Planet Homo

The Marketing of Lies

Politics is marketing. On Tuesday, we shall see how California's Proposition 8 was marketed and whose advertising campaign won. A close friend recently lamented Prop. 8's advertising as being too vague and with all the talent in the gay community, the commercials don't seem extraordinary. It has been interesting to compare the two sides. Clearly, the Yes on Prop 8 know about advertising—it doesn't have to be true, it just has to be said. In America, the one boundary that EVERYONE adheres to is THE CHILDREN. God save the children from sexuality even if its only hinted at in a deceitful political ad. The Yes on 8 campaigns have been very effective if not also simply full of lies. The No on Prop 8 people have responded with a campaign that decided it was better to not address the real issue, gay marriage, but make it about human rights. The concept seems debatable. It will be decided on Tuesday.

Grace Jones: No Friend of Palin

Jamaican-born disco diva Grace Jones said she was sorry Hillary Clinton had failed to make the cut in the US election and that she "can't stand" folksy vice-presidential candidate Sarah Palin.

The 1980s style icon, now 60, told German magazine TV Spielfilm Wednesday that Palin stood for a backward vision of America laden with government restrictions of sexuality and social behavior.

"I would have loved it if Hillary Clinton had pulled it off," Jones said, in an interview published in German marking the release of her new album.

"I can't stand Sarah Palin. I bet a woman like that has no sense of humor."

The androgynous Jones, who conquered dance floors and runways from New York to Paris in the 1980s and had star turns in blockbusters alongside Arnold Schwarzenegger and Roger Moore, said she believed in her own form of sexual liberation.

She said she had fallen afoul of feminists for stunts such as "appearing naked in a cage" but insisted she had the right to determine what was artistic or simply exploitative.

"I believe a woman can present herself as a sex object if she has fun doing it," she said.

Milk Premieres in San Francisco

SAN FRANCISCO, October 29th, 2008 – Academy Award-nominated director Gus Van Sant’s Milk, starring Academy Award winner Sean Penn as gay rights icon Harvey Milk, had its world premiere at San Francisco’s historic Castro Theatre (at 429 Castro Street) last night. The evening benefited multiple charities supporting LGBT (Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, and Transgender) youth. Dinner and dancing followed at City Hall. While the movie premiered in SF, I attended a screening in West Hollywood.

Not a review but here are some impressions:  it is a haunting account of one man's journey into politics that reveal an urgency about California's own Proposition 8. What I walked away with was a sense of history—there was time, not that long ago when homosexuality was considered a mental illness, that simply going to a bar could end in a riot of prison sentence and that there were very few people publicly, politically making waves. It is astounding the amount of progress made and it seems to find culmination in gay marriage. If I was somewhat cavalier about gay marriage, after seeing Milk, I am compelled to see this proposition defeated. And that is the point of this film: if one man, one very brave, funny, theatrical and politically cunning man could make a difference, so can we. This film might have had this effect on many people were it released before the election. That said, bravo to its creators, producers and most of all to one very talented and indeed brave actor, named Sean Penn.

Once Upon a Time: 1969

 

West Hollywood Fun?

A gay couple in West Hollywood, CA. think its "fun" to depict Sarah Plain hanging with a noose around her neck. Creator Chad Michael Morrisette explains on camera the thinking behind the controversial display of both Palin and McCain (who is on fire), essentially offering up the "Halloween" excuse. While certainly legal under First Amendment rights, it does push the boundaries of what is acceptable as political statement. The fact is in this country the noose is a symbol, a horrible symbol of hate. It reminds us of the Jena Six, the song "Strange Fruit" and of two gay men who were hung in Iran for simply being gay. There are many ways to express one's dislike of a candidate, this is not one of them. And to use Halloween as an excuse is really the only thing scary about all of this. Follow-up: After days of nationwide controversy, a West Hollywood homeowner has removed an effigy of Republican vice presidential nominee Sarah Palin that was hanging from a noose off the side of his house. Follow-up: Chad Michael Morrisette, a professional window display designer who set up the life-size mannequin of Palin, said Wednesday evening that he had met with West Hollywood Mayor Jeffrey Prang and decided it was best to remove the decoration. "There was a huge mob scene," Morrisette said of the onlookers -- and protesters -- the display attracted. "The whole thing became a life of its own."

