Brüno’ Actor Shucks Clothes for Gay Mag Cover

Homophobic Film Ever Made?” That’s the blurb on the cover of Attitude, a British gay magazine, where comedian Sacha Baron Cohen, posing nude to promote his new film, appears.

The film in question–and the name of the character, whom Cohen continues to portray in live promotional appearances–is Brüno, in which Cohen plays a gay fashionista seeking redemption during a global road trip.

The production reportedly drew trouble for Cohen, who was arrested several times during the shoot.

But the film’s reception has also been mixed, with dubious and even hostile reactions coming from the GLBT community.

Though the film reportedly seeks to skewer homophobia, some GLBT equality advocates worry that “Brüno” will actually threaten social progress made by gays in the last several years by presenting audiences with a flamboyant gay character.

A July 1 article at the UK newspaper The Daily Mail reported that Cohen’s appearance on the cover of Attitude was meant to “appease” gay audiences.

The article pointed out that Cohen also appeared nude on the cover of GQ magazine.

Last month, Cohen appeared at the film’s London premiere in character, and in a revealing costume that riffed on the traditional uniforms of the Queen’s Guards, drawing headlines in the process. See Brüno’ Actor Shucks Clothes for Gay Mag Cover

EDGE Boston

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LGBT discussion takes on a new tone in the Ohio Statehouse

Columbus–As the House State Government committee considered a bill to outlaw discrimination by sexual orientation or gender identity, State Rep. Cliff Hite of Findlay challenged Crystal Curry of the anti-gay Concerned Women for America.

“You and the other [Equal Housing and Employment Act opponents] have testified that homosexuals are only about three percent of the population,” said Hite, a Republican. “So how is it that three percent represents such a threat?”

“They’re not,” Curry answered, “unless we give them civil rights and allow them to marry. Then they are a threat. Three percent is not harmful unless they keep pushing and pushing and take on rights.”

Curry then told lawmakers that because LGBT people use the word “gay” instead of “homosexual” and Will and Grace has gay characters, homosexuality will “become accepted.”

“Kids will grow up and try it,” she complained.

The exchange caused a visible reaction in Hite and other committee members, both Democrats and Republicans.

This illustrates what might be the most significant development in the bill’s movement through the Ohio legislature:

The measure’s opponents can no longer make wild, unsubstantiated and long-debunked claims about the lives of LGBT people without challenges from both sides of the partisan aisle.

See LGBT discussion takes on a new tone in the Ohio Statehouse

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Military Academy Cadets Choose Gay Character As Role Model

The cadets at the U.S. Military Academy announced their nominees for the 2nd Annual Cadet Choice Award, which is given to the movie character that best exemplifies West Point leadership. Their choices?

Bruce Wayne in The Dark Knight
Colonel Claus von Stauffenberg in Valkyrie
Dr. Henry Walton “Indiana” Jones, Jr. in Indiana Jones and the Kingdom of the Crystal Skull
John Hancock in Hancock
Harvey Milk in Milk
James Bond in Quantum of Solace

Cadet public affairs officer Cristin Browne explains the purpose of the award:

“West Point is all about producing leaders of character. Leaders influence people to accomplish the mission and improve the organization. A leader of character seeks to discover the truth, decides what is right, and acts accordingly. Furthermore, West Point values are Duty, Honor, Country. That leadership, those values, are what this award celebrates.”

See Military Academy Cadets Choose Gay Character As Role Model
Queerty, NY

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Finally a gay male character on Battlestar Galactica

Apparently my geek antennae haven’t been properly tuned as there have already been four special Battlestar Galactica webisodes aired. And as a special bonus the show’s first gay man is revealed in the first few minutes. And, as many already suspected, it is the aptly named Felix Gaeta who gets to be the pioneer.

This token gift from BSG creators for a gay character, which gay fans have been screaming for since the show’s beginning (nay, since the dawn on sci-fi TV) is both refreshing and a bit annoying. I don’t mean to complain because I am glad to finally have some acknowledgment, but it comes in the form of an addendum. Yes, BSG watchers are almost all fanatical enough that we would all watch webisodes as well as regular episodes but you can’t disavow that it was clearly an afterthought.

See Finally a gay male character on Battlestar Galactica
The Oregonian – OregonLive.com, OR