101 Cancelled Tonight

Due to a scheduling conflict, 101 is cancelled tonight. NightlifeGay.com appologizes for any inconvience this may have caused.

Asbury Park Gay Pride Today

The 18th Annual LGBTI Pride Celebration will be held in Asbury Park, New Jersey from noon to 7 p.m. today. The parade will kicks off at noon at at Cookman Avenue and Main Street and ends at Bradley and Atlantic parks, Fifth Avenue and Kingsley Street, where a festival and rally will be held until 7 p.m.

The gay pride event has been held in Asbury Park since its inception and includes the parade, entertainment, food, arts and crafts, exhibits and family-oriented activities, according to a release from Jersey Pride, which organizes the celebration each year. (source)

2008 Asbury Park Gay Pride Video:

Salt Lake City Pride today

Salt Lake City's gay pride is expected to break attendance records due to Proposition 8. Pride events kicked-off on Friday with the Dyke March and Jam's search for the new Bud Light boy.

Bud Light search at Jam:

Gay penguins hatch baby

Z and Vielpunkt, two male Humboldt penguins at Germany's Bremerhaven Zoo, are the proud new parents of a healthy penguin chick.

"Another couple threw the egg out of their batch. We picked it up and put it in the nest of the gay penguins," veterinarian Joachim Schöne told the German newspaper Bild of the pair's entry into parenthood. Z and Vielpunkt faithfully cared for their adopted egg for more than a month; in late April it hatched. Since then, they've been taking care of their chick around the clock; it's still too young to feed itself, so the dads feed him fish mash, Schöne explained.

"Since the chick arrived, they have been behaving just as you would expect a heterosexual couple to do," the zoo said in a statement. (source)

Marcavage sues Philadelphia, again

Philadelphia-based Repent America director Michael Marcavage is suing the city of Philadelphia again. Marcavage claims he was physically restrained by city police on four separate occasions and that an officer once put him into a chokehold. His civil-rights suit, which names the city and several individual police officers, was filed yesterday in federal court in Philadelphia. The events he cites occurred in 2007, 2008 and 2009.

Craig Straw of the City Solicitor's Office says he has not received the suit and cannot comment on pending litigation. Marcavage has filed suits in other such cases twice before. One was settled out of court.
(ap)

Wall Street commemorates Stone Wall today

New York Stock Exchange will commemorate the 40th Anniversary of the Stonewall Riots today. The NGLCC, NYSE Euronext, NGLCCNY, Members of Congress, LGBT advocacy organizations, and corporate champions will gather in the economic center of the world - The New York Stock Exchange - to celebrate the global launch of LGBT Pride Month. Also joining us will be CBS News Anchor Ross Palombo and cast members of the 2009 Tony-nominated musical, Hair.

Organizational Partners for this event include the Human Rights Campaign, the National Gay & Lesbian Task Force, the National Black Justice Coalition, Lambda Legal, Out & Equal Workplace Advocates, the International Gay & Lesbian Chamber of Commerce, and The Center: The NYC LGBT Community Center.

Event Schedule

4:00pm: Closing Bell Ceremony, Viewing from NYSE Board Room

4:30-6:00pm: The LGBT Movement and the 40 Years Since Stonewall, Symposium Discussion

6:00-8:00pm: VIP Pride Month Launch, Reception on the Floor of Stock Exchange

Photos: Smile Happy Hour's Matthew Izzo fashion show

HRC calls Bellini a lier - Signorile confirms Bellini's story

According to the blog Joe My God: Michael Cole, Senior Communications Manager of the HRC, wrote with this statement: "This story is not only an outright lie, it is recklessly irresponsible. HRC never made such a deal and continues to work with congress and the administration on a full range of equality issues including a swift end to the military's shameful ban on gay servicemembers."

However, Sirus Radio's Michaelangelo Signorile did find Aaron Belkin to confirm Bellini's story. Belkin is from the Palm Center, the research institute that focuses on the military and sexuality, located at the University of California, Santa Barbara. Here is what is part of their conversation:

AB: "...Our major national gay rights organizations -- it would be one thing to say nothing, but there is pro-active lobbying on the hill for Congress not to consider [the "don't ask, don't tell"] issue. And so the community has been appalling on this issue.

MS: Have you seen any response from any of those groups, and I guess we're talking about the Human Rights Campaign, the National Gay and Lesbian Task Force, other Washington groups?

AB:...We've heard from so many offices that not only are they not doing anything but they're pro-actively lobbying against consideration of the issue. I feel very confident in saying that.

