"Behold, the Mighty Ostrich"

That is an actual line from The Prince of Persia, The Sands of Time.  It is uttered by Alfred Molina, a fine actor who I hope was paid a bloody fortune to appear in this dumb mess. 

Bottom line up front:  Jake Gyllenhaal's chest is covered by a breast plate for the entire movie.  There is not a single scene like this:

This shot was a tease; a lie to trick us into buying tickets.  If you think this means there's no reason to see this movie, you are right.  There is no reason to see this movie.  

Jake, sporting a pageboy and lots of Light Egyptian, plays the adopted son of the King of Persia, plucked from orphaned poverty because of his bravery.  He grows up and somehow hooks up with lovely Gemma Arterton, the feisty Princess Blah Blah of the Holy City of Whatever.  Together, they must protect the Daggah or the Gods will destroy mankind.  Something like that.  They must fight off Ben Kingsley, playing sort of an evil anti-Gandhi, who commands a troupe of Ninjas.  SRSLY.  There's also a noble African warrior, which I suppose makes slightly more sense than ninjas, but only slightly.  Oh yeah, and snakes.  Why did it have to be snakes?  

For some reason, Jake speaks like Michael Caine while everyone else sounds like they're auditioning for the Royal Academy of Dramatic Arts.  I suppose Jake's accent can be explained by his humble beginnings (how else would a Persian orphan speak?) but that would require much more thought than this movie deserves.

Spoiler alert:  Jake and Gemma save mankind.  Whew!  That was close! 

Compared to this, SATC 2 sparkles with all the wit and sophistication of The Women or His Girl Friday.  Stay away. 

Monday's Man: David Eigenberg

Like a good gay, I saw Sex and the City 2 over the weekend and for my money, David Eigenberg is the cutest of the SATC men. He only had a few scenes this time around (no hot rear entry action), but he deserves more if there's a third installment.

If there is going to be a SATC3, then they need to give serious consideration to including a fucking story.  The first movie had the drama of Big leaving Carrie at the alter and Steve cheating on Miranda.  What did this one have?  A crying baby and one quick kiss with an ex-boyfriend.  They milked the shit out of that kiss, but seriously people, it really wasn't worth an international call. 

They also need to nix the foreign locations.  Why do they always want to take these New York girls out of New York for the movies?  SJP famously called The City the fifth lady.  She wasn't talking about Abu Dhabi. 

OK, OK, I didn't hate it.  Actually I kind of liked it. It wasn't nearly as bad as the reviews would indicate, but after it was over I could hardly remember a thing.  It was like cotton candy, sweet and tasty at the moment, but when it's gone it's as if it was never there.  It was fun and there were a few chuckles, but I can't remember any now.  The clothes were great, but I can't remember any now.  The music...was there music?  Oh wait, Liza was in it.  She looked GREAT.  She's a trooper and her scene was fun (how about that, I remembered one!).  I love Carrie and the girls, and if you do too, it's definitely worth a matinee ticket (under no circumstances is it worth full price).  Best enjoyed with other gays at a theater with a bar.

Malawi Gay Couple Pardoned

Steven Monjeza and Tiwonge Chimbalanga have been pardoned by Malawi President Bingu wa Mutharika.  They had been sentenced to 14 years hard labor for "gross indencency and unnatural acts" for holding a wedding ceremony.  Clearly bowing to international pressure, President Mutharika issued this statement after meeting with UN chief Ban Ki-moon: 

"These boys committed a crime against our culture, our religion and our laws," however, as the head of state I hereby pardon them and therefore ask for their immediate release with no conditions."

According to the BBC, Mr. Ban is also putting pressure on the Malawi parliament to reform its archaic anti-gay laws.

This is great news and demonstrates that even the most virulently anti-gay governments will respond to international pressure.  My hope is that Monjeza and Chimbalanga are able to get the hell out of that country ASAP. 

Connie Stevens: Mogul, Grandmother

Check out today's  New York Times article about the actress putting her Manhattan apartment up for sale.  If you have an extra $8.2 million or so then her 3-bedroom in Park Millennium may be just the place for you.  She won't exactly be homeless since she has homes in LA and Jackson Hole and will be keeping her eye out for another Manhattan pied a terre.  I had no idea she had turned herself into a filthy rich business woman and director. Good going girl.

Perhaps LC NY Bureau Chief Doug should look into this as a new location for the New York Bureau.  I'm not suggesting Doug move, but it might be nice to get the East Coast operations of this burgeoning empire out of his place. 

She's letting the penthouse go so she can spend more time with the grandchildren in California.  Lucky kids.  I'm sure she's a wonderful grandmother.  How do I know?  Just a feeling.

House Votes to Repeal Don't Ask/Don't Tell

The US House of Representatives voted tonight to repeal the military gay ban, euphemistically known as Don't Ask/Don't Tell, conditioned on the DOD study due in December and certification from the President.  It's not a done deal, but it's a significant step.  The Senate Armed Services Committee also advanced the bill with all Democrats except Jim Webb from Virginia voting in favor.  Almost all Republicans, including Lindsey Lohan Graham of South Carolina, voted no.  Susan Collins of Maine was the sole GOP yes vote.  The Senate vote should come shortly.  John McCain, who is desparetely trying to court the teabaggers who will never trust him, has vowed to filibuster.  In 2008 he said that if the military leadership supported repeal, he would bow to their judgement.  The did and he did not keep his word.  

Will Barbra Direct Idina on Broadway?

According to the blog Lemonwade, there are rumors of a Funny Girl revival in the works to star none other than Idina Menzel and to be directed by (let me catch my breath) Barbra Streisand herself!  Just writing that sent glitter and rainbow sparks flying out of my computer.  I have no idea if the rumors are even remotely true but if there's a God they are.

