• Michael Lucas made history at this weekend's GayVN awards, taking home a record fourteen honors, including best non-sexual performance for Savannah Samson (pictured). Mazel to the tov, Savannah. Oh, and to you, too, Michael. [San Francisco Chronicle]
• If you're at all interested in pictures from the GAYVN after-party (and we know you are), then follow the link. [Tim and Roma]
• Titanic director James Cameron found Jesus (or, at least, his so-called "tomb"). [Sydney Morning Herald]
• Our world's just crumbled: Drew Barrymore and Cameron Diaz smoke pot. How disgraceful… [Mollygood]
• Ed Droste and the other kids from Grizzly Bear have a new video. It's totally creepy. [stereogum]
• Elton John's party netted 4.2 million bones to help fight AIDS. We threw a similar party and we made about five dollars and a bit of lint. We donated the lint and kept the $5. What? We need money, too. [365 Gay]
Attending the Oscars looks like the most boring thing in cinematic history. All that clapping, all that sitting, all those snooze worthy acceptance speeches for even more snooze-worthy categories (sound mixing?). If we're ever invited, we'll have to politely decline and see if we can worm our way into Elton John's Oscar viewing party.
Not only would our attendance help The Elton John AIDS Foundation, but we'd get to chill with the biggest hodge-podge of stars this side of the red carpet. Where else can you find Victoria Beckham and Kelly Osbourne mugging for the camera? No where. Well, maybe heaven. Or is it hell? We can't tell anymore.
See some more shots, after the jump…
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As we just mentioned, Elton John's caused quite a stir with a less-than-glowing review of organized religion. In the aforementioned interview with Jake Shears, John chides the ways in which religion's been used to repress the homos. Yakking it up, John points out, "Religion promotes the hatred and spite against gays." He continues:
From my point of view I would ban religion completely, even though there are some wonderful things about it. I love the idea of the teachings of Jesus Christ and the beautiful stories about it… But the reality is that organised religion doesn't seem to work. It turns people into hateful lemmings and it's not really compassionate…
…Instead of more violence why isn't there a [meeting of religious leaders]. It's all got to be dialogue - that's the only way. Get everybody from each religion together and say 'Listen, this can't go on. Why do we have all this hatred?'
We are all God's people; we have to get along and the [religious leaders] have to lead the way. If they don't do it, who else is going to do it?
Hmmm, it seems to us that John's got two exceedingly valid points. One, religion has too often been used to fuel homo-hatred. Two, that religious leaders aren't doing enough to fight discrimination. Sure, he's being a bit harsh, but nobody's ever changed the world with conciliatory comments. Right?
An Irish Reverend by the name of Giles Fraser, however, has spoken out against John's statements:
It made me really sad … because so much of what he said is true… I don’t believe religion does that but it’s a misconception widely held. It reflects the fact that members of the gay community think the church is deeply hostile to them and to their interests. I don’t believe [religion] is homophobic, I believe that’s a mistaken interpretation. And (his comments) don’t help those struggling to change that perception.
That statement, too, rings with validity. Many homos do find the Church to be aggressive and the influential musician's words do add fuel to the fire.
Of course, those are just our brief thoughts on the matter. So, readers, we ask you: do you think John deserves to be censured for his comments or do you think he's right on the money?
As you know, we absolutely adore tips from our readers. It's nice to have a few extra pairs of eyes out in the homonet, because otherwise so many juicy bits'll go unnoticed. For example, we never would have known that The Observer ran an all-gay music issue yesterday had a charming reader not sent us this link.
While the issue's headlined by an interview between Elton John and Jakes Shears (in which John laments all the teenage sex he could have had had he come out earlier and has some choice words on religion, which we'll get to in the next posting), the really juicy bits comes in the form of more obscure topics.
