• San Francisco's Department of Human Services has launched an ad campaign to recruit gay parents to adopt.

• Meanwhile, the San Francisco Chronicle have clarified their report on the aforementioned ad campaign. The newspaper originally cited Family Research Council's Paul Cameron as an "expert" on the matter. They neglected, however, to mention that he's been debunked by the American Psychological Association and hates gay people. Oops!

• On that note: the APA formed a "task force" to review research on ex-gay conversion therapy. Oh, we're sorry - "therapeutic responses". APA president Dr. Sharon Stephens Brehm bursts with joy: "I am pleased to announce the initiation of this task force. Its work will be of significant value as it will help inform all mental health practitioners about appropriate and effective therapeutic responses to sexual orientation. I look forward to the group's report." That could be good for the children.

• National Runaway Switchboard has published a new brochure for gay teens, "Being Out, Being Safe". NRS director Maureen Blaha remarks, "Research shows that LGBTQ youth are four times more likely to exhibit the symptoms of major depression than heterosexual youth -- which may lead to a runaway episode". Be sure to pack a lunch!

• "Shirley Q. Liquor" - a black face drag comedienne - did an interview with Rollingstone. Jasmyne Cannick - a black sappho-journo - wrote a rebuttal. NSFC (Not safe for children).

• In other baby-related news, here's a baby playing with a cobra! No word on whether the parents are gay.

• Pictures of celebrities smoking pot. Grownup children!!

• Plague strikes Denver zoo! Do not take your kids there. They will die. And so will you... (In fact, don't go to Colorado at all.)

• Looking for a movie about 1980s Liverpool gay teens who venture into a magical trans bar? Well, look no further: The Fruit Machine's out on DVD. Now you can go to the Denver zoo.

Australian race car driver and television host Grant Denyer got reamed after making a racialist joke on the radio earlier this week. Sitting down for a morning chat, Denyer compared his post-Logie (the Australian television awards) hangover to having sex with a black man: "So it was a big old day … let me say I'm feeling like I had sex with a black man right now.” The Dancing With The Stars winner and former weatherman went on to joke, "I'll be the host who looks like he's been riding a horse for a week.” We don't know what kind of booze Denyer guzzled, but it must have been strong to affect his anus in such a way.

We may jest, but some gay activists have some pretty twisted panties. Simon Biber chided Denyer, insisting his words perpetuate racist stereotypes:

It's homophobic but the racial slur is more serious, appealing as it does to a stereotype. It's harmful, but unfortunately it's not uncommon.

Denyer has since apologized for the remark, saying, "Anyone who knows me knows I wouldn't go out to offend. It was a wobbly joke, made way too early in the morning." Had it been the afternoon - well, that'd be a different story.

Grant Denyer apologies for gay black sex comment [Generation Q]
Denyer sorry for black sex gag [National Nine News]

Alright, these commercials don't fall under the realm of queer as in gay, but they sure are queer as in, "Holy fuck, how queer is it that 60s-era French ice cream ad execs used racial clichés to sell their products?"

Above you see a 1960 Heudebert Ice Cream commercial. After the jump, you'll find a 1962 advert from main competitor, Miko. We're not sure which one we prefer. Sure, they're both horribly racist, but definitely have kitch value. We're leaning toward Miko's - gotta love an innocent white victim in go-go boots. And, of course, her black co-star's "our spirits are broken" "African" dance.

