blind Society which breached its lease agreement with the gay club, one can see it as an ideological defeat for the Prefect Mitvol, without him, the club would still operate. We supported the club Body and Soul from the very beginning and we can only be satisfied that justice is done, although this decision comes eight months after the club was closed.” In August, 2009, Prefect Mitvol banned a series of protests that were to occur in front of his office. Those bans have been appealed to the European Court of Human Rights.

From Gaelick.com a report on the upcoming second installation of the BeLonG To Gay Prom, to be held in Dublin Sunday, Oct24th, Michael Barron, the director of BeLonG To saying that the “Gay Prom 2010 is a celebration and coming out party for people of all ages. It’s a fabulous party, but not only that – it’s about our community supporting its young people to come out safely and to have all the same opportunities as other young people. We all know that traditional school Debs can be really difficult for LGBT young people, with many not going and still more not being able to bring a same-sex partner.”

Chris Evans spotted on the British set of Captain America via INF Daily, flashing his newly found guns, and by guns I refer to his ridiculously hot biceps. Wow!

Democratic Sponsor Of New Hampshire Gay Marriage Measure Fears Republican-Led Legislative Attack To Repeal Law, Parents Of Maine Transgendered Child Again Forced To File Human Rights Complaint, Libertarian Party Wants Gay Vote, Lindsay Lohan Denied Bail Ordered To Jail Until Late October, Nick Youngquest, Sexy Short Track Speed Skater Jorrit Oosetn

Portsmouth-Newington New Hampshire state Representative Jim Splaine, speaking to students Thursday in a family programs and policy class at the University of New Hampshire said that there is a Republican-led effort in the Legislature to repeal the state’s gay marriage measure, according to the SeacoastOnline.com. Splaine, a Democrat and sponsor of the gay marriage bill signed into law in June, 2009, said that three anti-gay marriage bills have already been filed, and that in primary voting last week seven Republicans supportive of gay marriage faced competition from more conservative GOP members, and that two of the seven were defeated. “You could well see there’s not going to be (the) votes we need to keep marriage from repeal,” he said. He added that “If you are supportive of this issue, you’re going to be part of this process. Testify. Send letters. Write letters to the editor.” To date, 1,155 same sex marriages have been performed in New Hampshire since the law came into effect January 1st, 2010. Splaine said “I think it’s unlikely that the effort to repeal will succeed. I think there’s a number of Republicans who will be on our side. But I am very fearful.”

On Monday, the Bangor Daily News reports that the Maine Human Rights Commission ruled the Orono Middle School unlawfully discriminated against a six-grade student during the 2008/2009 school year by barring the male-female transgender student the use of the girl’s bathroom. This is the same student whose parents filed the same discrimination complaint against Asa Adams Elementary School in Orono when the child was fifth-graders. That complaint resulted in the same ruling. Also Monday, the Human Rights Commission once again began talks about developing and implementing anti-discrimination standards specifically for schools under the Maine Human Rights Act.

The Wall Street Journal on an attempt by the Libertarian Party to court the gay vote, Party Chairman Mark Hinkle issuing a statement Thursday “President Obama and the Democrats had almost a year of complete control of the federal government. They could have repealed ‘don’t ask, don’t tell.’ They could have gotten rid of the Defense of Marriage Act. But they didn’t do either.” He added, drawing an interesting, if not analogy, that gays and lesbians “like abused spouses who keep returning to their aggressors” need to stop “handing their votes to the Democrats who abuse them.”

Lindsay Lohan has been ordered back to jail. The Los Angeles Times is reporting that the actress, who violated her probation when a report was produced “indicating a positive test for a controlled substance” was taken into custody Friday morning in a Los Angeles court without bail and sent to jail until apparently October 22nd, at which time Judge Elden Fox scheduled another court appearance.

Australian rugby hotness turned model hotness Nick Youngquest.

Meet 22 year old Jorrit Oosetn, a 22 year old short-track speed skate from the Netherlands and model, in an editorial Being magazine – A Quebec gay monthly. (NSFW)

Indiana Bureau Of Motor Vehicle Repeated Denies State Gay Youth Group Speciality License Plates So Group Backed By ACLU Files Suit, Indiana Bakery Refuses To Create Rainbow Coloured Cupcakes To Honour National Coming Out Day Because They Are “Family-Run,” Harvard University Will Continue To Bar ROTC From Campus Until Military Ends Policy Banning Openly Gay Service Members

