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Zimbabwe's Mugabe Attends Vatican Ceremony Despite EU Ban

IMAGE: GETTY

Earlier this month, Zimbabwe's notoriously anti-gay President Robert Mugabe slammed the "filthy gays" of Europe and the European Union for imposing an asset freeze and travel ban on him and his inner circle. Mugabe has managed to circumvent the ban and arrived yesterday in the Vatican for the beatification of the late Pope John Paul II, reports the BBC.

An EU travel ban forbids him from visiting member states but the Vatican, where the ceremony will take place, is a sovereign state and not in the EU. Mr Mugabe, a Roman Catholic, has been allowed to transit through Italy.

Italy's foreign ministry said it had requested an exemption from the EU travel ban for Mr Mugabe. A Vatican spokesman said Mr Mugabe had not been personally invited but as the head of a state with which the Vatican has relations he was entitled to attend.

Reports the AFP:

Mugabe, a Catholic who has been widely condemned for human rights abuses, also attended John Paul II's funeral in 2005 despite the 2002 travel ban—a visit that drew controversy because Britain's Prince Charles shook hands with him. Twenty-two world leaders are expected to attend the ceremony that will put John Paul II on the path to sainthood, the Vatican said. Five royal families—Belgium, Britain, Liechtenstein, Luxembourg and Spain—will be represented

Zimbabwe's despotic government is rabidly anti-gay. Mugabe and Prime Minister Morgan Tsvangirai have rejected calls to include gay rights in the new constitution. Mugabe once infamously described gays as "worse than dogs and pigs" and recently apologized to dogs and pigs for the comparison.

Some Background:
Mugabe Denounces "Filthy Gays" of Europe
UN Votes to Condemn Anti-Gay Violence
Zimbabwe: Gay Activist Trial Delayed
Zimbabwe: Gay Activist Acquitted
Mugabe Apologizes to Dogs for Gay Comparison
Zimbabwe Vows to Outlaw Homosexuality in Constitution

UMissouri Deletes Facebook Page with Anti-Gay Comments Over E. Patrick Johnson Visit

University of Missouri administrators decided to delete an entire Facebook page after students' complaints about anti-gay comments. The Facebook page alerted students to this week's visiting performance by E. Patrick Johnson, the popular Black gay academic, author and performance artist. Johnson is the chair of the department of performance studies at Northwestern University.

The thread included at least one negative comment by an anti-gay Republican state legislator, reports The Missourian.

The presentations were titled "Pouring Tea: Black Gay Men of the South Tell Their Tales" and "In Search of Countess Vivian: Queerness and the Making of Southern History." The events were presented in conjunction with MU's Pride Month and co-sponsored in part by the Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Transgender and Queer Resource Center, among other campus groups and organizations.

"Some of the comments were offensive to Mizzou students and fans. Comments that violated our posting policy — those that contained profanity or personal attacks, for example — were removed swiftly. Those that did not, remained on the Facebook page for more than 24 hours," the message stated.

One such comment that sparked a heated response was from Missouri state Rep. Kathie Conway, R-St. Charles. "Really?? This is educational?," Conway wrote. "Just what is the percentage of the population that this could possibly apply? .0001%?" Conway could not be reached for comment.

Mizzou administrators say "many of the comments" violated the university's posting policy. Administrators also add the page was thread was ultimately deleted because the event was over.

"Pouring Tea: Black Gay Men of the South Tell Their Tales" is a critically-acclaimed and commercially successful stage adaptation of the Johnson's oral history Sweet Tea: Black Gay Men of the South. The one-man show has been staged across the country.

PHOTOS, VIDEO: The Laz Alonso Hotness Covers "Rolling Out"

Oh-so-handsome Laz Alonso covers the new issue of ROLLING OUT. Laz is featured in a fashion editorial and chats up his upcoming film Jumping The Broom.

Laz does not consider himself a sex symbol. "In my personal life they know I’m just Laz. ... I gotta stay in shape for my profession, and I like the way my clothes fit. But I just appreciate that people feel I’m attractive."