"Top Kill" Succeeds in Stopping Gulf Coast Oil Gusher

According to the LA Times, Coast Guard Admiral Thad Allen has said that the "top kill" effort, which began yesterday, has pumped enough drilling fluid into the well to stop all oil and gas flow.  A small amount of pressure persists, but once that pressure is reduced to zero, cement will be pumped into the well to entomb it. 

Let's hope this succeeds. 

Laura Bush for Dallas Pride?

There's a new Facebook group that makes Betty White for SNL Host seem positively quaint.  It's Draft Laura Bush for Dallas Pride 2010.  She's come out for marriage equality, plus she's local so no expensive transportation costs for the planning committee. What do you think?  I'm totally for it.  What a slap in the face for the anti-gay wingnuts.  God knows I'm no fan of her husband and I wish she had spoken up 5 or 6 years ago, but every time a prominent Republican comes out for gay rights, it gives other Republicans permission to do the same.  These are the people we have to convince and she's helping us do it. 

I know it's more than a little unlikely, but hey, Tammy Faye was at Dallas Pride a few years ago and who would have predicted that back in her PTL days?  Stranger things have happened. 

Texas Baptist Group Drops Dallas Church

According to today's Dallas Morning News, the executive board of the Baptist General Convention of Texas has voted to not accept funds from Dallas' Royal Lane Baptist Church, which is tantamount to cutting ties.  The reason was Royal Lane's acceptance of two openly gay deacons.  Randel Everett, the apparently irony-free executive director of the BGCT, said churches should "welcome homosexuals" but their "well-established view is that the Bible teaches that homosexual behavior is sinful." 

You're welcome here homosexuals! We offer you sad, lonely lives. 

Everett said that Royal Lane's ordination of "practicing homosexuals" as deacons placed it outside BGCT's beliefs.  Who are all these "practicing homosexuals" the anti-gay types keep talking about?  Most guys I know aren't "practicing homosexuals," they're quite good at it. 

Doug Washington, a Royal Lane deacon and BGCT executive board member, spoke against the ouster.  He said "to say something is wrong with [gays] is to say God made a mistake.  I can't buy into that."  He'll be leaving the executive board shortly.


Founded in 1952, the 500 member Royal Lane Baptist Church has a history of progressive theology.  They were early to diversify racially and to have woman as deacons and associate pastors.  The church ordained it's first openly gay deacon 15 years ago. 

I give it about another 15 years before the BGCT decides it wants Royal Lane back.

Deal Struck on DA/DT Repeal

The White House has announced it's support for a compromise bill to repeal Don't Ask/Don't Tell.  Here's how Americablog summarized it:

"The House and Senate will pass legislation this year that provides that "Don't Ask, Don't Tell" will be considered repealed if and when the following happens:




1. The Secretary of Defense receives the "study."


2. The President, the Secretary of Defense, and the Chairman of the Joint Chiefs certify that:


- They have considered the recommendations in the study


- DOD has prepared the necessary policies and regulations needed to implement a repeal


- The implementation of the repeal is consistent with the standards of military readiness, military effectiveness, unit cohesion, and recruiting and retention.


Current policy will remain in place until the above conditions are satisfied. And if the above conditions are never satisfied, the current DA/DT policy will remain in place.


There is nothing in the legislation that says the repeal must happen.
 
In other words, it's not really a repeal.  It's a conditional repeal that may or may not happen.  It gives members of Congress cover to say they voted to repeal Don't Ask/Don't Tell without actually doing it.  Considering the mid-term elections which will probably result in the loss of Democratic seats, this may be the best we can do." 
 
78% of Americans support DA/DT repeal.  Why is it so controversial in Washington?

Monday's Man: Jake Gyllenhaal

I went to see Rocket Man 2 over the weekend.  My review?  Not worth $10.  The best part of the show was the trailer for Jake Gyllenhaal's new movie, The Prince of Persia, The Sands of Time. 

The movie looks incredibly lame and totally predictable and I don't even like action movies that much, but I'll be there opening night. 

 

Here's California boy Jake at the beach, not quite as bulked up, but twice as adorable.

Rachel Maddow Eviscerates Rand Paul

Newly minted Republican nominee for Senate from Kentucky Rand Paul went on Rachel Maddow's show last night and she brought up his lack of support for the Civil Rights Act.  Watch:

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Does he truly not see a distinction between turning away a customer because he's armed and turning away a customer because of the color of his skin?  Does he not understand that a business (like a bar) might have legitimate reasons for turning away a patron with a gun but never have a legitimate reason for turning away a person due to race?  Does he not think legislatures and courts can see that distinction?  In addition to dead eyes and an almost total lack of charisma, I don't think Rand Paul is very smart. 

He may not be smart, but he is scared.  He issued a statement clarification today in which he stated that he does not support repeal of the Civil Rights Act.  Read it here and smell the fear. Just a few hours later, a spokesman for the Paul campaign issued this statement:

 "Civil Rights legislation that has been affirmed by our courts gives the Federal government the right to ensure that private businesses don't discriminate based on race. Dr. Paul supports those powers."


This, of course, contradicts his statements on Maddow's show last night.  Paul's most passionate supporters love his commitment to unpopular beliefs.  One interview and he does an about-face. 

There is a reason why the GOP establishment did not support Paul's campaign.  They want someone who will win the general election without a truckload of controversy.  This is just the beginning of the Rand Paul crazy.  There is much more the Democrats can roll out, starting with his opposition to the Americans With Disabilities Act.  Picture a commercial with a sweet old lady, staggering across a huge parking lot with her walker because there are no handicap parking spaces.  Then imagine a precious little girl in a wheelchair, unable to go to school because she can't get on the bus.