The Terrorist Halloween Mask

Amazon got it wrong. This was a listing over the weekend for a Halloween mask of Barack Obama. The problem is the listing had it under "terrorist costume". First, what the fuck is a terrorist costume doing in retail anyway? Frankly, all the political Halloween masks are hideous. We'd have you send an email to Amazon, if we could only find an email. The listing is now gone.

Inspiring

Crickets is a Fag Game!

This poor young man does not know that he is playing a fag game. According the ancient comedian Jerry Lewis, when asked about the game he replied: "Oh, cricket? It's a fag game. What are you, nuts?" while handling an imaginary cricket bat in a camp manner. Lewis was holding a news conference in Sydney Australia when the bizarre question came up. Lewis, only a year ago was scolded publicly when in the 18th hour of his eternal TV marathon, he remarked to the camera in an attempt at humor: "Oh, your family has come to see you. You remember Bart, your oldest son, Jesse, the illiterate fag.." Lewis apologized : "I obviously made a bad choice of words. Everyone who knows me understands that I hold no prejudices in this regard," he added. "The success of the (telethon) and all the good that will come from it shouldn't be lost because of one unfortunate word. I accept responsibility for what I said. There are no excuses. I am sorry."
The new apology will be appearing shortly. Jerry Lewis is old school. In his day, faggot meant something, most likely wimpy or fey. While not apologizing for him, it's really not the end of the world. In this media-saturated era of everything being analyzed, over-analyzed (that's how it gets the anal) and reviewed by The American Gay & Lesbian Alliance Against Defamation (GLAAD), it's a wonder anyone has the balls to speak. He didn't condemn anyone to death, he simply stated that he thought Cricket was a game for sissies. Don't make the old fart apologize again, he doesn't mean it. He will say something stupid next year, trust me.

Advice for the McCain Campaign

Why is loving musicals considered gay? You could make the case if you’re in love with Brigadoon or The Sound of Music, which many are. But West Side Story always seemed butch. Written by two gay men with music by one bisexual and choreographed by another bisexual, it was simply one of the most extraordinary collections of talent to ever pool and produce. Written in 1957, it is Romeo & Juliet updated to a gritty Westside in New York City. Two gangs, one American, one Puerto Rican endlessly fight over turf, while women and cops impatiently wait. If the film had one problem it was the casting. Natalie Wood was as the Puerto Rican Maria was a stretch even if she was painted a shade darker, but the real issue was the casting of Richard Beymer as Tony. The original Broadway cast featured mega-tenor Larry Kert, who was not invited to play the role in the movie. The reason being according to Laurents in his memoir Original Story By, director-choreographer Jerome Robbins frequently clashed with Kert, publicly chastising him for being a "faggot," despite the fact that Robbins himself, fellow dancer Tommy Abbott and most of the creative team was gay. I must confess, having known Larry Kert, he also suggested that it was lyricist Stephen Sondheim who also chided him for being publicly "too gay." Beymer was physically just too much like rubber, and Woods, with vocals supplied on the side, was to simply not Puerto Rican enough. With some of the greatest songs ever written, including Tonight, Maria, Something's Coming, America, Jet Song and the haunting, Somewhere, it was a complete departure from the kind of musicals being produced in 1957. In fact, the Tony that year, went to Meredith Wilson's The Music Man. But it is and remains the choreography that challenges us. Every living choreographer owes a debt to Jerome Robbins, and in every musical video produced there is ALWAYS a piece of Robbins in it. It was modern, it was demandingly energetic, and it was always male.

Apple Donates, Big

Apple has joined Google in publicly opposing California's Proposition 8, a measure intended to ban the rights of gay Californians to legally marry, and has contributed $100,000 to defeat the measure.

