Gallup Survey On LGBT Populations

Gallup reports:

The San Francisco metropolitan area has the highest percentage of the adult population who identify as LGBT of any of the top 50 U.S. metropolitan areas, followed by Portland, Oregon, and Austin, Texas. Variation in the percentage who identify as LGBT across the largest metro areas is relatively narrow, with San Francisco's percentage just 2.6 percentage points higher than the national average of 3.6%, and the lowest-ranked metro area -- Birmingham, Alabama -- one point below the national average.

The top 10 includes metro areas from every region of the country except the Midwest. Given the long history of a visible and politically active LGBT community in San Francisco, the city's ranking at the top of this list is not surprising. Similar to San Francisco, Metropolitan Statistical Areas (MSAs) like Portland, Seattle and Los Angeles in the West, and Boston in the Northeast, are known for their progressive social and political climates and active LGBT communities. Hartford is the capital of Connecticut, which has permitted same-sex couples to legally marry longer than every state except Massachusetts.

MSAs like Austin and New Orleans in the South, and Denver in the Rocky Mountain region, all have reputations as socially progressive cities within states and regions that are much more conservative, perhaps making them regional hubs for the LGBT population.

Hit the link for the full list.

Right Now In Birmingham

Some nutjob is putting on quite the show for the celebratory crowd outside the Birmingham courthouse.

UPDATE: Now there's video.

First Couple Marries In Birmingham

Riots Close British Gayborhood

Birmingham's gay village was shut down yesterday due to widespread looting and fires. ZONE Magazine reports:

The London riots have spread beyond the capital to Birmingham, including the Gay Village. Popular gay bars Missing, The Loft Lounge, Equator, Purple Bar and The Angel Bar were all closed on the advice of police at around 9pm last night. The police have confirmed that at least 35 arrests have already been made. The Birmingham Hippodrome theatre, which is located on the edge of the gay village in the Southside area of Birmingham, was on a 'lockdown' with up to 2,000 theatre-goers locked inside watching We Will Rock You. Following the performance, police escorted patrons to the safety of their cars in the Arcadian Centre.

There was widespread looting in the city centre, including the Armani shop in The Mailbox. Kevin Breese, General Manager of Birmingham's Harvey Nichols shop, confirmed that the ajacent Armani shop has been completely looted. 'They were very well organised youths, with wirecutters and concrete blocks,' he said. West Midlands Police continued to tackle the disorder occurring in Birmingham last night. Several premises were attacked, with some shop windows smashed and property stolen in various locations in the centre, as well as some surrounding areas.

Hit the above link for live updates on the situation.

Gay Porn Star Ryan Idol Named In Charity Scandal

Scandal has erupted around yet another gay porn star.

John Katopodis, 61, former member of the city council of Birmingham, Alabama and "close friend" of Birmingham Mayor Larry Langford (D), is being investigated by federal prosecutors for allegedly misusing over $1M in funds from a charity Langford created to provide computers to needy children. Katopodis is suspected of using the charity's money to pay personal credit cards, gamble at casinos, take expensive vacations, and to pay retired gay porn star and Broadway actor Ryan Idol $30,000 for "repairing computers."

Katapodis also gave $10,000 of charity money to Mayor Langford, which the mayor claims he donated to a private charity under his control.

The questions about Computer Help for Kids, created in 2000 to carry out Langford's first computer-for-every-child promise as Fairfield mayor, come as the Birmingham City Council considers an agreement allowing a new charity backed by Langford to distribute computers to students. John Katopodis, a close friend of Langford who is organizing the mayor's initiative, faces questions in a civil lawsuit and in federal subpoenas about how he managed Langford's first computer charity.

The civil lawsuit filed by HealthSouth Corp., which donated money and computers, questions why the first computer charity gave Langford money, paid for casino trips and handed out donated computers to friends and politicians.

Ryal Idol is named in HealthSouth's lawsuit. Idol, whose real name is Marc Anthony Donais, retired from porn in the late '90s and recently appeared in the hit Broadway show The Ritz. Idol does not appear to have computer training.

Katopodis testified in his deposition that Donais [Idol], the adult-film actor, was paid to help the Council of Cooperating Governments and the Computer Help for Kids programs, both of which were handling money and expenses for Langford's computer initiative. Donais, a former Playgirl Magazine centerfold, has starred in seven gay adult films. Katopodis pointed out in his testimony that Donais also has appeared in plays in New York City.

"He's a businessman and had been working as, had done several off-Broadway productions and had been writing a play," Katopodis testified. "I don't know what else he was doing, you know."

Donais received $5,000 from the computer charity and $25,000 from the council, according to court filings. "He's very good at working on computers," Katopodis testified. "He's very adept at computers. But at the time he was working at the Council, he didn't work on computers."

Under further questioning, Katopodis said Donais worked for the computer charity without any formal training in that area. "He repaired computers. He, as I say, helped us, he traveled helping to try to set up computer programs in other areas among disadvantaged communities," Katopodis said.

Today Katapodis stepped down the Computer Help For Children board of directors. Mayor Langford is also the subject of an unrelated investigation from the Securities and Exchange Commission for "bond swap" transactions he made while president of the Jefferson County Commission.