Caption Needed

Pastor Ball and the picture he so prominately displays on The First Baptist Church of Primrose website.


Via JMG

This Week in Holy Crimes

Over the last seven days...

New York: Pastor Victor Figueroa sued for $30M for sexually assaulting congregant.
Alabama: Pastor John Picard convicted of 42 counts of sexual battery of six women.
Ontario: Father Bernard Prince defrocked by the Vatican for his conviction for molesting 13 boys.
Virginia: Pastor Gregory Biehl pleads guilty to possession of kiddie porn. Biehl was formerly convicted of climbing a tree to videotape a woman undressing.
North Carolina: Pastor Keith Devon Pettis charged with molesting 12 year-old girl.
Alabama: Pastor David Webb sued by underage victim he transported across state lines for the purposes of sex. Webb was sentenced to five years in prison in May.
Louisiana: Pastor Martin Denesse accused of defrauding 175 people out of the money they paid him to secure a FEMA trailer home after Hurricane Katrina.
Oklahoma: Pastor Joshua Spires charged with ten counts of child molestation.
Virginia: Pastor Steven Bruce Joplin charged with five counts of felony child molestation of pre-teen girls.
Peru: Father Antonio Jose Calle arrested for molesting 9 year-old girl with Down's Syndrome.
New York: Rabbi Yaskov Weiss charged with molesting two 13 year-old boys.

Via JMG

Nice View

Via Dude Flesh

Eye Candy :: Kellan Lutz

Orange?

Via Boy Culture

Visual Effects :: 100 Years of Evolution

Via Towleroad

A Trip to the NY Marriage Bureau

Interesting video. Darcy Tucker and Kate Pisano, a couple of nine years who were married in California in 2008, pay a two hour visit to the New York State marriage bureau and get wrong answer, after wrong answer, after wrong answer. And still leave empty handed.

Via JMG

Methodist Minister Comes Out to His Congregation as Transgender

Reverend David Weekley of the Epworth United Methodist Church in southeast Portland, Oregon, took a big step on Sunday:

Just months after telling his own children that he was not their biological father, Weekley, who is in his late-50s, came out to his congregation of 221 members. Standing behind his pulpit, Weekley began his usual worship service. About halfway through, he paused to share a personal message he called 'My Book Report.' He told them that in 1984, just nine years after undergoing extensive sex-reassignment surgeries, he was ordained by the Methodist Church without telling anyone of his original gender at birth. Following his story, the congregation, who had remained silent throughout his talk, broke into thunderous applause. Church members then proclaimed their support for their pastor.' It doesn’t change him; he’s still Reverend David, and that’s what counts,' says congregation member Robbie Tsuboi, who has been attending Epworth since 1964.

Weekley has been married to his wife Deborah for 13 years and has served as a clergyman for 27.

Via Towleroad

Scott Herman Follows Up

Many of you may remember Scott's Gillette sponsored, chest-shaving instructional video. Now, he's following up with a much more entertaining one... groin shaving!

Via WGB

Michigan Gay Man Lies About Park Beating

The man who told the nation about being burned, kicked, and beaten in a public park because he was gay has admitted the story isn't true, but is rather an outcry for help. WLNS reports:

A horrible experience, but one with a twist. After an investigation, police say Benette's brutal encounter was a lie.

Lt. Mike Yankowski, Lansing police: "He was very believable and his injuries were pretty significant."

But investigators say Benett admits he tortured himself. Over and over he burned his own body with a lit cigarette.

We feel bad for Mr. Bennett. The police department and the city of Lansing is doing everything we can to help him get back on track."

Bennett will not be charged or punished for his actions.

Via Towleroad

Scientists Photograph First Up-Close View of Single Molecule

Scientists from IBM used an atomic force microscope (AFM) to reveal the chemical bonds within a molecule, capturing this lattice-shaped image - the first ever close-up view of a single molecule.

To give some perspective, the space between the carbon rings is only 0.14 nanometers across, which is roughly one million times SMALLER than the diameter of a grain of sand.

Hubby Hubby

Famous ice cream maker, Ben & Jerry's, took a cue from The Daily Show after Jon Stewart jokingly announced the company would be coming out with a gay marriage ice cream following Vermont's legalization of gay marriage. It's changing the name of their popular flavor "Chubby Hubby" to "Hubby Hubby" for the month.

