The FBI may have just reported that hate crimes had dropped six percent, but judging from yesterday's rash of anti-homo violence, things aren't looking so good.

First, a pair of NYPD's finest pretending to be lovers arrested a man in Union Sqaure park. According to The New York Post, that holy grail of journalism, the men were cozied on a bench when the 20-year old Tyrone George called them faggots and spat on them.

When they broke out the cuffs, the charming George reportedly shouted that he didn't want "faggots touching him." Sounds like a sweet kid.

Meanwhile, upstate in Elmira, NY, two men attacked a 31-year old man. The town's NBC affiliate, WETM, reports:

"They attacked me because I am a homosexual, and they said you're going to die tonight faggot," the victim of this attack said.

Elmira Police said a 20 year-old Joseph Loudenslager and 21 year-old Justin Edwards approached the victim looking for a cigarette lighter. The victim said he didn't have one. Then, police say, the two men attacked.

Don't worry, there's more homo-hating. 365 Gay has reported that a man estimated to be in his mid-thirties taunted and then punched a teenage boy in San Diego, spewing the typical homo-hatred. A 50-year old man attempted to intervene, but got a good ol' fashion knife slash, instead. In all the confusion, the attacker managed to escape.

Sheesh, what the fuck's going on out there? It's news like this that makes us happy we never venture into the real world.

We wrote about ex-gay Christian activist James Hartline for the first time earlier this year, when he made the public proclamation that Starbucks was so gay he was afraid to go inside for fear of getting a boner.

Now San Diego Pride is causing another stir in his loins, and he is none too happy about it:

Christian activist James Hartline, a former homosexual who has been transformed by his relationship with Jesus Christ, offers a unique perspective of the parade. Because of his "insider's knowledge," Hartline spoke passionately to the City Council about the dark side of the parade. He detailed segments of the event that feature graphic pornography, nudity, sadomasochism, and other activities too offensive to describe in print.

We can practically see his forehead sweating. It's okay James, you can get out the leather you've been hiding in your closet just for this one little day.

City Council Ignores Conservative Christians' Pleas, Honors 'Gay Pride' Festival [Agape Press via Pam's House Blend]

• Police identified 18-year-old Lyon Tatum as the second suspect in the San Diego gay pride parade attack. He was originally thought to be a minor, though prosecutors were expected to charge him as an adult. He joins James Carroll and an unidentified 16-year-old boy as the trio of suspects. [SDUT]

• The United States Tennis Association will christen the Billie Jean King Stadium at the National Tennis Center during a cermony at the U.S. Open, which comes as a surprise to even the tennis great, who didn't know she was being honored. [NYT]

• In the UK, anti-abortion group Operation Christian Vote is receiving some of its funding from an unlikely source: royalties on gay anthem "So Macho." [Gay.com UK]

• Gay rights activist Peter Tatchell is calling for the gay community to support the Iranian Ahwazi community following the executions of two gay Ahwazi teens. [Pink News]

• South Africa's parliament has until December 2 the Marriage Act, which must permit same-sex marriage, thanks to a Constitutional Court ruling. [IOL]

• Twenty-four-year-old convicted felon James Allen Carroll and two teens (one of which prosecutors may charge as an adult), members of a "loose knit" organization called the "Lowlifes," are the suspects being held in connection with Saturday's San Diego assault on five people leaving a gay pride parade. [San Diego Union Tribune]

• In the UK, a gay Anglican priest – who is already at the center of controversy – celebrated his civil partnership, setting off another furor inside the Church of England. Church rules state priests can declare themselves gay but must remain in a celibate relationship. [Reuters]

• Speaking of religion, a gay priest from Connecticut is on the receiving end of speculation of misuing $1.4 million on church funds to buy, among other things, a Ft. Lauderdale condo and limousine rides. [NYB]

NBC's San Diego affiliate is reporting three men suspected of assaulting five people during San Diego's gay pride parade have been detained for questioning; an unidentified woman has also been queried. There have been no arrests or charges filed, though a sketch of one of the suspects is expected to be available shortly. The victims were attacked with baseball bats after leaving the parade on Saturday night, with one of the victims stabbed; one victim remains in the hospital recovering from a skull fracture.

3 Detained In Connection With Hate-Crime Probe [NBC San Diego]

• Out director Bryan Singer has signed a deal with ABC to develop three scripts, one of which is guaranteed to be developed under their terms. [Advocate]

• Ailing Cuban President Fidel Castro – who we've had the honor of visiting with – temporarily signs over power to his brother and defense minister Raul Castro amid growing health problems. [NYT]

• In the season premiere of ER, Fraiser alum John Mahoney will play a drag queen fighting to control the medical care of his dying partner. [NYT]

• San Diego's police chief vows to find the three suspects involved in the beating of five people during of the city's gay pride parade. Previous reports named only three victims. Meanwhile, city officials promised to prosecute the case with attempted murder charges. [SD U-T]

• Metrics systems are already in place for television and radio, so why not Broadway? [NYT]

Michelle Williams blew us away with her Oscar-nominated performance in Brokeback Mountain. Like everyone else, we had a lump in our throats when Jack & Ennis passionately kiss during their first reunion. Alma's immediate reaction to the lip lock was far more moving. But not everyone felt that way about her performance. Take, for example, Michelle's former Christian headmaster, Jim Hopson:

"We don't want to have anything to do with her in relation to that movie,” said Hopson, who turned down a request from a Union-Tribune reporter to visit the school and chat with students about the movies and one of their own being up for an Academy Award.

“Michelle doesn't represent the values of this institution. We would not approve of her movies and TV shows (including the teen drama “Dawson's Creek”). We'd not like to be tied to 'Brokeback Mountain.'
Yes because the first thing moviegoers will think of while leaving the theater after a screening of the film is a small Christian school in San Diego County.

We now understand why Michelle moved Heath and their baby across the country to Brooklyn; To get away from the loyal, tolerant, and Jesus-like love of Dopson.

S.D. school distances self from 'Brokeback' actress [San Diego Union-Tribune]