Why can't you see the video for the Foo Fighters' new single Low on MTV? Is it the skimpy nighties? The thong-back leotard? The erotic dancing? The butt-slapping? The brief moment of implied fellatio? Surely nothing MTV hasn't shown before. Maybe it's because the characters slipping off to play dress-up and get drunk at a cheap hotel together are both men. At any rate, you can see the video here: WXDX-FM
The Vatican urged Catholics and non-Catholics on Thursday to unite in campaigning against gay marriages and gay adoptions, seeking to stem the widening legal recognition of same-sex unions. Catholic politicians have a "moral duty" to oppose laws granting legal rights to same-sex couples, and non-Catholics should follow their lead since the issue concerns "natural moral law," said the Vatican's orthodoxy watchdog, the Congregation for the Doctrine of the Faith. The 12-page document, issued in seven languages, was criticized by gay groups across North America and Europe, where politicians are increasingly granting same-sex couples the same legal status as opposite-sex couples. ABC News
Attorney John Aretakis, who has waged a high profile court battle over sex abuse against the Roman Catholic Diocese of Albany, is also fighting a couple of ethical complaints. One is from an unnamed nun, who was not happy that Aretakis told a local TV station that she and her roommate were more than friends. "Aretakis stated on TV that my credentials were questionable and the Channel Ten News Anchor Terry McSweeney quoted Aretakis and continued to say that I was living with my roommate ... and stated it was a lesbian relationship," the nun said in her complaint. Timesunion.com
Liberal leadership front-runner Paul Martin suggested Wednesday that his role as a legislator would take precedence over his religious beliefs when it comes down to allowing same-sex couples to marry, echoing the same view as Prime Minister Jean Chretien. Martin, a staunch Catholic, acknowledged the growing division within and his own Liberal caucus over his government's decision to rewrite the definition of marriage to include gays and lesbians, a change that the Catholic Church and other religious groups strongly oppose. Vancouver Sun
HIV-positive people are more likely to develop cancer, according to a Scottish study published in the British Journal of Cancer yesterday, with gay and bisexual men 21 times more likely to suffer from certain variations of the disease than the general public, compared with others with HIV, who are five times more likely than the general public to develop cancer. uk.Gay.com
Donnie "Viva" Hendrix got the maximum sentence Wednesday for her role in the death of secretary Vera Lawrence. "The dangerous, high-risk behavior outweighs any mitigating factors," said the judge. Hendrix, 34, was part of a team that performed back-alley cosmetic procedures to enlarge body parts, popular in South Florida's transgender community. Lawrence, who wanted to enhance her buttocks, died two years ago in a Miramar apartment where Hendrix and partner Mark Hawkins were injecting people with silicone designed for industrial not cosmetic uses. TheLedger.com
Democratic presidential hopeful Dick Gephardt announced Wednesday that he and his wife, Jane, have joined Parents, Families and Friends of Lesbians and Gays. The Gephardts' daughter, Chrissy, is gay and works on his presidential campaign. "It's clear that the Gephardts understand the importance of fairness and inclusion for all," said David Tseng, executive director of P-FLAG, which has 250,000 members. Gephardt's campaign spokeswoman Kim Molstre says Gephardt believes that gay people should have equal legal status under federal law. Well, mostly. "He does not think that gay people should be allowed to be married in a church," Molstre says. News-Leader.com
Members of Fred Phelps' Westboro Baptist Church plan to visit Pennsylvania to picket the showing of the documentary Jim in Bold, which tells the story of Jim Wheeler, a gay teen who killed himself after enduring taunts in a conservative community. Susan Wheeler, Jim's mother, said yesterday she doesn't plan to react to the protests. It's a free country, she says, but adds, "I can't understand the hatred. ... I feel sorry for them that their lives are so consumed by hate, but you can't change someone with a mind-set like that." pennlive.com
It worked for Eddie Murphy in Coming to America; maybe it will work for these guys, too. Queens is the hunting ground this week as Queer Eye for the Straight Guy seeks a heterosexual man to make over. "Having lived in Queens, I know firsthand that there are plenty of guys who could use our help," said Jai Rodriguez, who, along with Carson Kressley, Thom Filicia, Ted Allen and Kyan Douglas, is one of the "Fab Five." nyNewsday.com
