The Malcontent

Gay Bits - Cold, Rainy, Stupid Chicago Weather Edition

We know Katharine McPhee went seven circles of glittery supernova on this week's American Idol. AOL's Kenneth Hill serves up the other gay moments from this week's show you might have missed.

A Georgia court strikes down that state's gay marriage amendment on a technicality.

Yet another columnist explains why yet another unrelated liberal cause should drain the attention and funds of the gay rights movement.

The Bush administration changes its mind and votes for consultative status for a gay rights organization at the U.N. My gay activist overlords have informed me we may never speak of this matter again.

Mere hours ago, the Senate Judiciary Committee approved the Federal Marriage Amendment. Sens. Arlen Specter and Russ Feingold celebrated with bitch-slapping.

Tonight marks the series finale of Will & Grace. When asked for comment, 84.2% of GLBT respondents shrugged and replied, "That show's still on?"

Happy Gay Day, Hires Gives Good Head Edition

It's frothy, you can lick it sexily off your lips, and it is 140 years old today.  No jokes about Larry King's love life, please.

Gay and Other Bits

Laura Bush says gay-marriage legislation shouldn't be a "campaign tool."  I guess no one told her husband.

Former Senator Bob Kerrey admits blocking cocks.

Alabama AG candidate shows that racism knows no party boundaries.

Gay Bits

Figuring common sense is for proles, the ACLU decides defending NAMBLA isn't the worst thing they can do and takes up for the virulently anti-gay Westboro Church.

The Democratic Party doesn't care a fig about gay issues. In other news, the sky is a pleasing shade of azure.

Facing total failure in the legislature, Peter and friends are attempting to get a nonbinding advisory referendum against gay marriage on the Illinois ballot this fall. As the legislature, both gubanatorial candidates, the mayor of Chicago, and people in general are against the move, GLBT folk in the state look on with bemusement.

Poland declares that just because they're primarily known for massive sausages, we oughtn't read too much into it.

The Pope reconsiders condom use as a method of combatting HIV. For heterosexuals. Who are married.

A Christian group disinvites Clay Aiken from their event. When asked for comment, a spokesperson replied, "We were hoping for a power bottom."

Gay Bits

The gayest American Idol moments of the week, pardon the pleonasm.

The Ninth U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals upholds a ban on anti-gay clothing. The majority opinion held, "While 'Homosexuality is Shameful' is objectively offensive and disruptive, using masking tape to append the message to a shirt is a compound hurt against gay men of taste everywhere."

George Michael: "It's all that bitch Elton's fault."

Speaking of pleonasms, a New York university is holding a gay prom.

In Britain, the BBC will be airing a program "The Trouble With Gay Men" exploring why "some of us insist on still behaving with the silly rebelliousness of extended adolescence." This should get the producer in no trouble with gay groups whatsoever.

Belgium, land of waffles and gay adoption.

Gay Bits, That's "Fletcher" Not "Felcher" Edition

The next time someone tells you gay people want "special rights," tell them about idiot governors who are taking rights away.  But at least the governor is consistent: While he would deny the use of state funds to protect gay people, he would also give them to schools that discriminate against them.

"Soulforce" gay activists protest at BYU, as arrested students find that bizarre speech codes don't exist only at left-wing universities.  [h/t Andy]

Meanwhile, the next stop for Soulforce might be the White House lawn.

Reading comprehension at all-time low in Charlotte, N.C., as a school confuses "tolerance" with "sexually explicit."

It ain't easy being a gay mobster.

Influential Conservative Jewish leader calls for ordination of gays.

Virginia's Democratic governor will let a referendum move forward that is considered one of the harshest gay-marriage bans in the country.  It also bans private contractual arrangements that "simulate the rights of marriage."

"Toby" still mysteriously drawn to the Brat Boy.

The always useful Dailykos is just discovering that society is more accepting of lesbians than it is of gay men.

Gay Bits, Total Meltdown Edition

AmericaBlog agrees with me on something?  Satan must be looking frantically for his parka and long-johns.  Meanwhile, it looks like a potential perp walk for Cynthia McKinney.

