Jerry Curl

From his website : A few months ago I decided to write my memoirs, a project I knew was going to bring me closer to an amazing turning point in my life. From the moment I wrote the first phrase I was sure the book was the tool that was going to help me free myself from things I was carrying within me for a long time. Things that were too heavy for me to keep inside. Writing this account of my life, I got very close to my truth. And thisis something worth celebrating. For many years, there has been only one place where I am in touch with my emotions fearlessly and that's the stage. Being on stage fills my soul in many ways, almost completely. It's my vice. The music, the lights and the roar of the audience are elements that make me feel capable of anything. This rush of adrenaline is incredibly addictive. I don't ever want to stop feeling these emotions. But it is serenity that brings me to where I'm at right now. An amazing emotional place of comprehension, reflection a...

President Barack Obama capped a yearlong political drama today, signing into law a landmark health care reform bill that had been seen as impossible just two months ago. The president said the law "will set into motion what a generation of Americans have fought for." He said he was confident the Senate would make fixes to the legislation "swiftly." The president praised those House members who had "taken their lumps" during the overhaul debate. Shouted one lawmaker in the audience to laughter, "Yes we did!" Obama paid tribute to what he called the "historic leadership and uncommon courage" of the members of Congress who pushed ahead with the measure amid the often heated debate. He also hailed the new law, saying it helps lift a "decades-long drag" on the economy. With Victoria Kennedy, widow of the late Sen. Edward Kennedy in the audience, Obama took note of the long battle to bring the health overhaul measure to his desk. ...

The Democratic-controlled Congress approved historic legislation Sunday night extending health care to tens of millions of uninsured Americans and cracking down on insurance company abuses, a climactic chapter in the century-long quest for near universal coverage. On the cusp of succeeding where numerous past congresses and administrations have failed, jubilant House Democrats voted 219-212 late Sunday to send legislation to President Barack Obama. Republicans were unanimous in opposition, joined by 34 dissident Democrats. The Senate-passed bill was widely viewed as dead two months ago. "This is what change looks like," Obama said later in televised remarks that stirred memories of his 2008 campaign promise of "change we can believe in." "We proved that this government — a government of the people and by the people — still works for the people." Obama's young presidency received a much needed boost from passage of the legislation, which would touch the...

Weekend Top Five: #1 Alice in Wonderland ($34.5M) #2 Diary of a Wimpy Kid ($21.8M) #3 The Bounty Hunter ($21M) #4 Repo Men ($6.15M) #5 She's Out of My League ($6.01M)

We'll resume operations next week. Enjoy your days!

Nick Ayler as featured on DNA .

Rescue and recovery workers who were exposed to a toxic brew of smoke and dust in the aftermath of the September 11 terrorist attacks have been awarded $650 million in a compensation deal struck in New York. Thousands of 9/11 heroes, including firefighters, police officers, construction experts and emergency workers, have filed lawsuits since 2003 but last night’s agreement is expected to put an end to years of legal battles. The settlement, worth up to $657.5 million, was reached after negotiations between lawyers representing more than 10,000 people exposed to the debris from the World Trade Center and New York City’s federally financed insurer. Some workers are likely to receive payments of only a few thousand dollars. Others could be in line to get more than $1 million, depending on their injuries. The deal, which still must be approved by a judge and the workers themselves, would make the city and other companies represented by the insurer liable for a minimum of $575 million, wit...

Towleroad reports : Perhaps as a lead-in to their broadcast of Her Name Was Steven documentary this weekend, Anderson Cooper talked to Chaz Bono about his gender transition from female to male.

Florida-based police officer Michael Verdugo talks to The Advocate about being fired after a nearly 15-year-old gay bondage film in which he starred resurfaced: When 22-year-old Michael Verdugo performed in a gay bondage flick called Rope Rituals in 1996, there was no XTube or Facebook. But when the out Hollywood, Fla., police officer became a contestant on HGTV’s Design Star in 2008, times had changed. Word spread quickly about Verdugo’s onetime X-rated role, and he was placed on administrative leave before ultimately being fired in January 2009 after eight years on the force. Verdugo challenged his termination, and an “an 80-year-old Republican” arbitrator recently upheld the police force’s decision, but he's planning a lawsuit. Now 35 and an interior designer, Verdugo spoke to The Advocate about “the fight of his life.” Before news of the movie came out, you filed a successful antigay harassment claim against your HPD superior. Did that play a role in your firing? The work en...

