L.A. Mayor Antonio Villaraigosa gives $25,000 to fight Prop 8: "We need to redouble our efforts now to match the flood of money raised by supporters of Prop 8...the America of my dreams includes everyone, not just a few."

Project Runway designer Jack Mackenroth's condom couture for tomorrow night's Project Inform fundraiser in San Francisco.

Desperate Housewives and QAF star Gale Harold seriously injured in motorcycle accident.

White House memos endorsed CIA waterboarding: "The Bush administration explicitly endorsed the use of waterboarding and other harsh interrogation methods against al Qaeda suspects in a pair of secret memos to the CIA in 2003 and 2004, The Washington Post reported on Wednesday. The previously undisclosed classified memos were requested by then CIA Director George Tenet more than a year after the start of the secret interrogations, the newspaper reported, citing administration and intelligence officials familiar with the documents."

REBOUND: A-Rod and Madonna are tighter than ever.

New York appeals court to hear challenge to same-sex marriage decision today.

Death in Batman-land: Gotham City says good-bye to music maker.

ACORN: The Republican voter fraud hoax.

GLSEN report: "More than 86% of the 6,209 middle- and high-school students surveyed said they'd experienced harassment at school in the past year, and about 60% felt unsafe at school because of their sexual orientation."

Hundreds gather in Minneapolis to remember Matthew Shepard.

Brazilian mayoral candidate uses gay-baiting in ads: "Is he married? Does he have children?"..."The Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual and Transgender Committee formed to rally support in the gay community for Marta's candidacy released a statement on Monday denouncing the advertisements as 'wrong and unacceptable'. The controversy is all the more surprising as Marta is a former sex therapist and was one of the first politicians in Brazil to align herself with the gay community."

Tyson Beckford, Christina Aguilera dazzle at Africa Rising event.

The body's anti-HIV enzyme explained: "APOBEC-3G is present in every human cell. It is capable of stopping HIV at the first step of replication, when the retrovirus transcribes its RNA into viral DNA...If APOBEC-3G works so well, why do people get AIDS? Because the HIV virus has evolved to encode the protein Vif, known as a "virulence factor," that blocks APOBEC-3G."

Killer of transgender woman gets five years: "Defense attorney Brian McMonagle had contended that the shooting occurred during 'pandemonium' in the car after Oates felt King's penis, after the two struggled for Oates' gun and after King moved toward Oates, according to the newspaper's report."

Anti-gay GOP Virginia Congressman Virgil Goode earmarked $150K for theater tied to his campaign manager's Linwood Duncan's gay sex and drug film.

Mark Foley's Democratic replacement caught up in new sex scandal: "The congressman's alleged extramarital affair with a staffer and promise to pay her $121,000 to avoid a lawsuit was reported Monday by ABC News."

South African man arrested for gay sex video blackmail: "The 44-year-old businessman, who has not been named, has already paid out more than R40000 in cash after being filmed at a Summerstrand home. Police believe more men may have been targeted. Zimbabwe-born Shepard Tito appeared in the Port Elizabeth magistrate‘s court yesterday on charges of extortion after he allegedly targeted high-profile businessmen to set up meetings where they were taped engaged in sexual acts with men."

Michael Schiavo, husband of the late Terri Schiavo (no doubt you remember Terri's drawn out, comatose, hospital stay in which a patient's "right to die" came under focus), has taken a stand against the radical right wing behind Florida's Amendment 2, which would amend the state's constitution to make marriage between a man and a woman.

Visit Progress Florida here.

Watch Michael Schiavo's message, AFTER THE JUMP...

(via joe and pam)

Sorry, this was just too crazy not to post.

Travis Fessler of Florence, Kentucky set a world record Saturday by putting 11 Madagascar hissing cockroaches in his mouth at the same time. The previous record was nine (warning: graphic photos at link):

"Fessler held 11 of the hissing cockroaches in his mouth for the mandatory 10 seconds. The bugs had to measure at least 2-1/2 inches in length and survive the attempt to qualify for a Guinness world record."

There's video too. Watch it (if you dare), AFTER THE JUMP...

This morning we were reminded of this ad from 2006 created by Public Interest that asks: "How would you feel if you had to ask 260 million people for the right to marry?"

I agree it's worth putting out there again. Watch it, AFTER THE JUMP...

Yesterday, the Advocate reported that "No on 8" donations are nearing $1 million a day but it's not nearly enough:

"'I think you're going to see some breakthrough gifts in the next few days,' [campaign director Patrick] Guerriero said. Since the No on Prop. 8 campaign put out an SOS roughly a week ago, donations have been running close to $1 million per day -- a remarkable feat, he said, and one that has No on 8 poised to cross the $20 million mark shortly. However, Guerriero stressed, donations need to keep rolling in at that rate through Election Day, at least, in order to get the pro-LGBT side back in the fight monetarily -- and of 1 million LGBT adults in California, only 30,000 have contributed so far -- and that not a single LGBT demographic or region in the state had given what would be required to win the battle."

