



It's Friday, reader. You know what that means - it's Queerty ReBUTTal time! Yay!
You guys did super with the comments. Really. Just super - lisp and all. While we have plenty of thoughts on your thoughts on our thoughts, we're switching it up these week. As you're well aware, we've just kicked off The Style Issue.
Before things go too far, however, we'd like to have a brief look back on some of our other issues and some of the bits that didn't make it. Take a look at some unpublished excerpts, after the jump.
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This past Sunday, San Francisco celebrated the 96th year of the annual ING Bay to Breakers 12K, the largest foot race in the world. This means the streets were crowded with more than 100,000 visitors and locals who either ran or walked the route from Embarcadero Bay to—surprise— the Ocean Beach breakers!
Queerty correspondent Jimmy Im (the picture of professionalism) promptly made start time at 8 am and trekked 7.5 miles - in his record time: 3 hours and 50 minutes! - across the city, parading along ked-chugging trojan frat boys, gay smurfs, free balling old men and a shitload of dick-in-a-boxes!
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Nepal's Blue Diamond Society has called for the United Nations to admonish Iran for last week's anti-gay raid. Malaysia Sun elaborates:
[BDS] sent an appeal to UN Secretary-General Ban Ki-Moon, asking for his intervention to secure the freedom of 80 men arrested by Iranian security forces in Isfahan eight days ago.Blue Diamond Sociey's a natural ally for gay Iranians, who face very public, increasingly brutal state-sponsored attacks. BDS remains Nepal's singular gay rights organization and has repeatedly come up against the country's Maoist government, which has a less than sparkling gay rights record.Expressing deep concern at the crackdown in the conservative Islamic country, BDS said it had received information that the detainees had been severely tortured in Isfahan jail and were in a bad state. "Their lives are in danger...We ask your timely intervention to secure their early release."
It's not all doom and gloom over in Nepal, however. The country celebrated its first gay beauty contest last night. Zee News reports that 18 cruised the catwalk last night to take win for the Pink Pageants' top slot. We wonder if the contestants dropped into Nepal's first and only openly gay-owned business, The Cutey Beauty Salon.

Approximately 80 young protesters gathered outside the Polish embassy London yesterday to commemorate International Day Against Homophobia. The British Youth Council-backed, wide-eyed activists hope to counter Poland's increasingly homophobic internal policy.
Just yesterday, Polish education minister, the monstrous Roman Giertych unveiled his proposed education reforms. These anti-queer reforms, which Giertych and his conservative boss, President Lech Kaczyński, claim will help shield the children from sinful sexuality, have been condemned by a number of European politicians.
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AIDS is the great equalizer. Young, old, black, white, gay, straight, transgendered, Christian, Muslim – you name a social group, most likely a member has HIV/AIDS.
Not since the Black Plague has a disease so dramatically altered the course of history. We’re all touched by HIV/AIDS, even if we don’t realize it. Thus, it’s imperative that we all play a role in the protracted nightmare – a message the AIDS Walk embraces in its new social realism-inspired poster campaign...
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Family Pride's proud to announce the proud winners of the Family Drawing Contest. No, this isn't the winners' piece. This here creation comes from 3rd place "winner", 6-year old Rosie of Pennsylvania.
In case you're unfamiliar with the primitive language known as child, young Rosie's message reads thus: "[I love my family because] they always help me and they are always really nice." What more can you ask for? Well, maybe an explanation.
What's going on in that picture? Rosie either has three fathers or two daddies and a very butch mommy. Unless, of course, one of the three daddies didn't mind being a complete biological anomaly with a worn-out, torn-up penis. Regardless, congratulations on your win, Rosie. And to your family. They must be so proud.
For the other winners, including grand prize winner, 9-year old Jordan's precious picture, click here.

