Towleroad News

A small group of pro-equality demonstrators rallied outside the premiere of 8: The Mormon Proposition at Sundance today. The documentary details the involvement of the Church of Latter Day Saints' involvement in the passage of Proposition 8 in California. It's written, and directed by Reed Cowan, produced by Cowan, Chris Volz, and Steven Greenstreet, executive produced by Bruce Bastian, and narrated by Milk screenwriter Dustin Lance Black.

Watch the film's trailer, AFTER THE JUMP...

The Salt Lake Tribune reports: "Shot over 19 months for less than $250,000, the film uses statements of past church leaders and personal accounts of gay Mormons and their families in an attempt to explain what Cowan contends is a culture of obedience and an entrenched anti-gay sentiment that permeates Mormonism. Those attitudes, he says, contribute to a myriad of social problems including suicide and homelessness among young gay Mormons."

According to the AP, the anti-gays failed to show at the premiere:

"Before the screening, festival director John Cooper had said he expected a small, but loud, group of 'haters' might picket the film, but doubted that Mormon church members would be among them. 'It's not really the Mormon style," said Cooper, who is gay and married his partner of 20 years last year during the window between the court ruling and election day. A Utah-based anti-gay equality group, America Forever, sent out 80,000 faxes on Friday denouncing the movie, its makers and the festival on Friday. Internet chatter among other anti-gay groups had also hinted they might come to Sundance, activist Eric Ethington said."

Watch the film's trailer, AFTER THE JUMP...

At a press conference for the Allen Ginsberg biopic Howl at Sundance, E!'s Ted Casablanca and Taryn Rider asked actors Jon Hamm and James Franco about the trial in that film in relation to the courtroom proceedings playing out in California against Proposition 8.

Said Hamm: "There's a line in the movie [that says] 'I think that publicity engendered by this trial is going to bring this poem to a much wider audience than it ever would have had.' I think that argument can certainly be made for the Prop 8 situation, where publicity engendered by all this brings to light the absurdity of ascribing second-class status to an entire group of people. The more people that see that...I just think in a lot of ways the publicity and press surrounding these issues will only serve to help."

Said Franco: "Like I said before when Milk was coming out, I hope we'll get to a time soon where we'll look back and say, 'I can't believe that we were discriminating against this whole group of people and saying, 'You don't have the same rights as everybody else.'' I hope that the time comes very, very soon, when we can all look back and say that was ridiculous."

Watch, AFTER THE JUMP...

Plaintiffs in the federal challenge to Proposition 8 will rest their case on Monday. Attorney David Boies told the Wall Street Journal, "We're pleased with the way it has gone." According to the American Foundation for Equal Rights, "Before resting their case, the plaintiffs will present documents and videos that reinforce points made during the first two weeks of trial."

Then the second half begins:

"Defense lawyer Andrew Pugno said his side would present evidence from experts that traditional definitions of marriage between heterosexual couples have special benefit for children and for society. The defense's portion of the trial could be short. Only two of the defense's original set of expert witnesses remain, after four withdrew from the trial. Early in the trial, the court proposed broadcasting proceedings online and at other courthouses, leading some witnesses to say they feared retribution. The broadcast proposal was overturned by higher courts. Kenneth Miller, an associate professor of government at Claremont McKenna College, is expected to be the first defense witness, offering an initial picture of how the second half of the trial will develop. Mr. Miller is an expert in the voter-initiative process."

Those of you who watched Real World: Brooklyn may remember the bromance between Ryan Conklin and "not gay" Mormon Chet Cannon. The two recently reunited after Ryan returned from a six-month tour in Iraq and it appears he's missed Chet dearly.

Watch, AFTER THE JUMP...