Both companies have a history of remaining politically neutral, but have chosen to take sides on this issue because it relates directly to the civil rights and opportunities of their employees.

In its Hot News feed, the company stated, "Apple is publicly opposing Proposition 8 and making a donation of $100,000 to the No on 8 campaign. Apple was among the first California companies to offer equal rights and benefits to our employees’ same-sex partners, and we strongly believe that a person’s fundamental rights — including the right to marry — should not be affected by their sexual orientation. Apple views this as a civil rights issue, rather than just a political issue, and is therefore speaking out publicly against Proposition 8."

Earlier, Google co-founder and president Sergey Brin wrote in the Official Google Blog, "it is the chilling and discriminatory effect of the proposition on many of our employees that brings Google to publicly oppose Proposition 8. While we respect the strongly-held beliefs that people have on both sides of this argument, we see this fundamentally as an issue of equality. We hope that California voters will vote no on Proposition 8 -- we should not eliminate anyone's fundamental rights, whatever their sexuality, to marry the person they love."

The No on 8 campaign notes that "Virtually every major paper in California is against Prop 8. The L.A. Times says it is 'a drastic step to strip people of rights.' La Opinión called Prop 8 'an unnecessary initiative.' The San Diego Union Tribune wrote that Prop 8 'offends many Californians' sense of fairness.'"

Apple's $100,000 contribution to the No on 8 campaign is significant because the effort to stop the proposition has been systematically outgunned by out-of-state religious groups, who have poured cash into TV advertisements that threaten dire consequences if gays' right to marry continue in the state. Among other claims, the ads state that if the proposition isn't passed, California schools will force children to study gay marriage.

That claim prompted California Superintendent of Schools Jack O'Connell to announce that the proposition "has nothing to do with schools or kids. Our schools aren't required to teach anything about marriage, and using kids to lie about that is shameful."

Top Men

Askmen.com has delivered its Top 49 Most Influential Men of 2008. The Top 10 includes John McCain, sexy Christiano Ronlado, some guy named Rob Kay, a chef named Gordon Ramsey and of course, the predictable...
The site itself should get an award for the most hyperactive website. While completely agreeing with their number one choice....it should be noted that last year, the number one pick was David Beckham. Apparently, looking good is influential.
AskMen.com was founded in August 1999 by Ricardo Poupada, Christopher Bellerose Rovny and Luis Rodrigues. The company secured $500,000 in venture capital in 2000 while its main competitor TheMan.com obtained $17 million in financing from Highland Capital. In November, 2000, TheMan.com shut down operations, providing an opportunity for AskMen.com to become the largest men's lifestyle website online. By 2001, AskMen.com surpassed the other websites in its category to become the largest men's lifestyle website.

When Worlds Collide

With the excessive and anointed amount of blogs that distill the boy/man flesh, it is refreshing that we happened upon another planet, PlanetFabulon. While in no way diminishing our own importance in this vague universe of modern culture, we cannot help but salute those who do things right. This planet is about Glamour • Camp & Kitsch •  Extreme Fabulosity • Divine Decadence  • Delusions of Grandeur •  Art & Artifice  • Hot Male Dancers. The Sacred Feminine • The Gay Agenda and that's just the first page. Any website that can talk about Yves St. Laurent, Bette Midler, Ruth Olay, Ann Miller and David Bowie, is up to something interesting, very interesting. We invite you to take a visit.

Powell Endorses Obama

"I think he is a transformational figure, he is a new generation coming onto the world stage, onto the American stage, and for that reason I'll be voting for Sen. Barack Obama," Colin Powell told Meet the Press this morning. Powell, who is a friend of John McCain's said, "It isn't easy for me to disappoint Sen. McCain in the way that I have this morning, and I regret that." Speaking on Fox News Sunday, McCain said he respects and admires Powell, and the announcement "doesn't come as a surprise." "I'm also very pleased to have the endorsement of four former secretaries of state -- Secretaries [Henry] Kissinger, [James] Baker, [Lawrence] Eagleburger, and [Alexander] Haig -- and I'm proud to have the endorsement of well over 200 retired Army generals and admirals," McCain said.

