Coffee Talk :: Talk amongst yourselves. I'll give you a topic.

2010 Prop 8 Repeal Effort Up in the Air By Kilian Melloy | Wednesday Jul 29, 2009 Time is running out to get a repeal of Proposition 8 on the California ballot for 2010--and GLBT leaders are not yet certain whether that’s something they want to do, or whether they would rather wait for 2012.

Momentum behind Va. anti-LGBT discrimination bill grows By Scott Stiffler A resolution unanimously passed by the Alexandria City Council late last month have given statewide activists further momentum in their efforts to lobby Richmond lawmakers to pass an anti-LGBT discrimination bill in the General Assembly.

Chicago HIV/AIDS groups respond to grim infection statistics By Joseph Erbentraut A report the city’s Department of Public Health released last week found an estimated half of men who have sex with men (MSM) in Chicago who live with HIV/AIDS are unaware of their status.

Prostitute-Frequenting La. Sen. Vitter Wants Return to ’Conservative Values’ By Steve Weinstein Louisiana’s GOP Sen. David Vitter, who was caught frequenting prostitutes, has criticized other Republicans for being too liberal about social issues and advocates a return to family values.

Toronto Concert Scraps Musician Labeled ’Homophobic’ By Steve Weinstein The Jamaican dancehall artist known as Elephant Man was taken off the roster only a few days before being part of a scheduled concert in Toronto as a result of a campaign against his homophobic lyrics

Two UK Cops, Now Dads, Are Married--To Other Men By Kilian Melloy It seemed a step forward for gay and lesbian families in the UK when two openly gay police officers had a child via the sister of one of the men, but now more details have emerged that make the entrance of the men into parenthood controversial.

Boston’s 2nd annual Queer Women of Color Week kicks off Sunday August 2 By Hannah Clay Wareham The second annual Queer Women of Color (QWOC) Week begins Sunday August 2 with QWOC+ Boston’s Uni-T Dance and Boat Cruise.

Where is Bryce? Travis Swanson hasn’t heard from his boyfriend Bryce Faulkner for more than a month. In a July 23 interview with Fox News, Swanson said the 23-year-old Arkansas native sent him a text message in late June saying that his parents wanted to take him to "a place in Pensacola" to cure him of his homosexuality. Swanson, who lives in Wisconsin, alleges the news came after Faulkner’s mother discovered e-mails between the men. Since then, Swanson hasn’t heard from Faulkner. None of his friends have. They suspect that his parents enrolled the pre-med student in an offshoot of the Exodus International program, the world’s largest ex-gay ministry.

Gender police at the gym By Ethan Jacobs During the Beacon Hill Judiciary Committee hearing July 14 on the transgender rights bill, a group of representatives of the gym and health club industry testified that such a bill would hurt their businesses by allowing people to use locker room and bathroom facilities based on their gender identity or expression, rather than on their biological sex.

NYC Councilman Bill de Blasio Wants Health Division for Gay Youths New York City Councilman Bill de Blasio wants to create a division in the health department to deal with issues confronting gay, lesbian and transgender youths.

No charges in Mormon church plaza kissing incident
he Salt Lake City prosecutor’s office says it will not pursue charges against two men who were cited for trespassing on a Mormon church-owned downtown plaza earlier this month after sharing a kiss.

Governor gets earful from local business leaders

PROVINCETOWN - Local business owners and tourism officials gave Gov. Deval Patrick an up close and personal look at life in a challenged, seasonal economy last Friday when the Governor spent the day in this resort town.

The Governor was there to listen and got an earful at an afternoon meeting of tourism industry officials and business owners. Polite and respectful, the business owners told the governor that recent increases in property, sales and room taxes were going to hurt the local and regional economy. Calling the combination of the tax hikes, a decrease in state spending on tourism advertising and a rainy June “the perfect storm,” business owners reported between a 10 and 35 percent decrease in their business compared to last year.