As of this writing, there are 1,928 news articles on Reverend Jerry Falwell's death. No surprise there - the Evangelical changed the course of American politics. His Moral Majority helped lead the Christian right into office, his sermons regularly pushed anti-gay agenda and the abortion debate drips in his righteous venom.
On the other hand, however, he gave millions of people hope, founded a university dedicated to educating his followers and donated to charity. Falwell's politics may have been evil, but as Al Sharpton remarked last night on Larry King Live, Falwell had some good in his heart, however misguided. Needless to say, the reactions to his death have been mixed.
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Former American President and Nobel Peace Prize winner, Jimmy Carter has come out against Don't Ask, Don't Tell.
The Navy veteran released a statement through Servicemembers Legal Defense Network:
It is my long-held belief that every human being deserves dignity and respect. I often heard that phrase during my years at the United States Naval Academy, I carried it out as Commander-in-Chief, and it continues to animate myWait, gays are human? Holy shit! Someone tell Congress! Oh, wait, Carter just did. And so have countless other people and our government still doesn't get it. SDLN's hoping, however, that President Carter's words will hit home. CONTINUED »
human rights work around the globe today. The nation's commitment to human rights requires that lawmakers revisit 'Don't Ask, Don't Tell,' the current policy that prevents lesbians, gays and bisexuals from serving openly in our armed forces.

29-year old Mike Brazell and Jonathan Frank, 18, locked lips in Concord, New Hampshire last week. The two men are traveling across the country as part of animal loving non-profit PETA's "Vegetarians Make Better Lovers" campaign. PETA's fur-free blog elaborates:
Mike and Jon chose New Hampshire to celebrate the fact that it has recently become the fourth state to authorize civil unions for gay couples. They also brought a big banner with them that read "Vegetarians Make Better Lovers," and then proceeded to prove it for the benefit of a large crowd of onlookers. In between makeout sessions, the dudes had plenty of leaflets with information about the way animals are treated on factory farms just in case anyone who was having a bit too much of a good time at the demonstration.Just like activists - sullying people's fun with facts! Indeed!
One Concord resident called the boys out on their carnal conjecture: "I'm not a vegetarian, and I haven't had any complaints yet." Nor have we. Although, to be fair, we're usually out the door before they can spit or swallow, let alone say...
PETA launched a similar campaign last year, in which former Navy Seal Brazell got down with another man. Those PETA-heads may not eat meat, but they sure do love their hot beef! Watch some footage from last year's tour, after the jump...
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Episcopal Reverend Don Armstrong nearly got a face full Sunday. The Episcopal reverend had just launched into his sermon when an 18-year old activist named Marcus Hyde ran in and threw a pie at Armstrong.
The Colorado Springs-based Armstrong has come under fire in recent months for allegedly misusing funds. He has also been criticized for trying to distance The Grace Episcopal Church from the national Episcopal movement, a movement which has been debating the role of gays in the church. No word on whether Hyde planned the action over Armstrong's planned schism. He did, however, tell police that he was "passing judgment on Armstrong on behalf of church parishioners," according to The Gazette.
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More gay casualties of war over in Iraq. Last month, police picked up a 27-year old carpenter and suspected homo named Maan. Four days later, on April 25th, the Taji resident's corpse was found on the side of the road - he had been killed execution style.
Meanwhile, a known gay activist named Hani remains in hiding after being arrested and tortured by Iraqi police. Doug Ireland reports that a police squad targeted and tortured an Iraqi gay activist named Hani. Worse yet, American officials may have been present, but did nothing.
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Isaiah Washington's making a special reconciliatory trip to Gayville. The Grey's Anatomy star came under fire for his faggot flinging - a liberal linguistic lob that led to TR Knight's coming out - and now he's appearing in two GLAAD-sponsored public service announcements.
Our black sister Lauren Williams over at Stereohyped tipped us off to this Us Weekly "exclusive", which reads:
Says an insider, “Isaiah is committed to making amends.”Well, we're just tickled a pretty shade of pink. Not only because we endorse rehabilitated, apologetic Washington's publicist-endorsed efforts - which we do, begrudgingly), but also in eager anticipation for the announcement itself. What the hell can he say? Something like, "It's not nice to call someone a faggot backstage" and then, "It's not nice to call someone a faggot at the Golden Globes"? Hopefully they've got good screen writer's. Also, we're so pleased to know that Washington and GLAAD's friendship lives on. Mazel to the t-o-v!The actor's publicist, Howard Bragman, confirmed the ad on Wednesday. "We're gonna have — I want to say at least two versions of it at this point," Bragman said. "We may broaden our message a little."