Hollywood Celebrity Buzz

Tis the season: For some, it’s about the turkey. For others, family. And for a precious few, it’s all about getting tanked.

So I’m taking bets on how Courtney Love is planning to spend the holiday season. Yes, the messy rock goddess is out of rehab and, reportedly, is sporting a baby bump, reviving rumours she is expecting Steve Coogan's lovechild.

The wild star was photographed looking plumper than usual as she left a Los Angeles court. In August, a still strung out Love claimed she was pregnant with the Happy Endings star's baby after a brief fling. She reportedly told Britain's News of the World newspaper: "I'm pregnant. I only found out 72 hours go. I've only told three people and you're the fourth. I haven't even told Steve yet. I've been really unslutty and really picky. I haven't been with another man for a year, which is how I know the baby is his."

Both later denied they were having a child together.

So now, Love is out of rehab (she had been ordered to attend the clinic for 180 days after violating probation) and on the road to recovery, we hope. But is it selfish of me to want a few more Courtney shenanigans before she throws in the towel for good? I like Courtney tanked and throwing shoes at Madonna while the singer’s settling in for a chat with Kurt Loder. I love it when she spreads her legs and says she’s sober while flipping off the cameras during Pamela Anderson’s roast. And when she got wasted and led MTV on a 2 hour scavenger hunt through New York’s back alleys? Priceless! But alas, today is the day the music may have died. Love, supposedly, has made great progress and is fighting hard to regain custody of her daughter with Kurt Cobain, Francis Bean.

The singer is due to give the court a progress report on January 20 and is also required to have regular drug and alcohol checks and will be permitted to leave home only under certain circumstances.

Alright, so I guess MTV is gonna have to go pick her up next time!

Kirsten Dunst to Give Courtney a Run for Her Money

It’s going to take a lot of hard work and dedication to even encroach on Courtney Love territory. I mean, the woman has been displaying pulic breakdown after public breakdown for more than a decade, save an Oscar party or two.

Tara Reid is coming close, except it’s not as funny because Tara has no discernable talent. Lindsay Lohan looked like she may have been headed down that road for a while, but then she put some weight back on her bones and started talking about college. Damn! So close!

Now, Kirsten Dunst is rumored to be the latest young starlet on the road to substance induced disaster. Somehow, the shoe just doesn’t seem to fit, but I’ll indulge the rumors for now!

Supposedly, Kirsten Dunst has been dubbed "Kirsten Drunkst" because her drinking habits have spun out of control. Pals of the Spiderman star are said to be concerned Kirsten is partying excessively and on the road to destruction, thanks in part to her new party pal – yup, you guessed it, Tara Reid.

Dunst and Reid arrived together at club promoter Brent Bolthouse's recent party at top Los Angeles nightclub Privilege, and were seen knocking back drinks until wee hours of the morning, according to the New York Post. This just a week after Dunst reportedly showed up at New York’s Elizabethtown premiere a disheveled, drunken mess, capping off the night cozying up to the just single Leonardo DiCaprio.

Further sparking rumors (Web sites are a buzz with rumored drunken outings by the actress), Dunst herself fueld the fire by joking on The Tonight Show she drinks so much she will end up in rehab. She told Jay Leno: "I stock up on Veuve Cliquot champagne. I buy it from Costco - cheap there. I have lots of alcohol and no food in my fridge. Maybe in a few months you will see me in a rehab clinic.”

Damn, girl! You might want to sit down with your publicist and reevaluate your career strategy, because I doubt this is what folks in Hollywood had in mind post your amazing performance at just 11 years old in Interview With a Vampire.

Jake Gyllenhaal Flattered by Bi Rumors

Kirsten’s ex, the extra hot Jake Gyllenhaal, buffed up and dropped his clothes for Jarhead, then got down and dirty with Heath Ledger in the upcoming gay cowboy drama Brokeback Mountain. So it should only make sense that the gay/bi rumors start swirling. After all, if he’s hot, he has to be gay.

But unlike most Hollywood actors, Jake says he’s flattered.

“You know it's flattering when there's a rumor that says I'm bisexual,” he told reporters. “It means I can play more kinds of roles. I'm open to whatever people want to call me. I've never really been attracted to men sexually, but I don't think I would be afraid of it if it happened.”

Previously, Jake had admitted to going through a period of time when he questioned his sexuality. So could this mark the beginning of another Angelina Jolie, a hot actor who doesn’t believe in labels? I don’t think we’ve reached that point yet, but when we do, I can tell you I’ll be standing by with my pants down.

Quick Takes

JLo’s Killer Coat

Jennifer Lopez has a coat made from 80 murdered chinchillas, according to singer Natalie Imbruglia. The Torn singer, who’s still huge in the UK and Australia, claims unlike JLo, who was recently targeted by PETA for wearing fur, she would never wear animal skins - because they suffered grisly deaths. The star also believes Jennifer's fur-wearing obsession makes her look like an old woman. She revealed to Britain's Cosmo: “It can take up to 100 chinchillas to make one coat and Jennifer Lopez has one made of 80 of them, all killed by electrocution or having their necks snapped. China, where most fur comes from, has no regulations for animal welfare. Dogs, cats and other animals are skinned alive and die slow, extremely painful deaths. Besides, wearing fur makes you look like an old woman!” Well, she is Marc Anthony’s old lady now – maybe she’s just trying to get into character? Nah! Anyone who’s seen Monster In Law knows Jen doesn’t prepare for a scene.

Kylie to be Back on Stage in 2006

Kylie Minogue, still battling Breast Cancer in France, has vowed to fans she will return to the stage at the end of next year. The gay icon was forced to cancel the Australian leg of her Showgirl tour after she was diagnosed with breast cancer in May, but recent indications her health is on the climb have made Kylie and Co. optimistic about a 2006 return. Fans who bought tickets to the concerts before the tour was cut short will be able to attend the new shows, although exact dates have yet to be announced. Tour promoter Michael Gudinski revealed:

"Kylie's touched that so many of her fans are waiting so patiently for the rescheduling of her Showgirl tour." The 37-year-old star has also announced she will release a digital single featuring live versions of "Somewhere Over the Rainbow" and "Santa Baby" on Christmas Day this year. Early next month, Kylie’s official website, www.kylie.com, will start streaming live audio tracks and video clips from Kylie's DVD, Showgirl - The Greatest Hits Tour.

Tis’ all this time around, folks. Hope you all had a blast this Turkey Day and remember, one person’s trash is another person’s rent check.

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Alanis Morissette: The Collection

When Alanis Morissette’s Jagged Little Pill first came out, I was 16 years old, but I sewar to you, I remember it like it was yesterday. It was the angst ridden collection of anthems every girl in our school swore “spoke” to her. And, since I hung out with just about every angst ridden girl in our high-school, I too, by association, connected with Alanis.

Then, she turned around, grew up and got nice. Too nice! When she started thanking India, I turned elsewhere for my musical inspiration. By the time she finally got back to being somewhat perturbed, it was too late. I’d moved on!

Now, ten years later, sporting a slightly more fem haircut and a jumbo sized rock from fiancée Ryan Reynolds (all the more reason for me to hate her, the bitch), Alanis offers up The Collection, her greatest hits (and yes, actually, most of these songs were indeed hits) spanning angry to spiritual to poetic to just plain uninspired.

Revisiting some of these songs after years of growth, a few things are evident. First, there’s nothing wrong with nice Alanis. The lyrics are a bit hokey and saccharin at times, but the come from an authentic place, unlike the hundreds of imitators who’ve followed in her footsteps.

