Danno is Dead

James MacArthur, the actor who played Danny "Danno" Williams on Hawaii Five-O, has died at the age of 72.  The cute, boyish actor was the son of Helen Hayes and playwright Charles MacArthur.  He acted on Hawaii Five-O for 11 years of its 12-year run.  He also made a number of movies including Swiss Family Robinson.  He is survived by is wife, Helen Beth Duntz, four children and seven grandchildren.  He was previously married to game show queen Joyce Bulifant and actress Melody Patterson. 

Quote of the Day

"And it's funny because, you know, gay men have to - they're put sort of a crucible. And I'm speak - you know, it's not - I'm just taking liberty in saying this. Gay men have to go through something to own their - who they are. They get beat up. They get ostracized. Whatever they go through, if they survive it, they come out very confident people.
They come out having been tested and having to really figure out who they are to get through it, because I think that's how you get through any kind of a test is by really finding your strengths and believing in yourself. So a lot of gay people who are still standing and still strong, that's who they are.


Heterosexual men have never been put through that test. We don't get - nobody goes, oh, my God, you like women? And you don't have to defend it for your whole life. So we're not so sure about our sexuality. I think that's one reason why heterosexual men attack gay people or are afraid of them because they're now confident and they've gone through this, but we don't know who we are sexually. We're a mess. So I think that that's why the two sides of the sexual barrier is such an interesting - it's such an interesting conflict."

--Comedian Louis C.K. on Fresh Air

Via Andrew Sullivan

Clint McCance Apologizes

Anderson Cooper interviewed the Arkansas school board member who posted a hate-filled rant on Facebook:


For me, the most interesting part comes at the end when Cooper asks McCance what he would do if one of his children turned out to be gay.

UPDATE:  Dr. Phil isn't buying anything McCance says:

Randy Roberts Potts: It Gets Better

Oral Roberts' gay grandson has a message for his Uncle Ronnie, Oral's gay son who took his own life in 1982:

Dan Choi on Love and Honesty

Dan Choi, open and honest, speaks movingly of love, his partner, and the importance of being out:



Via Mark Ambinder

Charlie Crist Throws a Ball

No comment.

h/t, LC NY Bureau Chief Doug.

TX TV News Question: "Do You Think This Country's Acceptance of Homosexuality Could Lead To Its Downfall?"

It is truly unbelievable that in the year 2010 a mainstream NBC news program would present this segment:



The station is KETK in Tyler, Texas and the radio station is KTBB.  You can go to KTBB.com and vote in it's poll here.  Scroll down and look for "talkback."  KETK's web site is here and, as of now, there is a link to this ugly story.  There's also a Facebook protest page here. 

I have a friend who jokes that every gay person is from Tyler, Texas.  When you live in Dallas, it sometimes seems that way.  It's incredible how many gay people come from there.  I can understand why they leave. 

Via Joe.My.God

UPDATE:  The station manager of KTBB radio has apologized.  Here it is:

The Talkback question that aired on KTBB Radio and was simulcast on KETK NBC 56 television in Tyler on Wednesday, October 27 was unfortunate in its wording and unfortunate in the perception that it created among a large number of thoughtful individuals. The question, “Will the acceptance of homosexuality lead to the fall of America?” is poorly worded at best and inappropriate altogether at worst. For that, we apologize.
There are many issues surrounding homosexuality that are fair game for discussion in the media and in opinion journalism. The proper role, if any, for openly gay individuals in the military, the legitimacy of same-sex marriages and the public behavior by some individuals at gay and lesbian events held outdoors in public view are among topics about which reasonable people may disagree. These and other topics surrounding homosexuality are topics that talk radio hosts and opinion journalists may legitimately pose to their respective audiences.
With that said, the way our Talkback question was posed might be seen as asking, “Do homosexuals, by their very existence, threaten to bring down America?” We believe that such a question, posed in such a manner, is likely to generate more heat than light.

I understand how those who either heard, or heard about, KTBB’s Talkback question on Wednesday might have been offended. For the offense that was taken, we sincerely apologize.

Paul L. Gleiser, President

KTBB Radio

Senator Goes to Heaven

LC NY Bureau Chief Doug sent me this joke which is a must-read for election season.

An elderly Southern senator was relaxing in his vast mansion, fondly remembering the year 2010 when the Tea Party elevated his profile to kingmaker, when his heart stopped and he died peacefully.  He was 110 and had outlived all of his contemporaries.  He went to heaven where St. Peter was a bit startled to see him.  He wasn't on that day's in-processing list, but Peter was a pro and quickly recovered.

"Welcome to Heaven," said St. Peter.  "We don't get prominent men like yourself very often, so we'd like to offer you a choice.  You get to vote on where you'd like to spend eternity, Heaven or Hell.

"But I already know," said the Senator.  "I was a man of God.  I want to stay in Heaven."

"Don't be so hasty," said Peter.  "The Big Guy would like you to spend 24 hours in Hell followed by 24 hours in Heaven.  That way you can make an informed vote.  This is His way of honoring you, after all you were a United States Senator and the first Emperor of the Holy Empire of Carolina and Georgia.  He's really quite insistent."

