American Gladiators and its ultra-gay international spin-offs present themselves as athletic competitions. Homo-journo Mark Simpson, however, sees something a little more “tarty.”

From the daddy of metrosexuality: Some of the men…seem to be wearing bras. It’s difficult not to wonder they’re a bit lacking in the tit department but have good abs, so they gave them something to cover up their saggy breasts or over-large nipples.

Or maybe, along with the skirt, it is just more evidence that the male body is now as packaged and fetishised, not to mention scrutinized, as the female variety - at least on Prime Time TV.

Actually, on the basis of the new Gladiators, you could argue … Continued…

Jesse Metcalfe doesn’t have a very big funny bone.

The soon-to-be washed up actor went a bit mad after blogger Perez Hilton joked about his potential homosexuality.
…Hilton was left in a panic when Metcalfe threatened to murder him - after he “joked” the actor was gay.
…
Hilton was unnerved when Desperate Housewives hunk Metcalfe took speculation over his sexuality seriously.

[Says Hilton] “That was quite negative energy. He was drunk and said he wanted me dead. I was quite shocked. I’d only joked that he might be gay, what’s the big deal?” Perhaps Metcalfe’s simply trying to emulate his new butch image. Or maybe Hilton hit a nerve…

Jim Neal’s Senatorial dreams were dashed last week when he lost to fellow Democrat Kay Hagan.

The road to Washington wasn’t the most level, especially considering Neal’s relative obscurity and the fact that Hagan won the support of party leaders, who apparently worried Neal couldn’t take on Republican Elizabeth Dole.

While some would be sore about their loss, Neal’s taking it all in stride. He hasn’t yet decided what the future holds, but this homo-politicos sure of one thing: he made - and will continue to make - an impact.

Neal and our editor chatted yesterday about the candidate’s loss, gay group Human Rights Campaign’s non-endorsement and why this year will change America’s electoral process forever.
Continued…

School yard bullies better watch out, because Maryland Governor Martin O’Malley yesterday signed an all-inclusive bullying law to help protect gay guppies. Maryland’s the eleventh state to include sexual orientation in its anti-bullying mandates and only the seventh to include gender identity. [GLSEN]

The gay watchdogs over at GLAAD gave gay news rag The Advocate a media award for “Best Overall Coverage,” thus dashing the hopes of Entertainment Weekly, Newsweek and other mainstream magazines. Now, no disrespect to The Advocate, but they should inherently have great gay coverage, which translates to an advantage. This is like giving the Pope an award for “most prayerful,” or something. Regardless, congratulations! [Gay.com]

An Indiana student at Ball State University says he and his friends were attacked last Friday because he’s gay. “[Kyle] Flood says he and four friends were leaving the bar Friday morning when they were approached by two college-aged men who began cursing, referring to their sexuality. A scuffle ensued and Flood suffered cuts and bruises. He was treated for his injuries at Ball Memorial Hospital. Ball State University Police Chief Gene Burton said attacks on gay students were rare.” Apparently not anymore… [WLFI]

Rebel preacher man Jay Bakker simply can’t convince Joel Osteen to love the gays.

The men met last week to discuss mega-church leader Osteen’s offending silence on gay rights, a cause close to Bakker’s heart. Bakker, whose mother was gay icon Tammy Faye Mesner, traveled to Osteen’s church in Texas last week to raise the clownish pastor’s awareness of the universal gay plight.

In a surprising move, Osteen agreed to seat Bakker and activists during his Sunday sermon, but won’t budge on his anti-gay take: In the end, Bakker said, Osteen was most gracious, had chairs reserved for the LGBT community Sunday morning and made time to meet after the 11 a.m. … Continued…

Social conservatives are upping the ante in their war against McDonald’s, the restaurant that no doubt raised them.

People like the American Family Association are absolutely seeing red over the fast food chain’s National Gay and Lesbian Chamber of Commerce.

McDonald’s apparently attempted to quell their rage, but only ended up making them more mad, according to an AFA Action Alert…
Continued…

Poor Father Arthur Mallinson.

The long-time Catholic priest resigned from his Dallas-area post yesterday as rumors swirled about his sexuality. Mallinson had moved to St. Michael’s in McKinney just weeks ago and immediately found himself the subject of speculation after it was revealed he once contributed to a site for gay priests.

Father Mallinson’s involvement with the site, which is defunct, briefly made news reports in 2002.

He told the diocese he had contributed to the site – which included his photo – when its purpose was to support gay priests in a celibate lifestyle but stopped in 2001 after others began posting pornographic material…

Celibacy is a requirement of Catholic priests. Dallas Diocese officials … Continued…

Latvian political leaders don’t approve, but did reach a compromise with Riga gay pride organizers and found a location for this year’s pride festivities: along the Daugava River, the same place anti-gay activists staged an oppositional “No Pride” concert last year. Despite the deal, Social Integration Ministry member Oskars Kastēns wants the gays to back down: “[Pride] only provokes more aggression.” [UK Gay News]

Khadijah Farmer definitely has something to celebrate!

The New York resident won a settlement in her discrimination case against a West Village restaurant, Caliente Cab Company.
Continued…

A Florida judge ruled this afternoon that despite David Davis’ love of the confederacy, he acted inappropriately in banning students from wearing gay pride garb. [ACLU FL]

Hey, you! Yes, you.

Do you like Boy George? Do you want to see him sing “The Hits Of Culture Club and Beyond” at Terminal 5 on August 14th?

Well, you’re in luck, because we have two free tickets burning a hole in our pocket and know that some of you are deserving. How deserving, however, remains to be determined.

So, here’s what we’re proposing: you guys (or gals) dress up in your greatest Boy George-esque garb*, send us a picture, we post said picture and hold a little vote to see who gets to go. Sound like fun? You bet your sweet ass it does! So, send those pictures on over to … Continued…

With only six primaries left - and Barack Obama’s resounding lead over rival Hillary Clinton - many people have basically declared the delegate selection over. That, however, would be premature.

While the majority of the states and overseas regions’ delegate numbers have been determined, most of them must still decide which individuals will head to Denver this August. have ruled which candidate gets how many delegates, most of them still must decide who will head to Denver this August. And, like so many things in this election, there’s loads of drama surrounding the process. Infighting, allegations, personal homophobia and potentially impotent DNC “gay delegate goals” may derail the whole process.

Editor Andrew Belonsky offers part one of an extensive two-part analysis, after the jump…
Continued…

Marc Jacobs has yet another new boyfriend, Brazilian advertising executive Lorenzo Martone, pictured on the far right.

A simple visual comparison of Martone to the designer’s former loves already points to a new direction - and Gawker penman has Richard Lawson worrying about his editorial future!