Second: Most of the things on “Ironic” are not really forms of irony. At 16, it was the coolest song in the world. Now, I just wanna know what class taught her that “good advice you just didn’t take” or “rain on your wedding day” was indeed irony. Try getting married in Seattle, lady. Odds are!

Third: There are some hidden gems sprinkled throughout Alanis’ long and potent career that now, in retrospect, deserve far more praise than they were given at the time. “Uninvited,” her hit from the City of Angels soundtrack, finds Alanis sure voiced and raging, the orchestrations lush and intricately composed. Alanis wrote the track herself. “That I Would Be Good” is an ode to acceptance every young person should hear and “Sister Blister,” a track only released as an extra on the 2002 release Feast on Scraps, is Alanis at her lyrical best.

The only new offering here is a remake of Seal’s “Crazy,” and it’s Alanis’ finest hour in years, a sign that while the first stage of her career may be over, there much more in store for this oft misunderstood, sometimes under appreciated Supposed Former Infatuation Junkie.

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Indianapolis Entertains Reintroduction of Gay Discrimination Ban

(Indianapolis, IN) – Seven months after a proposal to ban discrimination against gays and lesbians in the workplace and housing market failed to pass, the Indianapolis City-County Council, supporters reintroduced the measure this week.

The proposal could put the council back in the spotlight by addressing a divisive issue just a week after efforts to merge city and county police forces failed in a mostly partisan vote.

Jackie Nytes, the Democrat who also sponsored the first gay-rights effort in April, now has 12 sponsors, including herself. She needs three more votes to win a 15-vote majority in the 29-member council and said hopes to land those through steady lobbying over the next few weeks.

“There's so much support for it in the community, I'm surprised some council members are hesitating,"” Nytes said, adding she has collected 1,200 letters backing the plan.

The same proposal to ban discrimination based on sexual orientation or identity failed in April on an 18-11 vote that crossed party lines.

Current laws protect all workers from discrimination based on race, religion, age and several other factors. The anti-discrimination ordinance would protect LGBT people from being fired or denied housing because of their sexual orientation or gender identity.

City and state employee hiring policies already include such protections, and the ordinance would extend the same to any businesses with six or more employees, excluding religious institutions and certain nonprofits.

In Indiana, Bloomington, Michigan City, West Lafayette and Fort Wayne already have passed similar ordinances.

Scott Schneider, a Republican opponent of the proposal, said the proposal was being introduced illegally. The council was holding a special meeting to vote on an emergency child welfare tax measure, and Schneider said the agenda couldn't include additional topics.

“They're trying to do this quick, because the public is against it,” Schneider said.

Council President Steve Talley, a Democrat, said he would allow the measure to be introduced, rendering Schneider's complaint moot. It could be voted on as early as Dec. 12.

Scott Keller, one of two Republican council members sponsoring Proposal 622, said he thinks a series of small-group meetings between several council members and gay constituents have helped change the minds of some people who previously opposed the measure.

He said it was significant that 17 council members supported Talley's decision to allow the proposal's reintroduction.

“A lot of us would like to end the year with the passage of this (proposal),” Keller said. Schneider said supporters are asking for a special legal class for a group that does not fit the federal definition of civil rights.

As many as 100 gay rights supporters attended the meeting wearing pins reading "Basic rights for all."

Bil Browning, a coordinator for gay-rights activists, said he's glad to see the measure come before the council again.

"We've done a lot of lobbying and I believe the effort is about to pay off," he said.

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PlanetOut to Distribute Q Television Content Online

(San Francisco, CA) – Planet Out, the nation’s leading LGBT media and entertainment company, has partnered with Q Television to develop and deliver original programming to be distributed on PlanetOut Video.

QTN is a 24 hour a day premium television network organized to create, develop and feature television programming for the LGBT community. Its lineup includes a packed Monday-through-Friday slate of live and interactive content, plus sports, news and entertainment.

PlanetOut Video is a broadband entertainment service designed to engage online audiences with LGBT video programming aggregated from TV networks, movie studios, independent film producers and individual artists.

The service launched in September on Gay.com and PlanetOut.com, reaching an audience of more than five million people monthly.

"We plan to continue our roll-out of exclusive video content to engage our audience and to keep up with the growing demand from our advertisers for targeted and measurable online video commercials,” said Mark Elderkin, president of PlanetOut Inc. “The unique news, talk and variety shows that QTN produces are sure to be a hit with our audience.” QTN will supply highlights of its original programming, including: Brunch, a morning talk show which stars Queer Eye for the Straight Girl's Honey Labrador and former CNN producer/correspondent Scott Withers; On Q Live, a celebrity entertainment talk show; and The Reichen Show, an hour of talk, debate, education, gossip and news hosted by The Amazing Race winner Reichen Lehmkuhl.

“PlanetOut has been a pioneering force in our community,” Alexis Fish, executive vice president of Q Television Network, explained. “The success of their Internet presence has helped pave the way for today's queer networks by showing us how positively the LGBT audience has responded to information and discussions of topics that affect our lives.” In addition to QTN, PlanetOut has broadband distribution agreements with launch partners here!TV and Sundance Channel.

PlanetOut Inc. media properties include Gay.com, PlanetOut.com and Out & About Travel and recently acquired LPI Media, publishers of The Advocate, Out and Out Traveler magazines.

Q Television is telecast 24 hours per day, 7 days per week via satellite distribution across the United States, including Alaska, Hawaii and Puerto Rico.

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Court Sees Film of Gay Murder

Pictures of the brutal murder of David Morley and the beating of his friend Alistair Whiteside, were played to a courtroom at the Old Bailey in London earlier this week.

The pictures, believed to contain video images, were taken by a 15 year old girl, who cannot be named for legal reasons, on her mobile phone. She is on trial with six others in the London court.

The video shows her asking David Morley, who had survived the anti-gay attack on the Admiral Duncan bar in 1999, to "pose for the camera" as the gang jumped on him and him and his friend. Morley suffered serious head injuries in the attack and later died in hospital.

Three people were killed and 73 injured in the 1999 bombing on the Admiral Duncan gay bar, where Morley was a barman. He escaped that attempt on his life with minor burns. David Copeland, a 23-year-old engineer from Hampshire and self-proclaimed Nazi, was given six life sentences for the attack.

One of the others charged, an 18 year old man, told the court that they often went out "gay bashing". Darren Case admitted to taking part in at least 20 attacks, but he said he did not participate in killing Morley because he was beating Whiteside at the time.

The other four on trial, Reece Sargeant, 21, Barry Lee, 20 and two 17-year-olds have, however, pleaded not guilty to the murder.

The trial continues.

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20,000 British People May Have HIV Without Knowing It

A third of people who have HIV in the UK remain undiagnosed, a report by the Health Protection Agency has found.

Despite over seven thousand new cases being diagnosed in the UK over 2005, almost twenty thousand people with the disease do not know that they are infected.

Deborah Jack, the Chief Executive of the National AIDS trust says the results should be a wake up call to gay men to get tested:

“The continuing high numbers of people newly diagnosed with HIV underlines the need for more effective HIV prevention in this country. In addition, the increased estimate in undiagnosed cases is worrying."

Although HIV testing rates have improved, we must do more to encourage gay men, and African-born men and women to take an HIV test if they consider they might have put themselves at risk. Ending the stigma around HIV will be one of the most effective ways we can increase the public willingness to test."

Ms. Jack also called for HIV tests to be offered at times when patients can access them, such as after work hours or at the weekend.

©pinknews.co.uk 2005

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Gay Vermont Senator in Critical Condition After Crash

(Burlington, VT) – Openly gay Vermont State Senator Edward Flanagan is in serious condition after his car ran off the road amid treacherous weather conditions Friday.

