I loved these shows. I have both of them on DVD. I mean, don't you think Xena was a great asset to the gay and lesbian community (even though the sexuality of the characters is implicit). I absolutely adored how these shows could come up with action packed, emotionally intense, and then off-the-wall episodes that had nothing to do with the plot of the show at all.
Anyway, just wanted to get some of your thoughts on the subject.

[img2=left]http://www.gayspeak.com/forum/images/news/jkrowling.jpg[/img2]Harry Potter author JK Rowling has outed the Headmaster of Hogwarts school.

At a fan event in New York, she revealed that Albus Dumbledore is gay.

Her shock announcement was greeted by applause and gasps of amazement from her audience.

The most successful author of modern times described her seven-book saga as a "prolonged argument for tolerance."

Dumbledore, who was a significant character in all the Potter books, "was smitten with rival Gellert Grindelwald, whom he defeated long ago in a battle between good and bad wizards.

"Falling in love can blind us to an extent," she said, according to AP.

She went on to say that he was: "horribly, terribly let down."

[img2=left]http://www.gayspeak.com/forum/images/news/afghanistan.jpg[/img2]Young boys are being sexually abused in Afghanistan in line with a tradition where they are bought by older men to dance at parties.

The practice of "bacha baazi", meaning "boy-play", is enjoying a resurgence in the North of Afghanistan where ownership is seen as a status symbol by militia leaders according to Afghan news site, e-Ariana.

While condemned by clerics and human rights groups, authorities are doing little to end it.

Dancers, known as "bacha bereesh" or "beardless boys", are under 18, with 14 being the "ideal" age.

Owners or "kaatah" meet at bacha baazi parties in large halls where the boys dance late into the night, before being sexually abused.

Bacha baazi also serve as marketplaces, with good-looking boys being traded for money.

"Some men enjoy playing with dogs, some with women. I enjoy playing with boys," said 44-year-old Allah Daad, a one-time Mujahedin commander in the northern Afghan province of Kunduz, who participates in bacha baazi.

"I am married, but I prefer boys to women," he adds. "You can't take women with you to parties in this region, and you can't make them dance. These boys are our prestige."

Often poor and orphaned, the boys are lured into bacha baazi by money. Some receive a monthly allowance while others have jobs of their own and only work at parties.

Many are treated to expensive clothes and even cars by owners eager to have them reflect their own wealth and social standing.

But if they refuse to perform or don't meet their owners expectations, they are beaten.

While the long-standing tradition enjoys some public support in the north, religious leaders have denounced it as one of the most sinful acts.

In the Taliban controlled south of Afghanistan, where a strict moral code is enforced, it is no longer practiced.

Mawlawi Ghulam Rabbani, a religious leader in Takhar province, told e-Ariana:

"Making boys dance and sexually abusing them is strictly prohibited by Islam. Those who engage in it should be punished. They should be thrown off a mountain and stoned to death."

As those who organise bacha baazi are usually leaders of armed militia groups, however, police and government are fearful to intervene.

Hafizullah Khaliqyar, head of the prosecutor's office for Baghlan province said:

"Regional commanders engage in this practice and support it.

"They have money, power and weapons, and neither the district heads nor the local population dares to tell us about this."

Mohammad Zaher Zafari, head of the northern branch of the Afghan Independent Human Rights Commission, sees a dark future ahead for the boys involved. And he believes that without external aid, the situation will continue long into the future.

"It's shocking from both a humanitarian and a legal point of view," he told e-Ariana.

"If the United Nations and the government don't take this issue as seriously as they do child-trafficking and drug-smuggling, and punish the offenders, it's going to be almost impossible to prevent it."

[img2=left]http://www.gayspeak.com/forum/images/news/gaywedding.jpg[/img2]Ten of thousands of gay and lesbian couples tied the knot during the first twelve months since civil partnerships were legalised.

Detailed information from National Statistics said that 18,059 civil partnerships were formed between when the act came into force on 5th December 2005 until the end of 2006.

