Art in public places - just another winter's day in paradise

No idea whether any of the folks in these pictures are gay but ... I stumbled upon this FHM magazine photo shoot at Northeast Second Avenue and 29th Street on my way to work today. It seems the very-straight German mag is doing a piece on Miami car washes.

By the way, that's a '70 SS Chevelle these guys are washing, provided by Nel Classics Cars.

This is why I never travel without a camera. Thought I'd share. (Click on the pictures to enlarge!)

British churches set to lose gay adoption appeal

By Jeremy Lovell, Reuters

LONDON - A bid by the Catholic and Anglican Churches to exempt Catholic adoption agencies from being forced to place children with gay couples under a new British law looked set to fail on Thursday.

The Equality Act, which comes into force in April, is designed to stop discrimination against gay and lesbian couples wishing to adopt a child, but the Church leaders called for an exemption for Catholic adoption agencies on faith grounds.

The emotional battle between Church and state involved even Prime Minister Tony Blair, who was said to have favoured an exemption, risking a revolt by most of his ministers.

But on Thursday Education Minister Alan Johnson, who has responsibility for adoption, said the government, including Blair, saw no case for special treatment.

To read more, click here.

Anne Heche announces split with husband

Associated Press

LOS ANGELES - Anne Heche and her husband are separating after five years of marriage, her spokeswoman said Wednesday.

"They have requested that they be allowed their privacy at this time," publicist Lisa Kasteler said in a statement.

Heche, 37, and Coleman Laffoon, a motion picture cameraman, were married in September 2001. The couple have a 4-year-old son, Homer.

They met while working on a documentary about Ellen DeGeneres' return to stand-up comedy.

Heche had a high-profile relationship with DeGeneres for more than three years. They announced their separation in August 2000.

Heche plays a relationship guru who relocates to Alaska in the ABC-TV drama "Men in Trees." Her film credits include "Wag the Dog," "John Q" and "Donnie Brasco."

Former Survivor Castmate J.P. Calderon: I'm Gay

From Towleroad.com:

Although his activities in and around gay people and nightlife were widely reported, former Survivor: Cook Islands castaway J.P. Calderon (seen below with openly gay castmate Brad Virata) had never come out publicly. That will apparently happen on this Wednesday's episode of The Janice Dickinson Modeling Agency, according to Instinct magazine, for which he does a cover shoot during the episode.

To read more, click here.

E!: Isaiah Washington enters treatment

By Sarah Hall, E! Online

Isaiah Washington is moving on to the next step in the healing process.

The Grey's Anatomy star has entered a treatment facility in an attempt to make amends for the gay slur that rocked the Golden Globes, sources confirm to E! Online.

"With the support of my family and friends, I have begun counseling," the actor said in a statement Wednesday. "I regard this as a necessary step toward understanding why I did what I did and making sure it never happens again.

"I appreciate the fact that I have been given this opportunity and I remain committed to transforming my negative actions into positive results, personally and professionally."

Washington reportedly agreed to undergo a psychological assessment after a discussion with ABC executives regarding his backstage outburst at the awards show, where he denied that he had referred to his costar, T.R. Knight as a "faggot."

To read more, click here.

State of the Union: Family Research Council response

News release

Washington, D.C. - Today, Family Research Council President Tony Perkins released on youtube.com and FRC's website - www.frc.org a video response to President Bush's State of the Union Address.

Last night, President Bush addressed a number of significant concerns but failed to address the equally important family and cultural issues. In this web video response, Tony Perkins lays out what the President needs to do to once again rally pro-family Americans to his side.

State of the Union: Gay and Lesbian Task Force response

News release

National Gay and Lesbian Task Force responds to President Bush’s State of the Union address

“Perhaps the election results served to check the president’s use of dangerous wedge politics since he chose not to lobby for a federal constitutional amendment to ban marriage rights for same-sex couples. While this is positive news, it hardly erases the last six years of legislative and policy attacks our community has suffered under this administration.“
— Matt Foreman, Executive Director, National Gay and Lesbian Task Force

WASHINGTON, Jan. 23 — President George W. Bush gave his State of the Union address tonight.

