 | NY is Gay! | | Come on, you always knew it |
| | | |  |  |
Porn Goes High-Tech
 Never an industry to be left behind, the porn industry has caught up with mainstream film and created the first ever 3D porn, and its gay! Finally, like Sea World, there is a splash zone for porn! Whorrey Potter and the Sorcerer’s Balls chronicles the plight of Whorrey Potter who must find the Sorcerer’s Balls before they get into the hands of the evil Voldemorecock. In addition to Whorrey Potter and Voldemorecock, the movie includes characters with names like Ron Weasy, Himmione Grainghim and Fag Hagrid.
The film includes green screen work and witty banter like:
“What’s wrong?
“I wanted to fuck him but Voldemorecock wouldn’t let me. He’s more like Voldemorecock-block!”
Check out WhorreyPotter.com for more information, the film sells for $59.99 and you can conveniently buy 3D glasses from them too.
This film will surely mark one of the highest technical advancements of this century, and one of the funniest porn premises ever!
Gay Student Settles Lawsuit Against NY District
ALBANY, N.Y. — A gay teenager in upstate New York who had claimed he was relentlessly bullied by classmates while school administrators stood by settled his lawsuit Monday against the school district.
Jacob — who is identified as "J.L." in the lawsuit and doesn't want his name revealed — sued the Mohawk Central School District in federal court last summer with help from the New York Civil Liberties Union. Now 15, he said school officials did virtually nothing to stop bullies who picked on him because he acted differently from other boys.
The U.S. Department of Justice had sought to intervene, citing the "important issues" it raised in enforcing federal civil rights laws.
Under the settlement filed in federal court, the district agreed to implement changes to protect students from harassment, including additional staff training. The district will report on its progress to the Civil Liberties Union and federal justice officials.
The district also agreed to pay $50,000 to Jacob's family and to reimburse them for counseling services. The district didn't admit to any wrongdoing under the settlement.
Jacob has since moved to a neighboring district, where he said he is much happier. Jacob's father, Robert Sullivan, who has a different last name, said the money "is for Jacob's future" and hopes that the settlement inspires other districts to change.
"Maybe this can be a door-opener for other schools," Sullivan said.
Mohawk superintendent Joyce Caputo said in a prepared statement that district staff would never knowingly discriminate or tolerate bullying and remain committed to fostering a culture of tolerance and respect.
"We recognize there is always room to learn and improve — and we intend to do just that," she said.
Hopefully this ruling will inspire other school systems to enforce likeminded practices to ward off homophobic bullying and prejudicial behaviors among children. This is a time of reform in the American school system, which is long overdue.
Fight Back NY Hit List
 After their success in ousting Hiram Monserrate, Fight Back NY is refocusing their aim toward other NY senators who voted no on gay marriage. They released their hit list, via YouTube video, of other senators they plan to eject from office. Senators they have set their aim on include; Hannon, Padavan, Addabbo, Kruger, Huntley, Griffo, Golden and Diaz.
Rosie O’Donnell New Show in NY
 Rosie O’Donnell plans a return to daytime for a new show that, according to Socialite Life, she says will be, "laughter and love in the afternoon." She is no stranger to daytime talk having been a former member of The View and host of her own show The Rosie O’Donnell Show. It has been eight years since the end of her show and three since she last appeared on The View. Does she still have what it takes to host on daytime?"Come fall 2011, daytime television will change in a very dramatic way," said O'Donnell in a statement. "I want to build on what Oprah began and excelled at for 25 years, in my own style and with new adaptations and ideas. I would like this show to make a difference in viewer's lives, to be real, uplifting, authentic and focus on life, love and laughter."
According to The New York Daily News her new show will focus on a single subject, with in-studio guests and occasional pre-taped packages. The show will also be filmed in front of a live studio audience five days a week here, in Manhattan.
Are you going to watch Rosie’s new show?
Lt. Dan Choi “We Will Not Go Away”
 Upon his release, for handcuffing himself to the White House fence, Lt. Dan Choi gave a statement to the press regarding the cause. Both he and Cpt. Jim Pietrangelo were released from jail and appeared in court Friday, the two pled not guilty and are set for a trial April 26th.Watch Dan Choi’s statement below in a video from MetroWeekly:
DADT Times Square Protest
 In response to the arrests of Lt. Dan Choi and Capt. Jim Pietrangelo, who handcuffed themselves to the White House fence yesterday in protest of the Military's discriminatory "don't ask, don't tell" policy, a group of New Yorkers gathered today in Times Square to protest. Their actions speak out against not only the unjust policy used by the military but also the arrests of the two officers.  At noon today, a small group of people gathered in Times Square outside the Army Recruitment station. According to organizer, Scott Wooledge, they were there, “to stand in solidarity with Lt. Choi and Capt. Pietrangelo.” Scott also supported via tweet with messages like, "Release the DC 2! Now!" and "We are out, let us in!"Dan and Jim are still being held for their actions until they face a hearing today.
Images via Twitter @Clarknt67
DADT Rally Ends in Arrest
 Kathy Griffin and the Human Rights Campaign(HRC) hosted a rally today at Freedom Plaza, which is across from D.C. City Hall, to speak out against the military’s “don’t ask don’t tell” (DADT) policy. Lt. Dan Choi and his organization GetEQUAL also took part in the rally. Dan joined Kathy on the podium and gave a speech, which you can find below.
 Dan, announced that he was gay during an appearance March 19 on MSNBC's "The Rachel Maddow Show." Soon after, the army made plans to fire him, saying he had "negatively affected good order and discipline in the New York Army National Guard."Dan and Captain Jim Pietrangelo both handcuffed themselves to the White House fence in protest. They were soon surrounded by secret service agents and were eventually arrested for their actions. Kathy, who was not present during Dan and Jim’s act of disobedience, responded via tweet saying, “It was my honor 2 share the podium w Lt Dan Choi today. I understand he's been arrested in front of the White House. I dig that dude! Balls!”
 Co-chair of GetEQUAL, Robin McGehee, was also arrested at the event. As she was being taken away it was reported that she was yelling, "Get equal! You want your rights?! Then fight for them!" The following is the statement Dan made at the rally:
Hello. My name is Lt. Dan Choi. I am being discharged from the US Army because I am gay and dared to say it out loud.
Today, I am here on a mission with Capt. Jim Pietrangelo, and we are asking you all to join us. We’re calling you to action because we are at a turning point -- a moment in time where talk is no longer enough, and action is required.
Equality is not going to happen by itself.
You have been told that the President has a plan. But Congressman Barney Frank confirmed to us this week that the President still is not fully committed to repealing Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell this year.
And if we don’t seize this moment it may not happen for a very long time.
Some may tell you that I am one of the lucky ones. I have been welcomed back by my unit with open arms. And it would be easy for me to stay quiet and hope that change will happen.
But what I was taught at West Point and learned in war is -- hope is not a strategy. As officers, James and I both find it a dereliction of our moral duty to remain silent while thousands of our brothers and sister are not allowed to serve openly and honestly.
Capt. Pietrangelo was honorably discharged under Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell in 2004 and I will be subject to the same shortly. As officers we are here today fighting for those in the ranks, and we need our Commander in Chief to do the same.
Our fight is not here at Freedom Plaza, it is at the White House. We are walking to the White House right now to send the President a message. So…take out your cell phones and your cameras. Document this moment. Join us as together -- we make history
Check out a timeline of the day's events at Towleroad.
