To describe Steven Cohen’s performance art as “shameful” would be true on two levels. First, the South African artist shames himself – for example, he caused a stink during 2000’s Limping Into The African Renaissance when he shat on the Dance Umbrella Stage. Cohen’s work can also be described as shameful in a slightly different, slanted way: it is, quite literally, full of shame. The 54-year old’s elaborate and highly personal pieces force the viewer to confront and digest shame.

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We all know the adage, "Politics makes for strange bedfellows", but perhaps none as strange as the friendship between Jewish lesbian couple Diana Ralph and Jean Hanson and suspected Islamic terrorist Hassan Almrei.

Almrei has been held by the Canadian government since October, 2001, when officials nabbed him for allegedly helping an al-Qaeda cell forge checks. Using a phony United Arab Emirates passport, the young man first arrive in Canada back in 1999, Canadian Broadcasting Corporation reports.

The government did nothing until the frenzy following the September 11th attacks, at which point they used "security certificate" laws to lock him away. Those controversial laws allow officials to detain "dangerous" illegal aliens and hold them without charge or trial. Similar laws have allowed the American government to hold "enemy combatants" at Guantanamo.

Hearing the case, Hanson and Ralph raised $10,000 for Almrei's bail. The government refused to set him free, however, but the ladies have been in constant communication with the incarcerated Islamist. Ralph - whose grandfather presided over the Nuremberg trials following World War II - tells CBC:

I imagine, for outsiders, it looks kind of weird to be having a couple of Jewish lesbians supporting someone who is supposedly a crazy fundamentalist Islamic terrorist.

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• 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.

• Slowly but surely, Madonna's becoming a woman.

• The Jewish Theological Seminary has decided to admit queers. Why can't all religions be so cool?

• A group of techie jokesters hacked Republican presidential hopeful John McCain's MySpace and declared, "Today I announce that I have reversed my position and come out in full support of gay marriage…particularly marriage between two passionate females." This, of course, makes one think of McCain masturbating which leads to severe psychological scarring. Thanks, guys...

• Democratic Representative Barney Frank of Massachusetts on gay marriage: "After a couple years, the average heterosexual person forgets gay marriage is there."

• A church security guard apparently pulled a gun on someone trying to take pictures of Britney Spears. Um, church security guards carry guns?

• Greg Scarnici makes a better looking Fergie than Fergie herself.

• Former American Family Association Attorney Joe R Murray on homophobia: "The gay issue is a human issue, and thus I strongly believe that it must be approached with concern and compassion. Furthermore, the individuals engaging in the debate must recognized that behind the theories there are real life human beings that are made in the image of the Creator." We just shat our pants. In a good way, of course...

• Gay performer Charles Knipp aka Shirley Q. Liquor is apparently "not a racist".

• We have to give a huge thanks to reader Nathan, for he led us to this Marvel Comics-endorsed website where you can make your own super hero. It's fucking rad and you should go make one. Here's our first attempt: Ass Licker! And, yes, the exclamation mark's part of his name. You have to say it like that: "Ass Licker!" no matter what, even if you're whispering. His power: he licks ass, of course. We expect he'll have some friends soon. [heromachine]

• Speaking of heroes, Britney Spears apparently has three: her mama, her ex and her lawyer. We'd argue the third's the most powerful. [TMZ]

• Here's a heroic Hebrew: orthodox Rabbi Steve Greenberg. He's lent his voice to the great gay marriage debate. His argument revolves around the necessary distinction between civil matters and those of faith: "By denying the right to civil unions, states are in violation of civil rights..." [Emory]

• Yee-haw! It's time for the Gay Rodeo, y'all. [Dallas Morning News]

• Sounds like Kenneth Hill needs a trip to that there Gay Rodeo. He's getting all nostalgic for Brokeback. [QueerSighted]

• Meanwhile, Rupert Everett's hosting Sydney's Mardi Gras. Naked. Okay, not naked, but he's apparently at a loss at what to wear. Also, Also, he's got a new book out. Not sure if you've heard... [Sydney Morning Herald]

• HIV positive? Smoke weed everyday!

• Think HIV doesn't cause AIDS? You're "beyond stupid", says doctor who discovered HIV.

• Donating money to anti-gay-nup campaigns? "That's a waste", says allegedly gay Florida Governor Charlie Crist.

• Named Britney Spears? Rabbi Shmuley Boteach has some words for you.

• Looking to boost American Idol's fear factor? Hire Michael Jackson to "mentor" contestants.

• Banning Chisinau, Moldova's gay pride? That's illegal, says Supreme Court.

• Janice Dickinson on Survivor contestant turned model JP Calderon's coming out: "I just wanted to tell you how fucking proud I am of you. Coming out yesterday must be really hard, and then being on the cover of a national magazine the next day?"

• Gavin Newsom on getting it on with former campaign manager, Alex Tourk's wife, Ruby: "I want to make it clear that everything you've read is true and I'm deeply sorry about that...I hurt someone I care deeply about, Alex Tourk and his family and friends, and that is something I'm deeply sad about and sorry for".

• Editor and Publisher on FBI agent Deborah Bond's testimony on Scooter Libby's knowledge on Valerie Plame: "[Bond] described the bureau's interview with I. Lewis "Scooter" Libby on Oct. 14, 2003. Asked where he first learned of Ambassador Joe Wilson's wife, Valerie Plame, he had told the FBI then -- from the vice president, on or about June 12 that year, in a telephone conversation".

