Crucifixion is an ancient method of execution, where the condemned is tied or nailed to a large wooden cross and left to hang until dead. Christ crucified on a cross, is for most Christians the main symbol of their religion, but some Protestant Christians prefer to use a cross without the figure (the "corpus" - Latin for "body") of Christ.
Philadelphia Mayor John Street may not be Public Enemy No. 1 with the city’s gay community for much longer. The 64-year-old Street, in the past a staunch opponent of same-sex marriage, will preside over the commitment ceremony of longtime colleague Micah Mahjoubian and partner Ryan Bunch this weekend.
Mahjoubian, the city's deputy secretary of external affairs, told the Philadelpia Inquirer recently that he popped the question, so to speak, during brunch last fall.
"I told him Ryan and I got engaged to be married, and I'd like him to consider whether he would officiate our ceremony," he said of Street, who strongly opposed legislation to provide benefits to same-sex partners of city employees while he was City Council president in the 1990s.
According to the Associated Press, Street agreed to the gig because “Micah is my friend. He has been in my campaign and has been in my administration for eight years. I've come to respect him as a person, and if this is something he would like for me to do, then I'd like to do it for him."
Although the ceremony will resemble in nearly every way a “traditional” wedding—125 guests are expected to witness the groom and groom, wearing matching tuxedos, say their vows, exchange weddings and then head off to a reception—it will have no legal standing, since Pennsylvania prohibits gay marriage.
“It's not marriage. It's not real marriage. They can't be married... It's not a religious ceremony,” Street told the Philadelphia Inquirer recently. “I mean, it's not really marriage."
It’s real to Bunch and Mahjoubian, however, who told the Associated Press, "To me, this is like a 'Nixon goes to China' thing. He came in as a mayor that a lot of people in our community were skeptical of, and yet he is going out able to accomplish more than anyone thought."
THis video of this hot gay underwear fashion show has been censored.
You can find it on REstoring Sex blog
An American gay pop duo previously barred by Singapore authorities have been given permission to perform at an HIV/AIDS awareness concert.
Jason Warner and deMarco DeCiccio, a couple in real life, were stopped from performing their act Jason and deMarco in 2005 when a similar event was being organised by Safehaven, a ministry of the equal rights for all Free Community Church.
At that time, the Media Development Authority (MDA) of Singapore said: "Based on the duo's performance in the United States and information from the website, the couple have used their musical performances and their own example as a gay couple to promote a gay lifestyle" and as such would be "against the public interest."
Amy Tsang, the MDA's director for arts and licensing said that the 2005 concert had been prohibited because it was "open to general members of the public", according to Fridae.com.
This time round, Safehaven has assured the MDA that the concert, which is for over-18s only, "is targeted at the high risk groups" and that its aim is "AIDS education and HIV prevention."
Commenting on their decision to ask the authorities to allow the duo to perform for a second time, the event's co-organiser Peter Goh said:
"We want to give ourselves as well as the authorities another chance to prove that together we can create more space to move the community towards healthy living."
Mr Warner and Mr DeCiccio, who met in 2001, have released five albums and a single.
Both Christians, the pair has starred in a documentary entitled We're All Angels about the anti-gay Christian fundamentalist abuse that they have received.
Mr Goh told Fridae.com: "Jason and deMarco are openly gay and we hope the HIV message will go so much further coming from people who are gay themselves.
"The fact that they are a gay duo makes them really unique.
"There are many openly gay artistes around, but you don't see many gay duos who partner in life as well as in their music careers."
The concert is being organised to tackle the rise in HIV infection rates amongst gay men in Singapore.
According to Action For Aids, 26 per cent of the 357 new HIV diagnoses reported in 2006 were from gay men.
AFA believes, however, that most cases are unreported and that the true figure is closer to 60 per cent.
Director Paul Toh said: "It is critical that gay men in Singapore realise that safe sex is not an option.
"It is totally non-negotiable if we do not want the HIV epidemic to devastate the community as it did in the US in the late 80s and early 90s.
"If we do not intensify our prevention work today, we certainly will find ourselves in the same situation sooner than we think."