"Well, I guess he knows better.  All right, send me to Hell," said the Senator.

With that, Peter ushered him to the elevator where the Senator went down, down, down, down...down some more until he reached Hell.  The elevator doors opened and there before him was an astoundingly beautiful green golf course.  It was beyond imagination.  There were vast banks of blooming azaleas and dogwood.  The fairways were like silk and the greens like glass.  It put the Augusta National, where the Senator played often, to shame.  Then, the Senator noticed all his old friends who had helped him gain power.  There was Glen Beck and Pat Robertson.  There was Sarah Palin in a cute little golf skirt.  There was Tony Perkins of the Family Research Council in a cute little golf skirt.  Christine O'Donnell appeared with a tray of mint juleps in silver cups.  The Senator never touched demon whiskey, of course, but what the hell, he took one and it was delicious.  Then, Satan drove up in a golden golf cart with a set of vintage Ping Zings in the back.  Satan looked sort of like Chase Crawford, only more handsome.  The Senator couldn't help noticing how the ribbed sleeves of his polo shirt hugged his biceps.  He tried to look away from temptation, but Satan put his arm around his shoulders and said "let's play a round, shall we?"

It was the most amazing round of the Senator's life.  His drives were powerful, he sank every putt.  When it was over, everyone retired to the club house, which looked for all the world like 12 Oaks before the Yankees ruined everything.  They dined on champagne, lobster, decadant chocolate and the best Cuban cigars. 

Before he knew it, the Senator's 24 hours were up and he had to ride the elevator back to heaven.  His day in heaven was spent floating on clouds with blandly pretty people playing harps all day.  What a bore.  After a few hours, he was Jonseing for one of Christine O'Donnell's mint juleps.

At the end of his day in Heaven, St. Peter approached the Senator and asked how he would like to vote.

"Well, St. Peter," said the Senator.  "I never thought I'd say this, but I really believe I belong in Hell.  I mean, Heaven is nice and all and I mean no offense, but I want to go to Hell."

"Never let it be said that your vote doesn't count," said St. Peter.  "Off you go."

The Senator got back on the elevator to Hell.  This time, the door opened onto a ruined landscape.  It was barren and bleak and baking hot.  All of his friends were trudging along, dragging trash bags and picking up garbage that was eternally falling from the grey sky.  Satan approached.  This time, he looked more Broderick Crawford than Chase Crawford.

"What happened?" said the Senator.  "Where is the golf course and the clubhouse?  What happened to your biceps?"

Satan smiled, revealing jagged, black teeth.

"Yesterday we were campaigning. Today, you voted.." 

Everybody vote next week!

John Shelby Spong's Manifesto

Bishop John Shelby Spong posted this stirring piece a year ago, but if you haven't read it, you must.  If you have read it, read it again.  An excerpt:

"I have made a decision. I will no longer debate the issue of homosexuality in the church with anyone. I will no longer engage the biblical ignorance that emanates from so many right-wing Christians about how the Bible condemns homosexuality, as if that point of view still has any credibility. I will no longer discuss with them or listen to them tell me how homosexuality is "an abomination to God," about how homosexuality is a "chosen lifestyle," or about how through prayer and "spiritual counseling" homosexual persons can be "cured." Those arguments are no longer worthy of my time or energy. I will no longer dignify by listening to the thoughts of those who advocate "reparative therapy," as if homosexual persons are somehow broken and need to be repaired. I will no longer talk to those who believe that the unity of the church can or should be achieved by rejecting the presence of, or at least at the expense of, gay and lesbian people. I will no longer take the time to refute the unlearned and undocumentable claims of certain world religious leaders who call homosexuality "deviant." I will no longer listen to that pious sentimentality that certain Christian leaders continue to employ, which suggests some version of that strange and overtly dishonest phrase that "we love the sinner but hate the sin." That statement is, I have concluded, nothing more than a self-serving lie designed to cover the fact that these people hate homosexual persons and fear homosexuality itself, but somehow know that hatred is incompatible with the Christ they claim to profess, so they adopt this face-saving and absolutely false statement."

It's worth reading every word. 

Pay Attention to My Hands, Mister

This video love-letter in sign language is cute, sweet, and sexy. 



via Towleroad.

It Gets Better Broadway

h/t LC NY Bureau Chief Doug

Rachel Maddow on Joe Miller's Ex-Gay Connection

Monday's Man: C.J. Wilson

In honor of the Texas Rangers advancing to the World Series, I present relief pitcher (I had to look that up) C. J. Wilson.  Cute as hell, right?

Turns out that C.J. isn't just another good looking professional athlete.  This lefty is a pretty interesting guy.  He stirred up a bit of controversy in 2008 when he expressed his support of Obama and his interest in politics and said he couldn't talk politics with anyone on his team because none of them were interested.  If only I had known.  I love to talk politics! 

