HOWL, starring James Franco as Beat poet Allen Ginsberg, opens Friday at Coral Gables Art Cinema

HOWL, starring actor James Franco as Beat poet Allen Ginsberg, opens Friday and will play a seven-days-a-week run through Nov. 4 at Coral Gables Art Cinema.

From Robert Rosenberg, the cinema's director:

Allen Ginsberg was a poet, counter-culture adventurer, and chronicler of the Beat Generation. In his famously confessional, leave-nothing-out style, James Franco as Ginsberg in the movie recounts the road trips, love affairs, and search for personal liberation that led to the most timeless and electrifying work of his career: the poem HOWL. Meanwhile, in a San Francisco courtroom, HOWL is on trial. Prosecutor Ralph McIntosh (David Strathairn) sets out to prove that the book should be banned, while suave defense attorney Jake Ehrlich (Jon Hamm) argues fervently for freedom of speech and creative expression. The proceedings veer from the comically absurd to the passionate as a host of unusual witnesses (Jeff Daniels, Mary-Louise Parker, Treat Williams, Alessandro Nivola) pit generation against generation and art against fear in front of conservative Judge Clayton Horn (Bob Balaban). HOWL is simultaneously a portrait of a renegade artist breaking down barriers to find love and redemption, and an imaginative ride through a prophetic masterpiece that rocked a generation and was heard around the world.

A.O. Scott in The New York Times has said HOWL "does something that sounds simple until you consider how rarely it occurs in films of any kind.It takes a familiar, celebrated piece of writing and makes it come alive" and Jennie Yabroff has called HOWL "a great film. Franco disappears into Ginsberg's sexy earthiness."

The Coral Gables Art Cinema is a state-of-the-art theater that will be what we consider the best and most comfortable venue for experiencing independent, alternative and international film South Florida, with first run seven-day-a-week showcase presentations in both 35mm and true industry-standard theater quality digital projection.

Defense Department: 'Don't ask, don't tell' is back

By ANNE FLAHERTY, Associated Press

WASHINGTON -- The Defense Department has declared that "don't ask, don't tell" is once again the law of the land but has set up a new system that could make it tougher to get fired for being openly gay.

Defense Secretary Robert Gates on Thursday ordered that all firings under the 1993 law must now be decided by one of the four service secretaries in consultation with the military's general counsel and his personnel chief.

The move puts the question of who can be fired for being openly gay in the hands of just five people - all of them civilian political appointees who work for an administration that thinks the law is unjust.

An injunction last week barring the military from following the "don't ask, don't tell" law prompted the Pentagon to order that recruiters must accept applications from gays, and military lawyers must stop prosecuting cases aimed at firing them.

But a Wednesday ruling froze that injunction. That means the military could at least temporarily return to its policy banning gays and lesbians from serving openly, while the courts continue to consider the question.

Flaherty reported from Washington. Associated Press writers Anne Gearan in Washington and Lisa Leff in San Francisco contributed to this report.

SAVE Dade's 'Equality Express' offers free drinks and perks to educate and motivate voters

News release from SAVE Dade:

(Miami) October 18, 2010: -- Follow an RV around town to get free perks -- or vote and get a free drink. These are two of the initiatives that the LGBT pro-equality foundation SAVE Dade is implementing to get voters engaged for the November 2, 2010 election.

The campaign, called Vote. Fight. Win, is designed to create increased voter turnout through online and offline grassroots “get out the vote” efforts. The final goal is to get 5,000 people to sign a pledge to vote for SAVE Dade’s endorsed pro-equality candidates.

“The point of all of this is to wake the sleeping giant, the LGBT community, and get them to the polls so our voice will matter to our elected officials. Our strategy is to motivate and educate the community about the importance of this election. This election matters -- and it’s up to us to tell our community why,” says CJ Ortuño, Executive Director of SAVE Dade.

The EQRV or “Equality Express” is a 26 foot motor home wrapped with SAVE Dade’s pro-equality message. David Valk, SAVE Dade field organizer, will take the EQRV on tour throughout the County to educate the community and invite them to sign the pledge.

Through partnerships with local businesses, SAVE Dade will ask people to follow the EQRV and sign the pledge to receive special promotions and discounts at gyms, clothing stores, bars, restaurants and more.

The “I Voted Today” sticker, given to individuals who have voted, can be turned in at participating bars, including MOVA, Twist, and Score in South Beach, to receive a free drink.