Last month the Singapore parliament legalised oral and anal sex in private between consenting straight adults in the first changes to the penal codes in more than two decades.
But the ban on "gross indecency" will remain in place and male homosexuals still face up to two years in prison for gay sex.
During the summer the authorities banned a gay photo exhibition, a gay poetry reading during Pride celebrations and a picnic and fun run from the Singapore Botanic Gardens.
Like many of you, the first time I heard of the gay p
I went to Glide gospel church this sunday. It's a gift of energy.
Just a few sentences brought back for you:
"We are not here only to celebrate god.
We are here to celebrate god... and to celebrate each other"
"We were the first church to deliver condoms at the exit of the sunday celebration during AIDS 1986-1990"
"White, black, yelow, green, whatever yoru colour is, you are welcome in this church"
"Straight, homosexula, lesbian, transgender, multi sexual, whatever your sexual orientation is, you are welcome in this church"
"We have one hour to give you the energy to be happy until nexy sunday"
Wonderful sermon isn't it?
Catholic church and others may learn...
THank you Glide for this wonderful moments.
:)
"Exploding onto the music scene, like a brilliant dazzling comet full of power and light, Stevie Jewel has now entered our atmosphere. Seventeen year-old Stevie is on her way to stardom using her impressive singing, songwriting, dancing and acting abilities."Very gay video clip:)
Source
He's been married three times and has also been romantically linked with some of Hollywood's most desirable women. Yet for nearly his entire career, Tom Cruise has been subject to pervasive rumors that he's gay. Though Tom's camp has repeatedly denied the talk, it has persisted over the years, with two men even claiming to have had affairs with him — tales which Tom was willing to challenge in a court of law. Now, after conducting an extensive investigation of the gay rumors, porn star-turned-private investigator Paul Barresi is speaking to In Touch about his findings. "Everything I've found and everything I know points to Tom being heterosexual," Paul tells In Touch.
There’s a lot of mean things I’ll say about Tom Cruise. Most of them I won’t publish, but I’ll say a whole lot of defamatory things about him when no lawyers are around to hear it. Apparently In Touch magazine has a pretty similar rumor. They’ve gone all-out and hired an investigator to look into Tom Cruise’s sexuality. And you’ll be shocked by what they found. I’m talking scraping your jaw off the floor.
The magazine’s headline reads “FINALLY THE TRUTH.” And we all know how the Scientologist are fans of free speech and really encourage speaking the truth, especially when it comes to their golden boy. Or should I saw paid spokeswhore. Not shockingly, In Touch’s highly respected private detective (a former porn star, no less) has come to the irrefutable conclusion that Tom’s straight as an arrow. An arrow that’s pointing at another guy’s butt.
He’s been married three times and has also been romantically linked with some of Hollywood’s most desirable women. Yet for nearly his entire career, Tom Cruise has been subject to pervasive rumors that he’s gay. Though Tom’s camp has repeatedly denied the talk, it has persisted over the years, with two men even claiming to have had affairs with him — tales which Tom was willing to challenge in a court of law. Now, after conducting an extensive investigation of the gay rumors, porn star-turned-private investigator Paul Barresi is speaking to In Touch about his findings. “Everything I’ve found and everything I know points to Tom being heterosexual,” Paul tells In Touch.
[From In Touch]
Not surprisingly, In Touch is making us wait until the issue hits the stands to learn all the reasons Tom is straight. I’m guessing it’s going to be like “He’s been married 3 times. Only straight men marry women.” “He likes boobs.” “Scientology loves gay people – if Tom were gay, he’d be open about it.” Tom’s just too… something. It’s hard to put your finger on. It’s not like he actively shows any of the stereotypical traits we’ve come to associate with gay people. There’s just something artificial about the way he interacts with women he’s supposedly sexually interested in. While I love Nicole Kidman, I could maybe excuse that one – she seems a little cold. But Katie Holmes? I wouldn’t kick her out of bed, and I’m a straight woman. Or maybe not. Maybe they should send this former porn star detective after me, and see what my issues are. Something tells me Tom was able to bribe Paul Barresi with things only Tom can provide. Wait was Barresi a gay porn star? Let’s go with yes, that makes this funnier. So happy Thanksgiving, and Tom Cruise is not gay. That’s almost as good as extra mashed potatoes.
