• Because we learned how to split our matzah without making an unsightly mess!

• Because Details proves out point: it shouldn't have been honored by GLAAD.

• Because, like Christ, Faggoty-Ass Faggot has risen from the dead. But they're not concerned with your spiritual salvation. No, no, FAF has bigger fish to fry: your Manhunt grammar. You should be ashamed...

• Because people fell for the Tron ban. Seriously, the movie came out in 1982 - why would they ban it now?

• Because Italian reality show contestants masturbate on national television!

• Because John Waters doesn't like jury duty.

GLAAD - the "inclusive" gay media watchdog group - held their 18th annual media awards last night at New York City's Marriott Marquis. We weren't there, but GLAAD president Neil Guiliano sure as hell was. He's in almost every shot.

As for the actual winners, Patti LaBelle won for Excellence in Media Award, while Tom Ford took home the Vito Russo Award. Marc Jacobs' "bear" ad campaign won the advertising honor and, for some reason, GLAAD granted the "straight" men's magazine, Details, the Outstanding Magazine Overall Coverage. Because, you know, their "Gay or X" column really helps the cause.

Find some pictures after the jump for your - um - enjoyment...

And, to read all about Jennifer Hudson and Patti LaBelle's duet, click here.

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Eartha Kitt's never been crazier than she is in this video for "Cha Cha Heels" from John Waters' Female Trouble. Backed by legendary electro outfit, Bronski Beat Dead or Alive, Kitt stomps all over the stage, singing, purring and vamping it up as only she knows how. The perfect inspiration for a Monday morn', we think. Hopefully you'll agree.

If you thought Elton John's party looked fun, you should check out some pictures from this weekend's Independent Spirit Awards. Melissa Etheridge may not have won, but Little Miss Sunshine took home a bunch of honors, including best feature and best supporting actor for Alan Arkin.

We've included some pictures after the jump. They're all Polaroidy and shit. It is, after all, a celebration of independent spirits. When you're done looking them over, you can see more here. They won't be as big, though. Sorry.

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That's right, kids, we're getting all emotional on your asses. Over the next few weeks we'll be taking a little look at sex and love in The Emotions Issue. We've chose to open it up with a video of Whitney Houston's "So Emotional" not only because we love the song, but because we think Houston's words capture the complexities of love.

As the title suggests, she gets so "emotional", but never does she say "love". To us, love's less an emotion and more of a concept made of myriad emotions: frustration, jealousy, confusion, anger, elation. The list goes on. Over the next few weeks we'll take a little look at all those and more.

Don't expect mawkish love tales - although, there may be one or two. We're getting down to the nitty gritty, looking at all the passions, sentiments and feelings that go into that great abstract notion.

Also, we loved sharing your youthful pictures during The Youth Issue, so we're going to try something similar with The Emotions Issue. We want you kids to send in pictures of people, places and things you love and, of course, why. Don't send in a picture of you and your boyfriend or girlfriend and say, "I love Chris". We want concrete reasons here, kids - not only does it give us a sick thrill, but it forces you to reflect on why you get so emotional. Hopefully it won't lead to any breakups.

Tune in Monday for the first actual installment of The Emotions Issue: our boffo interview with John Waters!

Hopefully you didn't destroy too many braincells this weekend and remember on Friday we posted part one of a two-part interview with one of our favorite New York City-based musicians, Cazwell. In case you did, in fact, do irreparable damage, here's the link to part one, in which he chatted about his growing up in Worcester, Massachusetts, his creative routine and what he'd do if he weren't making music.

Caught up? Good. We switch gears a bit in this installment. After the jump, read what Cazwell has to say about losing his virginity, why he doesn't call himself "hip-hop" and who he'd love to write an album for (hint: she's rich, blond and named after a city - oh, and a hotel).

(Also, be sure to head over to Cazwell's MySpace page and/or website for his upcoming tour dates. You'll be glad you did.)

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When we asked The New York Blade EIC Trenton Straube to pen an article for The Youth Issue, he practically bust a nut. It's particularly timely, you see, because Miss T said he's had youth on the brain as of late - but, sadly, no other body part - due to the fact that he just turned 178 38 years old. He then proceeded to give us way too much information:

I just read Tennessee Williams’ reissued Memoirs. What a slut, that Tenn! So inspiring - except for the sad slow death and public displays of addiction. Enabling my addiction to Tenn, my family, who knew I was reading that book, planned a trip to Tennessee Williams’ grave site, in St. Louis, when I was in Missouri for Christmas.