Did HRC cut a deal on DADT?

Jason Bellini, formerly of CBS and Logo, reporting for the Daily Beast investigates whether the Human Rights Campaign cut a deal with Congress to push back the repeal of "Don't Ask, Don't Tell." Check out his report.

R.I.P. Actor David Carradine

David Carradine, famous for his roles in Kill Bill 2 and Kung Fu, was found dead in his hotel in Bangkok.  At 72, Carradine was on location filming his newest film, Stretch.  The cause of death is not known at this time.  Our thoughts go out to his family and friends.

Whitney's new album in 89 days and counting!

WhitneyHouston.com has issued a countdown and video for her new album due out in 89 days. Check out the video.

Harvard Creates First Professorship in Gay Studies

Institutions of higher education have typically been ahead of the curve on social issues - often researching and implementing progressive policies.  Specifically, on issues of importance to the LGBT community, such as same-sex partner benefits and employee non-discrimination, colleges and universities have embraced equality like no other major industry sector.

It comes as no surprise, then, that Harvard University has created the first official professorship in gay studies.  Programs in LGBT studies have sprung up at schools throughout the country in recent years, but this is the first formal professorship in the field.  A big thank-you to Harvard for encouraging the study of our community's past, present, and future.

"Federal government is not in the business of determining what marrige is." - Really?

Brian Williams asked President Obama last night if gays and lesbians have a friend in the White House? Obama said yes, but he does not think it is the role of the federal government to determine what marriage is. The question then must be asked - Why is America stuck with the Defense of Marriage Act? Check it out here.

New Hampshire's Governor signs gay marriage bill

New Hampshire became the sixth state to legalize gay marriage after the Senate and House passed key language on religious rights and Gov. John Lynch — who personally opposes gay marriage — signed the legislation Wednesday afternoon.

After rallies outside the Statehouse by both sides in the morning, the last of three bills in the package went to the Senate, which approved it 14-10 Wednesday afternoon.

Cheers from the gallery greeted the key vote in the House, which passed it 198-176. Surrounded by gay marriage supporters, Lynch signed the bill about an hour later.

"Today, we are standing up for the liberties of same-sex couples by making clear that they will receive the same rights, responsibilities — and respect — under New Hampshire law," Lynch said.(source)

Do you really want traditional marriage?

Lady Gaga & Rihanna Collaboration

Two of the hottest women in the music game have teamed up for a new song.  Silly Boy is a super-fun dance track that has definite Top 10 potential.  Click here to listen for yourself.

Gay network see growth

here!, America ’s premium gay and lesbian television network, continues to experience consistent month-to-month subscription growth five years after its 2004 launch. In 2008, here! saw its subscriptions grow an impressive 21% nationally. That number coincides with the recent CTAM (Cable and Telecommunications Association for Marketing) study noting consumers are not cutting back on premium cable services, despite the slow economy. In 2008, here! also benefited from expanded carriage agreements with Comcast, AT&T U-verse, Verizon FiOS, and DISH Network, which brings the network’s distribution base to over 30 million U.S. households.

2008 was a pivotal year for here! parent company Regent Media, which completed acquisitions of several leading LGBT brands to form Here Media, the largest gay media company in the world. Here Media’s portfolio includes iconic print publications The Advocate and Out magazines as well as HIV Plus magazine; the theatrical production and distribution company here! Films; and the nation’s oldest LGBT publishing house, Alyson Books. On the Internet, Here Media’s global network of gay- and lesbian-oriented websites include: Advocate.com, Out.com, OutTraveler.com, and SheWired.com. This year Here Media’s critically acclaimed projects have received an Academy Award (2008 Best Foreign Language Film, Departures) and a GLAAD Media Award (Outstanding Film – Limited Release, Shelter) out of a total of six nominations.

“Being able to leverage the assets of Here Media to drive acquisition for the network has been critical to our success. We look forward to continuing to partner with these revered brands to grow our subscription base. Earlier this year we launched our first major cobranded direct mail campaign with Charter Communications. We were able to utilize the subscription database of our sister companies to effectively target our mailing,” said Maria Dwyer, here!’s Senior Vice President, Affiliate Sales and Marketing.

New Philly Ad

Clinton stands-up for gay rights

Hillary Clinton vowed Monday to fight for gay rights, calling for all nations to stop violence and discrimination based on sexual orientation.

Clinton made the appeal ahead of the 40th anniversary this month of New York's Stonewall Riots, often seen as the launch of the US gay rights movement, in which gays and lesbians fought back against police who raided their bars.

