Police are blaming homophobia for the death of South Korean actor Kim Ji-hoo.

Songpa Police Station confirmed the 23-year-old hung himself at his home in Jamsil, southern Seoul, Monday.

Police said they found a suicide note at the scene, saying, "I'm lonely and in a difficult situation. Please cremate my body."

Kim's death is the latest in a series of suicides. Transsexual entertainer Jang Chae-won hung herself in the bathroom of her home on Friday, following the deaths of actor Ahn Jae-hwan and actress Choi Jin-sil.
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Police said his suicide reflects public prejudice toward gay people and their difficulty in succeeding in the entertainment industry.

Following the announcement of his sexual orientation, Kim's management agency did not renew his contract and many TV programs and fashion shows canceled his appearances. His blog was bombarded with numerous messages denouncing his sexual orientation.

Kim's mother also pointed to his personal and professional difficulties.

• A majority of American citizens support same-sex civil unions, according to ABC News, but not all opinions are created evenly:

Overall, 55 percent favor allowing homosexual couples to form legally recognized civil unions, giving them the same rights as married couples in areas such as health insurance, inheritance and pension coverage. That's up from 45 percent in an ABC/Post poll in 2006; the previous high was 51 percent in 2004.
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On civil unions, support peaks among adults under age 30, and tanks among seniors. It's highest in the East and West, notably lower in the Midwest and South. Whites overall are more apt than blacks to support gay civil unions, and the idea wins more support among women (59 percent) than men (51 percent, and 47 percent among married men).

Interesting divide between single and married men, no?

• Reichen strips, fakes orgasm for Dante's Cove.

• Bob Allen jury cruises through park where alleged solicitation took place, one juror dismissed.

• Moscow court comes out against gay pride organizers. Anti-gay parade ban legal.

• Rosie O'Donnell offers more MSNBC explanation, professes love for Keith Olbermann.

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South Korean pop star Harisu married her long-time beau and rapper, Micky Chung this weekend.

The two have been together for years, but had a falling out last year. Following their breakup, the vivacious Harisu appeared on a reality show to find a new man. Seeing his beloved trolling the tube for a man inspired Chung to woo her back and propose.

Speaking to the press prior to the wedding - which Harisu's sex change surgeon officiated - Harisu vowed, "I'll become a housewife who is cooking well, sexy and caring." She also informs us that she and Chung planned on having ten children, but their families objected, so they've settled on four. And apparently family's very important to the couple: their parents are joining them on their honeymoon in Thailand.

We've included the video for Harisu's single, "Foxy Lady", after the jump.

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Woof, talk about a scary statistic! Grand National Party Representative Moon Hee told his legislative peers that out of the 4,227 (known) HIV positive Koreans, 3,842 are men. For those of you not mathematically inclined (don't worry, we're not, either), that means that 90% of HIV positive Koreans are men. (Note: Given that our source, The Korea Times, is based in Seoul, we're assuming this is South Korea we're talking here.)

Moon goes on to deride the government for its lax policy on testing men. She says:

"Despite an alarmingly large number of male HIV-infected patients, the government has been less keen on promoting specific measures to prevent men from contracting the disease…"

Many of those men work in the "massage/entertaiment industry" (hooking?), the same industry that requires HIV testing for women.

Oh, if you're interested in the "gay/straight" breakdown, here it is: out of the 3,842 men infected with HIV, 1,377 contracted it via M4M, while 1,801 got it from lady-lovin'.

• Queers in Iowa are suing for the right to get married. If movies starring gay cowboys aren't making homeboy John Wayne roll in his grave like conservatives are claiming, this'll certainly do it. [Chicago Tribune]

• A judge's ruling could also give South Korea gay marriage, furthing pissing off their conservative neighbor to the North. [GCN]

• Usher pretty much guarentees us he will not make 2006's Straights: So Gay! category. [Groove Volt]

• Just when you thought fraternities couldn't get any gayer than they already are, they do. [Columbia Daily Tribune]

• Watch video of John Stewart reporting two weeks worth of gay news in just three minutes with The Daily Show's Gaywatch segment. All we want to know is how one goes about subscribing to Scrotum Lovers Quarterly. [Crooks & Liars]