The Indiana Youth Group – a state advocacy and support group for gay teens – is asked a federal judge to force the Bureau of Motor Vehicles to grant it a speciality license plate, the IYG twice denied in its request for speciality plate, arguing in the lawsuit filed Thursday that the BMV applies arbitrary and unconstitutional standards to approve or deny license plates to non-profits, according to a report from the Indianapolis Star. The lawsuit, filed by American Civil Liberties of Indiana, argues that the BMV has no clear protocol to evaluate plates, and is instead allowing unilateral discretion to the agency, and that discretion contradicts the First Amendment. A spokesperson for the BMV, Dennis Rosebrough, said that the process of application is an open and fair one, but that there is some subjectivity when determining whether a group’s request is in the “public interest.” He explained the Indiana Youth Group’s application was denied because it failed to provide evidence its services have a state-wide impact, and because it intended to use funds from the license plates to pay staff salaries, which violates state law. Speciality license plates can raise considerable funds for a group, as well as raise the public profile of sponsoring organizations. The Indiana Youth group was founded in 1987, and provides state-wide programs and support systems for gay, lesbian, bisexual, and transgender youth who are struggling with their identities. In 2006, the state Bureau of Motor Vehicles approved a speciality plate for “Choose Life,” sponsoring the Indiana Association of Pregnancy Centers, an organization that intends to persuade pregnant women to choose alternatives to abortion.

Also in Indiana, Indianapolis’ WXIN-59 reports on a local bakery that refused to honour a request to bake rainbow-coloured cupcakes to commemorate October’s “National Coming Out Day” by a LGBT student group from Indiana University-Purdue University Indianapolis. Just Cookies, a bakery inside City Market, refused to complete the order, co-owner David Stockton saying “I explained we’re a family-run business, we have two young, impressionable daughters and we thought maybe it was not best to do that.” The order was placed at another bakery.

The Boston Globe on a reiteration by Harvard University not to permit ROTC on campus until a ban on openly gay service members is repealed, that according to President Drew Gilpin Faust. Harvard initially expelled the Reserve Officers’ Training Corps in 1969 during the height of the Vietnam War, but their absence today is solely to due to the policy of “don’t ask, don’t tell,” Faust saying that Harvard bars discrimination by all undergraduate groups.

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?

Department Of Justice Files Appeal Requesting Judge Refrain From Implementing DADT Injunction

Expected, but disappointing nonetheless the Department of Justice met a Thursday deadline imposed by United States District Judge Virginia A. Philips, filing an objection to her ruling of last week in Riverside, California that struck down the military ban on openly gay and lesbian service members as being unconstitutional and called for an immediate injunction halting any and all discharges under that policy, according to a report by the Associated Press. Attorneys for President Obama called the possible injunction “untenable,” arguing that Philips would exceed the court’s jurisdiction if she were to issue such an order. Instead, the DOJ maintains that she should limit any injunction to the 19,000 members of the Log Cabin Republicans, the GOP-based gay rights group that filed the lawsuit in 2004 that led to Philips’ ruling. White House spokesperson Robert Gibbs, in an e-mail sent to the AP, stressed that the filing does not indicate that the Obama administration is retreating from a political promise made to repeal “don’t ask, don’t tell,” saying “This filing is no way diminishes the president’s firm commitment to achieve a legislative repeal of DADT – indeed, it clearly shows why Congress must act to end this misguided policy.” Judge Phillips said that she intends to issue an order stopping the policy, but in Thursday’s filing, federal attorneys wrote in part “A court should not compel the executive to implement an immediate cessation of the 17-year old policy without regard for any effect such an abrupt change might have on the military’s operations, particularly at a time when the military is engaged in combat operations and other demanding military activities around the globe.” Philips – anticipating such an argument – wrote last week that the policy does not benefit military readiness, and instead has a “direct and deleterious effect” on the armed services.

Ajax Ontario Mayoral Candidate Sherry Clymer Says Flying A Gay Pride Flag Is Similar To Flying A Nazi Flag

Sherry Clymer, a 54 year old former taxi dispatcher and community volunteer, is running for the first time for mayor of Ajax. Ontario, and during a debate Tuesday with incumbent Mayor Steven Parrish, Clymer criticized Parish for raising a Pride flag this past June to celebrate Pride Durham. Parish countered, saying his decision represented the town’s diversity, to which Clymer countered saying that citizens never unite by focussing on differences, suggesting the mayor had “best be also hanging up the Nazi flag.” Today, trying to apologize, Clymer, who calls herself a Christian, suggested her debate comment was a “blunder” because it implied she was comparing gays to Nazis. According to the Toronto Star, what she meant was “What makes the gays any more deserving of their flag hanging that anyone else? The gay pride flag says, ‘Look at me, I want to seen as okay,’” adding that Parish’s gesture of raising the flag was merely a “vote grab.” Clymer, who said her “guide is the Bible,” added that “What is so good about being gay? God says no, and I believe him.” Kurtis McAleer, Ajax’s 16 year old youth mayor, was one of those in attendance at the debate Tuesday and said he was shocked by the statements he called “homophobic, grossly, inappropriate and hateful. I couldn’t believe anyone in 2010 would say a comment like that, especially in public and who wants to be mayor. Anyone who compares the Pride flag to the Nazi flag is an obvious bigot and does not represent the views of our town.”