For example, Jon Savage's piece delves into the history of a gay record producer named Joe Meek, who produced the first gay-pop single only to shoot himself six months later. Meanwhile, Stuart Brumfitt takes a tour through the seemingly-contradictory world of gay ragga clubs, Ed Vulliamy tracks the trials and tribulations of the The Village People and a bevy of gay movers and shakers offer their favorite queer pop culture memories. Don't think you'll see any Lance Bass action here, readers. Boy George remembers his first sighting of David Bowie, Peter Tatchell pens a little ditty on the first pride anthem and Morrissey lauds Bruce Wayne Campbell's glam rock alter ego, Jobriath.
Now that's something to sing about. (If that's not a gay comment, nothing is…)
We've been all over Wisconsin today! First we had the story on Elton John's $20K donation to Fair Wisconsin. Then we posted that nasty "Vote Yes" video. Now, we bring you what will most likely be the last Wisconsin note of the day (tear).
The Coalition for America's Families, the homo-hating organization led by the former Wisconsin GOP chairman, Steve King (pictured on a recent trip to hell) has donated $385,000 to the Vote Yes for Marriage campaign.
Shit, that's a lot of money. They must really want that proposed amendment that would further constrict marriage's parameters.
Ryan Foley (!) from The Associated Press reports:
The money from the Middleton-based Coalition for America's Families will help fund television advertisements meant to bolster conservative turnout on Nov. 7.
Vote Yes for Marriage in turn has booked at least $266,000 in television advertisements in the Milwaukee and Green Bay markets to try to sway voters in favor of a proposed constitutional amendment that would ban gay marriage. The group released its first ad on Monday.
We're assuming that commercial is the same one that produced our aforementioned rainbow chunks.
We feel really bad for you guys up in Wisconsin. Hopefully you have digital recording and can just fast-forward through the media blitz.
Our friends over at Good As You just sent us this advert urging voters to vote yes on the proposed anti-gay nuptial amendment.
It's gross not only because it's fueled by homo-hated, but it exploits children to spread a political message and then it portrays said children as easily confounded ninnies. Sure, children may not be as in tune as adults, but they're hardly idiots. Sadly, such tactics definitely grab voter attention.
Maybe Fair Wisconsin can use some of Elton John's loot to make their own commercial.
If there's one thing Elton John's got, it's cash. (Well, cash and talent, of course.) And, like any good homo-activo, he's using it to do some good.
The 59-year old singer donated $20,000 to Fair Wisconsin, an organization dedicated to squashing the proposed ban on gay-marriage in next week's vote. The Washington Blade reports:
The donation showed up in a campaign filing with the state Elections board today. Voters will decide the issue a week from tomorrow.
John made the donation to Fair Wisconsin October 23. It was among the gifts that helped the group raise $2.5 million in the last reporting period.
While we think that's super of Elton (especially considering he doesn't even live in The States), we can't help but wonder why he chose Wisconsin to receive the loot. Similar votes will be taking place in Arizona, Colorado, Idaho, South Carolina, South Dakota, Tennessee and Virginia next week.
Maybe he just really likes cheese.
Sometimes we like to imagine that Elton John watches over us like some wise fairy godfather. Is that weird? Probably.
Anyway, it seems his attention's focused on newly liberated (and hopefully sober) Whitney Houston and Clay Aiken (who, we must say, garners a astonishingly high amount of comments. Don't you care about science and politics?).
On the first part of a two part interview on Access Hollywood, the first name in news, Mr. John offers his thoughts on the stars and their respective woes. Of Houston, John says:
Bobby's not good for her, and because of the addiction thing, she keeps going back. The writing was on the wall many, many years ago with that one.
Amen.
As for Aiken - well, since you like him so much, why don't you follow the link and find out?
The first segment of John's interview airs Friday. Mark you calendars.
We're a little groggy this morning, so we're not sure if we actually care, or if we just think we care. No matter, someone out there probably cares, and that's good enough for us. According to The New York Times, Elton John and George Michael have ironed our their past differences and are friends again. They report:
The row erupted two years ago when John said Michael appeared to be in a "strange place," wasting his talent by staying at home and shunning the limelight.