Karla Rikansrud of Denver, Colo., who's talking about a commitment ceremony with her partner of 12 years says she's not that surprised President Bush would say that marriage needs to remain restricted to male-female couples. "It was to be expected," she says. "The critical mass of Americans are fair-minded and accepting of gay and lesbian people." Meanwhile, U.S. Rep. Marilyn Musgrave of Colorado says, "Today is a good day for the American family. President Bush is right to make this a national priority and to begin taking action in the defense of marriage." DenverPost.com
Scottis detectives say a body they found in the suitcase and dumped from a dock may be that of a missing 24-year-old man, and that sources have said the man was killed because he was gay. The victim has not yet been named because police haven't been able to contact his parents. Last night, detectives were still questioning a man in connection with the murder after he had been arrested in connection with other minor crimes. dailyrecord
A 19-year-old suburban Burnaby man has pleaded guilty to the two-year-old killing of a gay man in Stanley Park. The man was not named because he was 17 when the crime was committed. The victim, photographer Aaron , 41, was killed Nov. 17, 2001, in a part of the park known for cruising. His killer pleaded guilty to manslaughter yesterday and will be sentenced in youth court. Calgary Sun
In Johannesberg a South African lesbian couple's application for appeal was dismissed by the Constitutional Court. The two were attempting to appeal a verdict by the Pretoria High Court which refused to legalize their marriage. In their explanation, however, the top court said the couple "raised important questions relating to South Africa's common law, which should first be considered and determined." The women, Marie Fourie and Cecilia Bonthuys, have been unable to do simple things such as open a joint checking account without some sort of legal standing. They've been together since 1994. News24
Stacks of vandalized gay books at the San Francisco Public Library are being transformed into art. Two years ago staff began discovering gay and lesbian topical books slashed, faces with the eyes and mouth cut out in repetitive almond-shaped gaps, multiple copies of the same book slashed in almost exactly the same manner. 46-year-old security guard John Perkyns was finally caught, having destroyed 607 books. "Reversing Vandalism" will transform the hundreds of vandalized books into art for an exhibit planned for next spring. SF Examiner
New Zealand high schools have a long way to go before gay, lesbian and bisexual pupils feel safe attending them, an Otago academic said this week. Only 5% of pupils and 8% of teachers thought homosexual pupils would feel safe at their high school, University of Otago School of Education research fellow Dr Karen Nairn told a meeting of about 20 members of Parents, Family and Friends of Lesbians and Gays in Dunedin. Otago Daily Times
According to a petition filed in the Arizona Supreme Court Governor Janet Napolitano illegally stripped power from the Legislature when she issued an executive order guaranteeing equal employment rights for gays in state agencies. The Alliance Defense Fund Law Center of Scottsdale, which filed the
petition, wants the Supreme Court to throw out the order saying it violates the constitutional separation of powers. Napolitano's chief counsel says the governor did not overstep her authority. AZ Central
Hawaii courts may soon be facing the issue of same-sex marriage all over again. Remember the two men from Hawaii who were the first Americans to marry in British Columbia? They've returned home to fight for equal marriage rights in the islands. "So if they say to us no, we will not recognize your Canadian marriage certificate I think we have a very strong legal point to say it's
absolute discrimination. We don't want anything special. We don't want
special rights. We just want what everyone else has," Rinaldi said. Hawaii Channel
Two old friends, both former pastors at the same parish, will be debating whether the Episcopal Church should develop a blessing for same-sex couples at the denomination's national convention Friday in Minneapolis. The Rev. Kendall Harmon will argue against blessing same-sex couples. The Very Rev. Samuel Candler will argue in favor of developing a new liturgy. It's a high-stakes gathering that many fear could split the church. "It shows there are friends on both sides who love and respect each other," said the Rev. Michael Lumpkin, the present rector at St. Paul's. Both Harmon and Candler said they expect to remain friends after the convention, however the vote turns out. "I call it God's sense of humor," said Harmon. Post and Courier
