Seattle Gay Rights Activists Don Moreland Dies At 75, Orlando Florida Domestic Partnership Registry Opens, Father Of Openly Gay Corporal Andrew Wilfahrt Killed In Afghanistan To Run For Minnesota House Of Representatives, Matt Bomer Talks Magic Mike, Just-Released Tim Tebow Jockey Underwear Advertisement, Rafael Nadal

Before there were same sex marriage and domestic partnerships, even before the rainbow flag became a symbol of gay pride, Don Moreland was fighting for the rights of gay and lesbian people. From simple recognition, through the AIDS epidemic to such modern-day concerns as elder care, Mr. Moreland's activism spanned nearly four decades. He was a tireless champion for a community that at times had little or no voice. "Don was never a person satisfied with the status quo," said Seattle City Councilman Tom Rasmussen, a longtime friend and gay-rights ally. "He thought all of us in public office should do more, could do better. He was impatient ... persistent. He always wanted to keep things moving." Mr. Moreland died early Saturday from health complications. He was 75. The Seattle Times reports that throughout the gay-rights community and beyond, people recall his kind spirit and eagerness to bridge gaps. His younger brother, Robert Moreland, of Kent, remembers the studious kid debating politics with their father. Mr. Moreland received a bachelor's degree in business administration from the University of Washington in 1958 and attended law school there for two years. In the 1950s and 1960s, he served in the Navy Reserve. He spent 17 years in financial positions with companies in Southern California before moving to Seattle, where he worked two decades for Skyway Luggage before retiring. Robert Moreland said he always knew his brother was gay. And when he came out to the family "it was never an issue. It became his passion, of course." Mr. Moreland's unyielding commitment and activism on behalf of gays and lesbians stretched from the mid-1970s until his death last week. George Bakan, publisher of Seattle Gay News, recalls that when Seattle gay-rights leader Harvey Muggy was dying of AIDs in 1991 and none of his friends in the gay community knew quite what to do, Mr. Moreland organized a party to "say hello" to Harvey. "It was a tremendous human thing to do," Bakan said. "What a class act." Mr. Moreland's partner, Tad Ichikawa, said the two men, who began dating in 2007, complemented each other. "I'm more comfortable in a small group of people. He was more outgoing." As part of Mature Friends, a local social group for gays over 40 that Mr. Moreland helped found, the partners gathered once a week with friends to play bridge. They also enjoyed traveling and Mr. Moreland held season tickets to the symphony, Ichikawa said. "We had the most wonderful times together," he said. In 1994 Mr. Moreland unsuccessfully ran for the 36th Legislative District seat. Bill Dubay, who did field work on Mr. Moreland's campaign, remembers he wanted to win with integrity. "There was to be no dirty politicking, no name-calling," Dubay recalls. "He always wanted to stick to the issues." In more recent years, Mr. Moreland was involved in issues around aging. He served as chairman of the Washington State Council On Aging and was a member of the Seattle-King County Advisory Council on Aging and Disability Services. Rasmussen said Mr. Moreland wanted to bridge the gap between gay-rights' organizations in Seattle and those nationally. In the mid-1980s, he served on the board of the Human Rights Campaign, a national organization focused on gay rights. In 1985, he led a delegation that included Rasmussen and the state's first openly gay lawmaker, Cal Anderson, to the first lesbian and gay conference of gay elected and appointed officials. The event in West Hollywood drew fewer than two dozen people, including U.S. Rep. Barney Frank, who was keynote speaker but not yet out of the closet, Rasmussen recalls. On the flight back to Seattle, he said, they decided to create Washington's first gay and lesbian political-action committee, "The Privacy Fund." "Don never sought the limelight, never hesitated to act," Rasmussen said. "If you asked him for money, he might clutch his heart and gasp, but then would reach into his pocket and give you $50." Besides his brother and partner, Mr. Moreland is survived by his brother Kenneth, of Renton. A memorial service is planned for sometime in the spring.