 He's also a devoted Taoist who lives what he calls a "straight edge" life, i.e., a life in which one "abstains from alcohol, illegal drugs, and promiscuous sex in order to maintain a healthy and poison-free body." 

I thought you wouldn't mind a rear view of his poison-free body. 

Even better with facial hair. 

UPDATE:  Kenneth in the 212 has posted a fun exchange between a reporter and hot SF Giants player Brian Wilson regarding CJ.  Check it out here. 

My What I Plan to do When I Win the Lottery List

LC reader  and college friend AC posted her lottery win list on her blog, A Bit South of Normal.  It got me thinking about what I would to (although I'd have to start by actually buying lottery tickets).  Never mind that lottery tickets are a sin in Texas and South Carolina and are only legal because demons from Hell possessed enough legislators to make it so (I was raised a SC Episcopalian, so we don't do sin), here's my list:

1.  Find that mysterious Huntington's Disease hospital in Italy where Thirteen from House ran off for treatment.
2.  By a wing for Wes.
3.  Buy myself a luxurious villa convenient to said HD hospital with the Wes Wing. 
4.  Hire Rob Lowe to be Wes' Wes Wing personal orderly (I crack myself up). 
5.  Hire Jake Gyllenhaal as our villa pool boy.  Merely for the visuals.  Don't get any ideas.  Now, if he and Rob get any ideas, far be it from me to stand in the way.  With a video camera.  An HD video camera.  With a zoom lens.  And good lighting.   
6.  Hire the Komen Foundation's PR folks and make HD the next breast cancer.
7.  Hire the Turtle Creek Chorale to do a Sing for the HD cure concert in the Roman Coliseum.
8.  Buy a fleet of Alfa Romeos for the patients in the Wes Wing to go on excursions.
9.  Stock up on insanely expensive champagne for the day when we...
10.  Actually find a cure for HD.   

Gold's Gym CEO Gives Heavily to Rove's PAC

You might want to re-think that Gold's Gym membership.  Robert Rowling, CEO of TRT Holdings, which owns Gold's, gave $2 million to American Crossroads, which has vowed to spend $65 million to oust Democratic majorities in Congress. Here's what Change.org had to say:

"Among the candidates that the owner of Gold's Gym is working to elect include Nevada GOP senate candidate Sharron Angle, who is challenging Sen. Harry Reid. Angle, you might recall, has previously said that women who are raped should turn their lemons into lemonade, and that LGBT people should be barred from adopting children. And that's only the tip of iceberg. In years past, Sharron Angle put her blessing behind an insert that went out to voters that said homosexuality would lead to the destruction of the United States, and called gay people "sodomites" and "perverts." She even endorsed a statement that said there was no evidence to suggest homosexuality was biological, and that scientists who argue otherwise are flawed.



Thanks, Gold's Gym!


But Sharron Angle isn't the only candidate that American Crossroads is supporting. There's also Rep. Roy Blunt in Missouri, who is currently running for an open U.S. Senate seat in the state. Blunt has a whopping 0% rating from the Human Rights Campaign when it comes to legislation focused on the LGBT community, and has voted against the Employment Nondiscrimination Act (ENDA), in favor of a constitutional amendment banning same-sex marriage, and in favor of banning gay adoptions in Washington, D.C. And in his current campaign for U.S. Senate, he's made the preservation of the Defense of Marriage Act (DOMA) a hot issue, suggesting that if he loses his race, DOMA will die and gay people will be allowed to get married all over the country. Ah, the horror!

Once again, thank you, Gold's Gym."

I wonder what percentage of Gold's membership is gay?   

Nancy Pelosi: It Gets Better

So, President Obama, Secretary of State Clinton and now Speaker Pelosi have posted videos to the It Gets Better Project.  Have any prominent Republicans done so?   

Fort Worth City Councilman Joel Burns

Many people have posted this amazing speech from Fort Worth's openly-gay city councilman, but it absolutely bears viewing again. 



joelburns.com

Rangers Advance to World Series

OMFG, people, the Texas Rangers just beat the Yankees in some bizarre algorithm of playoff wins and losses to clinch a spot at the World Series.  Don't ask me how it all works, all I know is the World Series will be played right here in Dallas.  OK, Arlington, but close enough. 

The Rangers have never even been to the playoffs!  The Yankees pay their worst player more than the entire defense budget of France, yet the poor, provincial Rangers beat them. 

Just in case you're thinking I've become some sort of sports nut, I didn't watch the game tonight.  Instead, I went to a production of the Pet Shop Boys musical, Closer to Heaven.  Somehow, I found shirtless guys dancing to Pet Shop Boys music more interesting than a baseball game. 

Git an Eyeful, Honey?

I'm actually Facebook friends with the fabulous actress Ann Walker who played LaVonda DuPree on Sordid Lives!  Shouldn't she have a fan page from the overwhelming demand for friends?  Maybe people the gays haven't discovered she's on Facebook yet.