Macy's Inc. is getting into the groove with Madonna. MG Icon, a newly formed venture between the pop star and Iconix Brand Group Inc., announced a licensing agreement Wednesday with Macy's for an exclusive new line of teen clothing that will be in 200 stores and online in August just in time for the back-to-school shopping season. As part of the agreement, Macy's will have the opportunity to launch additional brands with MG Icon in the future. The collection, which will be called "The Material Girl" and will also include jewelry, footwear and handbags, was inspired and designed in collaboration with Madonna and her daughter Lourdes, along with Iconix Brand Group's fashion department. The Material Girl collection will be priced from $12 to $40. The Iconix Brand Group owns, licenses and markets a growing portfolio of consumer brands including Candies', Joe Boxer, Danskin and Roca Wear. (Via AP )

Florian Bourdila as featured on Homotography .

The AP reports : The Dalai Lama blasted Chinese authorities Wednesday, accusing them of trying to "annihilate Buddhism" in Tibet as he commemorated a failed uprising against China's rule over the region. The Tibetan spiritual leader's angry comments appeared to signal his frustration with fruitless efforts to negotiate a compromise with China. However, he said he would not abandon talks. China fought back, accusing the Dalai Lama of using deceptions and lies to distort Beijing's policy toward Tibet. Beijing has demonized the Dalai Lama and accused him of wanting independence for Tibet, which China says is part of its territory. The Dalai Lama says he only wants some form of autonomy for Tibet within China that would allow Tibetan culture, language and religion to thrive. The dispute turned violent two years ago, when anti-government protests erupted in Tibet and China cracked down on the region. The police presence in the Tibetan capital of Lhasa has been heavy ev...

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Girls night on Idol was brutal. Not so much because the performances were horrific (though they were pretty lackluster), but because the judge's comments were more visceral than critical. Even fan-favorite Ellen Degeneres did not hesitate to lampoon the conestants at every turn. That's not to say that the judges shouldn't be critical. But I fail to see how saying that any particular performance ruined their chances is constructive. In any case, last night's standout was Siobhan Magnus. Watch below:

Corey Haim, 38, has been found dead, Los Angeles Police confirmed to TV station KTLA . Police say it is believed the actor, who had a long history of substance-abuse problems, perished from an accidental overdose at 3:30 a.m. Wednesday. Haim reportedly was found unresponsive at his apartment. His mother was said to be with him at the time. He was pronounced dead Providence St. Joseph's Medical Center in Burbank. Haim shot to fame in the '80s after starring in several teen films, including The Lost Boys , Lucas and License to Drive . Most notably, he collaborated numerous times with Corey Feldman, and the pair were dubbed "The Two Coreys." They starred in an A&E reality show with that name from 2007 to 2008. But Haim struggled with drug addiction for several years. At one point, Feldman told his friend he would no longer speak to him until he got sober. (Via People )

Daniel as featured on DNA .

Love Never Dies , Andrew Lloyd Webber's long-anticipated sequel to The Phantom of the Opera , officially opens at the West End's Adelphi Theatre today following previews that began Feb. 22. A Broadway opening has already been set for Nov. 11, 2010, at a theatre still to be announced, and the Australian premiere is planned for 2011. The score is written by Andrew Lloyd Webber, the lyrics are by Glenn Slater (currently represented in London by his lyrics to Alan Menken's music for Sister Act , and who also previously collaborated with Menken on additional songs for Broadway's The Little Mermaid ), and the book is jointly the work of Lloyd Webber, Ben Elton and Slater, with director O'Brien also making contributions. According to the official website for the musical, " Love Never Dies continues the story of The Phantom , who has moved from his lair in the Paris Opera House to haunt the fairgrounds of Coney Island, far across the Atlantic. Set 10 years after the m...

CNN reports : Gay and lesbian groups are attacking a decision by the archdiocese of Denver, Colorado, not to re-enroll a child in a Catholic school in Boulder, Colorado, next year because the child's parents are lesbians. The issue centers on the Sacred Heart of Jesus School, where the pre-schooler is currently enrolled. "The Archdiocese of Denver has acted very unjustly in singling out this child for exclusion," said DignityUSA Executive Director Marianne Duddy-Burke in a written statement Monday. "Until every student's parents are tested on Catholic teaching, this action by Catholic officials cannot be understood as anything other than discrimination on the back of a child. At a tender age, this child has learned that Catholic officials are willing to inflict pain on children and families." The decision was made public last week. "These actions by the Denver Archdiocese harm the student by taking the child away from friends, teachers and community,...