Important Note by Celebitchy: This story is a complete turnaround from earlier claims by Baressi. The guy wrote a book, segments of which were published online in September 2006, saying that he spoke with a male hooker who had a bizarre wrestling jerk-off session with Tom in the late 90s toward the end of his relationship with Kidman. We covered this extensively at the time.
Then a guy claiming to be the hooker who wrestled with Tom Cruise contacted me and we had an extended e-mail exchange. He was extremely wary of telling his story and never did in the end, just giving vague statements that Baressi’s account, which again at that time was that Cruise was indeed gay or at least had gay experiences, was not true.
So the hooker guy, who was reluctant and could not be convinced to tell his story, e-mailed me and made hints that it didn’t happen that way and that Cruise wasn’t gay. (Believe me, I wish it went the other way with this guy, but it didn’t. It’s possible he was a plant by someone, but he was so evasive with me, and so unprofessional about it, that I would say he just got scared in the end and didn’t tell the whole story, which he suggested was less incriminating toward Tom.)
I spent a week e-mailing with a guy who claims to be “Big Red,” the male hooker that supposedly had a rather tame gay wrestling romp with Tom in the late 90s. The guy didn’t tell me his story and I kept e-mailing with him back and forth, hoping that he would write something I could publish.
He claimed that the story told by another guy, Barresi that we published here was inaccurate, and that it didn’t go down like it was claimed, but the guy wasted my time and didn’t give any details. Here’s the relevant part of our e-mail exchange. Again, I cannot verify that this is the person he claims to be or that this is anything more than a person who strung me along via e-mail for a week, but here’s what he said:
———————————
Segment of one e-mail toward the end of our exchange: I just do not think the story I have to tell is what you are looking for but I will think about it.
Another e-mail: I am actually looking to build Tom Cruise up not break him down
Last one I received: I’m not getting a good vibe from this at the moment - - I think I will wait and I may neveer publish the real story - - afterall, I believe in Karma and Barresi will have to deal with his.
———————————
It sounds like whatever happened, it was even less sensational than was claimed, at least according to this person who contacted me and got my hopes up about running this big exclusive. (I even contacted a lawyer and a cult expert about how to proceed, which may be why he got a bad vibe. You can’t be too careful with the c0s.) This guy claims to live in Europe now. The book by Barresi says that he left the states after the news of his supposed romp with Cruise got out, but I can’t be certain what’s true at this point. Tom Cruise is weird and is involved in a harmful freaky cult, but whether he actually had a gay wrestling session is up to question.
[I wrote this, it was originally published on Celebitchy in November, 2006]
So now this same guy Baressi is all “Oh, Tom Cruise isn’t gay.” What happened?
Meanwhile Cruise biographer Andrew Morton, who has a supposedly explosive unauthorized biography of Cruise coming out this January, has sold his house and is now in an undisclosed location after extensive harassment by Scientology thugs defending Tom’s character. Perhaps Baressi was engaged in a little character-saving PR of his own, if he’s so quick to switch his story. Maybe the hooker guy was right and it was never true in the first place. Either way, I’ll be reading Mr. Morton’s book with wide-eyed interest.
Update 2: Baressi has commented specifically on this post, and clarifies that he never claimed in his book to have checked out Big Red’s claims, and that it was now-jailed celebrity lawyer Anthony Pellicano who told him the story checked out. Pellicano was a notorious double-dealer, and routinely dug up dirt on celebrities in order to secure deals representing them. I re-read the chapter online of Baressi’s book that I referred to, and he’s right - he never claimed to have checked out Big Red personally, he was just quoting Pellicano, who told The Enquirer that the story wasn’t true, while telling Baressi that it checked out. Our apologies to Mr. Baressi for misunderstanding and misrepresenting his earlier position. One thing Mr. Baressi did say was that “He [Big Red] spoke with such conviction, I truly believed his story,” but once he investigated, it didn’t pan out. We will issue a full story with correction after Mr. Baressi answers some questions we have for him in the comments.