Nice form!
Via Towleroad

Washington State Gay Rights in Danger

Officials are reporting that the Referendum 71 ballot measure pushed by anti-gay marriage foes has qualified for the November ballot in Washington State:

"The secretary of state's office said Monday that sponsors of Referendum 71 had 121,486 valid petition signatures - enough to put the newly expanded domestic partnership law to a public vote. A secondary check of rejected signatures was not complete, so the number could increase. The new law was supposed to take effect on July 26, but was delayed until the signature count was complete. Now, it won't take effect unless it is approved in the Nov. 3 election.

Last week a judge ruled that supporters of R-71 will have their names be made public.

Via Towleroad

Picture of the Day

Fox News' Twitter feed gets hacked. Or, this is some employee's last words for his boss.

Via Towleroad

What's This Man Packin?

Click here (NSFW!) to find out!

Photo Manipulation...

... at it's best!

The Country in Wesley

Believe it or not, this Mohawk, tattoo and punk/skater loving boy loves him some country music. Especially Sarah Evans and Sugar Land!

Broke Back Mountain version of What Hurts the Most:

Bon Jovi lyrics

Bon Jovi-please Come Home For Christmas Video - Bon Jovi Music Videos

Music Videos by VideoCure

Quote of the Day

I do not impersonate women. How many women do you know who march around in seven-inch heels, three-foot wigs and skin-tight outfits? Women don't wear that, drag queens wear that! The public persona of RuPaul is just a fabulous, eye-popping celebrity package designed to work well in front of the camera.

- Ru Paul

The Sounds of Arvada, CO

VROOOOM. VAHHHROOOOOM. ROOOOM. RHOOOOOOOOOOOOM!

Jesse: "oh muh god. You're car's so fast and so cool."

(Sirens whaling) WHOOP WHOOP! WHOOOOOOH WHOOOO-WOOOOOOH WHOOP WHOOP!

Screeeeeeech! CRASH.

Eye Candy :: Saulo Melo

Via Tres Fab Sweetie!

Bah Donk a Donk

This man's got it!




Via Sozo

Photoshop Awards #2

Thanks for the photos Sozo, but this shit is not only well done. It's over done! (Love ya, babe! No offense meant.)

Remembering Katrina

By far and away, one of Bush's biggest fuck ups, EVER.

On August 29, 2005 Hurricane Katrina hit New Orleans. It ravaged the Gulf Coast from central Florida to Texas. New Orleans was the most affected due to the levees breaking. Many evacuated before the storm hit landfall; however, those unable or unwilling to leave waited out the storm in their homes or in what was known as the place of last resort, the Super Dome. The water lingered for weeks because 80% of the city was flooded.

When former President George W. Bush looked back on this horrific natural disaster, at the end of his term, he spoke of how effectively the residents of New Orleans had been evacuated, however; it is certain, that the 1,836 dead would have had a different opinion, had they still been alive to tell their stories. Not only was Katrina a massive display of incompetence, it revealed the race and class divide, that has become a part of life in America to the world.

The People of Wal-Mart

Via TPW

A Day at the HIV Testing Clinic

Many of you may remember my previous "Safe Sex is a Sport" post, which talks about how sexy a condom can really be. I was thinking about that post the other day while I was on my way to get tested for HIV... which is something I do on my own, without friends, family, or coworkers knowing. It's just something I keep entirely to myself. It, seriously, is a time for me to sit and reflect for an entire twenty minutes about the last three months of my life.

For the most part, I'm somewhat comfortable with getting tested. However, every single time I enter that office, my palms get sweaty and thoughts race through my brain of how I would break the unexpected, bad news to my family and friends, how they would react, how I would react, and what I would do for the rest of my life if the test were to come back positive. The truth is, after having those thoughts for years, I still don't know how I would handle the situation or breaking the news to the people I love most in life. You'd think that after practicing safe sex with every partner and making wise choices with who to have bedroom fun with, I'd walk into the doctor's office completely confident in the upcoming test results. That I was just going for some scientific affirmation. The fact is, however, that HIV can be anywhere, at anytime, in anyone... and that some of the people carrying it are not completely honest about their status.

When I went in for testing last week, I had a front row seat to what could be the most strengthening or deteriorating news a family could get:

I was sitting in the office reading Women's Day and focusing in on an article for Halloween treats. The four people across from me were chattering about the end of summer coming, weekend plans, and a few other things to keep their mind off the reason for their visit.

I had already gone in and talked with a counselor about the testing and procedures associated with it: "We have to report it", "If we see that a lot of people who come back as positive and mention your name as a recent partner, we have to report that as well", "these are your rights as an HIV positive employee." It was all the same stuff I had heard before. But, like I always do, I let them talk and listen very carefully to make sure nothing's changed and that I understand it. I told her I had been there plenty of times before and I understood the policy and procedures associated with testing. She nodded and asked if I had any questions. "Nope, I'm good", I reply. I stick the dry paper strip under my tongue, count to thirty, she takes it from my hands and sets it in the reactive chemicals. She asks me a few questions to calm my nerves.

