Wednesday, May 27, 2009

Gillette Ad Shows You How To Shave Your Balls

Inside George Bush's Home In Dallas



George and Laura Bush’s home at 10141 Daria Place may have never been officially listed for sale on the North Dallas real estate market, but that doesn’t mean its rooms never graced the pages of a sales brochure.
While most gawkers will have to settle for a view of the former president’s Preston Hollow palace from the distance of a Secret Service-guarded gate or via Google Maps, a recently discovered real estate brochure offers a rare glimpse inside the five-bedroom, six-and-a-half-bathroom ranch-style abode.
The home was renovated in 2005 by architect Paul Dickel and designer Nancy Leib and features custom doors and windows, ironwork, a library, a limestone fireplace, a gallery, a large play room, and a marble bath. It’s situated on 1.15 acres with a great view of a tree-filled 20-acre adjoining lot.
(PN)

Xavier Dolan Picks Up Three Prizes At Cannes For Gay Film

Quebec filmmaker Xavier Dolan swept three of the four prizes Friday at the Cannes Directors' Fortnight for his film I Killed My Mother (J'ai tue ma mere).
The 20-year-old's first feature won the Art Cinema Award, given by an international jury of independent cinema programmers and the SACD Prize for best French-language film.
Dolan also won the Regards Jeunes 2009 Prize, given to a first film by a jury of young cinephiles.
The remaining prize, the Europa Cinemas Label, was given to the Austrian movie La Pivellina by Tizza Covi and Rainer Frimmel.
The Montrealer wrote and directed the coming-of-age movie, which is about a 16-year-old boy just discovering his gay sexuality and fighting with his mother, who constantly annoys him.
The film was one of the most talked about titles of the Directors' Fortnight -- a sidebar of the Cannes Film Festival -- and its first screening was greeted with a standing ovation.

(GNB)

Alameda CA School Board Adopts Plan To Halt Anti-Gay Bullying


Alameda School district leaders have approved lesson plans for kindergartners through fifth graders that aim to curb anti-gay bullying.
Trustees voted 3-2 on Tuesday to adopt the Safe Schools curriculum, which supporters say will help children of gay parents feel welcome at school and help end anti-gay teasing and bullying on the playground.
The lessons also aim to provide a safe environment for children to learn, as well as to offer a framework for teachers to break down stereotypes and teach kids about different types of families.
"The need for this is real," said Beth Kromer, a fourth-grade teacher at Ruby Bridges Elementary School.
Brian Harris, a 16-year-old student at the Alameda Community Learning Center, told trustees that he has been called anti-gay epithets on campus.
"I have been harassed by other students in the classroom and I have even begun to consider just stopping and giving up on life," Harris said.
Opponents of the curriculum said it would undercut parents' rights to teach their children about relationships and sexual orientation, and that it pushed a political agenda without addressing ways to help other groups who may be singled out at school.
(MN)

Australia To Adopt New Zealand-Style Civil Unions?

New South Wales' Rainbow Labor's proposal for Australia to adopt New Zealand-style Civil Unions has drawn criticism from within the LGBT activist community.
"Civil unions are not a stage through which Australia must pass, but a mistake from which we must learn," Australian Marriage Equality spokesman Peter Furness told the Sydney Star Observer.
However, Rainbow Labor NSW spokesman Michael Vaughan believes there is broad community support for the idea and is working with ministers on moving it forward, but is also lobbying for full same-sex marriage rights as a first option.
(GNZ)

Gay Rights Groups Against Federal Same-Sex Marriage Lawsuit


A coalition of gay rights groups says a federal same-sex marriage lawsuit brought by two high-profile litigators is premature.
The American Civil Liberties Union, Lambda Legal and other national organizations issued a statement Wednesday saying they think the U.S. Supreme Court is not ready to issue a favorable ruling on the issue.
The statement came the day after Theodore B. Olson and David Boies, who represented opposing sides in the 2000 Bush v. Gore challenge, announced they had filed a federal court challenge to California’s gay marriage ban.
Olson and Boies said the suit was filed on behalf of two gay men and two gay women.
Olson said that he hopes the case will wind up before the U.S. Supreme Court.
The lawsuit seeks a preliminary injunction against California’s Proposition 8 until the case is resolved.
Gay rights activists in California want to win marriage back for same-sex couples by going back to voters.
The state Supreme Court ruled Tuesday to uphold the gay marriage ban.
(365)

Happy Birthday


Happy Birthday: Viacom chairman Sumner Redstone turns 86 today. WNBC's Sue Simmons is turning 66. Former Secretary of State Henry Kissinger is 86. Actor Paul Bettany is 38. TV Chef Jamie Oliver is 34. Actor Richard Schiff (The West Wing) is 54. Lou Gossett Jr. turns 73. And Todd Bridges from the 80s sitcom Diff'rent Strokes, turns 44 today.