UDATE:  Ann (I call her Ann since we're tight) responded via Facebook:  ?Thanks doll, not there yet but I do have a fan page....I just don't know where it is? I'll try to figure it out. No, I'm not blonde!"

Someone I'll Never Meet

That's the title of the new CD from my favorite Austin singer-songwriter, Christine Cochran.  Check it out on Pandora here. 

The Turtle Creek Chorale: It Get's Better

The Turtle Creek Chorale and filmmaker Israel Luna produced this beautiful piece for the It Gets Better campaign.  The TCC is the gay mens' chorus of Dallas and my husband Wes is one of the singers.  The video also features the SMU chorus.  I was in the audience that night calling out "it gets better" with everyone else.  Also in the audience that night were kids from Cedar Hill and Highland Park High Schools.  Watch:

President Obama: It Get's Better

Say what you will about the President's record on gay rights (and I have many times), but for the President of the United States to speak directly to gay kids from the White House is huge.  This came on the same day as new Pentagon rules requiring service secretary approval for any discharge under Don't Ask/Don't Tell. 

"In a memorandum dated Oct. 21, Mr. Gates said that “until further notice,” only five senior Defense Department officials, all civilians, would have the authority to expel openly gay service members. As the memo explained it, the relevant service secretary — either the Secretary of the Army, Navy or Air Force — has to consult with the Pentagon’s legal counsel, Jeh C. Johnson, and the undersecretary for personnel, Clifford L. Stanley, before the three can make a group decision on whether a gay service member should be forced out of the military. Until Thursday the decision was in the hands of a far larger number of less senior military and civilian officials."

Headline of the Year

"Seven Inches is Enough, RIM tells Jobs"

Maybe the headline of all time. 

via Andrew Sullivan.

Don't Ask/Don't Tell Back in Force

The 9th Circuit Court of Appeals has granted a stay of Judge Virginia Phillips' injunction on enforcement of the military's gay ban.  How long will we continue playing bullshit games with people's lives and careers to make a few old men in the Pentagon comfortable?

Maggie Gallagher: Do I Have Blood on My Hands?

That's the question asked by the NOM high priestess in a disgusting and self-serving editorial published in the execrable New York Post.  In it, she cites some questionable statistics about gay teen suicide and sexual abuse (naturally, she trots that one out) in an attempt to distance herself from the recent reports of gay teen suicides.  She draws the simplistic conclusion that because gay teens in Massachusetts are still more likely to commit suicide than straight kids (assuming that's true), then NOM's strident opposition to marriage equality is blameless. 

Of course, the so-called National Organization for Marriage sees these tragic deaths as a PR disaster in need of spin.  A bit of respectful silence would have been appropriate, but respect and silence are certainly not characteristic of Maggie.  The very fact that she felt the need to ask the question in the headline speaks volumes.  The answer is, of course, yes.

Hillary Clinton: It Gets Better

Judge Denies DA/DT Stay

Judge Virginia Phillips of the Central District of California has denied the Department of Justice's request for a stay of her order enjoining enforcement of Don't Ask/Don't Tell.  She found that the DOJ had failed to meet its burden of demonstrating irreparable harm.  Of course they failed to meet that burden.  All of the justifications for the gay ban were made up out of whole cloth. 

In related news, Lt. Dan Choi has joined the Army again!  He went to the Armed Forces Recruiting Station in Times Square yesterday and was accepted.  Here's a shot from Joe.My.God:

Military Recruiters Told to Accept Gays

In the wake of a federal court order enjoining the military from enforcing Don't Ask/Don't Tell, military recruiters have been told to accept gay and lesbian recruits...for now.  Guidance has been sent to military recruiting commands stating that the gay ban has been suspended, but it could be reinstated.  Gay recruits should be aware that they may be allowed to enlist, but could be subject to discharge later.  Don't Ask/Don't Tell is not over. 

Defense Secretary Robert Gates warned of "enormous consequences for the troops" if Judge Virginia Phillips' order is allowed to stand.  In response, the Palm Center has set up an "Enormous Consequences" page, listing all the terrible, horrible things that have happened in the 160+ hours since the ban was lifted:

   

Jumping the Gap

Behold the Gap's new logo, with the original on the left.  What do you think? To me, it looks like a chemical company or one of those mysterious conglomerates that advertise on 60 Minutes and never say what they actually do.  It certainly doesn't say young and cool.  I guess they decided to make it official and leap to the middle-aged side of the generation gap.  I know business hasn't been good for a while, but they might want to try making clothes that kids actually want to buy instead of messing with a highly-recognizable logo.  They also might want to re-hire the Peggy Olson who created this ad:    

Monday's Man: Cheyenne Jackson

I know I've featured Cheyenne Jackson several times, but what can I say?  I can't quit him.  He's gay, he's hot, he's talented, and he's a star.  What's not to love?

I also know that I just featured the Out Magazine cover shot a few days ago, but it bears repeating.  Click here to see a video of the shoot.

  Here he is on last week's live 30 Rock, singing the theme song for the West Coast broadcast.  Adorable, right?