As the DC smoking ban nears, thumb-sucking bed-wetter Mark Lee takes his marbles and goes home.

Becks is still hot, even if he should star in the sequel to "Sleeping With the Enemy."

Sorry for the lean content today.  Network troubles are preventing me from accessing about 90 percent of the Internets.

Gay Bits, Not That There's Anything Wrong With That Edition

The Mayor of West Sacramento comes out.  I knew I had seen him at Faces!  [h/t Andy]

"Hostile society" leads to gay depression.  I guess I'll have to start snorting my Wellbutrin now.

The constitution DeBased: Sen. Mike DeWine will co-sponsor anti-gay marriage amendment.

Vin Diesel "slams" but does not deny gay rumors, saying he comes from the "Marlon Brando ... code of silence."  Nice alibi, dude.

BMW is spending its ad bucks in the gay rags, but there's still no pleasing the crybabies.

Robbie's hometown rail authority is just daring the homophobes to stand up and be counted.

Gay Bits, War on "Gay Terrorists" and Seacrest Edition

What kind of asshole could figure out a way to put terrorists and gays into the same category?  Why, Antonin Scalia, of course!  [h/t Queerty]

[UPDATE: Towleroad has more on Scalia and an obscene suggestion he made to a photographer that we're inclined to consider ourselves.]

Oh, and Polish President Lech Kaczynski too.

Australia moves to block gay civil unions.

PAYOR wants to "leave no straight person behind."

Did the Massachusetts high court just "un-marry" me and many others?  For the record, I still intend to reside in Massachusetts.  Yep, that's my story and I'm sticking to it.

We love Tori!  On the two writers of her new VH1 show: "They're gay and fabulous," she said. "Who better to write for Tori Spelling?"

"The Evidence" features the ol' gay-boxer gambit.

Do you think he threw up a little bit in her mouth?

Gay Bits, Upside of Spider Bites Edition

They're black, they're young, they're ... Republican? Sure, they can probably hold their meetings in a phonebooth, but we wouldn't really mind squeezing in there with them.

There's a new player in the field of gay, professional and social networking services: Circa-Club.

Yet another poll finds fast-growing acceptance of gays.

Slate lights a match to the "gay marriage leads to polygamy" strawman.

Catholic Charities fights back anti-gay-adoption onslaught.

"Ex-gay" group apparently wants to see an ex-First Amendment too.

Could you please suck out the venom?

Look out, Mormons: Here comes Soulforce.

Gays Bits, Fear and Loathing Edition

Think anti-gay religious bigotry is confined to fundamentalist Muslims and Christians?  Think again.

Cameroon somehow managed to get even less friendly to gays.

Gay-marriage proponents are still looking to the courts.

The military needs you if you're queer.  Except for when they don't need you.

Who wins the weird-off between Larry King and Liza?  Hint: It's not Larry.  [h/t: Gawker]

The PEN15 boys check in on Cindy.

Post-Germanic Gay Bits

Robbie's hometown newspaper looks at the fight over gay adoption as the USA's "next culture clash."

A new website aims for the Native American GLBT audience.

The Advocate breaks major news: Many gays were among the anti-war protests over the weekend.  The Malcontent breaks even bigger news: Many more of us were not.

Andy gives us a glimpse at the NCAA's "hottest" matchup (sixth item).

Muslim leaders once again demonstrate the nanoscopic lengths of their tolerance.

Queer footballers whip some straight ass.

Queerty asks if there are any unmarried gay celebs left in the UK.

The Malcontent missed when "Speedo Sunday" became "Speedo Monday," but we won't quibble.

Gay Bits - Morning Edition

How much does it cost to be a true disciple of the Oprah? About $572.86.

Park District officials in Crystal Lake received complaints about plans to host the rowing event in this summer's Gay Games to be held in Chicago. I have it on good authority 86% of the calls were made by this man.