“The [inn] bookings went from 10 or seven nights to five this year,” said Tom Walter, an owner of Crowne Pointe Historic Inn and Spa, talking about the average number of nights guests were staying.

“We expected a big boom in tour buses but a lot cancelled because people weren’t signing up. We’re having a tough time,” said Candy Collins-Boden, executive director of the Provincetown Chamber of Commerce.

“We’re down about 10 percent this summer. I’m happy it’s not worse considering the weather,” said Rob Costa, owner of Art’s Dune Tours. (Continue Reading-Source/WickedLocal)

Human Rights Campaign Calls on the LGBT Community and Allies to Participate in National, Grassroots Push to Lobby Congress Face-to-Face

The Human Rights Campaign, the nation's largest lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender (LGBT) civil rights organization, today launched a national, grassroots campaign called "No Excuses" to demand action from Congress on key issues of equality. Designed to take advantage of the congressional summer recess, when members are in their local offices and meeting with constituents, "No Excuses" will mobilize HRC's 750,000 members and their allies to meet directly with lawmakers and push for federal legislative change. Members and supporters can get involved by visiting: http://noexcuses.hrc.org.

WGB: Okay, I have been patient...more than most but enough is enough. We now have the ability to act on ALL of the policies that discriminate against LGBT American's with a democratic lead congress - so we need to act NOW! We need the Democrats to put their money where their mouth is and STAND UP for full equality and an end to years of inequality.

Harvey Milk To Receive Presidential Medal Of Freedom

Via JMG: "The Victory Fund reports that Harvey Milk will be posthumously awarded the Presidential Medal Of Freedom, the highest civilian honor of the United States. Stuart Milk, Harvey's nephew, will accept the award at a White House ceremony to take place on August 12th" (Continue Reading-Source/JMG)

Wicked Interesting :: Don't Ask, Don't Tell, Don't Try (VIDEO)

WGB: Why do I feel we are fighting BOTH Republicans AND Democrats on this issue?

Pro-Gay Republican Runs for Mass. Gov.

"Republican Charles Baker Jr. (pictured) filed paperwork to enter the Massachusetts governor’s race on Wednesday, affirming his support for marriage equality in an election that is expected to turn on the economy, reports The Boston Globe.

“My brother’s gay, and he’s married, and he lives in Massachusetts, so I’m for it. Is that straight enough?’’ said Baker at a press conference after he submitted paperwork." (Continue Reading-Source/Advocate)

Wicked Sexy :: Jonathan Bennett Shirtless

More great shirtless photos via Just Jared:

"Jonathan Bennett (rumoured to be gay) keeps in shape on Wednesday (July 29) in Los Angeles, doing a bit of shirtless exercising before shooting his new movie, Slightly Single in LA.

The 28-year-old hunky young star of Van Wilder: Freshman Year will co-star alongside Rumer Willis and Haylie Duff in his new flick."

Madonna - Celebrate Leak -UPDATED!

Madonna - Celebration
by Material-Madonna

Listen now before it gets pulled! LOVES IT! (Re-posted again at 6:45 EST Friday July 31st.)

Wicked Awesome :: Lesbian Couple Celebrates 70th Year

"Caroline Leto and Venera Magazzu of Dania Beach, FL, met at a party in 1939. They're still together. Yes, couples in their 90s still argue occasionally. This is how it went recently for Caroline Leto and Venera Magazzu as they sipped lemonade on their couch in Dania Beach: "We're not going to have a party," said Magazzu, 97, insisting they are too old for such things. "Oh, yes we are," responded Leto, 96, who noted the two can still polka." (Continue Reading-Source/JMG)

WGB: This was such a feel good story....LOVE IT!

Study: Tanning beds as deadly as arsenic

International cancer experts have moved tanning beds and other sources of ultraviolet radiation into the top cancer risk category, deeming them as deadly as arsenic and mustard gas. For years, scientists have described tanning beds and ultraviolet radiation as "probable carcinogens."