SNL Takes the Rap

"All the mavericks in the house, put your hands up! All the plumbers in the house, put your pants up!"

New Gay Website to Launch

No word yet on launch date for the newly created gaymagsonline website which is reportedly going to be a host site for all gay magazines to contribute articles and stories from their magazines. The concept is that each publication would contribute to the site in an effort to promote their publication. This would likely help smaller gay publications hoping to get national and international recognition and service the public by providing a gateway to publications that they might otherwise never see.

AXM Magazine: Web Only

Monthly gay magazine AXM will cease print production and become an online only brand from next year.

The final issue of AXM goes to press on 4 November and will remain on sale until mid-January 2009.

The publication, published by Millivres Prowler, currently has two full-time staff, an editor and designer. The company has confirmed that no staff will be made redundant.

Kim Watson, media director at Millivres, said: “Plans are currently in hand to relaunch AXM, its content and gay youth audience to digital media platforms with other online youth brands Puffta and Postive Adam.

"We will be announcing the launch of these new platforms at the end of the month.”

The title, which launched in 1999, was bought by Gay Times publisher Millivres Prowler in 2006. It is not ABC audited, but the publisher claims it has a circulation of more than 50,000.

Millivres also publishes lesbian magazine Diva and gay weekly The Pink Paper.

Tris Reid-Smith, editor of The Pink Paper and consultant editor of AXM, said: “The definitive factor is that we feel the digital media format is very attractive to the demographic we’re reaching – which is principally aimed at young gay men.

"We feel that format is going to be more attractive to our readers and advertisers in the future.”

Made Us Look: Olympic Medalist Nude!

He's French, he's tattooed and he owns a Silver Olympic Medal, and now, you can see his maleprong! That's right folks. The good people at QueerClick are running a series of images exposing Frederick Bousquet in all his shaven pubic glory. In a case of tattoo match-ups, the headless images are said to be that of the swimmer by virture of identical tattoes (observant!). There isn't much information on how these photos were obtained and when, except that "Frederick used his web cam." No indication on who was the receiving end of the video cam. One must hand it to QueerClick for their very funny cock/condom icon who makes comments throughout the series. Funny stuff.

Just the Facts

Facts are funny things. They are usually a string of words said with conviction and meant to indicate the truth. But they are not always facts. As Jack Webb used to say in the old TV series, Dragnet, "just the facts, ma'am." Presidential debates are abundant with "facts" said with conviction by both candidates. If it is the truth you seek, one place to find them is factcheck.org. For example, Factcheck points that the new American hero, Joe the Plumber, that  symbol of middle class inspiration isn't quite all that ordinary. Joe Wurzelbacher, AKA, Joe the Plumber recently told Fox News’ Neil Cavuto that he lives “in a simple, middle class home” and portrayed himself as an ordinary working guy, Wurzelbacher’s $250,000 to $280,000 is a bit higher than "ordinary." In 2007, the last year for which the Census Bureau has figures, the median income for a family in Toledo, Ohio, was $43,553. Obama is not spared either, as they fact in on Obama's claim that he has also been a "maverick" in the Democratic party: "And as we pointed out before, Obama has a pretty consistent record of voting in stride with his party. According to Congressional Quarterly, in Obama's three years in the Senate, he has voted with his party almost 97 percent of the time."
Facts are the only things that keep politicians honest, and that isn't always true. Fact checking is necessary. The truth is important, otherwise, politics become nothing but meaningless sound bites. Imagine!