Orlando, Florida made history Thursday as couples filed into city hall to sign the city's first Domestic Partnership Affidavit. The document grants couples the right to visit each other in hospitals and jail, along with guaranteeing the ability to participate in their children education in Orlando schools. According to WKMG Local 6, a city spokeswoman said roughly 20 couples will sign the document Thursday and the next several days are booked solid with couples who have pre-registered. Orlando City Commissioner Patty Sheehan, and her longtime girlfriend, Jocelyn White, were among the first couples to sign the domestic partner registry Thursday, as Mayor Buddy Dyer looked on. Dyer said the registry is the right thing to do for Orlando residents and that he believes it will make the city more attractive to various businesses that want to grow here. Orlando domestic partner registry, which costs $30 a couple, is open to unmarried heterosexual couples as well, including elderly citizens who may not have immediate family around to care for them. Of the 22 couples who made appointments Thursday it’s unclear what percentage was straight. But the registry is only viable within city limits, which means a partner would only have those rights if it involves an Orlando hospital or an Orlando emergency responder. On the eve of their signing the registry, Rob Domenico and Alan Meeks said they felt like a weight has been lifted. "For us, this is really a matter of having our relationship qualified in the city's eyes," said Domenico. "We already have our living-will set up, we already have our power of attorney set up." But despite the legal safeguards, after 10 years together as a couple, they still fear a hospital may deny them the right to be by each other's side in an emergency. "That's a very real, every worry that we have -- something that we're faced with every day," said Domenico. Meeks has been diagnosed with a brain tumour, and 2-percent of the tumour remains, along with the fear a hospital may ignore their wishes. "It's very scary," said Domenico. "Throughout our relationship, we've had to worry about his tumour and is it going to resurface? If it happens, we're lucky our families are very agreeable. We would never have a problem with our families, however, the hospital system itself may deny us the rights to make decisions for each other or even be there for each other when we need it most." That fear is now gone thanks to Orlando's Domestic Partnership Registry. It is not marriage or civil union, but it's a right they think all couples should have. "For those that aren't in the city limits, they deserve the same registry that we will have in the city of Orlando," said Meeks. Orange County Mayor Teresa Jacobs issued a statement Wednesday evening saying she is still researching the idea for a county-wide registry, but she's considering other options as well. Jacobs didn't comment on Thursday, but in her statement, she said she wanted to include widows and others not in a partnership.

Jeff Wilfahrt had his share of frustrations dealing with Minnesota legislators last year. Now the Rosemount resident hopes to find a seat on the other side of the table. Wilfahrt announced Wednesday that he plans to run for the Minnesota House of Representatives in District 37B. The seat is currently held by Rosemount resident Kurt Bills. The Rosemount Town Pages reports that Wilfahrt, a former 3M engineer who is currently self-employed, spent a lot of time at the capitol last year speaking out against a proposed constitutional amendment to ban gay marriage. In May he complained about speaking to committees whose minds appeared to have been made up long before he walked into the room. Wilfahrt’s son, Andrew, was killed in February by an improvised explosive device in Afghanistan. Andrew was gay, and Jeff said in May he wanted to ensure people like his son can have the same rights as everyone else. “I see it as a matter of civil rights,” Wilfahrt said in May. “It’s too late to stand up for Andrew. He’s dead and gone. But there are a lot of people out there who are in a minority. There is an action being taken by the Republican majority to oppress a minority even further.” Wilfahrt called the proposed marriage ban one of the most significant factors in his decision to run. “It was very distressing to see the Legislature get consumed by this effort to put an anti-marriage amendment in our state constitution,” Wilfahrt said in announcing his decision this week. “I believe the Legislature has more important priorities to concern themselves with. There are significant challenges facing our community and state and I am running for the Legislature to focus on these bread and butter issues.” Wilfahrt describes himself as “fiscally conservative and socially progressive.” He identified job creation, quality education and responsible budgeting as his top priorities. Wilfahrt was born and raised in New Ulm. He graduated from the University of Minnesota Morris with a degree in chemistry.

Matt Bomer talks to Entertainment Weekly about the upcoming Steven Soderbergh-helmed male stripper movie Magic Mike, the magazine also featuring a new still of a shirtless Channing Tatum and Alex Pettyfer.

Jockey has released a new still of spokesperson Tim Tebow, the Denver Broncos quarterback shirtless, an underwear waistband in view, but little else, sadly.

Rafael Nadal signs balls.