Eddie In Paradise
As you can see by his delighted expression, our little Eddie is never happier than when he is surrounded by giant hairy men. Pic taken last night at Titan's Woof party.
Labels: bear, Washington DC
As you can see by his delighted expression, our little Eddie is never happier than when he is surrounded by giant hairy men. Pic taken last night at Titan's Woof party.
Labels: bear, Washington DC
Gov. Bill Richardson will appear on Michelangelo Signorile's Sirius OutQ talk show today to recant last night's "homosexuality is a choice" gaffe, which he has already repudiated to print media. Tune in at 4:25PM EST/ 1:25PM PST to hear Mr. Excitement say, "Let me be clear - I do not believe that sexual orientation or gender identity happen by choice," as he did via his campaign office shortly after last night's forum. Listen online here.
Labels: Bill Richardson, Michelangelo Signorile, Sirius
The ACLU is suing JetBlue and the Transportation Safety Administration on behalf of a man who attempted to board a flight at JFK last year while wearing a t-shirt that read, "We Will Not Be Silent" in both English and Arabic script. Raed Jarrar was told by a TSA official that his shirt "made fellow passengers uncomfortable." Jarrar say he was also told that the message on his shirt was comparable to entering a bank wearing a shirt that said, "I Am A Robber." Later he was allowed on the plane after covering his t-shirt with one provided by JetBlue.
Labels: ACLU, First Amendment, Jetblue
Bob "Tea-room" Allen says he is not a racist or a criminal and will not resign his seat in the Florida legislature. His lawyer says that based on the arresting officer's own report, it was the police who did the soliciting, not Allen. The police contend that Allen initiated the incident by entering the police officer's stall and leaning on the closed door. I have wonder how a moose of a guy like Allen and a "stocky" police officer fit into the same stall and struck up a conversation without actually touching each other. Maybe it was the handicapped stall? The police sound fishy on this.
- Monty Python's Spamalot had its 1000th performance yesterday.
Labels: Broadway Friday
I'm in DC for the weekend with Jerry, Eddie, and The Ex. Itinerary: cocktail parties, housewarming party, Blowoff, Titan, and oh, look - it just happens to be Bear Invasion Weekend. Isn't that....convenient? Actually, we didn't know about the bear thing when we planned the trip. True story!
Labels: Morning View, Washington DC
Below are the complete video clips of each candidate's segment in last night's HRC/LOGO Visible Vote '08. From top left to bottom right in order of their appearance: Obama, Edwards, Kucinich, Gravel, Richardson, Clinton. My live-blogged account of the forum is one post below.
Labels: 2008 elections, HRC, Logo, Visible Vote
8:30PM - Watch along with me and make your observations on this historic event. Although the show does not air on the West Coast until 9PM PST, West Coasters can stream the show live online. Quotes below are paraphrased.
Labels: 2008 elections, HRC, Logo, Visible Vote
An article in today's Newsday contends that Rudy Giuliani has "done more for gay rights than any candidate."
Twenty-five years ago, long before Rudy Giuliani became mayor of New York City, he made a decision that advanced the cause of gay rights nationally. As the Justice Department's number three official in 1982, Giuliani authorized the hiring of the first openly gay lawyer for a prosecutor post requiring a security clearance, according to records and interviews.That precedent-setting but little-known action, combined with his successful push as mayor for domestic partnership and hate crime laws in New York, make Giuliani an anomaly: a front-runner for the GOP nomination who is a top champion of gay rights.National Gay & Lesbian Task Force head Matt Foreman agrees, saying, "The challenge for those of us in the gay rights movement is to look at two things: an elected official's accomplishment while in office and whether they affirm the humanity of gay people. On that score, Mayor Giuliani has a good record." However, Foreman adds, "Everything with Rudy Giuliani comes with this double-edged sword, including his vindictiveness and his terrible relations with people of color."
Labels: 2008 elections, Matt Foreman, Rudy Giuliani
Towleroad has the exclusive story about the launch of a traveling memorial to the LGBT victims of hate crimes.
Scott Hall, longtime activist Frank Kameny, US. Representative Barney Frank and Amazing Race winner and activist Chip Arndt are spearheading the launch of Gay American Heroes, a national memorial to honor LGBT people murdered because of their sexual orientation or gender identity. Supporting them are a large number of gay and straight public figures who have lent their names to the project.The memorial is expected to be completed in December 2007 with an ultimate goal of establishing a permanent exhibit in Washington, DC. Hop over to Towleroad for the details.