Here are his comments on this story:
To clarify: In first draft of my book, Pellicano’s Enforcer/the “Seeing Red” chapter, I write, “Red survived (Anthony) Pellicano’s brutal questioning. Anthony later pulled me aside and said, “I think this kid’s telling the truth. I find him to be credible.” Just to clarify, it was Pellicano who said this; not I.
As written in chapter, subsequently, (Anthony Pellicano) phoned me at home to let me know, “So far, all the information Red gave him seemed to be checking out.” Again, this is Pellicano talking; not I.
Also, it is clear in chapter that it is Pellicano; not I, who claimed, “Tom Cruise had, indeed, been in London shooting Eyes Wide Shut on the days Red alleged to have been there and that he did have a body guard named Mickey.” And, it is clear in chapter that it is Pellicano; not I who made the claim that (Cruise’s alleged body guard, Mickey) “happened to be currently doing time for murder. (and he told me that) He expected to receive a mug shot shortly.”
If you go back and read the chapter, you’ll read I said, “It all sounded so convoluted and bizarre to me.”
So happens, I was right, it was all convoluted. Pellicano was not telling me the truth.
I conducted my own investigation and discovered Cruise was not in London at time Red alleged to have met him as Pellicano claimed. I also found out that the line Pellicano gave me about the body guard Mickey being in prison for murder was all a sham as well.
My investigation of the Cruise gay rumors continued long after Pellicano was arrested, right up until very recently.
I concluded my findings only a short while ago– after which I decided to give the interview to IN TOUCH.
This will all be explained in great detail in the FINAL DRAFT of book.
The snow is starting to fall now but in 2009 most people won't care about it anymore. Except maybe Al Gore. The Bearfire Resort will offer a year-round ski resort—complete with ski tracks, snowboard park, snowball caverns, ice rafts, climbing walls and bobsleds—in the middle of Texas, next to Bearfire Mountain. And the best part is not the stunning 250-foot tall, 35-acre artificial Glacier Peak mountain, but the fact that it all looks straight out from World of Warcraft.The Bearfire Resort won't use artificial snow but a special synthetic material called Snowflex:
Snowflex is a polymer composite consisting of a monofilament fibre and impregnated carrier layer. This sits on top of a unique shock layer, giving a responsive and reactive feel. Manufactured in tile form, Snowflex forms an homogeneous surface that can be made into complex features and shapes.
Sounds good to me. According to the people behind it, this giganormous complex will be "environmentally friendly." How an artificial 650,000 square feet mountain could be environmentally friendly is yet to be seen. Until then, Brian will have to keep going to Tahoe for his snowboard fix and I'll have to keep going to the Montblanc for my jacuzzi and drinks.
Canadian strippers are the best.
Here is Bobby Ryan from the reality show “Strip Search Canada” definitely does. We featured him today in our Daily Briefing, and he’s shown here (about 30 seconds in) getting a “body hair inspection” in one of the episodes of the show. That’s him - the “hairless wonder” in the aqua thong.
New research finds that gay men make less money than straight men. The same research shows that lesbians do not suffer similar job discrimination. Professor Bruce Elmslie of the University of New Hampshire's Whittemore School of Business and Economics speaks with Liane Hansen about the study.
Unbelievable.
Unfortunately I am now in San Francisco, not in Paris
:(
The GenQ Street Angels want you! Formed to combat anti-gay violence in Sydney's streets, the group hopes to deter homophobes from harassing, and potentially harming, gays and lesbians heading out for a night on the town.
The group was started by GenerationQ.net founder Andrew Stopps, who plans to have volunteers patrol streets Friday and Saturday nights during busy clubbing hours. He is looking for people with policing, military, security or medical experience to join his team, but he claims he does not want to start a vigilante group.
"We're hoping that just by their presence, the Angels will deter people from any sort of threatening behavior," Stopps said.
