Argentina's gay gods announced that a porn star named Jorge Schmeda will represent them in this year's Mr. Gay competition. Upon hearing the news, Gay Wired's Dylan Vox gets down and dirty with our nation's porn opinions:

In the United States, gay porn is often looked upon as representing the gay community in a negative light, but other countries like Argentina have less hang ups about allowing their community to be represented by someone who has participated in the industry.

Wait, we're supposed to respect porn stars as we would other people? You're blowing our mind, Vox!

CONTINUED »

It's official: Jonathan "J.T." Taylor of San Francisco has won the coveted title of U.S. Mr. Gay 2008. Seeking to distance itself from unaffiliated–albeit confusing–competitions like "Mr. Gay U.S.," this year's third-annual battle for the crown took place at the Music Box Theater in Hollywood, California. First-Runner-Up honors were picked up by "Mr. Chicago" Josh Roberts, while "Mr. Birmingham Alabama" Derek B. Moates took home the Second-Runner-Up Spot.

In addition to declaring the winners of this year's event, the press release announcing this year's victors states:

With the tagline, "Because Gay Is Not a Stereotype," the U.S. Mr. Gay Competition searches beyond looks to identify one man with the individual charisma to serve as a successful role model in challenging gay stereotypes."

The release also stated that Taylor took top honors because he "wowed the judges and the crowd with his stage presence, charm and eye-catching torso."

U.S. Mr. Gay [Official Site]

(photo: Phil Lobel)

Zionism's about to get a new international, distinctly gay spokesman!

Mr. Gay International Nathan Shaked signed up with the Zionist Federation for a British national tour celebrating the Israeli state:

The winner of the International Mr Gay tournament, the businessman will be a guest of the ZF, which was set up to get young people involved in Zionism.

"Despite the huge amount of British media coverage on Israel, which focuses almost exclusively on conflict, most British people know very little about the history of, or life in, Israel," said Gavin Cross of the ZF.

For his part, Shaked says his charm will win over any anti-Zionist or anti-gay nay-sayers.

And if that doesn't work, he'll blind them with his beauty.

• Apparently Meredith Viera will be Katie Couric's replacement on The Today Show, now that Couric is leaving for greener pastures. And that means we'll start paying more attention to Viera, whom we love; watching The View was just too much to stomach with America's leading foe of the gays, Star Jones, and "dumber than Debbie Matenopoulos" Elizabeth Hasselbeck flapping their jaws all over the place. Blech. [TMZ]

• Ibrahim Hannina, a.k.a. Mr. Germany, enters the International Mr. Gay competition. Seriously, we're so excited for this contest, we don't know what to do with ourselves. We ran various German Mr. Gay web pages through translation services, and we think his "talent" had something to do with baking cakes. Whatever, he looks great in shorty-shorts! [InternationalMrGay]

• Tom Cruise was abused by his father. And perhaps things start to make sense. [FemaleFirst]

• Survival Of The Richest is a terrible show, but the gay contestant gives a funny interview nonetheless. [WilametteWeek]

• America's favorite 1980's lesbians "roommates" Kate & Allie will be on DVD May 2. Although since we saw Chip (Frederick Koehler) naked on Oz, the show just isn't the same. [TVShowsOnDVD]

• The American Family Association says this past weekend's muscle-fest, Mr. Gay International, was "designed to get homosexuals together for sexual activities." We must have missed the contest's mandatory orgy competition.

• Queer jock Boi from Troy raises the possibility that a USC football player might be responsible for splitting up America's most annoying couple, Nick and Jessica. And the quarterback isn't tackling Jessica.

• Over 1,000 brave Croats come out of the closet by having their names printed in the local rag! Well, first names only.

• UNICEF bombs the hell out of the Smurfs's gay village in a new ad aimed at raising funds. Our thoughts are with Vanity smurf's partner.

• A gay priest speaks out against the Vatican's upcoming ban on gays and (surprise, surprise!) reveals not all men of the queer cloth are dirty little sluts!

• We love pictures of shirtless straight guys wrestling. Who doesn’t?

• Kevin Bacon claims playing gay got him kicked off Today. Apparently his sex scene in the upcoming Where the Truth Lies with Colin Firth (yum) and the movie’s NC-17 rating were too racy for morning television.

• Boy George was arrested for coke. Really shocking. Not.

• Jesse Bashem of San Diego was named Mr. Gay International and the Mr. Gay 2006 USA on Saturday night. Robbie Laughlin, of Queer Eye for the Straight Girl, hosted. Bradford, once again, was not asked.

• Madonna will receive punishments from the heavens for singing about a rabbi. The sex and drugs from her past apparently are no big deal.

When you are a high profile blogger, like moi, you get asked to attend fabulous parties and host events. It is a hard life, but you know, I do it for you, the fans. Last year I was asked to judge the prestigious Cutest of the Castro contest in San Francisco. Yes, people, I get asked to do the big events.

Anyway, I hosted a series of pageants throughout the city at local bars. Classy, yes. Each of the winners then got to compete in an on-stage competition. It was like Miss America. But with fags and a lot less talent. Imagine that. When it came time to host the main event I was replaced by local artist Tim Gaskin and a woman who has made very little go a very long way, Coral Smith from The Real World and The Battle of the Network Reality Stars. They apparently needed star power for the main event.

I had all but forgotten this incident when out of the blue I received an email today announcing the Mr. Gay 2006 competition, a gay beauty pageant that was spawned from San Francisco's Cutest of the Castro. The little pageant that could has gone global with Mr. Gays in such far away lands at Lappland (where is that?) and Austria. The US competitor has yet to be named, but be sure to check out upcoming competitions in NYC, LA, and Oklahoma City. The finalists, both American and international, will compete for the title of Mr. Gay 2006 on October 8 at the Riviera Resort.

They have not asked me to be a judge. I bet they got Omarosa instead.