SAVE Dade will also run a promotional video called “VOTE?” on YouTube, Facebook and its website. “The key message is to paint the picture of what could happen if you don’t vote,” explains Ortuño.

“We are trying to get the vote out. LGBT people need to come together as a powerful voting block. These elections matter and it matters most for gay and transgender people because it is lawmakers who make important decisions on their rights”, he concludes.

To learn more about the pro-equality candidates endorsed by SAVE Dade, visit www.savedade.org and click on the “Elections & Endorsements” link from the home page menu. To sign the pledge and support SAVE Dade on the humanitarian cause, visit http://bit.ly/aaPTod. Also visit the VOTE.FIGHT.WIN.NOW campaign on Facebook at http://www.facebook.com/SAVEDade.

ABOUT SAVE DADE

SAVE Dade was founded in 1993 in order to promote, protect, and defend equality for gay and transgender people. It continues to fight for the equal rights of all Floridians by affecting the political process through lobbying, organizing, and coalition-building. This year alone it has passed five pro-equality ordinances; changed the practices towards people who are LGBT at Jackson Health Systems; and identified 5,000 pro-equality supporters in Miami-Dade County.

Gay rapper Cazwell hauling his 'Ice Cream Truck' to Lux on South Beach Sunday night

BY STEVE ROTHAUS, srothaus@MiamiHerald.com

Ice Cream Truck rapper Cazwell is a sucker for a fun song.

"Everything I write and produce I test out when I DJ. For the most part, I make music people can have a good time to,'' says Cazwell, who performs late Sunday at Lux in South Beach.

Cazwell -- who's never before visited Miami -- came out at age 18 and started in the music business playing dance clubs in Boston. "I only played to straight people. Gay clubs weren't interested at all. They only wanted drag queens.''

He "came to a conclusion that no matter how good I am, no matter how good my songwriting is or my videos, straight people don't want to hang out with gay people in the hip-hop industry.''

Now living in New York, Cazwell wrote Ice Cream Truck for a friend's upcoming film, Spork.

"I wanted a really fun, immature beat, like the sounds from an ice cream truck,'' Cazwell says. "We wrote it in a Chinese-food hangover.''

The Ice Cream Truck video has more than 2.3 million YouTube views. It features lots of male rear ends in underpants. "My manager said come up with a video for the song,'' Cazwell recalls. "I said I'm going to put as much ass crack as I want.''

Cazwell, 32, says some people complain the video "objectified the guys the way straight videos objectify the girls.''

His response: "I didn't objectify anyone who didn't want to be objectified.''

------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Cazwell performs Sunday night at Lux (formerly Liquid), 1439 Washington Ave. Doors open at 10 p.m. For more information, visit Edison Farrow's SoBeSocialClub.com

Gay dad Martin Gill, ACLU of Florida to 'celebrate the end of Florida's adoption ban' with public party Friday at Shore Club

On the ACLU of Florida website:

South Beach: Celebrate the End of Florida's Adoption Ban

Join the ACLU and our partners in the adoption campaign on Friday October 22, 2010 at the Shore Club in South Beach for a celebration honoring all of the efforts that made this decision possible—actions that uphold that a parent’s love is a parent’s love.

On September 22nd, South Florida and communities across the state celebrated the much-awaited 3rd District Court of Appeal’s decision stating that the law barring gay men and lesbian women from adopting is unconstitutional. This momentous occasion will allow ACLU plaintiff Martin Gill to adopt the two boys in his care for the past 6 years. This decision is a major victory for Martin, his family, and most importantly for thousands of children waiting to be adopted in Florida. October 22nd is the last day the state can appeal the case, and we hope you will join us to celebrate victory!

Time: 8:00PM to 10:00PM

Location: Shore Club
Beach Pool
1901 Collins Ave.
Miami Beach, FL 33139

Cost: FREE | Cash Bar and passed hors d'ouerves

Russia breached European Convention by banning Moscow gay prides, declares European Court of Human Rights

Early today, the European Court of Human Rights declared that in the case of Nikolai Alexeyev v. Russia, Russia breached the European Convention on Human Rights by banning 2006, 2007 and 2008 Moscow Prides, reports the ILGA-Europe website.

From Nikolai Alekseev, via Facebook:

In Russia, we are main news on Newsru.com one of the top news portal !