GenerationQ founder Andrew Stopps, who was the victim of a violent attack in Erskineville about four years ago, said the GenQ Street Angels were a direct response to a Sydney Star Observer campaign to reclaim gay-friendly areas.
“We are looking for volunteers who are in the armed forces, police, security or have medical training to join the Street Angels.” Stopps said.
“Training will be provided to make sure the Street Angels have boundaries and guidelines and that’s where we will work with the police to make sure they are there to support.”
Stopps said a recent increase in violence along Oxford St could not be ignored.
“It is clear that we as a community need to help the police with this problem,” he said.
“We are not looking for vigilantes, but for trained people to help keep people safe when they are on the strip. We are hoping that just by being visible at events and on the street, the Street Angels’ presence will make people think twice before attacking or acting in a threatening way.”
Stopps said GenerationQ had already flagged the idea with youth group Twenty10, Lord Mayor Clover Moore, Surry Hills Police and the ACON Anti-Violence Project.
“We want to work with these authorities as a further support to them and not instead of them,” he said.
A NSW Police spokeswoman said it did not endorse the formation of vigilante groups and that victims of homophobic violence should report it immediately.
Sydney Lord Mayor Clover Moore said the move was indicative of the growing safety concerns among the gay and lesbian community. She said similar, short-lived groups set up in the past had emerged at a time of high levels of homophobic violence and harassment.
“While I understand the community frustration motivating this latest proposal, I would be seriously concerned if it resulted in community members attempting to do the job of the police or taking the law into their own hands,” she said.
“Volunteers may be able to play a worthwhile role in helping to make our streets safer, but any volunteer program should be developed in conjunction with the police, the Lesbian and Gay Anti-Violence Project and the City of Sydney’s Safe City Team.”
To volunteer as a GenQ Street Angel, visit www.generationq.net.
Gap has partnered with Piaggio, the maker of Vespa motor scooters, to offer a limited-edition LX50.
The Vespa is painted in the same colorful pattern that Gap is offering in scarves, gloves, sweaters, leg warmers, and baby clothes this season.
The $5,999 "Holiday Vehicle" is a bit more pricey than the $3,199 you'd likely pay for the standard LX50.
The pattern is called "Crazy Stripe." While it's adorable, I'm not so sure you'll still think so after the third kid stops to ask if you can get his letter to Santa when you return to your workshop.
If you are gay and if you are living in Los Angeles, then you know where to find great bodies, great huns with abs.
:)
Jason Ruta, host of SoGayTV, explores what underwear gay men prefer, shows his own and models show theirs. Special guest, fashion expert and sylist Maha.
Nico simply likes exhibitionnists. Nico lives in France and he is into this psychological focus between exhibitionnists and voyeurs.
I think he is a voyeur.
Here are some photos from his blog but uncensored ones are on Restoring Sex blog.
FR
XR
Roundabout Theatre Company presents THE RITZ, an uproarious comedy from acclaimed playwright Terrence McNally (Love! Valour! Compassion!, Master Class). Directed by two-time Tony Award® winner Joe Mantello (Wicked, Assassins), this hysterical farce stars Academy Award® nominee Rosie Perez and two-time Tony® nominee Kevin Chamberlin (Seussical, Dirty Blonde).
When garbageman Gaetano Proclo's brother-in-law orders him killed, he hides in the most unsuspecting place -- a gay bathhouse! Hilarity and chaos ensue, as Gaetano and his outrageous new friends hatch a plan to save his life.