Flanagan, a Democrat, drove off Interstate 89 and down an embankment in Burlington early Friday morning where his car overturned, police officials said. The car was not discovered for several hours.

Flanagan, 54, suffered head injuries and hypothermia, but the injuries are not considered life-threatening, a family friend told the Burlington Free-Press. He was listed in serious condition Sunday evening at Fletcher Allen Health Care in Burlington.

Flanagan was the first openly gay major party candidate for the U.S. Senate in 2000, when he lost to incumbent Sen. James Jeffords, then a Republican (Jeffords is now an Independent). Flanagan served as state auditor from 1992 until 2000. He was elected to the state Senate in 2004 and is serving his first term.

He also served in the Carter administration, as a policy analyst in the Department of Health, Education and Welfare.

Police officials said Flanagan's car ended up in a bad location, and that he lay unconscious for several hours before a passing truck saw the undercarriage of Flanagan's sedan.

“You could not pick a worse spot for your vehicle not to be seen,” Vermont State Police Capt. William Sheets told Gay.com.

Flanagan's longtime partner, Isaac Lustgarten, has not commented to the media.

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Love is a Language

"Love is a verb," my partner is fond of saying. It is a lovely thing to hear, but exactly does “love is a verb” actually mean? When my partner says it, she means that love is not a static thing; it changes, grows, evolves and require constant action to keep it alive. But what if love is something even more than a verb, perhaps it is a language in which the verb 'love' is just a punctuation, an exclamation point?

Out of curiosity - and on a philosophical bent - I decided to explore.

Dictionary.com was my first hit in the wonderful wild world of the Internet. These are the first three (and relevant to this discussion) definitions provided for 'love'.

"love" - noun

1. A deep, tender, ineffable feeling of affection and solicitude toward a person, such as that arising from kinship, recognition of attractive qualities, or a sense of underlying oneness.

2. A feeling of intense desire and attraction toward a person with whom one is disposed to make a pair; the emotion of sex and romance.

3. Sexual passion. Sexual intercourse. A love affair.

Love as a noun is so all-encompassing. Reading this, you can only think that too much responsibility has been given to this one little four-letter word. No wonder so many people have a hard time recognizing the emotion, or believing in it or explaining it. The English language has limited a wealth of human emotion to expression in just one tiny word. You can hardly expect anyone to be able to adequately use this noun as anything more than a simplified and generalized description of a concept too vast to be truly explained by anything so small.

"love" - verb

The definitions are generally the same - except here 'love' is used toward a person or a thing rather than as a description. Hence the verb form.

Basically, "To experience deep affection or intense desire for another." On the surface, that sounds pretty good. Of course, then you have to really sit back and think how many times you say "I love soccer" or "I love beer" or "I love that I finally fixed the faucet that was dripping and driving me nuts."

How can we justify using the same word to express how we feel about beer to express an intense and powerful connection to another human being? I think we have come to far from the origins of this word.

In ancient mythology, love was a being - a God or Goddess, Eros or Venus (among a multitude of others). When the ancients spoke of 'love', I am highly doubting they used their version of the word to describe how much they enjoyed having two cows instead of just one. No, love was 'divine' and to be in love; to love or be loved - was to be touched by the divine. Not in current times - not when 'love' is used as a word to describe a lack of points in a tennis game.

Even worse, the divinity of the word 'love' has been degraded into a base usage to define simple physical acts that often have nothing to do with actual 'love'. Take WordNet's synonym list: [syn: make out, make love, sleep with, get laid, have sex, know, do it, be intimate, have intercourse, have it away, have it off, screw, fuck, jazz, eff, hump, lie with, bed, have a go at it, bang, get it on, bonk]

Now, that just makes me feel dirty to even think the word.

A friend of mine who was very bitter over a 'love' affair said one of the most amazingly contradictory phrases that really gets my point across. She said, "God, I love to hate her!" - referring to her ex-girlfriend. Several months later she pointed out a site to me, an Acronym Finder, that had created what to her was the perfect acronym for LOVE. Loss Of Valuable Energy.

We are so jaded about 'love'. With all this, is it any wonder?

So are we to give up on the term completely? Try to find some other word to express a powerful emotion that seems so difficult to tack down? Maybe go back to Greek forms or try out synonyms from native languages? Or should we just give in and accept that the word has lost all real meaning and hope that those we 'love' will understand what we are trying to say when we use it?

Love is a verb.

I have decided to choose to embrace it as such. However, not as its traditional 'verb' definition. Yes, my definition includes all of those things Mr. Webster (or Dictionary.com) says. Mine is more, however. My definition is to let the word 'love' be undefined. I refuse to impose restrictions on it or burden it with more than those little four letters can handle. I leave it up to interpretation - mine and those I give that word to. When I say 'I love you' - it is a verb, and a noun - and an exclamation point. It is just one tiny tip of an iceberg of emotion that cannot be expressed by mere words. It is only one simple word in a language that goes by the same name.

Love is a language.

Of touch, of breath, of sound and of silence. Love is a language of kisses and long, slow looks that last for hours. It is a multitude of meanings expressed in moments of unreality and reality - finishing each others' sentences and being unable to speak. Love is in laughter and in quiet tears that can't be helped when your lover is flying away for the first time. Love is all of this and all of us; and so much more - it has no limits and no firm rules or definitions. Love just is.

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Women of Mystery

Fourteen tales of mystery and murder—from the best known lesbian mystery writers!

Settle down. Make yourself comfortable. Then pick up a gripping book that’ll keep you up all night! Harrington Park Press presents Women of Mystery, an anthology of short lesbian suspense fiction from the best known lesbian mystery writers in the business.

Edited by Katherine V. Forrest, author of the two-time Lambda Literary Award winning Kate Delafield mystery series, this book contains an unprecedented collection of never-before-published stories of mystery and imagination that’ll keep you thrilled as well as enthralled. A top-notch selection of mystery literature so good, it ought to be illegal!

Some of the riveting stories in Women of Mystery:

A deaf woman’s attention to music helps unravel a murder
A woman’s visit to the hereafter and back again—to stop her own murder!
A small child’s discovery that answers questions that affect the rest of her life
The menacing of two women by three men in the backwoods—and the event's surprising outcome
A woman’s kidnapping—and her imaginative escape
A woman’s love gone horribly wrong
A woman suspects her lover to be—a werewolf!
A woman detective doggedly pursues a murderer who kills by hit and run and many more tales of mystery and suspense!
Women of Mystery features works by:

Katherine V. Forrest, J. L. Belrose, Victoria A. Brownworth, Ouida Crozier, Joan Drury, Jeane Harris, Karla Jay, Lisa Liel, Randye Lordon, Carole Spearin McCauley, Diana McRae, Martha Miller, J. M. Redmann, Ursula Steck.

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Oklahoma Man Sues ABC for Gay 'Wife Swap'

(Muskogee, OK) – ABC’s Wife Swap has gone too far this time, according to an Oklahoma man who is suing the show for sending a gay man to live with him and his family as his half of the swap.

Jeffrey Bedford, who lives with his wife and kids outside Muskogee, is seeking $10 million in damages from Walt Disney – the parent company of ABC – the network, and the show’s production company RDF Media.

Bedford said he assumed he was swapping wives with a heterosexual couple and that he was "misled" and "threatened" by the producers. He also said Wife Swap producers refused to let him talk to his wife while the show was being taped.

According to 365gay.com, Bedford claims that when he told the producers he did not want a “gay wife,” they threatened not to tell him his wife's location and would not pay for her to be sent home.

