Swagapalooza

Catching up on the last few weeks of Swag Tuesday winners....

Blogger is having one of its no-photo mornings, so I apologize that winners' photos aren't in this post. I'll see about adding them later when Ms. Blogger gets her act together. If you don't see your name on this list and you think it should be, contact me. Also, please let me know if you were notified more than a week ago and your prize has still not arrived. I've got to keep some of these publicists on their toes.

Rosie O'Donnell's book, Celebrity Detox: The Fame Game:

-Sean from Seattle, Washington: "Heavily caffeinated thanks from the Pacific Northwest. Now that Seattle is on your map, maybe you'd be willing to do one of your fabled live appearances out here ... you and Dan Savage on the same stage? Sweet!"

-Renee from San Marcos, California: "Thank you so much for the book! I have entered many of your SWAG contests, but have been so distracted this time that I was very pleasantly surprised when I got your email."

-Kate from San Jose, California: "Joe.My.God rocks. So does Rosie. Can't wait to read her new book. I'll post my reaction to it on my blog after I read it. (BTW, I just joined the CODEPINK.)"

-Matt from Princeton, New Jersey: "Hey, thanks!"

-Dave from Denver, Colorado: "Woo Hoo! Sounds like the perfect book for reading in the "Blue Chairs" in Puerto Vallarta this Christmas! Jose, bring me another Mar Garrrr Ita! ;-)"

RuPaul's Starrbooty soundtrack:

-Sam from Wilmington, NC: "Thank you so much! I'm very excited to win the RuPaul CD! I came out in the early 90's and I can't tell you how many times I listened to Supermodel of the World as a budding young queer. At a time in my life when I was uncertain and unformed as a gay man, RuPaul was very much an inspiration for me to be myself and be as fabulous as I could."

-Tater from Glen Ellyn, Illinois: "Thank for for making my day!"

-Robert from Rancho Cucamongo, California

Steve Gouda's book, Wearing History:

-Mike from Olympia, Washington: "Happy dancing! Thanks so much!"

Chaka Khan's CD, Funk This:

-Lori from Gloversville, New York: "Thanks to the always hip Lady Randomocity and Joe.My.God. Hey Chaka -- if you're ever in upstate New York, have your people call my people, and lunch is on me!"

-Ben from Pottsdam, New York: "Thanks! Gonna get my groove on tonight."

-Evan from Winnetka, California: "WOW! Thank you, God Our Joe! "And I never win anything!" (Well, I guess sometimes I do!)"

Four double-disc CDs from Universal's Gold Series:

-Tom from Webster, New York: "Thank you, thank you, thank you. Love me some Diana, Mary and Flo."

Here! Networks Nine Lives DVD:

-David from Toronto, Ontario: "I feel star-struck just reading a note from you, and completely thrilled about winning anything! I've been reading your blog for about a year, and not just on swag Tuesdays! I like the witty and wry tone, and since we're about the same age (31?), I can identify with your experiences in those horrible Reagan years. "[JMG: 31? Heh.]

Bob Smith's book, Selfish & Perverse:

-Craig from Fort Lauderdale, Florida: "Thank you so much!!! I am very excited to read his complete book after hearing the amazing snippets Bob read on the cruises. I made a point to hear every one of his readings - even though I was working on the ships. I love your (JMG) site and read it every day. How perfect I was randomly chosen to receive Bob's hilarious and insightful book!"

Dad Of Dead G.I. Sues Fred Phelps,First Amendent Cringes

In a case that will test the limits of the First Amendment, the father of a slain U.S. soldier is suing Fred Phelp's Westboro Baptist Church for picketing his son's funeral, charging the church with invasion of privacy and intentional infliction of emotional distress.

From the New York Times:

Judge Richard D. Bennett, who is hearing the case, told the nine jurors that there are limits on free speech protection, listing categories that include vulgar, offensive and shocking statements, and instructed jurors to decide “whether the defendant’s actions would be highly offensive to a reasonable person, whether they were extreme and outrageous, and whether these actions were so offensive and shocking as to not be entitled to First Amendment protection."

From the Hanover Evening-Sun:

Phelps said he chose to use the term "fag" in the group's signs because it comes from scripture but could also have used Sodomite or dog. When asked by Katz why the group made a "Semper Fi Fags" sign, Phelps said it was in response to the need for a warning to the country "that your wicked ways are going to be your doom shortly."

Following her father on the stand, Phelp's daughter, Shirley Phelps-Frankenchrist refused to apologize for protesting the funeral and said, "We preach to the living to connect the dots to the parents of the dead child. He’s fighting for a nation who has made God a No. 1 enemy." A scholar at Washington DC's First Amendment Center said, "The dangerous principle here is runaway liability in a way that would put the First Amendment in serious jeopardy. I dread to think what it would do to political protests in this country if it were allowed the win."

I think I know what the ACLU will say on this. Opinions?

Caption This

Hillary Turns 60 Today

Hillary Clinton's 60th birthday is today. Last night she celebrated here in New York, with Elvis Costello leading the crowd in singing Happy Birthday. What, she couldn't get a Yank to sing? Why does Hillary hate America?
.

City Of Dallas: Hey, Pull Up Your Pants! What Are You, Some Kind Of Fag?

Via Towleroad comes the story of a new anti-saggy pants campaign by the city of Dallas that suggests that hip-hoppers who let their rear ends show are inviting other men to fuck them. And that's a baaaad thing. The saggy-pants fashion got its start in prisons, where men are not allowed belts. Wearing your pants below your ass is supposed to convince others that you're prison-tough. However, the campaign says it really tells others you are prison-bitch. The billboards for the don't-show-your-ass campaign have been donated by Clear Channel. Andy Towle calls the campaign homophobic. I loathe the saggy-pants look, but I agree. Go to his site for more, including a video.