"If this test should come back positive, have you thought about how you might tell people?" she asks as she crosses her arms across her chest and sits back in her chair.

"Yes, all the time." I reply as I look down at the testing strip, which now has a pink liquid crawling up it.

"OK. Good. Good." She says. "Are you comfortable with telling those people?"

"Not really." I reply.

"OK, well that's completely normal. Do you want to go over some ways to do that?" She asks.

"Let's wait for the test results before I answer that question."

Unimpressed, she tells me it will be about 20 minutes for the test results to come back and that she'll come get me when it's done. "OK." I say as she stands up to escort me out of the room.

When I arrived back at the waiting room, the same group of people were there, still chattering and doing their nervous things... shaking legs, walking back and forth, flipping through magazines, etc. I smiled at a larger, middle aged woman in the group and sat back down. I looked for the Women's Day I was reading earlier, but she had picked it up. "I'll have to settle for Sports Illustrated, I guess" I said to myself.

I start moving the pages of the magazine, right to left, when all of a sudden I catch someone walking out of the white hallway I just came from. He's a boy. Tall, skinny, with brown eyes and blond hair. He's wearing some converse shoes and a Green Day shirt. His hands are in his pockets and he's got a small tattoo on his left arm. I look up at him. He's looking at the group of people sitting across from me. The middle aged woman puts the magazine down and folds her hands on her lap.

"Well?" she says in a comforting, concerned voice.

He places his fingers on the clef of his nose, bursts into tears, and slightly moves his head up and down. I close my magazine with anticipation on what's about come next. The woman just stares at him... in unbelief... blinking her eyes over and over again... making sure she understands his silent, crying motions and is not in the middle of some unbelievable nightmare.

She perfects her posture and strengthens her back. "Yes?" she says, concerned. "Yes... ?"

He folds his hands under his arms and bits his bottom lip. "Yes." he says, shaking.

The woman takes a deep breath. "Oh god. Oh my god." She says, shaking her head right to left and looking at the floor. She looks at the receptionist, who is totally numb to the news that just broke. Just another day at the office for her, it seems. She looks back at him. "I... I... is she sure?"

"She did it twice, mom. She's sure." he says. "I'm sorry. I'm so sorry. I never..."

His mother's eyes begin to fill. She's shaking now, as well. And he's just staring at her. He looks down to the floor and she stands up, shaking her left hand, nervously. "Come here sweetie." she says, standing up and walking towards him. She's holding her arms open. He unfolds his arms and sets his hands across his eyes, still crying. She embraces him, and he embraces her. "We'll get through this. We're strong. We can do this. We'll do this together." He lets go of her and shakes his head up and down again. She sets her hands on his cheeks. He looks over his shoulder at the woman approaching.

"Mrs. [last name]? I'm [counselors name], I'd like to talk with you and your family, if you have some time." The boy's mother acknowledges and wipes the tears from her eyes.

"Let's go guys. C'mon." she says, looking at the rest of group and waiving her hand towards the hallway in hurried motion. "Including you, [name]. We're all in this together. It's why we're all here." They all get up, emotionless, and walk down the hallway, following the counselor. The boy's mother is rubbing her hand on the still crying boy's back.

They disappear behind the corner and I just sit there, in silence, listening to the soft hum of the air vent over me. I pick up the Women's Day and flip to the Halloween article I was previously reading. All of a sudden, echoing through the office, a soft voice says "Mr. McCoy?"

My test last week came back negative and I can only hope, with god's will, that my mother is just as supportive as this boys, should I ever come back positive. I truly feel lucky to have witnessed the unconditional love this mother has for her gay son. News like this, for any family or friend, is difficult to ensue. And, while the news for this family may be bad, I like to think that it will be the one thing to strengthen their bond together.

Stuart Milk Calls for Harvey Milk Day

Stuart Milk, the gay and out nephew of Harvey Milk, has called on Arnold Schwarzenegger to sign into law a bill that would create a Harvey Milk Day in public schools:

It is an important symbol that truly needs to be backed up by an annual day offering the opportunity for education and celebration of the diversity that makes California great.

Arnold Schwarzenegger vetoed the bill last year.

Via MHGG

Caption Needed

Via Man Hunt Daily

It's Gospel Hour at SE!