Plenty of others may disagree. The former BET host and announcer co-starred as a buff Marine in Jarhead ... with considerably less clothing.

Rolling Out published three different Laz Alonso cover designs for nationwide distribution. One of the covers, two more images plus a behind-the-scenes video of the shoot AFTER THE JUMP ...

HHS: Florida Mismanaged Millions in AIDS Drug Assistance Funds

A scathing January 2011 report by the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services alleges that Florida’s Bureau of HIV/AIDS mismanaged "millions" in state and federal funds while administering its AIDS Drug Assistance Program (ADAP), reports The Florida Independent. Florida’s ADAP now has the "longest waiting list in the nation" and faces a budget deficit of up to $32 million.

Florida program management did not provide sufficient due diligence using available data and program experience to trend and project future medication needs and expenditures. In addition management failed to adhere to principles of sound fiscal stewardship by neglecting to initiate and implement cost containment strategies and revenue enhancements before a crisis ensued.

The Florida Department of Health’s inability to manage the Ryan White grant has resulted in the current deficit, which jeopardizes access to HIV services and medications. The reports calls on the department to ensure that Ryan White funds provide access to comprehensive high-quality community-based care for low-income individuals and families living with HIV.

Auditors found the state used ADAP funding to pay the salaries of officials "with little or no role" in administering the program. The report also found the Bureau of HIV/AIDS was awarded $3.05 million to take 357 clients off the waiting list, but had failed to do so.

The recession has forced a number of states to slash funding to the AIDS Drug Assistance Program, the federal/state program that helps low-income, people living with HIV/AIDS pay for their expensive, life-saving medications. Those in the program are disproportionately black, many of the men are gay or bisexual.

In 2010, at least a dozen states closed enrollment in ADAP. Virginia recently closed enrollment in its ADAP program.

It would be truly tragic if these charges are true.

MINNESOTA: Senate Advances Constitutional Marriage Ban

The Minnesota Senate Judiciary committee voted 8 to 4 on party lines to approve a bill that would allow a ballot initiative on a constitutional same-sex marriage ban. The ballot initiative would be placed next year.

The Minnesota Independent:

Sen. Barb Goodwin, DFL-Columbia Heights, said, "I will never in this Legislature, will never vote — even if it means I’m voted out — to put language of discrimination in the constitution. I could not live with myself, and those of you who claim to be good Christians, you need to think about what you are doing here," she added.

But Sen. Dave Thompson, R-Lakeville, said the issue isn’t about discrimination and civil rights: "Marriage isn’t a right. Nowhere in the federal Constitution or the Minnesota Constitution is marriage considered a right."

Sen. John Harrington, DFL-St. Paul, said the measure does nothing to support the principles the nation was founded on.

The Star-Tribune adds: "Similar bills died in the state Senate numerous times in past years, but Republicans newly in charge of the Legislature are making a new push."

The bill heads to the Senate Rules Committee.

VA: AG Cuccinelli Cancels King & Spalding State Contract Over DOMA

Gay-obsessed, far right wing Virginia Attorney General Ken Cuccinelli is very upset with law firm King & Spalding, reports the Washington Examiner.

Virginia Attorney General Ken Cuccinelli has terminated his office's relationship with King & Spalding, the Atlanta law firm that abrubtly dropped the U.S. House of Representatives as a client for purposes of defending the Defense of Marriage Act.

"King & Spalding's willingness to drop a client, the U.S. House of Representatives, in connection with the lawsuit challenging the Defense of Marriage Act (DOMA) was such an obsequious act of weakness that I feel compelled to end your legal association with Virginia so that there is no chance that one of my legal clients will be put in the embarrassing and difficult situation like the client you walked away from, the House of Representatives," Cuccinelli said in a letter to Joseph Lynch in the firm's Washington, D.C. office.

The firm had been retained by the Virginia AG's office Sept. 15, 2009. Cuccinelli said the firm was being terminated "effective immediately."

