Four gay men to be hanged in Iran
Iranian officials have once again struck a blow to human rights, allegedly sentencing four young men to death for sodomy.
The Human Rights Activist News Agency in Iran stated that the men, Saadat Arefi, Vahid Akbari, Javid Akbari, and Houshmand Akbari, were to be executed soon. They will be hanged as prescribed by Shari’a law, with the government acting quickly in order to limit international objections.
"Being gay is not a crime based on Iranian criminal law," said one activist, "but this is the most clear statement against same-sex acts in past months."
Five other men have been hanged for homosexuality this year, although the charges are not always related to sexuality.
A recent report about Iran indicated that life for the LGBT community was extremely difficult.
"LGBT Iranians are routinely harassed both by society and by the state," the group Small Media and UK-based gay activist Peter Tatchell explained in a joint statement. "Many have been physically tortured and punished and some have been sentenced to death solely because of their sexual orientation.
"One of the few ways LGBT Iranians can express their true selves, find valuable information about sexuality, health and identity, and build a sense of community is through the internet, the use of which is also inherently dangerous in the Islamic Republic of Iran."
It is an important reminder that having gay rights where we live is not enough, as so many people around the world still need our support.
Four Iranian men due to be hanged for sodomy [PinkNews]
Iran gay report highlights isolation, abuse and fear [Gay Star News]
New gay sitcom 'The New Normal'

Not too much is known about NBC's upcoming gay sitcom, The New Normal. We can confirm it will be premiering this fall on Tuesday nights and that it stars Andrew Rannells (from The Book of Mormon), Justin Bartha (The Hangover) and Georgia King (Skins). The premise: a gay couple's journey to become parents.
The producer is one Ryan Murphy. For those not familiar with the name, he's the man who brought us Glee. As far as we know, The New Normal does not include any musical numbers.
A clip from the show has just been released. We were expecting at least a chuckle, but maybe this will be more dramedy than comedy.
Fifty shades of funny
Ending conversion therapy in California
California politicians are considering a ban on 'conversion' therapy for gay and lesbian teens. The bill, introduced by Democratic State Sen. Ted Lieu, passed its final committee vote last week.
If the bill becomes law, psychologists would be prohibited from trying to turn young gays and lesbians straight. Adults could still receive 'conversion' therapy, but would be required to sign a consent form.
"This therapy can be dangerous," Lieu said, pointing out that conversion therapy does not work. Worse, he pointed out, it can cause depression and lead to suicide.
Clinton W. Anderson from the American Psychological Association said the bill was important. "Because APA doesn't see same-sex sexual orientation as being in any essential way different from other sexual orientations, we do not believe there is any psychological reason why people should change, and we believe those individuals and organizations that still promote such therapy or other methods of change are contributing to a negative social climate for lesbian, gay, and bisexual people, especially young people."
Ex-gay groups spoke out against the legislation.
"We can look at other organizations who help people dealing with other life struggles," Alan Chambers, president of Exodus International, said. "For instance, Weight Watchers, which has tremendously benefited my life. Should we go after Weight Watchers and tell them, 'Don't say that there's anything beyond obesity,' for people who are struggling with obesity and want an alternative to that?"
"Being gay or lesbian is not a disorder," countered Martin Binks, clinical director and CEO of Binks Behavioral Therapy. "While at times people need therapy to better understand their sexuality and to assist them in considering issues of sexuality in the context of their lives, 'conversion' therapies, as the name implies, too often tend to start from a presumption that it is wrong to be gay and that the only goal is to change that; which is not a helpful therapeutic approach."
'Conversion' therapy is the modern equivalent of selling snake oil. It should have been banned a long tim ago!
California Bill Would Ban Conversion Therapy to Make Gay Teens Straight [ABC News]
Wonder twins of porn deactivated
Normally a porn star's retirement is no big deal. But when you are two of the best known gay twins in the industry, it is a bit of a big deal when you call it quits.
The Peters twins first appeared in 2009 in a scene that was billed as “The Ultimate Taboo Finally Broken.” Not only were they biological twins (and not just guys who looked very similar), they also went all the way with one another.
Bel Ami admitted that when the two started, the company's membership increased by 25%. And the first DVD, Taboo, became its most successful release of 2010.
Not everyone was a fan. The DVDs depicting Elijah and Milo being intimate had to be re-edited for both the US and British markets because of censors in each country. However, fans were still able to access the uncut scenes online.
Well, all good twincest must come to an end.
“BelAmi’s Peters twins are without doubt a porn phenomena," the company said in a statement. "They are still young guys and feel it’s time to focus 100% on their studies and their future outside of the adult world. Their final 4 scenes are slated to be released in coming months.”
The final scene will feature just the two brothers, "and it will remind people why they became such a big deal in the first place."
Until then, you can check out some of their earlier work after the jump ...
Bristol Palin criticizes Obama over gay marriage
Bristol Palin took Barack Obama to task for not only supporting gay marriage this week, but also for allowing his daughters to influence his new position.
“There have been times where Michelle and I have been sitting around the dinner table and we’re talking about their friends and their parents and Malia and Sasha, it wouldn’t dawn on them that somehow their friends’ parents would be treated differently,” Obama said during his interview with ABC News. “It doesn’t make sense to them and, frankly, that’s the kind of thing that prompts a change in perspective.”
Bristol was aghast, criticizing the president for consulting his “teenage daughters” when making “a massive change in a policy position that could affect the entire nation.”
“I guess we can be glad that Malia and Sasha aren’t younger, or perhaps today’s press conference might have been about appointing Dora the Explorer as Attorney General because of her success in stopping Swiper the Fox,” Palin wrote on her blog.
“While it’s great to listen to your kids’ ideas, there’s also a time when dads simply need to be dads,” Palin said. The single mother added that the Obamas let their kids watch too much Glee, and that children were better off with a mom and a dad.
But it didn't take long for people to put the young Palin in her place. And you know something's wrong when Jersey Shore's JWoww comes off as smarter than you. "Bristol should keep her uneducated ignorant mouth shut. If ur living in the past u wouldn't have a kid w/out marriage #hypocrite. It's 2012!" JWoww tweeted.
Snap! Other tweets included:

Kingship's wonderfully queer video for 'Wandering Sailor'
Music duo Kingship created this artsy video for its latest release, 'Wandering Sailor.'
Motel goes all-nude to weather bad economy
A motel in Cocoa Beach, Florida, has found a unique way to attract customers; it has become a nudist colony. Paul Hodges, owner of the Fawlty Towers, said he hopes this will help his struggling business.
"It's sort of a make-or-break situation. We can't pay ourselves in winter. We had to scrap health insurance," Hodges explained. "Every year it gets a little bit worse.
"It's just a niche in the market. There's no competition in 100 miles."
He will even permit day visits for those just looking for a welcoming space to let it all hang out. Non-motel guests are invited to use the pool and tiki bar for a mere $25.
But don't go getting all boner-like. This is a classy motel, after all. The motel prohibits "swingers and talk of swinging," as well as "sexual and provocative clothing." (Um, what is more provocative than no clothing at all?)
"We're almost filled up for the month of May," Ward said. "There are only a couple rooms left."
That's interesting, because we usually put on extra clothes when sitting on motel furniture.
How to Save Florida's Economy: Make Everything a Nudist Colony! [Miami New Time]
Florida motel turns to nudity to revive business [NY Daily News]
bbixby
A dash of handsome, with a good helping of muscle, and you have the makings of one hot jerk-off ...
Obama says 'I do (support gay marriage)'
Well, it finally happened: a sitting President announced that he supports gay marriage.
Barack Obama confirmed his new position during an interview with ABC News.
"At a certain point I've just concluded that for me, personally, it is important for me to go ahead and affirm that I think same-sex couples should be able to get married," Obama said.
He once opposed same-sex marriage, then later admitted his views on the issue were "evolving."
"I had hesitated on gay marriage, in part, because I thought civil unions would be sufficient," the President said. "I was sensitive to the fact that - for a lot of people - that the word marriage is something that provokes very powerful traditions and religious beliefs."
A recent Gallup Poll shows that the US is almost evenly divided on the issue. 50% of those polled supported gay marriage rights, while 48% did not.
Mitt Romney, Obama's likely Republican contender for the White House later this year, reiterated that he was against gay marriage. And others said Obama was giving the GOP an early election gift with the announcement.
"This is an unanticipated gift to the Romney campaign. It is certain to fuel a record turnout of voters of faith to the polls this November," said Ralph Reed, founder and chairman of the Faith and Freedom Coalition.
Will this announcement make a difference in Obama's chances of winning his bid for a second term? We'll see on election day.
President Obama Affirms His Support for Same Sex Marriage [ABC News]
Obama Supports Same-Sex Marriage [Wall Street Journal]
A quickie with Jimmy Fanz

Yep, we've found ourselves another man to crush on. His name: Jimmy Fanz.
It's easy to see why the newly signed Raging Stallion / Falcon exclusive - who has previously worked for Dominic Ford, Circle Jerk Boys and Bound in Public - has won over so many fans: with his good looks and natural body hair, he's absolutely adorable.
But for a guy who describes himself as shy, isn't it surprising that he would end up having sex on camera?
"It was always a dream from being a young kid jerking off to porn in my room, just something I honestly always wanted to do," he told BananaGuide. "So one day I was referred to Howard at FabScout.com and the rest ... well ... "
Check out our quick interview (and gallery links) with the Raging Stallion / Falcon stud after the jump ...
The Octomom is back ... and she's doing porn
Nadya Suleman, the woman who became famous for having lots of babies, is not done milking her 15 minutes of fame. And with so many mouths to feed (14 in total). she's been looking for her next big paycheck. But when you've laid your life out for all to see on reality TV, what's left? Porn, of course.
Not to be rude, but are all parts of her camera friendly? (Oh, you know what we mean.)
"My first shoot was amazing," Suleman said. "Such a learning experience for me in so many ways. I don't think I could have asked for a better crew to work with. They were so patient and willing to teach me. I owe a lot to Wicked Pictures contract star Jessica Drake; she opened my eyes to a whole different world of self-pleasure that I could have never imagined. They made me look so glamorous, and for the first time in my life, I felt beautiful and sexy."
After the shoot, Suleman posed for a set of photographs in which she was seated at the head of a long table, her body covered with SpaghettiOs.
“For the pictures, we had her topless with a thick sparkly red choker with a big red heart in front and red and white polka dot panties ... like 1950s style," an insider said. "SpaghettiOs were all over her body and she's even throwing the SpaghettiOs toward the camera. The label on the can was changed from SpaghettiOs to say 'Saucy Octos.'"
Um, yuck!
Octomom Is "Excited" for Her Porn Video to Come Out [iVillage]
'Octomom' Porn Video: 'I'm Excited For It To Come Out' [Huffington Post]
xxx