The first publicly funded high school for queer students in New York City is being called a misguided exercise in politica)��5{��������h risks isolating the gay community by Europeans. Activists, students and officials across the continent agreed gay schools would never catch on in Europe. Even the British - culturally closer to the Americans than any other Europeans - were skeptical. "Special schools may serve as shelter for vulnerable and bullied students but in the long term they won't solve the problem of living in a homophobic society," said Carlie Harter-Penman, spokeswoman for the National Union of Students' lesbian, gay and bisexual campaign. Reuters
A Des Moines, Iowa, local talk-radio host calling high school children "perverts" and"sodomites" and who degrades immigrants and gays is finally getting his just desserts. Jan Mickelson has met his match in Heidi Bagg, an elementary school counselor. Bagg began monitoring Mickelson's show 12 years ago for a committee of the Iowa Civil Rights Commission and her time has come to stand up to hate, organizing a boycott of sponsors of his WHO radio show. It's in keeping with what she counsels her students at school, says Bagg: "I talk to kids about standing up to bullies." Des Moines Register
Kevin Hoffman is back in custody after being re-arrested on charges of murdering Michael Sortal two years ago in his Fort Lauderdale home. Previously his murder charge was dropped when the crime lab mishandled DNA evidence, but thanks to new forensic evidence linking Hoffman to the scene he's back in custody. Police discovered Sortal's body naked with a plastic bag over his head and a belt around his neck. Police arrested Kennedy, 28, and Hoffman, believing the roommates targeted gay men, robbing them in their homes. Kennedy has agreed to testify against Hoffman also, having previously refused. Miami Herald
Bush came out of the closet today against gay marriage, supporting a federal law defining marriage as a union between a man and a woman. "I believe marriage is between a man and a woman and I believe we ought to codify that one way or the other and we have lawyers looking at the best way to do that," Bush said, adding that he was "mindful that we're all sinners and I caution those who may try to take a speck out of the neighbor's eye when they got a log in their own. I think it is important for our society to respect each individual, to welcome those with good hearts." He later added - "That does not mean that someone like me needs to compromise on the issue of marriage." CBS
A Lawrence, Kansas jury on Tuesday found John Thomas Simmons guilty of hitting two fraternity brothers during a scuffle outside the Replay Lounge last winter. Simmons said he hit Marty McSorley and Ryan McAtee because he thought they were part of a group that had battered his gay friend Jeffrey Medis, 29, whom he'd found lying on the sidewalk, bloody and unconscious. Jury members said they were infuriated that another man, Luke Wells, who admits hitting Medis but says it was self-defense, received immunity for his testimony. The fraternity brothers say they didn't even know Medis was gay. Medis testified he was wearing heavy eye makeup that night and a white, frilly jacket that he said made him look like a "gay snowball." LJWorld.com
The American Family Association, which has gone after everyone from supporters of same-sex marriage to Rosie O'Donnell, is now perturbed by the Gay Straight Alliance at McDowell High in Erie, Pa. The club has an agenda that may exclude religious students, they say. Maureen Koseff, the leader of the the local P-FLAG chapter, says "If it's an agenda when you are trying to secure equal rights for all people, then [the AFA] can go right ahead and call it an agenda." The AFA is still battling a decision by the school board in May to change its harassment policy to bar discrimination on the basis of sexual orientation and gender identity. phillyburbs.com
Miguel Diaz de la Portilla, who hopes to be mayor of Miami, needs every vote he can get, including the gay vote. Should be interesting since all gay eyes were watching the televised hearings during which Diaz de la Portilla voted against inclusion of sexual orientation in Miami-Dade County's human rights ordinance. The amendment passed by one vote. Could be impossible to woo gay voters, despite recent sit-downs with influential queers, since Diaz de la Portilla says he'd vote the same way again. Nathaniel Wilcox of the local Christian Coalition says his group isn't worried about Diaz de la Portilla's meetings with gay-rights activists. "What he's trying to do will avoid a firestorm of protests because that's how the gays operate, get your back into a corner and then kill you," says Wilcox. Sun-Sentinel
