Andy Cohen Auctions His D&G Suit

From the eBay listing: "Direct from my personal closet, I am auctioning off a 2014, black, wool Dolce & Gabbana suit. It's got 2 buttons and a few strands of genuine Wacha hair on it. The size is 40 Regular. The suit can be yours and all the money will go to the Family Equality Council, an organization committed to securing family equality for LGBTQ parents, guardians and allies. Even though I loved this suit, it wouldn't be any fun for me to wear it again, but it will be so much fun for me to have you wear it, knowing that we were able to support an amazing cause while also screwing Dolce & Gabbana out of at least one sale."

Andy Cohen For GLSEN

HomoQuotable - Thomas Roberts

"Courage is contagious. I have felt that way since coming out publicly in 2006. I’ve never regretted it. This November, I will co-host Miss Universe in Moscow partly because it is a huge, visible opportunity for LGBT people. Everywhere. [snip] So people may wonder: 'Thomas, how can you accept this assignment? Shouldn’t you boycott Russia?' I am not going to boycott. Boycotting and vilifying from the outside is too easy. Rather, I choose to offer my support of the LGBT community in Russia by going to Moscow and hosting this event as a journalist, an anchor and a man who happens to be gay.

 "Let people see I am no different than anyone else. All kids—Russian, American or otherwise—need hope. I am a happy, healthy, gainfully employed, educated and married man. And yes, I am gay. These new Russian laws won’t stop Russians from being born LGBT and growing up to identify as such. Russia’s treatment of its LGBT citizens is unacceptable, unrealistic and only promotes homophobia and intolerance for a community that does and will continue to exist. [snip] We do them no favors by turning away now. We must be visible, we must show up, and, as Harvey Milk said, we must 'give them hope.' I go to prove there’s hope." - News anchor Thomas Roberts, writing for MSNBC.

RELATED: In August, Bravo host Andy Cohen announced that he would not be returning to host Miss Universe, saying that he "didn't feel right as a gay man stepping foot into Russia."

Maddow Plays Politician Or Porn-ititian

Rachel Maddow and Michael Strahan appeared on Andy Cohen's show last night for a round of Politician Or Porn-itician, during which Maddow appeared to identify Pennsylvania state Rep. Brian Sims as NOM president Brian Brown. Oopsie.

Miss Universe Pageant Responds To Petition For Relocation Of Moscow Event

The Miss Universe pageant has responded to a Change.org petition which demands that this year's event be moved from Moscow. Via press release:

The Miss Universe Organization believes in equality for all individuals and is deeply concerned by the laws recently enacted in Russia and currently in place in several other countries. Both the law, as well as the violence experienced by the LGBT community in Russia, are diametrically opposed to the core values of our company. Our organization has always embodied a spirit of inclusion and is a celebration of people from all countries and walks of life. The safety of our contestants, staff and crew is of the utmost importance and we are working with our Russian hosts to ensure the security and well-being of those traveling to Russia for the pageant.

So...nothing.

RELATED: Last week previous Miss Universe host Andy Cohen announced that he had turned down this year's gig because Russia's "discriminatory policies make it unsafe for the gays who live there and gays coming to work or visit."

Andy Cohen Turns Down Hosting Gig At Miss Universe Pageant In Russia

Andy Cohen won't be returning as the host of Miss Universe next year.

The Watch What Happens Live star told his friend and pageant cohost of the past two years, E! News' Giuliana Rancic, that he turned it down because "their discriminatory policies make it unsafe for the gays who live there and gays coming to work or visit." "The law is that anyone under suspicion of homosexuality can be arrested," he told Rancic, adding that he "didn't feel right as a gay man stepping foot into Russia." This is the first time Russia will be hosting the Miss Universe pageant. A petition has been formed to urge the organization to move the competition out of Russia, "where LGBTQ people are under attack."

Well done, Mr. Cohen.