Bedford says the experience made his so emotionally distraught he suffered “physical and mental illness.”

An ABC spokesman said the contract for the show specified that the swapped spouse “could be either male or female.”

“The show is meant to challenge a family's norms,” the spokesman told a local Muskogee newspaper, which first reported the suit over the weekend. The episode was taped in October 2004 but has not aired yet.

“We have a number of 'Wife Swap' episodes stockpiled,” the spokesman told a Muskogee paper. “Since each is self-contained, we don't have to air them in any particular order, so I can't predict when we'll book this one.”

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Tacoma School District Bans Gay High-School Book

(Tacoma, WA) – School officials at University Place have removed a book about gay teens from the Tacoma school district's library shelves after receiving what they say was a “number” of parent complaints.

Superintendent Patti Banks said she was alarmed by the “romanticized” portrayal of sex in Geography Club, written by Tacoma resident Brent Hartzinger. In the book, a teen meets a stranger at night in a park after meeting the person (later revealed to be a gay classmate) in an Internet chat room.

She said her decision was not due to the book’s gay content.

“We want to send a strong, consistent message to all our students that meeting individuals via the Internet is extremely high-risk behavior,” Banks wrote in a letter earlier this month to two parents who requested the book's removal. "To the extent that this book might contradict that message, I have determined it should not be in our libraries, in spite of other positive aspects (e.g., a strong anti-harassment theme).”

Parent Connie Claussen said she disagrees with Banks' decision and plans to appeal to the School Board.

“It is about gay students,” Claussen says. “However, the most important part of the book is that it's about bullying, outcasts, about tolerance. This is a really good book for any student to read.”

In the 2003 book, a teenager thinks he's the only gay student in his high school until he learns that his online, gay chat room buddy is a popular athlete at his school. The teen meets others, and they form the school Geography Club, thinking the name will be so boring no one else will join.

Banks had Geography Club withdrawn from Curtis Junior and Senior high school libraries after a couple with children in both schools filed a complaint in October asking the district to remove the book.

They wrote that reading the book could result in a “casual and loose approach to sex,” encourage use of Internet porn and the physical meeting of people through chat rooms.

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Reform Leader Accuses U.S. Religious Right of Bigotry

(Houston, TX ) – The attitude of American 'religious right' leaders toward gays and lesbians is akin to the anti-gay policies promoted by Adolf Hitler, according to the president of the Union for Reform Judaism, Rabbi Eric Yoffie.

Yoffie made the controversial comments Saturday during the movement's national biennial conference in Houston.

”We cannot forget that when Hitler came to power in 1933, one of the first things that he did was ban gay organizations,” Yoffie said. “Yes, we can disagree about gay marriage but there is no excuse for hateful rhetoric that fuels the hellfires of anti-gay bigotry.” The audience of 5,000 responded to the speech with enthusiastic applause.

Yoffie used particularly strong language to condemn conservative attitudes toward homosexuals throughout his speech. He said he understood that traditionalists have concluded gay marriage violates Scripture, but concluded it did not justify denying legal protections to same-sex partners and their children.

Yoffie has long been a highly-regarded and admired leader of the Reform movement, the largest branch of American Judaism. He blasted conservative religious activists, calling them "zealots" who claim "a monopoly on God."

The Union for Reform Judaism represents amore than 900 synagogues in North America with an estimated membership of 1.5 million people. Of the three major streams of U.S. Judaism (Orthodox and Conservative are the others) it is the only one that sanctions gay ordination and supports civil marriage for same-gender couples.

Yoffie said "religious right" leaders believe "unless you attend my church, accept my God and study my sacred text, you cannot be a moral person.

"What could be more bigoted than to claim you have a monopoly on God?" he added.

Yoffie said liberals and conservatives share some concerns, such as the potential damage to children from violent or highly sexual TV shows and other popular media.

But, he said, overall, conservatives define family values in too narrow terms, making a "frozen embryo in a fertility clinic" more important than a child and ignoring poverty and other social ills.

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Fines, Arrests Looming for Polish Gay Pride Supporters

(Poznan, Poland) – Dozens of gay rights activists are looking at potential fines or prison sentences of up to a month for rallying in the Polish city of Poznan over the weekend, defying a city wide ban on their 'Equality March', authorities said.

In the latest standoff between an increasingly active gay rights movement and authorities in the staunch Roman Catholic nation, a few hundred activists staged a demonstration in the western city this weekend, although police had blocked their planned parade route.

Sixty-eight activists could face fines of up to 5,000 zlotys ($1,500 American) or up to one month in prison, according to Miroslaw Adamski, spokesman for the district prosecutor's office in Poznan.

A spokesman for city police, Andrzej Borwiak, told the Associated Press that about a dozen aggressive counter-demonstrators were arrested. Some threw eggs and chanted slogans such as, “We are going to do with you what Hitler did with the Jews”, AP reported.

The Equality March was organized as part of a days-long festival in Poznan devoted to promoting tolerance. On Tuesday, local authorities banned Saturday's march, on the grounds it posed a “danger to life, health and property.”

Poland – a conservative country that joined the European Union last year – has been grappling with the issue of how far to go in accepting homosexuality. Gay rights rallies in Poland have drawn anti-gay protesters in past years, often resulting in violent clashes.

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Kimpton Teams With National AIDS Fund to Raise Money, Awareness

(San Francisco, CA) – Upscale boutique hotel chain Kimpton Hotels and the National AIDS Fund have joined forces in a partnership to raise awareness about HIV and generate funds for the cause.

This marks the third year Kimpton has put its support behind the National AIDS Fund with hopes of raising a a minimum of $25,000 in 2005. Campaign sponsors include Absolut Vodka, Level Vodka, Moet & Chandon Champagne, Hartmann Luggage and Mauge Design.

Kimpton's 'Every Red Cent Counts' campaign is anchored by the 'Stay the Night, Join the Fight' promo, donating a potion of all reservation money received in October and November to the cause. In addition, guests can make their own donations online at www.kimptonhotels.com/redribbon.

Thursday, December 1 marks a first for any hotel chain in the United States. That night, on World AIDS Day, the Kimpton chain will sponsor a series of fundraising parties coast-to-coast. Each event will have a local flair and a common goal: raisng funds to fight HIV.

Fundraising parties will be held in Boston, Chicago, Denver, New York, Portland, Salt Lake City, San Diego, San Francisco, Seattle, Vancouver and Washington DC.

Kimpton employees are currently undergoing special training sessions to learn more about effectively managing HIV/AIDS in the workplace. Staff from the National AIDS Fund is providing this training, an attempt to offer a solid foundation to support the health of individual employees and their families.

“Kimpton Hotels’ commitment to HIV education and assisting people with the disease is one we take very seriously,” Kimpton’s Senior Vice President of Sales & Marketing Steve Pinetti explained. “We understand that the AIDS crisis is not over and HIV service organizations are under tremendous pressure to serve an ever increasing number of people."

“In a time when many corporations and government agencies are diverting grant funding away from HIV services, Kimpton's financial commitment to fight HIV is strong and expanding. We are proud to partner with the National AIDS Fund and their unique network of 29 local Community Partnerships.”

Kandy Ferree, President & CEO of the National AIDS Fund, emphasized that the fund relies of corporate partnerships to get the message out.

“The National AIDS Fund is very strategic about the development of corporate partnerships,” she said. “We are proud to renew and expand our partnership with Kimpton Hotels because they are a socially conscious company that invests in issues that are important to their customers, employees and the communities in which they do business.”