For the 10th year running, the Out & About newsletter ranks Sandals Resorts the world's most gay-unfriendly destination because of its heterosexuals-only policy. ''It's a reprehensible policy to have in this day and age,'' says editor Ed Salvato. Sandals is based in Kingston, Jamaica, and runs 11 couples-only resorts and five Beaches Resorts for families and singles throughout the Caribbean. John D. Lynch, Sandals' executive vice president of sales, noted that ''everyone is welcome'' at the company's Beaches Resorts, including lesbians and gay men, and defended Sandals' heterosexuals-only code. ''Exclusionary policies (e.g., adults only, nudists only, etc.) are not unusual in the vacation business,'' Lynch wrote in an e-mail. Miami Herald
Admittedly it can be a little bit of a rough crowd at Jacque's Cabaret. And there is a wee bit of prostitution going on. But the fight between the Boston neighborhood's newly upscale residents and the place where everybody knows your drag name has turned into the biggest, most hotly contested, and most bizarre bar fight in Boston. Residents have spent hours videotaping the bar's front door, and flinging allegations about public sex. The manager of the bar has compared the residents to Nazis trying to rid Poland of Jews. The president of the neighborhood association allegedly accosted a neighbor who supports Jacque's, hollering at him on the street about bribes of cocaine. Boston Magazine
The Canadian Conference of Catholic s decided yesterday it will ask the Supreme Court of for permission to argue its case during a hearing on a draft federal bill to allow same-sex couples to wed. The government has asked the top court for an opinion on whether the legislation is constitutional. "I know the minister has said, 'Why do you worry about it? Religions will be able to do what they want.' We feel that religions also have to talk about the common good of society and it's in that sense that we're speaking," said Monsignor Peter Schonenbach. TheStar.com
Today's the day, the first day of the Episcopal Church's General Convention, taking place in Minneapolis. On the agenda are a number of things: What to do about flat membership numbers, how to get young people more involved in the church, Episcopal evangelism - which we're still trying to picture ... but none of that is going to get any attention at all until they settle the issue of whether to ordain the Rev. V. Gene Robinson and become the first major denomination in the United States with an openly gay . Duluth News Tribune
In Oslo, Norway, council leader Erling Lae is spearheading a Conservative Party initiative to court the gay vote. The party has a number of openly gay members and were the only party to directly appeal to gay voters. The Conservatives have a web page devoted to their gay-rights policies, and support equal opportunity for gay couples seeking to adopt children. Lae marched in the parade for the Oslo equivalent of Pride, Skeive Dager (Bent Days), and has contributed money to bringing the gay festival Europride to Oslo. Norway's Minister of Finance, Per-Kristian Foss, made international headlines when he became the first cabinet minister to enter into a same-sex partnership last year. Aftenposten
Gay men in California who contracted syphilis through unsafe sex used the Internet more than any other venue to find sex partners, researchers reported at a national HIV prevention conference in Atlanta yesterday. Last year, most of the California men who had syphilis also said they were HIV-positive, researchers said. The reliance on Internet chat rooms, personal ads and sex party postings increased more than threefold since the first half of 2001; 40 percent of men with syphilis interviewed said they used the Internet to find sex partners during the first half of 2003, said epidemiologist Terrence Lo. Newsday
A proposed change to New York state education law called the "Dignity for All Students Act" would protect students from harassment and discrimination based on race, ethnicity, religion, gender, disability, and sexual orientation. The Rochester City School board will discuss the new measure during a public meeting on Wednesday at 5:30 p.m. at district headquarters. Student Breana Williams is relieved. "Even walking down the hall at school [when] people find out you're gay, bi, transgendered, or transsexual [they] go crazy - and it's hard when there's no one you can go to and nothing to protect us." WOKR.tv
A UK taxi driver who served an 18-month jail sentence for a gay sexual attack at knifepoint has had his conviction overturned by an appeals court. Hasham Shah, 39, served his full sentence. His accuser, however, eventually admitted to the police he'd made the whole thing up. "In those circumstances," Justice Scott Baker said, "It is obvious to us that Mr Shah's conviction cannot be sustained." Shah had also repeatedly made it clear that he was not even gay. Guardian UK
