Posted on Advocate.com January 21, 2011

Scalia, Thomas Accused of Conflict of Interest

By Advocate.com Editors

Two of the most conservative judges on the Supreme Court, Antonin Scalia (left) and Clarence Thomas, are being accused of a conflict of interest regarding their decision in the controversial Citizens United v. Federal Election Commission case.
A government watchdog group wants the Justice Department to investigate whether Scalia and Thomas acted improperly by not recusing themselves in the Citizens United case — the high court ruling allowed huge corporate payments to be directed toward political campaigns. In the wake of the decision, businesses poured money into campaigns, including Target donating money to an antigay Republican candidate in Minnesota.
The watchdog group said Scalia and Thomas attended meetings sponsored by Charles and David Koch, conservative billionaires who often donate to political causes. A Supreme Court spokeswoman said the justices attended Koch-related events but not private strategy meetings.

Schwarzenegger's Mom Thought He Was Gay

Taken From Towleroad
01/19/2011 Schwarzenegger's Mom Took Him to the Doctor Because She Thought He Was Gay

Arnold Schwarzenegger tells the Austrian newspaper Krone that he had so many posters of oiled bodybuilders on his walls as a kid that his mom took him to the family doctor because she thought he was gay. The doctor tried to calm her down by reassuring her that at least he didn't drink and smoke.
Here's  the Google translation.
And a better translation by our commenter Chris (thanks!):
"(One) of of my favorite stories from when I was young. As a young boy my room was plastered with photos of bodybuilders. Naked, oiled male bodies. That got my mother so concerned, she asked our family doctor one day to take a look at that. 'Other boys put images of women on their walls, and mine does this!' She actually believed I was gay. Well, that's nothing wrong, but for her it was unimagineable back then. However, the doctor, a wise man, calmed her down. Everyone had idols, he said, others would hang up pictures of the Beatles, even though they were men as well. "Look at it like this, Mrs. Schwarzenegger: as an athlete he surely won't start to smoke or drink!" That assured her. Her worry lines stayed though."

Posted on Advocate.com January 13, 2011

Judge: Cop Doesn't Have to Out Officers

A county judge decided that a police sergeant in Roseville, Calif., will not have to out other gay and lesbian officers in a discrimination lawsuit three officers filed against the city last year.
The city of Roseville asked that Sgt. Darin DeFreece, one of the plaintiffs, release names to help it coordinate its defense. Judge Margaret Wells said disclosing such information would be in violation of those officers' right to privacy under the Fourteenth Amendment ro the U.S. Constitution, according to the Roseville Press Tribune.
"The court is hard-pressed to imagine any private information more sensitive than one’s sexual orientation." Wells wrote in her ruling Tuesday. "On the other hand, this is not a mere fishing expedition by defendants."

A trial in the case could begin in late April.

Johnny Weir Confirms He Is Gay In Memoir

Johnny Weir Confirms He is Gay in Memoir

Taken From Yahoo News
Updated: Thursday, 06 Jan 2011, 6:59 PM EST
Published : Thursday, 06 Jan 2011, 6:59 PM EST

(NewsCore) - After repeatedly dodging the issue of his sexual identity, US men's figure skater Johnny Weir confirms he is gay in his upcoming memoir, the website AfterElton reported Thursday.

In "Welcome to My World," Weir openly identifies himself as gay after previously dodging the issue, telling fans on his website in 2006 "I don't feel the need to express my sexual being...I can sleep with whomever I choose and it doesn't affect what I'm doing on the ice."

While Weir said he is "sexually gay" he does not completely rule out a relationship with a woman.

"In a sexual way, I'm gay," the 26-year-old "Skating with the Stars" judge wrote in his book.

"But I would marry a woman tomorrow if it struck me. I don't think sex and relationships necessarily have to go together," he added.

Known for his extravagant costumes and dramatic skating style, Weir is a three time United States Figure Skating champion.

it gets better-----a music video by rebecca drysdale

James Franco Says "Maybe I'm Just Gay"

Posted on Advocate.com January 05, 2011
Franco: "Maybe I'm Just Gay"
By Advocate.com Editors

JAMES FRANCO

James Franco has played a good number of gay roles, most recently in the movies Milk and Howl—where he portrayed Harvey Milk’s longtime boyfriend Scott Smith and poet Allen Ginsberg, respectively. As a result, he’s faced a lot of questions about his own sexual orientation.