Based in Washington, D.C., The National AIDS Fund was established in 1988 to reduce the incidence and impact of HIV/AIDS by generating resources for effective community responses to the epidemic. To date, the Fund has raised and invested more than $126 million in the fight against HIV/AIDS in the United States. For more information, visit www.aidsfund.org.

Kimpton Hotels & Restaurants was founded in 1981 as a unique collection of boutique hotels coupled with chef-driven, destination restaurants. Featuring highly personalized guest services and one-of-a-kind specialty rooms and suites, Kimpton currently operates 38 boutique hotels with restaurants throughout the United States and Canada.

Kimpton Hotels has long supported gay and lesbian issues and, each year, sponsors a series of unique Gay Pride vacation packages at their hotels across the United States. For more information, visit www.kimptonhotels.com.

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Media Blender

Rent's Poster Lesbians Tracie Thoms and Indina Menzel

The highly anticipated film version of the Broadway hit musical Rent opens in theaters nationwide this week. Although the movie has so far received mixed reviews from critics, lesbian viewers will most likely give it a thumbs-up for two very good reasons - Tracie Thoms and Indina Menzel. The two women play Rent's poster lesbian couple performance artist Maureen (Menzel) and attorney Joanne (Thoms). Menzel and Thoms give admirable performances and their smokin' duet in the film is one of the best highlights of the movie. Check it out at www.sonypictures.com/movies/rent/.

L Word Star Jennifer Beals Welcomes New Baby

Jennifer Beals, much beloved star of The L Word, has two new babies to deal with - one on the show with her on-screen partner Tina, and one off the show, her very own first progeny with husband Ken L. Dixon.

Beals gave birth to a healthy baby girl last month, but the news has been kept hush-hush from the press. The news of the birth was revealed last Friday, but the exact birth date and name of the new baby are still not public knowledge. Both mom and new baby are doing fabulously.

Ellen DeGeneres Hits On Usher

On a recent episode of her hit talk show, Ellen DeGeneres had a grand time playing with her guest Usher, suggesting to the R&B superstar that he needed to find a woman who loved dancing and had a sense of humor...

Usher, seemingly a bit caught off guard, nonetheless snapped back a quick retort: "Hint, hint?"

DeGeneres replied "No, I'm not right for you," to which Usher laughed, before admitting that he was on the lookout for a companion to love. Awwwhhh.

Want to Be a Queer Eye Girl?

The producers of Queer Eye for the Straight Guy are mixing it up in the new season. In addition to makeovers for celeb guests such as Michael Bacon and former NFL star Boomer Esiason, casting directors are looking for a few good gays to be on the show - and they want Gay.com to help find them. They are on the lookout for:

a gay man who's about to come out to friends and family
Fab Five wannabes who happen to be in their teens
a lesbian who welcomes a total physical makeover, finally
The candidates must live within a 30-mile radius of New York City, but don't let that stop you - even if you're in Idaho, certainly you must know someone in the Big Apple who fits the bill, so nominate someone. After all, don't you want to see Carson finally let loose on a dyke?

To participate, send an email with your name, phone number and photo to crodriguez@thequeereye.com, with "Queer Eye Casting Call -- Gay.com" in the subject line.

Logo Airs Out 100 Special

Logo has joined forces with Out magazine to create an hour-long special that delivers an insider look at the movers and shakers who made the 2005 list of Out magazine's Most Intriguing People. Find out who made the list from the worlds of television, fashion, film, media, business, music, politics, visual arts, and books. The Out 100 reveals all 100 names, uncovers each and every groundbreaking accomplishment, and digs deep to find out what really makes these talented honorees so intriguing. The program airs Sunday, November 27 at 9 p.m. (ET/PT), on Logo. For more information, visit www.logoonline.com

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, World Leaders Vote to End Human Right Violations Against Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual and Transgender Persons

(Washington, D.C.) - LGBT elected and appointed leaders from across the United States and around the world passed an historic resolution in Seattle this weekend at the Gay & Lesbian Leadership Conference calling upon "all nations and governments to adopt a vocal, clear and consistent policy on international human rights abuses against lesbian, gay, bisexual, and transgender people that includes a call on other countries to abolish sodomy laws."

Attendees, some who traveled from as far away as Sri Lanka and Poland, vowed to continue to bring attention to the horrific record of some countries on this issue. For instance:

-- There are reports that in Iran more than 4,000 citizens have been executed since 1979 because they are gay or lesbian;

-- In Malaysia, "carnal intercourse against the order of nature" is punishable by up to 20 years' imprisonment and whipping; and

-- Being gay in Saudi Arabia can lead to jail terms or even beheadings.

The conference is a program of the Gay & Lesbian Leadership Institute, the non-profit sister organization of the Gay & Lesbian Victory Fund. The leaders also approved a resolution to "encourage all LGBT legislators and all other LGBT public officials to be open and honest about their sexual orientation or gender identity or expression so that their input on future legislation and proposals will be enhanced by a freedom to share both unique and common professional and personal life experiences with their colleagues and the constituents they represent."

"These resolutions reflect the quality of the discussions that occurred and the seriousness of the issues discussed. As the LGBT community continues to gain voices at all levels of policy-making and implementation, it's incumbent that we continue to speak up for those whose voices are silenced in countries that deny them rights simply because they are lesbian, gay, bisexual or transgender," says Gay & Lesbian Victory Fund and Leadership Institute President and CEO Chuck Wolfe.

The Gay & Lesbian Leadership Conference was presented by the Gay & Lesbian Leadership Institute in collaboration with the International Network of Lesbian and Gay Officials.

The host committee co-chairs were State Rep. Ed Murray (Washington) and City Council Member Dan Baker (Long Beach, California). Attendees also heard from Washington Gov. Christine Gregoire and U.S. Reps. Barney Frank and Tammy Baldwin.

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Two-Years of Fairness in Massachusetts

On the second anniversary of marriage equality in Massachusetts, it seems an appropriate moment to salute Gay & Lesbian Advocates & Defenders (GLAD), the seven plaintiff couples who sacrificed their privacy in the name of equality, as well as MassEquality, the coalition that has preserved marriage after continuous attacks from the far right.

Since Nov. 18, 2003 when the Supreme Judicial Court ruled that loving gay and lesbian couples could not be excluded from the protections of marriage, so much has changed. In Massachusetts, nearly 6,500 couples have married since it became legal on May 17, 2004, and the national debate about equality for our families shifted on its axis.

Certainly, those Massachusetts families are safer and more secure today because of marriage. Those couples now know that they won't be shown the door when their spouse faces a medical crisis and mothers and fathers sleep easier knowing their parenthood status is recognized and honored. But these marriages go beyond the state border. These families have taught not only their neighbors but all Americans an important lesson about fairness.

The discussion around marriage is more than one of benefits. It's a discussion about the type of society we want to live in. It's the question of whether the "certain inalienable rights" of "life, liberty and the pursuit of happiness" are American ideals or simply nice ideas. It's about what we want to teach our children.

Annie Goodridge is a good case in point. Years ago, when she asked her moms why they couldn't get married, they didn't have an answer. Yet, Annie's simple but profound question helped ignite a lawsuit that under Mary Bonauto's leadership led to the historic Goodridge decision. Annie and other children, no matter what their parentage, know that Massachusetts values equality and fairness. She and her schoolmates know that her parents are valued and recognized members of the community. And these children have learned that democracy works best when it applies to everyone.

The Goodridge decision has taught us all. Much to our opponents' dismay, no marriage has been negatively affected by Annie's parents having full rights under law. The dire predictions of anti-gay activists have not come to pass -- much like they withered away in Vermont after civil unions were enacted.