The cast will also include Brooks Ashmanskas (Chris), Ashlie Atkinson (Vivian Proclo), Patrick Kerr (Claude Perkins), Lucas Near-Verbrugghe (Tiger), Terrence Riordan (Michael Brick), Seth Rudetsky (Sheldon), Adam Sietz (Abe), David Turner (Duff), Lenny Venito (Carmine Vespucci), Ryan Idol (Patron), Teddy Coluca (Patron), Billy Magnussen (Patron), Mark Leydorf (Patron), Matthew Montelongo(Patron), Angela Pietropinto (Aunt Vera), Jeffrey Evan Thomas (Patron), Josh Breckenridge (Patron), Justin Clynes (Patron), Andrew Cooksey (Patron), Lukas Hassel (Patron), Nick Mayo (Patron) and Dillon Porter (Patron).The Ritz will feature choreography by Christopher Gattelli and musical direction by Seth Rudetsky. The design team includes Scott Pask (Sets), William Ivey Long (Costumes), Peggy Eisenhauer and Jules Fisher (Lights) and Tony Meola (Sound)."The Ritz" is among the few Broadway shows still playing in spite of a stagehands strike that shut down more than two dozen plays and musicals. "The Ritz" is a revival of Terrence McNally's 1975 musical set in a gay bathhouse, starring Rosie Perez. Appropriately, the Roundabout Theatre has staged "The Ritz" in the old Studio 54 space.
"The Ritz" is one of several shows that have separate contracts with the Local 1 union that allowed them to remain open, and doing strong business. Among the other plays still live are "Young Frankenstein," "Mary Poppins, " "Xanadu" and "The 25th Annual Putnam County Spelling Bee."
Broadway's stagehands and theater producers resumed talks Saturday at an undisclosed location in their first meeting since a walkout by Local1 shut down more than two dozen plays and musicals.
The two sides met Saturday for the first time since Nov. 8, when Thomas C. Short, president of the International Alliance of Theatrical Stage Employees, gave the local authority to strike. The walkout two days later forced 27 productions to cancel shows during the run-up to one of the most lucrative times of the year for Broadway, Thanksgiving week.
Local1 and the League of American Theatres and Producers would not comment on the resumption of talks.
Pressure to settle the contract dispute is increasing as the holiday approaches and losses mount for the shows, which include some of Broadway's biggest hits such as "Wicked," "Jersey Boys," "The Phantom of the Opera," "The Lion King" and "Mamma Mia!"
Ticket sales for Thanksgiving week could easily top $1 million for several of those shows. One limited-run, holiday attraction, "Dr. Seuss' How the Grinch Stole Christmas" has 15 performances scheduled for next week to take advantage of the crowds expected in the city for the start of the Christmas shopping season.
The stagehands, who include scenery and prop handlers, carpenters, electricians, and lighting and sound technicians, have been working without a contract since the end of July. Negotiations have focused on work rules -- how many stagehands are required to open a Broadway show and keep it running.
If you like cute 21 year old boys, you're gonna love Josh Tucker. Josh is not your average boy in porn. Sure, he has a cock that is hard a lot of the time. And yes, he's slender, smooth, and has a boyish smile. Even better, he's a top who loves picking guys up at clubs and fucking them. But what makes Josh different is that it's more than just porn.
The Groundsurf is a three-wheel motorised skateboard with a unique selling point - it's Bluetooth-enabled, and as such, can be controlled via mobile phones.
NEW YORK, NY – Sexual Fresh: Canadian Michel Germain) and his sexy male models wowed New Yorkers at Bloomingdale’s late last week apparently.
Sexual Fresh, Michel Germain’s crisp new men’s fragrance, is undeniably clean, masculine, and sexy, making it completely irresistible. Sexual Fresh is a bright mixture of juicy mandarin, gentleman’s lavender, and a blend of aphrodisiacs so complex that it is never to be revealed, but is always effective.
Michel Germain’s first men’s fragrance, sexual pour homme, debuted 10 years ago and is the #1 brand at Bloomingdale’s and a best seller at The Bay and Macy’s.
Sexual Fresh launches exclusively at The Bay across Canada. In the U.S. I would guess that it will be at Bloomingdale’s and Macy’s at the very least.
I’ll have to pop into The Bay and see if they’ve got any of this new fragrance in yet, as I can’t find any other reference to it online yet. Besides, I’ll want to test it out for myself and report back on any effects…
Mr Paddick, 47, the Met’s most senior gay police officer, casually mentioned the possibility of standing for the post at the launch of the Way We Are Now, a collection of essays from gay community members.
He told the Evening Standard, “As a serving policeman I cannot take any active part in politics and I have no plans to do so.