Images via Towleroad
Kathy Griffin Fights DADT Tomorrow in DC
 Kathy Griffin, champion of the gays, in cooperation with the Human Rights Campaign (HRC) has arranged a rally against the military’s “don’t ask don’t tell” policy. She has been a trong proponent of gay rights she marched against California's Prop 8 and has taken it upon herself to support other advocacy efforts. She is asking for help from supporters in the DC area to go to the rally and speak up for all of the LGBT members of the armed forces. Below is the statement that she released regarding the rally:"Calling all DC gays and ALL good citizens who support EQUALITY!!! After traveling to Iraq and Afghanistan to perform for the troops and visiting with injured vets and their families at Walter Reed, I've gotten to meet and know many gay members of our brave military. Their stories are heartbreaking, touching, and need to be heard. They cannot stand up for themselves, so it's time we stand up for them and be their voice. They put their lives on the line for us every day, all the while risking getting fired, discharged, losing all their benefits and maybe even worse, just for being "found out".
It's time to take on 'don't ask, don't tell'!!! Please join me this Thursday, March 18 at 12 noon at Freedom Plaza in DC. Y ‘know how every season we do one kind of serious episode of 'My Life on the D List'? Well, I really need your help with this one. With the help of the HRC, I'm organizing a rally to help repeal the antiquated policy of 'don't ask, don't tell' All you have to do is show up! Spread the word. I'm meeting with several legislators all week in DC, but it's the average American citizen and their constituents are who they REALLY listen to."
Kathy also pleaded via tweet, “DC! it's ON! Rally against "don't ask, don't tell" Thurs march 18. Noon @ Freedom Plaza. I need u. I'm hearing anti gay groups r coming.”
Monserrate Defeated by Peralta
 Hiram Monserrate was expelled from the New York State Senate last month, resulting in a special election which was held yesterday. Assemblyman Jose Peralta beat Hiram Monserrate by a two to one margin in the special election in the 13th Senate District. Republican Robert Beltrani garnered about 6% of the vote. NBC released statements following the election from the Speaker of the State Assembly and the Empire State Pride Agenda below:STATEMENT FROM SPEAKER SILVER REGARDING JOSE PERALTA VICTORY:
On behalf of the Assembly Majority, I congratulate our friend and colleague, Jose Peralta on his victory in the special election to represent the 13th Senate District in Queens.
Throughout his eight years as an assemblyman, Jose Peralta clearly distinguished himself as a strong, charismatic leader and as a champion of equality and justice for all New Yorkers; particularly our immigrant and working families. We will miss his presence in the Assembly Chamber, but we are delighted that this bright, young leader will be continuing his public service in the Legislature.
We wish him well in his new endeavor and we look forward to working with Senator Peralta to address the many challenges facing the State of New York.
STATEMENT BY EMPIRE STATE PRIDE AGENDA INTERIM EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR JOE TARVER:
We congratulate Jose Peralta on his big victory tonight. He will be a Senator who stands up for the rights of all the people of the 13th Senate District in Queens. Jose has demonstrated time and time again that he is a tireless advocate for equality for LGBT New Yorkers and that he doesn’t duck-and-run when our bills come up for a vote. He will be a promise keeper and not a promise breaker like the person he is replacing.
Now is the time to go back to work in the State Senate. We have just over three months left in the legislative session and the Pride Agenda is ready to work with Jose Peralta, the Senate Leadership and every Democrat and Republican Senator who is ready to advance LGBT issues and make New York a better place to live.
Drinking for a Change: Drink and Be Charitable
 Drinking for a Change is a once a month occurrence where bars in New York, and ideally across country, will be donating a dollar a drink to LGBT-focused not-for-profit organizations. The project’s site says that by focusing on smaller contributions on a mass scale, it’s an easy way for a greater portion of the LGBT community to consistently support organizations that are working around the issues that matter most to us. You can help support the cause, March 19th and 20th, by going to any of the participating bars and drink as much as you can. Participating bars include: Cubby Hole, Pieces, The Ritz, Stonewall Inn, Therapy, Uncle Charlies, Uncle Charlies LES, Vig 27, and Xes Lounge.
This is definitely a cause I can get (drunk) behind!
Lesbian Prom Advocate Update
 Constance McMillen, who after petitioned to bring her girlfriend to prom resulting in its cancelation, was on The Wanda Sykes Show. Wanda talked with her about how things developed with her school joking with her about the close-mindedness of her school system. Wanda commented on Mississippi saying that, “They’re always on the forefront of being on the wrong side of history.”
 Wanda will be presented with the Stephen F. Kolzak award from GLAAD at their L.A. awards show on April 17, and asked that Constance and her girlfriend present it to her.
“It’s shameful that closed-minded members of the school board are prepared to deprive an entire class of students their prom over their outdated religious mores.” said Roy Speckhardt, Executive Director of the AHA in a statement. "People can hold to any belief or no belief in this nation, but the school board misuses their position when they try to impose their beliefs on the student population in Itawamba.”
AHA members Todd and Diana Stiefel made a $20,000 grant available to the AHA for the purpose of holding a prom in Itawamba County. The AHA is working on the logistics and preparation of the prom.
ACLU Fights Miss.(ing) Prom
 This issue is so 1990s in its unjust treatment of homosexual minors in the school system. USA Today reports that the American Civil Liberties Union of Mississippi today filed suit in federal court against the Itawamba County School System, which canceled the prom for one of its high schools yesterday when a student challenged a ban on bringing same-sex dates. The student, Constance McMillen, passed around a petition to her classmates to support her right to bring a same-sex date to the Prom. "It's shameful and cowardly of the school district to have canceled the prom and to try to blame Constance, who's only standing up for herself," said Christine Sun, an attorney with the ACLU national LGBT Project. "We will fight tooth and nail for the prom to be reinstated for all students."
The ACLU’s federal suit asks for the prom to be reinstated and alleges that district officials have violated the First Amendment rights of Constance. The suit asks for $1 in damages, plus legal fees and court costs. The Mississippi ACLU, which is assisting McMillen, gave the district until Wednesday to change its policy.
"All I want is the same chance to enjoy my prom night like any other student. But my school would rather hurt all the students than treat everyone fairly," McMillen said in a prepared statement. "This isn't just about me and my rights anymore — now I'm fighting for the opportunity of all the students at my school to have our prom."
I cannot believe that this kind of blatant ignorance and homophobic extremism is still going on in our country’s school system. It’s bad enough that politicians don’t want to give those of us, who have already lived through that, the right to marry who we love kids shouldn’t have do deal with those prejudices at such a young age. I am very proud of Constance McMillen, her actions show that she is a very strong and brave young woman!
Fight Back NY: Cynthia Nixon Supports, Do You?
 As a result of the NY Senate vote that denied us our equal right to marry, a group has been formed to fight back against the injustice. Fight Back New York is working to demonstrate that there are consequences for voting against equality in New York. They aim to show Hiram Monserrate and the 37 other Senators who voted against marriage that we will not stand back while they continue to treat us like second class citizens.Fight Back New York is a targeted way for New Yorkers to focus their frustration and anger with members of the state senate into action in defeating anti-gay politicians. The first act of the campaign is the special election on March 16, to keep Hiram Monserrate from returning to office.
Fight Back New York has now received the support of Sex and the City star, Cynthia Nixon. She explains why the campaign, and equality, is so important. Cynthia also asks that you support the campaign explaining that 100% of donations go directly to supporting the effort.
“We’ve tried the carrot, now it’s time for the stick.” She says in her video plea for your support.
“Don’t Ask Don’t Tell” Repeal Introduced: Support Now!