The Last Dance

DJ AM, the high-profile disc jockey who survived dating Nicole Richie and a fatal plane crash, was found dead on Friday evening in his apartment in Manhattan, the police said. An official told The New York Times that the 36-year-old, whose real name was Adam Goldstein, was discovered face-down in his bed wearing only sweatpants, with a crack pipe and unspecified prescription drugs nearby.

The Times reported that Goldstein regularly posted messages on Twitter, including one final, poetic note -- lyrics from a Grandmaster Flash song -- that he posted on Tuesday. “New York, New York. Big city of dreams, but everything in New York ain’t always what it seems.”

Via K (212)

Speeling Fael

Via Fail Blog

The Jonas Bros

Of the three Jonas Bros, who do YOU think is the cutest!? (numbered 1 to 3, left to right)

The Glory Of Losing Weight

... comes with a few perks, and this is just one of them! My best friend, let's call her Shabambam Pow!, sent me this picture last night after a fun night with her boyfriend. If you look real close, you can see about 17 hand marks. HOT!

Justice for Jimmy

Bobby Singleton has been sentenced to 75 years in the clink for the July 2008 bashing of gay man Jimmy Lee Dean. Deliciously, Singleton was sentenced to 15 more years than the original 60 requested by prosecuters. His accompliace, Jonathan Gunter was sentenced to thirty years back in March.

The details that came out in court this week of Singleton's actions were horrific:

Dallas County jurors convicted Bobby Singleton of aggravated robbery Wednesday and later heard the recordings of the phone call from jail during the punishment phase of his trial. '[I'll] say I'm a faggot, too,' Singleton said in the call to an unidentified woman. 'Let 'em prove I ain't gay.' He then spoke about how he and his friend Jonathan Gunter beat Jimmy Dean in July 2008 as Dean walked home. Gunter has been convicted and was sentenced to 30 years in prison. Dean said Singleton inflicted more damage than Gunter by kicking him in the face...In the phone call recording, Singleton and the woman laughed about how Dean's 'nose was dangling.' Singleton says he called Dean 'you punk [expletive]' and stomped him two or three times. The woman told Dean that he went too far. 'You did too much,' she said. 'You just went and didn't stop.'

It just goes to show how much of a dumbshit Singleton really is bymaking those comments on a recorded line while in jail. He should have gotten an additional 5 years just for being such a fucking idiot. Seriously.

Dean said afterward:

that he was overwhelmed by the jury's decision. He said he thought there might only be one juror who thought Singleton should get the 60 years prosecutors requested for aggravated robbery. 'I think it shows the jury does understand,' Dean said. 'It makes the next two people who go into any neighborhood, and pick out anyone, think twice.' He also said the verdict gives him 'faith in people' and said the days are gone when criminals received a lesser sentence because the victim is gay. 'This sets a precedence for anything like this that happens,' Dean said. 'Maybe this will set a standard for anybody, no matter what your sexual orientation is, a violent crime is a violent crime.'

Looks like the court has decided to let Singleton's cell mate prove he's gay.

Listen :: Mariah Carey Sings "I Want to Know What Love Is"

When I saw that Mariah Carey was covering Foreigner's I Want to Know What Love Is for her newest single, I got all gooshey hoping it was her return to the old days when her music actually made an impact on people's lives. While she really belts it out half way through and hits a few high notes in the end, it just still isn't there for me. I'd also like to point out the dogs in my neighborhood started howling when Mariah let it rip during final chorus. And I mean, HOWLING.

Success! Live Nation Cancels ALL Buju Banton Concerts

Live Nation has canceled Buju Banton, the Jamaican music group who call for the brutal murder of gays and lesbians in their lyrics, after outrage from the LGBT community fell on the company. The controversy surrounding Banton stems primarily from a song called "Boom Boom Bye" in which he sings about shooting gay men in the head, pouring acid on them and burning them alive.

In early August, Gay Liberation Network (Chicago) launched a campaign for Live Nation and other promoters to cancel Banton's shows. Bob Schwartz, a member of GLN, had written Live Nation CEO Michael Rapino. 'Live Nation, owner of four House of Blues locations at which 'kill gays' singer Buju Banton was scheduled to appear, has done the right thing and canceled the hate monger,' Schwartz said in a statement.'These cancellations show the power of protest to deliver the goods.

Originally, the shows to be canceled were in Chicago, Las Vegas, Dallas, and Houston. Now, Live Nation and AEG have pulled the plug on each and every show to be performed, including Los Angeles and San Francisco.

Marky Mark's Porn Workout Video

Rich at FourFour has put together a few "highlights" from Mark Wahlberg's 1993 workout video, which in more ways than one, is just a soft-porn movie. Although, if Marky Mark asked me if I was going to help him "count it out", I would absolutely oblige... all while flicking his tiny third nipple.