CONTINUED »

• Jim McGreevey successfully stole the thunder from former beard, Dina Mato McGreevey's Oprah appearance. The Gay American "is entering a seminary amid reports that he wants to become an Episcopal priest," according to NYC's NBC affiliate, WNBC. IHT confirms that the formerly - and publicly - Catholic New Jersey governor has been embraced by the Episcopal Church. With this successful entry, McGreevey's plunging into the "discernment" phase, says IHT . This process which clears the pipes for deeper spiritual penetration and eventual priesthood. After all is said and done, McGreevey could looking at over three years on his knees for god. Dina best come out with a sequel. [Image source]

• Last week, The Advocate broke the story on Micron Technology's board of director's heavy-handed refusal to endorse a shareholder sponsored non-discrimination policy. Now the Boise, Idaho company has reversed it's position. From The Advocate:

Micron Technology Inc. decided Tuesday to amend its company policy so employees can no longer be fired on the basis of their sexual orientation. The move comes after The Advocate revealed last week that the Boise, Idaho, company’s board of directors had ignored an unprecedented 55% shareholder vote in favor of adding both sexual orientation and gender identity to its nondiscrimination policies.

Well done, homo-journos! Unfortunately, the board will not be including gender identity in their revised policy. Divide and conquer, huh?

• Don't forget all the homo-politicos. Referring to a string of recent political gains, Denis Dison of the Gay and Lesbian Victory Fund tells Deb Price: "We have seen in the last month at almost every major win, almost always there is an openly gay legislator behind that story." This article comes with complete "gay" political gain time line!

• Scary Spice v. Eddie Murphy heads to the court room. That's some baby mama DNA drama.

• Don Imus may file a lawsuit against CBS, thus ensuring we'll continue to hear America's most outrageously offensive catch phrase since "Let's Get Retarded".

• New York thinks it's time to come out of the American Idol closet.

• Don't forget Good Times tonight at Eastern Bloc! We'll totally be there. Details after the jump!

CONTINUED »

• Tyra Banks loves Rosie O'Donnell's ta-tas.

• Friday's 20/20 features a Barbara Walters piece on transgender children and their families. Discussing the experience, Walters tells Dan Avery: "I am astounded by their courage. I think these children have a very hard future to face. In some ways it’s heartbreaking, but in other ways it’s uplifting. I had heard of the diagnosis and knew people went through this, but nothing prepared me for the love and sensitivity these people have for their children. That’s what this is about." If only all journalists were so altruistic.

• Colombia grows more than coca. Gay activists have been pushing for expanded rights. And people are getting hooked...

• "Obama The Magic Negro"? How does Rush Limbaugh's butt boy, Paul Shanklin still have a job. Seriously...

• The European Union may be gearing up for a bit of a gay battle with Poland. Our money's on The Union.

• Louis Vuitton and other luxury brands vow to stop hiring such nasty, snotty cunts.

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.

CONTINUED »

We're in the middle of costly war. raq's parliament has been bombed. People continue to die in Darfur. Yet, for some nonsensical reason, our news organizations can't shut up about Don Imus' big mouth. Have we entered some sort of alternate universe? Maybe. Or maybe we're finally addressing America's innate self hatred.

As gay actor Harvey Fierstein writes in today's NY Times:

Our nation, historically bursting with generosity toward strangers, remains remarkably unkind toward its own. Just under our gleaming patina of inclusiveness, we harbor corroding guts.

Prejudice is nothing new. Our nation endorsed slavery for over two hundred years. It's the outrage over prejudice that's surprising. What's more surprising, Fierstein writes, is that people are raising such a stink over Imus' relatively benign remarks and not calling for other people's heads.

What surprises me, I guess, is how choosy the anti-P.C. crowd is about which hate speech it will not tolerate. Sure, there were voices of protest when the TV actor Isaiah Washington called a gay colleague a “faggot.” But corporate America didn’t pull its advertising from “Grey’s Anatomy,” as it did with Mr. Imus, did it? And when Ann Coulter likewise tagged a presidential candidate last month, she paid no real price.

...You cannot harbor malice toward others and then cry foul when someone displays intolerance against you. Prejudice tolerated is intolerance encouraged. Rise up in righteousness when you witness the words and deeds of hate, but only if you are willing to rise up against them all, including your own. Otherwise suffer the slings and arrows of disrespect silently.