Momentarily Self-Affirmed

Earlier this month at the Castro Street Fair, I stepped on the Self-Affirmation Scale. It worked. I immediately had a corn dog and another beer.

Chaka Khan, Chaka Khan

The first single from Chaka Khan's Funk This is #1 for the second week on Billboard's dance chart, her first #1 dance hit in ten years and her 7th dance chart topper to date. Disrespectful features Mary J. Blige on vocals. Chaka's first #1 club hit was 1984's I Feel 4 U.

Broadway Friday

-One-man show A Bronx Tale, starring Chazz Palminteri in his Broadway debut, opens today after three weeks of previews at the Walter Kerr Theatre. Reviews have been great. Palminteri performed the show in Los Angeles and Off-Broadway in the late 80's.

-Minnesota's Guthrie Theatre has commissioned Tony Kushner (Angels In America) to write a new play. The work, The Intelligent Homosexual’s Guide to Capitalism and Socialism with a Key to the Scriptures, will make its debut at the Guthrie in the spring of 2009.

-Tony winner Roger Bart, who plays the title character in Young Frankenstein, is temporarily out of the show due to back problems. Understudy Matthew LaBanca will perform while Bart recuperates. In previews now, the show officially opens on November 8th.

-According to this week's Ask Playbill, the largest house on Broadway is the Gershwin with 1809 seats, currently host to Wicked. The smallest is the Helen Hayes with 596, currently host to Xanadu.

-Lawrence Fishburne returns to Broadway on April 20th in Thurgood, a one-man show about late Supreme Court Justice Thurgood Marshall. Fishburne won a Tony in 1992 for his role in Two Trains Running. He last appeared on Broadway in 1999 with The Lion In Winter.

-Broadway Sings The Phone Book, a benefit for the Make-A-Wish Foundation, takes place November 12th at Studio 54. "Demonstrating the popular expression "I'd listen to 'so-and-so" sing the phone book," producers Jonathan Tessero, Sarah Melissa Rotker, and Joe Tropia have lined up a fun array of Broadway stars singing their trademark songs... with the lyrics replaced either mad lib style or with names from pages ripped randomly from the phone book. A third performance option includes a variation of the title where performances are crafted with words from pages ripped from a dictionary." Tickets are $40-$110.

-Harvey Keitel will play the lead in Jerry Spring: The Opera at Carnegie Hall on January 29 and 30. If successful, producers may bring the show to Broadway.

-The 75th Annual Radio City Music Hall Christmas Spectacular, starring the Rockettes, begins November 9th. Tickets $40-$250. Even at four to five shows a day, the show often sells out.

Putting The "X" Back In "Ex-Gay"

This didn't take long. Clay Cane has posted an interview with an unnamed man claiming to have been "ex-gay" Rev. Donnie McClurkin's lover from 2001-2004, the height of the period during which McClurkin was making his anti-gay rants. McClurkin is still slated to appear at Sen. Barack Obama's fundraisers in South Carolina, despite a general outcry from gay activists.

According to Cane's source, McClurkin enjoys "rough play" as a submissive bottom and used to patronize the X-rated Show Palace, a now-closed gay strip club on 8th Avenue near Times Square. However, McClurkin didn't avail himself of the Show Palace's glory holes, telling his playmate, "I wouldn’t stick my six inch, small dick through a glory hole."

McClurkin's ex, who says the two had sex once or twice a month for several years, describes the "ex-gay" reverend's body in detail, and calls McClurkin a sex addict. When confronting McClurkin on his anti-gay rants, the source says McClurkin told him, "I have a problem. I don’t want people to believe that I’m still doing it.”

Read the rest of the (rather long) interview. Grain of salt, unnamed source and all that, but the details in the story ring of believability. The source says he last saw McClurkin earlier this year in a Manhattan restaurant. The "ex-gay" rev was allegedly in the company of an attractive, effeminate man. Yup.
.

Senator Santorum II

JMG blogroller Princess Sparkle Pony has a huge scoop over on Wonkette, telling the story of his friend, IT geek bear David Phillips, who had a memorable (and messy) sexual encounter with Sen. Larry Craig some 20 years ago. You knew these stories would cum dribbling out, right Mr. Toe-Tapper?

A Santorum-infused excerpt:

When we got to what reminded me of a rarely used guest room, he stripped me down, and the man’s hands and mouth were all over me. He kept his pants on, though, while laying me back on the bed to suck my cock. Then, he stripped naked and asked me to suck him. I complied for a while, then he disappeared and returned with lube and a condom to fuck me me with. It was a clumsy and unremarkable fuck, except that I wasn’t clean and he was frantic about not getting my shit on anything. Still, he blew his load, ripped the dirty condom off and ordered me to get dressed without wiping myself. He hurried me to the back door, again ranting, ‘You were never here. You don’t know me. Right?’”

Mr. Phillips’ next claim is startling, indeed: “On the way back through with shit all in my briefs and feeling totally humiliated I let my eyes wander and saw on a table a small envelope, like one from a gift or a floral arrangement, with ‘Suzanne Craig’ neatly written on it. This memory,” Phillips insists, “I noted about three hours after hearing Craig’s voice again, the night before I saw a current picture of him and a good day before I heard of his wife in the news. ‘That’s who’s going to fuck me up if she finds out,’ I thought. As he reached for the door, he took a $20 bill from his wallet, shoved in my front pocket, adding ‘Remember, I can buy and sell your ass ten thousand times over. You were never here. Don’t try to come back here. You don’t know me."

