The first stage of Brunei’s brutal set of Sharia laws goes into effect tomorrow. The third and final stage, which calls for death by stoning for committing homosexual acts, goes into effect in 2015. The move – delayed from last week – came from the Sultan. “Today… I place my faith in and am grateful to Allah the almighty to …

Fascinating project. Details here. (Via Andrew Sullivan)

An interesting claim from Gawker: In the summer of 2013, according to multiple sources with knowledge of their exchange, Shepard Smith approached Fox News president Roger Ailes about publicly coming out. The newly attached anchor was eager, at the time, to finally acknowledge his sexuality. “It’s time,” he told Ailes and other colleagues. “It’s time.” Instead, Ailes informed Smith that …

Watch it live right now. (Tipped by JMG reader Mike)

I especially dig the ponytail move. (Tipped by JMG reader Blair)

Aksarbent points out that Monday’s tornado in Tupelo, Mississippi left the American Family Association headquarters unscathed but destroyed over a hundred homes that were also in the twister’s path. We get blamed for hurricanes, floods, and everything else. How about a little credit to Gay Weather Control for sparing the AFA? You’re welcome, Bryan Fischer!

On Monday night Carnegie Hall hosted a tribute to Broadway’s powerhouse gay songwriting duo Marc Shaiman and Scott Wittman. Among the performers were Patti LuPone, Martin Short, Andrea Martin, Kerry Butler, Megan Hilty, and Jenifer Lewis, who brought down the house with I Know Where I’ve Been from Hairspray.

“When given an opportunity to apologize for his Prop 8 donation after it got attention earlier this month, a week after he was named CEO, Eich refused, and even implied to The Guardian that he and people like him were an asset at the company since Mozilla is global and anti-gay regimes are prevalent around the world, using the example …

Details. From a related petition: For Christians, torture is not a joke or a political punchline, but a ghastly reminder of the suffering of Jesus upon the cross. By equating it with Holy Baptism — the act by which we are united with Christ in his death and resurrection — Sarah Palin is blasphemously twisting our faith into a weapon …

Gay singer/songwriter John Grant, whose 2013 hit Pale Green Ghosts topped my year-end list of favorites, has joined up with Hercules & Love Affair, whom you may know from their huge 2008 smash Blind. Great track, lovely vocals, gorgeous dancing. UPDATE: Hercules & Love Affair’s Andy Butler speaks about the lyrics: “I asked John to dig deep with his lyrical …

The Tea People are furious.

Two weeks ago a federal judge ordered Ohio to recognize out-of-state same-sex marriages. That ruling is being appealed to the Sixth Circuit Court. Today one of the plaintiffs in that case joined in filing Ohio’s first full-on challenge to that state’s constitutional ban. With the lawsuit, filed Wednesday in U.S. District Court in Cincinnati, the state joins 14 others where …

Via the Guardian: Amnesty International has warned that a legal challenge is likely to the Northern Ireland assembly’s decision to block a gay marriage equality bill. A Sinn Féin motion to bring in gay marriage to Northern Ireland was defeated by 51 votes to 43. It was the third time in the past 18 months that Stormont has rejected same-sex …

Actor Bob Hoskins has died of pneumonia at the age of 71. The star won a Bafta and was Oscar nominated in 1987 for crime drama Mona Lisa, in which he starred opposite Sir Michael Caine and Robbie Coltrane. He announced he was retiring from acting in 2012 after being diagnosed with Parkinson’s disease. “We are devastated by the loss …

One of the more amusing PR stunts we’ve seen. Pornhub is giving America wood, literally rather than figuratively this time, by announcing that it will plant a new tree for every 100 videos viewed. The initiative, presumably designed to alleviate porn watchers’ guilt, was launched on Arbor Day, a US holiday that encourages people to plant and care for trees. …

Via the event’s Facebook page: Gay Games Registration Party on Friday, May 2nd from 6-9pm at Gym Sportsbar – 167 8TH Ave, New York, NY. Finalize your plans to participate in the world’s largest international multi-sport event coming to Cleveland+Akron August 9-16, 2014. More than 20,000 participants and visitors from over 40 countries are expected to compete and celebrate with …

Healthline News reports that according to a new study, the “genetic quirk” of naturally low levels of cholesterol might be why some untreated HIV+ people take more than a decade to develop symptoms. The study sample is quite small. Scientists at the University of Pittsburgh Graduate School of Public Health analyzed data and biological samples from 16 HIV-positive men over …

In a case similar to the one won by Edith Windsor, yesterday the state of Pennsylvania asked a county judge to dismiss an inheritance tax lawsuit brought by a lesbian widow. Barbara Baus last October sued the commonwealth, its Department of Revenue and Secretary of Revenue Daniel Meuser. She wed her longtime partner, Catherine Burgi-Rios, in 2011 in Connecticut, but …