 On the first day that gay people could apply for a marriage license, a bill was introduced to repeal the “don’t ask, don’t tell” law. Senator Joe Lieberman, an Independent from Connecticut, and a group of Democrats on the Senate Armed Services Committee, announced legislation to do away with the 1993 law and specifically prohibit discrimination against service members on the basis of sexual orientation. The bill is called Military Readiness Enhancement Act of 2010and it was introduced to the Senate today.FoxNews.com reports that President of the Human Rights Campaign, Joe Solmonese said in a statement Liberman's initiative is "a bold, patriotic move that will long be remembered as key to removing the stain of the discriminatory ‘Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell’ law from the U.S. code."
While the repeal is predicted to succeed some are still against lifting the bigoted practice. "At this moment of immense hardship for our armed services, we should not be seeking to overturn the 'don't ask, don't tell' policy," McCain said before the Senate Armed Services Committee in February, calling the law "imperfect but effective."
NY Artist Makes Gay Art in AU
  New York-based artist Spencer Tunick got roughly 5,200 Australians posed naked in front of the Sydney Opera House on Monday for a photo shoot reports Reuters. The photo shoot was titled "Mardi Gras: The Base" and was to celebrate Sydney's Gay and Lesbian Mardi Gras. The artist’s signature is creating installations of nudes against urban backdrops.
"I want all couples to embrace and kiss, all friends to kiss and all strangers to do whatever they want," Spencer said directing the croud. Participants were asked to do a number of poses, from standing up, lying down, and even embracing cheek to cheek.
"I thought it could be a bit awkward, but it's funny because when you're naked and everybody else is naked, you feel like you're dressed, because everybody looks the same," said Steven Anglier, who wore a wig to stand out. "It's really a weird experience because you think there could be something sexual behind, but there's not."
Spencer has produced almost 100 installations around the world, and has been arrested seven times in the US. He says his work is not about exhibitionism or eroticism but instead reveals the vulnerability of life in a rough city landscape.
Olympic Condom Shortage
February 27th
 The ABC reports that Olympic officials called for emergency condoms Wednesday because the condoms they supplied had run out. Health Officials had provided 100,000 free condoms to the roughly 7,000 athletes and officials at the games. That's about 14 condoms per person! Nice work Olympians!
Free condoms were first distributed at the 1992 Olympics in Barcelone, Spain.
The rush shipment was expected to arrive in Vancouver by Thursday. Looks like there could be a bunch of really talented accidents popping out in about nine months.
fabulis Controversy with Citibank
 A new web site from Jason Goldberg, for fashionable gay men, called fabulis ran into trouble with Citibank recently when they denied Jason access to the site’s account for issues with the site’s content. According to a WSJ Blog post, Last month Jason deposited over $625,000 of investors’ funds into the site’s Citibank account. When he attempted to access those funds earlier this week he was unable and through several conversations with Citibank employees he found the reason given was that the content of his site was not in compliance with the bank’s policies.Jason wrote about the experiences with the bank on the site’s blog. He outlined the back and forth with their employees and frustrations, however, also noting that he did not wish ill will to Citi which is honorable.
“I sincerely hope that we are reaching the Citi limits at fabulis.” Blogged Jason previous to the resolution of the situation. “We want fabulis to be remembered for our product, not for our bank account. We want to put this behind us.”
Yesterday, Jason posted an apology from Citibank for the comments made by their employees and ensured that the bank has no problem with the LBT community.
“Whatever statements that were made by any Citi representative related to the content of your website were inappropriate and made in error…” Said Bill Brown who oversees Manhattan Citi Branches via email to Jason. “I place great value on your business and assure you that Citi is committed to the gay, lesbian, bisexual and transgender communities.”
“I thought the apology was sincere,” Said Jason. “I feel like some good was done today in that they are now aware of the issue.”
Citibank described the problem in the statement as “a technical issue about missing documentation that is required for new business accounts.”
However, the WSJ Blog cited a similar issue with Citibank when Deal Journal’s Peter Lattman last week quoted a different statement from a Citi spokeswoman: “While we don’t comment on our customers, we typically decline accounts associated with content that the general public may potentially find inappropriate or offensive.” The content referred to in that statement belongs to www.sillyunderwear.com, and the owner of that site simply opened an account at a different bank down the road.
So is this issue really resolved or just the beginning of a larger issue with Citibank? Are their policies too critical of new and emerging media?
fabulis is set to launch soon, you can sign up for the beta version of the site and check out video submissions from people explaining why they’re fabulis. Here's an example:
Help LGBT Leaders
 You can help fund an organization that assists out LGBT leaders and advocacy groups around the world. Now is the time we need to help those in a position of power speak up so that all our voices are heard. The Gay & Lesbian Leadership Institute is helping to train openly lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender individuals to become effective leaders. It also works with national, state and local LGBT groups on projects aimed to develop their ability to affect change.
The Gay & Lesbian Leadership Institute equips LGBT leaders for success. Through its training and professional development programs, the Leadership Institute assists hundreds of individuals who go on to influential careers in politics, government, business and advocacy each year. Founded in 1993, the Leadership Institute is a tax-exempt educational and research organization.
Click below to donate to the cause:
The Film Fest of William E. Jones
 The Anthology Film Archives, located at 32 Second Ave., is holding a showing of the film works spanning the career of gay filmmaker William E. Jones. The event starts tomorrow night with different works being shown nightly ending March 4th. Tickets sell for $9 for General Admission and $7 for Students, Seniors & Children (12 & under); call the Anthology Film Archives (212) 505-5181 for tickets now.Beginning with his haunting 1991 feature debut, Massillon, an autobiographical account of growing up as a gay man in the American Midwest, William E. Jones has built a remarkable body of work that balances formal experimentation with astute cultural inquiry. Though his films are extremely varied – encompassing the landscape-based Massillon, avant-garde shorts, and a relatively straightforward documentary Is It Really So Strange?
He has repeatedly worked with found footage, exploring the situation of gay men, or other marginal communities, in American society by investigating their depiction in various modes of cinema. This ranges from gay pornography and art film to even more culturally charged material, such as the clandestine police footage featured in Tearoom. Though his work is frequently highlighted in experimental, video, or gay and lesbian film festivals, William E. Jones is long-overdue for this comprehensive retrospective.
“William E. Jones’s métier is homosexuality; his vernaculars, gay pornography and experimental documentary film; his landscapes, Southern California (where he lives and works) and suburban Ohio (where he was raised); his mode, dandyism. In eleven remarkable films and videos…building upon the cinematic inventions of both Californian and foreign artists – from Morgan Fisher, Fred Halsted, Joe Gage, and Thom Andersen to Werner Schroeter, Luis Buñuel, Jean-Daniel Cadinot, and Jean-Marie Straub and Danièle Huillet – Jones has rethought hackneyed categories of, as well as boundaries between, art and pornography, fandom and critique, Hollywood and other kinds of filmmaking.” – Bruce Hainley, ARTFORUM
Event co-sponsored by MIX NYC, presenter of the NY Queer Experimental Film Festival (www.mixnyc.org), and by the Center for the Study of Gender and Sexuality at NYU (www.csgsnyu.org). Very special thanks to William E. Jones, Stephen Kent Jusick (Mix Fest), Robert D. Campbell & Ann Pellegrini (Center for the Study of Gender and Sexuality), Dominic Angerame (Canyon Cinema), and Maura King (Frameline). Anthology gratefully acknowledges support for this program from the Experimental Television Center’s Presentation Funds Program, which is supported by public funds from the Electronic Media and Film Program of the New York State Council on the Arts.
Via Release
 MASSILLON
1991, 70 minutes, 16mm, color
In his first feature film, Jones returns to his hometown to construct an unconventional and moving autobiography. Challenging some of the most firmly entrenched notions of filmmaking, MASSILLON tells its story without a single human actor, by combining beautiful images with a seductive voice-over narration.