Statement by Matt Foreman, Executive Director
National Gay and Lesbian Task Force

“Tonight, President Bush told us that he will ignore the central message of the 2006 congressional elections: end the unsupported, unwarranted and utterly unnecessary bloody war in Iraq. The nightmare in the Middle East continues unabated.

“But perhaps the election results served to check the president’s use of dangerous wedge politics since he chose not to lobby for a federal constitutional amendment to ban marriage rights for same-sex couples. Even the congressional co-sponsors of the amendment announced the demise of the so-called Federal Marriage Amendment. While this is positive news, it hardly erases the last six years of legislative and policy attacks our community has suffered under this administration.

“We look forward to working with the new, more fair-minded Congress to repair the hurt created by President Bush’s disastrous domestic and international policies and to restore our nation’s reputation as a society in which dignity, equality and justice are available for all.”

Martini Tuesdays 6 Year Anniversary

News release:

On Tuesday February 6th, Martini Tuesdays will celebrate its 6 Year Anniversary with a special event at Chakra. The 6 Year Anniversary party will be sponsored by Roth Vodka and Fever USA. Pangea Band, featuring lead vocalist Christina Sichta, will be performing for this event. Chakra is the club, restaurant and lounge that was formerly Billboard Live and Barton G 1501.

Martini Tuesdays is Edison Farrow's weekly event for gay professionals that meets in a different upscale venue every Tuesday night at 9pm. Edison Farrow started this event as a gathering for friends, but it grew into turned into a phenomenon for Farrow. The night eventually turned into a ritual of South Beach social life, an event where the smart and fashionable South Florida set come to see and be seen.

Edison Farrow now promotes four events a week; "Martini Tuesdays", "The Simple Life" Thursdays at Buck15 Lounge, "Showgirls Cabaret" the Friday night drag queen dinner show at Funkshion and "Funky Fridays" at Funkshion. There are now 6,500 people on the email list and the webiste www.SoBeSocialClub.com receives 15,000 hits a day.

Martini Tuesdays 6 Year Anniversary
Tuesday, February 6th 9pm to 2am
Chakra
Ocean Drive and 15th Street in Miami Beach

Press Contact:

Edison Farrow
Phone: 305.495.0925
Website: http://www.sobesocialclub.com
email: edison@sobesocialclub.com
Anniversary Party Invitation: http://www.sobesocialclub.com/6YEARAnniversary.jpg 

British churches unite over adoption row

From BBC:

The Church of England has backed the Catholic Church in its bid to be exempt from laws on adoption by gay couples.

Catholic leaders in England and Wales say its teachings prevent its agencies placing children with homosexuals and they will close if bound by the rules.

Archbishop of Canterbury Rowan Williams and the Archbishop of York, John Sentamu, have written to the PM.

They say "rights of conscience cannot be made subject to legislation, however well-meaning".

The Equality Act, due to come into effect in England, Wales and Scotland in April, outlaws discrimination in the provision of goods, facilities and services on the basis of sexual orientation.

The archbishops said many people who do voluntary work are motivated by religious beliefs.

They point out exceptions have already been made for those whose conscience dictates they cannot take part in certain work, such as NHS doctors unwilling to perform abortions.

To read more, click here.

Jason & deMarco to perform in Fort Lauderdale

Jason & deMarco will be at the following location:

Sunshine Cathedral
1480 SW 9th Ave.,
Fort Lauderdale, FL 33315

Sun, Feb 4th, 2007

7:00 PM Concert - "Till the End of Time" Tour

Doors Open at 6:30 PM

Tel: 904-462-2004
Web: www.sunshinecathedral.org
Email: info@sunshinecathedral.org
Tickets: A Free-Will Offering will be taken at the concert