Good Night for Dems

Last night's election day results were solid for Democrats, despite the incessant media drum-beating that this fall will be a Democratic rout.  In Pennslyvania, Joe Sestak beat six-term Senator Arlen Spector for the Democratic nomination.  The media's conventional wisdom is that this represents a voter revolt against Washington insiders.  Maybe, but Sestak is a sitting Congressman and hardly an outsider.  Plus, Arlen painted himself into a corner by switching parties because he was going to loose the GOP primary, not out of personal convictions.  Sestak could truthfully run as the real Democrat.  It didn't help when Arlen attacked Sestak's military record.  As a retired Naval Admiral, his military credentials are strong.  It made Arlen look petty and desperate. 

In the Pennsylvania race to fill the late Jack Murtha's unexpired term,  Democrat Mark Critz defeated Republican Tim Burns by 8 points.  PA-12 is a Republican district that went for John McCain in 2008 by a wide margin.  The GOP was counting on this seat to get them closer to capturing the House.  Obama is very unpopular there and the GOP didn't even get close to a victory. 

In Kentucky, Rand Paul won the GOP nomination for the Senate over establishment candidate Trey Grayson.  The press has been obsessed with Dr. Paul and has completely ignored the Democratic race in which Jack Conway defeated Daniel Mongiardo.  What was interesting about this race, and almost completely ignored by the Tea Party obsessed media, was Democratic voter turnout in Kentucky.  It was heavier than Republican turn out and that's a fairly good predictor of general election results.  Rand Paul may be the media darling of the moment, but he is not going to have an easy race in the general election. 

The conventional wisdom that Democrats are demoralized and may stay home in November is looking increasingly untrue.

Miss Pole Dancing USA!

What did I miss while I was floating around the Virgins?  Only the most awesome Miss USA ever!  I DVRed the pageant and swore LC NY Bureau Chief Doug to secrecy so the surprise wouldn't be ruined.  While I was waiting in the St. Thomas airport for my much (much) delayed flight, I saw the headline on the CNN monitor:  "First Muslim American Miss USA."  The beautiful Miss Michigan Rima Fakih was crowned at the pageant in Las Vegas.  She's Lebanese-born from a Muslim family, although I would wager that she's not exactly devout.  Her family reportedly celebrates both Muslim and Christian traditions and she went to a Catholic school.   During the pageant, she was asked if birth control should be covered by insurance and she said "absolutely" without hesitation.  She's a 100% American girl. 

In fact, she's soooo American that she won a pole dancing contest!  Hey, what else is there to do in Detroit these days?  Miss Universe officials are concerned and have asked for more pictures since pole dancing is so much sleazier than a lingerie photo shoot that Maxim Magazine would reject as too racy. 

Don't worry folks, she'll retain her crown, but there will be some media training.  Probably a good idea. 

Despite all that cornfed sexiness, wingnut screamer Debbie Schlussel has lied reported that Rima is a "supporter of Hezbollah and used the pageant name at a forum promoting Islamic subjugation of women."   I guess she missed the part where Rima totally rocked her bikini.  Seriously Debbie, Islamic fundamentalism infiltrating American beauty pageants?  And pole dancing contests?  This makes sense to you?  Do you really think the Baby Jesus wants you to make shit up?  Hezbollah is not exactly thrilled with Donald Trump's parade of boobage.

Don't think logic will deter the wingnuts.  Their emerging heroine is 1st runner up Miss Oklahoma.  She's the new Miss California, a beautiful girl who lost because she took a stand against the angry left.  Miss OK was asked about Arizona's new immigration law and answered that she's a "huge believer in states' rights," stumbled around a bit, then smiled.  It was a fairly incomprehensible answer and frankly, so was the question.  Andrew Breitbart babbled that she handled the question "with grace, aplomb, and intelligence. Naturally, she didn’t win."

Something called New York News Today is asking  if "Miss Oklahoma lost Miss USA 2010 crown due to Arizona immigration law?" and "reports" that "it has emerged that" Miss Oklahoma may have lost because of her answer to the immigration question.  It has "emerged?"  Tell me crack reporter, how did this important story "emerge?"  Like Venus from the sea?  Maybe from a hysterical wingnut blog?  Shockingly, Fox News has picked it up.  I'm sure Miss Okie has a great future as a Fox News babe. 
I'm sure this has absolutely nothing to do with the fact that a furrner won Miss USA.  Nothing at all.  Hey, where's her birth certificate anyway?

One more thing; just when you thought this story couldn't get any better, Johnny Weir was a judge!

I'm Back

I'm back from my trip. Thank you for your kind thoughts. Richard was a good friend and fraternity brother for over 30 years and I will certainly miss him.  He fought pancreatic cancer for 15 months, but the fight is now over. 

We scattered his ashes in the Caribbean off St. Thomas, Virgin Islands. That's right, I went to a funeral in the Virgin Islands. It was certainly sad, but Richard made sure we had fun.  On Friday night, his favorite bar, a place for locals on the harbor, closed but for a celebration of Richard's life.  There was lots of Caribbean food, an open bar, live band and many friends from the different parts of his life.  It was a great opportunity to get to know other people Richard had touched.  The next morning, we all boarded a party boat with mimosas and music at 9:00 AM.  Nobody was shy about popping the corks.  We cruised out to a beautiful cove and several people spoke.  Then we scattered the ashes in the sea.  Just when the tears started flowing, somebody cranked up the music and said "the bar is open!"  Richard would not have wanted anyone to be sad.  He planned it well.

Monday's Man: Sam Worthington

I showed up early to the chiropractor the other day and the only magazine he had was the April issue of Details with Sam Worthington on the cover.

It turned out to be more than enough.  When the doc was ready for me, I wasn't quite ready for him.

I didn't have enough time to, ahem, finish reading the article, so I made a follow-up appointment. 