Here's Another Hero

See more Hayden Panettiere videos at Funny or Die

Concept: Strange

This unique concept spins off ideas rich in profusion. It promises to be the first gay themed film complex in the world, according to the rich NYC real estate mogul behind it. “There’s going to be 9 theaters in a massive building on 8th Avenue all showing gay themed films,” the mogul revealed to IUC. “It’s about time something like this happened cause there’s a huge market for it, not only for gays but also straight people will love to watch films here to learn about gay culture. On the bottom floor there’ll be a boutique selling merchandise and a gay themed restaurant where you’ll be served by the gayest type characters from Hollywood’s golden age era. Waiters will dress up like Rock Hudson, Paul Newman, Yul Brynner, and lots of other famous gay actors.” Several Hollywood moguls have been contacted to get in on it including George Clooney, Ellen DeGeneres and Brad Pitt. Developing…

We Had No Idea

Of course it's James Kyson Lee, Ando from TV's Heroes.

AIDS: The Musical?

Pop star Elton John has announced that he will be writing a new musical film about AIDS for actor and director Ben Stiller.

The singer wrote the scores for the stage adaption of Billy Elliot in 2005, and Broadway version of The Lion King, and is now branching out into more controversial material.

John told GQMen.Style that the musical is "about a guy on Broadway who is gay, has HIV and AIDS, and has to go back and face his wife and kids that he left.

"It's very funny. The premise doesn't sound funny, but it is. Alright?"

When asked about his attitude towards musicals generally, John said that he was not usually a fan of the genre. He said:

"I like some of the classic ones.

"'West Side Story,' for me, is the greatest musical ever written. But I don’t like forced fun.

"I’m more drawn to tragedy than 'Let’s all have a great time,' and I’m not keen on the music in musicals sometimes.

"I’m quite fussy about it. I don’t really like them unless I’m involved in them, for some reason."

Sheer Terror

Next Fashion Trend? If self-confessed male hosiery-wearer Harisnya has its way it will be men in hose. Manyhose. From his British website e-mancipate, Harisnya hopes to "accelerate the acceptance of male pantyhose as a regular clothing item".
Harisnya says the UK-based website is "as serious as fashion can be".
"It's fun, but no joke," he said, and is adamant that both males and females should be allowed to wear the sexy sheer garment.
"Men have great legs and hosiery is a great way to show them. It's quite practical in some ways. It prevents chafing, for example, when horse riding or cycling, but it's also a good alternative to bulky underwear if you need some warmth. "Going to work on a cold autumn day in regular trousers with 20 denier hose underneath helps to avoid getting cold. Plus you won't ever have to worry about loosing or matching your socks," he joked.
There is a step-by-step guide on how to wear pantyhose for the uninitiated.
There is no word as of yet as to popularity of the "trend" in the States where it is likely to be seen as a fetish and a yet another good reason to shave your legs.

Sign of the Times

Welcome to our country where it is easy to forget that it is 2008, in an age of enlightenment. It's curious to watch journalists on CNN, Fox and MSNBC speak to the issue of how hostile this campaign has become. What we ALWAYS forget is that these news channels LOVE friction, drama and every opportunity to keep the "fight" on. Just this morning the somewhat evolved Joe Scarborough went on and on about how Obama is not being questioned by the press about the Ayers controversy. Which is odd, only recently he said on the Colbert Report when asked if his show would address the controversy he replied:  "We talked about it," Scarborough acknowledged, adding, "It is not relevant to where the story is right now."  Times have changed. It becomes relevant because a two week cycle about Obama winning is not good for ratings, a fight is. And Republicans are nauseous with the prospect of an Obama win. They have held court for so long that giving up the the throne seems inconceivable.
It is dirty. And it is not like any other campaign, period. These are not proud moments for Americans, my friends.

Gay Cars?

From gaywheels.com a top 10 list of "most-researched" during the third quarter of 2008. We have no idea how this list was compiled but with the notable exception of a $100,000 Maserati, the top 10 are fairly realistic. In fact, we own no. 8. For the record, our experience is is that gay men love BMW's, so its interesting they didn't make the list, while something called the Dodge Caliber did. As for the Maserati, it would appear to be the choice of gay men experiencing a mid-life crisis, own a gay dating/porn service, or usually vote Republican.

