Philadelphia and Boy Scouts to meet in court

Federal judge - Ronald L. Buckwalter - said the City of Philadelphia and the Boy Scouts will have to settle their case in court.

The case involves the City of Philadelphia asking the Scouts to pay fair-market-value rent on their city owned office space since they do not allow gay members - which is direct conflict with the the city's non-discrimination policy. The Boy Scouts claims it’s First Amendment rights are being violated.

The bad news: Judge Buckwalter will preside over the trial and he served on the executive board of the Pennsylvania Dutch Scouts Council from July 1980-July 1984.....not sure why he has not removed himself, but this is not good news for the city or gay rights.

Avenue Q Returns to Philly in June

Avenue Q will make Philadelphia return at the Academy of Music for a weekend engagement June 18 - 20. The smash-hit Broadway musical about real life in New York City, as told by a cast of people and puppets through a hilariously irreverent, Tony-winning book and score.

Avenue Q tells the story of Princeton, a bright-eyed college grad who moves to NYC with big dreams and a tiny bank account. The only apartment he can afford is way out on Avenue Q, where everyone's looking for the same things he is: a decent job, a stable relationship, and a "purpose." Eventually, Princeton learns to embrace the ups and downs of city life and realizes that "the real world" isn't so bad, after all!

Tickets are available online at kimmelcenter.org.

Family Research Council co-founder traveling with Rentboy

A leading U.S. anti-gay campaigner has been photographed returning from a European holiday with a male prostitute.
Professor George Rekers, a Baptist minister who believes homosexuality is a sin that can be cured, hired a 20-year-old Puerto Rican as his travelling companion from a website called Rentboy.com.

The 61-year-old father-of-three took the escort, who is known on the gay networking site as 'Geo', on a ten-day trip to London and Madrid.

The pair were photographed emerging from Miami International Airport last month with Professor Rekers pushing their luggage in a trolley. But when confronted with the photo by a journalist from the Miami New Times this week, Professor Rekers explained he hired Geo to help him carry his suitcases following a stint in hospital.

'I had surgery, I can’t lift luggage,' he said. 'That’s why I hired him.'

A statement released on his behalf added: 'Professor Reker's family, local friends, and even another university professor colleague have offered to accompany him on trips to lift luggage.

'He was not involved in any illegal or sexual behaviour with his travel assistant.'

Geo's Rentboy.com profile listed stripping among his interests. He described himself as 'sensual', 'masculine' and 'up for anything'. 'I will do anything you say as long as you ask,' he said.


Read more: http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/worldnews/article-1273778/Anti-gay-activist-George-Rekers-took-10-day-holiday-Rentboy-male-prostitute.html?ito=feeds-newsxml#ixzz0n9afo4Zr

Elton banned in Egypt

Elton John’s “Jesus is gay” comment has caused him a concert in Egypt. The British music icon has been banned from playing a private show in the country after music officials deemed his comments sacrilegious.

The 63-year-old singer/songwriter was due to perform on May 18, but the country’s Musician Union prevented him from doing so. The Jerusalem Post reports an article from Deutsche Press-Agentur, saying that Mounir al-Wasimi, head of the union, decided that his country does not want a “homosexual who wants to ban religions, claimed that the prophet Issa (Jesus) was gay and calls for Middle Eastern countries to allow gays to have sexual freedom” to perform there.

John drew ire of the Christian world when he called Jesus as a “super intelligent gay man” earlier this year. He also claimed in an interview that Arab countries do not have tolerance for homosexuals. (source)

Jon Stewart Clueless on Philly Music Scene

How do you ever slam funny man John Stewart?


When he goes after Philadelphia for not having a music scene! Really John - have you ever heard of the Sound of Philadelphia, Pink, Will Smith, The Roots, Chubby Checker, Bobby Rydell, Frankie Avalon, Boyz to Men, Jill Scott, Hall & Oats, or Patti LaBelle to just name a few....oh, and the world class Philadelphia Orchestra and that little show called American Bandstand. Your still funny - just clueless about music.

Miley Cyrus' "Can't Be Tamed" Video

U.K.preacher arrested for saying homosexuality is a sin

Dale McAlpine was charged with causing “harassment, alarm or distress” after a homosexual police community support officer (PCSO) overheard him reciting a number of “sins” referred to in the Bible, including blasphemy, drunkenness and same sex relationships.