"Do gays and lesbians need specific items and documents ready and available to them and their families, should a disaster, such as an earthquake, flood, tsunami, or other horror occur?" Apparently. How I've gotten this far in life without a pink hazard triangle is absolutely beyond me.

Youth in Israel may now choose to serve a national gay organization in place of joining the military. Sounds a bit like a Cake or Death? decision.

You'd think this U.K. publication could find a better headline for the current military scandal involving troops from the 82nd Airborne Division appearing in gay internet porn.

Speaking of unfortunate headlines . . .

The "impossibly cute" Rob and Jordan at the PEN15 Club finally posted the second episode of their brilliant podcast. Now, to convince them to give us two hours instead of one.

Gay Bits

U.S. military has wasted $363.8 million over 10 years discharging gays, also known as 404,672 suits of body armor.

One year later and "the leads have all but dried up" in the brutal dismemberment of Rashawn Brazell, a bisexual Brooklyn teen.  Police are pointing to the possibility that a "chance encounter" took his life.  —Reg. req. for link. (Thanks, James)

Andy has a good round-up of recent gay-marriage news:  William Weld continues to disappoint; Frist continues not to surprise.  Meanwhile, "It's good for your health!"

Tom Cruise: Still sue-happy after all these years.

DNC imitates gay-left blogophere: "You're ugly!  And fat!"

It's "Zbooby"?  Looks more like It's "Zpenis" to me.

MalcoVision will be studying Johnny Weir's every fey move tonight.

Weekend Gay Bits

Is it because I'm a line-backer? A gay former NFL player is shut out from the Super Bowl and plans to sue.

Focus on the Family attempts a sleight of hand maneuver in supporting limited domestic partnership rights in Colorado. Joe Solomnese declares them gay supportive and pisses away millions before it is explained to him they're not Democrats.

The HIV travel ban is lifted for this summer's Gay Games to be held in Chicago. Despite the poor timing, a newly reincarnated local chapter of ACT UP materialized in the most gay friendly city this side of San Fancisco for reasons completely unknown.

Behold the awesome power of the American Family Association as they assault storyboards for Jesus.

Can a person contract homosexuality at a seminar? Apparently. Activists, correct your recruitment handbooks where appropriate.

Gay Bits

Their "missionary position": Evangelicals raise Cain over the choice of openly gay Chad Allen to play a missionary in "End of the Spear."  Given that there is no gay sex whatsoever in the movie, it kind of puts the lie to that whole "love the sinner, hate the sin" thing.  — See also NYT link, reg. req.  [Thanks, Celeste]

UPDATE: GPW has some good things to say about this.

Straight Hollywood is apparently even more afraid of "Brokeback Mountain" than the hetero Heartland.  Meanwhile, WaPo muses on whether a movie is sometimes just a movie.

Also related: LA Weekly pulls out the stops – and its claws – for Philip Seymour Hoffman.

TV ad to feature gay kiss.  Don't get too excited, Yanks, it will air in the UK.

Josh Foust has an even more biblical take on the selective use of scripture against gays than my own.

Utah legislator to gay and straight students: "Can't we all just not get along"?

Gay Bits: Belated Return Edition

Marriage-sanctity watch: Most gay people can't even marry the same person once, let alone twice.

Boozhy reports on Colombia's condom cartel.

Gay men apparently flouting South Africa's blood-donation ban.

Harrison Ford must not read 429 News.

What's the most gay-friendly employer in Britain?  Would you believe a police department?

The New York Times Magazine covers "covering," resulting in an even pinker shade of "Old Gray Lady."

2005's gay-themed movies face a big test tonight.

Heath Ledger's inspiration: His bare-knuckle-fighting, bisexual uncle.

Governor Kaine giveth, Governor Kaine taketh away.  But will gay-rights groups scream like they did about Arnold?  Don't hold your breath.

Pre-Dawn Gay Bits

"Ringmasters, bear trainers, strong men, clowns and bearded ladies turned out in droves at the 12th annual Mother City Queer Party." It actually took me a moment to realize this article was not about Elton John's upcoming nuptials.

Gay groups? Quasi-important. Shareholders? Deifically important.