Rank
1 VW Rabbit
2 VW Eos
3 Mazda MX-5 Miata and Audi A3 - tie
4 Mazda MAZDA3 and VW Jetta - tie
5 Toyota Yaris
6 Saab 9-3 and Dodge Caliber -tie
7 Volvo C30
8 smart fortwo
9 Toyota Matrix and MINI Cooper - tie
10 Maserati GranTurismo

The Top 10 Most Researched list is based on website statistics gathered from July 1, 2008 – September 30, 2008 from Gaywheels.com’s New Car section. Gaywheels.com publishes its Most-Researched list quarterly.

Note to Wall St.

EXIT: Legendary Photographer William Claxton

LOS ANGELES (AP) — William Claxton, a celebrated photographer who worked with such entertainers as Bob Dylan and Frank Sinatra and who helped establish the organization that runs the Grammy Awards, has died. He was 80.

Claxton died Saturday at Cedars Sinai Medical Center in Los Angeles of complications stemming from congestive heart failure, his son Christopher said.

He was best known for his soulful portraits of jazz artists such as Chet Baker, and he went on to photograph Dylan and other musicians such as Joni Mitchell and Tom Jones. His images graced the covers of numerous albums.

Claxton, a founding member of The Recording Academy, started his photography career in 1952 while a student at University of California, Los Angeles.

He also worked with Sinatra, Steve McQueen and Rebecca De Mornay, and his photographs regularly appeared in such magazines as Life, Paris Match and Vogue.

In the 1960s, Claxton collaborated with his wife, fashion model Peggy Moffitt, to create a collection of iconic images featuring Rudi Gernreich's fashion designs.

A film he directed from that era, "Basic Black," is considered by many to be the first "fashion video" and is now part of the collection of the Museum of Modern Art in New York.

Claxton also wrote 13 books and held dozens of exhibitions of his work around the world.

In 2003, he won the Lucie award for music photography at the International Photography Awards.

"He was a great photographer and a wonderful man who touched the lives of his friends through his generosity, charm and kindness," said his publisher Benedikt Taschen, founder and owner of Taschen Publishing, in a statement. "Bill was very close to my heart and a pillar of our publishing house."

Fashion Snows

If you have never been to a major fashion show, it is something to behold. It's not quite like the movies or TV, but on the surface, it can be fascinating. Last night at the Petersen Automotive Museum in Los Angeles, L.A. Fashion Week Spring '09 presented Gen Art Fresh Faces in Fashion. Hosted by Mandy Moore, it was a short show, lasting only an hour. For the most part, it was women's fashion, with only a brief moment of male models by designer Wayne Hadley.
It's hard to know exactly how fashion works, or the shows for that matter. They appeal to an interesting group of people, as evidenced by an audience of dressed up women and men who range from insistently heterosexual (they are looking) and the fashion forward types with their odd array of caps and hats, outrageous sunglasses (it's night, my dears) and mix + match vests (currently a trend, we suspect). The music is loud and if you didn't know better, you would think it was a circuit party. People jostle for a seat, while a pack of photographers stand ready at the end of the catwalk, awaiting that definitive moment when they can capture the "moment".  The lights dim, the music soars and from behind the stage models begin their ebullient walk on the plank. All eyes are cast on the models, much like a tennis tournament. The models all have unique walks, and some appear just down right silly. Maybe its the high heels, but walking  gingerly with a Jar Jar Binks strut, some of the models literally "clump" their way from one end to the next. And then in a matter of moments, its over. The lights come up, the crowd rushes to the exit for the free cocktails. It must be the same for someone who doesn't understand modern art going to an art show at a museum. The Rothko paintings must seem like cool mousepads and the Warhols like something out of their kitchen. Fashion shows for the most part, simply don't emotionally connect. There is no story, there is rarely drama, and the visuals whisk by in a Gaussian blur. Fashion should be more like theater, as it has in the great fashion shows of Jared Gold and Alexander McQueen, otherwise we really are there just for the cocktails.