Friday, February 26 at 8:00
Monday, March 1 at 8:00
 FINISHED
1997, 75 minutes, 16mm, color
FINISHED is an elegiac but analytic portrait of Quebec porn star Alan Lambert (Alain Lebeau), who graced two dozen California porno films with titles like BEACH DREAMER and WOLFBOY. Haunted by the image the 25-year-old Lambert left behind upon his suicide in 1992, Jones borrows from biographical, documentary, and experimental approaches to perform an emotional autopsy of a life tragically cut short. FINISHED is a detective story and a love story, a film noir bathed in sunlight.
Saturday, February 27 at 4:00
Wednesday, March 3 at 8:00
SHORTS PROGRAM:
 THE FALL OF COMMUNISM AS SEEN IN GAY
PORNOGRAPHY
1998, 19 minutes, video, color
Every image in this film comes from gay erotic videos produced in Eastern Europe since the introduction of capitalism. The video provides a glimpse of young men responding to the pressures of an unfamiliar world, one in which money, power, and sex are now connected.
MORE BRITISH SOUNDS
2006, 8 minutes, video, color
Jones sets images from THE BRITISH ARE COMING (1986) in collision with dialogue from SEE YOU AT MAO (1969) also known as BRITISH SOUNDS, produced by the Dziga Vertov Group under the direction of Jean-Luc Godard.
ALL MALE MASH UP
2006, 29 minutes, video, color
This film further reveals Jones’s fascination with the marginalia in porn films: establishing shots revealing urban landscapes of the recent past, charmingly inept dialogue scenes, and close-ups of performers, many now dead.
FILM MONTAGES (FOR PETER ROEHR)
2006, 11 minutes, video, color
An appropriated video work that also serves as a tribute to a great artist of the 1960s, this film finds Jones arranging fragments of gay porn films into a musical composition at once austere and delirious.
Total running time: ca. 70 minutes.
Saturday, February 27 at 6:00
 IS IT REALLY SO STRANGE?
2004, 80 minutes, video, color
As the foppish, sexually ambiguous, brilliant singer/songwriter of the 80s music legends The Smiths, Morrissey brought intelligence, wit, and mystery to pop tunes still unmatched in their ability to make grown men cry. In this intimate documentary, Jones interviews a new, but equally fanatical, fan base of The Smiths and Morrissey: Latino youths in East Los Angeles. Making the connection between The Smiths’ working-class, Manchester-raised, ethnic Irish experience and that of the sons and daughters of Mexican immigrants in Los Angeles, it explores Morrissey’s enduring appeal among the pompadoured denizens of the Inland Empire who, as one fan puts it, relate to Morrissey because “he always sounds sad and depressed and lonely – all the good stuff.”
Saturday, February 27 at 8:00
Tuesday, March 2 at 8:00
 TEAROOM
1962/2007, 56 minutes, 16mm-to-video, color, silent
In the summer of 1962, the Mansfield, Ohio, Police Department photographed men in a restroom, filming from a closet through a two-way mirror. Their footage was used in court as evidence against the defendants, all of whom were found guilty of sodomy, which at that time carried a mandatory minimum sentence of one year in the state penitentiary. The original footage came into Jones’s possession while he was researching this case for a documentary project. The unedited scenes of ordinary men of various races and classes meeting to have sex were so powerful that the director decided to present them with a minimum of intervention. TEAROOM is a radical example of film presented ‘as found’ for the purpose of circulating historical images that have otherwise been suppressed.
Sunday, February 28 at 5:30
Thursday, March 4 at 9:00
 v. o.
2006, 59 minutes, video, color
In a variation on what DJs call a ‘mash-up’, Jones combines segments of sound from classic foreign-language films with scenes from gay porn films produced before 1985, making decisions based upon the length of the segments rather than their content. The somewhat arbitrary juxtaposition of diverse ‘found’ materials often yields surprisingly appropriate results. v. o. suggests a new narrative space and pays tribute to a former era of gay life and cinephilia.
Sunday, February 28 at 7:30
Thursday, March 4 at 7:30
Olympic Abs
 Sure, the Winter Olympics are cold but the just got smokin’ hot now that thirteen Olympic beefcakes went flasher for OK magazine. The collection is golden featuring Gold medal recipients snowboarder Seth Wescott and figure skaterEvan Lysacek. It also features Dancing with the Stars pro-snowboarder Louie Vito.Check out their gold medal goodies below:
Which one is your favorite?
GLSEN Rejected by CBS
 The group known as The Gay, Lesbian, Straight Education Network is another gay group who’s ad was rejected from the Super Bowl by CBS. The non-profit organization joins gay dating site ManCrunch.com in the club of gay Super Bowl rejects. Their PSA features Hillary Duff letting girls know it’s not cool to use “that’s so gay” to describe something negative.The GLSEN PSA was given an award by the Ad Council who cited that the ad has already had a positive effect on American youth. So if positive award winning ads isn’t what CBS is looking for then what kind of message are they trying to send by rejecting gay ads?
I love Betty White but I doubt her Snickers commercial had quite the social impact that the GLSEN ad would have.
Check out video of the GLSEN ad and their Ad Council award:
Madonna Glee Preview
 We said it was coming and now there’s proof Entertainment Tonight released a preview of a new episode of Glee airing in April. The cast performs Madonna songs and Sue even dons a cone bra in honor of the material girl. The clip also shows Kurt give a celebrigay shout out to Lady Gaga!
Queer Rising Arrested
 Members from the gay activist group Queer Rising chained themselves together in front of the New York marriage bureau. Alan Bounville, Jake Goodman, Justin Elzie and Gabriel Yuri Bollag chained and pad-locked themselves to the railing to the entrance of the marriage bureau. They were subsequently arrested for their disobedience. More than 20 gay couples attempted to apply for marriage licenses; all were denied. As a result a gay man and lesbian woman applied and were approved for a marriage license. The group then moved outside where the members formed their human barrier.
Spokesperson for the group Spring Super held a press conference in the park adjacent to the bureau stating, “New York City is home to the Stonewall Riots and in that tradition we are here to say that equality doesn’t arrive through the ballot box. The bankrupt strategy of putting all efforts into electing so-called ‘friendly’ officials has failed. We must shift to building a grassroots, national movement that demands full equality by any means necessary. Today, through our symbolic marriage applications, rally and civil disobedience, that message was quite clear.”
Buffalo Marriage Disobedience
 LGBT activist Kitty Lambert attempted to marry long-time partner Cheryl in Buffalo Wednesday. PinkBFLO reports that when denied, Kitty turned to the audience that had come to witness her marriage, for a new marriage partner. She chose Ed, a complete stranger, and the two received a marriage license.What Kitty was trying to prove is that marriage in our country is not morally or religiously based. It is a legal contract between two parties. When she was denied a marriage with the woman she loves she was able to marry a man by presenting identification and a $40 charge.
Read more about Kitty’s civil disobedience here.
Check out a video of Kitty at the Buffalo Court House:
Win Tickets to Adam Lambert Secret Show
 Adam Lambert will be performing a secret show in NYC, Monday, February 15th at P.C. Richard & Son Theater. iHeart Radio is offering you a way to win tickets to see this invite-only show. All you have to do is upload a picture of yourself in your best Glambert look (rocked out in black, bangles and badass) to their Facebook fan page.