Eugene A. Delgaudio (R-Sterling), a supervisor in Loudoun County, near Washington D.C., was "chastised" this week by fellow supervisors for remarks against an anti-discrimination ordinance passed by the county protecting citizens on the basis of sexual orientation:

At a Jan. 6 meeting, supervisors voted to expand Loudoun's nondiscrimination policy to prohibit bias on the basis of sexual orientation in hiring by the county. Delgaudio fought the change in the meeting, saying he was especially offended by language in the measure that sought protection for transgendered people. In the debate, he called the board's attempt to protect transgendered people "freaky" and "bizarre." In a subsequent newsletter to supporters, Delgaudio wrote that "if a man dressed as a woman wants a job, you have to treat 'it' the same as a normal person."

Delgaudio's non-apology was nearly as offensive:

Delgaudio responded, reading a revised statement with the word "it" taken out. He continued: "With apologies to real-life Tootsies" and "to all their defenders who are calling me all sorts of names and, like Mr. Burton, are saying I should apologize."

Delgaudio's statements inspired apologies from fellow board members. Said Andrea McGimsey (D-Potomac): "I think that the actions and words of Mr. Delgaudio prove why we needed to institute the policy that we did the other day. There's clearly some people who need those kinds of policies in place."

Andy Dick has been arrested and charged with two counts of sexual abuse for groping and kissing patrons and a bouncer without their consent in a Huntington, West Virginia nightclub.

"Huntington Police arrested Dick about 4 a.m. Saturday at Rum Runners. Dick was inside the club at 819 Third Ave., speaking with a man identified as Justin Hayes 'when the defendant (unexpectedly and without invitation) grabbed the victim's crotch, repeatedly groping then kissing him,' according to a Huntington Police Department criminal complaint. The second felony charge said a Rum Runners security guard approached Dick and asked 'to place an armband on his hand to comply with the rules of the establishment.' According to the guard's account in the report, 'the defendant grabbed the victim's crotch and began laughing.' Dick spent several hours at the Western Regional Jail before he was arraigned via video by Cabell County Magistrate Patty Verbage-Spence. Dick sounded polite at his arraignment and said he would hire an attorney for a court date set for the first week of next month."

Dick was released on bail and planned to perform a 7 pm show Sunday night. He apparently made a few impressions with his Friday night show as well:

"Friday's show apparently had its own fireworks. Bryant Somerville, who attended Dick's performance, said it ended with 'a lot of shock and awe,' as the performer, dressed in a wig and red skirt as his character, Daphne Aguillera, let the skirt drop to the stage for five minutes. 'He was bare from the waist down,' Somerville said. 'It was obviously part of the act. He dropped it and there he stood in all his glory. I think I heard more deep breaths in that five minutes than in all my 24 years. It was a 21-and-up show. I guess if that's their cup of tea, they got their money's worth.'" 

TMZ has been posting photos of Dick at the bar where he was arrested.

Justin Waller, wanted in the murder of NYC resident John Lea, has been arrested in Vermont and has confessed to the murder, the Rutland Herald reports:

"New York City Police detectives arrived in Manchester early Friday morning requesting assistance in locating Justin Waller. Manchester Police said Waller was a person of interest in the slaying of his partner Jonathan Lea at their apartment located in the Hells Kitchen area of Manhattan. Police said they tracked Waller’s activities around the Manchester area for most of the day, eventually locating him at an apartment on Cass Terrace. Police said Waller has confessed to the killing as well as using Lea’s credit cards for purchases and transportation to the area. Waller was lodged at the Marble Valley Correctional Center in Rutland as a fugitive from justice. His bail was set at $500,000. Upon extradition back to New York Waller faces the charge of second-degree murder, according to police."

Police found Lea's body on Thursday amid a gruesome crime scene.

Waller had recently been Lea's lover, according to the NYDN, and was living with him:

"A co-worker of Lea's, Michael Herz, said the lover - identified by friends of the victim as Justin Waller - was 'down on his luck' and was supposed to stay with Lea only briefly. 'A few days turned into a few weeks. A few weeks turned into a month. A month turned into two,' Herz said. 'This weekend is when John was going to tell him he had to leave.' Herz added of his slain co-worker: 'He was an extremely giving person and, apparently, that's what ultimately did him in.'"

