Rosie O'Donnell couldn't handle all the on-stage (and back-stage) battles at The View. ABC has announced that the lesbian comedienne will not be completing her contract, which was meant to expire on June 30th. President of daytime programming Brian Frons released a statement,

We had hoped that Rosie would be with us until the end of her contract three weeks from now, but Rosie has informed us that she would like an early leave. Therefore, we part ways, thank her for her tremendous contribution to The View and wish her well.

Meanwhile, Barbara Walters - The View's mama and O'Donnell's original champion - told concerned citizens:

I brought Rosie to the show. Rosie contributed to one of our most exciting and successful years at The View. I am most appreciative. Our close and affectionate relationship will not change.

Now, it's back to the unemployment line. And poor Hasselbeck can finally unclench her asshole!

Rosie O'Donnell Out at `The View' [SF Chronicle]

Mary Cheney knew her child with lesbian lover Heather Poe would cause a stink. Anticipating the conservatives outrage, Vice-President Dick Cheney's daughter released a preemptive statement:

When Heather and I decided to have a baby, I knew it wasn’t going to be the most popular decision. This is a baby. This is a blessing from God. It is not a political statement. It is not a prop to be used in a debate, on either side of a political issue. It is my child.

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Hordes of homos will descend on Chicago this weekend for the International Mr. Leather contest. And, as per tradition, many participants will pop into legendary S&M club, Chicago Hellfire Club. Unfortunately, trans men aren't invited.

Chicago Hellfire Club - one of the oldest S&M clubs in the nation - enacted a strict no female-to-male policy ten years ago, thus barring a significant portion of the S&M community.

Of their unfriendly policy, former Hellfire Club president and long-time member, David Igasaki said:

The general rule of thumb is that there has to be a penile attachment... They don't want to admit women. It's not that people are anti-women or personally discriminate against transgender people. It's just that as a sex club there is a desire to protect a gay environment during play.

Critics, however, claim that the Club goes into public space to recruit members. One transman comments: "I don't think that a private club would set up a table at a public venue and allow anybody to talk with you and inquire to attend an event." And transmen aren't the only ones fighting the Hellfire.

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Some gay folk celebrated Reverend Jerry Falwell's death, but not The Advocate's fagling homo-journo, Tully Satre.

Satre, who once spilled ink admonishing so-called bisexuals, writes that we homos must preserve our "dignity" whilst discussing the homo-hating reverend's death, "It is in times like these that our wit and will is tested and we must stand with dignity".

Of course, Satre understands that it's hard to keep a straight face in the face of our enemy's death, so he sucks inspiration from the holiest of holy books: The Lord of the Rings. Except, of course, being a young gun, he prefers his books in film form.

I am reminded of a quote from the film Lord of the Rings, when Gandalf says that “Many that live deserve death and some that die deserve life…do not be too eager to deal out death and judgment.” As minorities, we ask to be respected as human beings. We expect people to treat us with dignity and to look beyond our sexual orientation or gender identity. Why then do so many people focus on the politics of Mr. Falwell and find in them reason to celebrate his death?

Kanako Otsuji has changed the face of Japanese politics. In 2003, at the tender age of 28, Otsuji became the candidate to win a seat on Osaka's assembly. In that seat, the politician pushed for social change, successfully passing a law allowing gay couples to rent housing together. Then, in 2005, Otsuji came out as a lesbian, thus becoming the first openly gay politician in Japanese history. Though the public embraced her, Otsuji found some opposition among her political peers, including, according to the Guardian, one anti-queer "comrade" who asked her if she planned on becoming a man.

Despite this ignorance - and her aides' advice to keep a lid on it - Otsuji hasn't given up her political dreams and has just joined forces with the Democratic party to launch a campaign for Japan's upper parliament. Not surprisingly, Otsuji's efforts rest on highlighting Japan's diverse nature, a stark departure from Prime Minister Shinzo Abe's chimerical political conformity.

In a message on her website, Otsuji wrote:

I think there is a tendency to put forward one set of values and make it seem as though that is the only beautiful or right way. But the reality is becoming more diverse. Japanese society is not engaging with the wide range of people living in diverse ways, in terms of nationality, race, sex, age and disabilities.

Sean Kennedy's family isn't taking the 20-year old's death lying down. The South Carolina homo died after being punched by a man identified as 18-year old Stephen Andrew Moller. Police are unsure whether Moller will be charged with murder or if he'll face the music to the tune of a hate crime. Kennedy's kin hope the latter.

In light of their third child's death, Kennedy's parents are setting up "Sean's Last Wish" through which they'll push for hate crime legislation, something they believe Kennedy would want.

While cleaning out her youngest son's belongings, Elke Parker came across a number of poems, including one called "Grin":

I stand tall with all of my pride. You hate. You discriminate all who are not like you. Yes, your words do hurt. But I stand in the end. I'm a strong person, bigger than you... I'll be standing there with a grin.

A gay man in Amsterdam has suffered a "complete mental breakdown" after being assaulted by three teenagers Thursday night.

