Two small American children freak on one another. And, in the course of the dance, the girl gets on her belly and the boy simulates sex. At least this can't be blamed on the gays… [MG]
The majority of Brazil's gay boys and girls won't be adopting any time soon:
Brazil's lower house of Congress has rejected part of a pending adoption law that would have allowed gay couples to adopt children.A Wednesday statement from the Chamber of Deputies says a measure giving gay couples the right to adopt was withdrawn because federal law doesn't recognize same-sex civil unions.
A proposal granting same-sex couples the same rights as married heterosexuals has stalled in Brazil's Congress for more than 10 years, prompting some states to take their own actions.
Southern Rio Grande do Sul state has permitted same-sex civil unions since 2004, and a Sao Paulo state court allowed a gay couple to adopt a 5-year-old girl in late 2006.
Brazil's Senate will now attempt to hash out the matter.
An Islamic man recently wrote an advice columnist asking, "Should a man who struggles with homosexual desires, yet is looking for a female marriage partner, tell his potential wife before getting engaged to her?" The columnist says "yes," but later writes, "The man should try to deal with the problem through appropriate professional/religious means before engaging in marriage as his problem is of a psychological nature, and needs to be treated as such." [Islam Online]
A recent study tried to sum up the lives and times of mixed race children, specifically those with one black parent and one white parent. And their conclusions, aside from being totally offensive, are rather ugly: "Mixed-race kids do have one advantage over white and black kids: the mixed-race kids are much more attractive on average." [SH]
From the Editor: The woman you see at the right goes by the name Janet Webb, but I call her "Gram," a somewhat lazy pronunciation of "Grandma."
This Janet's a pretty radical lady and has been roaming this planet, wreaking havoc, for almost eighty-five years. Considering all she's seen in her time, I decided to ring her up for a spur of the moment interview.
After the jump, read Janet's thoughts on the gays, meeting my late grandfather, getting older, my younger self and what she thinks of anti-gay marriage activists. Her response may not be safe for work. That's my granny!
Meanwhile, hats off to my mother, Marsha, who took this lovely picture with her camera phone. Mom, you're so 21st century! Xoxo.
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Neil Patrick Harris graces the latest cover of gay glossy Out. And, like the mensch we know he is, the dreamboat actor spread himself wide open - emotionally, that is - to reveal the quiet trials and tribulations of his otherwise well-documented life. A taste:
OUT: Did growing up in Hollywood make it easier or harder for you to come out?
NPH: I think it was harder. Actually, I think it was easier for me, because I was around a lot of people who were gay and I was around a lot of people who were very confident. I was surrounded by people I could talk to freely about anything, and they were very successful emotionally and otherwise.
OUT: And yet…
NPH: And yet, part of the coming-out process is figuring out who you like and what that means and how to act upon it. Being an actor reduced my level of anonymity. I couldn’t just go to some bar and walk in and ask someone out on a date, because there was too much awareness of me. So it made it more difficult in that sense. I couldn’t be, like, “Maybe I like this kind of guy” or “Maybe I’m into this” — I couldn’t really experiment. I sort of had to narrow my gaze from afar. If I had any regret, it would be that strange lack of anonymity that created panic within myself that I would be found out. But I think that’s everyone’s big fear.
Harris also points to Real World: New Orleans' gay Danny as an "empowering" example of someone who wore his sexuality "comfortably." And he was pretty cute, too.
Research out of Tufts University says people sum up another's sexuality within 50 milliseconds of seeing them. And their gaydar's often right. [Portfolio]
Batman wasn't always as butch as Christian Bale and others portray.
Jokes about the hero's relationship with Robin abound, but, as Tyrion Lannister notes, the gay rumors were once no laughing matter:
The accusation that Batman was a homo, as strange as it might sound to our own ears, was taken quite seriously by government and public alike. It wasn't leveled by a marginal nut or crank, but by a world-renowned psychiatrist, Dr. Frederic Wertham.
…
Batman and Robin, Wertham charged, inhabited "a wish dream of two homosexuals living together." They lived in "sumptuous quarters," unencumbered by wives and girlfriends, with only an aged butler for company.
…
"Only someone ignorant of the fundamentals of psychiatry and psychopathology of sex can fail to realize the subtle atmosphere of homoeroticism which pervades the adventures," wrote Wertham."The Batman type of story may stimulate children to homosexual fantasies."
Oh, please! Even straight Batman could inspire fantasies.
Anyway, as you can guess, a concerted effort to make Batman more manly began - and thus the dark hero we know and lust today…
The media circus has begun! Good Morning America today featured some People magazine pictures of trans man Thomas Beatie and his baby girl, Susan Juliette.
Watch the Towleroad-provided video about the baby's birth and other precious details, after the jump. Be sure to note that Beatie didn't have a c-section, as previously reported. This man did it the old fashioned vaginal way, which takes serious balls.
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David Jon Acosta refuses to be referred to as a "fashion designer," which is certainly queer for someone who spent their life savings starting a t-shirt company, Gold Saturn. Acosta explains, "I don't consider myself a fashion designer. I love fashion, yes, but I'm not into construction. I don't like to sew. I like graphic design, so I put my two loves together. I consider myself a graphic designer, because it's the graphic that makes the shirt special."
And judging by the graphics, you can be sure there's more to the story…
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Italian duo Dolce & Gabbana dedicated their new gym collection to the Milano Beach Soccer team, who definitely know how to work the designer duds.
[Images]
Rumor has it Madrid's gay pride tops all others. Thus, in an effort to uncover the truth, Queerty contributor Jimmy Im traveled to the Spanish city for a full investigation.
Check out the blow-by-blow, after the jump…
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"Seattle Opera is looking to build its audience by reaching out to lesbian/gay/bisexual/transgender music fans. The arts organization announced three LGBT Nights at McCaw Hall during the upcoming 2008-09 season. At these designated performances, patrons may pay $100 for discounted main-floor orchestra seating, private intermission receptions (with wine, hors d'oeuvres and desserts) and admission to preshow lectures. The inaugural event — an Aug. 22 presentation of "Aida" — will be hosted by Seattle Opera trustee JJ McKay and Washington state Sen. Ed Murray." [Seattle Times]
The headline says it all, folks! Thirty-four year old trans man Thomas Beatie gave birth to a healthy baby girl this morning. Just in time for Independence Day!
Update: ABCNews.com has now included Beatie in its photo slideshow of “Medical Marvels,” which warns “viewer discretion advised,” right next to “the Elephant Man,” a girl with an enormous tumor on her face, a 15-year-old girl with clubbed feet, and the “Tree Man” whose body is covered in gnarled growths. Classy!
"More than 100 gay Australian couples have paid $80,000 to create a baby using rent-a-womb women in the United States, a fertility clinic says. The controversial scheme, branded as 'one-stop baby shopping', is becoming increasingly popular among professional gay men in Sydney and Melbourne, according to The Fertility Institutes based in Los Angeles." [News Ltd]
