Only a few short hours separate us from the painful reunion with our regular monotonous lives and bringing the end of a blissful month vacation. Sri Lankan beaches are about seven hours away now and the crisp air of Paris has been greeting us with our morning chocolat croissants.

Paris is everything grand that you've heard and nothing like the nightmares you've been told. Barely knowing a word of French, I was more than a bit nervous about our brief layover here before coming back to Milwaukee. I've heard all about snobby Parisians that turn up their noses at your pathetic French mumblings and feared that I'd starve trying to order a coffee and croissant. All my fears were unmet. Paris is delightful - more than delightful, amazing - and Parisians are quite friendly.

Our brief stop in the city of lights brought us to Pere Lachaise, Eiffel Tower, the Marais district, a lovely river tour on Bataux Parisiens, the Pantheon, the University of Paris III, and countless boutiques and boulangeries.

Many pictures are yet to come and as the weather looks pretty frightful in Milwaukee this weekend I'm sure I'll have plenty of time to post them up. Voila!

Jake Gyllenhaal was supposely a "perv" on the set of Brokeback Mountain according to star co-star Anne Hathaway. Can you say PR stunt to keep attention off of Jakey’s dubious sexual oriention??

Sizzling hot Wentworth Miller makes a feeble attempt at denying gay allegations. "No, I'm not gay. I know these rumors are out there...I'm cool with the fact that they exist, I mean this is about fantasy. Certain people are going to have certain fantasies. If someone wants to imagine me with a woman, or a man or one of each, that's cool with me as long as you keep watching the show." Who tells these publicists that such statements are a good idea?

He might have blown out his knee but that isn’t going to interfere with soccer superstar David Beckham and family’s move to Los Angeles. I can only imagine how horrible Posh's new reality show is going to be - but of course I’ll be watching for any chance to catch more of Becks.

Has-been Ann Coulter uses her best 3rd grade playground taunting skills to “really get” John Edwards. Sorry Ann your 5 minutes of fame are up and no matter how many stupid things you say and do you’ll never have a comeback.

Not that I want to seem like a stalker but here is a pretty sweet Becks documentary as part of his Adidas campaign. I guess I never really realized he kind of has the "looks like Tarzan, talks like Jane" thing going on. Welcome to America!

No more bombs over Baghdad?
US Army General David Petraeus has said that there is no military solution to the problems in Iraq. General Petraeus is the second US Army General in charge in Iraq to determine that military induced-violence is not the answer that Iraq needs.

"There is no military solution to a problem like that in Iraq. Military action is necessary to help improve security... but it is not sufficient. There needs to be a political aspect...” said General Petraeus.

Perhaps now Congress can take action on the horrible mess that little Georgie got us into?

Will Iowa become the next state to include LGBT people into the state’s non-discrimination policy? “Our state’s civil rights code has a glaring omission – our LGBT community is not protected. We know that gays and lesbians are discriminated against in our society, and they currently have no recourse or protection under the law. This simply is unacceptable,” said the Lt. Governor Patty Judge. “Discrimination and intolerance have no place in our society, and that is why the Governor and I are supporting this simple, yet inclusive, change to our civil rights code.”

According to the National Gay & Lesbian Task Force there are currently 17 states that include sexual orientation in non-discrimination policies and only 9 also include gender identity and expression.

Some things never change. The brave activists involved with Soulforce’s Equality Ride woke to find their bus littered with anti-gay hate speech yesterday in Sioux Center, IA. On top of the graffiti the volunteers were also heckled in their hotel. Soulforce is on a tour in the Midwest and will be in Milwaukee from Sunday, March 11 – Tuesday, March 13.

An opening reception is being hosted at the Milwaukee LGBT Community Center on Sunday, March 11th at 6:00 PM – 8:30 PM. The Milwaukee LGBT Community Center is located at 315 W. Court Street in downtown Milwaukee. For more information call (414) 271-2656.

A farewell dinner for Equality Ride volunteers is being provided on March 13th from 5:30 – 7:00. (If interested in donating some nutritional supplements for this dinner contact Jay at 414-271-2656).

Soulforce Q is the young adult division of Soulforce, a social justice organization that works to end political and religious oppression of lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender people. For more information go to www.soulforce.org or www.equalityride.com.

Milwaukee to get new rapid public transportation? Mayor Tom Barrett recently pushed forward an idea that would create a “two Bus Rapid Transit lines that would connect Milwaukees downtown with General Mitchell Airport, Miller Park, UWM, Marquette, Columbia-St. Mary Hospital and many others.”

Last week a study committee voted 3-1 to further analyze the Mayor’s plans.