The man - known only as Alexander - had been walking back from his boyfriend's mother's house when three teenagers - who he identified as Moroccan - pushed him into the water at Rembrandt Park. The youths then spent three hours throwing sticks, stones and words as they forced Alexander to do laps. Alexander's boyfriend recalls:

He was scared to death, he heard the three talking to each other in Arabic and thought they planned to do the worst to him. Alexander feels he must have been swimming around in the pond for about two hours before a car with bright headlights arrived at the scene. The boys got scared and ran off.

• We're not sure what's funnier - the fact that a bird took a shit on President Bush or that ABC News actually used the word "poop".

• HX Media's Boston rag, In Newsweekly., found itself in the papers this week when associate publisher Bill Berggren's criminal past came back to haunt him. It seems Berggren has been arrested for a number of incidents and some questioned his role as leader for Boston's Pride Committee. Rather than cause a stink, Berggren stepped down voluntarily. And Berggren ain't the only one on Innews' stepping down. From Boston's Weekly Dig:

In the last few weeks, their masthead has gotten a lot lighter in its loafers—editor James Lopata has left the building, as have distributor Thomas Kilduff and associate editor Alexander Sliwinski... We hear grumbling in the streets, too, that their freelancers haven’t been paid in eons.

• You know what would help the African continent's millions of AIDS patients? Doctors. Too bad there's a shortage.

• Jenny Bailey can now call herself the United Kingdom's first trannie mayor, thus crushing our life long dreams...

• South African hooker outs celebrities, media refuses to pass names along.

• Mitt Romney doesn't hate gays:

I oppose discrimination against gay people. I am not anti-gay. I know there are some Republicans, or some people in the country who are looking for someone who is anti-gay and that’s not me.

Man oh man, some homophobes in Kosovo have serious issues! An anymous person or persons sent a hateful note to the leader of the gay rights group, Centre for Social Emancipation. The" revolutionary" recipient - known only as Mr. Z - couldn't believe the severity of the threats, which translate thus: "We will fuck you mother, burn you with all your belongings, and will make you carry your intestines in your own hands, you lewd man”. Talk about lewd! The author goes on to accuse Mr.Z of “smearing the pure and freedom-seeking nation" and says he should "prepare his funeral within two weeks”. Yikes!

Despite the imminence of the warnings, the Serbian province's police initially refused to pursue the case. Looking for some justice, the CSE enlisted the help of the Youth Initiative for Human Rights. Under growing pressure, the police opened an allegedly flawed exploration. A CSE spokesperson declares:

We believe that Mr. Z’s right to use all the possible legal remedies has been violated by the police officers... His privacy was not respected as he was being interviewed in the reception room and at least seven different police officers and random citizens walked into the room, thus stopping the interview process and finding out what had happened.

Gay, Lesbian Youth Leaders Under Serious Death Threats [UK Gay News]

A big tsk, tsk to former View co-host and forever airhead, Debbie Matenopoulos. The E! correspondent caused a bit of a scandal at last night's Knocked Up premiere after shrugging off an alleged queer's queries about her tacky shoes (pictured).

Via Open All Night:

Barbara Walters and company may want to consider bringing back long-ago The View co-host Debbie Matenopoulos to stir up controversy once outspoken Rosie O’Donnell leaves the show. When a man inquired if the stones inlaid in Matenopoulos’ shoes were tiger eyes, she looked at him and said, “Are you gay?”, and walked away. The shocked gentleman told us that he is simply a gemstone enthusiast, and felt offended by the rude remark.

Colorado Springs' developers and politicos alike recently announced to the world that they've shed their anti-gay ways and are now a completely queer inclusive community. Unfortunately, prominent real estate man Ron Spraggins didn't get the message. Spraggins - who presides over Colorado's oldest, "number one in sales since 1975" real estate group, Commonwealth - sent a nasty note to a Queerty reader named Roman, who commented on our original post:

A hetero friend moved from Los Angeles to Colorado Springs. He's a Buddhist Caucasian married to an Asian woman. They just had a daughter, and wanted to raise her in a family-friendly environment. They moved back to L. A. within six months. Apparently gay is just part of a long list of things those people hate.

One simple question: do you believe in The Bible. If so, what does it say about gay sex? Clearly says it's a sin, just like adultry [sic], stealing, etc. Using another sin to justify your doesn't work. What happened to "We just want to be left alone?" clause ou all used when Amendment 2 came up? You're on an agenda, just like [Family Research Council president Tony] Perkins said years ago. Re: people who went back to AL, good. Maybe you and your other gays friends should do the same, since LA likes everything except what this country was founded upon. If everyone was what you want, gay, how do we reproduce?

Gays will not rest until the entire planet's one big wasteland of corpses and AIDS. Oh, and drag queens' old, tattered wigs. Obviously this man hasn't brushed up on our agenda. Maybe you guys can help show him the way. Here's his company's phone number: 719-685-0600. Send him our love.

Approximately forty House Representatives are urging the Pentagon to reconsider its ban on gay Arabic linguists. Spearheaded by Representative Marty Meehan - the Massachusetts politico who regularly fights "Don't Ask, Don't Tell" - the collective asks the Pentagon to justify booting 58 gay Arabic linguists.

Speaking on his own behalf, Meehan pondered:

At a time when our military is stretched to the limit and our cultural knowledge of the Middle East is dangerously deficient, I just can't believe that kicking out able, competent Arabic linguists is making our country any safer.

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