GSFN reports : The 2010 Census promises to be a historic moment for LGBT Americans. For the first time in the institution’s 220-year history, same-sex couples who identify themselves as husband and wife will be counted and reported separately from heterosexual couples. In addition, the number of same-sex couples who refer to themselves as unmarried partners will also be counted and reported. The census represents a snapshot of the American population that’s taken every ten years. Census forms should arrive on or around March 15. Officials say they should be completed and returned in its self-addressed, stamped envelope by April 1. One of the biggest changes in this decade’s census is that people can respond the way in which they self-identify. But while gay and lesbian couples living together will be counted, no category will identify LGBT singles. And while no question asks for sexual orientation, same-sex relationships will be extrapolated from the information that’s provided. Offici...

The new Spring/Summer 2010 issue of GQ Style Russia goes kinky with a dominatrix-themed editorial entitled ‘Only the Handsome Will Survive’ that was styled and directed by Vadim Galaganov. (Via Homotography )

By Jeff Stahler

It's a day of wedding bells for some gay couples in Washington. Couples who applied for marriage licenses on the first day they were available last week can pick them up today and tie the knot. Three weddings are planned at the city's Human Rights Campaign office. The advocacy group helps with lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender issues. An afternoon wedding is planned at All Souls Church — the same place where DC Mayor Adrian Fenty signed the bill legalizing the unions. The District of Columbia is the sixth place in the country permitting same-sex unions. Connecticut, Iowa, Massachusetts, New Hampshire and Vermont also issue same-sex couples licenses. (Via AP )

Miami New Times reports : A new bill that increases tax incentives to lure television and movie production to Florida is proposing to deny those tax breaks to films that feature gay characters. And unlike the ultraconservative Republican politician in The Birdcage , it doesn't seem the bill's sponsor, Rep. Stephen Precourt, will have a change of heart anytime soon. Current laws prevent tax breaks for films that feature smoking, sex, nudity, or profane language. The proposed changes make Florida guidelines seem even more like the Hays Code that censored Hollywood from the the '30s to the '60s. Thankfully, Precourt hasn't borrowed more ideas from that censorship office and written in language that would also disallow interracial relationships, suggestive dancing, and "lustful kisses." "Precourt says he's not targeting the gay community but that shows with gay characters would not be something he'd want 'to invest public dollars in,' ...

Towleroad reports that the Gay Men's Chorus of Washington D.C. is producing a full staging of Grease the musical later this month. They write: "Following in the footsteps of The Wizard of Oz and Bye Bye Birdie, GMCW presents a fully-staged production of Grease! Picture our own Danny Zuko, Sandy, Rizzo and the Pink Ladies — what could be more fun?"

Betty White fan prayers have been answered. The former "Golden Girl" will appear on Saturday Night Live in the near future, she confirmed to People at Elton John's annual Oscars viewing party on Sunday night. Fans have been clamoring for White, 88, to do SNL -- an idea she called "ridiculous" just a few weeks ago -- ever since her comic turn in a Snickers ad during the Super Bowl. One Facebook page devoted to the cause has attracted half a million fans. When asked by PEOPLE, "Are you doing 'Saturday Night Live'?" she answered, "Yes," even if she remains perplexed by the groundswell of support. "I don't know why or how," she says, "but it's been wonderful." White didn't offer any details about the "SNL" gig, and it remains unclear when she will appear -- or what it will entail. Entertainment Weekly said she might appear on a special "Women of Comedy" episode with former "SNL...

It might be time to add weight control to the growing list of potential benefits for light to moderate drinking. A study of more than 19,000 women aged 39 and older conducted by researchers at Boston's Brigham and Women's Hospitals found that normal-weight women who drank alcohol in moderation were less likely than women who didn't drink at all to become overweight or obese over more than a dozen years of follow-up. Those who drank the equivalent of one to two drinks a day -- be it beer, wine, or liquor -- were 30% less likely than non-drinkers to become overweight or obese. Study co-researcher Howard S. Sesso, ScD, MPH, cautions that people who do not drink alcohol should not take up the habit to keep from gaining weight. "That would not be a good idea," he says. "But for women who already drink in moderation, this can be seen as encouraging. Alcohol has traditionally been thought of as empty calories, but in this study light to moderate drinking was associa...

Ivan Scannell as featured on DNA .

The AP reports : Republican state Sen. Roy Ashburn said today that he is gay, ending days of speculation that began after his arrest last week for investigation of driving under the influence. Ashburn, who consistently voted against gay rights measures during his 14 years in statewide office , came out in an interview with KERN radio in Bakersfield, the area he represents. Ashburn said he felt compelled to address rumors that he had visited a gay nightclub near the Capitol before his DUI arrest. "I am gay... those are the words that have been so difficult for me for so long," Ashburn told conservative talk show host Inga Barks. The 55-year-old father of four said he had tried to keep his personal life separate from his professional life until his March 3 arrest. "When I crossed the line and broke the law and put people at risk, that's different, and I do owe people an explanation," he said. Ashburn was arrested after he was spotted driving erratically near the C...