“In any case I haven't been invited to stand by the Lib-Dems or anyone else.”
“I could apply to retire in November, but my contract lasts another two years, I have no firm intentions but, even if I was asked, I'm not sure I'd take it up,” he said.
The gay charity, Stonewall’s, chief executive Ben Summerskill told PinkNews.co.uk, “As many gay people as possible should stand for office, but ultimately they should be judged on their policies."
Meanwhile, Mr Paddick will not face an investigation by the Metropolitan Police Authority over the dispute regarding the Stockwell tube shooting of Jean Charles de Menezes.
Gay friendly Ken Livingstone, has previously stated he wants to be the London Mayor for the London Olympics. This would mean winning two more terms in 2008 and 2012.
At the Society for the Scientific Study of Sexuality meeting in November, I will report that the same continuum of scores exists in the U.S. and in the average of scores from a dozen countries outside the U.S. I also find that fewer than 10 percent of subjects score as “pure” heterosexual or homosexual and that females place, on average, farther toward the gay end of the continuum than males do. My study suggests that characterizing sexual orientation properly requires two numbers: mean sexual orientation (where a given person lies on the continuum) and sexual orientation range (how much flexibility or “choice” the person has in expressing that orientation, which also forms a continuum).
Homosexuality is no longer a barrier to success at work, say 20 of Britain’s most powerful and influential gay people.
The advice comes in a new educational resource that will be distributed to young gay people throughout the country. It aims to show how the contributors have achieved huge success in their particular professional field.
Those interviewed include Tory shadow minister Alan Duncan, ITV executive Dawn Airey, Sir Ian McKellen, chief executive of Kleinwort Benson Robert Taylor, the prime minister's advisor Spencer Livermore and Beth Ditto of The Gossip.
The 88-page booklet, released this week, was the brain child of Liam Keogh, who runs LE Communications, a national PR and media company. It was written by him and created in conjunction with Manchester-based charity The Lesbian and Gay Forum.
"My primary goal in creating this booklet was to smash the ridiculous stereotype that gay boys only grow up to be hairdressers or interior designers and that all lesbians work as mechanics. As this resource shows, gay people are doing everything from directing Government policy, to managing multi-billion pound investment banks, to running national television channels. I wanted Britain’s gay teenagers to see this," says Liam Keogh.
"I don’t want any gay youth to think that their sexuality is going to stop them from doing whatever they want in life, whether that’s having children or becoming Prime Minister. By presenting them with a whole new set of role models, who have fulfilled their ambitions, I hope that they will be inspired to do the same and not see their sexuality as a barrier," he adds.
The Lesbian and Gay Forum, which supports North East England’s homosexual community, funded and designed the booklet and will be distributing thousands of copies to colleges, universities, careers centres and anywhere that it can inspire young gay and bisexual people.
"Despite positive changes in legislation and society, gay and bisexual people are still not treated equally. Resources like this are key to challenging the homophobia that underscores this inequality and vital at supporting the people in our communities who have suffered because of it," says Lesbian and Gay Forum communications manager Andrew Gilliver.
Ben Cohen rugby playerBen Cohen is married, has two kids, and plays rugby for the Northampton Saints in the British League. Yep, he's pretty straight. But to the surprise of many male fans he held a signing this week for his new calendar at Prowler, a gay sex shop in Soho.
Even queer supporters weren't initially sure what to make of the news. One confessed, "I thought it was a joke actually. When I first read about it yesterday I wasn't sure, but I came along today just to see, and he is [here]."
Other attendees thought it sent a strong message to more homophobic players, with a fan pointing out that "as society gets more and more tolerant, more sports stars should come out and support us - because we support them."
Cohen, himself, felt the event was a big success...
Ben Cohen MBE, born 14th September, 1978 in Northampton, is an English rugby union player.
Cohen has spent the bulk of his professional career with Northampton Saints, although has since left the club under mutual consent and is seeking new employment. Cohen had long been linked with a move away from the club.
Ben Cohen's usual position is on the wing.
Ben Cohen is an England rugby union international.
Does the US military pondered gay love?