In fact, a majority of Massachusetts citizens now support marriage equality, and interestingly, Massachusetts boasts the lowest divorce rate in the country. Elected officials have grown along with voters as demonstrated by the overwhelming rejection this year of a constitutional amendment banning same-sex marriage.

But as we celebrate the second anniversary of the Goodridge decision, let's remember that we have a lot of work ahead. In Massachusetts, opponents have crafted a second marriage ban for the 2008 ballot. And nationwide, the far right wing is twisting marriage equality to scare voters and legislators from enacting even the most basic protections for the LGBT community. It didn't work in Maine this November, but it did in Texas. We must be ever vigilant and continue to tell our stories to our families, friends and colleagues.

As Martin Luther King Jr. said, "Let us realize the arc of the moral universe is long, but it bends toward justice." We have seen legalized discrimination defeated through groundbreaking court decisions and Goodridge now stands among them. The arc is bending toward justice, and Massachusetts is ahead of the curve.

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PlanetOut Inc. and Q Television Network (QTN) Form Broadband Video Partnership

(San Francisco, CA) - PlanetOut Inc., a leading global media and entertainment company serving the lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender community, and Q Television, have announced that QTN original programming will be distributed on PlanetOut Video. QTN is a groundbreaking 24/7 premium television network organized to create, develop and feature television programming for the LGBT community. Its unparalleled lineup includes a packed Monday-through-Friday slate of live and interactive content, plus sports, news and entertainment.

PlanetOut Video is a broadband entertainment service designed to engage online audiences with LGBT video programming aggregated from TV networks, movie studios, independent film producers and individual artists. The service launched in September on Gay.com and PlanetOut.com, reaching an audience of more than five million people monthly.

"We plan to continue our roll-out of exclusive video content to engage our audience and to keep up with the growing demand from our advertisers for targeted and measurable online video commercials," said Mark Elderkin, president of PlanetOut Inc. "The unique news, talk and variety shows that QTN produces are sure to be a hit with our audience."

QTN will supply highlights of its original programming, including: Brunch, a morning talk show which stars Queer Eye for the Straight Girl's Honey Labrador and former CNN producer/correspondent Scott Withers; On Q Live, a celebrity entertainment talk show; Queer Edge with Jack E. Jett, a live nightly talk show that takes viewers to the farthest reaches of 'Queerdom'; The Reichen Show, an upbeat hour of talk, debate, education, gossip and news hosted by The Amazing Race winner Reichen Lehmkuhl; Q On the Move, with on-the-go host Nick Oram taking viewers to cities and gatherings all over the planet; On Topic, a political opinion talk show with Chrisanne Eastwood; Xcess/Access, a fashion news and entertainment show produced by SIREN Multimedia and starring Honey Labrador and Robbie Laughlin; and QTN World News, delivering the latest in queer news from around the globe.

"PlanetOut has been a pioneering force in our community," said Alexis Fish, executive vice president of Q Television Network. "The success of their Internet presence has helped pave the way for today's queer networks by showing us how positively the LGBT audience has responded to information and discussions of topics that affect our lives. We are delighted at the opportunity to distribute our exciting QTN programming on the PlanetOut network." In addition to QTN, PlanetOut has broadband distribution agreements with launch partners here! television and Sundance Channel.

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Northern Ireland Councillor Claims Gays are “Abominable and Filthy”

A councillor for the Democratic Unionist Party (DUP) in Northern Ireland, led by Dr. Ian Paisley, has branded gays as “abominable and filthy” and to blame for Hurricane Katrina and the spread of AIDs in Africa.

Maurice Mills, councillor in Ballymena, Northern Ireland, claimed that Hurricane Katrina was a judgement from God: “the media failed to report that the hurricane occurred just two days prior to the annual homosexual event called the Southern Decadence Festival, which the previous year had attracted an estimated 125,000 people."

“Surely, this is a warning to nations where such wickedness is increasingly promoted and practiced. This abominable and filthy practice and sodomy has resulted in the great continent of Africa being riddled with AIDS, all at great cost to the nations and innocent children.”

Mr. Mills made the controversial comments in reaction to the Northern Ireland Gay Rights Association (NIGRA), which last week lambasted his position on homosexuality.

Gary McKeever of the Northern Ireland Rainbow Project said Mr Mill's comments were: “stupid, irresponsible and rooted in deep-seated homophobia.”

He urged for the DUP to “clarify its position on both racism and homophobia.”

©pinknews.co.uk 2005

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Reba #1's

When this CD came in the mail, I have to say I was shocked. Reba McEntire has 31 number one hits? I mean, I’ve always held her in high regard. Reba recorded one of the first songs to ever touch on the issue of AIDS (“She Thinks His Name Was John”). Her benefit song for the Salvation Army (“What If”) showed an assured if baby step toward commercial pop. And her stint on Broadway (Annie Get Your Gun) and subsequent sitcom (Reba) proved there’s a lot more to this lady than meets the eye.

Call me naïve; I guess I just never realized how huge Reba’s career’s been. The fiery red head has put out an album nearly ever year since exploding onto the scene in 1983. The best-selling country artist of all time, she’s second only to Barbra Streisand in U.S. album sales for a female artist. Talk about acclaim.

It’s justified. Hearing Reba’s biggest hits back to back on a two disc offering is like attending a master class symposium on country music for the past quarter century. Music critics sit around singling out artists who know how to write a song. Well, I think it’s a talent and a rarity to find an artist who knows how to pick a song.

Reba is that artist. She has flawlessly gone from country to pop to rock to soul and back again without ever losing sight of the sound that put her on the map. From “Can’t Even Get the Blues,” the song that put her on the map, to last year’s smash “Somebody,” her voice is flawless – 23 years has brought maturity and wisdom to her voice, but not a trace of wear.

The career retrospectives has a slew of highs (“Rumor Has It” is one of the best, gut-wrenching, rip your heart out country songs ever recorded, and Reba sings the hell out of it; “For My Broken Heart” hurts just as bad because it was recorded at the time Reba’s band mates were all killed in a plane crash). No true lows, though occasionally, producers have popped up her sound in a bid for crossover appeal – decide what you will.

In a time when just about anyone can put out a greatest hits collection (sometimes, Greatest Hits really just means an artist got dropped from their label and a compilation is the only way to buy out the contract). Reba #1's is the real deal, the songbook of a woman who has really lived and a voice that aches to tell the story.

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HIV/AIDS Programs Devastated by House Budget Vote

(Washington, D.C.) - As the Centers for Disease Control & Prevention released startling new statistics about the impact of HIV and AIDS on communities of color and gay men, the Human Rights Campaign released a statement claiming the U.S. House of Representatives put the lives of hundreds of thousands of Americans at risk in passing a budget reconciliation package that would slash Medicaid spending - forcing Americans to rely on the already stretched Ryan White CARE Act.

"Congress and the White House have abandoned their 'compassionate' side to the extremist conservatives," said Human Rights Campaign President Joe Solmonese. "The health of thousands of men, women and children are threatened when the far right wing unravels the health care safety net."

The razor thin vote of 217-215 came after new data was released from the CDC detailing racial disparities in infection rates. African-Americans are eight times more likely and Latinos three times more likely than whites to be diagnosed with the HIV. The data also shows increasing infection rates among men who have sex with men.

"New evidence shows that HIV and AIDS continue to ravage men, women and children at alarming rates, yet Congress callously responds by slashing funding," said Solmonese.

The House version of the budget reconciliation package - unlike the Senate counterpart - would permit higher premiums and deductibles for many Americans who already find themselves on the edge of being able to seek quality care and treatment. According to the Congressional Budget Office, the vast majority of the savings will come from beneficiaries being forced to cut back on their use of health care services.