They're quoting me as saying "We, gay activists, became the first human rights activists in Russia who won over the right to freedom of assembly at the European Court of Human Rights. We achieved this victory not only for us but for all the organizer...s of public events as now, the Russian authorities will be obliged to review all the procedure around the law on public demonstrations". I know some human rights activists in Russia who feel bad today :) we managed with no money what they never managed to do taking into account that most of them never supported us and on the opposite are not happy when we start to show up at their action. And now, it is because of us that things will change positively for them :) Enjoy ! It's my gift to Russia !

Don't mess with Broadway star Patti LuPone

BY STEVE ROTHAUS, srothaus@MiamiHerald.com

When Broadway legend Patti LuPone opens the new Aventura Arts & Cultural Center Saturday night, turn off your cellphones and don't even think about recording her performance.

``How dare you! Who do you think you are? Get them out,'' LuPone shouted from the stage Jan. 10, 2009, the night before she closed her Tony-winning run in Gypsy. The star got an ovation for literally stopping the show during her big closing number, Rose's Turn.

``It's a real epidemic in theater,'' LuPone says almost two years later. ``The more technologically advanced we get, the more removed we are from the theater. . . . Why bother coming?''

Ironically, another theatergoer recorded LuPone's stage tantrum and posted the audio on YouTube.

LuPone, 61, has spent her life on stage, becoming famous in 1979 (and winning her first Tony Award) as Broadway's original Evita. She later starred in London's original musical production of Sunset Boulevard and in Broadway revivals of Oliver! , Anything Goes, Sweeney Todd and Gypsy. She's currently in previews for a new Broadway musical, Women on the Verge of a Nervous Breakdown, based on the Spanish film by Pedro Almodóvar, set to open Nov. 4.

``I'm always ready to go back to Broadway. That's where I belong,'' says LuPone, adding that even after her 2008 triumph in Gypsy, producers weren't breaking down her door.

``There were no offers to me to return to Broadway,'' LuPone says. ``That's the way it is for me. I'm not anybody's [first] choice. Then they put me in the part and say, `Now I get it!' ''

LuPone seems to know exactly who she is. She just published her autobiography, Patti LuPone: A Memoir ($26, Crown Archetype), written with journalist Digby Diehl.

``A literary agent said `It's time to write your memoir.' I wouldn't call myself a writer,'' LuPone says. ``I started talking into a tape recorder. Digby would write something, and I would rewrite it. . . . I'm actually glad I did it now because the stories are fresh in my brain. I know my career. I don't ever think about moving forward, except to think about working.''

Patti LuPone performs 8 p.m. Saturday at the new Aventura Arts & Cultural Center, 3385 NE 188th St. in Aventura. Tickets are $185 each and include a cocktail reception. Cocktail attire requested. For more information or to purchase tickets, call 954-462-0222 or visit www.AventuraCenter.org

Appeals court keeps military gay policy for now

By LISA LEFF, Associated Press

SAN FRANCISCO -- A federal appeals court on Wednesday temporarily granted the U.S. government's request for a freeze on a judge's order requiring the military to allow openly gay troops.

A three-judge panel of the 9th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals instructed lawyers for the gay rights group that brought the lawsuit successfully challenging the "don't ask, don't tell" policy to file arguments in response by Monday.

The judges would then decide whether to extend the temporary stay while it considers the government's appeal of U.S. District Judge Virginia Phillips' ruling that the policy was unconstitutional.

It was unclear what effect the temporary freeze would have on the Pentagon, which has already informed recruiters to accept openly gay recruits and has suspended discharge proceedings for gay service members.

Cynthia Smith, a Pentagon spokeswoman, said "for the reasons stated in the government's submission, we believe a stay is appropriate."

She declined to say whether the Defense Department would roll back its guidance to military lawyers and recruiters that they must abide by last week's injunction. It has been assumed, however, that the Pentagon would revert to its previous policy of "don't ask, don't tell" if a stay were to be granted throughout the appeals process.

The White House referred questions to the Justice Department. Alisa Finelli, a spokesperson for the Justice Department, declined to comment Wednesday.

President Barack Obama said last week that the Clinton-era law "will end on my watch" but added that "It has to be done in a way that is orderly, because we are involved in a war right now." He said he supports repeal of the policy, but only after careful review and an act of Congress.

A lawyer for the Log Cabin Republicans said the group was disappointed, but called it a minor setback. The group, which brought its lawsuit in 2004, argues that forcing gays in uniform to remain silent about their personal lives violates their First Amendment rights and that the military's reluctance to end the policy was based on unfounded fears, not facts.

