Sacha Harding, Britain’s Manliest Man, bares all for Elton John’s charity
Rugby star – and Britain’s “Manliest Man” – Sacha Harding recently stripped down for a photo shoot and interview for the U.K. magazine Gay Times to support Elton John’s AIDS foundation.
“AIDS is such a devastating disease for so many people around the world and I was honored to get this opportunity to try and do my part to help raise awareness of the disease and ultimately save lives,” Harding says.
Last year Harding, who plays with Bedford Blues, was also voted “Britain’s manliest man” after winning a nationwide competition organized by men’s grooming brand The Bluebeards Revenge.
Harding says he is happy to help a cause he believes in. “I know I’m going to get some stick from the lads at Bedford but it’s all good fun and the whole campaign has a very serious message which needs promoting,” he says.
Rugby star, “manliest man,” LGBT ally, and activist – what’s not to like?
Hottie of the day (year?): Ryan Gosling
Some folks were upset with People Magazine’s choice of Bradley Cooper as “Sexiest Man Alive” this year instead of Ryan Gosling.
People Magazine may have been trying to compensate for that by declaring Ryan “Mr. Hot Shots of 2011.”
I can definitely see the attraction.
Josh Charles from TV’s “The Good Wife” joins Americans for Marriage Equality
(from HRC)
“The SantaLand Diaries” to benefit Nevada’s Golden Rainbow
Very funny play about being a Santa and elf for children at shopping malls during the holiday season.
Adapted for the stage by Joe Mantello and directed by City Life Magazine’s “Best of the Valley” Best Local Theater Director Christopher Kenney, “The Santaland Diaries” is David Sedaris’ send-up of his brief, misguided career as a Macy’s elf. The show skewers our sentimental love of all things Christmas – the happy children, the spritely elves, the gifts, the good cheer.
A portion of ticket sales the first weekend will benefit the Golden Rainbow Project here in Nevada, which offers support to those with and affected by HIV/AIDS.
The play runs from December 1-11, 2011 at the Onyx Theatre in Las Vegas.
“It Gets Better” from the Premier of Ontario, Dalton McGuinty
My first marriage ceremony with Michael was in Ontario,Canada, in the city of Toronto. And it was not only the emotional experience we thought it would be, but I’ll never forget the respect we were afforded.
We were married in Toronto shortly after marriage equality became a reality in Ontario in 2003. I was on tour with CHICAGO the Musical, and Michael had never been to Canada, so we planned that he would come visit during that time. With the new marriage law, I asked Michael to marry me thinking this might be the only time we would ever have a legal marriage ceremony and license. Even if it weren’t valid in the US, we would know we did “something” legal.
It was my job to get the marriage license forms from City Hall as Michael wasn’t in town yet. When I picked them up, no one blinked or acted in any way that seemed disrespectful. As a matter of fact, I was struck by – even at the early date in marriage equality’s existence in Canada – that no one even hinted at “you know, this is new for us.” The clerk at City Hall was warm and congratulated me on my upcoming ceremony.
We were married by Senior Justice Lauren Marshall in her chambers. The way things worked, you needed to find someone who could and would officiate the ceremony. Somehow I was led to Justice Marshall and I clearly remember how happy and supportive she was to be a part of our special day.
My second marriage in Palm Springs was just as wonderful. But I’ll always remember how people in another country treated Michael and I with such respect and support at a time when marriage equality was still so new.
And I’ll value how Canada was an early leader for the world in terms of marriage equality.
Chris Meloni may join next season of TRUE BLOOD?
Word is Chris Meloni, formerly of Law & Order: SVU may be joining True Blood.
TVLine has learned exclusively that the former Law & Order: SVU front man is circling what my sources are calling a “major role” in the show’s upcoming fifth season.
If a deal comes to pass, this would be a major casting coup for True Blood. It would also mark a high-profile return to the small screen for Meloni following his sudden departure from SVU last spring.
(source)
GOP nominees will have to face NH marriage equality issue
Republican presidential candidates are joining New Hampshire’s intensifying same-sex marriage debate — whether they like it or not.
State lawmakers plan to take up a measure to repeal the law allowing same-sex couples to wed and a vote is expected at some point in January — the same month New Hampshire holds the nation’s first Republican presidential primary contest.
The impending focus on marriage equality carries risk for several of White House contenders — including former Massachusetts Gov. Mitt Romney, Texas Gov. Rick Perry and former businessman Herman Cain — whose inconsistencies on the topic are well documented.
The Republican candidates’ increasingly vocal support for “traditional marriage” also threatens to alienate a growing number of younger Republicans and independents here who support legal recognition of same-sex couples. That note of divisiveness could bode poorly for the eventual Republican challenger to Obama in the general election.
Romney was the Massachusetts governor when his state legalized same-sex marriage. The Romney administration, as directed by the courts, granted nearly 200 same-sex marriage requests for gay and lesbian couples in 2005.
This past June, he said during a debate that he favors a federal constitutional amendment banning the practice. That’s been his position at least since the beginning of his 2008 presidential bid, when he was the only major Republican candidate to support such an amendment.
But as a Massachusetts Senate candidate back in 1994, Romney told a Boston-area newspaper that same-sex marriage is “a state issue as you know — the authorization of marriage on a same-sex basis falls under state jurisdiction.”
Herman Cain told the Christian Broadcasting Network that federal legislation is necessary to protect traditional marriage. That seemed to be a direct contradiction from his statement of just six days earlier, when he told “Meet the Press” host David Gregory that states should be allowed to make up their own minds.
“I wouldn’t seek a constitutional ban for same sex marriage, but I am pro traditional marriage,” Cain told Gregory.
In Rick Perry’s case, the Texas governor says he supports the New Hampshire repeal. But in July he said that New York’s move to legalize same-sex marriage was “fine by me.” A week later, facing social conservative criticism, he walked back the comments.
“It’s fine with me that the state is using their sovereign right to decide an issue. Obviously gay marriage is not fine with me,” he said then.
While I think most conservatives won’t worry over the flip flops, come the general election these positions could come back to haunt the eventual GOP nominee in terms of some all important independent voters.
Time will tell.
Ethan Zohn: “Keep Moving Forward”
I met Ethan two years ago as I was ending my own cancer journey.
Not to be flip, but the label “survivor” is more than appropriate for this guy. He beat his cancer once, and I have no doubt his heart and spirit will win again.
I think it’s important for people in the public eye like Ethan to make these kinds of PSAs so those coping with challenges like cancer can put a “face” on strength and victory.
Go Ethan!
And thank you.
D.C. Architecture Firm Creates Gingerbread Las Vegas
An architecture firm located in Downtown D.C. created “Gingertown: Elf Vegas”, a gingerbread representation of Sin City, for public viewing.
David M. Schwarz Architects created Elf Vegas out of sprinkles, jelly beans, and tons of other candies.
The exhibit, which is on display until Friday, December 2, in the lobby of the building at 1050 Connecticut Avenue in Northwest, will eventually be broken down and donated to local charities.