:)
The US military investigated building a "gay bomb", which would make enemy soldiers "sexually irresistible" to each other, government papers say.
Other weapons that never saw the light of day include one to make soldiers obvious by their bad breath.
The US defence department considered various non-lethal chemicals meant to disrupt enemy discipline and morale.
The 1994 plans were for a six-year project costing $7.5m, but they were never pursued.
The US Air Force Wright Laboratory in Dayton, Ohio, sought Pentagon funding for research into what it called "harassing, annoying and 'bad guy'-identifying chemicals".
The plans were obtained under the US Freedom of Information by the Sunshine Project, a group which monitors research into chemical and biological weapons.
'Who? Me?'
The plan for a so-called "love bomb" envisaged an aphrodisiac chemical that would provoke widespread homosexual behaviour among troops, causing what the military called a "distasteful but completely non-lethal" blow to morale.Scientists also reportedly considered a "sting me/attack me" chemical weapon to attract swarms of enraged wasps or angry rats towards enemy troops.A substance to make the skin unbearably sensitive to sunlight was also pondered.
Another idea was to develop a chemical causing "severe and lasting halitosis", so that enemy forces would be obvious even when they tried to blend in with civilians.
In a variation on that idea, researchers pondered a "Who? Me?" bomb, which would simulate flatulence in enemy ranks.
Indeed, a "Who? Me?" device had been under consideration since 1945, the government papers say.
However, researchers concluded that the premise for such a device was fatally flawed because "people in many areas of the world do not find faecal odour offensive, since they smell it on a regular basis".
Captain Dan McSweeney of the Joint Non-Lethal Weapons Directorate at the Pentagon said the defence department receives "literally hundreds" of project ideas, but that "none of the systems described in that [1994] proposal have been developed".
He told the BBC: "It's important to point out that only those proposals which are deemed appropriate, based on stringent human effects, legal, and international treaty reviews are considered for development or acquisition."
Pentagon officials confirmed Friday that they had considered developing a "gay bomb."
Oddly enough, the U.S. military in 1994 sought to create a hormone bomb that might turn enemy soldiers into rampant homosexuals, leading to an orgiastic gang bang.
Edward Hammond of the Sunshine Project in Berkeley, Calif., used the federal Freedom of Information Act to obtain a copy of the proposal from the Air Force's Wright Laboratory in Dayton, Ohio.
As part of a military effort to create nonlethal weapons, the proposal suggested, "One distasteful but completely nonlethal example would be strong aphrodisiacs, especially if the chemical also caused homosexual behavior."
The documents indicate the Air Force lab asked for $7.5 million to develop such a chemical weapon.
"The Ohio Air Force lab proposed that a bomb be developed that contained a chemical that would cause enemy soldiers to become gay, and to have their units break down because all their soldiers became irresistibly attractive to one another," Hammond said after reviewing the documents.
"The notion was that a chemical that would probably be pleasant in the human body in low quantities could be identified, and by virtue of either breathing or having their skin exposed to this chemical, the notion was that soldiers would become gay," Hammond said.
The Pentagon told CBS 5 News that the proposal was made by the Air Force in 1994.
"The Department of Defense is committed to identifying, researching and developing nonlethal weapons that will support our men and women in uniform," said a DOD spokesperson, who suggested that the "gay bomb" idea was quickly shelved.
Hammond said the government records he obtained indicate the military was keener on the idea than it is now suggesting.
"The truth of the matter is, it would have never come to my attention if it was dismissed at the time it was proposed," he said. "In fact, the Pentagon has used it repeatedly and subsequently in an effort to promote nonlethal weapons, and in fact they submitted it to the highest scientific review body in the country for them to consider."
Gay community leaders in California said Friday that they found the idea of a "gay bomb" both offensive and ridiculous.
"Throughout history we have had so many brave men and women who are gay and lesbian serving the military with distinction," said Geoff Kors of Equality California.
"So, it's just offensive that they think by turning people gay that the other military would be incapable of doing their job. And it's absurd because there's so much medical data that shows that sexual orientation is immutable and cannot be changed."