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It seems the fagalicious filmmaker's got a man crush on Britney Spears' ex, Kevin Federline. Purveyors of fine bullshit news, Star Magazine definitely report that John Waters reportedly told Canadian mag, McClean's:

I'm a big fan of K-Fed...That's who I want to marry! What did he do that was so wrong? She's the idiot. She's the one who gave him the Ferrari. And he looks good whether he's all cleaned up or long-haired and sleazy.

He went so low as to actually buy Fed's album. At least Waters got the taste to keep it sealed. He tells, McLean's, "I consider it a prized possession; I haven't even taken it out of the wrapper." Good thing, too, considering its DOA status.

Another month, another Out. You may recall that last month they gave us the ritualistic end-of-the-year rejuvenatory spectacular (including Tom Donaghy's boffo essay on bridging the queer generational divide). Well, this month the boys take a trip down Rio way for a little skin tight swimsuit action.

Snapped by Matthias Vriens, the boys leave little to the imagination (you'll see what we mean, after the jump). Of course, there's more to the issue than just swimsuit clad beach bunnies, a species many may find terrifying. As EIC Aaron Hicklin points out in the editor's letter. Recalling in hilarious detail the horror of seeing his father in speedo, Hicklin muses:

The result is that I have always found men in skimpy swimsuits faintly embarrassing (often, let’s face it, for good reason). To which you might legitimately ask, “So what the hell is he doing editing this magazine?’ As one acquaintance put it, none too delicately, “Isn’t every issue of Out a swimsuit issue?” Well, no.

Hicklin goes on to suggest the reader check out the Mark Simpson aka "Sporno's the new Metrosexuality" penned assessment of so-called "Speedophobia" in the United States. Sure, it's a well-trod topic, but as is his inimitable style, Simpson gives it a little extra kick. Delving into the surprisingly absorbing (absorbant?) history of bathing suits, Simpson offers this nugget:

Bathing and swimming are undoubtedly pagan passions. The ancients invented the seaside resort and spent a great deal of gold on, and time in, their blessed public baths, where the men bathed and swam naked. Not because they were indifferent to nakedness, but because they esteemed virility. Every night was wet jockstrap night (without the jockstrap) at the Roman baths, and especially well-endowed bathers were likely to be greeted with a round of applause; during the reign of notorious size queen Emperor Elagabalus, those who hung low at the baths were promoted to high office.

Also in this issue, a piece on virginal Christ-loving (he loves you, too) gays, a few notes on our favorite reality-television diva-bitch heart stopper, New York and a Valentine's Day-themed "musical mix" from everyone's favorite cupid, John Waters. Of course, Out wouldn't have it any other way.

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In celebration of the rerelease of Memoirs by Tennessee Williams, the deliciously depraved John Waters has penned a very special introduction. Using their powers of persuasion (and international clout, those bastards!), The New York Times adapted said introduction for their prized pages. In it, Waters meditates on his first encounters with Williams and how the famed writer of A Street Car Named Desire and The Night of the Iguana changed his life. Waters writes:

Yes, Tennessee Williams was my childhood friend. I yearned for a bad influence and boy, was Tennessee one in the best sense of the word: joyous, alarming, sexually confusing and dangerously funny. I didn’t quite “get” “Desire and the Black Masseur” when I read it in “One Arm,” but I hoped I would one day. The thing I did know after finishing this book was that I didn’t have to listen to the lies the teachers told us about society’s rules.

Also, can we just say that while reading this piece, we couldn't stop imagining Waters and Williams in bed together: a disturbing, yet unexpectedly intriguing fantasy, to say the least.

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Good news for all you art-fags out there. A new charity, United States Artists, has raised $20 million to fund myriad arts projects across the nation. The recipients, who will be announced on December 4th, will each receive $50,000 to complete their aesthetic endeavors. Applicants were nominated by 150 anonymous creative leaders. While none of their names have been released, it is known that queer filmmaker John Waters (pictured as seen by artist Ralph Michael Brekan) suggested a few. Sicko wonders, no doubt. And we hope...

New Charity to Start Plan for $50,000 Artists' Grants [The New York Times]

• A judge in Maryland struck down a law making same-sex marriage illegal--and now she may be impeached for it. We can see Baltimore-based John Waters' movie about it already. [AP]

• First Madonna makes plans for Coachella. Now queer favorite Goldfrapp to perform at the huge, enormous, fabulous South By Southwest Music Festival. The gays should really pay attention to his music festival thing. No one goes to circuit parties anymore. [GCN]

• Gay adoption is totally banned in Florida--the only state with such policies, in fact--but a new law might change that. Maybe. Floridians, call your state reps! [AP]

• Moscow mayor takes Communist view on gay pride: still a big no-no. Too bad, Johnny Weir would have been a great Grand Marshall. Hell, we would have gone with him! And suddenly, I know why the Mayor said "no"... [Dallas Voice]