There were 1,953 civil partnerships formed in the UK in December 2005 and 16,106 in 2006.

The act gives same-sex couples the same rights as straight couples when it comes to benefits and responsibilities such as property, employment and pensions.

Although the statistics indicate that more men than women were forming civil partnerships in the UK overall, the gap was narrowing,.

In December 2005 and the first quarter of 2006 66% of civil partners were male, with this proportion decreasing to 57% in the last quarter of 2006.

90% of civil partnerships took place in England, with a third of male registrations taking place in London, a large figure when considered that the region only contains 13% of the UK male population.

The statistics also showed that the age of men entering partnerships is decreasing, with more than half of gay men being 50 and over in the first few months of civil partnerships, with this decreasing to only a third by the end of 2006.

Ages of female couples stayed around the same level.

There were no statistics available for 'divorces', or civil partnership dissolutions, as couples had to have been in a relationship for twelve months.

Although civil partnerships are identical to marriages in practice, some have criticised the fact that it will never be officially recognised as one. Jennie Bristow wrote for Spiked at the time:

"A civil partnership between two homosexual individuals is just like marriage. But it emphatically isn't marriage, and it does not treat gay people as if they are straight. It is a different kind of institution, explicitly designed for different kind of people."

However, most gay rights organisations such as Stonewall have supported civil partnerships along with all three main political parties.

In 2003, the then minister for equality Jacqui Smith explained why the law was changed.

"Civil partnership registration underlines the inherent value of committed same-sex relationships. It supports stable families and shows that we really respect the diversity of the society we live in. It opens the way to respect, recognition and justice for those who have been denied it too long."

I certainly don't agree with what they said, but free speech is free speech (article quoted from 365gay.com)

College Paper Calls Gays Freaks
by The Associated Press
Posted: October 8, 2007 - 1:00 pm ET
(Columbus, Missouri) Ah, college life. All-night study sessions in the library. Professors challenging the conventional wisdom. Snowball battles on the quad.
Get real.
For students at the University of Missouri-Columbia, college is all about casual sex, meddling parents, foul-mouthed friendships and partying until you puke -- that is, if you believe the portrayal in The Booze News, a new weekly newspaper that glorifies the wonders of heavy drinking.
The publication's founders, a pair of University of Illinois graduates, call The Booze News (motto: "Today's News ... Under the Influence") an over-the-top satire modeled after The Onion, the popular parody newspaper started by college students in Madison, Wisconsin, that has since gone global.
But some Missouri students and local business owners aren't laughing. A Booze News book review about interracial gay adoption that referred to the two male parents as "freaks" drew a formal protest and request that university officials censure the paper.
Several downtown business owners have thrown out the free paper, which has published seven issues, afraid of offending customer sensibilities. Even some campus fraternity houses deem the material too edgy for members.
"The paper is not for 8-year olds," said co-founder Atish Doshi, a 2004 Illinois graduate from suburban Detroit. "It's about being immature college kids. That's what makes it successful. We don't take ourselves seriously."
Success has come quickly for Doshi and Derek Chin, who said they started the paper three years ago "as a complete joke."
The Booze News can now be found at Illinois State, Indiana, Iowa and the University of Wisconsin-Madison, along with Missouri and Illinois.
Doshi, who works in Chicago with a full-time staff of six, said he expects to expand to another dozen campuses in the next year.
"I would love to be at as many schools as possible," Doshi said. "There will always be college students."
For Missouri senior Kyle Ali, a Chicago native, such a scenario is troubling. As a peer educator who works to control drug and alcohol abuse, Ali said The Booze News sends the wrong message, humorous or not.
"This is a publication that clearly condones high-risk behavior," he said. "There's nothing that talks about alcohol poisoning, or drunk-driving."
A recent issue of the Missouri edition does contain a public service announcement by the U.S. Department of Transportation about the dangers of drunken driving. There's also a small disclaimer that the paper "in no way promotes, encourages or supports binge drinking and/or underage drinking."
"This newspaper is designed for entertainment purposes only," the disclaimer reads.
More prominent, though, are features on the local bartender of the week, alcohol reviews, drink recipes, drinking game instructions and guidelines on how to beat hangovers.
The paper's Web site boasts that its writers, editors and advertising sales crew members "are drunk at least four hours a day, six days a week" but assures readers that "we are not obnoxious drunks."
The recent article about the adoptive gay couple -- a supposed book review in which the unidentified author looked solely at the cover of the children's book -- crossed the line from satire to threatening speech, said Ali.
He wrote a letter to other campus activists and the university's vice chancellor of student affairs urging a potential boycott of local businesses that distribute the weekly paper.
"That article was specifically threatening to the social environment on this campus," he said.
The paper's managing editor, who has since stepped down, acknowledged in a note to readers that the article, though intended as humor, "went a little far." Doshi said he regretted publishing it, adding that the writer has since been fired.
Broader community acceptance in Columbia will come with time, Doshi said.
"Everyone thinks and does the same thing at some point in life," he said, "but when they see it in print and have it become a realization, all of a sudden it's morally wrong."