The inspiration for this post was the news that Cheyenne has just gotten domestic partnered (oh hell, let's just say married even if New York isn't quite there yet) to his love of 10 years, Monte Lapka.  Below is reportedly a pic of the happy and handsome couple:

This picture doesn't really do Monte justice.  He's better looking in person.  As my loyal readers know, I was almost Cheyenne's dinner companion a few months back.  He was sitting with Michael Feinstein his husband and a very attractive man who must have been Monte.  It's almost a sin for so much perfection to be concentrated in one couple.     

This marriage news came as quite a shock to me as Lazy Circles New York Bureau Chief Doug has assured me for years that he is Cheyenne's secret lover.  Flowers are on their way, Doug, to help mend your broken heart.     

Twink No More

Talk about all the news that fit to print, today's New York Times features an in-depth article on the latest trends in male models.  It seems that the undernourished, faux-tough, boy models typlified by Chris Winter (the skinny kid with the bad tattoos) are sooo last season.  Now that we're in a recession, people want their male models to be real men, or at least look the part like hunky Doug Porter, the guy in the picture with actual chest hair.  An excerpt: 

“The twink thing seems over,” said Jim Nelson, the editor of GQ. “When people open GQ, I don’t want them to feel like they’re looking at clothes on 16-year-olds.”


Now that's a fashion trend I can get behind.  Read it all here. 

Cognitive Dissonance

Vs.

"The Obama administration on Thursday asked a judge to allow the Pentagon to keep its ban against openly gay men and women in the military while it appeals her decision that ruled the "don't ask, don't tell" policy was unconstitutional.



President Barack Obama, Defense Secretary Robert Gates and military leaders have backed ending the policy, but have urged that it be done by the U.S. Congress and military so that there is no disruption to military operations, morale or recruiting."

Basically, the administration's "plan" for ending Don't Ask/Don't Tell is for a magical study to be completed sometime in the near future, followed by a vote to repeal in the Senate.  The completely dysfunctional Senate.  Let that sink in.  Obama could appoint Jesus Christ to the Supreme Court and Jim DeMint would filibuster because of the appointee's questionable ties to Samaritans.  What do you think would happen to a vote on allowing gays to serve openly in the military?  Do you think the White House will fight for it?  Do you think John McCain will come around?  Will it start raining unicorns in Dallas?  Either the Supreme Court will declare the law unconstitutional or it will continue in place.

Get Out

My favorite celebrity sighting ever, Cheyenne Jackson is Out Magazine's new cover man. 

Was Paladino in the Gay Bar Business?

The Carl Paladino story gets more bizarre every day.  You read about the New York Republican candidate for governor's hideous rant about children being "brainwashed" into becoming "dysfunctional homosexuals."  Then he issued a non-apology apology that cannot possibly be reconciled with his statements.  Now comes news that this professional landlord collected rent from two gay clubs in Buffalo from 2004-2006.  One of the clubs, Cobalt, was run by Paladino's son!  The other, Buddies II, operated in another Paladino building in 2005 and 2006.  

I guess he's not afraid to make money off "dysfunctional homosexuals," as long as we know our place, which is apparently in one of his gay bars!

Judge Orders End to Enforcement of DA/DT

A Federal judge has issued an order permanently enjoining the Defense Department from enforcing the gay ban known as Don't Ask/Don't Tell.  In the case Log Cabin Republicans vs. the United States, Judge Virginia A. Phillips of the U.S. District Court for the Central District of California found DA/DT unconstitutional on First and Fifth Amendment grounds.  The Department of Justice has 60 days to appeal.  Considering the obvious injustice of DA/DT and the fact that 75% of Americans support it's repeal, it seems that Judge Phillips has handed our "fierce advocate" in the White House the gift of an easy out.  If the DOJ doesn't appeal, the ruling stands and the absurd law ends without a bruising Congressional fight.  Don't count on it.  I'd be stunned if there were no appeal.

Here's the text of the ruling:

1) DECLARES that the act known as "Don't Ask, Don't Tell" infringes the fundamental rights of United States servicemembers and prospective servicemembers and violates (a) the substantive due process rights guaranteed under the Fifth Amendment to the United States Constitution, and (b) the rights to freedom of speech and to petition the Government for redress of grievances guaranteed by the First Amendment to the United States Constitution.
(2) PERMANENTLY ENJOINS Defendants United States of America and the Secretary of Defense, their agents, servants, officers, employees, and attorneys, and all persons acting in participation or concert with them or under their direction or command, from enforcing or applying the "Don't Ask, Don't Tell" Act and implementing regulations, against any person under their jurisdiction or command;
(3) ORDERS Defendants United States of America and the Secretary of Defense immediately to suspend and discontinue any investigation, or discharge, separation, or other proceeding, that may have been commenced under the "Don't Ask, Don't Tell" Act, or pursuant to 10 U.S.C. § 654 or its implementing regulations, on or prior to the date of this Judgment.
(4) GRANTS Plaintiff Log Cabin Republicans' request to apply for attorneys' fees pursuant to the Equal Access to Justice Act, 28 U.S.C. § 2412; and
(5) GRANTS Plaintiff Log Cabin Republicans' request to file a motion for costs of suit, to the extent allowed by law.