In March 2010, the Virginia Attorney General was roundly criticized for his opinion that the Commonwealth's public colleges and universities must abolish policies that protect gays and lesbians from discrimination. Cuccinelli later said in a television news interview that "homosexual acts" are harmful to society.

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WATCH: Trump Tells Black Reporter, "I Know You're an Obama Fan"

The Trump trainwreck continues ...

During a Wednesday press conference in New Hampshire—after President Obama’s remarks about the release of his long form birth certificate—potential GOP presidential contender and birther-in-chief Donald Trump told reporters that the United States needed to match infrastructure investments made by China and other countries.

Inside Edition's Les Trent asked,"Isn’t that what President Obama tried to do with his stimulus package?"

Trump dismissed the reporter, who is Black, by saying,"I know you are a big Obama fan."

Watch AFTER THE JUMP ...

Meanwhile: CBS Evening News anchor Bob Schieffer slammed Trump' suggestion that Obama was an affirmative action admission to Harvard. "That's code for saying he got into law school because he's black. This is an ugly strain of racism that's running through this whole thing," Schieffer said.

Trump dismissed Schieffer's remarks and told TMZ, "I am the last person that such a thing should be said about."

Only two weeks ago, Trump boasted that he has a "great relationship with the Blacks." You keep telling yourself that, Donald. Via Think Progress, watch the video AFTER THE JUMP ...

SPORNO: Ron Artest Flexes His Guns for Chris Paul

IMAGES: AP Photo

Lakers forward Ron Artest flexes his guns to New Orleans Hornets point guard Chris Paul after scoring last night. Not sure was that supposed to weird out Chris—or possibly mesmerize him—but the Los Angeles defeated New Orleans 98-80 to advance to the next round.

Ron Ron was last seen in the Lakers' tolerance video and shirtless and in "sexy boxer shorts" on Jimmy Kimmel Live.

Chris Paul is comforted AFTER THE JUMP ...

WATCH: NBA Stars Grant Hill and Jared Dudley Against Homophobia

GLSEN has released behind-the-scenes footage of their pro-equality and anti-homophobia PSA shoot with Phoenix Suns Grant Hill and Jared Dudley. Ironically, it was lensed on the same day and only hours before NBA superstar and basketball diva Kobe Bryant was caught on camera using an anti-gay slur during a basketball game.

While the video message shot by Bryant and the Los Angeles Lakers only mentions sexual orientation in passing, the topic takes center stage in the Suns' video. Says the six foot eight Hill in the video: "Using gay to mean dumb or stupid? Not cool. Not in my house, not anywhere. It’s not creative, it’s offensive to gay people and you’re better than that."

Dudley adds in an interview: "It's critical to set values. ... It starts with the NBA, because a lot of people look up to the stars [as] role models, the kids want to be you. And if they see how you’re acting toward this, it will definitely sway a lot of people."

The video was shot for GLSEN, the Ad Council and the NBA as part of the "Think B4 You Speak" campaign. It's a collaborative effort to address anti-LGBT language among teens. The video will air during the NBA playoffs. Watch it AFTER THE JUMP ...

PHOTO: Brit R&B Hotness Simon Webbe Tweets Pecs, Abs, Muscle

British R&B hotness Simon Webbe hit 34,000 followers last week on Twitter. And as promised, Webbe treated his fans to a stripped down, Guys With iPhone-style pose featuring lots of muscle.

In 2006, Webbe covered UK homostyle mag AXM. Webbe talked up his huge gay male fanbase and the rarity of black male celebrities in gay magazines.

The pop and R&B vocalist has been the most successful of the former members of the boyband Blue. After six years apart, Webbe and his former bandmates have reunited to sing the UK’s entry at Eurovision in Düsseldorf, Germany, on May 14. The track "I Can" debuts Monday ... and Webbe has blasted UK stations for lack of airplay.

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Simon Webbe Covers AXM