That Larry's a real charmer. Go read the rest. As Princess Sparkle Pony says, "Two sparkly hooves up!"
.

Hollywood: No Mo' Homo

According to Entertainment Weekly, the huge success of Brokeback Mountain has surprisingly failed to interest Hollywood in making more gay-themed films.

Brokeback was more than a movie. It was a phenomenon that commanded the cultural conversation for months, from Jay Leno to YouTube to the cover of The New Yorker. More important, it proved that straight audiences would snap up tickets to a same-sex romance. Since then, a few gay-themed films have been released (e.g., Notes on a Scandal). But seemingly no studio — nor any studio art-house division — has greenlit a film with a gay lead character. ''I don't think any studio responded by saying, 'Quick, dust off whatever gay dramas we have!''' says one former studio head. As surprising as it seemed that Brokeback could lose the Oscar to Crash, the real shock is just now setting in: Brokeback may have changed nothing.

When audiences complain that Hollywood is out of touch with the rest of the country, it's invariably because a movie is deemed too liberal. When it comes to gay characters, however, it's out of touch for the exact opposite reason.

With nothing gay in the Hollywood pipeline, it's another few years in art house city for mo's that want to see themselves on screen. Otherwise, we'll have to make do with yet more live action comic book movies (yaaawn) and het romantic "comedies." Oh, and doesn't Rambo XVI come out soon? I'm still laughing at my buddy Leif's idea to combine gay porn and martial arts. His suggested title: Crouching Bottom, Hidden Dildo.
.

The Gay Monsters

Straight thugs may have ruined Halloween in the Castro, but you can still get your gay boo on with Andy Bauer's webcomic The Gay Monsters. Tagline: The Closet Is No Place For A Monster. From the press release:

The Gay Monsters are taking the world by thunderstorm! This flamboyant webcomic is pure camp about charming gay monsters and their contemporary queer situations. The Gay Monsters features the colorful and comical exploits of the spooky but lovable denizens of the Underworld’s gay district known as Twinkle Toad Town. Come if you dare to the ghostly bowels. What will appear is somewhat unknown, but what is guaranteed is a flamboyant pageant of colorful spirits in this fun series. So, DRAG your bones over to www.TheGayMonsters.com for an enchanting spell full of ghoulish gaiety!

In Yer Face, Condi

Code Pink rocks. Heroes, every one of them.

Big Win For Adult Websites

You may recall back in September when I passed along an alert from the NGLTF regarding the expansion of the 2257 Regulations, which would have required internet social networking and hook-up sites like Facebook and Manhunt to maintain your photo ID on file, information many would be loathe to put in the hands of such parties.

Fear no more. On Tuesday, the U.S. Sixth District Court of appeals overturned the original regulations as overly-broad and in violation of free speech protections.

Tuesday's ruling is a remarkable win for adult publishers, not just because of the weighty nature of the regulations but also because the lawsuit has been going on for so long. The case was originally filed in September 1995, and this is likely going to be the last word unless the U.S. Supreme Court gets involved.

Although the Justice Department tried to downplay the impact of the record-keeping rules, the court reasonably noted that the regulations apply even to couples taking erotic photos for their own private use. Uploading them to the Web is regulated as well, of course.

"This reach is extremely broad, and the most commonsense limitation, for which the statute and regulations provide some support, would be to limit the statute's reach to photographs taken for a commercial purpose, that is, photographs taken for the purpose of sale," the 6th Circuit said. But, the judges added, "the plain text and definitions of the terms used admit...no commercial limitation on who will be considered producers."

Fortunately, the 6th Circuit recognized this, and concluded: "The government has drawn a similarly over-inclusive line here by including all sexually explicit photographs, whether created for commercial purposes" or otherwise. (The lawsuit was filed by a swingers' magazine called Connection that allowed couples to send in explicit photographs of themselves.)

As the linked CNET article notes, as written, the regulations made felons out of anybody (not just the site owners) who made or uploaded sexually explicit photos without complying with the Justice Department rules. No word yet from BMB about their resuming to allow members to upload their pervy self-pics.

Wire Daises - Gay Boy

Cute tune and video from UK band Wire Daisies, but the lyrics are a little confusing. You're a gay boy, and it shows. But it's OK boy, nobody knows. It shows, but nobody knows? Shrug.

Dumbledore Pride

Inevitable, eh? Get yours here.

Unshocking Poll: New York Dirty But Fun

According to 60,000 readers of Travel + Leisure, the top three cities in the U.S. in terms of gay-friendliness are San Francisco, New Orleans, and Portland, Oregon. New York is the 7th most mo-friendly. New York ranks last in cleanliness (I'd put 17th place SF there), affordability, and access to outdoors, but Gotham is first in overall culture, people watching, classical music, theatre, and the underground arts scene.

Philadelphia has the ugliest people of the 25 American cities on the poll, but San Diego and Miami are apparently hottie central. Chicago has the best skyline, followed by New York and San Francisco. That seems about right. Unsurprisingly, my hometown of Orlando scrapes the bottom of most of the culture categories, but does rank #1 for family vacations. Too bad they didn't ask about titty bars, Orlando would totally rule.

Open Thread Thursday

Browsing a newsstand before my flight to SF earlier this month, I was struck by how rarely I buy magazines these days. I don't even subscribe to any anymore, preferring to read on the web. I still pick up the odd copy of something every now and then, but only if a story is particularly interesting to me. What magazines do you still subscribe to?