Towleroad reports : After years of refusing to directly answer questions about his sexuality, Sean Hayes finally sits down with a major GLBT publication to reveal that he is indeed gay. Some quotes from his interview in the April edition of the Advocate: “I am who I am. I was never in, as they say. Never.” “Why would you go down that path with somebody who’s done so much to contribute to the gay community?” he asks. “That was my beef about it. What more do you want me to do? Do you want me to stand on a float? And then what? It’s never enough." “I feel like I’ve contributed monumentally to the success of the gay movement in America, and if anyone wants to argue that, I’m open to it. You’re welcome, Advocate.”

After a long hiatus, MTV's successful music series Unplugged will return to the airwaves on March 10th. To kick-off the series, the network has tapped Adam Lambert to perform songs from his critically acclaimed debut album For Your Entertainment. As one of MTV's seminal music programs of the 1990s, Unplugged has been revived in recent years as Unplugged 2.0 for artists such as Lauryn Hill and Linkin Park, and most recently last year as an online concert series for Katy Perry, Adele, Vampire Weekend and other emerging acts. This time around, the concert series will be aired across cable siblings MTV, VH1 and CMT and their respective websites, as well as use the series as branded content for MTVMusic.com and VH1 Mobile. Along with Lambert, rock band Phoenix and Reba McEntire will also be performing on MTV and CMT respectively. "The franchise has always been purely wonderful in that it shows musicians doing what they do best. So our thinking was, 'Why not do it across ...

[ Editor's note ] Unfortunately, we spent most of Oscar night barricaded in the library working on a paper. That being the case, our coverage will be somewhat lacking this year. We did, however, manage to catch a couple of great Oscar moments that will stay with us for a while. The first was Oprah Winfrey's introduction of Gabourey Sidibe for Best Actress nominee. Her words were so deeply rooted in the hopes and aspirations of anyone struggling for a dream that she had us in tears right from the get-go. Miss Sidibe did not win, but to have Ms. Winfrey speak so highly and so eloquently about her could be enough of a prize for anyone. The second sensational moment followed quickly after with Sandra Bullock's Oscar win. Sincere, poised, and ever the funny lady, Ms. Bullock had us laughing through tears. The speech can be seen below: The 82nd Annual Academy Award winners can be found here .

Weekend Top Five: #1 Alice in Wonderland ($116M) #2 Brooklyn's Finest ($13.5M) #3 Shutter Island ($13.3M) #4 Cop Out ($9.14M) #5 Avatar ($7.7)

Some Republicans are dismissing a planned nine-month Pentagon study on gays in the military as biased because it assumes Congress will eventually repeal the 1993 law known as "don't ask, don't tell." GOP lawmakers are likely to use the argument to try to chip away at the credibility of the assessment, which Defense Secretary Robert Gates envisions as the first comprehensive look at the policy in its 17-year lifetime. Pentagon General Counsel Jeh Johnson and U.S. Army Forces Europe commander Gen. Carter Ham were expected to testify Wednesday before a House Armed Services subcommittee for the first time since being tapped to lead the study. "Many of us on this committee have serious concerns with putting our men and women in uniform through such a divisive debate while they are fighting two wars," said Rep. Buck McKeon of California, the full committee's top Republican. Defense Secretary Robert Gates has said it is probably inevitable that the law will cha...

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Randy Blue star Malachi.

The District of Columbia's same-sex marriage law will go into effect as scheduled this week, after the Supreme Court refused to stop its enforcement. Chief Justice John Roberts issued a three-page order Tuesday, a day before the law becomes official. He concluded the high court should defer to local matters in the federal district of Washington. And he said a separate ballot initiative to overturn the law would give voters a chance to weigh in on the question. A group of Washington residents had objected to the Religious Freedom and Civil Marriage Equality Amendment Act, which expands the definition of marriage to include same-sex couples. Those opponents had argued city residents should have been given a chance to vote on the high-profile issue before the city council passed the measure. They still seek to force a ballot initiative after the law takes effect. Local courts had turned down various lawsuits to block it. The district's marriage bureau says same-sex couples can beg...

