Backlash Over Des Moines Iowa Church Marquee That Reads “Gay Is Not Okay,” Debate Over Tennessee “Don’t Say Gay” Bill Delayed, Colorado Student Charged For Glitter Bombing Mitt Romney, British Court Hears Two Gay Men Were Told They Would “Burn In Hell” By Street Preacher, Colton Haynes, Josh Hutcherson, Michael Phelps Public Speedo Shower

A south-side Des Moines, Iowa church and its senior pastor are under fire through social media after he posted the message “Gay is not okay” on its marquee. The Rev. Michael Demastus of Fort Des Moines Church of Christ said that over the past couple of weeks, he’s had several conversations with people about homosexuality. So he decided to make it the topic for his sermon this Sunday. After writing the sermon, which Desmastus said will be the second time he has devoted an entire sermon to homosexuality during his 14 years at the church, he came up with the title: “Gay is not Okay.” He put that message on the marquee outside of his church Wednesday morning. When Patrick Boltinghouse of West Des Moines got off work that night, an errand took him past the marquee with the anti-gay message. The Des Moines Register reports that Boltinghouse, who is gay, said it was not the first time he’d something like this. Usually, he just ignores it. He said he wasn’t sure what made this time different. “Not everyone can laugh something this offensive off,” he said. He snapped a picture of the sign and posted it on Facebook with this message: “Greetings from the southside of DesMoines, IA … Just wanted you all to know Jesus loves you, even if it’s not ok to these biggots :) xoxoxoxo.” Soon, people were commenting on the picture, sharing it on their profiles. Someone created a Facebook page: “People against the bigots at Fort Des Moines Church of Christ.” The page had about 400 “likes” Thursday night. Another Facebook page announces plans for a protest from 8:00 to 11:00 am targeting Sunday’s service, and almost 200 people have said that they planned to attend. Demastus said he knew the title was “provocative” but didn’t expect the reaction he has received. He changed the marquee at 244 E. Army Post Road on Wednesday night to read, “Adultery is not okay.” Desmastus also shut down the church’s Facebook page, after he said people had posted “vulgar” messages on the page. He filed a police report after stickers were placed on the outdoor marquee. He said he reported three threats to his home and family to police. Boltinghouse’s message is peaceful. He said he has no problem with religion; he grew up Catholic and his mother is a teacher at a Catholic school. I love Christian people,” he said. What he has a problem with, he said, is an organization trying to judge and condemn people for being who they are. “A sign like this doesn’t bring people closer to God, it scares people away from God,” Boltinghouse said. Demastus thinks people misinterpreted his intent. His message was not to condemn homosexuals; but rather homosexuality. “We are a group of people that love everybody,” he said. Desmastus said he has heard about the plans for protest. The church is working with police about having a presence at the church Sunday. He said protesters are welcome outside. “They are not welcome in our church service in any way,” he said. Ben Stone, executive director of the American Civil Liberties Union of Iowa, said the developments are “exactly what make the First Amendment a beautiful thing”: the pastor’s message caused a response, which has turned into a protest; a news story has been created; and debate and discussion is being had.

Opponents of a measure that seeks to ban Tennessee public schools from teaching about gay issues said Wednesday they will continue to show up in large groups to protest the legislation. The proposal, dubbed the “Don’t Say Gay” bill, is sponsored by Rep. Joey Hensley and was scheduled to be heard in the House Education Subcommittee. According to The Associated Press, the Hohenwald Republican, who is chairman of the subcommittee, said he wanted to be out of the committee room by a certain time so he delayed taking up his bill and others until next week. “It was just last on the calendar, and there were three or four bills left,” he said. “If we would have had time, we certainly would have heard all the bills. We’ll put it on the calendar first next week.” Chris Sanders is chairman of the Nashville committee of the Tennessee Equality Project, which organized the gathering of protesters. He said he doesn’t view Hensley’s decision as disrespectful, but that the protesters will be “keeping the pressure on.” Protester Eric Patton said he did not necessarily object to Hensley’s proposal being delayed because he does not want to see it voted on at all. “The longer it’s not in the law, that’s OK with me,” said the 21-year-old. The companion to Hensley’s proposal passed the Senate last year. It limits all sexually related instruction to “natural human reproduction science” in kindergarten through eighth grade. Hensley said he plans to amend the House version to say the same thing.