Speaking Of Fire-Fighting...

The Huffington Post is reporting that Barack Obama has just told a group of gay activists in New Hampshire that he will now have a gay minister open his fundraisers in South Carolina. Sort of to, you know, balance the rest of the bill - gay-haters like Donnie McClurkin and gospel singers Mary, Mary. And Jesse Jackson should open the next Klan rally, cuz then that makes it OK too, right?

UPDATE: The gay minister chosen is Rev. Andy Sidden.

"Ex-Gay": God Is Burning San Diego Because Of Gay Rights

"They shook their fists at God and said, "We don't care what God says, we will issue our legal brief to support gay marriage in San Diego!" Then Mayor Jerry Sanders mocked the Christian vote and signed off on this rebellious legal document to support same-sex marriage. And then the streets of La Jolla under the Mt. Soledad Cross began to cave in.

They shook their fists at God and said, "We don't care what the Bible says, We want the California school children indoctrinated into homosexuality!" And then Governor Schwarzenegger signed into law the heinous SB777 which bans the use of "mom" and "dad" in the text books and promotes homosexuality to all school children in California.

And then the wildfires of Southern California engulfed the land like a raging judgment against the radicalized anti-christian California rebels. How low will we go? Why won't they listen? Why won't they stop their madness?

The Bible says that in the last days, the nations will rebel against God until He can't take it anymore. Was it all worth it? Were the few years of sexual immorality worth the eternal destruction and earthly chaos it brought? How low will we go?" - "Ex-Gay" and Cryptkeeper stand-in James Hartline. Go send James some love.

How To Kill Nightlife

I ripped off this bottle service menu at Lotus last night, just to show you non-New Yorkers what this new "gilded age" is doing to nightlife in Manhattan. With hedge-fund managers and other Wall Streeters happy to plunk down $620 to have a $40 bottle of Grey Goose on their table, what sense does it make for club owners to cater to the rest of us? (Oh, and don't forget the mandatory 20% gratuity tacked on to all bottle sales.)

Bottle service is nothing new, of course, particularly in towns full of high-rollers. But the unprecedented wealth that has infused this town over the last decade or so has not only created a real estate market that makes large nightclubs untenable, the money has flowed down into smaller venues, places that lure the jillionaires with the "prestige" of showing off their dumbass willingness to pay stupid money to prop a bottle on their table.

The Village Voice says "bottle service corrupts the soul of New York City nightlife" and that the glorification of these elitist venues is at the heart of the winding down of Gotham nightlife in general. True dat.

Grampa Goes Out

Last night Paul and I went to HX Magazine's 16th anniversary party at Lotus. Lots of gay publishing types were in the house, including Genre editor Neal Boulton (former editor of Men's Fitness) and Genre VP and publisher Bill Kapfer (pictured). Lady Bunny and Robin Byrd were cutting up in a corner, but I didn't get a chance to grab a shot of them.

After the open bar ran out and Lotus returned to its usual outrageous prices ($12 well, $10 beer), we popped over to Gym Bar to find a party for the Team New York Aquatics underway. Oddly, swimmers eat a lot of pizza, judging by the stack of boxes. I chatted briefly with one of the TNYA players, the statuesque Eyal Feldman (pictured), owner of lube company Boy Butter, whom I met at my last reading. After a drink at the deserted View Bar and another at the crusty, but always busy, Rawhide, I had to pack it in. It was only 11pm, but school night and all that.

Since it was a nice night, I decided to trudge all the way back to the 6 train at Union Square. (Also, I detest the L.) Somewhere around Broadway, I was waiting to cross the street when my head was turned by some high-pitched squealing. In a vestibule, two teenage Latinas were engaging in some public girl-on-girl action. Seeing me look over, one of them screeched, "Wassa matta Grampa, ain't you never seen no hot bitches in love?"

New. York. City.
.

Foster Parents Lose Kid Over Gay Regs

In the UK, an 11 year-old boy is being removed from the custody of his foster parents, both ministers, after they refused to sign new sexual equality regulations which stipulate that they would not teach their foster children to discriminate against gays. According to the Labour party's new Sexual Orientation Regulations, part of the Equality Act 2006, discrimination on the grounds of sexuality is illegal.

The foster parents, who have fostered 30 children in the past, say their religious beliefs do not allow them to sign. They claim officials told them that under the regulations they would be required to discuss same-sex relationships with children as young as 11 and tell them that gay partnerships were just as acceptable as heterosexual marriages. (And this is wrong, how?)

American right-wing news sites and blogs have lept on the story, proclaiming it a harbinger of what's the come in the U.S. Earlier this month, Gov. Schwarzenegger approved a bill that outlaws discrimination against LGBT youth in public schools. Claiming that the California law bans references to "moms and dads", wingnutters like the Campaign For Children And Families are bleating, "This means children as young as five years old will be mentally molested in school classrooms." Their website is calling for parents to remove their children from California public schools, lest they be taught to treat other students with respect and dignity.

Freepers respond to the UK story:

-"Marxism on the march....Children belong to the government, not the parents."
-"The world will need a good right wing fascist to cleanse humanity of the perverts who are growing more bold every day."
-"The Pink Mafia strikes again. As soon as they got some acceptance in mainstream society, they began concentrating on indoctrinating children at younger and younger ages. Obviously, their strategy is recruitment."
-"One does not need a biblical world view to dislike homos. Inherent, automatic understanding of what is disgusting is enough."

White House Comes Out Against ENDA

The White House has finally officially come out against ENDA. Yesterday a "Statement Of Administrative Policy" was released. (PDF.)