Recently...
Gay Man Murdered in NYC Hell's Kitchen; Police Search for Lover [tr]

The Soup's Joel McHale talks to The Advocate's Brandon Voss about the show's homoerotic humor. McHale gives Towleroad a shout-out when asked, "When did you first realize that gay men enjoyed you?"

We did some bit for The Soup where I was in the shower, and it ended up on a number of gay websites. I thought, Well, I guess we’re reaching everybody. There’s also a guy on our staff named Matt Carney who plays the intern that we shoot all the time. When we had him half-naked and covered in oil, [Towleroad.com] called him a "greasy treat." His dad just said, "Hey, at least you have fans."

Said post is here. P.S. - Mankini's a hot piece too!

A woman has been charged in the anti-gay New Year's Day attack in Buffalo, New York that left lesbian Angie Harmon blind in one eye. 21-year-old Suzanne-Deanna Grover confessed to the attack but claimed she acted in self-defense:

"Buffalo police have charged Grover, who gave a City of Tonawanda address, with second- degree assault and a bias-motivated crime, according to police reports. In her detailed statement, Grover claimed that Harmon's group had attacked her verbally and physically, sources said."

Conflicting versions of the attack led to a three-week delay in the arrest:

"The arrest papers filed against Grover say that 'the defendant intentionally selected Lindsay Harmon because of a belief or perception regarding Lindsay Harmon's sexual orientation.' [Attorney Frank A.] Sedita wouldn't comment on any statement given by Grover, although he did take issue with an earlier broadcast report that she had "confessed" to the crime. The district attorney promised an in-depth grand jury investigation.

Here's a fascinating time-lapse video of the salvage of Captain Chesley 'Sully' Sullenberger's U.S. Airways flight 1549 which was shot over three days last year as the Airbus A320, which held together and helped save the lives of the 155 aboard, sat in the icy Hudson River awaiting salvage.

Watch, AFTER THE JUMP...

Exclusive unseen video footage of the Miracle on the Hudson, flight 1549 New York City from David Martin on Vimeo.

Watch Christ TV do away with cynicism, AFTER THE JUMP...

(via joe.my.god)

Good news from Hawaii!

The Honolulu Advertiser reports:

"The Senate voted 18 to 7 to pass a civil-unions bill. The bill now moves to the House for consideration with a veto-proof majority. The bill would give same-sex and heterosexual couples the ability to enter into civil unions and receive the same state rights as marriage. The Senate gallery was overflowing with people as the Senate prepared to vote. Sen. Kidani offered a floor amendment to change the effective date of the civil-unions bill from Jan. 1, 2010 to Jan. 1, 2011. Kidani said the amendment is to correct a technical flaw and would give the Department of Health more time to implement civil unions. A retroactive date would not make the bill legally invalid, but could invite a veto by Gov. Lingle on technical grounds. Amending the bill could also delay its passage and allow opponents to put more pressure on Democrat senators who appeared ready to pass the bill today. Sen. Ihara, who supports civil unions, said he felt compelled to correct the technical flaw to remove a reason for a veto."

What's next: "The vote puts pressure on the House, which will decide as soon as next week whether it will take up measure. The House passed a similar bill last year. Lingle has urged the Legislature to drop the issue but hasn't said whether she would sign the measure."

A "pseudo-documentary" directed by graffiti artist/prankster Banksy is set to make its debut this Sunday at the Sundance film festival, and as a prelude, artworks by the artist have sprung up around Park City (a small selection of them here).

Writes Movieline: "...for once, festival organizers said in a release sent out this morning, you’ll see the artist at work along with Shepard Fairey, Invader and other renowned graffiti kingpins. Not that the movie doesn’t have a story, we’re told: 'Exit Through the Gift Shop is the story of how an eccentric French shop keeper and amateur filmmaker attempted to locate and befriend Banksy, only to have the artist turn the camera back on its owner with spectacular results,' the festival announced."

More details on the content of the film here.

Watch the trailer, AFTER THE JUMP...

Bruce Weber produced a short film that played before the YSL show in Paris today, called "Ain't Nothin' Like the Real Thing" (aka "Ode to Twinks").