Music: Calvin Harris - I'm Not Alone OUT NOW

Gay Couples Are Happier In Relationships Than Heterosexuals


Recent studies indicate that same-sex couples have greater levels of satisfaction in their relationships than their heterosexual counterparts due to better communication.
Researchers from the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign studied couples of the same sex and opposite sexes and discovered that, contrary to the beliefs of some, the relationships are very similar.
These findings will help bridge the gap between society's generalised views regarding the longevity and strength of gay partnerships, researchers believe.
Glenn Roisman, researcher and author of the study by the University of Illinois, told The Desert Sun: “If one is basing one's world view that same-sex couples are fundamentally different than opposite-sex pairs as being of an inferior quality, one is mistaken.”
In a three-year study of civil unions taking place in Vermont, Esther Rothblum, a professor of Women's Studies at San Diego State University, discovered that same-sex couples resolved conflict better than opposite-sex couples in committed relationships.
“Compared with heterosexual married participants, both types of same-sex couples reported greater relationship quality, compatibility and intimacy and lower levels of conflict,” the study reported. Those in same-sex relationships were found to balance out the responsibilities of both partners in their work and home life.
(PN)

Hump Day Hunk

Juveniles Accused Of Battering Cassmate Released

Four juveniles accused of sexually battering a 13-year-old classmate at Walker Middle School were released Tuesday from home detention and electronic monitoring. Deputies arrested the teens — Lee Louis Myers, 14, Raymond A. Price-Murray, 14, Randall John Moye, 14, and Diemante J. Roberts, 15 — on May 6, eight days after the alleged attack with a broom handle and a hockey stick in a locker room. Hillsborough Circuit Judge Christopher Sabella said he had no choice but to release them, noting that adult charges have not been filed. He warned them to stay away from the victim. "That part of my order will remain in effect," Sabella said. "You won't be required to stay in your house, but that might be a good idea." All of the teens except Myers appeared in court. Myers' attorney said he didn't think the boy needed to attend the hearing. The boys' parents and attorneys offered no comment. Earlier this month, Assistant State Attorney Pam Bondi said prosecutors would charge the four as adults. But Tuesday, Assistant State Attorney Kimberly Hindman told the judge the state is still investigating "forensic evidence" and has made no determination about adult charges.
(TB)

Dan Choi To Attend Rally Outside Obama Fundraiser


"President Barack Obama will be at the Beverly Hilton the evening of Wednesday, May 27th, for a DNC fundraiser. Let's take this opportunity, just one day after the CA Supreme Court makes its decision on Proposition 8, to show our President our support for his daring promise to our community and to highlight the growing movement towards FULL FEDERAL EQUALITY.
Join us at a rally at 6PM in front of the Beverly Hilton on Wednesday, May 27th.
At 7PM we will be joined by Lt. Dan Choi and other LGBT servicemen & women in opposition to Don't Ask Don't Tell. They will ask for response from President Obama to the letter signed by 136,000 people asking the president not to fire Lt. Choi by ending DADT.
Regardless of what decision comes down regarding Prop 8 it is time for us all to demand equality on all fronts for all people!
Sponsored by the Courage Campaign, Equality Network, Equal Roots Coalition, FAIR, Stonewall Democratic Club, White Knot."
6PM - Meet to rally
7PM - Program begins
(CC)

PAAM Holds Fine Art Auction


Provincetown Art Association and Museum, (PAAM’s) Spring Consignment auction will be held Saturday, June 13, 2009 at 7pm. Join us for an exciting live auction of rare and vintage artwork. Complimentary admission. Telephone and absentee bidding available* Featuring works by Peter Busa, Oliver Chaffee, Herman Maril, Ross Moffett, Irving Marantz, William H. Littlefield, James Hansen, Taro Yamamoto, LaForce Bailey, Ferol Sibley Warthen, Bernard Simon, among others. A preview exhibition of available works opens at PAAM Friday, May 29 at 7pm. This event is free and open to the public, continuing through June 13th, at 5pm. *Consignors, telephone bidders and absentee bidders: please contact PAAM in advance to make necessary arrangements. PAAM presents annual live consignment auctions and preview exhibitions twice yearly. These events present works of art that may not otherwise be seen by the general public. Proceeds directly benefit the cultural initiatives of PAAM. For more Info: www.paam.org

Tuesday, May 26, 2009

Nevada Gov. Jim Gibbons Vetoed Domestic Partner Bill

Nevada Gov. Jim Gibbons has carried through on his threat and vetoed a bill that would allow same- and opposite-sex couples to register as domestic partners and receive many of same rights as married couples have in the state.
The bill was passed by the Legislature earlier this month, despite the threat.
In a statement Monday, Gibbons said domestic partnerships are essentially the same as marriage and that the bill conflicts with a constitutional amendment approved by Nevada voters in 2002 limiting marriage to a man and a woman. Gibbons statement said that only the voters should be able to amend or undo provisions of the constitution.
The bill, however, makes it clear that domestic partnerships does not equal marriage. It would have given domestic partners the “same rights, protections, benefits, responsibilities, obligations and duties” as traditionally married couples, including the same divorce laws, such as those involving community property.
(365)