When I decided to feature the Avatar star as Monday's Man, naturally I had to find out if there are any shirtless pics on the web. Thankfully, Sam made a film version of Macbeth set in modern-day Australia.  Here's a taste:

I seriously need to find that on Netflix.  He also took it all off and hopped into the shower in a film called Somersault.  You can view a few shots at this NSFW site.  Don't get too excited, he doesn't show all his goods, but it's definitely worth a look. 

Blog Break

I'll be off for a few days.  I'm going to the funeral of an old friend.  He and I have been friends since I was 18.  He was a very special guy.  He was 51.  Please pray (or whatever you do) for his partner and family and friends. 

His partner asked for someone to say a few words but said he didn't want "anyone weepy." That counts me out!  I'm like Tammy Faye without the mascara.  Usually. 

My hubby will be keeping the home fires burning, but won't be keeping the blog fires burning.  I'll be back in a few days. 

Just in Time for the War on Christmas!

Harper Collins has announced that Sarah Palin's next book is coming out November 23.  It's to be called "America by Heart: Reflections on Family, Faith, and Flag."  Gag me.

Why not?  The first book made her millions and she didn't even have to write it.

Kristin Chenoweth, Cheyenne Jackson, Michael Urie Stand up for Gay Actors

You may have read about the recent Newsweek article by Ramin Setoodeh asserting that openly gay actors can't convincingly play straight (you probably didn't read the actual article since nobody reads Newsweek anymore).  In it, the reportedly gay writer goes after Sean Hayes' performance in Promises, Promises which he calls "wooden and insincere, like he's trying to hide something, which of course he is."  Then, he went after young openly gay actor Jonathan Groff who plays Jesse, Rachel's new love interest in Glee.  He says of Groff's performance, "there's something about his performance that feels off."  He calls Groff "better romantic match for Kurt than Rachel."  Project much Ramin?  Here's Groff in Glee.  Do you buy it?



The only thing that feels "off" is Setoodeh's analysis which seems to have been pulled from his hind quarters. 

Setoodeh notes that Portia de Rossi and Neil Patrick Harris play it straight on TV, but they "inhabit broad caricatures, not realistic characters likes the ones in Up in the Air or even The Proposal."  Really?  Sandra Bullock's tough boss trying to marry her hot male secretary so she could get a green card was realistic?  By this point, his butt must have been sore from all the crap he was pulling out of it.

While jumping all over Tony-nominated Hayes, he seemed to forget about Nathan Lane who's playing Bebe Neuwirth's husband in The Addams Family and played a randy heterosexual, drooling over Ulla in The Producers. I can't count the number of Broadway leading men who are openly gay and give brilliant performances as heteros.  I suppose they all "inhabit broad caricatures."

Hayes' co-star Kristin Chenoweth posted an open letter to Newsweek (sent to my by LC NY Bureau Chief Doug who knows everything there is to know about Broadway).   She let it rip:

 "This article offends me because I am a human being, a woman and a Christian. For example, there was a time when Jewish actors had to change their names because anti-Semites thought no Jew could convincingly play Gentile."

"I know how much it means to young people struggling with their sexuality to see out & proud actors like Sean Hayes, Jonathan Groff, Neil Patrick Harris and Cynthia Nixon succeeding in their work without having to keep their sexuality a secret," she noted, further adding, "I encourage Newsweek to embrace stories which promote acceptance, love, unity and singing and dancing for all!"

Now, openly gay actors Michael Urie and Cheyenne Jackson have spoken out in After Elton.  Here's what Cheyenne had to say:

"It was infuriating on so many levels. Not only does [Setoodeh] say that a gay man can't play straight, he got personal, picking on Sean Hayes in Promises, Promises, [pointing out] certain scenes where he thinks [Sean] is stiff and uncomfortable. And then he picks on Jonathan Groff, who just came out. He's a young teen heartthrob [in Glee]. He's so talented and so delicious and needs our love and support. Instead, [Setoodeh] says he's not believable at all. It was very veiled self-loathing. Really upsetting."


"Everytime we go forward, some asshole like this takes us back a bit. I was really glad that Kristin Chenoweth wrote what she did [in defense of her Promises, Promises co-star Sean Hayes and other openly gay actors]. She sent it to me before it went out and about. I was very proud of her. For me to stand up and say, 'F*ck you,' that's what you'd expect. But for someone like Kristin, she stands up for what she believes in and is very committed."

Here's Urie:
 

"Look, I'm not from f*cking Vienna. We're all actors, and the audiences get it. When I saw Sean Hayes in Promises, Promises, it was a full house and everyone was completely in love with him. And I saw it at a Wednesday matinee full of tourists. They've all seen Sean in Will & Grace, and they loved him and believed in his relationship with Kristin. It worked.
 
And to attack, to quote Ugly Betty, someone [like Groff] recently 'hatched from the gay egg' is unconscionable and he should strung be [up]. [Groff] made everyone want him in Spring Awakening. And Cheyenne was f*cking Elvis in All Shook Up. He was sexy and hot. He's always playing straight. And people buy tickets to see him. No straight critics accuse Sean Penn of not being able to play Harvey Milk or [criticize] Tom Hanks in Philadelphia."

Here's Dan Savage, Amanda Bearse, and Ramin Setoodeh on Joy Behar's show.  I think Setoodeh twists himself into a pretzel trying to justify his arguments about NPH and Jonathan Groff.  Bearse held his feet to the fire:



Is it my imagination or did Ramin and Joy just subtly out Hugh Jackman?

Kurt's Turn

If you missed last night's Glee, you've got to watch Kurt (Chris Colfer) do Rose's Turn.  I'm so excited that the show is focusing on him.  He's terrifically talented and the next break-out star:



Now he needs a boyfriend.

