The working girls and boys of this world may all fuck for money, but that doesn't mean they get the same respect - or disrespect.

In a thoughtful and timely post, former AOL blogger Richard Rothstein uses Republican hero Jeff Gannon as a jumping off point to examine the wild world of male prostitution:

The ubiquitous and profoundly influential role of the gay male prostitute in American culture is a subject that deserves much more scrutiny and consideration. It should pose many more questions and generate considerably more discussion in the mainstream media and among pundits. Instead the politics of the gay male prostitute is just there, regularly rearing it's rather prominent head at odd times and in so many diverse way.

I'm fascinated by two questions in particular and the real lack of examination of both. The first, of course, is why the male prostitute plays such a prominent role in our culture and the second is why we don't really examine that role with a serious in-depth discussion.

Rothstein also points a finger at Dancing With The Stars' Albert Reed, who allegedly had a "compromising" encounter with George Clooney.

Warning: Rothstein's post has some NSFW bits, namely: Jeff Gannon's penis.

After opposing gay civil union legislation and employment non-discrimination initiatives in the Washington Assembly, State Rep Richard Curtis suddenly finds himself battling allegations of homosex tendencies according to Spokane newspaper The Columbian:

I am not gay," Curtis told Columbian Editor Lou Brancaccio. "I have not had sex with a guy."

Curtis says he's the victim of an attempt by an alleged male prostitute and would-be extortionist seeking to take advantage of his kindness and generosity after "trying to help somebody out."

Fellow politico State Senator Joe Zarelli's advice to Curtis? "Come say your piece and do your thing."

It seems doing precisely that is what got Curtis in his present predicament in the first place.

"Curtis Denies Wrongdoing, Says He Is Not Gay" [The Columbian]

We can't help but wonder what Russian conservative politician Nikolay Kuryanovich - the man who wants to make homosexuality illegal - has to say about this story:

The Russian military is reported to be investigating claims that army conscripts were forced to work as male prostitutes in St Petersburg.
…
A spokeswoman for [human rights group] Soldiers' Mothers, Ella Polyakova, told the BBC that in St Petersburg there was "a network of clients" who would pay for sex with soldiers.

Older servicemen are said to have forced younger conscripts into prostitution and then taken the money for themselves.

It's hard out their for a pimp. Or, rather, Russian soldier.

Although, we can't blame the commanding officers for making a buck off their subordinates. You know what they say about Russian prostitutes: tasteless but potent.

The Lib Dem party over in the UK is reeling from yet another scandal, this one involving an MP who has been enjoying regular visits from a 23-year-old rent boy. Mark Oaten, the Home Affairs Spokesman for the party has stepped down.

The disclosure that Mr. Oaten, 41, a former contender for the leadership, had allegedly paid £80 a time for sex with a man, dismayed and shocked party leaders.

According to the paper, Mr. Oaten first contacted the unnamed man - then aged 23 - in 2004 through a gay website, and they met regularly over a six-month period. On one occasion, a second male prostitute was said to have been involved.

A threesome with hot male hustlers? Damn, the Brits have all the fun. But considering the guy has a wife and a couple of rugrats at home, we can’t really approve of this sort of thing.

Why can’t gay politicians just be gay? Why do they have to go all Ennis Del Mar on their families? And £80? That’s less than $150 U.S. At the very least the guy is certainly thrifty with his man-whores.

Lib Dems left reeling by Oaten rent boy scandal [The Independent]

In what may be the biggest shock of the year, a devout executive committee member, Lonnie Latham of the Southern Baptist Convention, was arrested for propositioning a male police officer who was working undercover as a prostitute in the parking lot of Oklahoma City’s Habana Inn. What’s more, the pastor has spoken out against homosexuality and same-sex marriage. We are so completely shocked we can hardly stand it.

L.L.'s deal:

Latham is one of four Southern Baptist Convention executive committee members from Oklahoma. He spoke out last year against a measure, ultimately approved by voters, to expand tribal gaming. He has also spoken out against same-sex marriage and in support of a Southern Baptist Convention directive urging its 42,000 churches to befriend gays and lesbians and try to convince them that they can become heterosexual "if they accept Jesus Christ as their savior and reject their 'sinful, destructive lifestyle."

What we don’t understand is how many of these jokers have to get caught doing this kind of crap before actual religious people catch onto their bull? We don’t know the answer to that but what we do know is that, now with all the “press,” that Habana Inn is going to be booked up with evangelicals and Baptists ten ways ‘til Sunday.

Southern Baptist leader arrested for soliticing policeman [Washington Blade]

• After reading that Madonna doesn't watch TV, it's a little shocking to hear that she just "loves" MTV's Pimp My Ride Still, we can't wait for her new music video. [Sky Showbiz]

• The more accepted homosexuality becomes in India, the more male hustlers (who only cost about as much as a couple of packs of gum) sprout up all over the country. [DNA India]

• The UK is going to make Special K extra, extra special. It’ll soon be classified as a class C drug. [Reuters UK]

• Concerned Women For America are here to tell us that not only does Barbie give young girls a body image complex but the plastic bitch is responsible for turning kids into trannies. [365 Gay]

• Gay rights lawyers are suing those party poopers who want to put an end to same-sex marriage in Massachusetts. [Reuters]