[img2=left]http://www.gayspeak.com/forum/images/news/kylie.jpg[/img2]It appears Kylie Minogue has been so mesmerised by London's club scene that she's decided to turn herself into a drag queen for her new music video, Two Hearts.

Following a DJ set in East London's Boombox during London Fashion Week, the pop diva, enamoured by the weird and wonderful get-ups on display, set out on the circuit looking to establish her new look.

She is said to have quickly made two new friends in the shape of queens Tasty Tim and Princess Julia.

The pair apparently gave Kylie some advice on pouting, strutting and how to pull off latex catsuits.

Next, she sought counsel with Boy George, who designed her B-Rude baggy pant outfit for her Showgirls tour, and pinned down two of London's most famous designers - Gareth Pugh and Christopher Kane - to design her and her band's outfits.

An insider on the shoot told the Mirror: "It's just visually amazing. It's like nothing you've ever seen Kylie do before.

"Kylie vamps it up in a black latex catsuit that's so tight and figurehugging, you can clearly see the shape of her bum. And it looks great.

"Then she writhes on the floor provocatively and cavorts on a grand piano.

He continued: "Everyone shines in camp Spandex outfits, killer heels, and vamped up make-up and lots of glitter - it all looks totally futuristic.

"She wanted to do something different that no one would expect and the video is no holds."

Kylie's new album, X, is out November 26th.

[img2=left]http://www.gayspeak.com/forum/images/news/stars.jpg[/img2]We can only guess, but it may be the universe's first gay asteroid.

Yesterday, openly gay Star trek actor George Takei had the asteroid formerly known as 1994 GT9 named after him.

Mr Takei was nominated because of his work with leading gay rights group Human Rights Campaign, where he was spokesman for their Coming Out Project.

"I am now a heavenly body,'' Mr Takei said.

"I found out about it yesterday... I was blown away.

"It came out of the clear blue sky, just like an asteroid.''

Mr Takei is best known for his role as Hikaru Sulu in the original Star Trek series, but he is currently undergoing a revival of popularity due to his appearance in the massively popular Heroes programme as Hiro Nakamura's father.

Unsurprisingly, it is fairly common for astronomers to name asteroids after their favourite sci-fi writers and actors.

Mr Takei joins Michelle Nichols (who played Lt. Uhuru) and Gene Roddenberry, the show's creator, in having an asteroid named after him.

Isaac Asimov and Robert Heinlein, two sci-fi luminaries, both also have their own main-belt asteroid.

The Takei asteroid is located between Mars and Jupiter.

Hey guys, I read this article fully and can't seem to get my mind off of it. I found it very very interesting, and the writer brings up some good points. Right now, I just feel like I've been "put in my place", and although I have some opinions on what I think, I'd like to here what you guys think about it.
Here is the link to the article:

http://www.xtra.ca/public/viewstory.aspx...PLATE_ID=7

[img2=left]http://www.gayspeak.com/forum/images/news/wentworthmiller.jpg[/img2]Rumours have been flying for months that Prison Break star Wentworth Miller is dating out actor Luke MacFarlane, best known for his stint as actor Matthew Rhys' boyfriend on ABC's Brothers & Sisters.