Rekers Hired at Urging of FL Atty Gen McCollum

Florida Attorney General and Republican candidate for Governor Bill McCollum is taking increasing heat for paying $120,000 to George Alan Rekers to testify in a court challenge to the state's gay ban.  McCollum has tried to place the blame for hiring Rekers on the Department of Children and Families, and his spokesperson said DCF selected him.  Today, the Florida Tribune has reported that McCollum personally urged the state to hire Rekers. 

"McCollum wrote a July 2007 letter to then DCF Secretary Bob Butterworth where he said his legal team “strongly” recommended the hiring of Rekers, a psychologist once on the faculty of the University of South Carolina and who helped found the Family Research Council back in the ‘80s.


“They believe that this expert and his testimony are necessary to ensure a successful result in this case,’’ wrote McCollum in the letter obtained by the Florida Tribune.

McCollum in his letter noted that initially DCF refused to hire Rekers, due primarily to the potential cost of his fees. Instead the child welfare agency wanted to only hire Walter Schumm, a professor of family studies at Kansas State University.

“Dr. Schumm is a good expert, but his areas of expertise are different from Dr. Rekers,’’ wrote McCollum. “Our attorneys handling this case have searched long and hard for other expert witnesses with comparable expertise to Dr. Rekers and have been unable to identify any who would be available for this case."

McCollum knew or should have known that Rekers' testimony had been found to have no credibility by a Florida circuit judge and by the Arkansas Supreme Court.  He also knew or should have known that Rekers' theories about gays have long since been debunked.  He urged his hiring at $120,000 in taxpayer money anyway. 
More at Joe.My.God

Huntington's Breakthrough!

My regular readers know that the fight against Huntington's Disease is a cause near and dear to my heart.  The NBC Nightly News recently reported on a potential breakthrough.  The report begins at the 14 minute mark:

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You can find more information about Huntington's (and an opportunity to donate!) here. 

Elena Kagan Nominated for Supreme Court

President Obama has nominated Elena Kagan for the Supreme Court.  She is the US Solicitor General and served as the Dean of the Harvard Law School.

She has never served as a judge, which is not a qualification for the position, but her written record is thinner than other candidates.  Glen Grenwald has been outspoken about his reservations of her based on her public record, but James Doty dismisses those concerns as Kagan's advocacy for her clients. 

There have been reports that Kagan is a lesbian, which were shot down by the White House.  If she is an open lesbian, this would be a historic pick.

UPDATE:  President Obama sent out a mass email this afternoon urging support for Kagan and including a link to the new Kagan for Justice page.  Here's his video:

Lena Horne: 1917-2010

The legendary Lena Horne has died at the age of 92.  She lived a long, full, fascinating life. 

She was the first black performer to be signed to a long term contract my a major Hollywood studio.  Once signed, MGM seemingly didn't know what to do with her:

Ms. Horne was stuffed into one “all-star” musical after another — “Thousands Cheer” (1943), “Broadway Rhythm” (1944), “Two Girls and a Sailor” (1944), “Ziegfeld Follies” (1946), “Words and Music” (1948) — to sing a song or two that could easily be snipped from the movie when it played in the South, where the idea of an African-American performer in anything but a subservient role in a movie with an otherwise all-white cast was unthinkable.
“The only time I ever said a word to another actor who was white was Kathryn Grayson in a little segment of ‘Show Boat’ ” included in “Till the Clouds Roll By” (1946), a movie about the life of Jerome Kern, Ms. Horne said in an interview in 1990.

She toured Army camps during WWII, entertaining the troops.  She spoke out about the treatment of black soldiers.  While touring with the USO during World War II, she was expected to entertain the white soldiers before appearing before African American troops.  The LA Times said:

A day after performing for white soldiers in a large auditorium at Ft. Riley, Kan., she returned to entertain black troops in the black mess hall.
But when she discovered that the whites seated in the front rows were German prisoners of war, she became furious. Marching off the platform, she turned her back on the POWs and sang to the black soldiers in the back of the hall.


She worked mostly in TV and live performing in the 60s and 70s, returning to the screen to do one more film, The Wiz in 1978.  She played Glinda the Good Witch. IN 1981, she was a smash on Broadway with the Tony winning Lena Horne:  The Lady and her Music. 

The man she credited with her musical ability was Billy Strayhorn, Duke Ellington's associate.  As the NY Times said:


“I wasn’t born a singer,” she told Strayhorn’s biographer, David Hajdu. “I had to learn a lot. Billy rehearsed me. He stretched me vocally.” Strayhorn occasionally worked as her accompanist and, she said, “taught me the basics of music, because I didn’t know anything.”


Strayhorn was also, she said, “the only man I ever loved,” but Strayhorn was openly gay, and their close friendship never became a romance. “He was just everything that I wanted in a man,” she told Mr. Hajdu, “except he wasn’t interested in me sexually.”


She is survived by her daughter.
 
Of course, the best way to celebrate her life is through her music:
 

Monday's Man: Simon Baker

I love handsome Simon Baker of The Mentalist.  I even watched the awful Hilary Swank flick, The Affair of the Necklace because he was in it (and he was delicious).  Now, Boy Culture has uncovered a 1992 video for the song Love You Right from the Austrialian band Euphoria.  It feathers a young Simon Baker dancing in jeans and nothing else.  That's right, Simon Baker dancing shirtless.  Watch.  It gets really good about the 2 minute mark. 



Hold me tight, Simon Baker.  How many times have I said that? 