A Colorado student faced misdemeanour charges on Wednesday for flinging glitter toward Republican presidential contender Mitt Romney in an increasingly frequent protest act some commentators say should be subject to prosecution. The practice of "glitter bombing" has mainly been the domain of gay rights activists targeting Republican politicians and other public figures who oppose same-sex marriage. But University of Colorado Boulder student Peter Smith, 20, told Reuters he threw glitter at Romney after the candidate's speech in Colorado on Tuesday to protest against his "general political philosophy," and not only his stance on same sex marriage. A CNN video of the incident shows Romney shaking hands with supporters in an auditorium when the glitter is thrown at him and Secret Service agents usher him away. Smith was escorted out by other agents and local authorities, Secret Service spokesman George Ogilvie said. Denver authorities detained Smith for questioning on Tuesday night, and he was cited on misdemeanour charges of creating a disturbance, throwing a missile and an unlawful act on school property, Denver Police spokesman Sonny Jackson said. Smith, who faces up to six months in jail and a $1,000 fine if convicted, said he has no regrets about his protest. Republican presidential contenders Newt Gingrich, Rick Santorum and Ron Paul have all been targeted with glitter, although authorities could not immediately say if anyone had previously been charged over the glitter-throwing. When former Republican candidate Tim Pawlenty was struck with glitter in June 2011, former Arkansas Governor Mike Huckabee, a Republican, argued in an appearance on cable network Fox Business that "people ought to be arrested" for throwing glitter, which he called "an assault." Huckabee added, "You've got to draw the line." Ogilvie would not say if the Secret Service sees glitter bombing as a pressing problem. "We want to make sure everything is a safe and secure environment," he said. But Smith said agents talked to him about his protest action. "They just mentioned this act was an issue that they've been trying to deal with more and more," he said.

In the United Kingdom, two gay men were told they were "sinners" who would "burn in hell" by a Christian street preacher in Taunton, a court has heard. The BBC reports that Michael Overd, 47, from Creech St Michael, is accused of verbally abusing Craig Manning and Craig Nichol last July in the town's high street. Overd denies two charges of using threatening words or behaviour. His defence told Taunton Magistrates' Court his client was merely reciting a passage from the Bible. Paul Diamond, the lawyer representing Mr Overd, told the court he was reciting from 1 Corinthians, which reads: "Neither the sexually immoral nor idolaters nor adulterers nor homosexuals nor thieves nor the greedy nor drunkards nor slanderers nor swindlers will inherit the kingdom of God." He said his client was allowed to use freedom of expression to read from the Bible. The court also heard it was the second time the pair had been targeted, after an occasion when Overd saw them holding hands in October 2010. Giving evidence, Mr Nichols said: "He said 'I have already told these two sinners over here that they are going to burn in hell.’ He looked at us and pointed at us when he said it. His voice was quite loud and very clear. I felt angry, embarrassed and ashamed. It was a really busy day and I felt that everyone was looking at us when he was saying these things to us. I asked him who he was to judge me and he said 'It's God's words, it is in the Bible'. He said I should repent and ask God for forgiveness." Diamond accused the pair of abusing Overd and threatening him with violence, which they both denied. Overd, a self-taught non-denominational preacher, who has no theological qualifications, admitted speaking to the pair as part of his sermon as they passed him. But he told the court he said: "Even these two dear men whom I have met before, caught in the sin of homosexuality, can have the forgiveness of the sin should they so repent." He said, "I was not trying to draw to the public the fact that they were homosexuals, I was drawing the public to the fact that they were sinners. If I heard someone preaching the things I am accused of preaching I would talk to them about it." Prosecutor Gordon Richings asked him, "You believe that sinners who die and are not redeemed are going to end up in hell?" Overd replied: "If God says it (in the Bible) that is good enough for me." Richings said: "I'm suggesting that your emotions got carried away and you said they were going to burn in hell." Overd replied: "That is a lie, they are making it up." Richings continued: "Even though what they are saying you said is what you actually believe?" Overd replied: "Yes." The trial was adjourned until Friday.

The still closeted Colton Haynes featured in the newest issue of VMAN magazine.

Josh Hutcherson graces the cover of the new Nylon magazine.

Michael Phelps – and a teeny, tiny, tight blue Speedo – spotted showering at the Soho House announcing a new partnership with Head & Shoulders.