Labels: Gay American Heroes, hate crimes, Towleroad
In the wake of last year's event during which nine people were shot, San Francisco has "cancelled" the Castro's massive annual Halloween event which typically draws over 500,000 to the gayborhood. Audrey Joseph, former owner of the now-razed dance emporium, Universe, now the head of the City Entertainment Commission, says, "There will be no party."
Labels: Fidel Castro, Halloween, San Francisco
Mandisa, the 5th season American Idol contestant who was voted off the show shortly after she made anti-gay comments to the press, has landed on her feet.
"True Beauty" (Sparrow), the first album by fifth season "American Idol" finalist Mandisa, enters the Top Christian Albums chart at No. 1. It's the first debut album by a solo female artist to open at No. 1 in the 27-year history of this chart (the survey was first published the week of March 29, 1980). "True Beauty" gives the "Idol" franchise its 132nd No. 1, counting all national, domestic charts compiled by the Billboard Information Group. On The Billboard 200, "True Beauty" is new at No. 43.Her first single is I Love Jesus For Hatin' The Gays.
Labels: American Idol, Mandisa, religion
Asshat mayor of Fort Lauderdale Jim Naugle will be hosting a local talk radio show tomorrow morning on the Mitchell & Morley In The Morning show, which runs during the morning drive time, 6am - 9am EST. The right-wing WFTL also carries the Michael Savage, Bill O'Reilly, and Dr. Laura shows. Maybe the mayor is already gunning for a new career as a shock jock? WFTL, Asshat Central for haters, seems like a good home for Naugle. Local LGBT rights group UNITE Fort Lauderdale has been invited to join Naugle, but has not yet confirmed. If you are up early enough and want to chew Naugle out, the call-in number is: 954-315-1515. Listen live here.
Labels: asshattery, Florida, Fort Lauderdale, Jim Naugle
Lady Randomocity sent out a couple of forlorn emails last week, but never hearing back from the first winner, she petulantly chose another to receive a copy of Jesse Archer's new novel, You Can Run. The email-attentive David, from the heart of Utah, says, "Thanks Joe! I guess I've never really been one of those people that could say they never win anything. Of course, making that statement probably isn't going to make me any friends." Thanks David and thanks Jesse! Publicists: If you'd like to take part in Swag Tuesday on JMG, please email me.
Labels: Swag Tuesday
"While we have come a long way since the Stonewall riots in 1969, we still have a lot of work to do. Too often, the issue of LGBT rights is exploited by those seeking to divide us. But at its core, this issue is about who we are as Americans. It's about whether this nation is going to live up to its founding promise of equality by treating all its citizens with dignity and respect." - Barack Obama, on the new Obama Pride section of his campaign site, launched to support tonight's Visible Vote debate. Towleroad has the list of his LGBT Leadership Council members. Obama's gays aren't quite the who's who of Gaytown, unlike Hillary's, but the list is impressive.
Labels: 2008 elections, Barack Obama
The 35-story Carlyle Hotel, at Madison and 76th, was built in 1931 during the golden age for art deco Manhattan landmarks (Empire State, Chrysler, etc.). Originally a residential hotel, today the Carlyle is a co-op with 160 rental units and 60 privately-owned suites.
Labels: Morning View
My most hated commerical is anything with that incredibly annoying Cockney gecko. Unless it's the one with that smartass little kid spouting technobabble for Verizon. True quam. Like anybody knows or cares about quadrature amplitude modulation. I'd like to see a cage match between the gecko and that mouthy kid. And the cavemen are getting on my nerves too.
Labels: Open Thread Thursday
Tomorrow night at 9PM (6PM PST) I'll be live-blogging the HRC/LOGO Visible Vote '08 debate between the Democratic candidates. Drop in here during the debate and add your own take as the show rolls. You can watch the show online, on LOGO, or by tuning into XM channel POTUS 130, their new free channel devoted to the 2008 presidential campaign. You can listen to POTUS 130 without an XM subscription.
Labels: 2008 elections, HRC, Logo, Visible Vote
Yesterday a NYC-bound Spirit Airlines passenger smuggled a "fist-sized" marmoset past security at Fort Lauderdale-Hollywood International by keeping the monkey under his hat. Only after the flight was airborne did other passengers notice the animal "playing in the man's ponytail." A day earlier, the passenger got the monkey past security as he departed Lima, Peru. When asked how they could have missed the animal at Fort Lauderdale customs and again at the departure gate, a spokesman for the Transportation Security Agency said, "Basically, it's because we suck so very, very much. Seriously, you people would not believe how much we suck. Oh, and you'll have to hand over that hair gel."