Lt. Choi Promoted to Commander in Chief of Pride
 Lt. Dan Choi has been chosen to be the grand marshal of the New York Gay Pride Parade. His struggle for rights in the U.S. army has earned him recognition in the gay community. As one of the largest pride parades in the world it is a great honor to be chosen as marshal for the New York City pride march takes place Sunday, June 27.Organizers of the parade state, "Lt. Choi’s selection and acceptance of the honor of NYC LGBT Pride Grand Marshal marks the first time in U.S. history that an openly gay male on active service with the U.S. Armed Forces will be an LGBT pride march Grand Marshal."
Gay Soldier Back on Duty
 Lt. Dan Choi has returned to his New York Army National Guard unit. This is a great milestone for gay military rights as Dan was fired from the army after appearing on MSNBC's Rachel Maddow Show to promote Knights Out, the nascent West Point graduate group that lobbies for repeal of “Don’t ask, don’t tell.” A formal discharge notification came on May 6:
“This is to inform you that sufficient basis exists to initiate action for withdrawal of federal recognition in the Army National Guard for moral or professional dereliction. … Specifically, you admitted publicly that you are a homosexual, which constitutes homosexual conduct. … Your actions negatively affected the good order and discipline of the New York Army National Guard,”
Dan is a high-profile Arabic linguist and someone the army obviously values highly despite his sexuality. There seems to be quite a leniency in the law that has not been employed in the past. Though it’s not full rights to express one’s sexuality it’s a good starting point.
For more on this story click here.
Images via Bilerico
Anti-Gay Senator Ousted
 For the first time in a decade the NY state Senate voted to oust one of their own; Senator Hiram Monserrate – one of eight Democrat Senators to vote no on marriage equality. The Democrat from Queens was convicted last fall of misdemeanor for dragging his companion down the hallway of his apartment building. The Senate voted 53 - 8 to immediately eject him from office. His absence leaves the senate divided 31 Democrats to 30 Republicans. Governor Patterson called for a special election to be held on March 16th.
Despite being rejected Hiram has decided to run for his former seat in the special election.
Survey Says; Gay’s Should be in the Military
 A poll conducted by Quinnipiac University was released today and it states that the majority of Americans believe that gays should be allowed to serve in the military. When asked if homosexuals should be able to openly serve in the U.S. military 57-36 percent of voters said they should. Voters also say that the current policy of don’t ask don’t tell is discrimination. However, the study also shows that the voters still believe that gays in the military should face restrictions on exhibiting their sexual orientation on the job.
As long as the only restrictions are don’t blow each other while in the middle of war I agree.
NY Gay Federal Judge
 Senator Chuck Schumer has recommended to President Obama that an openly gay man should be nominated to serve as a federal judge. That man is Daniel Alter and the position is to serve as judge for the U.S. District Court for the Southern District of New York. His appointment is subject to Senate confirmation.“His outstanding leadership skills, his commitment to justice, and his extensive experience make him an exceptional choice for a position on the federal bench,” Said Senator Schumer. “I’m proud to nominate Daniel Alter. Period. But I am equally proud to nominate him because he is a history-maker who will be the first openly gay male judge in American history.”
For judicial nominations, presidents traditionally abide by the recommendations made by the senior senator from the state where there’s a vacancy, which in the case of New York is Schumer.
Daniel Alter is a graduate of Columbia College and Yale Law School. For six years, Alter was an assistant U.S. attorney for the Southern District of New York, where he specialized in first amendment matters and became an expert on terrorism issues.
Alter has also been an advocate for civil rights. As national director of the civil rights division of the Anti-Defamation League, Alter handled work on hate crimes both within the United States and abroad.
Senator Schumer said Daniel Alter is “a lawyer whose views have been tempered by a broad range of experiences” and “a candidate who would enhance the diversity of the federal bench.”
Alter would be the first openly gay man to serve on the federal bench, however, he wouldn’t be the first openly LGBT person. In 1994, President Clinton nominated Deborah Batts, an out lesbian, to serve as federal judge for the U.S. District Court of the Southern District of New York, where she currently sits.
Anti-Homophobia Ad Campaign
 Though ManCrunch.com was denied Super Bowl air time, gay ads have come to New York transit. Anti-homophobia ads by the Long Island Gay and Lesbian youth or LIGALY have gone up toting the mantra “I’m gay and this is where I play.” PIX reports that the campaign cost the group a reported $37,000 and are already on Nassau County MTA buses and on Long Island Railroad station platforms.
“This is very positive,” LIGALY CEO David Kilmnick told PIX News. “This is about where we live, where we pay our taxes. This is where we play in terms of basketball and other things and it's a very positive campaign.”
He says they have been flooded with positive calls which is the purpose. I’m definitely a fan of this campaign, we need to work to “normalize” the LGBT in the social sphere so others don’t fear us. I’m glad this is being done by saying, “I’m here I’m queer and this is my fucking huge billboard.”
RuPaul’s Workin' It At Borders
 RuPaul, author and host of the hit LOGO series RuPaul's Drag Race, will be holding a book signing at the Borders’ Columbus Circle location this Friday, February 5th at 7 p.m. Workin' It is part style guide, part confidence manifesto from the world-renowned drag queenContact Borders for complete event details and guidelines.
What the celebrities are saying about the book:
"A glorious book from one of my all time favorite icons of glamour! I can't get enough of RuPaul's humorous wit, fabulous advice, positive words of wisdom, and the encouraging messages he offers to people like me who dare to be different!" –Dita Von Teese
"If she says it AND it's in print, it must be true!" –Debbie Harry
"This book is required reading, because nobody does it better than RuPaul - a queen amongst men! Life, love and liberty - RuPaul really gets it." –Jackie Collins
American Psycho Takes Broadway
 Brett Easton Ellis’ American Psycho is already a celebrated novel and film, starring Christian Bale in 2000, now it takes the stage as a Broadway musical. The story, of a handsome homicidal Wall Street banker, is underway featuring a score by Spring Awakening composer Duncan Sheik and playwright Roberto Aguirre-Sacasa, who is currently writing for the HBO series Big Love.  Duncan said in a statement, after rereading novel, “[what one] may have seen as an over-the-top literary folly of the early ‘90s was in fact a pretty timeless tale of alienation.”He added, “And, really, what could be more subversive fun than murderous bankers breaking into song?”
The musical has not yet announced a theatre or release date for the production.
 I’m excited there were definitely some high points in the movie…
CBS Rejects Gay Super Bowl Ad
 The Super Bowl ad submitted by gay dating site ManCrunch.com, featuring two football fans sucking face, was rejected by CBS and will not be shown during the broadcast. ManCrunch.com stated, "CBS said in its rejection that the creative 'is not within the network's broadcast standards for Super Bowl Sunday.’ The rejection also said the sales department ‘has had difficulty verifying your organization's credit status.' Mancrunch.com said they offered to pay a cash advance."'
ManCrunch.com’s spokesperson Dominic Friesen said, "We are very disappointed that in 2010 such discrimination is happening especially given the fact that Focus on the Family is allowed to promote their way of life during the Super Bowl. We're calling on every same sex advocacy group to petition CBS and let them know this discriminatory behavior will not be tolerated."
It looks like the controversial Focus on the Family ad might get play, while this short and simple ad for a gay dating service is denied. As a personal “fuck you” to CBS please have another look at the ad below.
Gay Super Bowl Ad
There is controversy over another Super Bowl ad; this time it’s for the gay dating site ManCrunch.com. Whether or not the ad gets air time they have already been given a national platform just by wanting to get in on the action.