UPDATE:  Well, that didn't take long.  DOJ has already filed a notice of appeal. 

Monday's Man: Mario Lopez

Lazy Circles New York Bureau Chief Doug alerted me that yesterday was Mario Lopez' 37th birthday. This is what 37 looks like?

Not for mere mortals.

Happy Halloween!  I'm not sure what this costume is supposed to be, I just know what it does to me.  Is this safe for work? 

I find it interesting that, when you do a Google Image search for Mario Lopez, there are a million pics, but hardly any with shirts.  The guy knows how to play to his strengths.  

South Carolina Gamecocks 35 - Alabama Whatevers 21

That's right, ladies and gentlemen, the COCKS beat the you-know-what out of (formerly) Number 1 ranked Alabama.  That's (formerly) number 19 ranked Gamecocks over the top-rated team in the nation.  Hell, Bama basically gave up academics years ago in favor of an all football program and we still beat 'em.  This is reportedly the first time in history that the Gamecocks beat a number 1 team.  This is arguably the most important game in Gamecock history.  It was a hard fought victory, but you know what they say, who give a care if the going gets tough, and when it is rough, that's when the Cocks get going!  Sing it without irony.

Ugly Quote of the Day II

"I just think my children and your children would be much better off and much more successful getting married and raising a family, and I don't want them brainwashed into thinking that homosexuality is an equally valid and successful option--it isn't. There is nothing to be proud of in being a dysfunctional homosexual. That is not how God created us."

--Carl Paladino, the crude moron who will be governor of New York unless every thinking person in the Empire State gets out and votes.  Do you think he's aware of the Bronx gay torture case?  Do you think he gives a shit? 

Beautiful Quote of the Day

"Sexual orientation is not a barrier to our relationship with God or God's love for us."

--Rev. Eric Folkerth, pastor of Northaven United Methodist Church of Dallas in a powerful sermon delivered today titled "Bullying and the Theology Behind it."  Eric and Northaven UMC stand in sharp contrast to Albert Mohler and his ilk.  Northaven also happens to be my church and Wes and I witnessed the sermon today.  You can listen to it here, and I encourage you to do so.  He discussed the churches who's theology allows those who would bully, assault, and murder gays and lesbians to believe that God approves of what they do.  He also discussed the churches that are silent on gay issues in an effort to avoid controversy.  They are silent in the face of evil. 

Ugly Quote of the Day

"As Christians, we just have to wonder. Was there no believer to befriend Tyler and, without loving his homosexuality, love him? The homosexual community insists that to love someone is to love their sexual orientation. We know this to be a lie. But no one who loves me should love nor rationalize my sin. The church must be the people who speak honestly about sin because we have first learned by God’s grace to speak honestly of our own."

--Albert Mohler, President of the Southern Baptist Theological Seminary and architect of the fundamentalist take-over of the Sothern Baptist Convention, in a self-serving comment on the death of Tyler Clementi.

Imagine that you're a gay kid sitting in a Baptist church somewhere.  You've been taught all you life that homosexuality is a grave sin against God, a threat to the family, and an abomination.  You're desparate because you don't want to loose your family and church and you don't want to burn in Hell, yet deep down you know this isn't going away.  Then you hear a great leader of your church say that to love you as your truly are is "a lie." No one should love this intrinsic part of yourself.  Mohler's "love" has just pushed gay kids one step closer to the brink.   

Lea Michele Goes in New Direction

Here's Lea Michele, AKA Rachel from Glee, in the UK edition of Marie Claire.  I guess topless is the new black.  Was this really necessary?  I get that she wants a more mature, sexy image, and I know that she's undressed for her art before, but this just seems all wrong. 

Lesson Learned: Shave or Go Grey

Andrew Sullivan has written about his adventures with "grey blending" his beard:

"You warned me. I wavered. And next time, remember that "Grey-blending" is the enhanced rejuvenation technique known previously as boot-blacking."

Read it all here. 

"I'm You"

The NSFW Christine O'Donnell parody:

Reichen's Life on the Z List

I actually watched the new Logo show The A List.   Hey, I'm unemployed and have time on my hands, don't judge.  It's been hyped as sort of a Gay Housewives of New York.  I've never watched the Real Housewives of anywhere, but if those shows are anything like this, I weep for our culture.  The A List could have been trashy fun, instead it was just trashy.  Actually, trashy is too kind.  It was just dumb.  I felt a little dirty afterwards, like I needed to watch a few hours of PBS to cleanse the toxins. 

The two "stars" of the A List are Reichen (above, as if you haven't seen his skin pics a thousand times) and photographer Mike Ruiz; two hunky gay-famous TV personalities.  Reichen has been trying to be a star since The Amazing Race and, God bless him, he keeps working at it.  He's still gorgeous and still waxes every visible surface, but the idea of him on New York's A List is a bit of a stretch.  I'm hardly an expert on New York society, but girl, please. 

