Los Angeles Mayor Villaraigosa Co-Chairs Mayors For The Freedom To Marry Coalition, Washington State Republican Attorney-General Candidate Reagan Dunn Punished By Party For Supporting Same Sex Marriage, Wanted In Post BSC Sexual Assault On Male LSU Fan Alabama Supporter Brian Downing Arrested In New Orleans, Soccer Star Joey Barton Says “Archaic” Managers Preventing Any Footballers From Coming Out, Michael Phelps’ Porn Moustache Comes Out Again, Henry Cavill Assets

Los Angeles Mayor Antonio Villaraigosa was among a group of 80 mayors in Washington on Friday who pledged their support for same sex marriage and announced an initiative aimed at expanding marriage rights for same sex couples. According to The Los Angeles Times, the initiative, called Mayors for the Freedom to Marry, was announced during a press conference held at the U.S. Conference of Mayors' winter meeting. Villaraigosa will co-chair the group. The mayors have pledged to push their cities to pass laws allowing same-sex marriage and urge Congress to repeal the Defense of Marriage Act, which defines marriage as a legal union between one man and one woman. Critics say it unfairly denies federal benefits to same sex married couples and allows states to refuse to recognize same sex marriages granted in other states. “If we truly believe in family values, we should value all families,” Villaraigosa said. “Denying gay and lesbian couples the freedom to marry weakens society by hurting our communities, neighbours and families.” The group, among others, includes Mayor Michael R. Bloomberg of New York, Mayor Rahm Emanuel of Chicago and Mayor Annise Parker of Houston, who is openly gay. The group is an offshoot of Freedom to Marry, a national organization that pushes for same-sex marriage rights. Also among the mayors in the group is Republican Mayor Jerry Sanders of San Diego, who in 2007 relented on his previous opposition to same sex marriage, saying that he could not accept that his daughter was less worthy of marriage because she is a lesbian. “Allowing loving and committed couples to join in marriage has benefits not just for couples and their families — but also for society,” Sanders said. Villaraigosa has long been a supporter of same sex marriage rights and stringent opponent of Proposition 8, the 2008 California measure that banned gay marriage. In 2008, he presided over the marriage of a same-sex couple, uniting a Hollywood producer and his five-year companion in a short ceremony at City Hall.

In Washington State, Republican attorney-general candidate Reagan Dunn is facing a backlash from some GOP leaders and activists over his decision to come out in support of gay marriage. The Seattle Times reports that in the last week, Dunn has been disinvited to big Republican dinners in Whatcom and Franklin counties, and faces a new conservative rival in the attorney-general's race. "That's the name of the game. There has been some blow back," said Dunn, a Metropolitan King County Council member. Dunn roiled GOP circles last week when he voted for a county measure supportive of the same sex marriage legalization efforts now before the Legislature — a position at odds with the official GOP platform. The Whatcom and Franklin County GOP organizations responded by rescinding Dunn's invitation to speak at their Lincoln Day fundraising dinners next month. "We just thought it probably would be best if he did not come," said Luanne Van Werven, chairwoman of the Whatcom County Republican Party. She said the dinner was meant to emphasize party unity and that Dunn would be a distraction. Curtis Mohr, chairman of the Franklin County Republicans, said the GOP platform is clear in defining marriage as between a man and a woman. "We wish to send a strong message to those that oppose our political philosophy," he said. Dunn isn't entirely alone. Four Republican state legislators have endorsed legislation that would make Washington the seventh state to legalize same sex marriage. But most Republicans remain steadfastly opposed and Dunn's position could dampen enthusiasm for his presumed November matchup with Democratic King County Councilmember Bob Ferguson. Last week, conservative Everett attorney Stephen Pidgeon announced he'll join the race for attorney general. In an interview Thursday, Pidgeon called Dunn's gay marriage stance "the straw that broke the camel's back" in terms of his decision to run. Pidgeon has previously worked with groups that unsuccessfully tried to overturn the state's domestic-partnership law. On Monday, he filed a proposed ballot initiative that would define marriage as between one man and one woman. While emphasizing he'll be campaigning on more than just same sex marriage, Pidgeon said the issue "is a litmus test for many conservatives." It's not clear how much support Pidgeon can muster. He contends President Obama is a Muslim who is determined to destroy the United States as we know it. In an interview with a conservative radio show last year, Pidgeon claimed that Obama, if re-elected, will lock down the U.S. border. "You will not be able to escape this country," he said. "You will be locked into this country, and you will be under the tyranny of the iron fist of an Islamic caliphate." Washington State Republican Party Chairman Kirby Wilbur said Dunn's stance has sparked an emotional reaction from many. But he said Dunn has 10 months to convince Republicans he's on their side on most other issues. "Reagan is an experienced politician. Can he handle it? We'll see. I think he can," Wilbur said. Dunn said his position on same-sex marriage is consistent with the Republican philosophy of less government interference with personal freedoms. "Allowing same sex couples to live how they want to live is a legitimate viewpoint that exists — or should be allowed to exist — in the Republican Party," he said. But, Van Werven said, "it's definitely going to hurt him in the general election," as some conservatives may simply refuse to back Dunn. She said that won't stop her and other GOP leaders from trying to rally support in November if Dunn is on the ballot against the Democrat Ferguson. Mohr agreed, noting that Ferguson has supported gay marriage for years. "We would prefer a Republican with the same faults as opposed to a Democrat," he said.