Indeed. How can a nation - an entire nation - shake a fist at a cadaver of a radio host and not do the same against other offenders? How can people claim to be incensed when they've let other slip-ups slip past? Either Americans really love Rutgers or they've got their heads up their asses. We choose the latter. But at least America's finally talking about its bigotry. Hopefully something good will come of this. If not, it's been a supreme waste of time.

• China plans to establish the world's first women-run city. Men can live there, but they have to relinquish all control to women. The town's slogan? "A woman never makes a mistake. A man can never reject a woman's request." If the man defies a woman's word, he'll be subject to a variety of punishments, like washing dishes. Wait, that's women's work!

• Lily Tomlin will not trade her personal life for a Time cover. You better recognize.

• From here on in, May 17th shall be known as International Day Against Homophobia, or IDAHO. Hey, who you calling a 'ho', fag!

• Speaking of calling people 'hos', CBS canned Don Imus over his oft-repeated "Nappy-Headed Hos" comment. Lesson learned: it doesn't pay to be racist. Well, not forever, at least, because God knows Imus has been a racist since the beginning of time.

• Poor Ann Coulter. She's only number eighty on Boston Phoenix's list of the 100 Unsexiest Men. Better luck next time.

• "European Parliament's a bunch of pussies on Poland", say gay activists. Okay, those weren't their exact words, but you get the idea.

The army's back in the sissie spotlight and it's not looking pretty. About two weeks after General Peter Pace famously referred to homosexuality as "immoral", an army recruiter's in hot water after her less than wholesome replies to New Jersey resident Corey Andrew's queer inquiries.

It all started when Andrew posted his resume on the internet to find a job as a copy writer. For some reason, an army recruiter contacted Andrew to see if he wanted to enlist. Despite knowing the army's stance on the gays, Andrew asked the recruiter whether could contribute as a gay man. The recruiter, Sgt. Marcia Ramode, said his homosexuality would disqualify him - and, for extra emphasis, she used all capitals. This lady obviously meant business. In a later email, Ramode sounds more like Tim Hardaway than a national "hero".

CONTINUED »

Larry Kramer sure knows how to get a rise out of people. Parents, Families & Friends of Lesbians & Gays (the organization otherwise known as PFLAG) have issued a response to Kramer's Los Angeles Times op-ed in which the legendary gay activist blasted so-called straight hate.

Kramer's offending piece opens, "Dear Straight People, Why do you hate gay people so much?" The 200,000-strong PFLAG insists that's just not so.

CONTINUED »

There's not enough space in the world to properly discuss this article. In it, five gay black men discuss the reality of racism in gay communities and the controversial - and oft-referenced - parallels between the civil rights movement and the gay rights movement. Rather than getting into the enormous debates and emotional issues here, we'd like to feature three quotes. The first comes from Noah's Arc creator Patrik-Ian Polk:

The truth of the matter is white gay people don't really care about racist and racial issues. They really don't. There's just as much racism within the gay community as anywhere else. You would think gay people would be less racist, but they're just as much.

It's true. Simply being gay doesn't give someone a radically reprogrammed world view. There's no vaccine against racism. Well, except for knowledge...

CONTINUED »

On a somewhat related news, check this shit out:

The [NYC] city council is set to approve a permanent moratorium tomorrow on the use of the N-word in New York City.

The resolution will have no legal weight or enforcement power, but will merely convey the legislative body's strong condemnation of the word...

Now, do we really need politicians telling us that nigger's a naughty word, as Glenn Beck may say. Sure, it's great they came out to say they aren't down with people using it, but it's just plain common sense.

As for an "permanent moratorium"? First, that's sort of an oxymoron. Second, what about free speech? Third, if the council's all about cleaning up people's politically incorrect potty mouths, where are the bans on spic, faggot, kike, chink and all those other nasties? Also, if nigger's banned, where does that leave negro? Is that out, too? We're just so confused, we don't know what to think!