Outfest, the world's largest gay and lesbian film festival, broke attendance records this year on its 21st birthday, proving that its all grown up now. The festival kicked off with the L.A. premiere of "Party Monster," directed by Fenton Bailey and Randy Barbato (Eyes of Tammy Faye), and included a truly eclectic slate of over 200 queer films from 26 countries. IndieWire
Everyone in the universe has predicted the split of Liza Minnelli and David Gest, confirmed late last week by longtime Minnelli and Gest spokesman Warren Cowan. Cowan claims he has no idea why they went belly-up, but "there is no shortage of folks willing to chime in on the reasons for the split," says columnist Bill Zwecker. Most say that while Gest's controlling tendencies helped Liza pull her messy life together, they ultimately drove her nuts. But some are saying what we're all thinking: The guy is gay, gay, gay. Even his ex-girlfriend, All My Children grande dame Ruth Warrick, says he only married Liza to make everyone believe he is straight. "Come on! Why would Ruth Warrick lie about something like that?" says one insider. Chicago Sun-Times
While Pat Robertson is praying to God to undo the Supreme Court decision other social conservatives are seeking a more earthbound response: a constitutional amendment barring marriage for gay couples. But the White House has been tepid to suggestions from some that gay marriage and other issues involving homosexuals could be the sort of social issue that divides Democrats from middle-of-the-road voters, the way race, crime and welfare have in the past. Will this new wedge issue cut? Strategists in both parties caution that the public's views are changing too rapidly to provide an easy answer. USA Today
Gay Bahamians live their lives behind closed doors, but in the past few weeks an uproar in the country is thrusting homosexuality into the public eye. In a sensationalized interview with The Nassau Guardian with only silhouettes for photos, we're introduced to two gay men, a 23-year-old merchandiser named Lavardo, and 28-year-Alex who is in the service industry. "The names have been changed to protect their identities, to get their views on homosexuality, and why they are the way they are." Nassau Guardian
He made fun of Anita Bryant in the '70s, but that's just one of the many reasons we'll miss Bob Hope. Did you know Hope recorded a public service announcement for GLAAD decrying violence and discrimination against gay people? "I was amazed to discover that many people die each year in anti-gay attacks and thousands more are left scarred, emotionally and physically. Bigotry has no place in this great nation, and violence has no place in this world, but it happens. Prejudice hurts, kills. Please don't be a part of it," said Hope in the 1988 PSA. Commercial Closet
As other media bombard you with J-Lo and Ben news, we at Queer Day have managed to refrain. But we cannot resist this review of their new film Gigli, in which Ben Affleck apparently turns another lesbian on to men (see also: Chasing Amy). Fox's Roger Friedman says it's hard to make a movie this bad. "J-Lo is saddled with ridiculous, offensive, unfortunate dialogue, much of which can't be quoted in proper publications. [She] makes a long speech to Affleck in which she draws analogies between her female anatomy and one's mouth, ending in a particular vulgarity that sent at least two New York Times writers right out of the theatre." Glitter, anyone? FOXnews.com
British actor Michael Barrymore has had some spectacular dramas in his life, and he's hoping his new play in London's West End will be among them. Barrymore has survived alcoholism, a brutal divorce, the death of a party guest that was portrayed as a gay-orgy murder, and ultimately he survived coming out. It was Princess Diana who first suggested he leave the closet behind, but she might have suggested something more subtle. Barrymore went on stage at a gay club one night, grabbing the microphone off a drag artist who was performing, and started singing: "Start spreading the news, I'm gay today." When it hit the papers the next day, his wife was a little surprised. telegraph.co.uk
Pennsylvania joined a small group of states yesterday that guards transgendered people from employment discrimination in state government. Gov. Ed Rendell, in an executive order issued last night without much fanfare, opened the umbrella of protection wider than most every other state. The order applies only to the 80,000 employees in the governor's cabinet agencies and bans discrimination based on "gender identity or expression." Philly.com