Brian Downing, identified as the Alabama football fan who pressed his testicles on the neck of an unconscious LSU fan in a Bourbon Street burger joint after the BCS Championship Game, was arrested by New Orleans police Thursday night after driving to meet police. Downing, of Smiths Station, Alabama, was taken into custody by New Orleans police about 10:00 p.m. The Times-Picayune reports that Detectives met Downing, 32, at his attorney's office in Mid-City and then took him to Central Lock-Up, where he was booked with one count of sexual battery and one count of obscenity. Earlier in the day, Russell County Sheriff Heath Taylor, who said he is a second cousin to Downing, said he personally spoke with the NOPD sex crimes detective handling the case about whether to arrest the man or send him to New Orleans for questioning. Although he'd heard about the video -- which has created a firestorm on the Internet -- for a couple days, Taylor said he watched it Thursday morning at the prompting of other people who suggested the University of Alabama fan was his relative. The man in the video indeed appeared to be Downing, he said. "So then I went out there and looked at it and was, like, you have to be kidding me," Taylor said. At that point, he called Downing's father and told him to bring his son to the sheriff's office. Downing and a lawyer came in, but left after the NOPD detective instructed Taylor that his cousin should come to New Orleans. Taylor said he did not question Downing, nor did any of his deputies."It is a shock that it happened as an Alabama fan. It is a shocker that it is my family. It is out of character for Brian," Taylor said. "I would never in a million years have dreamed he would have done that, period. I assume, like everybody else does, it is not a Photo-shopped picture of him." Downing was initially identified by two sports websites, Deadspin and Out Kick The Coverage. Deadspin at first identified the man only by first name, while also posting photographs found on the Internet. The Columbus, Ga., newspaper subsequently posted an online story quoting Taylor, who identified Downing as the Alabama fan. The video of the incident has sparked a media firestorm across the Gulf Coast. The recording, taken shortly before midnight on Jan. 9, shows a man clad in Alabama crimson, thrusting his testicles onto the neck of an unconscious LSU fan at the Krystal Burger on Bourbon Street. The LSU fan sits in a chair, with his head down on the counter. Nobody makes any effort to stop the assault. Before the man in the video exposed himself, other Alabama fans crowded around the unconscious man in LSU purple and gold, putting fast-food cartons on his head and back, jeering and posing for pictures. The man who eventually exposes himself initially puts his fingers in the LSU fan's nose and ear. Earlier this week, police said the NOPD's Sex Crimes Unit had reviewed the video, but said a thorough investigation would hinge on the victim's cooperation. On Wednesday, however, police issued a news release asking for help identifying the perpetrator. Police did not say whether the victim had come forward. In the NOPD release, police categorized the assault as sexual battery, which under state law includes "the touching of the ... genitals of the offender by the victim" without the victim's consent. A victim who is incapacitated or unconscious is generally viewed as not having given consent. Both Deadspin and Out Kick The Coverage reported that Downing worked at a Hibbett sporting goods store in Columbus, which is on the Alabama border. A vice president with Hibbett Sports would not confirm that Downing worked for the company, but he said the company learned Wednesday that the person in the video was a company employee. By 5:00 pm, Hibbett had made the decision to fire the man, said Scott Myers, vice president of loss prevention and human resources. "We felt comfortable to terminate employment of the person in the video," Myers said. "We don't support or condone these activities and it is certainly nothing we are about."

Soccer star Joey Barton has blamed football bosses for preventing any professional players coming out as gay. The outspoken QPR midfielder told a TV documentary: "Certain managers will discriminate. These archaic figures think if they had a gay footballer there would be all kinds of shenanigans in the dressing room." And publicist Max Clifford said he has known half a dozen players too scared to come out, adding, "When they have come to me to protect their identity, they have made it very clear that their career would be finished if they were known to be gay." Not one pro footballer out of 5,000 in Britain is openly homosexual. The BBC3 film about sexuality in sport - to be shown on January 30 - is presented by the niece of gay striker Justin Fashanu, who hanged himself in 1998.

Michael Phelps’ porn moustache gets another outing in the sun.

Henry Cavill and his incredible, edible ass returns to Los Angeles.