Check out their ad below:
Apple Reveals Their iPad
 MacWorld reports that Apple CEO Steve Jobs unveiled the iPad today. Positioned between a smartphone and a laptop, the tablet does many of the same things as the iPhone, but on a bigger, more easily viewed screen.It sounds like the iPhone is for light days and the iPad is for when you have a heavy work flow.
The iPad can be used for e-mail and Web browsing, viewing photos, managing calendars and contacts, listening to music, and viewing video.
The iPad is a half-inch thick, weighs 1.5 pounds, and has a 9.7-inch LCD screen. Other features, it has WiFi, Bluetooth and 10 hours of battery life.
In addition to the built-in Apple apps, the iPad will also run third-party software. Senior Vice President Scott Forstall said that the tablet will run most existing iPhone apps unmodified, right out of the box.
John Lea’s Killer Charged with Murder
 Justin Waller, 31, the alleged murderer of John Lea was found in Manchester, Vermont on Friday and brought back to the city. Last night he was charged with murder for stabbing John several times and slitting his throat before fleeing. The Daily News reports that police were able to catch Justin based on a trail of purchases he made with John’s credit card. Justin started making mistakes by hiring an expensive car service to take him up to Vermont to hide out. He continued by using the card again to purchase items at a grocery store close to a friend’s place where he was hiding.
Justin admitted to stabbing John repeatedly on Wednesday before taking off to Vermont. Justin is being held without bail and will be back in court on Friday. If convicted he faces up to 25 years in prison.
He definitely needs to go to prison because we don’t need people that dangerous, let alone stupid, on the streets.
Sexy Reason to Read!
  Bruce Weber is a highly accomplished photographer and filmmaker. In the next issue of VMAN, which hits newsstands January 28th Bruce combines hot naked guys and books to highlight the most unusual places to read.
The pictorial features Benedict Tufnell, Joey Slomowitz, Bart Grivvy, Matt Raimo and Josh Truesdell in sunny south Florida. The shoot was styled by Deborah Watson.
Fight Over Anti-Gay Group Super Bowl Ad
 The ad features Tim Tebow, Heisman Trophy winner and quarterback for the Florida Gators, and his mother who share a message of anti-choice with, known anti-gay group, Focus on the Family. Tim’s mother tells the story of his birth where she despite a life threatening infection she did not abort the pregnancy against doctor’s advice.
The Women’s Media Center based in New York is gathering up petition signatures to send to CBS, demanding that the network scrap an ad that will air on Super Sunday. In a letter sent to CBS, the Women’s Media Center wants the network to scrap the 30-second ad (which is expected to cost over $2.5 million) because it’s being produced by Focus on the Family.
 In a statement to CBS the group said, “By offering one of the most coveted advertising spots of the year to an anti-equality, anti-choice, homophobic organization, CBS is aligning itself with a political stance that will damage its reputation, alienate viewers, and discourage consumers from supporting its shows and advertisers.”
Among the various things that could alienate viewers of the Super Bowl is the fact that Focus on the Family was responsible for a letter that they distributed before the 2008 election, about what would happen if Barack Obama was elected President. Signed by “A Christian in 2012″, it read in part that there would be :
· A 6-3 liberal majority Supreme Court that results in rulings like one making gay marriage the law of the land and another forcing the Boy Scouts to “hire homosexual scoutmasters and allow them to sleep in tents with young boys.” (In the imagined scenario, The Boy Scouts choose to disband rather than obey).
· A series of domestic and international disasters based on Obama’s “reluctance to send troops overseas.” That includes terrorist attacks on U.S. soil that kill hundreds, Russia occupying the Baltic states and Eastern European countries including Poland and the Czech Republic, and al-Qaeda overwhelming Iraq.
· Nationalized health care with long lines for surgery and no access to hospitals for people over 80.
CBS has said that it doesn’t accept spots where “substantial elements of the community (are) in opposition to one another.” Which is why it refused a request by MoveOn.org reportedly back in 2004.
In general, an abortion ad seems uncharacteristically deep for a Super Bowl ad usually featuring naked chicks in beer ads and babies talking about their 401k.
Source: the Daily Loaf
John Lea Suspect Arrested
 John Lea was found murdered in his Hell’s Kitchen apartment on Thursday. Suspected to be his murderer, Justin Waller was located and arrested on Friday in Manchester, Vermont. Justin was John’s live-in lover, the two met in the gym. John’s murder was the result of a dispute over Justin moving out of the apartment. Justin, who is described to be down on his luck, did not want to vacate the apartment and allegedly retaliated by stabbing John multiple times.
“Investigators believed that Mr. Lea wanted Mr. Waller to move out, because Mr. Waller was apparently not paying rent, but Mr. Waller refused to leave, the police said,” reported The New York Times.
Police report that Justin confessed to the murder when they found him in Vermont. Justin is currently awaiting extradition on murder charges.
NYPD Search for a Murdered Man’s Gay Lover
 John Lea, 41, was found brutally stabbed to death in his Hell’s Kitchen apartment yesterday. According to The Daily News, police say friends of John went to his apartment on W. 46th St. Wednesday after he failed to appear at his job as an event planner for the New York Society of Security Analysts.
Yesterday at about 2:30 p.m. police scaled the fire escape outside John’s apartment and broke through a window. His body was found lying next to his bed, his head was gashed and throat was slit. He also had several defensive wounds on his hands suggesting he defended himself. The knife was found next to his body.
 Police are searching for Justin Waller, Lea's lover, whom Lea allowed to stay at his flat after the two met recently at a nearby gym. Justin was described as being “down on his luck.”"A few days turned into a few weeks. A few weeks turned into a month. A month turned into two," said John’s co-worker Michael Herz. "This weekend is when John was going to tell him he had to leave."
A source said a worker at John’s apartment building saw Justin leaving the building Thursday morning.
"He was an extremely giving person and, apparently, that's what ultimately did him in." Said Michael.
Channing Tatum Plans Return to Stripper Roots
 Not long ago it was reported that Channing Tatum started out as an exotic dancer before making it big and taking his clothes off in movies, like Stop Loss and She’s the Man. In a recent interview with The Sydney Morning Herald Channing discussed his past career moves."It seemed like a fun thing to do at the time and I got out unscathed. It's nothing I'm ashamed of and I'm not proud of it either.” He explained, “I wanted to talk about it in the beginning of my career but my publicist wouldn't let me."
Check out the video below of his sweet moves back in the day working as Chan Crawford at Man Encounters. My favorite thing is that despite stripping down to show off his ass floss G-string, he keeps it classy by leaving on his woolen grandpa socks!
In the interview he also discusses that he is planning to do a movie based on his stripping experience. A movie I would love to see!
"I've already got the director picked out. I'd like Nicolas Refn, who did the movie Bronson, to do it because he's insane for it," he says."It needs to be a crazy film and I think it's also possible to do a cute, romantic movie."
Wondering what the wardrobe will be like? Channing says, "Oh yeah. I'm going to be getting back in my thong [G-string] again.”
Very nice!
True Blood Spoiler
  It looks like Lafayette won’t be the only gay character on HBO’s True Blood. At the end of this past season Sam (Sam Trammell) received blood from Bill (Stephen Moyers) in order to save his life. Perez Hilton is reporting that this will have some sexy consequences next season! He reports the two will have an erotic scene.I would really like to see a gay scene involving Eric (Alexander Skarsgard) and Jason (Ryan Kwanten) as they are both nut-bustingly sexy!
Gay Hotel for Hell's Kitchen
January 8th
 Spanish hotel chain Axel Hotel will be opening a new location in Hell’s Kitchen according to On Top Magazine. The chain currently operates five-star hotels in Barcelona, Berlin and Buenos Aires.They are billed as “heterofriendly gay boutique hotels”, which is just plain considerate of them. Founder, Juan Julia told Passport Magazine "Its main distinction is the spectacular ambiance and the perception of the guests that they are living a unique experience in a framework of respect where no one is judging anyone."