On the show, Reichen is in town to star in the off-Broadway musical My Big Fat Gay Wedding, even though he can neither sing nor dance.  He and I are the only gays who can't dance.  Anywhoo, the whole first episode revolved around his theatrical debut.  He also has a spectacular Brazilian model boyfriend named Rodiney (that's the happy couple above).  Rodiney (the i is apparently silent) doesn't say or do much but when you look like that, why ruin it by talking?  We see Rodiney, shirtless on a sailboat, proclaiming his love for Reichen.  We see Reichen saying I love you right back.  We see Reichen telling the audience at home that he doesn't really mean it.  Ugh.

I've actually heard of Mike Ruiz (pictured above) because he's done some photo shoots for America's Next Top Model.  He probably comes the closest to a real A-lister, but it's all relative.  He's extremely muscular, really too much so.  His physique makes Reichen look undernourished.  We see Mike making a smoothie while he talks about his healthy lifestyle, because we all know he achieved his gigantic muscles solely through smoothies and weights.  We see a montage of the famous people he's photographed, including Tyra.  We see him shooting Kelly Rowland from Destiny's Child in a jacket with a lion's head on each shoulder.  Seriously.  We see him posing for his own photo shoot in a tight tank top, arms back to show off his hairy pits.  We see him on a roof top, peeling off his tight shirt, lounging around with his arms back, showing off his hairy pits.  If hairy pits are your thing, Mike's your man.

Then there's a gaggle of gays who's names I forgot, but it doesn't matter because they're interchangeable.  There's the former "model" who's claim to fame is having dated Marc Jacobs for 10 minutes and supposedly hooking up with Reichen in Palm Springs.  His purpose is to create relationship drama between Reichen and Rodiney, although Rodiney is 1000 times better looking so Reichen would be an idiot to cheat on him with this twink.  "Model" guy is just back from England where he "had a house," though God knows how since he has no apparent source of income.  He's back in New York to jump-start that modeling career, but alas he's too fat.  He's not fat, but go with it. I guess he's lost the abs, which is apparently a fate worse than death.   

There's Salon Guy who owns a salon that caters to the New York glitterati, although he appears to have no clients or employees save his bitchy best friend, Bitchella (not his real name).  Bitchella's job is to make constant snarky comments in a whiny voice.  Bitchella is very good at his job.  Salon Guy lives in a penthouse with his older husband who "works in finance," i.e., supports his boy toy's dreams of reality show stardom.  They want to adopt.  Again, I weep for our culture.

There's Model Agent guy; the only one who appears to have a job.  We see him telling an "international model" that she's booked a show or something.  Then he goes shopping.

There might be one or two other assorted skinny gays, but I forget.  They all had brunch and tried to out-bitch each other.  It was like gay hell.

Riechen had his stage debut and let's just say Raul Esparza isn't loosing any sleep.  The gaggle was all there in their clingy tops, exchanging bitchy comments in the audience.  How fresh.  After the show, Reichen and Rodiney went to their place in the Hamptons some house with a pool that the production company rented for a few hours.  Isn't Reichen supposed to be on stage again tonight?  How can he go to "The Hamptons?"  Whatever, they got naked in the hot tub and made out.  Clearly, this was the high point of the show.  Then "model" guy called and created fake relationship drama.    That's pretty much it. I watched it so you don't have to. You're welcome.



I don't know why Reichen doesn't just break down and do porn.  He's done soft core on Dante's Cove and slipped off the square-cut in the hot tub with Rodiney, so he's almost there.  He just needs a little nudge. 

I Ate Fried Butter And Lived

Here it is, ladies and gentlemen, fried butter from the Texas State Fair.  Lazy Circles reader AC suggested I get some.  Actually, she read about fried butter dipped in chocolate.  I didn't see that, but I did see the honey cinnamon version.  Frankly, it was a bit underwhelming.  It was like a very, very, very buttery doughnut that squirted a bit in the mouth.  As a proper, weight-obsessed gay, I tried to pawn off as much as I could to Wes and our friends Roy and Gene.  Wes and Roy each ate one and Gene wisely passed.  That left three for me.  I'm not going to eat again for a month.

The prize winner this year was fried beer.  Yuck.  I didn't try it, but I'm not that crazy about cold beer (yes, AC, my palate has matured since our CofC days), so I wasn't interested in trying some fried concoction.  I didn't try the fried margarita, either.  They should be cold and frozen.  A fried margarita is a crime against nature.   

Here's daisy-fresh Roy and Gene enjoying the horticultural exhibit:

Off to the Fair!

I'm taking a one-day vacay from the job search to go to the State Fair of Texas which is, as always, in Big D.  The guy pictured above is Big Tex, who welcomes everyone to the fair.  What's my favorite part, after the corney dogs, I mean?  Why, the exhibits, of course.  I love the quilts and afghans, the cakes and pies, the jams and preserves.  Maybe it's the little old lady in me, but I love checking out all the things that people from every corner of the state have been working on all year.  Usually, there's some ribbon winner from someone I know.  You can have your midway and rides, except for the Texas Star ferris wheel, the biggest in the western hemisphere.  Gotta take a spin on it. 