• Morvin Crumlish on computer generated "recommendations": "I find the idea of my bodily functions and sexuality being obsessed about by marketing professionals disturbing, but perhaps my biggest concern is that they are right".

• The Jewish Theological Seminary's study's on conservative Jew's increasingly accepting feelings on gay rabbis: "the decisions clearly raise the possibility among many that the Conservative movement has taken a move to the theological Left, further parting company from the Orthodox, and further approaching the Reform movement".

• Jennifer Hudson on being on American Idol: "...You go through this mental thing... You've been abused, misled and brainwashed to believe whatever they want you to think...I knew I had to sing my way out of it".

Yow, it seems like five-year old Jew-mag Zeek Magazine's having a bit of an identity crisis...

In an article acrimoniously entitled, "Zeek is not a gay magazine (but it is out)," editor-in-chief Jay "Homo-Heeb" Michaelson (pictured) rails against those who mistakenly label the mag as a fag-rag.

In the five-years since its inception, a meager 1.8% of Zeek's content has been gay (Michaelson did the math), yet it continues to be deemed of the queer variety. Needless to say, Michaelson ain't pleased...

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We avoid Williamsburg like the plague - for those of you not in the hellacious know, Williamsburg's a part of Brooklyn dominated by hipsters, Jews and fags, an unholy trinity to say the least. And, by some nightmarish Chanukah miracle, all three merged at "The Very Faggots Chanukah" party last Sunday.

While you couldn't pay us a million geld, the kids from the New York Observer braved what must have been the most feckless, excrutiatingly self-referential and just plain dumb parties of the year.

What's that? You're not convinced? Well, consider this:

Soce, the Elemental Wizard,” a.k.a. Andrew Singer, of Manhattan by way of New Hampshire. He explain[s] that his raps center on such themes as “video games, gay sex and finding yourself.”

“Bob ya head. Bob ya head, what?” He repeated the refrain several times, while bouncing to the beat—or somewhere thereabouts. He wore a green T-shirt and black Reebok exercise pants. “It’s very faggot-y, won’t you come with me, to my Hanukkah tree.” He continued: “I am a Jew, I’m gay, I’m white, I’m a rapper. I write my rhymes while I’m sitting on the crapper.”

We're sure "Soce" was trying to be ironic or "something", but we think he missed the mark. We also think that Williamsburg should be Al-Qaeda's next target - that way they can kill three birds with one horrific terrorist attack. Plus, of course, all the gay hipster Jews who rap about writing rhymes while dropping a deuce.

Conservative Jews may have just voted to santify celibate gay marriage, but that doesn't mean those rebellious Canadian Rabbis are following suit. It seems they've got more Talmudic balls and haven't hopped on the homo-train. President of the Rabbinical Assembly's (Central) Canada region, Rabbie Wayne Allen (a Jew named Wayne? Those Canadians are crazy!), tells The Jerusalem Post:

I haven't polled our members, but I haven't heard of one who has indicated that they will officiate at commitment ceremonies... What that indicates is that the rabbis in our region are content with the traditional view of Jewish law.

The Yanks have been hemoraging heebs to the Reform and Orthodox movements. Many see the push for change as a last gasp to secure their religious rank. It's the opposite in Canada. Journo Bill Gladstone cites:

According to a 2005 survey by the Jewish Federation of Greater Toronto, nearly 37 percent of the city's Jews defined themselves as Conservative and another 20 percent as Orthodox. Roughly half of Canada's estimated 360,000 Jews live in the Toronto area.

• Mark Foley firestarter Lane Hudson just started a blog and he's already pissing people off, namely Elizabeth Dole. [News for The Left]

• The Committee on Jewish Law and Standards had vote to allow gay commitment ceremonies, but uphold ban on gay sex. (Oy!) [365 Gay]

• Meanwhile, back in the homeland, Knesset's gearing up to block the Israeli Supreme Court's ruling on gay nups. [Ynet News]

• Did Pete Doherty play a role in a young actor's death? More importantly, does this mean Kate Moss will finally come to her senses? [Music Rooms]

• The gays love Jennifer Hudson, but does Jennifer Hudson loves the gays? It's all in how you read it. So, read it... [Dallas Voice]

• Some closing words from Kevin Federline: ""I am a family man and that is me, that is the truth, that is in all honesty." Genuinely. [Star]

Big news, Homo-heebs and their admirers! The Conservative movement has voted to officiate openly gay rabbis. As you may recall, leaders from the Rabbinical Committee on Jewish Law and Standards have met to vote on a number of gay-tinged rules. They'll also be releasing a statement on whether or not to perform same-sex "marriage" ceremonies. No word on that front right now. If the movement does allow gay nups, it may ban certain practices, e.g. anal sex.

We'll keep you posted on the gay marriage thing. In the meantime, why don't you enjoy a press release from the Jewish Theological Seminary. They're "pleased that in a historic movement, the Movement's Committee on Jewish Law and Standards allowed the Movement’s seminaries to ordain openly gay and lesbian rabbis and cantors."

We've heard of Jewish bowels, but that's a lot of movement. Find out what else is shaking, after the jump.

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