H.R. 3685 would extend existing exployment-discrimination provisions of Federal law, including those in Title VII of the Civil Rights Act of 1964, to "establish a comprehensive Federal prohibition on employment discrimination on the basis of sexual orientation." The bill raises concerns on constitutional and policy grounds, and if H.R. 3685 were presented to the President, his senior advisors would recommend that he veto the bill.

H.R. 3685 is inconsistent with the right to free exercise of religion as codified by Congress in the Religious Freedom Restoration Act(RFRA). The Act prohibits the Federal Government from substantially burdening the free exercise of religion, except for compelling reasons and then only in the least restrictive manner possible. H.R. 3685 does not meet this standard. For instance, schools that are owned by or directed by a particular religion are exempted from the bill, but those that emphasize religious principles broadly will find their religious liberties burdened by H.R. 3685.

A second concern is H.R. 3685's authorization of Federal civil damages against State entities, which may violate States' immunity under the Eleventh Amendment to the Constitution.

The bill turns on imprecise and subjective terms that would make interpretation, enforcement and compliance extremely difficult. For instance, the bill establishes liability for acting on "perceived" sexual orientation or "association" with individuals of a particular sexual orientation. If passed, H.R. 3685 is virtually certain to encourage burdensome litigation beyond the cases the bill is intended to reach.

Provisions of this bill purport to give Federal statutory significance to same-sex marriage rights under state law. These provisions conflict with the Defense Of Marriage Act, which defines marriage as a legal union between one man and one woman. The Administration strongly opposes any attempt to weaken this law, which is vital to defending the sanctity of marriage.

And there it is. Anybody surprised?
.

Good Work Wednesday

SF: On Sunday, November 4th, the Alexander Hamilton Post 448, in conjunction with The Sisters of Perpetual Indulgence and SF Defenders is hosting "A Homecoming and Healing Celebration" for veterans of this HIV/AIDS era and those who support them. Room 207, War Memorial Building, 401 Van Ness Avenue. 1:30PM-5PM. Opening ceremonies with a color guard and invocations will be followed by an exercise to recognize our personal everyday heroes. A second exercise recognizing the hero in each of us will be followerd by a final blessing from the Sisters of Perpetual Indulgence.

NYC: The Gay and Lesbian Victory Fund will hold its second Young Professionals for Victory event at Cain Nightclub on Oct. 25 from 8:00-11:00. The event will include a live DJ, open bar and a silent auction featuring items from B.R. Guest Restaurants, Paragon Sports, the NY Rangers, the NY Knicks, Natrona Furniture, Xac Anthony Salon & Spa, Aussiebum and more. Ticket sales benefit the Victory Fund, the nation's largest LGBT political action committee and the only national organization dedicated to increasing the number of openly LGBT elected officials at all levels of government. Purchase tickets online here.

NYC: Gay Men's Health Crisis hosts Fashion Forward With Tim Gunn, November 1st at the Altman Building, 135 W.18th Street. "Join us as we celebrate the fashion industry's commitment to fighting HIV and AIDS and their support of GMHC for over two decades. FASHION FORWARD will present the looks of such celebrated designers as John Bartlett, Andrew Buckler, Heatherette, Perry Ellis, Rag & Bone and Peter Som among others. The evening will feature a cocktail reception, a runway show and a live and silent auction." Purchase tickets here.

LA: The Los Angeles Gay & Lesbian Community Center 36th Annual Gala & Auction takes place on November 17th at the Hyatt Regency Century City. "Singer and Activist Jenifer Lewis and the Gay Men’s Chorus of Los Angeles to be Honored; Chorus to Perform “duet” with the iconic Linda Ronstadt." Tickets: $300 for individuals, $400 for VIP admission which includes preferred seating; $3,000 for a table of 10, and $4,000 for a VIP table of 10. Purchase tickets here.

NYC: The Gay & Lesbian Anti-Violence Project will stage their 2007 Courage Awards at Gotham Hall on November 19th, hosted by B.D. Wong. This year's honorees: New York State Assembly Member Daniel J. O'Donnell, Ms. Verna Eggleston of the Bloomberg Family Foundation, and Sundance Channel.

ENDA Vote Delayed

The ENDA vote won't be today after all.

Originally expected to be voted upon as early as tomorrow morning, a vote on the rule for the bill by the Rules Committee, a process necessary to move the bill to the House floor, has been postponed until the committee meets at 2pm ET tomorrow. An earlier meeting of the committee was canceled.

"The vote on the bill could be next week or this week," David Smith of the Human Rights Campaign told PageOneQ. "It's all very fluid," The former senior staffer for Sen. Ted Kennedy (D-MA) added.

Jeremy Bishop, executive director of Pride At Work, the national LGBT labor organization, said the organization has been "spending 100% of its time and energies rallying Representatives to support the Baldwin Amendment. We have seen Representatives flip their position and support the amendment because they understand it has labor's backing. A delay in the bill's consideration gives us more time to express to Representatives that labor supports this Amendment and they should as well.

"Clearly," added Bishop, "Our campaign for a UNITED ENDA is working."

(Via - PageOneQ.)

Bad T-Timing

OK, first some background for non-Gothamites: Jeffrey Epstein, 54, is this billionaire New Yorker playboy financier who is fighting charges that he hired numerous underage female hookers masseuses. Epstein is being defended by Alan Dershowitz and last month it was reported that Epstein was about to plead guilty to reduced charges in exchange for a 15-month prison sentence.