As the Massachusetts Supreme Judicial Court considers recognizing same-sex marriage, thousands of couples would also see modest relief from the heavy financial burdens imposed on them by their unmarried status. Same-sex couples shell out hundreds more each year than married couples do, for state and federal taxes, health insurance, and lawyers to plan estate transfers complicated by an inability to marry. Financial penalties follow them to the grave: Lacking a marriage license, a surviving partner is not eligible for a deceased partner's pension benefits or Social Security. Boston Globe
More than eight out of 10 gay people in Northern Ireland have suffered verbal or physical harassment over their orientation, new research has revealed. A report by the Belfast-based Institute for Conflict Research found that "homophobia and discrimination against lesbian, gay and bisexual people is still regarded as normal and justifiable by many in Northern Ireland." More than half of those questioned had been the victims of violence. In the past six years, five gay men have been murdered. The report also showed that many who are attacked are reluctant to seek police assistance. BBC
Aud Helge Santi says she's found God and now wants to confess that she and her "lesbian friend" Bonnie Majlund murdered Mark Mortensen of Denmark in 1994. Police had closed the case against the two for lack of evidence. In 1998 the investigations started again but the two women were again acquitted. Santi says she and Majlund danced for Mortensen, then strangled him with belts, telling him it would enhance his pleasure. "Every single day I think about what I have done," says Santi. NETTavisen
In an apparent first in Ohio, two gay candidates will appear on the same election ballot. Republican John Farina and Democrat Jeremy Elliott are among 14 candidates for three city council seats in Lakewood. Gay and Lesbian Victory Fund in Washington DC says the two would be the first openly gay candidates to appear on the same ballot in Ohio. Neither says gay issues will define his campaign. cleveland.com
A sergeant in Britain's Royal Air Force who was discharged for being gay has been awarded £52,500 ($85,000 and change) by the Ministry of Defence. Christopher Brown, a senior mechanic, was discharged after nearly 20 years of exemplary service when his homosexuality was uncovered in 1999. The 40-year-old, ironically from the Isle of Man, took his case to the European Court of Human Rights, but before it could come to trial the ministry settled out of court. Brown's lawyer said he was pleased with the award but would have preferred to serve his country. BBC
Americans have become significantly less accepting of homosexuality since a Supreme Court decision that was hailed as clearing the way for new gay civil rights, a USA Today-CNN-Gallup Poll found. Asked whether same-sex relations between consenting adults should be legal, 48 percent said yes, and 46 percent said no - within the poll's margin of error of 3 percentage points. In early May, legal relations were endorsed 60 percent to 35 percent. The change in public attitudes occurs as gay rights issues increasingly have been in the news. Arizona Republic
About 1,500 people gathered in Saint John, home of controversial Canadian Tory MP Elsie Wayne, to watch the city's first ever gay pride parade on Saturday, an event organized in response to her anti-gay commentary. Event organizer Judith Meinert was thrilled at the turnout and the reception along the parade route. "I was as high as a kite," she said, noting she only expected about 100 participants not 250 for the inaugural event. Wayne, though invited, told organizers earlier this month that she would "absolutely not" be showing up. Edmonton Sun
The number of gay and bi men diagnosed with HIV, the virus that causes AIDS, climbed for the third consecutive year in the U.S., fueling fears the disease might be poised for a major comeback in the queer community. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention reported today at the 2003 National HIV Prevention Conference in Atlanta that rates rose 2.2 percent while diagnoses among men who have sex with men surged 7.1 percent. New diagnoses among gay/bi men have increased 17.7 percent since 1999, while remaining stable in other high-risk communities. CNN
The Vatican is seeking to sway politicians and worldwide public opinion in its campaign against gay marriages. Instructions, calling on politicians to oppose extending rights granted to traditional couples, are in a document called "Considerations Regarding Proposals to Give Legal Recognition to Unions Between Homosexual Persons" which will be released Thursday. A Vatican official familar with the document called it a "practical reflection" for both Catholic and non-Catholic politicians and public opinion in general. ABC
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