I should also mention the Say No on 2 campaign in Florida. The Freedom Democrats are holding a Presidential Debate watch party and benefit at Halo Lounge in Miami Beach tonight from 6 pm - 10:30 pm. $100 donation includes open bar and hors d'ouvres. Proceeds will benefit the fight against Amendment 2.

And the "Vote no on Prop 102" campaign in Arizona. Donate here. Both Florida and Arizona are also battling anti-gay amendments.

Donate to 'No on Prop 8' HERE, and view the 2006 spot, AFTER THE JUMP...

No on Prop 8 [donate]

Models Marlon Texeira, Andres Segura, Tyson Ballou, Marcus Schenkenberg and Terron Wood team up for the new issue of men's mag Hercules. While fully suited up on the cover, inside they're offering much less. And in this case, less is more.

Two more shots (and a preview video), AFTER THE JUMP...

(with help from design scene)

Yesterday, a judge upgraded charges against Michael Kandola, the man who attacked 27-year-old Jordan Smith as he walked hand-in-hand with his boyfriend on Davie Street in Vancouver in late September, from assault to aggravated assault:

"Kandola was released without bail Tuesday morning after his court appearance, but with conditions that include having no contact with the victim, and a ban on entering the gay district in the city's West End."

Hundreds marched through Vancouver's west end over the weekend to a rally denouncing anti-gay violence in response to the Kandola attack:

"The Join Hands for Justice rally began at English Bay marched to the site where a man was violently assaulted last month as he strode hand-in-hand with his partner. The rally was escorted by a phalanx of motorcycle cops...Rally moderator Jim Deva told the crowd that he had asked the police to hold the rally. 'The police chief (Jim Chu) said, 'Of course, you can have a rally, and I want to speak at it,'' Deva said. Chu said it was not that long ago that the Vancouver Police Department was reluctant to participate in Pride Parades, but now he walks in them every year. 'We are happy to join you because you are our friends, our neighbours,' Chu said to huge applause."

Smith was knocked unconscious by the attack and now has his jaw wired shut in three places. Kandola is set to appear in court again on October 27.

Previously
Vancouver Gay Basher Appears in Court [tr]
Vancouver Man to Undergo Surgery After Anti-Gay Assault [tr]

From the department of useless polls comes this news:

"More than a third those questioned expressed a desire for a romance with Harry while William received 23 per cent of the vote. A third of the single gay men said they would steer clear of both...Adrian Gillan, spokesman for gay-PARSHIP (which conducted the poll), said: 'This fraught romantic vote suggests divided royal loyalties. Indeed, many gay male singles are so torn they say they would need to date both our young princes, whose female love interests prove only slightly less of a queer pull. Being part of an inclusive, modern monarchy, William and Harry will be delighted that they and their close circle can arouse such strong emotions from Britain's homosexual subjects."

"The court's observation came while hearing a PIL filed by gay activists seeking to decriminalise gay sex among consenting adults. Additional Solicitor General P P Malhotra, appearing for the Centre, cited an article which contained quotes from religious texts to justify the ban. Not satisfied with the Government contention, the Bench, also comprising Justice S Muralidhar, asked the government to show scientific proof that gay sex is harmful to society. 'This is just one-sided version of a religious body which cannot be relied upon. This is part of religious doctrine. Show us some scientific report which says that gay sex should be criminalised,' a Division Bench headed by Chief Justice A P Shah said."

In September, the Indian government reaffirmed its position supporting the criminalization of homosexuality.

Previously
Indian Health Minister Seeks Decriminalization of Homosexuality [tr]

Gus van Sant's Milk is premiering at the Castro Theatre in San Francisco later this month, and vocal anti-war mom Cindy Sheehan says that she's been asked to the event by Sean Penn, who as we've noted many times on this site, plays Milk in the film.

Writes Sheehan in a blog post on The Daily Beast: "I am really excited to see the upcoming movie MILK, about San Francisco political legend Harvey Milk (out this month.) Harvey Milk is not only a hero for the LGBT community, but he was a real champion for the people. Running for Congress in San Francisco against the most powerful democrat in America, I have an awesome admiration for his courage to challenge the machine. Plus Sean Penn, who plays HM, has asked me to be his guest to the premiere - how can I not be excited about that?"

Cindy Sheehan is running as an independent candidate against Nancy Pelosi for the House Speaker's seat representing San Francisco in California's 8th congressional district.

Recently
First Look: New Milk Stills [tr]

"There were no incendiary outbursts from the crowd about Mr. Obama during Mrs. Palin's speech, as there have been during other recent McCain-Palin rallies. However, someone did shout out, 'Kill him!' during Republican congressional candidate Chris Hackett's remarks before Mrs. Palin took the stage. The outburst came during a round of booing from the crowd after Mr. Hackett said Mr. Obama should come to Pennsylvania and learn what the state's values are."

The incredible answer McCain gave to Dana Bash earlier this week when she asked him about the incendiary atmosphere present at his recent rallies, AFTER THE JUMP...

Previously
McCain Campaign's Race-Baiting Creating Dangerous Atmosphere [tr]
McCain Vows to 'Whip' Obama's 'You Know What' in Next Debate [tr]

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