Via Towleroad

Some Action on the Rainbow Lounge Raid

The hammer has slammed down on seven, three of which were fired, officials who were involved in the raid that occurred at the Rainbow Lounge back on June 28th.

The Texas Alcoholic Beverage Commission says agent Christopher Aller and agent trainee Jason Chapman were fired Friday. Both participated in the June 28 raid at the Rainbow Lounge. Their supervisor, Sgt. Terry Parsons, wasn't at the bar that night but also was fired, effective Sept. 2. Two other commission officials also were disciplined. Fort Worth District Lt. Gene Anderson will be suspended without pay for three days and be on probation for six months. Capt. Robert "Charlie" Cloud received a written reprimand.

The commission cited the following violations, among others:

Wearing "unapproved" attire.

Failing to follow bar inspection procedures.

Failing to report using force against patrons.

Failing to report that one patron was injured.

Disrupting business, among other things.

The commission also announced several policy changes, including increased supervision over agents, the teaching of new de-escalation tactics and improved training.

This is Why Disney is Brilliant

Well, maybe not the only reason why, but it solidifies why I love the company so much. They really do teach acceptance and aren't a stuck up, billion dollar company like so many others out there. The fan-made Fire Island "Party in the USA" video posted on YouTube a few days ago had 200,000 hits in just under three days, and rather than pull it over copyright issues, Disney let it run.

I assumed it would be taken down pretty much immediately, particularly because of the music rights issue,' said David Fudge, a 27-year-old marketing executive at Esquire who made the video, titled 'Party in the Fire Island Pines.' But Disney left the ditty alone and it soon exploded in an underground way, collecting 200,000 views in just three days. Disney employees started e-mailing it to each other, and before long Mr. Fudge’s office telephone rang. On the other end: Rich Ross, the president of Disney Channels Worldwide. 'I was like, who?' Mr. Fudge said. 'He just said that he loved it and wanted to tell us that. He was extremely nice.' Mr. Ross declined to comment, but another Disney executive noted that the video (and the reaction to it) demonstrated how Ms. Cyrus was broadening her fan base beyond little girls

Disney's legal team could of had a field day with this shit, but instead, saw it as a way to show how much they encourage creativity. Of course, as with any company, they also saw it as a some free marketing on a massive scale.

Englewood Church Shuts Doors Just Short of 100 Year Anniversary

St. George's Episcopal Church in Englewood, Colorado has decided to close it's doors in part because of the ordination of gay and lesbian priests into it's clergy. Though the people who attended services at the church did not particularly object to the ordination, it's priest did.

The Rev. Roger Bower, who came to the church about two years ago along with members of the Church of the Holy Spirit, a startup congregation, left St. George's at the end of June.

By then, most of the new, younger congregants he had brought with him already had drifted away, family by family, alienated by a January announcement by Episcopal Bishop Robert O'Neill that the Colorado diocese would end its moratorium against ordaining partnered gay and lesbian persons.

The older and more staid St. George's members accepted O'Neill's pastoral innovations — but the younger Holy Spirit families, which had a very contemporary worship style, did not.

The shrinking parish could no longer afford a priest.

"We were a theologically conservative church," said Scott Field, who'd belonged to Holy Spirit before the merger. He later was elected senior warden of the combined church.

"Human sexuality is not the only issue of theological orthodoxy, but it seems to be the line in the sand many won't cross," Field said.

Many members of the church are devastated by the loss:

My son was married in this church. He's 62 now," said 87-year-old Marjorie Peterson, who came to America as a British war bride.

We wanted to be buried in this church. No one is ever going to know we were ever here.

Wednesday was the last gathering of the women's sewing circle, which had been meeting in church since 1953.

Look :: John Mayer's Mug Shot

In the early morning hours of Thursday, August 27th, John Mayer challenged Harvey Levin and TMZ to scour deep into the recesses of the celebrity world and pull out his vintage mugshot from 2001 when he was arrested for driving with a suspended licence. He offered a $25,000 donation to a charity of choice to the person who first found it.

Well, Harvey won, and now we can all enjoy John fucking us with his eyeballs.

The Nation Says Goodbye to Kennedy

Four U.S. presidents (the elder Bush did not attend) and hundreds of the nation's political leaders gathered at the Basilica of Our Lady of Perpetual Help in Boston this morning to bid good-bye to Senator Edward Kennedy before his body was flown to Washington to pay a visit to the U.S. Capitol (below).

Kennedy will be buried in Arlington National Cemetary next his brothers.

Via Towleroad