The bill now goes to conference committee where the House and Senate versions will be reconciled. During this process, the cuts could either be restored or left as passed by the House.

"Disastrous cuts to Medicaid combined with inadequate funding for federal HIV/AIDS efforts represent the Congressional leadership's poor response to the HIV/AIDS epidemic," said Solmonese. "Many courageous lawmakers from both parties opposed these draconian cuts and they should be applauded for their leadership."

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Spokane Mayor’s Questionable Computer Contents Released to Press

(Spokane, WA) – A Washington judge granted a newspaper's request to make public the gay-themed contents of Spokane Mayor James West's city-owned laptop computer, but stopped at releasing some 3,300 pictures from Gay.com.

Adams County Superior Court Judge Richard Miller ordered the release of an index of the dates and times West used the computer to access Gay.com and other similar Web sites, but corrupted individual Web addresses to protect the privacy of third parties.

West is the subject of a Dec. 6 recall election as the result of a sex scandal that has been going on for nearly eight months. Several news organizations have demanded the release of the contents of West's computer under the state's Open Public Records Act.

“Clearly the public has the right to evaluate the mayor's performance,” Miller said. “The dilemma this court finds itself in is: to release the pictures essentially releases the identity of the people in them. I don't think that's appropriate.”

According to the Seattle Post-Intelligencer, the judge reviewed the contents of the mayor's hard drive. He said he found 3,300 photographs. About 100 of those were pictures featured male nudity and 11 were of simulated sex acts, the judge said.

Many showed upper-torso pictures of shirtless men, the judge said.

The recall election charge alleges West abused his office by offering a City Hall internship, in expectation of sexual favors, to a person he met in a Gay.com chat room and believed to be an 18-year-old man. The chat partner was actually a computer expert hired by The Spokesman-Review to track West's online activities.

West has denied any wrongdoing.

The judge's decision came a day before the special election ballots were to be mailed.

West fought release of the computer contents in question, contending they were private and that the Internet sites were accessed during off-work hours.

West has long been an opponent of gay rights, backing numerous anti-gay bills and referendums in his career. He has recently admitted that he was living his life in the closet.

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Vancouver Gay Bookstore Takes Case to Supreme Court

(Vancouver, Canada) – One of Vancouver’s largest gay bookstores has been given the go-ahead to argue in front of Canada’s Supreme Court that the government should fund its legal dispute with Canada Customs.

Yesterday, the top court granted Little Sisters Book and Art Emporium the right to appeal a lower-court decision that cut its funding lifeline for the legal fight.

Jim Deva, one of the bookstore’s co-owners, said fighting Canada Customs in court could cost the store $500,000 to $1-million, which he characterized as an impossibly high figure for a bookstore, or almost anyone else, to come up with.

The bookstore has been fighting Canada Customs because the federal agency blocked the importation of several books and magazines at the U.S. border, claiming they were obscene. The seized material included two series of Meatmen comic books and two books that depicted bondage and sadomasochism.

In July, 2004, a British Columbia judge ordered the federal government to pay the bookstore's court costs, because it was an important constitutional case that touched the interests of all book importers, big and small.

In February, however, the B.C. Court of Appeal reversed the lower-court ruling and killed the funding, saying that Little Sisters had assumed the role of "watchdog" over Canada Customs, a role the public had not appointed.

Now, the Supreme Court of Canada will hear an appeal of that ruling, and will likely provide some guidance on what kind of cases are important enough to get "advance funding" when the litigants can't afford to carry the costs.

Joseph Arvay, a lawyer for Little Sisters, said that if the bookstore had not been granted the chance to take its case to the top court, it would have had to give up the fight.

"There was no one who was willing to take up the challenge, and Canada Customs would continue to ban books at the border without any review by the courts,” Arvay explained.

Arvay said the case is important beyond the interests of his client or the bookstore.

“It has much broader implications for all citizens who believe that their Charter rights and freedoms are being infringed, and yet could not possibly afford the cost of litigation,” he said.

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Slutty Summer

“It’s going to be a slutty summer,” one of the five struggling New York City waiters at the focus of Casper Andreas’ debut film Slutty Summer says midway through the screwball comedy’s first act.

Talk about hitting the nail on the head. From blowjobs in bathrooms to orgies in bars, this group of sex obsessed men will try and do anything to feel needed and wanted, and while Slutty Summer may never really be able to escape its extremely low budget vibe, it’s good fun — a catty way to spend a cold fall night with friends.

All of the gay bases are covered here, from Luke, the snippy, bitchy whore who wants to know if “four or five makes an orgy” to Peter, the lovelorn actor who spends nights jacking off so he doesn’t give it up to the first guy he meets. Tyler is the foreign born actor who steals Markus’ heart, our narrator and main character who, just out of a long term relationship, sees Tyler as the perfect rebound — until something more than sex begins to develop.

That makes four waiters. The fifth is actually a waitress — Marilyn, named for Miss Monroe, a rules girl convinced she’ll find love as long as she maintains control. Too bad she can’t get through a date (or a day, for that matter) without a minimum of three martinis.

Anyone who’s been single in a big city and thinks the lifestyle of Carrie and friends over on HBO was just a bit too upscale to relate to will find a friend they can connect with in Summer. From zingy one-liners to sex tales sure to raise a few eyebrows, this is truly some funny stuff.

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Crystal Meth Re-Classification May Go Forward in UK

(London, UK) - Home Secretary Charles Clarke has made the strongest hints yet that Crystal Meth (methylamphetamine) could be reclassified as a class-A drug.

His comments follow a report from the Advisory Council on the Misuse of Drugs (ACMD), which examined toxicity, risk, manufacture and prevalence of the drug and considered whether the current classification is appropriate.

The ACMD did not recommend the immediate re-classification of the drug but voiced concern over the growing use of the drug.

Also known as ‘tina’, ‘krank’ or ‘ice’, the ease of production and euphoric effects have ensured dramatic escalation of the drug’s distribution worldwide. Crystal Meth users experience a temporary sense of supreme confidence, alertness and have an increased perception of self-attractiveness. On the other hand it also delivers paranoia, agitation and violence in some individuals.

Commenting on the report, the Home Secretary said: “while the ACMD did not recommend changing the classification of the drug, I particularly welcome their undertaking to consider methylamphetamine as a standing agenda item at their Technical Committee, and have asked the Chair of the ACMD, Professor Sir Michael Rawlins, to provide an update of the advice regarding classification in 12 months time.”

He added, “Methylamphetamine is a dangerous drug that has had a major impact on communities in countries such as the United States. It is fortunate that we are in a position to take early action by introducing strong preventative measures to halt its use.”

Earlier, in the week, Andy Hayman, the Association of Chief Police Officers' spokesman on drugs told the Guardian that Crystal Meth is easy to produce: “we are aware that this white odourless drug can be made with relatively inexpensive over-the-counter ingredients.”

It is anticipated that following a review into the drug next year, the Home Secretary will reclassify possession of the drug as a class-A offence.

©pinknews.co.uk 2005

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PlanetOut Inc. Selects Leader for LPI Media

(San Francisco, CA) - PlanetOut Inc. (Nasdaq: LGBT), a leading global media and entertainment company serving the lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender (LGBT) community, has announced that media and publishing industry veteran Bob Cohen has joined PlanetOut's senior leadership team as the interim president for LPI Media.

Cohen will oversee the newly-acquired national magazines and web sites of LPI Media Inc., the world's leading publisher targeting the gay and lesbian market, distributing more than eight million copies of its magazines each year. These properties include The Advocate; OUT; The OUT Traveler); and HIVPlus Magazine as well as other publishing, direct marketing and e-commerce properties.