Officials in Greece are busily discarding their own history, culture, and thousands of years of pottery art to oppose official recognition for gay couples. When the creators of homosexuality reject it, well, it's a topsy-turvy world, my friends.

Gay marriage is not Iowa's biggest issue. If the religious right in that state had a smidgeon of intellect, they'd claim homosexuals oppose corn subsidies.

Brokeback Mountain to test Oscar's gay-friendliness? Uh huh. Let us not forget the vicious homophobia on display when the Academy snubbed Hillary Swank in 2000 for Boys Don't Cry. Except for the part where they didn't.

The New Hampshire commission on gay marriage continues to baffle by noting, "Research suggests that the best environment for children is a married heterosexual family where mother and father are biologically related." When did New Hampshire become Kentucky?

My new computer arrives today. This has nothing to do with gay topics, unless you count all the porn that will require transferring.

Gay Bits

Ponder this headline, then attempt to follow the story.

Whether the AFA's boycott worked, or Ford is simply cutting costs, I was planning on buying foreign anyway.

Robbie Williams is not gay. In other news, David Beckham is not a soccer player.

Wisconsin gears up to pass an amendment to ban gay marriage, proving once again my life philosophy - Nothing good comes from the land of the Packers.

The Fab Five embark on a season-long gimmick: Queer Eye For the Straight Groom.

The District of Columbia is expected to pass a domestic partner bill. Will Congress veto?

Gay Bits

If you have £100k, one in ten men would like to have a threesome with you.

Elton John is preparing to bring us the gayest gay wedding of all time. British florists are said to be trembling in mortal terror.

As we anxiously await the upcoming release of Brokeback Mountain, the Independent profiles America's gay rodeo culture.

So-called family groups are attempting to bring a constitutional amendment banning gay marriage to my home state of Illinois. Should it make it to the ballot, expect yours truly to do personal battle with people like this man.

When it comes to documenting gay experiences in American fraternities, this author wrote the book.

Charlize Theron shows solidarity with gays and lesbians. I still don't forgive her for stealing Stuart Townsend from me.

Gay Bits

"Scapegoating": Gay-rights groups decry new Vatican policy on gay priests.

Purple Pew: Vatican "bears false witness."

"Defend Marriage Canada": Past opponents unite, enter the gay-marriage fray.

Dogged by controversy: "Postcards From Buster" gets gay financial backing.

Pay no attention to the mullah behind the curtain: Gay Muslim group calls for silence on Iranian executions.

Haven't they heard of Lawrence v Texas?: Old Dominion upholds sodomy-solicitation convictions.

Bated breath: Washington State awaits gay-marriage ruling.

Feast of Fools: The Malcontent's favorite gay podcast celebrates 200^th episode.

Gay Bits: PM Edition

Dead-horse alert: Anti-gay-marriage forces say they have enough signatures to put their amendment onto the ballot.

$90,000 in taxpayer money wasted: Colorado school settles lawsuit, recognizes gay-straight alliance.

Blade Blog: "Brokeback" cowboys definitely not straight.

"Small but measurable": HIV post-exposure prophylaxis not always effective.

Ricky's in love: But discusses his bathtime spankings gender-neutrally.  (Scroll down to second item.)

Obsessed?: Gayest "straight" magazine Details thinks the Old Gray Lady has a thing for the queers.

Glug, glug, glug: The sound of Jim West's poll numbers.  [HT: Mad Professah]

Gay Bits

Let's play Who Wants to Be a Sugar Daddy?

Todos los pendejos reúnen en España.

Gay retirement homes like this one in Santa Fe could be the wave of the future. My advice? Never mix ecstacy with heart medication. Cuddling with a defibrilator just ain't what it's cracked up to be.

Bumped up from steerage to second class, gay activists in Maine plan to enjoy the ride.

If you have a hard-on for both Jesus and other men, this man has the internet dating service for you.

Gay Bits

Rip Van Winkle Award: Company believes there are no "gay political blogs."  In other news, The Malcontent rips hair out by roots.