A new analysis of about 20 studies concludes the risk of skin cancer jumps by 75 percent when people start using tanning beds before age 30. Experts also found that all types of ultraviolet radiation caused worrying mutations in mice, proof the radiation is carcinogenic. Previously, only one type of ultraviolet radiation was thought to be lethal. (Continue Reading-Source/Edge)

There is a story that goes along with this photo...

Click here to read it.

Nearly 10 percent of health spending for obesity

Obesity’s not just dangerous, it’s expensive. New research shows medical spending averages $1,400 more a year for an obese person than for someone who’s normal weight. Overall obesity-related health spending reaches $147 billion, double what it was nearly a decade ago, says the study published Monday by the journal Health Affairs.

The higher expense reflects the costs of treating diabetes, heart disease and other ailments far more common for the overweight, concluded the study by government scientists and the nonprofit research group RTI International. (Continue Reading-Source/Edge)

Meltdown 101: Package sizes at the grocery store

Your eyes are not deceiving you in the grocery store. Yes, your bag of Doritos just got bigger. No, the price didn’t change.

Last year, food packages shrank as food makers, dealing with record high ingredient costs, struggled to maintain their profits. But the weakened economy has caused a slump in demand for ingredients like corn and oil, pushing those prices back down. With lower ingredient costs - and higher consumer demand for more value - some brands like Frito-Lay are shifting back to bigger packages, without raising prices.

Think of your food packages like an economic barometer: Times are tough, so costs are low and packages are bigger. When times are good, costs are high and packages, to compensate, get smaller. (Continue Reading-Source/Edge)

Home sales rise as housing market tries a comeback

New home sales rose last month at the fastest clip in more than eight years as buyers eagerly took advantage of bargain prices - a clear sign, economists said, that the real estate market may finally be bouncing back.

Historically low interest rates and a federal tax credit for first-time homeowners also helped push home sales to their highest level since November, the Commerce Department reported Monday.

While home prices are still falling around the country, sales have now risen for three months in a row. Construction of new homes is at the busiest level since last fall. And home resales rose in June for the third straight month.

"The worst of the housing recession," said David Resler, chief economist at Nomura Securities, "is now behind us." And as with the overall economy, the "recovery" is likely to be slow and arduous, he said. (Continue Reading-Source/Edge)

If you live in Massachusetts and would like to buy a new home, click here!

Sen. Chuck Schumer Introduces National Bill To Ban Texting While Driving

"As only 14 states presently ban texting while driving, Sen. Chuck Schumer (D-NY) today introduced a bill which would ban the practice nationwide" (Continue Reading-Source/JMG)

WGB: Thoughts? Great idea that will prevent accidents or more government control over personal freedoms?

Breaking Gay News...

Pro-gay marriage group spent big in Vermont By John Curran | Tuesday Jul 28, 2009 The leading proponent of Vermont’s gay marriage bill spent about $294,000 on lobbying and advertising in advance of the Legislature’s vote -- more than seven times as much as opponents did, according to disclosure forms filed Monday.

P-Town open for business in spite of cool, rainy summer **Popular read! By Jackson Izzo Provincetown business owners remain cautiously optimistic about the remainder of the summer after seemingly endless weeks of cool temperatures and rain largely washed out May and June.

Bombing disrupts Outgames event **Popular read! By EDGE A Seattle-area athlete needed medical treatment Tuesday after small bombs were thrown onto the track at the start of a relay run at the World Outgames.

Canadian Court Requires Gov’t Marriage Officials to Preside Over Gay Unions By Kilian Melloy A Canadian court declined to overturn a human rights tribunal’s finding in a case in which a government appointed marriage minister refused to preside over a wedding for two men and lost his position.

El Paso Stands up for GLBT Equality After Gay Kiss Incident **Popular read! By Kilian Melloy Following an incident in which a party of gay men were thrown out of an El Paso restaurant, the city council had reaffirmed a commitment to diversity.

Out Olympian Boxer Mark Leduc Dies at 47 **Popular read! By Kilian Melloy Openly gay Olympic boxer Mark Leduc, who won the silver for Canada in Barcelona in 1992, has died at the age of 47, according to media reports.