"Bob has a stellar reputation for developing profitable strategies and business plans that have helped grow some of the foremost brands in media," said Lowell Selvin, chairman and chief executive officer, PlanetOut Inc. "His leadership will help us take the next steps to build a far-reaching media and entertainment company that offers leading advertisers a multi-platform vehicle to reach what we believe to be the largest LGBT-targeted audience anywhere in the world."

Cohen is a leading magazine publishing and media consultant and brings more than 25 years of experience to his new role. His New York-based consulting business specializes in developing profitable publishing strategies and business plans for magazines, test-marketing and launching new titles, and improving subscription and single copy marketing for magazines, newsletters and Internet-based companies.

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Arkansas Challenges Gay Foster Parent Ban Reversal

(Little Rock, AK) – The Arkansas Department of Human Services has announced it will appeal a judge's ruling that the state had improperly banned gay men and lesbians from serving as foster parents.

The agency filed papers with the Arkansas Court of Appeals on Thursday to contend a ruling last year by Pulaski County Circuit Judge Tim Fox that the state ban on gay foster parents was unconstitutional.

Fox had ruled the Child Welfare Agency Review Board did not have authority from the legislature to craft the policy, which Fox said was based on the board's sense of public morality. Fox also said testimony did not prove gay foster parents posed a hazard to the children.

Agency attorney Kathy L. Hall argues that Fox misapplied the law that gave the board authority to make its rules.

The ban began in March 1999, when the board ruled that children should be in traditional two-parent homes because they are more likely to thrive in that environment. Four Arkansans sued, represented by lawyers for the ACLU. The suit said the four were qualified parents and had been discriminated against.

The ACLU had argued that the regulation violated the equal-protection rights of gays. In his ruling, Fox said gays are not a protected class. But the judge said banning gays did not promote the Child Welfare Agency Review Board's mission of ensuring the health, safety and welfare of children.

Fox also deemed public morality, as determined by the Legislature, a legitimate state interest within constitutional limits. Fox noted testimony of sociologists and psychologists that gay people can be as loving and caring foster parents as heterosexuals, and that their children can be as well-adjusted as those raised by heterosexual couples.

After the ruling, the Department of Human Services stopped asking whether potential foster parents were gay, DHS spokeswoman Julie Munsell said. Lawyers for the plaintiffs have 30 days in which to file a response to the appeal.

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Transgender Day of Remembrance a Powerful Reminder of Senseless Violence

(Washington, D.C.) - Human Rights Campaign President Joe Solmonese made the following statement today in honor of the seventh annual Transgender Day of Remembrance, Nov. 20, 2005.

"The Day of Remembrance is a powerful reminder of anti-transgender hate crimes and the need for full protections under law. More than a dozen transgender Americans were killed this year alone, and, sadly, that's almost surely an undercount of actual murders. It doesn't even touch on the acts of violence and harassment faced on a daily basis. It's past time for these lives to be remembered and honored with dignity and protections under the law.

"This fall, the House of Representatives passed for the first time ever a bill that would give local law enforcement vital tools to fight bias crimes against gay, lesbian, bisexual and transgender Americans. This is the bill that should go to the President's desk for signing. This is the law that should protect the American people.

"The Human Rights Campaign stands with fair-minded Americans in marking this solemn occasion and calling for more to be done in cities, counties, states and Congress. Another year should not go by with such devastating reminders of how much further we have to go."

The Human Rights Campaign is the largest national lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender political organization with members throughout the country. It effectively lobbies Congress, provides campaign support and educates the public to ensure that LGBT Americans can be open, honest and safe at home, at work and in the community.

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Erosion Media Launches Gay Political Blog

There are gay blogs, and there are political blogs, but until now there hasn't been much in the way of exclusively gay political blogs.

That changes with the arrival of The Big Gay Picture (www.biggaypicture.com), a new blog from Erosion Media, creator of the popular websites, AfterEllen.com, AfterElton.com, AllGayNews.com, and FakeGayNews.com.

"Most blogs are all over the place," says author and activist Brent Hartinger, one of The Big Gay Picture's three main writers. "But we are a gay political blog. Because we're targeted, we can be comprehensive."

According to Hartinger, the blog will feature interviews with both GLBT leaders and opponents, ongoing commentary, and updates on local and national gay political news.

"We really are giving the big gay picture!" Hartinger says.

Along with Hartinger, the blog will feature daily postings from Sarah Warn, editor of AfterEllen.com, and novelist and activist Michael Jensen.

"Any blog is a reflection of the personalities involved in writing it," Warn says. "And by God, we definitely have personality! We can be pointed, funny, impassioned, and sarcastic - sometimes all at the same time."

Finally, according to Jensen, The Big Gay Picture is also a community forum.

"Unlike most blogs, The Big Gay Picture allows users to prominently post their own commentary and analysis," Jensen says. "We've only just debuted, and things are already quite lively!"

For more information, visit www.erosionmedia.com

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Copenhagen 2009 Preparations Right on Track

(Vancouver, CA) - Plans for the 2nd World Outgames in Copenhagen to be held in 2009 continue to remain right on track. From the outset, Copenhagen has enjoyed strong local support, with the City Council granting the 2nd World Outgames significant financial funding on top of giving the Outgames the use of all sport facilities for free. The formation of a working committee involving local tourism, political and LGBT leaders is a further testament to the quality of this future host city.

"A strong working committee has been established with members of Pan Idraet, the local LGBT sport team, as well as representatives from tourism and the city of Copenhagen," reports Tommy Kristoffersen, President of Pan Idraet. "Our primary task of finalizing the detailed sport, culture, and conference plans by year end is well underway. We are clearly on track for a negotiated partnership agreement with GLISA for early 2006, by which time a Board of Directors and first hired staff person will also be in place."

The European Gay and Lesbian Sport Federation (EGLSF) have also shown their support for hosting the 2nd World Outgames taking place in Copenhagen. "Hosting Outgames in Europe means a major contribution to the further development of the LGBT sport movement on this continent," said Beppo Brem, Co-President of EGLSF. "Pan Idraet can rely on all means of support the EGLSF is able to provide."

"We are extremely pleased with the progress shown by Copenhagen as they finalize their plans for partnering with GLISA to deliver the 2nd World Outgames in 2009," announced Catherine Meade, Co-President of GLISA. "Historically major international LGBT Games have been plagued with deficits, resulting in a lack of transfer of knowledge from one host city to another. Following the strength of the business model from the 1st World Outgames in Montréal, GLISA is thrilled to be creating a new legacy for the international LGBT sport community by transferring that model to Copenhagen."

Partnerships between local LGBT sport leaders, tourism and government officials have proven to be a winning business formula for the 1st World Outgames to be held in Montréal from July 26 to August 5, 2006. Beyond a financial legacy, mutual avenues of respect have been built between LGBT and mainstream organizations, leaving the local LGBT community stronger than before hosting the Outgames.

As the international body that represents the Outgames, GLISA is taking steps nine months out from the Opening Ceremony of Montréal, already with over 9,500 registrations, to ensure that this important legacy continues. "We are working closely with the team in Copenhagen to begin the transfer of knowledge in the upcoming months," said Thomas K. Dolan, Co-President of GLISA. "An extensive plan and working committee is already in place to ensure the maximum benefit is given to Copenhagen before, during and after the Outgames in Montréal. GLISA has a genuine commitment to legacy, and with the strength of our partnerships, it is clear that the success of Montréal will be built upon by Copenhagen in their preparations to deliver the 2nd World Outgames in 2009."

For more information, visit www.glisa.org.

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