Castro District, Castro San Francisco guide and voice of the gay and lesbian community!

Posted on Advocate.com
April 30, 2010
By Advocate.com Editors

Mark Wahlberg said in a 2007 interview that he was “creeped out” by the script for Brokeback Mountain and "thankful" when director Ang Lee didn’t call him back to talk more about the film.

Now, The National Enquirer reports that it was Wahlberg’s Catholic priest who convinced him not to do the film.

Reads the article: "The 38-year-old reformed bad boy relies on his closest confidante and longtime religious mentor, the Rev. James Flavin, to help him pick and choose his parts. 'Mark is a practicing Catholic, and he never makes a final decision on a starring role until Father Flavin gives his OK,' an insider revealed to The Enquirer. 'Mark says he owes his career to Father Flavin.'... 'Father Flavin pushes Mark to honor his religious roots,' said the source. 'Even though Mark was offered one of the leads in Brokeback Mountain, he passed because of the gay subject matter, which clashes with Catholic doctrine.'"

In 2007, Wahlberg told WENN: "I met with Ang Lee on that movie; I read 15 pages of the script and got a little creeped out. It was very graphic, descriptive - the spitting on the hand, getting ready to do the thing. I told Ang Lee, 'I like you; you're a talented guy, if you want to talk about it more...' Thankfully, he didn't...I didn't rush to see Brokeback; it's just not my deal... Obviously, it was done in taste - look how it was received."

In 1994, when Wahlberg was still performing as Marky Mark and dodging rumors he was homophobic, the then budding actor talked to The Advocate about his gay uncle, his relationship with Madonna, and his love of And the Band Played On.

Posted on Advocate.com
May 04, 2010
By Julie Bolcer

Egyptian music officials have banned Elton John from playing later this month because of his recent comments that Jesus was gay.

Sir Elton John has been banned from playing a private concert in Egypt later this month because music officials object to his recent comments in support of a gay Jesus and against Middle Eastern countries' treatment of gay people.

The Jerusalem Post reports from German Press Agency DPA.

"The news agency quoted Mounir al-Wasimi, the head of Egypt's Musician Union, as saying that his country could not allow 'a homosexual who wants to ban religions, claimed that the prophet Issa (Jesus) was gay and calls for Middle Eastern countries to allow gays to have sexual freedom' to perform there."

John was scheduled to perform on May 18. The Music Union claims to hold authority over what foreign performers are allowed to play in Egypt.

As the Post recalls, "John drew controversy earlier this year when he intimated in an interview with the American Parade magazine that there was no tolerance for homosexuals in Arab countries. 'I don't know what makes people so cruel. Try being a gay woman in the Middle East — you're as good as dead,' he told the magazine.

"Also in the February interview, the performer stated that Jesus had been a 'super-intelligent gay man,' a conclusion he reached after reading about the Christian savior's compassionate and understanding nature."

Posted on www.365gay.com
February 24, 2011
By Annie Rooney

Lady Gags fights on for us in the Castro San Francisco! Lady Gaga said she would release an exclusive edition of her "Born This Way" album to Target stores if the company makes efforts to support the gay community. The new edition includes remixes and three extra studio songs.

Target previously gave a donation to anti-gay Minnesota politician Tom Emmer. Castro District residents wonder why they would give such a donation. Gaga met with company executives for a conversation where she stressed how supporting the gay community was important to her, her fans, and their partnership. Castro San Francisco loves their continued support from Lady Gaga.

"Part of my deal with Target is that they have to start affiliating themselves with LGBT charity groups and begin to reform and make amends for the mistakes they've made in the past," Gaga told Billboard . "Our relationship is hinged upon their reform in the company to support the gay community and to redeem the mistakes they've made supporting those groups." Here at My Castro we applaud such forward and direct approaches!

Target's vice president of communications, Dustee Jenkins said she appreciated the meeting with Gaga and her team. Jenkins told Billboard that Target is now committed to being more "thoughtful" with their political donations and has made policy changes to include a "policy committee," responsible for overseeing company donations. Supporters of Gaga like us in the Castro District are pleased with Gaga's to the point assault on anti-gay supporters.

Target revised their giving policy before the meeting with Lady Gaga.

Posted on www.Sdvocate.com May 10, 2010
By Advocate.com Editors

Kristin Chenoweth has posted a defense of Promises, Promises costar Sean Hayes on Newsweek's website after the actor was attacked in an article that many readers have deemed "homophobic," even though it was written by a gay journalist. In an article titled "Straight Jacket" that was posted on Newsweek.com on April 26, Ramin Setoodeh has drawn the ire of many readers for implying that it's impossible to believe openly gay actors as straight characters. Setoodeh specifically takes aim at Hayes for his otherwise much-lauded performance in the hit Broadway revival of the musical, for which he has been nominated for a Tony award as Best Actor.

Among the irate is actress Chenoweth, currently appearing as the love interest of Hayes's character Chuck Baxter. Here is Chenoweth's full response:

"Similarly, thousands of people have traveled from all over the world to enjoy Hayes' performance and don't seem to have one single issue with his sexuality! They have no problem buying him as a love-torn heterosexual man. Audiences aren't giving a darn about who a person is sleeping with or his personal life. Give me a break! We're actors first, whether we're playing prostitutes, baseball players, or the Lion King. Audiences come to theater to go on a journey. It's a character and it's called acting, and I'd put Hayes and his brilliance up there with some of the greatest actors period. 
Lastly, as someone who's been proudly advocating for equal rights and supporting GLBT causes for as long as I can remember, I know how much it means to young people struggling with their sexuality to see out & proud actors like Sean Hayes, Jonathan Groff, Neil Patrick Harris and Cynthia Nixon succeeding in their work without having to keep their sexuality a secret. No one needs to see a bigoted, factually inaccurate article that tells people who deviate from heterosexual norms that they can't be open about who they are and still achieve their dreams. I am told on good authority that Mr. Setoodeh is a gay man himself and I would hope, as the author of this article, he would at least understand that. I encourage Newsweek to embrace stories which promote acceptance, love, unity and singing and dancing for all!"

Posted on LATimes.com May 22, 2010
By Mark Milian

Now she tells us.

Laura Bush may not have been very vocal about how she felt on gay marriage or abortion when her husband was president, but the former first lady is talking now. (Probably not) coincidentally, it's just in time to promote her new book!

In an interview on "Larry King Live" Tuesday night, Bush said she disagrees with her husband on two key issues that continually popped up during George W. Bush's eight years in office.

On gay marriage, she told CNN show host Larry King: "When couples are committed to each other and love each other, then they ought to have, I think, the same sort of rights that everyone has."

"I think we could" accept gay marriage, she continued. "I also think it's a generational thing.... That will come."

"I understand totally what George thinks and what other people think about marriage being between a man and a woman," she said. "I guess that would be an area that we disagree" on.

Laura Bush also recalled a flurry of questions shortly after her husband took office about overturning Roe vs. Wade.

"I think it's important that it remain legal," she said about abortion. "Because I think it's important for people -- for medical reasons and for other reasons."

Later in the interview, she admitted to "not really" being vocal about these issues during President Bush's tenure. But the feelings were there.

"I understand his viewpoint," she said, "and he understands mine."