The 42-year-old Baptist, who has preached Christianity in Workington, Cumbria for years, said he did not mention homosexuality while delivering a sermon from the top of a stepladder, but admitted telling a passing shopper that he believed it went against the word of God.

Police officers are alleging that he made the remark in a voice loud enough to be overheard by others and have charged him with using abusive or insulting language, contrary to the Public Order Act.

Mr McAlpine, who was taken to the police station in the back of a marked van and locked in a cell for seven hours on April 20, said the incident was among the worst experiences of his life.

“I felt deeply shocked and humiliated that I had been arrested in my own town and treated like a common criminal in front of people I know," he said. (source)

Good for this police officer - hate is hate. Now, if we could only start inforcing separation of church and state in the United States.

Phillies Fan Tasered - Security Booed

At last nights Phillies vs Cardinals game, a Phillies fan was running on the field for a good 30 seconds before he gets shot by security with a taser gun. The fans started to boo the security but where happy and cheered when the guy got up. Check it out.

Joe Jaskson: Michael was not gay

Michael Jackson's father, Joe Jackson has dismissed reports that his son was gay. Joes is slamming his son's close confidante and physician Arnie Klein, who recently claimed that the singer was a homosexual, TMZ.com reported.

"Michael was not gay. He (Klein) has no respect for Michael... to say things about him when he's gone is shameful. He's a doctor and knows better than to break his vows against a patient," Joe said.

Klein and his office manager, Pfieffer, were featured on the TV show 'Extra' a few days ago, where Pfeiffer claimed to have had a romantic relationship with MJ.

Klein said, that Pfeiffer was "the love of his (Jackson's) life" and also recalled walking in on the two men with their shirts off.

Klein admits he and Pfeiffer have been the target of "horrible death threats" since going public with the claims, which Joe Jackson calls "not true".

Who knows and who cares....

SundayOut Photos

Photos by Patrick Hagerty

Photos: International Equality Dinner

The International Equality Dinner was held at the National Constitution Center on Saturday night. The event honored David Boies and Ted Olson with the 15th annual International Role Model Award and CNN with the 8th annual International Business Leadership Award. Check out these photos of the event.














Photos by Patrick Hagerty

No movement on DADT in 2010

Defense Secretary Robert Gates and Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff Adm. Mike Mullen told the House Armed Services Committee that forcing policy changes on the military before it's ready would be a mistake.

"Our military must be afforded the opportunity to inform us of their concerns, insights and suggestions if we are to carry out this change successfully," Gates and Mullen wrote to the panel's chairman, Missouri Democrat Ike Skelton.

Gay rights advocates want an immediate freeze on military firings of openly gay service members, and some senior Democratic senators have said they want to offer such a bill. House Speaker Nancy Pelosi on Friday said the Obama administration should suspend enforcement of the law until the Defense Department completes its study and Congress can act to change it.

But other lawmakers, including Skelton, have said they are uneasy about lifting the ban and don't want to act before the force is ready.

The letter provides Skelton and other unsettled Democrats political cover not to press the issue until after this year's midterm elections. Earlier this week, Skelton asked Gates in a letter to outline his views as the House committee prepares the 2011 defense authorization bill.

President Barack Obama has said the 1993 law, known as "don't ask, don't tell," unfairly punishes patriotic Americans and asked Congress to repeal it.

In a statement released late Friday, White House spokesman Tommy Vietor said Obama's commitment to repealing the law remains "unequivocal" and that Obama "is committed to getting this done both soon and right."

Gates says he supports lifting the ban but wants to survey the troops first on how it should be done. He has ordered a study by Dec. 1 that will look at whether housing arrangements would have to be altered and gay partners would be allowed military benefits.

If Congress acts before then, "it would send a very damaging message to our men and women in uniform that in essence their views, concerns and perspectives do not matter," he and Mullen wrote to Skelton. (source)

Ridiculous....Obama and the Democratic party now have a problem on their hands. If the November elections have a big swing to the Republican party - where does that leave us?

Brian Sanders receives award from Equality Forum

The Merriam Theater played host to Equality Forum's Brain Sander's Dance Tribute on Friday night. The packed house enjoyed several exciting dance routines by students from the University of the Arts including and innovative piece by Brain Sanders. At the end of the show, Sanders was presented an award for his contributions to the dance community.





Photos by: Patrick Hagerty