"We hope that the 9th Circuit will recognize the inherent contradiction in the government's arguments for a longer stay in light of eight full days of non-enforcement with no 'enormous consequences,'" said Alexander Nicholson, a gay veteran who also was a plaintiff in the Log Cabin lawsuit.

The 1993 "don't ask, don't tell" rule says gays may serve but only if they keep secret their sexual orientation.

Government lawyers argue that striking down the policy and ordering the Pentagon to immediately allow openly gay service members could harm troop morale and unit cohesion when the military is fighting two wars.

The brief order was signed by the three 9th Circuit judges hearing emergency motions this month: Diarmuid F. O'Scannlain and Stephen S. Trott, who were appointed by President Ronald Reagan, and William A. Fletcher, an appointee of President Bill Clinton.

Associated Press writers Julie Watson in San Diego, and Anne Flaherty in Washington, D.C., contributed to this report.

Gallery | Hundreds join Pridelines gay youths for Lincoln Road vigil against suicide and bullying

• Barry U. students join others around the country in anti-bullying protest

BY STEVE ROTHAUS, srothaus@MiamiHerald.com

Hundreds of gay people and allies came to Lincoln Road in Miami Beach Wednesday night for a candlelight vigil to promote LGBTQ Teen Suicide Awareness.

The vigil was planned and organized by Alex Febres, 18, a Miami Dade College student and youth treasurer of Pridelines Youth Services of Miami.

Febres originally wanted to plan a vigil for Matthew Shepard, the gay young man slain 12 years ago in Wyoming. Then Febres heard of the gay youths who've killed themselves recently.

"After I looked up all the information about gay bullying, I realized a lot of kids had committed suicide,'' Febres said. "I thought I should do [the vigil] for all the kids."

Among the attendees who spoke: Miami Beach Mayor Matti Herrera Bower; Vice Mayor Jorge Exposito; Michael Gongora, the Beach's first openly gay commissioner; and Police Chief Carlos Noriega.

Similar rallies were held throughout the day in Miami-Dade and Broward counties.

Photos by STEVE ROTHAUS / Miami Herald Staff. Click the photo above to view a gallery of pictures from the event.

Home of fed-up ex-JetBlue attendant Steven Slater burglarized by partner's brother, police say

By COLLEEN LONG, Associated Press

NEW YORK -- The legal drama of the fed-up former JetBlue flight attendant continues.

While Steven Slater was in court pleading guilty to attempted criminal mischief after he famously opened an emergency chute on a plane, his home was being burglarized by his partner's brother, prosecutors said Wednesday.

John Rochelle made off with a laptop, printer and a microwave after breaking in to the home his brother Ken shares with Slater in Belle Harbor, Queens, between 9:30 a.m. and 4 p.m. Tuesday, according to Queens District Attorney Richard Brown.

The 39-year-old was awaiting arraignment on charges of second-degree burglary. It wasn't clear if he had an attorney, and there was no answer to a call at the address provided by authorities. Brown called the incident a "crime of opportunity."

Slater's publicist, Howard Bragman, said he didn't wish to discuss the case.

A day earlier, Slater avoided jail under a plea bargain that requires him to undergo counseling and substance-abuse treatment for at least a year. He must also pay $10,000 in restitution to JetBlue Airways Corp. If he successfully completes the program, the top charge will be dismissed and he will get a year of probation and no jail time.

He admitted he pulled the emergency chute Aug. 9 on a flight from Pittsburgh after it landed at John F. Kennedy International Airport. Slater went on the public-address system, swore at a passenger who he claimed had treated him rudely, grabbed a beer and slid down onto the tarmac.

His departure made him an instant celebrity. He was a topic on TV shows and online, and his exploits landed him on the front pages of newspapers. Many cheered him for standing up to the often-inhospitable world of airline travel, while others accused him of childish and dangerously reckless behavior.

Slater was initially charged with criminal mischief, reckless endangerment and trespassing and faced up to seven years in jail. Under the plea bargain, if he fails to complete the counseling and treatment to a judge's satisfaction, he will get one to three years behind bars.

Slater said Tuesday outside court that he was surprised by the publicity his stunt garnered. He thanked the court, adding: "At the end of the day, I'm a grown-up and I must take responsibility for my actions."