Betty White Does SNL

If you didn't catch Betty White on SNL last night, you missed the best episode in years.  Here's my favorite part, the Muffin sketch.  Betty is one naughty girl:

Rekers Was Paid $120,000 in Florida Tax Dollars

Earlier, I posted that Family Research Council founder and rent boy procurer Rev. Dr. George Rekers was paid $87,000 by the Florida Attorney General's office to testify in a challenge to the state's gay adoption ban.  That was bad enough.  In fact, Rekers was paid $120,000 and his cohort, Walter Schumm, was paid an additional $36,000 to spread malicious, debunked theories about gay parenting.  Even worse, Florida Attorney General and GOP candidate for governor, Bill McCollum, has tried to pawn this off on the Department of Children and Families, even though the money was paid from the Attorney General's accounting department.  You can visit McCollum's campaign Facebook page here and express your thoughts on this matter.  You can also go here and sign the Equality Florida petition to hold McCollum accountable.

Via Joe.My.God

Rekers' Rent Boy Speaks

Joe.My.God has been all over the story of George Rekers, the Family Research Council founder who was caught traveling to Europe with a young man he hired from Rentboy.com.  The young man spoke to Joe last night, confirmed his "long stroke" nude massages and said of Rekers:

"So it was definitely sexual for him?" I asked. "Oh, for sure!" he replied. And in that way that 20 year-olds speak, he added, "He was definitely totally gay for me."

Read the whole fascinating piece here. 

USC Erases George Rekers

First, the Family Research Council erased rent boy patron, "ex-gay" "expert," and FRC founder George Rekers from their website as if he never existed.  Then FRC pretty boy Tony Perkins pretended to have no idea who he was.  Now the University of South Carolina medical school, which until yesterday featured Rekers as a professor emeritus, has scrubbed him from the site.   So it was OK to feature him as a distinguished professor emeritus while he was spreading his discredited lies about gay people, ruining gay lives and ripping apart gay families but it's not OK now that he's been caught with a rent boy? 
Um...go Cocks? 

I went to USC for law school.  How embarassing.

Colbert on Rekers and his Rent Boy

I can't get the video to load on this site, but you've got to go here and see Stephen Colbert take on the Rev. Dr. George Rekers and his rent boy.

Los Suns

The Phoenix Suns are expressing their solidarity with Arizona's Latino community and protesting the state's new anti-immigrant law by wearing "Los Suns" jerseys for Cinco de Mayo.  They'll be wearing them for tonight's game against the San Antonio Spurs.  This is what Steve Nash said about it:

"I think it's fantastic," Nash said after Tuesday's practice. "I think the law is very misguided. I think it's, unfortunately, to the detriment of our society and our civil liberties. I think it's very important for us to stand up for things we believe in. As a team and as an organization, we have a lot of love and support for all of our fans. The league is very multicultural. We have players from all over the world, and our Latino community here is very strong and important to us."

Rekers Paid $87,000 by Florida Taxpayers to Fight Gay Adoption

Did you wonder how Reverend Dr. George Rekers got the dough to finance a 10-day trip to Europe with a rent boy?  It may be the $87,000 tax dollars he and an associate were paid by Florida Attorney General Bill McCollum to testify in a recent court challenge to the state's ban on gay adoption.  According to Equality Florida:

"McCollum paid Rekers and a colleague t$87,000 for testimony that called gay people mentally unstable and advised that the ban should be expanded to include Native Americans because, Rekers claimed, they are also at much higher risk of mental illness and substance abuse.
“They would tend to hang around each other,” Rekers testified. “So the children would be around a lot of other Native Americans who are … doing the same sorts of things.”

Nadine Smith, Equality Florida's Executive Director, said:

"It is disgraceful that the attorney general used taxpayer dollars to compensate this discredited bigot-for-hire," said Smith. "It shows just how low they have to scrape to find anyone even willing to defend this awful ban that denies children permanent loving homes."

Read more here and here. 

The picture at top is from the Miami New Times, which broke this story.  It's of Rekers and his rent boy at Miami International Airport, returning from the jaunt to Europe.  Keep in mind that Rekers said he hired the rent boy to carry his luggage because he couldn't do any heavy lifting. 

Outrageous.

Rekers Eraced From FRC History

Wow.  That was fast.  Joe.My.God has found that the anti-gay Family Research Council has scrubbed any mention of co-founder George Rekers from his website in the wake of his rent boy scandal.  On Rekers' own site, he brags that he was a founder of FRC and includes a link to FRC's site so you can read more about it.  Follow that link and you find nothing about Rekers.  It's as if their founder never existed.  That's what happens to homosexuals in their world when they are outed.  They disappear.  They just want them to go away so they can pretend they don't exist. 

Family Research Council Founder and NARTH Board Member Caught With Rent Boy

George Alan Rekers, a founder, along with James Dobson, of the Family Research Council, was caught returning to Miami from a 10-day trip to Europe with a young man he hired from rentboy.com, according to the Miami New Times.  The rent boy, called Lucien in the article, had all expenses paid by Rekers.  Rekers is a Baptist minister and a leading voice in the fight against gay adoption and marriage equality.  According to the article:

"Rekers is a board member of the National Association for Research & Therapy of Homosexuality (NARTH), an organization that systematically attempts to turn gay people straight. And the Huffington Post recently singled out Rekers as a member of the American College of Pediatricians — an official-sounding outfit in Gainesville that purveys lurid, youth-directed literature accusing gays of en masse coprophilia. (In an email, the college's Lisa Hawkins wrote, "ACPeds feels privileged to have a scholar of Dr. Rekers' stature affiliated with our organization. I am sure you will find Prof. Rekers to be an immaculate clinician/scholar, and a warm human being.")"