But before you list your car on CraigsList keep an eye on the news. Proposals to update Milwaukee’s lackluster public transportation wouldn’t take effect until 2010 at the earliest. I’ll take a step in the right direction though.

Go England! Getting ‘em early. England is expected to dole out £600,000 of taxpayers’ money for a new project aimed at making homosexuality seem normal to children from an early age.

The plan is backed by teachers unions and would include several books already in print like King & King & And Tango Makes Three.

Christian critics of the plan are outraged. “The intention is to make homosexuality appear normal and these people have no business doing that to other people’s children. It is wicked and amounts to child abuse.”

Child abuse?!?! Come on. I think the idea is great and could help to stop a lot of problems from happening later in life. If you move past the gay/lesbian content in these books the basic message is to accept people for who they are, who they love, and for being “unique.” How can you really argue with that??

I had the best intentions of staying on track at work today. Honestly, I did. One of my first emails when I got into the office today was from "V" about my favorite topic: Jake Gyllenhaal.

I'm a Gyllehaalic! I admit it...

Anyways, since I was already off-track I thought I'd break my routine and get my afternoon fug. Boy was it worth it!

Dominic Purcell (you'll recognize him as the muscle from Prison Break and blood-lusty vampire of Blade: Trinity) how do you make tall lean muscle look like that?!? Thanks for that lovely fug!

When I was about eleven years old - perhaps even younger - the hottest thing on the market were those slap bracelets. They were literally thin pieces of metal covered with fabric - I gravitated to the faux-animal fur ones. I had about twenty of those things. I thought I was so hip when I would slap one on my arm or wrist or, if I was feeling particulary groovy, my ankle. Slap bracelets were pulled from the market because kids were hurting themselves on the sharp metal when the fabric covers tore or came off.

So what - you might be asking yourself - does this have to do with anything? I'm not exactly clear myself but when I saw this article about another "ex-gay" who successfully converted I was reminded of those $0.99 slap bracelets. Perhaps because both things are cheap and out of date?

The latest victim of this cheap, outdated, horrible self-hatred is Charlene E. Cothran who was one of the first and only Black lesbian owners of an African-American LGBT magazine. The publication was Venus Magazine and Charlene would never have had the success she did if New Jersey's LGBT community hadn't helped her out. Charlene recently published an article entitled "10 Ways to Get Out of the Gay Life, If You Want Out." Her 10 easy steps aren't very inspiring but I must say that step 5: "Just Say Yes" always tends to get me in trouble.

How, Ms. Cothran, do you think I got here in the first place? And step 7: "Enjoy Paradise Now" also sounds pretty tempting though if I have to share my paradise with the thoroughly messed up Ted Haggard and Anne Heche, I'll stick to Milwaukee.

It's quite disappointing that in 2007 - almost 40 years after Stonewall - the pressure to "change" ones sexual orientation is still so strong. Ex-Gay ministeries do NOT work. Ex-Gays do not find happiness or a "cure" for their sexual orientation. What Ex-Gays do find is a better way to lie and - in the case of Ted Haggard and Charlene Cothran - a different way to pay the bills. For information about the harmful and dangerous "ex-gay ministries" check this out.

P.S. - The massage table that started all the "gayness" for Ted Haggard is still for sale. Check it out soon!

Jake Gyllenhaal - who is definitely bringing sexy back as he proved in Jarhead - is rumored to be snatched up to play Captain Marvel in Shazam!. New York Daily News columnists Rush & Molloy said that "director Peter Segal and his fellow producers want to nab Gyllenhaal before "Spider-Man" director Sam Raimi does." New Line is wiling to cough up nearly $200 million to get the series - which they hope will become a franchise like the "Batman" and "Superman" series - off the ground.

And just when seeing Jake in one pair of tights and spandex bodysuit was enough: Tobey Maguire has opened the door for a new hunky leading male to play the next Spider-Man and director Sam Raimi allegedly has his eyes on the Gyllenator. I can't wait to see how the "spidey" suit fits him!

Apparently the Something for the Fellas video has been removed from the site because it was leaked and shouldn't have been out in the public yet. As soon as it gets back in my hands I'll activate the video link.

In the meantime check out these other favorites of mine from the Gay Pimp.

I'll put the poll back up when the video link goes live again.

Soccer Practice

and Lookin' Cute, Feelin' Cute

An angry group of activists ranging in age from 13 to 24 broke the front window to a US Army Recruiting Center on Milwaukee's eastside on Monday night. The group disagrees with the US-led war in Iraq and apparently wanted to make a statement. Nine adults and three minors were arrested for their role in the vandalism.