Epstein's story has been daily fodder for the tabloids, who have droolingly recounted sordid tales of "purple vibrators" used on 14 year-old girls. Last month, the now 23 year-old Maxilimia Cordero came forward to sue Epstein for "bizarre and unnatural sex acts" committed against her when she was an "aspiring 16 year-old model". Cordero says that her mental illness prevented her coming forward for the last seven years, and NOT because she's just found out her former john was a billionaire. Yeah. I know. (Tabs are saying that as many as 40 other girls have $melled $omething too and may be suing Epstein, including girls who only waited in his kitchen while their co-workers gave him his "massage". That must have been one bizarre and unnatural kitchen.)

Under headlines like "I Was Teen Prey Of Pervert" and "My Kinky Sex With A Billionaire", Cordero's life story has been a bonanza for tabs like the NY Post, who have gleefully recounted her self-described drug abuse, mental illnesses and general taste for the high-life. Cordero posed for the Post sitting on the lap of her lawyer (and ex-boyfriend), a schlumpy unshaven old dude who couldn't look more like Chester The Molester if he tried.

But today comes the topper to the story. Under the headline "Kinky Sex Suit Gal Is A Man!", The Post reveals that Maximilia Cordero's birth name is Maximilian. She is a transwoman who has been taking hormones and living as a girl since age 12. On two of Cordero's three MySpace profiles she describes herself as female, but on the third she lists herself as male. A choice quote: "I'm a spoiled bitch and really mean. I love to have fun, hang out and party! Oh and I'm a junk head (pills, designer substances. . . ." (She also describes herself as 17, not 23.) Epstein's lawyer is "shocked". For his part, Cordero's lawyer/roommate/ex-BF doesn't believe it, saying "I may also be female. I'm checking with my doctors."

At this critical time for transgender equality, Cordero's is exactly the sort of sleazy story the movement doesn't need. Trans folk are continually accused of deception or trickery as they merely attempt to go about their daily lives as the gender they were destined to be. And these "Surprise! She's a MAN, baby!" news events don't help. As I am not a trans person, I have no right to comment on the issue of passing and when or whether disclosure is called for. I just hate that we have to have this story on the front page of New York's newspapers, especially right now.

Welcome Wagon

Monday, 9pm, IM conversation.....

Friend Of Joe: Hey neighbor!
JMG: Hey. Neighbor? You moved?
FOJ: Yup, my sister and I just moved to the UES.
JMG: Cool! Where?
FOJ: You know that hi-rise over Bed Bath & Beyond?
JMG: Sure, fancy building.
FOJ: Yeah, it's great. Super convenient.
JMG: Right, you've got BBB in the lobby and that giant Food Emporium next door. A queen's dream. :)
FOJ: And the movie theatre on the block and tons of restaurants. Loving it.
JMG: Not to mention Scores (titty bar) is right across the street, in case you run out of skanky ho's.
(Two minutes of silence.)
FOJ: My sister works there. That's why we moved here.
JMG: Oh. Shit.
FOJ: I'll tell her you said "hi".
.

iPod Death Watch

Maybe you don't wanna know, but head over to iPod Death Watch and enter your iPod's serial number for an estimate of how many days you've got left with your digital lover. According to the site, I've got 633 days on my brand new iPod, my third, provided it doesn't meet the same fate as my first. What a racket!

HomoQuotable - Wayne Besen

"We strongly urge Obama to part ways with this divisive preacher who is clearly singing a different tune than the stated message of the campaign. We can only hope that Obama is unaware of McClurkin's anti-gay history and will swiftly condemn such intolerance. Real leadership includes standing up to those who drive wedges between the American people.

McClurkin's explanations for homosexuality are patently absurd, unscientific and have no basis in fact. He is a sad figure who is using his celebrity to demean and diminish the lives of healthy gay people who have chosen to live openly and honestly. I can't imagine why the Obama campaign would choose to associate with a man who is so closely identified with hatred and discrimination." - Wayne Besen, head of Truth Wins Out, an organization devoted to exposing the lies of the "ex-gay" movement.

Late yesterday, after Besen said the above, Barack Obama issued this statement on the McClurkin controversy: "I have clearly stated my belief that gays and lesbians are our brothers and sisters and should be provided the respect, dignity, and rights of all other citizens. I have consistently spoken directly to African-American religious leaders about the need to overcome the homophobia that persists in some parts of our community so that we can confront issues like HIV/AIDS and broaden the reach of equal rights in this country. I strongly believe that African Americans and the LGBT community must stand together in the fight for equal rights. And so I strongly disagree with Reverend McClurkin's views and will continue to fight for these rights as President of the United States to ensure that America is a country that spreads tolerance instead of division."

Besen calls Obama's statement "inadequate and disappointing." I agree. There is no mention of removing the Grammy-winning "ex-gay" gospel singer from the Obama fundraiser tour. I don't believe Obama is anti-gay, but letting our enemies raise funds for him speaks to a questionable ethic.

Flying SUX

Sioux City, Iowa, which had petitioned the FAA to have their airport designation code, SUX, changed to something less mockable, has decided to embrace and market their memorable name. Go to FlySUX.com for information about their airport and to buy Fly SUX apparel. Interestingly, one of the alternatives to SUX offered by the FAA was GAY, but the city turned them down. Apparently, Sioux City would rather SUX than be GAY.

Swag Tuesday

Courtesy of Hachette Book Group, this week's swag is Rosie O'Donnell's new memoir, Celebrity Detox: The Fame Game, now available at booksellers everywhere. As I've mentioned here several times, I'm a big Rosie O'Donnell fan. The View is simply unwatchable without her. We need somebody on national television angrily losing their shit about Dubya every day. It was a beautiful thing. We have five copies of Celebrity Detox: The Fame Game to give away today. All of Rosie's net profits from this book are being donated to Rosie's Broadway Kids, a program that brings musical theater to New York City public school children.