U.S. DOMA Repeal Would Include Recognizing Out-of-State Gay Marriages **Popular read! New York U.S. Rep. Jerry Nadler is proposing a repeal of the federal Defense of Marriage Act that will not recognize domestic partnerships--but will force states to recognize marriages in other states, effectively making gay marriage legal throughout all 50 states.

Chicago event to honor gay veterans Chicago’s Commission on Human Relations will honor gay military veterans at an event in downtown Chicago.

UN allows gay, lesbian group to join debates By Bradley S. Klapper The United Nations granted official status to a gay and lesbian organization from Brazil on Monday, allowing it to participate in U.N. meetings ranging from health to human rights.

Anglican Church may have ’two track’ structure to support gays By Meera Selva The worldwide Anglican Communion may have to accept a "two track" system in which churches can hold different opinions about gay clergy and same-sex unions, the Archbishop of Canterbury said Monday in a bid to keep the church unified.

Lesbians in China petition to donate blood
By Chi-Chi Zhang
Lesbians in China have organized an online petition calling for gay people to be allowed to donate blood, state media reported Tuesday.

Wicked Hot :: Michael Biserta

I get SO MANY hits via searches for this man, I thought I would add a couple photos and repost!

You may remember the hot NYC Firefighter who was in the NYC Firefighter calendar who it was later exposed has been in a Guys Gone Wild video nude thus stopping the calendar (scandalous). Well we have new photos from his new modeling career and a link to THOSE shocking photos. Quick someone light me on fire!

Would you like to see him nude? Click here!

Ex-Gay Leader Admits He's Still Gay

"I think most of us know that "ex-gay" is a complete farce, but there are some who believe it can happen. Well, the leader of Exodus International is admitting the obvious: No, it's not possible to stop being gay.

In his new book, Leaving Homosexuality, Alan Chambers writes that self-denial is indeed a major part of being an ex-gay." (Continue Reading-Source/MDB)

Wicked Cute :: Scared Baby Bear

Via Swish Embassy

Apple Blocks Google Voice Apps from Apps Store

Apple doesn't particularly like it when developer release applications that compete directly with Apple's iPhone software. That's why you won't find any full featured web browsers in the App Store. And apparently it's why you also won't find any mobile apps for using Google Voice.

Of course, up until recently, there was an unofficial Google Voice app called GV Mobile that let you make and receive calls and access your Google Voice voicemail. But the developer says his app was removed, and Apple says it's because it duplicates features that come with the iPhone. Apparently Google ran into the same problem when the company tried to submit an official Google Voice application to Apple 6 weeks ago. TechCrunch reports that the app was rejected.

It makes sense for Apple to block a program like Google Voice, but not because it competes with Apple's software. Instead, Google Voice essentially lets users get around some of AT&T's fees by sending free text messages and making cheap phone calls, even to international locations.

But at a time when Google is releasing Google Voice apps for BlackBerry, Android, and other other platforms, does Apple really want to be the holdout here? Especially since Apple has already approved a Skype application, which also duplicates some of the iPhone's native features while letting users send messages and make phone calls without paying additional fees to AT&T.

Via Sozo's Blog

Wicked Old News...

Ricky Berens' Sexy Wardrobe Malfunction

Although this has been posted in pretty much EVERY blog I read I am still getting "tips" from readers on this story and admit it is kinda funny and cute so here goes:

"United States swimmer Ricky Berens' suit, by the Italian company Jaked, split in the back when he leaned over to stretch after getting on the blocks at the Fina World Championships in Rome. “It felt like they're was a bunch of extra weight around like a bag of water,” he said. “I was trying hard not to focus on the suit. I've never ripped a suit before.”
Via Source/Tres Fab Sweetie!

Can you tell?

One of the above paintings was done by a Brazilian dog named Mambo, and one was done by Andy Warhol. (Via Towleroad)