How did those get there?:  Porn pics mysteriously appear on gay mayor's computer.

Gays against integration: New party leader wants Quebec out of Canada.

Maybe because there are none left?: Only one gay linguist discharged last year under DADT.  Although the gender was not disclosed, if she were a lesbian, we're betting that she was "cunning."

Gay executions: IGLHRC stepping up to plate on Iran abuses.

Like sheep: Gays more apt to be swayed by ads.

Schism?: Church of England divided over gay clergy.

Stepping down: Vocal Mass. critic of gay marriage not running for re-election.  (Note to Mike Rogers: He's a Democrat.)

Gay Bits

Steppin' out: McGreevey getting more comfortable as a "gay American."

Not a lotta nerve: Scientists find brain difference in gay flies.

Deep denial in the Deep South: Baptists work to marginalize gay students.

Dissecting the stats: Keith Boykin examines the "mysteries of the black AIDS epidemic."

Targeted by "ex-gays": Gay man runs for president of American Psychiatric Association.

God is (sometimes) love: Gay priests struggle with new Vatican rules.

Gay Bits

I will oppose it no more forever: Gay marriage opponent reverses himself.

Focus on the funny: Good As You goes fishing for meta tags.  [HT: Purple Pew]

Doth protest much: Kenny Chesney not gay.

Here we go again: Federal Marriage Amendment moves forward.

It still ain't diabetes, folks: Study looks at brain degeneration from HIV.

A rumor without punch: Ali denies dating Queen Latifa.

Rittenhouse Review asks: Is your chili gay?

Gay Bits

Going both ways: Texas says no to gays, Maine says yes.

"Yes" to defenselessness: People's Republic of San Francisco bans handguns, urges an end to military recruiters.

The Santorum agenda: Caring more about straight animals than gay humans.

Is this how they "oppose" things in Scotland?: Specter to vote for anti-gay amendment he opposes.

Kiss this: Hundreds protest the Brazilian "kiss that wasn't."

Censorship of a different kind: Swedish pastor defends anti-gay views.

Way to go, guys: Gay men fueling spread of syphilis.

Gay Bits

Not welcome at Baylor: $65K is chump change when there is bigotry to be had.

What is funny?:  Sex, yes.  The Odd Couple, not so much.

Kiss in?  Pissed off!: College Republicans sue in Nevada.

"That's so gay": Yes, but is it homophobic?

Okla-homo!: Tom Coburn more moderate on gay issues than the Dem he defeated?

Gay Bits

"The most punitive adoption law in the country": And a new push to rescind it.

Complicit: At least one pundit says the media plays a role in fostering homophobia in sports.

Piling on Alito: Columnist Deb Price gulps the pro-abortion-equals-pro-gay Kool Aid.  She couldn't find anything good to say about him in regard to gays?

Mass. Episcopalians dodge "gay bullet": What, was it lisping as it whizzed by?

And finally ... : Hairy nutsack runs the New York Marathon.  I will post my own (testicle-free) photos a bit later. [HT: Gawker]

Gay Bits

Confessions of music reviewers: Three new takes on Madonna's CD: here, here and here. [HT: Queerty]

Keep your "friends" close: Clay Aiken hires his hairdresser as a dancer.

Compare and contrast: More reasons why Sheryl Swoopes wouldn't stand a chance in male sports.

Alito: Tim Noah comments on the nominee's "gay-friendly past."

Huh?: I'm still trying to figure out why Andy linked to this story.  Maybe the Deputy's name showed up in his Technorati watchlist?

Gay Bits

Gay blogosphere still has hair up collective ass about Jeff Gannon:  Says, "You are entitled to our opinion."

License to bareback?:  Development of an HIV-prevention gel is on a fast track.

Breaking no news: Celts say NBA is homophobic.

The Kabuki begins: Scott Bloch, anti-gay head of Office of Special Counsel, is finally being investigated by OPM.

Gay rights group's gay-less agenda: Equality California outed by selves as partisan hacks.

The ol' reach-around: Subtle gay-baiting in Ferrer's latest ad.