The Last of Friday

Billy's Porn Past

I remember Jordan Young. He used to hang out in West Hollywood. He was one of the first Asian porn stars to ever cross over to the mainstream. Well, Jordan has a new name and new job. He is now vice president of casting and talent (hmmm) of FremantleMedia North America.  And he is now Billy Kemp.
Recalling the first day of his porno shoot as a then Jordan Young he remarked, “all I could think about was, once I step in front of that camera, I can’t take it back. I can’t buy back the film. There was nothing I could do. It was scary, but I knew that I would never be president… so I did it.”

 He starred in at  least 10 different porno’s under his alias Jordan Young, including ‘Idol in the Sky’ and ‘Rescue 69-11″. With his porn mentor Chi Chi La Rue, he became became quite successful as a screenwriter of porn and he was even nominated for a 2003 Grabby Erotic Gay Video Award for Best Screenplay in respect of his work on Falcon Studios’ Deep South: The Big and the Easy. He changed his name and went on to become a casting executive for Temptation and Eliminate (someone has to this job), two shows which are hopefully off the radar. It is also reported that his past is not featured in his current curriculum vitae.

Fun with Betty White

Gay Porn Bachelors

From OMGBLOG.com this tantalizing bit of information: Two contestants for Cosmo's Bachelor of the Year 2008 award have been in gay porn. That may not not be so surprising but when "Daniel Kirk, named West Virginia's Hottest Bachelor this year by Cosmopolitan told the magazine that he thinks sex on the first date is "skanky". What he forgot to mention is that he apparently has no problem posing for Playgirl with a boner - and not just any boner - HIS boner." And his boner can be seen in all its northernly glory here. Enjoy. Many have.

Fascinating: Conservative Celebrities

We are always amused at the notion that there are "undecided" voters out there. One imagines they must be hungry for attention, complete morons or a lingering of Libras. What does it take to help you make up your minds? That said, it's nice to know there are Republican celebrities out there who are not afraid to let the world know. A wcbstv.com website recently featured a slide show of celebrity conservatives and there are surprises. We already knew that Chuck Norris, Kelsey Grammer, the majority of country and western singers, and a handful of aging models were conservatives, but Hollywood's original badboys, Dennis Hopper and Bruce Willis? Pretty boy Nick Lachey a Republican? The voice of Darth Vader? Straight to video's Adam Sandler, a Rudy Giuliani contributor? Not so cool rapper LL Cool J, wat up? The list goes on and on. While it is one thing to be conservative or Republican, it is quite another when you contribute to that party. It means some of the money I spent on your movie or DVD went someplace I wish it hadn't. We' hopefully all be thinking about that next time.

Money Matters

No matter what voters decide this November on same-sex marriage, the election will not change one fact: Over the last decade, California has become the nation's leader in providing legal protections to gays and lesbians. The Los Angeles Times makes the case that even if marriage in California becomes outlawed, the state will remain in the vanguard of gay rights.

Homovision.tv

From London, England, we discover a website called homovision.tv. With the latest news and gay videos for London and the world, homovision suffers from a limited vision of the world. If its a time machine you want, to go back to an era of drugged-out, buggy-eyed, shirtless men fresh from their 15th hour on the dancefloor, this is the website for you! The site begins with a comment that requires some effort: "Pursed lips and icy gazes were signature; in fact it was so common I am sure this must have been learnt at some kind of class? I remember once approaching one and it would seem that they were sworn to some code of secrecy as they remained tight lipped as if holding onto a mouthful of ‘No’s’ and just shook their heads. I hadn’t even asked them anything yet!"  We think this might be an ode to rejection from a dejected dancefloor patron who on his way down decided he would turn his rejection into poetry. The irony is that on the about us page, they actually suggest that the reader "dare to be different", all the while celebrating perpetual mediocrity. There is nothing wrong with the decaying circuit party scene, just don't pretend to be about all gay men.

What does it mean?

