Britain's got some angry artists on its hands after the Arts Council asked recent applicants to declare their sexuality.

The Council claims they want to make sure grants go to a diverse pool, but creative types are crying "foul!" Actor Ian McKellan spoke out against the queer addition, saying, "It sounds extraordinary, It shouldn't be on a form. It's quite inappropriate." Gallerist and curator Julian Spalding, meanwhile, couldn't find the words to describe his disbelief, "I'm speechless. I can't see what relevance it's got. It's a horrible invasion into one's personal and private life."

Perhaps actress Vanessa Redgrave offered the most humorous response, "Everyone should put down 'trisexual' whoever you are. Britain has become the world's leading population of trisexuals." Well, you know those artsy types…

The Rt Rev Joseph Devine doesn't read Hillary Clinton's playbook. The Bishop of Motherwell refuses to apologize after blasting a so-called "gay conspiracy". Devine alleges that we gay folk are working on a coalition with other "persecuted" groups, like Holocaust survivors. The Catholic leader also points a finger at actor Ian McKellen.

The homosexual lobby has been extremely effective in aligning itself with minority groups.

It is ever-present at the service each year for the Holocaust memorial, as if to create for themselves the image of a group of people under persecution. We neglect the gay movement at our peril.

I want to ask you if you are able to see the giant conspiracy that's taking place before our eyes, even if we didn't see it at the time. I take it you're beginning to see that there is a huge and well-orchestrated conspiracy taking place, which the Catholic community missed.

Drat! Our plans have been discovered! Abort, abort!

Sir Ian McKellan has a message for Singapore's government: repeal Section 377.

The British actor, who's in the Asian nation starring in King Lear, released a video in which he explains his new found fondness for the former British colony.

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• Super Aryan model Joseph Sayers sat down with Connexion 247 for a bit of chat, including how he'd react to a gaggle of crazed fans: "I can't even imagine a crowd going wild, but if they did, I'd handle it well." Oh, we've got no doubt.

• Rhiannon O'Donnabhain declared her $25,000 same sex operation as a medical expense. The IRS told her to turn her head and cough up the dough. Now she's suing.

• Will Brooks-Brothers' Thom Browne gamble pay off?

• If this happened today, the seemingly helpful, zoo keeping penis guru would be in jail. Or a priest.

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Sir Ian McKellan and Mayor Ken Livingstone joined the crowds during London's gay pride parade (the last and biggest stop of EuroPride 2006) — but we know you're more interested in seeing the floats, the signs, and of course, the mens. While this year's attendance of 40,000 didn't meant organizers' expections of 500,000 – a huge number expected because the event didn't conflict with the World Cup; last year's coincidided with the Live 8 concert but still drew 250,000 – the event has been labeled a success: no major brawls between the crowds and police, and protestors were all but ignored.

Gay Pride comes to London [Reuters]

• The rumors surrounding Lance Bass' sexuality are certain to never die down now that he's been taped leaving a club with reality hottie Reichen Lehmkuhl (see above video clip). And a car full of beards. Watch the clip. [X17]

• Just in time for Gay Pride in New York, Kevin Federline takes over the town to drum up publicity for .. well, we're not sure what, exactly. [MollyGood]

• X-Men's Ian McKellan takes Hollywood to task – once again – for its notion that gay actors should keep their sexuality to themselves. Because if who you slept with had anything to do with talent, how do you explain Heath Ledger in Brokeback Mountain? (Jake Gyllenhaal's rumors stand for themselves.) [PR Inside]