Labels: air travel, flying monkeys, TSA
"We can’t make John black, we can’t make him a woman. Those things get you a certain amount of fundraising dollars.” - Elizabeth Edwards, speaking about reasons her husband may receive less media attention and fewer campaign donations than Obama and Clinton. Mrs. Edwards continues to deliver better quotes than her husband, doesn't she?
Labels: 2008 elections, Elizabeth Edwards, faux journalism
"I haven’t been in a relationship since 1982. God, that sounds pathetic. But I was so severely hurt that I’ve never, ever gotten over it. I was so madly and desperately in love that I didn’t see the end coming. It was a routine night on the couch watching television, and he turned to me and just said, 'I don’t have the patience for you. I can’t do this anymore.' After nine years. I still remember leaving his apartment, driving down Rock Creek Parkway in Washington, D.C., thinking, Maybe I’ll just drive right off the bridge." - Project Runway's Tim Gunn to Out Magazine.
Labels: HomoQuotable, Project Runway, television, Tim Gunn
One of the many mansions that Stanford White designed for the megawealthy of the time, this Fifth Avenue showplace was built in 1909 for philanthropist Payne Whitney. The lot, which faces Central Park, was a graduation gift from Whitney's uncle, given when he graduated from Harvard Law. The home features a grand staircase which was used in a scene in Gone With The Wind.
Labels: Morning View
Glenn Murphy, 33, the newly-elected chairman of the Young Republicans National Federation, who is well known for using the gay marriage issue to promote his candidates, has abruptly resigned amid allegations that he sexually assaulted a 22-year old man at the home of the man's sister. Murphy has already been scrubbed from the YRNF's website and their Wikipedia entry, which is now protected from edits. Jessica Colon is now listed as their chair. Murphy has also resigned as chair of Indiana's Clark County Republican Party.
In a shocking police report filed by the Clark Co. Sheriff's office, Murphy is accused of sexually assaulting another man on Saturday, July 28, 2007, while he lay sleeping in his bed. The alleged assault of the 22-year-old man took place in the Jeffersonville, Indiana home of his sister following a Young Republican party in which both Murphy and the 22-year-old man had been in attendance. The victim's sister had urged both men to spend the night at her home because of the amount of alcohol the two had consumed during the party. The victim awoke in the morning to find Murphy performing oral sex on him according to the report. When the victim asked Murphy what he was doing, he responded: "He was holding his dick with one hand and sucking my dick with his mouth." The victim then pushed Murphy away, gathered his personal belongings and left. Murphy was later confronted with the charges by the victim's sister according to the report. The sister says Murphy admitted to her that he performed the sex act on her brother. Taking Down Words reports Murphy is being charged with criminal deviate conduct, a Class B felony. The police report also notes that Murphy was accused of committing a very similar act on another man back in 1998. It is unclear why Murphy was not prosecuted for the 1998 incident.In an email obtained by Truth Caucus, Murphy is claiming that his decision to resign from the Young Republicans is due to a "major contract" his company has landed which stipulates that he hold "no partisan positions". Yeah, right. Just last month, Murphy was sworn into his position as chair of the YRNF by none other than Florida Governor Charlie "Closet" Crist. Ahem.
Labels: closet cases, Glenn Murphy, Indiana, self-loathing, Young Republicans
White House spokesman Tony Fratto yesterday said that President Bush plans to veto any bill to which the Matthew Shepard Act (MSA) is attached. Fratto: "The qualifications [in the bill] are so broad that virtually any crime involving a homosexual individual has potential to have hate crimes elements. The proposals they're talking about are not sufficiently narrow."
Labels: Dubya, hate crimes, Matthew Shepard Act
Liza Minnelli lives a couple of blocks from me and I see her on the street once or twice a year, usually out shopping. Once I saw her leaving a Chinese joint on 2nd Avenue. She seems to be able to walk around unmolested by fans, at least on the Upper East Side. Still, you have to laugh at the Daily News' report on what happened at our local Gap store.
A Gatecrasher pal reports this recent sighting of her at the E. 66th and Third Ave. store, where she was being helped by a sales assistant.Poor Liza.
"The employee asked her, 'Has anyone ever told you you look like Judy Garland?'" says the snitch. "She coldly answered, 'No!'"
You'd leave it alone after that, right?
