New Zealand Lesbian Couple Victim Of Two Hate Crimes Within Week, Australian Judge Awards Full Parental Rights To Non-Genetic Father Of Twins Born Via Surrogate, Ricky Martin Confirmed To Play Che On Broadway Spring 2012, Jason Mraz Will Not Wed Till Marriage Equality Exists, Madonna Opts Not To Build Girl’s School In Malawi, Alex Pettyfer, James Franco Wigs Out

A horrid hate crime in New Zealand, the Sunday Star Times reporting that on a lesbian couple targeted in an arson attack on their property, accompanied by anti-gay graffiti in Mangawhai Heads, a seaside town an hour’s drive north of Auckland. Juliet Leigh and Lindsay Curnow, both in the mid-60s, have lived in the small town for seven years, and say that their sexuality, which has never been a secret, has not been issue, but now police are investigating after the couple suffered two separate attacks in one week, including a fire in a packing shed next to their home. The couple had been out to dinner and shortly after returning home, the building, which housed an office and equipment for their business, Blooming Bulbs, exploded, causing an estimated $100,000 in damages. A week earlier, they found seven abusive messages scrawled on their home, shed, and car. Curnow said “We rang the cops and they said, ‘Send in photos.’ I don’t think they took it that seriously then.” Police believe that the two attacks are connected and appealing to the public for any information. Curnow says she and Leigh will not feel safe until they know who it was and why it was done. “I want to understand,” she said. “We’d like to know it’s not local, and so would the community.”

A gay couple from Melbourne, Australia who paid an Indian surrogate $40,000 to give birth to twins has won full parenting rights for the non-biological father, reports the Herald Sun. The 20-month old girls were born in Mumbai to a woman who carried eggs from an anonymous donor impregnated with the sperm from one of the men. The Melbourne couple went to Family Court seeking full parental status for the non-genetic father, and Justice Paul Cronin ruled in their favour. “In this case,” he wrote “the children do not have the benefit of a mother, but they have the good fortune of having two fathers. As a matter of law, the word ‘parent’ tends to suggest some biological connection, but ... biology does not really matter; it is all about parental responsibility.” The ruling was hailed as historic, the justice able to see beyond the definition of a traditional family.

Playbill is reporting that a production of Evita directed by Michael Grandage, which opened in June, 2006 at London’s Adelphi Theatre starring Argentine Elena Roger, will arrive on Broadway in the spring of 2012, with Rogers reprised her role, and Ricky Martin confirmed to appear as Che, a role originated by Mandy Patinkin on Broadway. Martin earlier released a statement saying “"I've been blessed with the opportunity to perform on many of the world's largest concert stages, but I've never lost my love for the intimacy of the theatre. I'm delighted to know that after I've had the chance to share new music and tour over the coming year, that I will then return once again to Broadway. I'm looking forward to playing such an essential part in Michael Grandage's wonderful production and the chance to work with the tremendously talented Elena Roger."

Us magazine reports that Jason Mraz says he will not get married to Tristan Prettyman until same sex marriage becomes legal in the United States. Attending the Elton John Concert to benefit the American Foundation for Equal Rights in Beverly Hills Wednesday, Mraz said “The wedding would be nice for our family, our friends, our community – our moms especially – and so it puts us in the fight. We can’t get married until (gay) marriage is legal and equal ... I think giving people the right to marry will be a huge movement in civil rights.”

Why did Madonna break a $15 million promise to the government of Malawi? The Guardian investigates.

Pretty Alex Pettyfer runs through the streets of Hollywood Hills Thursday, shirtless, natch.

Friday, James Franco donned a blond wig post-Sundance Film Festival screening of Three’s Company: The Drama, the film a compilation of three original episodes of the 1970’s iconic sitcom word-for-word without a laugh track.