Martin Gill And ACLU Release Statement Asking That Florida Not Appeal Ruling Finding State Gay Adoption Ban Unconstitutional; Florida Department Of Children And Families Issues Directive Forbidding Perspective Adoptive Parents Sexual Orientation From Being Ascertained

Martin Gill – the father of two adopted boys at the centre of a case before a Florida appeals court that ruled Wednesday the state’s ban on gay men and women adopting was unconstitutional has released a statement, along with the American Civil Liberties Union that represented him, asking that the case be dropped and not sent to the state Supreme Court, that according to the Miami Herald. Gill’s statement in part reads “I understand that the Governor would like to hear my views in considering whether to appeal the decision of the Third District Court of Appeal striking down the ban on adoption by lesbians and gay men. After considerable thought and consultation with my attorneys at the ACLU, it is my hope that the State will not appeal and the case will stop here. The ban has kept me from adopting the two boys who have known me as Papi for the past six years. This deprives them of the emotional security of knowing they are part of a forever family. The law is also an obstacle to adoption for countless other Florida children who have no family of their own. I understand that if the State does not appeal this decision, it will apply to all Floridians and put an end to this baseless law that has harmed my kids and so many other children and families. I am eager to adopt my two children and to remove this barrier to adoption for other children as soon as possible. Ending this case now would be the quickest way for that to happen.”

It is thought that without the case being brought before the state Supreme Court, the issue will remain in a kind of legal limbo, and the ruling Wednesday will ultimately only impact Mr. Gill and his case. However, the Miami Herald also reports that Thursday, the Department of Children and Families issued new instructions to foster care workers throughout Florida ordering them to “no longer to ask perspective adoptive parents whether they are heterosexual, gay, or lesbian, nor are you to use this as a factor in determining the suitability of applicants to adopt. Focus your attention on the quality of parenting that prospective adoptive parents would provide, and their commitment to and love for our children.”

The One Where Adam Levine Is Asked About His Friendship With Jake Gyllenhaal And Answers With An Overly Aggressive Assertion That Gyllenhaal Is Not Gay

Adam Levine – he of Maroon Five, seen below Tuesday outside the Late Show with David Letterman –is interviewed by Out magazine in advance of a new album, and is asked about getting a lot of attention for hanging out with Jake Gyllenhaal, to which Levine answers “Will everyone stop thinking that dude is gay? Seriously guys. How immature is it of the media to perceive this guy – it has to be because of Brokeback, right? I’ve known this dude forever. He’s one of my oldest friends, and it’s very weird that they have this – it’s very immature and infantile the way they treat his whole situation. If hanging out with his bros means he’s gay, it’s like further perpetuating that weird homophobia that exists in our culture, which is just stupid. So, yeah, he’s my buddy. I fuckin’ love the guy.” I have no idea Levine means by “his whole situation,” but, um, project much?

Centers For Disease Controls Study Shows Nearly One Half Men In 21 Major American Cities Do not Know They Are HIV Positive, Bishop Eddie Long Continues To Deny Sexual Misconduct Allegations, Survivor: Nicaragua Homophobia, E! Cancels Adam Lambert Bashing Daily 10, Joe McElderry And Olly Murs

The United States Centers for Disease Control and Prevention said Thursday that nearly one in five gay and/or bisexual men in 21 major American cities do not realize that they are infected with HIV, Reuters reporting that young men, in particular young African-American men are the least likely to know they are infected. According to Dr. Jonathan Mermin, the director of CDC’s Division of HIV/AIDS Prevention, “For young men who have sex with men – including young men of color who are least likely to know they may be infected – the futures is truly on the line. It is critical that we reach these young men early in their live with HIV prevention and testing services and continue to make these vital services available as they become older.”

Bishop Eddie Long, the vehemently anti-gay head of the New Birth Missionary Baptist Church in Georgia, released a statement through his attorneys Thursday saying “I am anxious to respond directly to these false allegations and I will do so. However, my lawyers have counselled patience at this time. But let me be clear; the charges against me and New Birth are false. I have devoted my life to helping others and these false allegations hurt me deeply.” According to the Atlanta Journal Constitution, Long, who said that he been “through storms and my faith has always sustained me,” asked for patience and added that he intends to respond publically to the charges during services this Sunday. To date, three young men have filed lawsuits against Bishop Long alleging sexual misconduct, contending that he manipulated his pastoral influence to coerce the three into having sexual relations.

Homophobia runs amok among the members of Survivor: Nicaragua, RealityBlurred.com offering the dense, depressing details.

Last week, as previously posted, Mike Catherwood, guest-hosting E!’s Daily 10 make a crude anti-gay comment regarding possible legal action taken against Adam Lambert for attacking a photographer in Miami, Catherwood saying “From what I know about jail, Mr. Lambert probably wouldn’t have too bad a time.” E! and Catherwood offered apologies – Catherwood’s awkward – but now GLAAD has news that E! has cancelled the show outright - October 1st the last time it will air.

X-Factor winner Joe McElderry and X-Factor, um, none-winner Olly Murs front row at Topshop Design spring/summer 2011 fashion show in London.