Now, the first photographs of the alleged couple have surfaced online, with blogger Perez Hilton claiming to have an exclusive that Miller is planning to come out.

But Miller has previously told the press he's not gay when asked, insisting the real reason he doesn't date is that his hectic shooting schedule doesn't allow him any time.

In a recent interview while making the press rounds for Prison Break, co-star Dominic Purcell told reporters that Miller is ready to settle down and start a family when he finds the right woman.

But rumours surrounding Miller's sexuality have been incessant since the hunky actor became an overnight sensation with the premiere of the hit drama.

Prior to the show’s debut, the 35-year-old Princeton University grad uate scored critical praise for his work as a young Anthony Hopkins in The Human Stain.

In the photos published by Perez Hilton, the two are shows sharing a laugh and the walk down the streets of Los Angeles. Photos of them leaving in the same car were also printed.

The producers of Prison Break have yet to make a statement on rumours of Miller’s sexuality.


Wentworth and Luke

[img2=left]http://www.gayspeak.com/forum/images/news/melb.jpg[/img2]Spice Girl Mel B had a kinky two-year fling with TWO women lovers - who today reveal the singer's bizarre sex life and say they fear for her fragile state of mind.

Melanie Brown started a lesbian affair with mother-of-two Christa Parker after meeting her at the gates of the school in America where their children are pupils.

And after sharing Mel's bed, blonde Christa introduced her to her friend Elizabeth Rodriguez, a sex-toy saleswoman who then joined them for drink-fuelled threesomes.

Christa, 35, continued having sex with Mel until she was eight months pregnant.

Now she and Elizabeth, 26, say they fear for Mel's well-being after her whirlwind marriage to film producer Stephen Belafonte two months ago.

The sudden wedding came after the 32-year-old Spice Girl was dumped by comedian Eddie Murphy, father of her baby daughter Angel.

Mel and the other Spice Girls recently reformed in a blaze of publicity and a world tour beginning in December is set to net them millions. But Christa and Elizabeth are afraid Scary Spice is on the verge of a breakdown.

"Mel is a wonderful person, but she is in a terrible place right now," said Christa. "Everyone is very worried about her - she is very down and very lonely. And we worry about why she had the wedding." Christa said she and Elizabeth were regularly invited to Mel's Los Angeles home for drink and sex sessions.

Christa said: "I think the reason she is so promiscuous is that she craves intimacy. It's like she never gets enough of it and that's why she's craves sex so much.

"She craves intimacy with whoever she can find it. Mel is very clingy. She needs constant attention and companionship. Her lifestyle can be pretty out of control, but she tries to keep it under control because of her daughter Phoenix."

Christa first met Mel when her son Stone, now eight, and Phoenix - Mel's daughter from her failed first marriage to dancer Jimmy Gulzar - began attending the same Hollywood school in 2003.

The two women hit it off immediately, and Christa was soon attending all-night parties at Mel's home. She said: "No one would go home until the early hours."

Christa says that at the time Mel B was in a long-term lesbian relationship with film producer Christine Crokos, who she was once pictured kissing in the street.

At the time, Mel said: "People call me lesbian, bisexual or heterosexual, but I know who's in my bed and that's it ... I have a huge libido and a great sex life."

Christa's relationship with the Spice Girl first became sexual in August, 2005 after Mel's affair with Christine had fizzled out. By then, Mel was also dating a casting director called Bryan - one of a series of disastrous relationships with men.

Christa says Mel B and Bryan had been arguing. She said: "There was lots of drink but Bryan was still mad with Mel for jumping in a pool naked a few nights earlier, so he left early. She persuaded me to stay over and said I should sleep in her bed. The next thing I know she is naked while I was wearing sweatpants and a top. We lay in bed and talked for a while. Then she said, 'I'm feeling horny.' I answered, 'Oh really? Well, I'm tired.' She's like, 'Do you want to have sex?' And I'm like, 'OK'

"I had only had sex with a woman once before, when I was at high school. But I was so drunk I thought, 'What the hell' and we made love for an hour. Mel was obviously very experienced with women. She is a great kisser."