Watch (warning briefly nsfw), AFTER THE JUMP...

Advocate begins arriving in mail as 'supplement' to OUT. Includes explanation.

It's international same-sex hand-holding day on January 30.

Madonna and Jesus: an outtake from their W shoot that's a smorgasbord for the eyes.

ARREST: Police hold 23-year-old security guard in murder of Honorary British Consul to Jamaica John Terry.

Police raid gay bar in Manila, arrest 14 strippers.

Air America closes up shop.

BBC to ask advocates, homophobes what they think of its gay and lesbian coverage: "We are aware that people may have strong views, both positively and negatively, about how the BBC is portraying the LGB community across our services and that's why it's so important to hear what you're thinking."

Purple and Gold: Prince releases love song to the Minnesota Vikings.

Awkward photo of Chris Brown and Jean-Paul Gaultier.

Get a guilt-free download of the Dangerous Muse remix of Lady Gaga's "Bad Romance".

Lady Gaga NYC concertgoer who was kicked out performs literal rendition of "Pants on the Ground".

Lady Gaga producer RedOne says he has a "very energetic, uplifting" set of Michael Jackson songs from sessions they did together: "In case I'm going to release something, I would do it for charity, for something that he would have been proud of, because you always felt like everybody wanted to take advantage of him though his life."

Maryland poll shows majority support same-sex marriage: "For the first time, a poll has revealed that more Marylanders support same-sex marriage than oppose, 47 percent to 44 percent, and more than half would vote to keep such unions if they became legal."

Annie Leibovitz gets in front of the camera for a change.

New study links masturbation and prostate cancer: "According to a new research out of the UK, men who have frequent sex in their twenties and thirties were at a greater risk of developing prostate cancer later in life. What's even more unusual is that researchers showed that young men who masturbated frequently, as opposed to those who have sex frequently with a partner, were at an even greater risk of developing prostate cancer."

Confessions of a prairie bitch: An interview with Alison 'Nellie Olson' Arngrim.

Miracle on the Hudson plane for sale.

Jessica Simpson to sell mom jeans.

Illinois Family Institute targets gay awareness speech at suburban Chicago elementary school: "But Beye School Principal Jonathan Ellwanger said the discussion followed 'an incident last year in which some mean and hurtful speech with [gay slurs] was [targeted at] one of our students who is part of a two-mom family.'"

Sherman's Travel now has a gay travel blog.

Former gay GOP Congressman Steve Gunderson appointed to President's Commission on White House Fellows.

Cheyenne Jackson reveals his secret shame.

Wyoming school district pulls down "No Place for Hate" banners: "One of the sponsors listed on the banner is the Gay and Lesbian Fund for Colorado. Wheatland board members and parents took issue with that, according to the district...'The board thought it was inappropriate to have that sponsorship hanging up in the school,' said Stuart Nelson, the district's superintendent. The banners, which had been allowed by district administrators, were removed after complaints. Some students asked to have them put back up, but the board refused. Board member Lee Dunham said Wheatland is an 'ultraconservative community' and that he has feelings about including the fund on the banner. He said the district isn't ready to include that group."

Megachurch Pastor Joel Osteen, who has said on Larry King Live that he's "not knocking gays" but he doesn't think they should have marriage, brought his primped and plastic form of bigotry to The View to sell a new book, and managed to bash gays while he was at it.

Unfortunately he was pretty much given a free pass.

Watch, AFTER THE JUMP...

Here's the just-released one-sheet for Tom Ford's debut film, A Single Man, an adaptation of the Christopher Isherwood novel starring Colin Firth, Julianne Moore, Matthew Goode, and Nicholas Hoult.

Firth won the Best Actor prize for the film at the Venice Film Festival and last week he picked up another top honor, this one from the Santa Barbara International Film Festival, which will present him with its "Outstanding Performance of the Year".

It' scheduled to open in limited release in December.

The trailer, if you've missed it, AFTER THE JUMP...

