Today’s Swag Tuesday prize is the new book, Where’s My Fifteen Minutes?, by openly gay publicist-to-the-stars and LGBT/HIV activist Howard Bragman. Bragman has made hundreds of appearances on network television to discuss popular culture and his representation of stars such as Cameron Diaz and Paula Abdul. Media attention can boost careers, generate millions of dollars, and make dreams come true. …

The Christian Anti-Defamation Commission has released their “Top Ten Instances Of Christian Bashing In 2008” list. Guess who’s #1? Keep in mind that some of these items did not quite happen the way that CAC-head Dr. Gary Cass sees them, but then again the Christianist right has never been bothered by trifling little details like “truth” or “accuracy” or the …

RuPaul reaches back for some of that Supermodel vibe in Cover Girl, which contains bits of her new LOGO series, RuPaul’s Drag Race, which debuts February 2nd.

Roland Burris, former Attorney General for Illinois and disgraced Gov. Rod Blagojevich’s pick to replace Barack Obama in the Senate, was turned away today from his Senate swearing in ceremony. Senate officials this morning rejected Roland Burris’s effort to be seated as the successor to President-elect Barack Obama, telling the former Illinois attorney general that he lacked the requisite approval …

The Catholic League (famously dissed by Kathy Griffin as “one guy with a computer”) has issued a reaction to yesterday’s defacing of a Catholic church in the Castro. Part of the blame for the latest attack goes to San Francisco Mayor Gavin Newsom and the San Francisco Board of Supervisors. Both Newsom and the Board have shown nothing but contempt …

You probably heard the fun news that NBC canceled Ann Coulter’s appearance on the Today Show yesterday, probably in response to her repulsive attacks on single mothers in her new book. This morning Coulter got it from both barrels from Harry Smith on CBS’ Morning Show with Smith calling her “sophomoric’ and “goofy” among other things. Extra Idiocy: Today Coulter …

Via Pew’s Then And Now poll.

That bizarre maple syrup smell wafted over Gotham again yesterday. The mysterious sweet smell that swept over parts of the city more than three years ago returned on Monday night. The city’s 311 information line was flooded with callers reporting the smell of maple syrup, or something like it, wafting across several neighborhoods, a spokesman for the Office of Emergency …

Guesses?

Former Georgia Rep. Bob Barr, the architect of the Defense of Marriage Act, has written an editorial in the Los Angeles Times calling for its repeal. I’ve wrestled with this issue for the last several years and come to the conclusion that DOMA is not working out as planned. In testifying before Congress against a federal marriage amendment, and more …

It’s not a Cabinet-level position, but Barack Obama has appointed another openly gay person to head up one of the departments in his administration. Brad Kiley has been named as the director of the Office of Management and Administration by President-elect Barack Obama. Kiley, who is openly gay, is currently the director of operations for the Obama-Biden Transition Project and …

I ran into NY Assemblyman Daniel O’Donnell this weekend and he gave me this quote about his interview with Gov. Paterson for Hillary Clinton’s Senate seat: “I am honored to be considered for any appointment by Governor Paterson. I am especially flattered to be mentioned among individuals who could replace the singular Senator from New York, Hillary Rodham Clinton, in …

Pat Robertson has had his annual sit-down with God this week and here’s what he said the FSM whispered in his ear about 2009. -Obama will lead the nation into socialism and we’ll be happy to follow.-The world will condemn Israel, but they’ll survive. (A safe bet.)-The economy will recover, but there will be hyperinflation, the dollar will dive “dramatically”, …

Melanie’s 1972 novelty smash Brand New Key was banned by some radio stations for its sexual innuendo and coded reference to masturbation: I do OK alone, but you got something I need. I know most of you are too young to know was a skate key was, but you can still grok the whole key-into-lock Freudian shebang, not to mention …

Roy Lichtenstein’s 1994 Times Square Mural in the 42nd Street station is too long to get into one shot, but this center panel with the flying train is my favorite bit. A 6-foot-high, 53-foot-long panel that revisits the history of New York transportation, the first panel shows a portion of an arch rendered to resemble tile and masonry, the materials …

This here website thingy is one of the finalists in 2008 Weblog Awards in the Best LGBT Blog category, which JMG won last year. My humblest thanks to those folks that submitted nominations. Voting begins today and you can vote for the blog of your choice once every 24 hours in the week-long (or so) voting period. There are some …

HuffPo has the story. Damn kids! UPDATE: Twitter explains how the hackers did it. Oldest trick in the book.

As has been documented here and on many other LGBT blogs, the decision making of the No On 8 campaign was largely done behind closed doors, much to the concern of many donors who questioned several critical strategies of the operation. Later this month there will be a postmortem summit of No On 8 organizers and again, media access will …

All the right people are on board for marriage equality to happen right now in New Jersey, but feet are being dragged due to 2009 being an election year for state legislators. The governor promised to sign marriage-equality legislation when it reaches his desk. The question is whether state lawmakers will present him with the opportunity. “Politics will play a …

The DVD bootleggers are all over the Union Square subway station today. If you embiggen, you’ll notice that they have everything currently playing the theaters, including Milk. $5 each, no returns. I imagine that taking their picture is a good way to get stabbed, so I snapped this shot from the safety of the upper level.