Christa says that after that encounter, Mel acted like nothing had happened. But a month later she made it clear she wanted sex with her again.

Christa had by then mentioned her friend Elizabeth Rodriguez, who had started a business selling sex toys.

Elizabeth said: "Christa told me she was at Mel B's house and that she wanted me to come over. When I got there, Mel was in her underwear and walking round lighting candles. She and Christa had already drunk a couple of bottles of wine. I had brought a packet of cigarettes for Mel and when I arrived she slipped some money in my handbag as a thank you."

Elizabeth went on: "Mel asked me how I got into the sex-toy business. I told her it was when I discovered a cream called Pure Satisfaction, which you rub on your body.

"Mel asked me to show her how it worked in the bathroom. I was very shy at first, but then she convinced me to give her a demonstration."
Soon Mel began kissing Elizabeth, who says: "I had never been with a girl before and felt awkward. But I didn't stop her." The three women headed to Mel's bedroom, which has a lap-dancing pole installed, and were soon naked in bed together.

"Christa was lying on the floor and Mel got on top of her," said Elizabeth. "I was lying on the bed and couldn't see what was going on. But I could guess from the noises they were making love.

"The next thing I knew Mel and Christa both got on the bed. I was wearing a skirt and Mel came over to me and asked me if I wouldn't feel more comfortable taking it off.

"I said, 'OK'. Then she started rubbing my leg, all the way up and just kept on going." Christa added: "Mel's like that. She's kind of like the man in the bedroom and loves taking control." Elizabeth said: "In no time at all we were all naked. We all ended up having sex together that night."

From then on, they say, the three would routinely end up having sex after drinking sessions. Christa said: "Mel and I were very good friends. We saw each other almost every day and would have sex at least a couple of times a week."

Christa slept with Mel even when she was dating men, but the affair was interrupted in May 2006, when Mel began her passionate romance with Murphy.

Christa said: "When she was seeing Eddie, she stopped calling me so often. But once that ended she was back on the phone to me every day." Christa knew the singer had hit finally rock bottom when in March this year, she called her at 3am and demanded she join her at the Beverly Hills hotel.

The two made love even though Mel B was already eight months pregnant with Angel.

Since her marriage to Belafonte, Christa's contact with Mel has been limited to weekly phone calls which have left her with grave concerns for the singer.

Christa said: "Mel is so vulnerable. I'm very worried about her. I hope she's happy and she made a mistake. I just don't want to see her hurt."

[B]'She wed Steve just to get back at Eddie'

[/B]Christa fears Mel's rejection by superstar Eddie Murphy has sent her into the arms of new husband Stephen Belafonte.

Murphy dumped Mel in October last year following a series of rows after a five-month relationship.

By then the Spice Girl was already pregnant with daughter Angel, now four months old.

But as recently as April, Christa says, Mel was still declaring undying love for Murphy, who is now engaged to film producer Tracey Edmonds.
Then Mel stunned everyone by marrying convicted wife-beater Belafonte in secret in June.

"Mel was still head over heels in love with Eddie Murphy in April, yet she marries Stephen in June. Why?" Christa says. And she added: "Stephen is a pompous jerk. He exudes slime. You think he's the nicest guy, but he's not.

"It's like you've got this girl who is very rich but also very vulnerable and he is preying on that."

Belafonte was convicted of assaulting his common-law wife Nicole Contreras in 2003 in a drunken frenzy.

Christa said: "Mel's marriage was like a big f*** you to Eddie.

"She says he's made mistakes, but they're in the past. But you look at what it says on his police report - 'violence to spouse'.

"I hope he has changed, but I don't think he has.

"She deserves better. But this whole thing is a result of what Eddie did to her."

Elizabeth and Christa