That's why she settled with Miss California USA over the fake boob payments:

"The video the lawyer showed Carrie is extremely graphic and has never been released publicly. We know that, because TMZ obtained the video months ago but decided not to post it because it was so racy. Let's just say, Carrie has a promising solo career. We're told it took about 15 seconds for Carrie to jettison her demand and essentially walk away with nothing. As we first reported, the Pageant is paying around $100,000 to her lawyers and publicist -- a fraction of her bills. She pockets nothing in the settlement."

Such a wholesome girl.

Marriage Equality New York holding rally tonight to protest anti-gay vote in Maine: "Please join us at a rally on Nov 4th in Union Square on 14th Street side at 5:30pm urging the NYS Senate to vote and in response to the votes on marriage equality across the United States."

50 Cent is a power ______.

Venezuelan police harassing and arresting LGBT citizens: "Like most of those arrested, our identity documents and mobile phones were taken away, we were beaten, our sexual orientation was insulted in degrading language, and we were refused permission to speak to the Justice Ministry officials and members of the National Guard who were present."

Mark Kleinschmidt becomes openly gay mayor of Chapel Hill, North Carolina.

Just Jared interviews Glee's Mark Salling.

Author details how Tom Cruise personally audited him for Scientology: "You tell the ashtray, 'Sit in that chair.' Then you actually go over and put the ashtray on the chair. Then you tell the ashtray, 'Thank you.' Then you do the same thing with the bottle, and the book. And you do this for hours and hours."

Fort Worth, Texas task force makes recommendations on expansion of gay rights in the city: "Jon Nelson, an attorney and chairman of the task force, called the recommendations 'one of the most far-reaching actions this city has taken, in the shortest amount of time.'"

Louisiana Justice of the Peace Keith Bardwell, who refused to marry an interracial couple, has resigned.

Female Spectacled Bears suddenly go bald in Leipzig.

Carrie Prejean - Miss California USA settlement details revealed: "We've learned the Pageant will fork over around $100,000 for Carrie's lawyers and publicists connected with the public battle royale. That money goes directly to her flacks and not into her bank account. We're told Carrie personally gets zilch. What Carrie walks away with: Her book comes out on Monday and we're told the Pageant won't fight her for writing it without its permission."

Sean Penn's son arrested at school.

Blu Dot tracks NYC abandoned chairs in "curb-mining" experiment.

Foundation for Reconciliation to deliver 2,000 signatures to Mormon leaders: "About 50 people are expected to deliver the petition to the offices of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints on Wednesday. Organizer Cheryl Nunn of Santa Cruz, Calif., says the petition is a reaction to the Salt Lake City-based church's support for Proposition 8, a 2008 ballot initiative that banned gay marriage in California."

Brad Pitt dresses up his beard with beads.

Facebook: the movie?

Seattle gay rights pioneer Paul Barwick reflects on applying for a marriage license in King County, Washington in 1971: We knew they weren't going to give us one, but damn it, they were going to have to tell us no to escort us out the door."

Early marriage equality advocates?

Gay Annapolis alderman candidate to file complaint over gay 'child molester' smears.

Dallas Morning News corrects article labeling OUT and The advocate "alternative lifestyle magazines."

Senator Kay Bailey Hutchison recommends gay man as U.S. Attorney: "Some Republicans are vehemently and unapologetically not ready for that. That could make it even harder for Hutchison to woo social conservatives in her bid to outflank and oust Gov. Rick Perry in March. "

Cyndi Lauper and Lady Gaga to hawk MAC lipstick for AIDS fund: "MAC Viva Glam Gaga Lipstick and Viva Glam Cyndi Lipstick, $14 each, will launch in North America on March 18 and globally throughout the month, with 100 percent of the proceeds being donated to the MAC AIDS Fund."

Remember Novak Djokovic's underwear modeling stint in Montreal back in August? Well, here's what you didn't see — the horned up men in the audience. Not sure if this guy's trying to offer a donation or steal a lick, but Djokovic is certainly a good sport about it.

Watch, AFTER THE JUMP (at about 2:45)...

(via down the line)