According to the article, both Rekers and Lucien admit that they met through rentboy.com.  Hilariously, Rekers claims that he only hired Lucien to lift his bags because he had surgery and can't handle heavy lifting.  The New Times easily debunks this:

"To arrive at Lucien's site, Rekers must have accepted Rentboy.com's terms of use, thereby acknowledging he was not offended by graphic sexual material. He then would have been transported to a front page covered with images of naked, tumescent men busily sodomizing each other.  Then Rekers must have performed a search. Did he want a "rentboy," a "sugar daddy," or a "masseur"? In what country? And what city? If Rekers searched for a rent boy in Miami, he would have found approximately 80 likely candidates. He must have scrolled down the first page, past the shirtless bears and desperate ex-models, and on to page 2. There, at last, was Lucien."

Seems like a lot trouble to go to to hire somebody to pick up your suitcase. 

Maybe someday people will realize that the anti-gay right is filled with repressed homosexuals who can't deal with their personal issues in an adult way and therefore project their self-loathing onto the rest of society.  These people are disgusting. 

More about Rekers at Truth Wins Out.

Tony Noms!

The Tony Nominations were announced this morning by Lea Michele and Jeff Daniels.  I dragged Wes out of bed and we watched it live on Tonyawards.com.  Fela! and La Cage aux Folles led with 11 nominations each.  Next Fall, which reduced me to tears, was nominated for Best Play, but tragically, none of its talented cast was honored.  Cheyenne Jackson, who received a Drama Desk nomination for Finian's Rainbow, was also snubbed by Tony.  As LC NY Bureau Chief Doug said, "who does he have to blow to get a nomination?"  I volunteer. 

Here's the complete list:

BEST PLAY
"In the Next Room or the Vibrator Play"
"Next Fall"
"Red"
"Time Stands Still"
BEST MUSICAL

"American Idiot"
"Fela!"
"Memphis"
"Million Dollar Quartet"
BEST BOOK OF MUSICAL

"Everyday Rapture," Dick Scanlan and Sherie Rene Scott
"Fela!," Jim Lewis and Bill T. Jones
"Memphis," Joe DiPietro
"Million Dollar Quartet," Colin Escott and Floyd Mutrux
BEST ORIGINAL SCORE (MUSIC AND/OR LYRICS) WRITTEN FOR THE THEATRE

"The Addams Family," Music & lyrics: Andrew Lippa
"Enron," Music: Adam Cork; Lyrics: Lucy Prebble
"Fences," Music: Branford Marsalis
"Memphis," Music: David Bryan; Lyrics: Joe DiPietro, David Bryan

BEST REVIVAL OF A PLAY

"Fences"
"Lend Me a Tenor"
"The Royal Family"
"A View from the Bridge"
BEST REVIVAL OF A MUSICAL

"Finian's Rainbow"
"La Cage aux Folles"
"A Little Night Music"
"Ragtime"

BEST ACTOR IN A MUSICAL

Kelsey Grammer, "La Cage aux Folles"
Sean Hayes, "Promises, Promises"
Douglas Hodge,"La Cage aux Folles"
Chad Kimball, "Memphis"
Sahr Ngaujah, "Fela!"

BEST ACTRESS IN A MUSICAL

Kate Baldwin, "Finian's Rainbow"
Montego Glover, "Memphis"
Christiane Noll, "Ragtime"
Sherie Rene Scott, "Everyday Rapture"
Catherine Zeta-Jones, "A Little Night Music"

BEST ACTOR IN A PLAY

Jude Law, "Hamlet"
Alfred Molina, "Red"
Liev Schreiber, "A View from the Bridge"
Christopher Walken, "A Behanding in Spokane"
Denzel Washington, "Fences"

BEST ACTRESS IN A PLAY

Viola Davis, "Fences"
Valerie Harper, "Looped"
Linda Lavin, "Collected Stories"
Laura Linney, "Time Stands Still"
Jan Maxwell, "The Royal Family"

BEST PERFORMANCE BY A FEATURED ACTOR IN A PLAY

David Alan Grier, "Race"
Stephen McKinley Henderson, "Fences"
Jon Michael Hill, "Superior Donuts"
Stephen Kunken, "Enron"
Eddie Redmayne, "Red"

BEST PERFORMANCE BY A FEATURED ACTRESS IN A PLAY

Maria Dizzia, "In the Next Room or the Vibrator Play"
Rosemary Harris, "The Royal Family"
Jessica Hecht, "A View from the Bridge"
Scarlett Johansson, "A View from the Bridge"
Jan Maxwell, "Lend Me a Tenor"

BEST PERFORMANCE BY A FEATURED ACTOR IN A MUSICAL

Kevin Chamberlin, "The Addams Family"
Robin De Jesus, "La Cage aux Folles"
Christopher Fitzgerald, "Finian's Rainbow"
Levi Kreis, "Million Dollar Quartet"
Bobby Steggert, "Ragtime"

BEST PERFORMANCE BY A FEATURED ACTRESS IN A MUSICAL

Barbara Cook, "Sondheim on Sondheim"
Katie Finneran, "Promises, Promises"
Angela Landsbury, "A Little Night Music"
Karine Plantadit, "Come Fly Away"
Lillias White, "Fela!"

BEST DIRECTION OF A PLAY

Michael Grandage, "Red"
Sheryl Kaller, "Next Fall"
Kenny Leon, "Fences"
Gregory Mosher,"A View from the Bridge"

BEST DIRECTION OF A MUSICAL

Christopher Ashley, "Memphis"
Marcia Milgrom Dodge, "Ragtime"
Terry Johnson, "La Cage aux Folles"
Bill T. Jones, "Fela!"