Gay Bits

Pin-up Boy-kin: Congrats to "virtual Malconfidant" Keith Boykin for his feature in the November issue of Instinct.  (It was some article about 25 great gay guys or something, but I was too drunk to pay close attention.)  He's a cool cat, even if he doesn't get the concept of gay Republicans.

(Click pic to enlarge)

High Heel Race pics: Metro Weekly has now posted a sampling of the good, the bad and the baddest.  I loved Hurricane Himmicane Rita, but what does Spy vs. Spy have to do with anything?

Put it back in your pants, Andy: Towleroad gets turned on by Ozzie Guillen kissing another man.  But it's Ozzie's son.  (OK, he did take down the "hot, hot, hot" verbiage.)

Shoo, flu: Chloe Sevigny won't get the bird flu.  The Pen15 Club says she's sure of it.

Reviewing the reviewers: Beaverhausen takes on the savaging of Dan.

Getting what you ask for: If the gay-rights groups were unhappy about Miers (I don't think they should have been), then they might swallow their tongue over the next nominee.  (Although I would dispute the casual inclusion of everyone on that list as "anti-gay.")

Gay Bits

Lesbians?  In the WNBA?: It is extremely, unfathomably rare for a star athlete in team sports to come out while he or she is still actually playing the game.  Which is why Sheryl Swoopes' courageous announcement is so significant.  Outsports has the story and more here.  Good on you, Sheryl.  Potentially controversial money quote:

"Do I think I was born this way? No," Swoopes said. "And that's probably confusing to some, because I know a lot of people believe that you are."

A new threat to national security from Down Under: The Trail Mix blog has the goods.  Hey, those light meters can really hurt if they poke you in the eye.

Wonkette comes through: Pictures from the High Heel Race.

Seeing lavender: Georgia Equality endorses a lesbian candidate's opponent for city council.

The company you keep: The Klan will rally in support of the Texas anti-gay-marriage amendment.

Gay Bits

Zogby Poll: Gays more worried than straights about retirement.

With Democrats (and "gay-rights groups") preventing us from having more control over our Social Security earnings, and religious zealots working to keep us from passing on our estates to our partners, we can't ever imagine why that would be.

Lou Sheldon urges voodoo exorcism to "cure" gays.  I'm filling my gullet with pea soup as we speak.

Anti-gay Salvation Army in legal trouble.  [HT: Gay News Blog]

New York doesn't recognize Vermont civil unions.  OK, what about my legal Massachusetts marriage? And whither Eliot Spitzer? [HT: Andy]

Gay Bits

Continuing the meme of indivisibility between gay-rights groups and Democrats, the activists go looking for fire, but still can't even find much smoke on Harriet Miers.

Despite growing acceptance of gays among youth, there is still a long way to go.

NYC is the top U.S. city for lesbians.  Must be all the leftover Fashion Week flannel.  [HT: Queerty]

Talk about self-loathing.  [HT: Andy]

Gay Bits

The "Mr. Gay International" judges chose well (reg. req.), although Mr. 'Frisco gets an honorable mention in my book.  [Hat: Andy]

Proving that he needs the gays more than the GOPers, Bloomberg hires the high-profile gay Dem whose baffling, Bush-baiting ads featured his partner.  [HT: Gawker]

Happy National Coming Out Day!  One Delaware man struggles with the meaning of the day.  He didn't have a mother like mine.

Dante's Cove is now On Demand, and I hope to review it soon (as always, with video).  While you're at it, check out our other sponsors, such as the indispensable Gay.com, the unique brand of humor at The Pen15 Club, and the ups and downs of the boys of Club Whirled.

Gay Bits

More love for the gays in Hillsborough County, Florida.  Gay Orbit has the scoop.

The New Republic adds fuel to the fire over the gay establishment's silence on Iran.  [HT: BfT]

Put away the body glitter and chaps: Singapore bans gay parades.  Singaporean criminal justice, however, is still very gay.  [HT: Andy]

And finally, Bradford "goes down":