The New Masque of the Red Death?

"Change has certainly come to Baghdad. And it appears that includes the U.S. Embassy, where they are holding what the invitation says is the first-ever U.S. Embassy Gay Pride Theme Party next Friday at Baghdaddy's, which is the embassy employee association's pub.
"Come celebrate the start of Summer with color . . . and in costume!" the May 10 invitation says. "Dress in drag or as a gay icon. All are welcome." The invitation was attached to what was called an "All Hands Alerts" e-mail.
An embassy spokesman said by way of explanation: "This is an event organized and sponsored by a group of employees. Given the lack of places to meet in Baghdad, the embassy allows groups to use its social facilities for events on a first-come, first-served basis."
(WP)
(RSVP: Sorry we can't make it, some guys outside the compound had some other ideas for us, but please go ahead and enjoy the party.)

Graham Norton Jokes As Cops Beat Gays

Very openly gay Irish Comedian and TV presenter Graham Norton hosted Eurovision in Moscow this weekend.
Outside the venue gay marchers were beaten and hauled off to jail. When asked about the attack on the gays outside, Norton said, after the event: "I feel really bad, but I don't know very much about this."
What? We must ask does he not know much about, being gay, beaten, arrested, or cowering.
But, because he might have missed (if he lived in a hole)what was going on outside while he joked around on stage inside we thought we would share this picture with him. Our emails to his BBC office to get his side of the story have not been returned.
We thought it was interesting that a fiddle player won Eurovision, at least this time it was just being watched by Nero, not played by him.
Graham here is what you missed:

British Foreign Office Warns Gays On Travel

"The Foreign and Commonwealth Office has released new guidance for gay travellers in Russia, advising that visitors to Moscow should be aware of possible violence at a planned gay pride march this weekend.

Gay rights activists have said they will hold Slavic Pride on Saturday to coincide with the Eurovision Song Contest final, which the Russian capital is hosting.

City officials have warned they will break up any attempts to hold the march. In May 2006, more than 120 people were arrested after campaigners attempted to hold the capital's first gay rights rally."
(MH)