BEST CHOREOGRAPHY

Rob Ashford, "Promises, Promises"
Bill T. Jones, "Fela!"
Lynne Page, "La Cage aux Folles"
Twyla Tharp, "Come Fly Away"

BEST ORCHESTRATIONS

Jason Carr, "La Cage aux Folles"
Aaron Johnson, "Fela!"
Jonathan Tunick, "Promises, Promises"
Daryl Waters and David Bryan, "Memphis"

BEST SCENIC DESIGN OF A PLAY

John Lee Beauty, "The Royal Family"
Alexander Dodge, "Present Laughter"
Santo Loquasto, "Fences"
Christopher Oram, "Red"

BEST SCENIC DESIGN OF A MUSICAL

Marina Draghici, "Fela!"
Christine Jones, "American Idiot"
Derek McLane, "Ragtime"
Tim Shortall, "La Cage aux Folles"

BEST COSTUME DESIGN OF A PLAY

Martin Pakledinaz, "Lend Me a Tenor"
Constanza Romero, "Fences"
David Zinn, "In the Next Room or the Vibrator Play"
Catherine Zuber, "The Royal Family"

BEST COSTUME DESIGN OF A MUSICAL

Marina Draghici, "Fela!"
Santo Loquasto, "Ragtime"
Paul Tazwell, "Memphis"
Matthew Wright, "La Cage aux Folles"

BEST LIGHTING DESIGN OF A PLAY

Neil Austin, "Hamlet"
Neil Austin, "Red"
Mark Henderson, "Enron"
Brian MacDevitt, "Fences"

BEST LIGHTING DESIGN OF A MUSICAL

Kevin Adams, "American Idiot"
Donald Holder, "Ragtime"
Nick Richings, "La Cage aux Folles"
Robert Wierzel, "Fela!"

BEST SOUND DESIGN OF A PLAY

Acme Sound Partners, "Fences"
Adam Cork, "Enron"
Adam Cork, "Red"
Scott Lehrer, "A View from the Bridge"

BEST SOUND DESIGN OF A MUSICAL

Jonathan Deans, "La Cage aux Folles"
Robert Kaplowitz, "Fela!"
Dan Moses Schreier and Gareth Owen, "A Little Night Music"
Dan Moses Schreier, "Sondheim on Sondheim"

SPECIAL TONY AWARD FOR LIFETIME ACHIEVEMENT IN THE THEATRE

Alan Ayckbourn and Marian Seldes

REGIONAL THEATRE TONY AWARD

The Eugene O'Neill Theater Center, Waterford, Conn.

ISABELLE STEVENSON AWARD

David Hyde Pierce

TONY HONORS FOR EXCELLENCE IN THE THEATRE

Alliance of Resident Theatres/New York
B.H. Barry
Tom Viola

US Immigrant From Pakistan Arrested in Times Square Bomb Case

Federal agents and New York detectives have arrested a naturalized US citizen from Pakistan in connection with the Times Square bombing.  Faisal Shahzad is believed to have recently bought the 1993 Nissan Pathfinder used in the attack.  He was arrested at Kennedy Airport, apparently trying to flee the US.  He had recently returned from a trip to Pakistan.  Read all about it here. 

Obama vs. Leno: Who's Funnier?

If you have about 38 minutes, watch this clip from last weekend's White House Correspondent's Dinner.  President Obama killed!  Professional comedian Jay Leno?  Not so much.  Maybe his lesbian bondage bit was worth a chuckle, but otherwise Conan must be kicking himself thinking "I lost to that guy?"

Lynn Redgrave: 1943-2010

Lynn Redgrave has died at the too-young age of 67.  She had battled breast cancer for years.  During her long career, she was twice nominated for the Academy Award and three times for the Tony.  At the Oscars, she was nominated for the Best Actress for Georgy Girl and was robbed of Best Supporting Actress for Gods and Monsters.  She was nominated for Tonys for Mrs. Warren's Profession, Shakespeare for My Father and The Constant Wife.  She was the daughter of  Michael Redgrave and Rachel Kempson and the younger sister of Vanessa Redgrave. 

Her final stage appearance was in the play Nightingale, which she wrote.  The AP wrote this of her performance:

"Redgrave, a cancer survivor, sits at a desk ... and works from a script because of what has been described as an unspecified medical ailment — but not a recurrence of cancer — requiring immediate treatment. It doesn't affect her touching, beautifully realized performance."


"And reading gives the evening an almost storybook quality in which it seems as if the actress, buoyed by a radiant smile, has gathered a few good friends to hear her reminisce about this formidable woman — mother of Rachel, mother-in-law of Michael and grandmother to Lynn, Vanessa and Corin."

She is survived by six grandchildren, her sister Vanessa, and four nieces and nephews.

Taliban Claim Responsibility for Times Square Bomb; No Evidence Claim is True

A Pakistani sect of the Taliban allegedly claimed credit for Saturday's failed car bomb attack on Times Square.  A one minute video was released in which a group claiming to be the Taliban says the bomb was in retaliation for the killings of al Qaida leaders in Iraq.  Mayor Bloomberg said that there is no evidence the Taliban or al Qaeda was involved.  Homeland Security chief Napolitano said that authorities are looking for a white man in his 40s who was seen on video tape leaving the area.  He is not a suspect, but may be a witness.

Monday's Man: Rahm Emanuel

NY LC Bureau Chief doug alerted me to this link to pictures from the Vanity Vair White House Correspondent's dinner after party. While asking myself the obvious question of why Vanity Fair is having a party for all the political geeks and their loyal scribes, I came across this picture of White House Chief of Staff Rahm Emanuel in his athletic cut tuxcedo shirt sans undershirt.  The former ballet dancer still has the dancer's body. 

 I've been moving in non-political directions lately, but seeing Rahm in all his lean, powerful glory makes me re-think that.

I've found no skin pics yet, but I'm looking.  Can't he accompany the Obamas to Hawaii and go to the beach in his swimwear?  Just once? 

Hold the Soy Milk

She should team up with the "Just keep fuking that chicken" guy:



Maybe soy really does make you gay. 

Via Kenneth in the 212