(Via Queerty )

Last night's show was a snooze fest. The boys did nothing to turn the tide against the girls. It was basically a bunch of boring performances by silly personalities. I mean, of them talked about liking and wearing onesie pajamas, for crying out loud. I'm looking at you Jermaine. Even Jerry Curl favorite Casey James dropped the ball a little. Still, he was heads above the rest of them: For some unfortunate reason, the judge's stand out for me more than any of the contestants. Their unusually harsh criticism was misguided a lot of the times at contestants who tried to do their own thing. For example, Todrick Hall's rendition of Tina Turner's song was both original and good. Yet, the judges lampooned him for making it his own. With the exception of Simon Cowell, all the judges are expendable. Voting off predictions: Jermaine Sellers & John Park

The popular video Web site Hulu is losing two of its most popular offerings: The Daily Show and The Colbert Report . Hulu announced Tuesday that Comedy Central was pulling its shows from the site beginning March 10. Both The Daily Show and The Colbert Report consistently rank among Hulu's most watched programs. Comedy Central, which is owned by Viacom Inc., was a relatively late arrival to Hulu, which is co-owned by NBC Universal, Fox Entertainment Group and the Walt Disney Co. (which owns ABC). When Colbert and The Daily Show were added in June 2008, some technology blogs such as Techcrunch.com said it signified Hulu's arrival as the pre-eminent provider of TV programming on the Web. In a blog post on Hulu, Andy Forssell, senior vice president of content and distribution at Hulu, offered a "fond farewell" to the Comedy Central shows, lamenting their exit. "In the past 21 months, we've had very strong results for both Hulu and Comedy Central, in terms of ...

The AP reports : The post office is renewing its drive to drop Saturday delivery — and plans a rate increase — in an effort to fend off a projected $7 billion loss this year. Without drastic action the agency could face a cumulative loss of $238 billion over 10 years, Postmaster General John Potter said in releasing a series of consultant reports on agency operations and its outlook. "The projections going forward are not bright," Potter told reporters in a briefing. But, he added, "all is not lost ... we can right this ship." Sen. Tom Carper, D-Del., chairman of the Senate subcommittee with oversight authority over the Postal Service, called on Congress to give the post office the flexibility to deal with its future needs. "In light of the serious financial challenges facing the Postal Service, postal management must be allowed to make the business decisions they need to stay competitive and viable in the years to come. As we have seen, it is not productive fo...

Reuters reports : President Obama will usher in the last act of his push to overhaul the $2.5 trillion U.S. healthcare system today by arguing that his retooled plan, incorporating more ideas from rival Republicans, is essential for the good of the country. After a year of debate, compromise, raucous public meetings, major speeches and even a seven-hour "summit" last week with Republican leaders, Obama is due to make a statement at the White House urging Congress to move swiftly toward a vote on legislation. "He will reiterate why reform is so crucial and what it will mean for American families and businesses: they will have more control over their own healthcare, they will see lower costs, and they will see an end to insurance company abuses," the White House said. The political stakes are enormous for Obama, whose approval ratings have dropped during the healthcare fight in the face of unified Republican opposition to his plan for sweeping reform. Republicans cont...

[ Editor's note ] Sorry for the lack of updates yesterday. We were hella busy at our day job and didn't get a chance to post anything. Unfortunately, we're equally busy today so posting will be lighter than usual. Just consider us your source of days-old news!

Our main Dame turned 78 on Saturday.

Juan Esteban as featured on Cisoto Fotos .

--> Proving yet again that nothing cool every comes to Miami: The cast of the Golden Globe Award-winning musical series Glee will embark on a four-city concert tour beginning May 18 in Arizona. The May concert dates include Phoenix, AZ (May 18 at the Dodge Theatre); Los Angeles, CA (May 20-21 at the Gibson Amphitheatre); Chicago, IL (May 25-26 at the Rosemont Theatre); and New York City (May 28-29 at Radio City Music Hall). Appearing in the concerts will be Lea Michele (Rachel), Cory Monteith (Finn), Amber Riley (Mercedes), Chris Colfer (Kurt), Kevin McHale (Artie), Jenna Ushkowitz (Tina), Mark Salling (Puck), Dianna Agron (Quinn), Naya Rivera (Santana), Heather Morris (Brittany), Harry Shum, Jr. (Mike) and Dijon Talton (Matt). Tony-nominated actor Matthew Morrison is not scheduled to participate. Series creator, writer and director Ryan Murphy conceived Glee Live! In Concert! , which will highlight musical numbers from the show including "Don’t Stop Believin," "Some...

'On a Hot Twin Roof' by Laurent Humbert featuring Portuguese twin brothers Jonathan and Kevin Ferreina de Sampaio. It was published in Têtu . More via Homotography .