Debatable

There are ironies: without the current fiscal brouhaha, Obama would be likely be tied with McCain. And yet, how boring is it? One senses that neither candidate knows the hell they're talking about, its economics stupid, and they are simply, inherently boring. What it means is that the next president will not be able to do much...what is for certain is that John McCain is an unpleasant man, an angry man, an uncomfortable man.

Fellatio Kills

The Rev Mr Mullen said in an blog that homosexuality was "clearly unnatural, a perversion and corruption of natural instincts and affections" and "a cause of fatal disease".

He recommended that homosexual practices be discouraged "after the style of warnings on cigarette packets".

He wrote: "Let us make it obligatory for homosexuals to have their backsides tattooed with the slogan SODOMY CAN SERIOUSLY DAMAGE YOUR HEALTH and their chins with FELLATIO KILLS."

For the complete story, head here.

Follow Up:

A CHURCH of England priest has been ordered to remove comments from his blog calling for gay men to have their backsides tattooed with a warning about sodomy.

"Let us make it obligatory for homosexuals to have their backsides tattooed with the slogan SODOMY CAN SERIOUSLY DAMAGE YOUR HEALTH and their chins with FELLATIO KILLS.''

The clergyman, who ministers to parishes in the City of London financial district, was yesterday ordered to remove the comments by the Diocese of London, which said his comments were "highly offensive'' and did not reflect its views.

But Mullen, 66, insisted his remarks were "light-hearted jokes'' and "satirical''.

"I certainly have nothing against homosexuals,'' he told London's Evening Standard newspaper.

"Many of my dear friends have been and are of that persuasion.

"What I have got against them is the militant preaching of homosexuality.''

A New Board Game

The Mood Today

Junior, Behave Yourself!

Exclusive to PH and appearing soon everywhere, images from the new Junior magazine, to be published momentarily. The editor sent us this endearing note: "We're from JUNIOR, a brand new brazilian magazine focusing the gay community and the gay scene in all its slopes." Here are a few slopes for you to ponder.

The Mood Today

Rachel Maddow Transcript Wrong

 The transcript reads:

CULBERSON: Yes, ma'am. Thank you.

MADDOW: That's all right, it happens all time.

That's not what was said at all. Rachel Maddow, MSNBC's rising star anchor, who happens to be a lesbian was signing off with Republican congressman, John Culberson, when Culberson actually said: "Thank you sir." Maddow quickly replied: "That's alright, It happens all the time."

It was quite innocent on Culberson's part and very funny on Maddow's. It's odd they decided to change the transcript.

Mr. Clean Dead at 92

 House Peters Jr., a TV actor who became the original Mr. Clean in Procter & Gamble's commercials for household cleaners, died Wednesday. He was 92. The elder Peters' most memorable role came as Mr. Clean -- a muscular man with a bald head, a hoop earring and a no-nonsense attitude toward dirt and grime. From the late 1950s and into the early 1960s, Peters Jr. helped advertise the famous household cleaner with the trademark jingle, "Mr. Clean, Mr. Clean."
For gay men everywhere, this is a day of sadness. Mr. Clean for many gay men was the first male form that tickled the horny button. With those large biceps, pierced ears and shaved head, Mr. Clean was the image of manliness, the first gay daddy icon.

Wall Street Bailout

Kill gays, candidate says

 "A young man asked me what I think of homosexual marriages and I said I think homosexuals should be executed," he said. "My whole reason for running is the Bible and the Bible couldn't be more clear on that point."

CANADA — Police are investigating whether an independent federal candidate committed a hate crime by telling high school students homosexuals should be executed.

David Popescu was invited to participate in a federal candidates' discussion at Sudbury Secondary School yesterday. He made the comment after a student asked his opinion of gay marriage. Within hours, the Greater Sudbury Police Service said they were investigating."We are actively conducting a criminal investigation in this matter," deputy police chief Frank Elsner said.The police service plans to share its evidence with the provincial Attorney General's office, which will provide direction on whether or not a criminal charge is warranted.Full story here.