GAYSPLOSION: Cher + Cooper + Cohen

Ali Forney Center Announces Shred Of Hope Celebrity Online T-Shirt Auction

A galaxy of stars have come together to support the Ali Forney Center's Shred Of Hope, an online auction in which you can bid on original t-shirts created by gay celebrities and straight allies. Each of the participants worked with designers at the Manhattan-based fetish wear company Nasty Pig to create one-of-a-kind "shredders," which are sort of not-tank-tops.

Among the participants are activist and author Dan Savage and his husband Terry Miller, Tony winner Alan Cumming, Tony winner Jeff Whitty, Oscar winner Dustin Lance Black, talk show host Andy Cohen, rock star Bob Mould, MSNBC commentator Keith Boykin, Animal Planet host Scott Lope, rocker JD Samson, actress Ally Sheedy, pop superstars Michael Stipe, Adam Lambert and Jake Shears, and many more.

Via press release:

This June 20th trailblazing menswear label Nasty Pig will launch Shred of Hope, a fundraiser for the Ali Forney Center (AFC), the nation’s largest services and advocacy organization working with lesbian, gay, bisexual, and transgender (LGBT) runaway and homeless youth.

Shred of Hope is an auction of one-of-a-kind “Shredder” t-shirts created by celebrities. The auction will take place entirely online from June 20th through June 27th at ShredofHope.com. 100% of the proceeds of Shred of Hope will support AFC’s work to protect and empower homeless LGBT youth, and to help them in becoming safe and independent as they move from adolescence to adulthood.

On June 20th Nasty Pig and the Ali Forney Center will host a launch party for Shred of Hope at the iconic Rootstein Gallery in New York City. Nasty Pig models will walk the floor selling opportunities to win one-of-a-kind Shred of Hope items and experiences to benefit the AFC.

VIDEO: Watch this clip featuring Ali Forney Center founder Carl Siciliano to learn more about Shred Of Hope.

NOTE: Somehow yours truly was also invited to participate. While I'm not a rock star or an Oscar winner, I'm going to depend on my faithful flying monkeys to make sure that MY shirt auctions well. The JMG logo is on the back and everybody signed their shirts. The auction starts online on June 20th.

Today In Fake Apologies

"I am so sorry. I did not mean to offend anyone with my comments last night on Watch What Happens Live." - Patti Stanger, host of Millionaire Matchmaker. During the show, Stanger told one viewer that he looked straight and wasn't queeny. "That's a compliment." She also claimed that gay men are incapable of monogamy and that all Jewish men are liars. Bravo has issued their own apology in the face of calls to cancel Stanger's show.

Asshat Of The Day - Patti Stanger

Yesterday Patti Stanger, host of Millionaire Matchmaker, made a lot of enemies while appearing on a Bravo talk show.

Taking calls from viewers, Stanger repeatedly packaged gay and Jewish stereotypes as insight in a segment that offended viewers and made host Andy Cohen visibly uncomfortable. Things started to get uncomfortable when a gay man called in asking a question about maintaining an open long-term relationship. Stanger said, "In the gay world, it will always be open," and continued, "I've tried to curb you people." She then referenced a gay sex site. Andy Cohen recoiled in shock. "I'm down for the monogamy," he said, pushing back on her comments. She immediately burst out laughing. "When was the last time you had a boyfriend?" she asked, incredulously. Another caller hit on similar themes, and got a similar response from Stanger. He called in saying that he was looking for a committed relationship in L.A., but was having trouble finding people with the same priorities. "You're very handsome," she said, "I thought you were straight." She then clarified that he wasn't "queeny," as Cohen made a funny face that expressed his discomfort.

Stanger went on to advise against dating Jewish men because "they lie." Today social media sites have lit up with calls for Bravo to cancel the show.

Andy Cohen & Ben Cohen On Bullying

Real Housewife Danielle Defends Gays

Towleroad points us to this after-the-series clip from the cast of Real Housewives Of New Jersey in which Danielle mentions having taken offense at a "that's so gay" comment from earlier in the show's run. Openly gay host Andy Cohen steps in to support Danielle. Click on the "that's so gay" label in the bottom of this post to see some celebrity PSAs against the expression.