The actor, who told The Advocate last summer that he is straight, is now raising eyebrows by suggesting otherwise in an interview with Entertainment Weekly.

“There are lots of other reasons to be interested in gay characters than wanting myself to go out and have sex with guys,” Franco tells EW. “And there are also lots of other aspects about these characters that I’m interested in, in addition to their sexuality. So, in some ways it’s coincidental, in other ways it’s not. I mean, I’ve played a gay man who’s living in the ‘60s and ‘70s, a gay man who we depicted in the ‘50s, and one being in the ‘20s. And those were all periods when to be gay, at least being gay in public, was much more difficult. Part of what I’m interested in is how these people who were living anti-normative lifestyles contended with opposition. Or, you know what, maybe I’m just gay.”

The 'Bishop Eddie Long' Gift Keeps On Giving

Monday, January 3, 2011
The 'Bishop Eddie Long' Gift Keeps On Giving
Posted by Timothy Beauchamp at 1/03/2011 03:00:00 PM

One of the things our community must do is to use every opportunity to point out how hypocritical the other side is when it comes to their endless false assertion that their relationships are somehow superior to ours.

One way to do this is to not allow the mainstream media to sweep big stories, like the Bishop Eddie Long fiasco, under the rug.

With little fanfare or news coverage, the four sexual coercion lawsuits confronting Bishop Eddie Long had the first hearing recently, with both sides opting for mediation to avoid a trial.

Why no major news outlet or editorial columnist has discussed the implications of such a move is nothing less than egregious in nature. Despite the initial media crush and coverage and the incessant analysis of Bishop Long's statement on his website and "sermon," there's been nary a peep in response to the quest for mediation.

Where is the mainstream media on Bishop Eddie Long's end-run? If a charismatic fundamentalist church leader publicly presents their marriage as superior and then resorts to mediation to settle gay sex allegations by young members of his flock then that is news. BIG NEWS.

Bishop Eddie Long agreeing to mediation of sexual coercion charges is an end-run around the universally accepted moral and ethical responsibilities of any ecumenical leader. Mediation of sexual allegation grievances is tantamount to an admission of "some" guilt, "some" form of ministerial misconduct. Innocent folk don't make deals if the claims against them are baseless and untrue. Mediation for the accused is a forfeiture of the right to ever claim innocence, and readers should be absolutely clear on this point.

It is important to use every gift of cognitive dissonance given us by the other side to prove they have no corner on human morality, and we deserve every single right they enjoy that they would gladly deny us while reminding all voters those rights are enshrined in our constitution.

Prop. 8-Loving Pastor Accused of Child Molestation

Posted on Advocate.com January 03, 2011
Prop. 8-Loving Pastor Accused of Child Molestation
By Advocate.com Editors

Tom Gene Daniels

The board of a church in Sacramento County, Calif., has issued a statement in support of a pastor arrested on suspicion of child molestation.

According to The Sacramento Bee, the board of Rio Linda Baptist Church expressed its support for pastor Tom Gene Daniels, who is charged with suspicion of a lewd or lascivious act with a child under 14 and engaging in three or more acts of sexual conduct with a child. Daniels was one of the most vocal supporters of California's Prop. 8.

"Until such time as the courts prove Pastor Tom Daniels guilty, we have an obligation to support him and his family," said the statement. The Bee reported that “the statement also said that accusations such as those facing Daniels need to be tried in the court and not the media.”

Daniels, 48, was arrested in December and is being held at the Sacramento County jail with bail set at $6 million. He has been employed as a foster parent and day care provider, according to the Bee.

Gay Newspaper Boxes Vandalized in Vancouver

Posted on Advocate.com January 02, 2011
Gay Newspaper Boxes Vandalized in Vancouver
By Advocate.com Editors

VANCOUVER

Police in Vancouver, Canada, are investigating the possibility of hate-motivated vandalism following damage to distribution boxes for the gay Canadian newspaper Xtra.

According to The Globe and Mail, no other publication boxes were vandalized, and a police spokeswoman said the damage against Xtra looks “targeted.”

“She said police are hoping surveillance video will provide some clues,” reported The Globe and Mail. “The newspaper boxes were primarily damaged in the city’s downtown core between Dec. 25 and Dec. 29. In most of the cases, the glass door was smashed.”

A senior manager for the newspaper said the vandalism would cost the free publication about $3,000. Xtra boxes were targeted in Ottawa in 2006 at a cost of more than $10,000.