Guests will be offered a choice of signs between “Do Not Disturb” or “Please Disturb.” I wonder if all of the rooms will have a back entrance too?
The hotel is set to open in 2011.
Project Runway Returns to NYC
January 8th
Promos have been released for season 7 of the hit show, which promises to be even more dramatic than past seasons.
In the promo competitor, Anthony Williams stands in front of a mirror and announces that he's "stacked, packed, and ready to attack." Then in a confessional he tells the camera, "It is hell being black, gay in the ghetto." This season is sure to be interesting.
It has been reported that a pregnant Nicole Richie will appear as the first celebrity judge. Season 7 premieres January 14th on Lifetime, check out the promo below.
Bras Across Facebook
 Women all over Facebook are changing their status to one word; the color of bra they are currently wearing. Why the need to share breast sheathing details? There is a call out to women to honor of breast cancer sufferers and survivors by blasting out your bra color. It’s an easy way to show support and honor those who have battled the disease. So girls…and boys what color bra are you wearing?
Image via Victoria's Secret
 In a statement the Human Rights Campaign (HRC), the nation’s largest lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender (LGBT) civil rights organization, has released a first of its kind, free iPhone application for its “Buying for Equality” guide. Users will be able to access the guide to view how hundreds of brands rank based on how they treat their LGBT employees.The guide divides businesses and their consumer products into red (brands to avoid), yellow (brands that have made some progress) and green (brands to support) categories to help consumers support businesses that support LGBT equality. These color-coded rankings are based on a company’s score on the HRC Corporate Equality Index, a nationally recognized benchmark that scores major American corporations based on their workplace policies and commitment to fairness for their LGBT employees. The app allows users to search by category like Food, Apparel, Household Products and Finance.
The iPhone application is available for download at www.hrc.org/iPhone. Both Apple, and the iPhone’s exclusive service provider, AT&T, score 100% on the 2010 Corporate Equality Index.
 Today the New Jersey State Senate has followed suit with New York in voting against gay marriage. The vote came to 20 – 14; five senators did not vote and there is one vacant seat. It was important to advocates that the bill be passed before January 19th when Republican Governor Chris Christie is sworn in. He has already vowed to veto any sort of gay marriage legislation.
It looks like our neighbors will have to wait on equal rights with us until politicians recognize love is blind and we all deserve to be treated the same and granted the same rights that are given to others.
Shirley Manson Thinks NY Senate Vote was Garbage
 In response to the New York State Senate voting against legalizing gay marriage Shirley Manson, actress and front woman of the band Garbage, responded via Facebook post with the following:'So sad to read that the New York State Senate voted down the Gay Marriage Bill. It saddens and sickens me that modern government and society has learned nothing from history, but continue the vicious cycle of ignorance and intolerance…
'Shame on all those who judge others so harshly that they will rob them of their civil liberties. Shame on those who will attempt to strip others of their dignity and their right to walk among us as equals on this earth…”
She added: 'Love is love is love is love. And it is rare and divine. So let all of us attempt to preserve it... in any manner we can. And by all of us, I really do mean all of us. Because Lord knows there's certainly not enough of it flowing around us in this life.'
Shirley is no “Stupid Girl” love is love, let us hope that mistakes will be corrected in the future.
Tyra is Going to be Silenced!
December 28th
 Tyra has announced her talk show The Tyra Show will not be returning after this season. Apparently Tyra see Tyra do, following in her mentors footsteps Tyra is ending her show (just like Oprah) and looking to get more involved with movies (just like Oprah). In a statement released to People Tyra said, “I’ve been loving having fun, coming into your living rooms, bedrooms, hair salons for the past 5 years.”
Tyra will continue with America’s Next Top Model and her upcoming project True Beauty with Ashton Kutcher.
Merry Christmas...Happy Friday (if you don't celebrate the holiday)
NJ Shoots Down Gay Marriage
There’s an App for Equality Conscience Shopping
Check out the following tweet from Neil Patrick Harris, I think it has the perfect sentiment for the holiday. "Tree trimmed. Balls hung. Good times."
(RED) Store Event Tonight
December 18th
 Shop and talk (RED) at the (RED) Store on 5 th Ave and 54 th St. The (RED) Store is open just for the holidays. (RED) Representatives will be in store to help answer questions and everyone who goes to the event will revieve a (RED) badge.
Equality Transcends Transgender in NY
December 16th
 Governor Patterson signed an executive order today that gives transgender state emplolyees of New York the same job protection we all enjoy. "For far too long... the transgender community has had to wait for the same equality others enjoy based on employment," he said. "That ends today."
Executive Order No. 33, will prohibit New York State agencies from discriminating against any individual on the basis of gender identity and expression in any matter pertaining to employment by the State.
“For generations, New York has been a national leader on civil rights, yet the State has lagged far behind in securing basic civil rights for transgender New Yorkers. I am proud to sign this important measure to not only bring workforce protection to the transgender community under the law, but to bring greater equality and civil rights to the State of New York,” Governor Paterson said. “From now on, transgender New Yorkers will be protected from discrimination because of who they are.”
A statement released by gay Senator Thomas K. Duane urges for further equlity be given to the LGBT community saying, “Governor Paterson deserves great credit for once again demonstrating his commitment to the entire LGBT community. He has carried the cause of transgender rights very far on his own today by prohibiting discrimination on the basis of gender identity or expression for employees of New York State agencies. Now, we must redouble our efforts to pass The Gender Expression Non-Discrimination Act (GENDA), which would ban discrimination against transgender and gender non-conforming people across New York State in housing, employment, credit, public accommodations, and other areas of everyday life. I have been pushing for this measure since 2002 when then Senate Minority Leader-Paterson and I fought for its inclusion in The Sexual Orientation Non-Discrimination Act (SONDA) and we will not stop working until equal protection under the law is a reality for all New Yorkers.”
Gay-Bashing in Queens
December 11th
 An Irish gay man Tarlach MacNiallais, 47, reports that he was assaulted by employees of a nightclub on Saturday in Jackson Heights, Queens.MacNiallais claims that two employees of the Guadalajara De Noche restaurant punched, kicked and smashed a chair over his head on Saturday night. MacNiallais, his partner of seven years, Juan, and four of Juan's brothers visited the restaurant for an open mike sing-along but instead the night was dance themed.
The couple decided to dance as it was the theme of the night, however, as they started to dance an employee approached them and said, “You can’t do that in here. This is not a gay bar.” In response MacNiallais says, “I turned around and said, ‘We have as much right to dance as anyone else.’”
The restaurant employee immediately threw him against a wall and proceeded to physically attack him. MacNiallais describes the event, “They knocked me to the ground. They started kicking me. They were shouting ‘this is not a gay bar’ over and over. I didn’t fight back because I’m not a violent person. But I did think I wasn’t going to let them throw me out. I did have a right to be there. If they had asked me to leave I would have, but they didn’t do that. Instead they beat me and physically dragged me to the ground.”
The Police are investigating the incident as a hate crime, and it is receiving the attention of public officials, including City Council Speaker Christine Quinn, who is herself a gay woman.
 OutMusic Awards 2009December 9th
 Last night was the 2009 OutMusic Awards Show held at Webster Hall. It was an empowering night of music and togetherness. The early awards presentation was so much fun; getting to mingle with so many great people in the GLBT community really was an inspiration. Unfortunately technical difficulties at the early awards presentation, no microphone and confused emcees, were just a foreshadowing for the actual event.