"The confused employee went on to say, 'Oh my God! You're her! You are Judy Garland!'"
Oh. No. She. Didn't.
"Ms. Minnelli looked up with fire in her eyes and snapped back, 'Judy Garland is dead!'"
She then grabbed the pants she had been trying on "and stated to no one in particular, 'I've gotta get out of here!' She made a mad dash to the registers and then out the door."
Labels: Liza Minnelli, NYC, Upper East Side
Four San Diego firemen are planning to sue the city, claiming they were forced into taking part in the gay pride parade where they suffered sexual taunts from the crowd. The firemen were asked to take part in the parade at the last minute, when volunteers dropped out due to a family crisis. They were chosen because their station is near the route.
Labels: gay Pride, San Diego, sexual harassment
Police officers in Thailand will be forced to wear a hot pink Hello Kitty armband if they disobey the rules, thereby shaming their masculinity. A police official in Bangkok says, "Simple warnings no longer work. This new twist is expected to make them feel guilt and shame and prevent them from repeating the offense, no matter how minor. Hello Kitty is a cute icon for young girls. It's not something macho police officers want covering their biceps."
Labels: Hello Kitty, silliness, Thailand
The curved wall and lined ceiling of the F train station at 63rd & Lexington provide one of the neater visual effects of NYC subway. Some people use the F train to travel between Queens and Brooklyn, even though the line detours them all through Manhattan.
Labels: Morning View
Shelter Kitty sometimes keeps a wary eye open during her naps, just in case somebody gets overwhelmed and feels the need to scoop her up for kisses. Her current hobby is batting the wires until she pulls the cable box down on her head. It's now been over three months since I brought her home from the Harlem ASPCA and she's gained about two pounds in that time, thanks to chicken flavor IAMS, Whiskas Catmilk +Plus, and lots of begging for sliced roast beef.
Labels: Kitty
Pfizer announced today that the FDA has approved its new HIV drug Selzentry (maraviroc). The drug is the first of a new class of HIV drugs to be approved in ten years. Selzentry is intended for patients who have the HIV-1 strain of the virus and are already resistant to multiple HIV drugs.
Selzentry will become available next month. Pfizer plans on marketing the drug as Celsentri in other parts of the world. "Cell sentry", get it? As I mentioned in February, Selzentry must be taken twice a day, unlike many current HIV meds.Selzentry is the first in a class of drugs known as CCR5 antagonists, which block the CCR5 co-receptor, the virus' predominant entry route into T-cells. Selzentry stops the R5 virus on the outside surface of the cells before it enters, rather than fighting the virus inside as do all other classes of oral HIV medicines.
Labels: HIV/AIDS, Pfizer, science
Yesterday Dubya signed a law expanding the ability of the government to eavesdrop on our international phone conversations and emails without warrants. The law was enacted in order to protect the major telecommunication companies that are now facing numerous lawsuits for having secretly cooperated in previous warrantless wiretappings. These companies have been pressuring the Bush administration to enact legislation freeing them of their responsibility to protect the privacy of their customers - and they got it. Now they can be compelled to cooperate by the attorney general or the director of national intelligence. The 1978 Federal Intelligence Surveillance Act (FISA) previously controlled how the government could listen to private conversations. Under FISA, the government needed warrants. But thanks to 2001's Patriot Act and now this, not any more.
Labels: Dubya, fourth amendment, privacy
This is Jingjing, one of the five official mascots of the 2008 Beijing Olympics.
Labels: 2008 Olympics
Disgraced Florida right-wing legislator Bob "Tea-room" Allen, whom you may recall was caught in a park restroom last month, offering a cop $20 for sex, now says he only played along because he feared black men: "This was a pretty stocky black guy, and there was nothing but other black guys around in the park." According to the Orlando Sentinel, Allen was "intimidated" by the cop and was afraid he was "about to become a statistic."
Labels: Bob Allen, Florida, racism, self-loathing
Here's a shot taken two blocks from my place on Sunday afternoon. Ah, how empty Manhattan can get on summer weekends. The more touristy areas are still packed, but the nabes can be blissfully quiet.
Labels: Morning View
Friday night, with Dr. Jeff, Chris, and Aaron, I attended the Erasure concert at Brooklyn's McCarren Pool. The concert was typically fantastic and I walked away as amazed as always at Erasure's enduring appeal. Many in the crowd could not have been out of diapers when Erasure first started rocking gay dance floors around the world.
Labels: Brooklyn, Erasure, friendship, good music, memoriam