Since I'm unemployed, Wes and I can go on a weekday morning.  What luxury!  I may never go back to work. 

Man Gay Bashed at the Stonewall Inn

Benjamin Carver (pictured) and his boyfriend had just arrived in New York from Washington for a fun weekend when he was attacked and beaten for being gay...in a gay bar!  Not just any gay bar, but the Stonewall Inn! 

Carver went to the Stonewall to meet some friends.  He went to the men's room and two punks, Matthew Francis and Christopher Orlando of Staten Island, were waiting for him.  One of them asked "are you gay?" and Carver said "where are you, buddy?"  The reply was "don't pee next to me, faggot."  The shits asked for money and Carver wouldn't give it to him.  One of them cold-cocked him, the other tackled him and pinned his arms back while the first slugged him about a dozen times.  Carver managed to grab a beer bottle in the sink and swung it at them.  They recoiled and Carver was able to escape.  He grabbed a pool cue and swung it at his attackers.  The two punk-ass cowards ran, but bar staff ran after them.  Carver said:

"It should be noted that the staff of the Stonewall are some bad ass, take no shit hombres," he wrote. "My kind of queers. I would very much like to buy them a drink."

The two attackers were caught and arrested. 

Isn't it interesting that these two pieces of shit who hate faggots so much were hanging out in a gay bar men's room.  I guess they thought sissys would make easy targets.  Guess again, assholes.

H/T LC NY Bureau Chief Doug

Just in Time for Halloween

Christine O'Donnell has a new ad out in which she says "I'm not a witch...I'm you." 

Monday's Man: T.R. Knight

Openly gay and ridiculously cute actor T.R. Knight left Grey's Anatomy after five years to get back to his theatrical roots.  It seems to be working out for him.  He'll open on Broadway on October 12 in A Life in the Theater, starring opposite Patrick Stewart.   

He's the subject of an impressive piece in yesterday's New York Times.  The front page of the Arts section was reserved for his buddy Katherine Heigl who's latest romantic comedy opened this weekend.  You have to search inside for T.R.'s article, but it's worth it.  In it, stage director Doug Hughes said of the actor, "there’s a cauldron in him that I’d love to tap.”

      

Indeed.

Jake Has a Beard Again

Just thought you'd want to know.

Source.

Cynthia Nixon on Redefining Marriage

Speaking at yesterday's New Yorker Festival session on "Love and Obstacles: The Case for Gay Marriage," Cynthia Nixon gave a clear and cogent counter-argument to the "gays want to redefine marriage" chestnut:



That's Brian Brown of NOM sitting uncomfortably next to her.

H/T Towleroad.

Sneak Peak at Priscilla

Check out the new stage musical version of Priscilla Queen of the Desert, set to open in Toronto on October 12.  Could it be coming to Broadway?



Shocker!  Nick Adams has never seen the movie!  Should he give up his gay card?  Nah, he's too adorable. 

Quote of the Day

"This week, we sadly lost [four] young men who took their own lives for one unacceptable reason: they were being bullied and harassed because they were openly gay or believed to be gay. These unnecessary tragedies come on the heels of at least three other young people taking their own lives because the trauma of being bullied and harassed for their actual or perceived sexual orientation was too much to bear.





This is a moment where every one of us - parents, teachers, students, elected officials, and all people of conscience - needs to stand up and speak out against intolerance in all its forms. Whether it's students harassing other students because of ethnicity, disability or religion; or an adult, public official harassing the President of the University of Michigan student body because he is gay, it is time we as a country said enough. No more. This must stop."

--Secretary of Education Arne Duncan, addressing the recent rash of young gay men who have committed suicide due to homophobic bullying.  Kudos for referencing the absurd Michigan Assistant Attorney General Andrew Shirvell who has been harassing gay University of Michigan student body president Chris Armstrong for no other reason than Armstrong lives an honest life of integrity while Shirvell can't deal with his issues as an adult.  The only reason Shirvell hasn't been fired is because the Attorney General of Michigan is a Republican and therefore scared to death of the ultra right wing bigots.   

Alyson Books to Stop Publishing; Still Owes Me Money

Alyson Books, publisher of gay authors and gay oriented books, has announced that they are ceasing print publishing.  Basically, they're going to shut down for a year and re-emerge as an e-book only publisher.  How much do you want to bet we never hear from them again?  They are reaching out to authors under contract to give them the option of getting their rights back or being e-published in a year.  Or so.  Hopefully.  I'd go with option 1. 

Not that I'm bitter or anything, but they still owe me $50.00 for my story published in Best Gay Love Stories 2010.  Still available from Amazon!  Order today!  The Amazon page still lists Harvey Fierstein as the author of the forward.  Didn't happen, probably because Alyson didn't pay him.