Michael later complained that harsh media treatment of his private life started after John's adverse comments.
But Elton John was all sweetness and light on Friday, telling ITV host Michael Parkinson: "George and I are fine. He came and stayed down my house last year. We're fine."
We like Elton as much as the next guy, but who does he think he is? If George Michael prefers the shadows of public parks to red carpets, so be it.
Elton John is making $500,000 per night to perform at Caesar's Palace in Las Vegas, and that alone makes us a little pissed when we compare it to a blogger's salary, but what adds insult to injury is that the owner of Caesar's Palace is a notorious religious homophobe creationist who spends his billions on conservative causes when he's not paying flamboyant entertainment acts.
But what's more disturbing than Sir Elton's participation in the anti-gay agenda? Celine Dion, who is arguably even more of a gay man than Elton John, has also earned millions at Caesar's Palace, though we partially forgive her because we know she had to pay for all the Swarovski crystals on her wedding veil, and for that weird vow renewal ceremony (pictured above) she and her husband did back in 2000 where they decked out Caesar's Palace like an Arab mosque. Love has never been so expensive.
Business is business for American billionaire believer [Telegraph via PAYOR]
No, it's not what you think. Elton John was not called "fag" at a rest stop or anything. Rather the tax authorities in the state of Georgia have allegedly overvalued his Atlanta penthouse condo by $900,000, resulting in an extra $16,000 per year in tax payments for the music legend.
Pardon us, Elton, but isn't $16K like pennies for someone with as much money as you have? We think Georgia would put the funds to better use than buying sparkly Versace blazers.
Elton sues US tax authorities over house [Digital Spy]
Sir Elton John paid a visit to the Ellen show yesterday to talk about the joys of marrying someone who doesn't wear Versace, how he helped get Rufus Wainwright off drugs, and other pet topics.
Though Elton says his new Broadway vampire musical Lestat is much improved since its first run in San Francisco, our friend Gabriel at ModFab disagrees, telling us to "avoid at all costs."
Sir Elton Visits Lady Ellen [The Malcontent]
George Michael is about ready to be crowned "biggest mess of 2006" and it's only April. But rather than recognize that maybe he just needs someone to drive him home once in a while, he is blaming Elton John for his problems. In 2004, Elton said that George was in "strange place," and that he should be out promoting himself more.
Michael's interpretation: "The subtext to it is 'well, he was all right before he came out and now he lives this depraved gay life and he's miserable and fat.' "
Oh George, we don't think you're fat, just old. And we hope you're not miserable. But please take ownership if your cracked out ways rather than trying to explain them like this: "Elton said he thought I was really miserable for some reason. From that point on I've been trying to prove that I'm not. Unfortunately it made me incredibly vulnerable to the press."
We know we are definitely at our happiest passed out on the steering wheel of our car. But jail, that does not make us happy. No, I think then the word would be "miserable."
Who would have thought that things like the jacket pictured above could raise $700,000 for the Elton John AIDS Foundation? Well it happened last week in New York, as Sir Elton and hubby David Furnish cleaned all the tacky Italian couture out of their closets for the good of people living with AIDS.
We can't wait to see which New Yorkers show up to parties wearing the get-ups pictured after the jump. Please send us a tip if you see anyone out and about in these costumes.
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• Gay TV pilots are the new black. Will any of them actually air? [AfterElton]
• Go to NYC right now and buy some of Sir Elton John's clothes. The garage sale of a lifetime. [FemaleFirst]
• Mexico City Fashion Week. Did you know they even had a Fashion Week? Why does Mexico City have a Fashion Week? Click on the picture of the zombie. [ManoloMen]
• The Amanda Lepore Doll's opening gala at Jeffrey, a very nice NYC boutique. This is akin to the RuPaul Doll being sold at Saks Fifth Avenue. Or a Mary-Kate Olsen doll being sold someplace where girls actually eat. So shocking! [Dlisted]