 The awards show, which will be broadcast for the first time on LOGO, was a total cluster fuck with few good moments of performances. Guests were in the honorees seats, there were massively long pauses and nobody seemed to know how the nominees were to be announced.  Overall though, it was a great time and there were several great performances. Check out videos of some of the performances at the NYisGaydotCom YouTube page. See the video below of Amanda Sage singing “Too Many Women.”
NY Gay Marriage Bill Failed 24-38
December 2nd
The following are some moving arguments from the debate over the bill.
 Sen Duane: “I’m an older gay…I know with your support, soon I’m going to be a married gay.”
Sen Duane: “It’s always the right time to be on the right side of history.”
Sen Duane: "We're beating New Jersey. They may have the Giants. They may have the Jets. But they're not taking this away from us."
Sen Hassel Thompson: "People have the right to choose...It's about people having the right to choose for themselves."
Sen Serrano: "Our nation dares to provide rights that others do not...I will be voting yes"
Sen Savino: "We have nothing to fear from love and commitment”
Sen Parker "Marriage Equality is perhaps the most profound civil rights issue of our era."
Sen Parker: "It's about millions of families and the basic protections those families need."
Sen Schneiderman: "You can't legislate morality, but you can legislate justice."
December 1st
Today is World AIDS Day visit JoinRed.com to see how you can help. By simply purchasing products from one of ten (Red) partner companies you can help support the fight against AIDS at no additional cost.
In honor of World AIDS Day you have the power to turn Facebook and Twitter red in support of the cause. Click here for more information.
NY May Get Gayer Today
December 1st
 It looks like the much anticipated, and rightfully so, gay marriage bill will have its fate marked today. According to WGRZ (NBC), the senate will vote on the bill today. The news was confirmed by a spokesman for state Senator Dale Volker. This is huge news, if the bill is passed by the senate Governor Patterson has already pledged to sign it into effect. If passed, New York will be the sixth state to legalize gay marriage.
One small step for homosexual men and women, one giant leap of faith that it won’t get shot down later like prop 8.
Fingers crossed that we get an answer today.
Detailson the Douchefag
November 30th
 In the December issue of Details magazine there is an article about a new form of equality; the douch efag. It appears that when it comes to equality with the good comes the bad. We have evolved and are now on the same level as the straights. The straights have their tools who borrow a page from the gays wearing guyliner, over tweezing and excessive use of product in their hair. Now, douchfags have risen out of the gay tool basket and have their own douchie agenda.
Details gives a humorous contrast of the differences between a plain ol’ gay and a douchefag. Below are a few of my favorite comparisons:
| Gay: Bleaches teeth |
Gay Douchebag: Bleaches anus |
| Gay: Adorns his shirts and sheets with his initials |
Gay Douchebag: Adorns himself with his boyfriend's name |
| Gay: Always with a pocket square |
Gay Douchebag: Always with a pocket gay |
|
Gay: Hires a bartender for 30th birthday party
|
Gay Douchebag: Hires a WireImage photographer for a red-carpet-themed 30th birthday party |
Puerto Rican Hate Crime Gets NYC Love - You can help!November 18th
 On November 14th Jorge Steven Lopez Mercado was brutally decapitated, dismembered and partially burned. His body was found in Cayey, a city only a few miles away from his hometown in Caguas. Pagan said, “Never in the history of Puerto Rico has a murder been classified as a hate crime. Even though we have to follow federal mandates and laws, many of the laws in which are passed in the USA such as Obama’s new bill, do not always directly get practiced in Puerto Rico.”
This case is extremely controversial because the lead investigator on the case, Angel Rodriguez, made a salacious statement that Mercado deserved his slaying saying, “because people who lead this type of lifestyle need to be aware that this will happen.” The investigator is still on the case but LGBT groups are mounting pressure for his resignation.
Jose Bermudez, 26 has been arrested and charged with first degree murder in the case. Bermudez stated that he picked up Mercado who he thought was a female prostitute and when Mercado propositioned him for anal sex he became enraged leading to the violent tragedy.
There will be a vigil held in NYC Sunday, November 22nd at Christopher St. Piers Downtown. For more information and updates on the vigil click hereor check out our events page.
Dare
November 16th
Dare is a feature length movie based on the short film with the same name, both written by David Brind. The movie features some highly respectable actors; Emmy Rossum (The Day After Tomorrow), Zach Gilford (TV's Friday Night Lights) and Ashley Springer (Teeth) head up the cast, which also includes Ana Gasteyer (Mean Girls) and comedian Sandra Bernhard.
Alexa (Emmy) and Ben (Ashley) both originally in social obscurity find their way to romancing the same popular boy Johnny (Zach). The short was intense with sex and self discovery, the feature takes it to a whole other level. It provides deep insight into the human psyche without being condescending or convoluted. It’s a movie that explores the full spectrum of sexuality in a way that is still entertaining to watch.
What I liked most about the movie was that it wasn’t overly homosexual or heterosexual it’s a movie that anyone can enjoy. Though, it does have a lot of sexual situations so you may not want to watch with your mom.
Dare is currently being shown at City Cinemas East Village. I highly suggest everyone see this movie, it’s sexy, smart and overall extremely entertaining.
Grindr Party
November 16th
 I attended the Grindr party at The Ritz Bar on Friday evening. If you don’t know, Grindr is the iPhone application that allows users to find their nearest gay. It displays a picture, description and a reading of the distance to that person. The party was a success; from early on the bar was packed. While the average age of attendees started fairly high, as the night wore on a younger crowd took over and everyone seemed to have a lot of fun.
The bartender dealt with a heavy hand; after having one drink prior I asked for a tequila and orange juice which ended up being a full cup shot containing less than a half ounce of orange juice. Naturally I went back for another which ended up just the same. Needless to say I went from sober to hammered in no time. After making some nice lesbi-friends and bar hopping I woke up to find that I had done some drunken grocery shopping. The worst part is that I bought 3 types of cheese, dozen eggs, green olives and popcorn so I think I might be pregnant…
Just like the app the party allowed you to let go of your inhibitions, have fun and make some bad decisions.
New York Mag
November 13, 2009
 There was an article in a recent issue of New York that highlighted their sex diaries; a week long log of a New Yorker’s sexual escapades. Not only did the article highlight some fun juicy details from some of the diaries but offered an insightful look into what their contents might say about the sex lives of the city’s occupants. The author came up with ten issues that New Yorker’s face when it comes to sex and relationships. 1. The anxiety of too much choice. 2. The anxiety of making the wrong choice. 3. The anxiety of not being chosen. 4. The anxiety of appearing overly enthusiastic. 5. The anxiety of appearing delusional. 6. The anxiety of appearing overly sincere. 7. The anxiety of appearing prudish. 8. Internet-enabled agoraphobia. 9. Separation anxiety. 10. The anxiety of being unable to love.
Not only do I agree with these issues but I can identify with several of them. Unfortunately every relationship whether it be long-term or a one night stand comes with some anxiety.
A gay diarist is featured called “The Horny Editor Visiting the ‘Rents,” it’s filled with him searching for a hook-up and masturbation (twice in one day). He claims that his sex life is better than most New Yorkers because he doesn’t take it too seriously I see that as an excuse for his promiscuous behavior as he mentions an ex he still communicates with and “This is a guy I don’t think I’ll ever quite get over.” Don’t get me wrong I don’t think there’s anything wrong with being promiscuous this article just highlights how we all have insecurities when it comes to mating and getting your rocks off.
(Red) Power!
|
| | | | |
|
|
|
|
|
