The Philippine police force may not technically discriminate against gay coppers, but that doesn't mean they're looking for flamboyant fags to fly their gay flags. Police spokesperson Sam Pagdilao issued a warning this week, insisting:

...Being a uniformed service, there are rules of conduct that apply to everybody for which violations may result in administrative charges for conduct unbecoming.

Pagdilao's comments reiterate an earlier edict in which coppers maintained that gay cops must not "engage in lustful conduct" or swing their hips. If they do, authorities say, they'll be canned: an assertion that worries some gay activists. One such activist, Danton Remoto says, "His remarks will only force gay policemen back into the closet." Pagdilao says it doesn't matter, though, because he doesn't know of any gay officers: an admission that makes his announcement all the more queer.
Cops told to camp it down [IOL]

Sure, Dash Snow's notorious in the art world, but he's got nothing on former Fillipina First Lady Imelda Marcos. While married to ex-dictator Ferdinand, Marcos held the honor of the world's most obsessive fashionista, amassing a collection of shoes and couture most believe to have been acquired with governmental funds.

Now, over a decade after being cleared of any wrong-doing, Imelda's lending her name to her grandson's so-called "collection of ornamental beauty," called "The Imelda Collection". As is his fashion Vanity Fair's resident homo-journo George Wayne sat down with the infamous Imelda for a little chat.

Sure, Wayne spends an appropriate amount of time yakking it up about the collection and Marcos' trial for her role in the imbezzlement of an estimated $10 billion in governmental funds, but we're more intrigued by their exchange regarding the gay boys' love of the luscious lady. We can just imagine Imelda grasping her chest when considering the definition of drag queen and then giving herself a tender pat upon introducing a new superlative:

George Wayne: Imelda, have you ever visited one of your drag-queen bars in Manila? Apparently you are very popular among the trannies.
Imelda Marcos: The drag what?
GW: The drag queens, the men who dress as and impersonate women. Imelda is the queen of the drag queens.
IM: Of the gays?
GW: Yes.
IM: The gays will love the Imelda Collection. They will think it "Imeldific!"

We took a look at the collection and...well, it's not so cute.

We will, however, continue to use the word 'Imeldific'. Whether or not it'll be in the best contexts...well, that remains to be scene. Probably not. Unless, of course, we're describing an ostentatious drag queen wearing tawdry jewelry while flaunting their most incredulous political tackiness. That's totally Imeldific (pictured).

The interview's not online, but you can poke around Vanity Fair's website, anyway. If you want a copy of your very own (you know, to cuddle), it's awaiting your caress at newsstands.

A new Harvard-endorsed report contends that depsite the nominal success of women's liberation movements and more inclusive politics, not one in 115 survery nations have bridged the gender gap in terms of education, salary, politics or health.

Sweden has gone farthest in eliminating inequality between men and women, followed by Norway, Finland and Iceland. The Philippines is the only Asian country in the top 10 and the United States comes in at 22. Yemen ranks bottom.
...
For economic participation, for example, the researchers measured the proportion of men and women in work, pay gaps and the ratio of women to men among legislators, senior officials and managers.

The study shows the gender gap for health and survival is very narrow across the world. Based on a score of 1 meaning full equality and 0 a complete lack of equality, the range for all 115 countries is just 0.9796 to 0.9227.

But when it comes to political empowerment -- the ratio of women to men in parliament, ministerial positions, and heads of state over the past 50 years -- the best performer is Sweden with a score of 0.5501 but Saudi Arabia is last with zero.

So, ladies, we advise you to steer clear of Saudi Arabia and Yemen if you're looking for equality. The US ain't looking that great, either. Perhaps a mass exodus to Sweden? That's looking pretty good. Plus, they have great music.

• Lesbians and gays in the Philippines plan to register their own political party in the next federal elections. Among the biggest supporters of the LGBT party are several hairdressing associations, and various artists, entertainers, and others in typical homosexual professions are onboard as well. Maybe if gays in the U.S. formed our own political party, we wouldn't have to rely on the Democrats to pretend they care about us. We bet the Aveda Academy would totally throw in some free conditioner for the party spokespeople. [Asian Journal]

• Former Boyzone member Stephen Gately gay-married his partner in the UK on Sunday. Elton John was supposed to attend the ceremony but then cancelled. Perhaps Stephen's party threatened to be even more fabulous than Sir Elton's, or not fabulous enough. [PinkNews]

• India may not have yet decriminalized homosexual intercourse, but the first gay community organization has been formed in the city of Chennai. The organization, called the Men Community Development Society (not the catchiest of names) aims to build community among homos for the good of society. Says one member, "I came here and was astonished to find a lot of people with whom I can identify myself. Then I came to know about condoms and the truth about HIV/AIDS." We hope the MCDS helps everyone else in India "come to know about condoms" as well. Yikes. [New Kerala]

• Elton John will not be appearing at any civil unions in Australia anytime soon. A doomed-from-the-start bill to legalize gay unions in the Australian state of Victoria was officially killed today by Premier Steve Bracks. Australian Prime Minister John Howard also remains thoroughly opposed to the idea. We think these politicians need to rewatch Priscilla: Queen of the Desert. [GayNZ.com]

• New head of the Human Rights Campaign Joe Solmonese talks and talks in a way-too-long interview with the Washington Blade. If you have always wondered what the HRC actually does, Mr. Solmonese endeavours to explain it in painstaking detail, but don't say we didn't warn you when you blow your whole lunch break trying to make sense of it all. [Washington Blade]