Sometimes funny, sometimes heartbreaking, and always brutally honest, this is Rosie O'Donnell's surprising account of the pain, regret, and euphoria involved in withdrawing from celebrity life--and the terrifying dangers of relapsing into the spotlight. Celebrity Detox is Rosie's story of the years after she walked away from her top-rated TV show in 2002, and her reasons for going back on the air in 2006. In it, she takes you inside the world of talk-show TV, speaking candidly about the conflicts and challenges she faced as cohost on ABC's The View. Along the way Rosie shows us how fame becomes addiction and explores whether or not it's possible for an addict to safely, and sanely, return to the spotlight. Chronicling the ups and downs of "the fame game," Rosie O'Donnell illuminates not only what it's like to be a celebrity, but also what it's like to be a mother, a daughter, a leader, a friend, a sister, a wife...in short, a human being.

Remember, five winners this week, so your odds are better than most weeks. Enter to win by commenting on this post, please comment only once and remember to leave your email address. Publicists: if you'd like to take part in Swag Tuesday on JMG, please email me.

Six Month Cativersary Recap

When Shelley is feeling needy (about every 15 minutes) she gets between me and my keyboard for her favorite game, Fang Roulette, in which I guess how many times I get to pet her before she (playfully) bites me. It doesn't seem possible, but I've had her for six months this week. She's morphed from being skittish around strangers to being everybody's best friend. And even though she was "fully grown" when I adopted her at 18 months old, she has gained almost four pounds, now weighing in at a normal ten.

She comes running when I call her (mostly) and obeys when I tell her to get down from somewhere, although I pretty much let her go wherever she wants. She's never once missed her litter box and doesn't even hurl up cat hair, ever. (Which actually worries me a little bit.) But last week during one of her hourly freak-outs, and even though I had secured the wires as best I could, she pulled the cable box down again and it wouldn't come back on. It was two dark, entertainment-free days before I could get down to the Time-Warner store to swap it out.

Last week the fantastic East Harlem ASPCA called to check up on how Shelley is doing and to offer to re-spay her, since the first one didn't "take". She hasn't had another heat episode in a couple of months, but now we're on stand-by for the next one as the operation has to take place while she's in heat. I have a feeling I'll need sedation as much as she will.

Rumored: White House May Back ENDA

Wackjob closet case "Porno" Pete LaBabera, the guy who sends undercover camera crews to International Mr. Leather and Folsom Street Fair, is claiming on his Americans For Truth About Homosexuality site that White House staffers were involved in crafting the religious exemptions to ENDA, possibly signaling that President Bush would not veto the bill.

Americans For Truth has learned that a White House official has boasted to pro-family leaders attending a private Administration briefing that White House staffers were involved in the negotiations to craft expanded religious exemption language for the new ENDA bill, H.R. 3685 (discussed below). Call President Bush at 202-456-1111 or 202-456-1414 (www.whitehouse.gov/contact) to urge him to publicly pledge to veto the dangerous ENDA (Employment Nondiscrimination Act) bill, H.R. 3685 in ANY form should it pass.

At the briefing, the White House official did not commit to the assembled evangelical leaders that the President would veto H.R. 3685, saying that they will wait to see the bill’s final language, according to our source. This is troubling in that vetoing ENDA in any form is regarded as a “no-brainer” by pro-family activists, who are counting on Bush to stop it. Failure to veto ENDA would be a devastating defeat for pro-family forces and a huge gift to homosexual lobbyists. Call the President (202-456-111) and urge him to “please publicly pledge to veto ENDA, H.R. 3685, in any form if it passes Congress.”

The version of ENDA to be voted upon on Wednesday does include provisions that exempt religious institutions, small businesses with fewer than 15 employees, and the U.S. military from adherence. All would be free to fire or refuse to hire LGBs based on their sexual orientation.

Unnamed officials speaking to an unnamed "family" organization doesn't lend much credence to the story. This could be a mere "man the barricades!" ploy by the right-wing, fearing ENDA's imminent passage. And of course, anything that LaBarbera says is almost guaranteed to be a lie. But in this case, let's hope he's right.

Italian TV In Gay Priest Frenzy

Italian television networks are breathlessly reporting that Vatican official Father Tommaso Stenico, who was suspended last week after being taped making advances to a young man, now says he has a long list of Vatican officials who are gay. On Friday, Italian television show Panorama revealed that Stenico has a "list of names and circumstances implicating a certain number of priests and even bishops working at the Curia."

The Curia is the governing body of the Roman Catholic Church. Stenico works in the department called Congregation For The Clergy, which oversees 400,000 active Catholic homosexuals priests worldwide. It has been reported that Stenico compiled the list of gay priests in retribution for being passed over for a promotion to bishop. He is currently suspended and may be defrocked.

U.S. Senate Candidate Comes Out

Jim Neal, a Democrat running for the U.S. Senate from North Carolina, came out this weekend during an online chat on the liberal political blog BlueNC. When asked if he was gay, Neal replied, "I am indeed." Neal is running against Sen. Elizabeth Dole.

There has never been an openly gay U.S. senator.

Saying he does not want to be known as "the gay candidate", Neal added, "I'm not running this race to make some social statement. I'm running to lead in the Senate for the voters in NC - something Sen. Dole has not done."

A North Carolina native, Neal, 51, has worked in information technology, including a stint as CEO of RXMarketplace.com. In 2000, he founded The Agema Group, a financial advisory firm based in Chapel Hill.