"The example set by those fighting for equal rights in the United States gives hope to men and women around the world who yearn for a better future for themselves and their loved ones," said Clinton, a former senator from New York.

While acknowledging that gays and lesbians still had a long path to equality in the United States, Clinton deplored that gays in some parts of the world live in constant fear of arrest or violence.

"The persecution of gays and lesbians is a violation of human rights and an affront to human decency, and it must end," she said. (source)

Obama issues gay proclamation

Yesterday, President Obama issue a proclamation for "Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, and Transgender Pride Month."

In the proclamation, Obama mentions the legislative priorities, including overturning the Defense of Marriage Act, which defines marriage as between one man and one woman and allows states not to recognize gay marriages performed in other states, and the "don't ask, don't tell" policy, which bars gays from serving openly in the military.

"I continue to support measures to bring the full spectrum of equal rights to LGBT Americans," Obama says in the proclamation.

"As long as the promise of equality for all remains unfulfilled, all Americans are affected," he adds, calling on Congress and the American people to "work together to promote equal rights for all, regardless of sexual orientation or gender identity."

But he does not make any promises on the timing of any action. (source)

Cheney supports gay marriage, state-by-state

Former vice president Richard Cheney suggested he supports legalizing gay marriage as long as the issue is decided by the states rather than the federal government.

Cheney, whose daughter is a lesbian, said during an appearance at the National Press Club that "people ought to be free to enter into any kind of union they wish, any kind of arrangement they wish."

He said he does not support federal action allowing gay marriages, however. "Historically the way marriage has been regulated is at the state level," Cheney said. "It has always been a state issue and I think that is the way it ought to be handled, on a state-by-state basis." (source)

Alec Mapa to headline Philadelphia's gay pride

Ugly Betty star, Alec Mapa, will headline this year's Philly Gay Pride on June 14th. Mapa got his first professional break when he was cast to replace B.D. Wong in the Broadway production of M. Butterfly. On television, he has made guest appearances on a wide variety of programs, including Jamie Foxx Show, Roseanne, Seinfeld, NYPD Blue, Friends, Murder One and Dharma & Greg. He was a featured performer on the Logo original stand-up comedy series Wisecrack.
Recently appeared as Vern, Gabrielle's gay best friend, on the hit ABC series Desperate Housewives. He currently plays recurring roles in Ugly Betty, as Suzuki St. Pierre, the gay on-screen host (and the alias of straight--and married-- journalist Byron Wu) of the fashion-oriented television channel that covers the inside gossip from Mode and other fashion magazines, and the animated series Rick & Steve: The Happiest Gay Couple in All the World, as Rick's flamboyantly gay uncle Bakla.

101 takes a summer break after Pride

Philadelphia's Sunday night part, 101, is gearing up for a big Pride event on June 14th. Pride 101 will make the last event before the party takes a break for the summer. Miss Aeryanah Von Moi and Dj Robbie Tronco are scheduled to perform and spin you favorite hits all night long. The party, which is held at ONE located at 19th & Sansom, kicks-off at 7pm and will end at Midnight.

Eminem gets no respect!

Last night on MTV's music awards - Sacha Baron Cohen, as his new character Bruno, flew into Eminem butt first. Check it out.

MTV Shows

March on Washington called for October 10-11, 2009

A marriage equality rally took place in Fresno over the weekend in response to the CA Supreme Court's decision to uphold Proposition 8. Thousands of people turned out for the rally in the conservative California Central Valley. The gay marriage supporters pledge to put a new initiative before voters to overturn the ban — perhaps as soon as next year — and to take their message to Washington in October.

Philadelphia's Bump Lounge sold

Philadelphia's Bump Lounge, located at 13th & Locust Streets, has been sold! The new owner: Mr. Gay Philadelphia 2008 - John Caputo and family. Here is what John told Nightlifegay.com:

The official day of the sale is to be determined within the next few days. On that matter once the sale is finalized and we assume control of the the establishment it will still be a pillar that will serve the GLBT community. We plan on making some major changes to the interior to make the place more intimate and warm. Another change that will be made is update the menus. As far as what direction we will be taking the menu is still undecided but we want to incorporate some organic cuisines. We hope to make Bump a more intimate, fun, sexy, and classy establishment that will continue to serve the GLBT community for years to come.

John Caputo
Managing Partner

The Wiess Brothers, who are selling Bump, are rumored to be buying the defunct Key West bar located on Juniper between Walnut and Locust Streets.