A lively discussion about the event and tactics used can by found at indymedia. The site has some illicit language.

The Test Positive Aware Network (TPAN) - based out of Chicago - is in need of a few good men to fill the position of Mr. Sex. I'm not sure how much they are willing to pay Mr. Sex but they only need his services part-time. Sorry to those interested men looking for full-time gigs.

Mr. Sex is needed to work bathhouse outreach and they put it in a job description - and that is truly the position title. (Seriously, I can't make this stuff up!)

Check out the job description to find out more.

What would be the best way to list Mr. Sex experience on a resume?? Suggestions can be sent to me here.

The Local Law Enforcement Hate Crimes Prevention Act of 2007 was re-introduced into Congress by U.S. Reps. John Conyers (D-Mich.) and Mark Kirk (R-Ill.). The bill is being celebrated by national LGBT groups including the Task Force and the National Center for Transgender Equality because it not only includes sexual orientation but also gender identity.

Zodiac opened recently here in Milwaukee and for those that haven't checked it out I'd highly recommend it. The movie is based on unsolved murders in the late '60's and '70's and inspired by real events. The suspense element to the movie kept me on the edge of my seat and I even managed to scream a bit once or twice. It doesn't hurt that the incredibly sexy - and my "bestie" in my dreams - Jake Gyllenhaal is in nearly every scene. The movie is just shy of three hours but the time goes by so fast you'd never even know. As I left the theater and entered my car I made sure to check the back seat for "the zodiac." Just in case...

If you followed the headlines around the anti-LGBT marriage amendment debate in Wisconsin last year you would certainly have heard the powerful story of Richard & Ray. Richard Taylor and Ray Vahey became influential spokepeople against the ban by telling their story of 50 years of love.

Their story was written about in the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel, The Progressive, Milwaukee's Shepherd-Express, and many other publications. After decades of hiding their relationship they came out - and boy did they come out. The headlined PrideFest, they spoke at house party fundraisers to defeat the amendment, they wore buttons, and up to the day that he died Richard Taylor educated nurses, doctors, and anyone he talked with about the harm the amendment would deal to LGBT and allied people. Richard Taylor died after a long battle with cancer on July 28, 2006.

A wedding ceremony was scheduled for September 16th to celebrate Richard & Ray's 50 Years of Love. The event continued as a tribute to Richard Taylor and became a fundraiser for the Fair Wisconsin campaign. The dedication video that a local videographer made for the event can be seen here.

After being served devastating losses (Wisconsin lost 59% to 41% - despite raising $5.5 million and running the largest campaign) instead of getting some rest Ray became a full-time activist and fundraiser. He has become so inspired that he recently decided to get arrested practicing civil disobedience with Soulforce. Check out the video here to see Ray proudly being taken away by local law enforcement. (Ray's the guy wearing the yellow windbreaker!) Go Ray, Go!

Other news you may have missed in cyberspace:
Death Parts couple after 49 years [via Towleroad]

Rainbow baby factories?
Who would have guessed that 35% of lesbians living in the United States ages 18-44 have had children? A new study by the Williams Institue and Urban Institute released this week brings light to the topic of LGBT adoption and foster care families. The study also found that 52% of gay men and 41% of lesbians want to have a child. Guess it's time to open up that gay day care center!

Largo, FL Transphobic Firing Update
One of the Phobic 5 Largo City Commissioners recently defended his vote to fire Steve Stanton who was the City Manager for 14 years after he announced that he "was a transsexual and planned to live as a woman and eventually pursue a sex-change operation." The commissioner, Gay Gentry, said it was Stanton's management style - which he described as "hard-nosed, my-way-or-the-highway" - was the reason for the firing. The City Commissioners recently rewarded Stanton with a nice raise because of his job performance. But of course that was before Stanton told the world about his plans of transitioning his gender.

Queer athletes changing attitudes?
According to a new study released this week by Witeck-Combs Communications and Harris Interactive, heterosexual sports fans are overwhelmingly in support of their favorite athletes coming out. The study reported that "72% of heterosexual adults say their feelings toward their favorite male professional athlete would not change if the player revealed he is gay."

Related stories you may have missed:
An Interview With Basketballer Amaechi
John Amaechi's Gay Bald Head Shines On Through [via Queerty]
Sheryl Swoopes: Outside the arc

For years and years the shouts and murmurs have all claimed that Beyonce was stealing her dance moves from Shakira. Beyonce has never admitted to it - well, at least until now. Sort of. Her newest video that she performs with Shakira. Beautiful Liar, might just be the final proof the world has been looking for. Check out the video and see for yourself.

San Fran union wants queer youth!

A birthday present to myself