Neal's campaign site make no mention of his sexual orientation or of his positions on issues important to the LGBT community. He is unmarried with two sons, one living with him at home and one working in New York City.

This will be very interesting.

UPDATE: Here's the online chat with Neal on BlueNC.
.

Obama To Tour With Anti-Gay Preacher

In an effort to gain traction with black conservatives, Barack Obama will tour South Carolina with Pastor Donnie McClurkin, an "ex-gay" preacher and gospel singer.

McClurkin, who says he was molested as a child, frequently rails against "the curse of homosexuality." A choice quote: "There are countless numbers of people who are not happy in this lifestyle and want to be freed from it. They were thrust into homosexuality by neglect, abuse and molestation, and want desperately to live normal lives and one day have a happy home and family."

Progressive blogs are blasting Obama's decision.

From American Thinker: "This would seem to be an incredibly stupid move on the part of Obama. Whatever temporary gains he might make in South Carolina would surely be offset by angering a major Democratic constituency - the gay rights lobby. Is it possible he didn't know McCulkin's history of perceived gay bashing? If so, it shows a monumental lapse in judgement not to mention extremely poor staff work"

From Huffington Post: "He's [Obama] also sold himself as a healer and consensus builder. Legions have bought his pitch, and have shelled out millions to bankroll his campaign. But healing and consensus building does not mean sucking up to someone that publicly boasts that he's in "a war" against gays, and that the aim of his war is to "cure" them. That's what McClurkin has said. Polls show that more Americans than ever say that they support civil rights for gays, and a torrent of gay themed TV shows present non-stereotypical depictions of gays. But this increased tolerance has not dissipated the hostility that far too many blacks, especially hard core Bible thumping blacks, feel toward gays."

If Obama doesn't back out of touring with McClurkin, it will end what little support I have for his candidacy.
.

Manhattan Monday

-Fuerzabruta, a show involving aerial, aquatic, acrobatic and dancing components opens on Wednesday in Union Square's Daryl Roth Theatre. "Fuerzabruta (it means “brute force”) is a largely wordless physical and visual extravaganza inspired in part by Carnaval. It is built around a few major set pieces: a 45-foot clear-bottom tilting pool, hung from the ceiling and only partly filled; flying, building-size Mylar curtains; and the moving treadmill. The 13 men and women in the cast run, fly, swim and dive, strapped in harnesses and occasionally hovering just above the audience, which remains standing for the hourlong show." Tickets are $70.

-NYC's rotating taxi strike is on again today, with approximately 10,000 of the city's cabs off the roads for 24 hours. Mayor Bloomberg has reinstated the zone system for fare calculations - $10 per passenger, $5 per zone. Ugh, I hate when cabs are allowed to pick up other fares during your ride. Washington DC, the last major city in the country on a zone system, decided last week to switch to metered fares.

-Horseback riding has returned to Central Park. Guided tours operated by a Bronx-based stable will take you through the park's four miles of bridle paths. Cost: $100/hr. In April, Manhattan's last horse stable closed to be turned into luxury condos.

-Yesterday Broadway's stagehand union voted unanimously to strike if they don't get a new contract within 30 days. The strike would darken 22 of 39 Broadway houses.

-Arrests of NYPD cops for theft, fraud, drug use, corruption, and sexual improprieties climbed 25% last year. Last week a fresh scandal arose when the bust of an illegal internet steroid distributor revealed a number of city cops on its customer list.

ENDA Vote On Wednesday

ENDA comes to a vote in the House on Wednesday, when Republicans (and a few Democrats) will argue to send it back to committee, which would effectively kill it for the current session. If ENDA does indeed pass, Rep. Tammy Baldwin will then propose an amendment reattaching transgender protections.

Wednesday promises to be nerve-wracking. I will be following the vote on C-SPAN and reporting the results here as they come in.

Morning View - Wicked Wolf

The decidedly unglamorous Wicked Wolf is a bit of an Upper East Side institution. Great burgers, grimy decor. And I love the name.

Matt Foreman On Logo

Here's the video of Matt Foreman's Friday appearance on Logo to speak about ENDA and Barney Frank.

Dumbledore Alley

Christianist websites are going ballistic this weekend with Harry Potter author J.K.Rowling's revelation that Hogwarts headmaster Albus Dumbledore is gay

NEW YORK — Harry Potter fans, the rumors are true: Albus Dumbledore, master wizard and Headmaster of Hogwarts, is gay. J.K. Rowling, author of the mega-selling fantasy series that ended last summer, outed the beloved character Friday night while appearing before a full house at Carnegie Hall.

After reading briefly from the final book, "Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows," she took questions from audience members. She was asked by one young fan whether Dumbledore finds "true love."

"Dumbledore is gay," the author responded to gasps and applause.

She then explained that Dumbledore was smitten with rival Gellert Grindelwald, whom he defeated long ago in a battle between good and bad wizards. "Falling in love can blind us to an extent," Rowling said of Dumbledore's feelings, adding that Dumbledore was "horribly, terribly let down." Dumbledore's love, she observed, was his "great tragedy."

In 2005, Pope Benedict Evilictus said that the Harry Potter series contains "subtle seductions which act unnoticed and by this deeply distort Christianity in the soul before it can grow properly." Some Christianists have long complained that Rowling's books encourage children to dabble in the occult and embrace Satanism. And now Dumbledore is to be counted among The Men Who Know Colors. Hopefully the next movie will incorporate another trans-(heh)-figuration scene. "Poof! You're a poof!"