Rod 2.0:Beta #gay #news #lgbt #gaynews

VIDEO: Darlene Love's "Christmas (Baby Please Come Home)"

It just isn't Christmas until one of the greatest annual traditions in television happens once again on Late Night With David Letterman: The fabulous Darlene Love belting out "Christmas (Baby Please Come Home)".

This was Ms. Love's 25th annual appearance to sing the Phil Spector holiday classic. This year's performance was even more memorable because she was accompanied by a full orchestra and 20+ backup singers.

Go behind-the-scenes with Darlene Love and Paul Shaffer for the making of their annual tradition. Then watch this year's brilliant performance AFTER THE JUMP ...

Happy Holidays from Rod 2.0

To the entire Rod 2.0 family—friends, frenemies and readers alike—have the merriest Christmas and a joyous holiday season. And a special holiday virtual hug to the dynamic advertisers who helped make Rod 2.0 happen.

We're enjoying the holiday with friends and family. Through next week, the blog will be published on a reduced schedule. May the season bring happiness, joy and peace to you and your loved ones.

VIDEO: Documentary on Starlite Lounge, Historic NYC Black Gay Bar

It's been almost a year and a half since the July 2010 closing of the Starlite Lounge, the oldest Black-owned LGBT bar in New York City and one of the oldest such bars in the nation. Two filmmakers are producing a documentary about about the now-shuttered historic lounge in Brooklyn, reports the NY Daily News.

Watch a trailer for the fim AFTER THE JUMP ...

I instantly fell in love with the bar,” said “Starlite” co-director Sasha Wortzel who was quickly drawn to the bar when she moved to Crown Heights four years ago. She soon found out the Starlite’s building had been bought by a new owner who was threatening to boot the bar, and started working with co-director Kate Kunath on what they expected to be a short film about the fight.

Instead, they got so wrapped up that they ended up shooting months of footage they’re now working on turning into a feature-length film, expected to be completed some time next year.

For more than 40 years, the location at 1086 Bergen Street in Brooklyn's Crown Heights was home to the Starlite Lounge. The Starlite had been a fixture since the 1960s and became a rite of passage for many black LGBT New Yorkers. More on its fascinating history:

The bar was founded in 1959 by Mackie Harris, one of New York’s first openly gay black entrepreneurs. "It’s pre-Stonewall. It’s the same decade [as\] Brown v. Board of Education," said Kunath, 35. "Especially in Crown Heights, having a safe place for the gay community is significant. Because there are so few places for this community to go, when Starlite was open, they came from all over. It went from being a neighborhood bar in the 50s and early 60s into being really an institution in the gay black community...There’s a whole culture and community that has been displaced."

The filmmakers and owners hosted a Starlite reunion earlier this month that drew hundreds of regulars. The owners are raising money on the website IndieGoGo and hope to find a space in Crown Heights to reopen.

The site of the legendary bar on Nostrand Avenue is now a Metro PCS store.

Donate HERE to support the docmentary.

Watch a trailer for the fim AFTER THE JUMP ...

Zimbabwe MP Arrested After Saying Mugabe is "Homosexual"

An opposition member in Zimbabwe's parliament has been arrested after saying their notoriously anti-gay despot Robert Mugabe has "practiced homosexuality", report Kenya's Daily Nation.

Mrs Lillian Kirenyi, a legislator from Prime Minister Morgan Tsvangirai’s Movement for Democratic Change (MDC) party was on Tuesday charged with undermining the authority of President Mugabe. The court was told that the MP committed the alleged offence during an address to party supporters on December 9.

She allegedly said: "Zanu PF (President Mugabe’s party) members been attacking MDC president Tsvangirai alleging he is pro-homosexuals yet Robert Mugabe has practiced homosexuality with (Professor) Jonathan Moyo (former Information minister) and Canaan Banana (Zimbabwe’s first ceremonial president)." The late Mr Banana was jailed for sodomising his bodyguard.

Prime Minister Morgan Tsvangirai—Mugabe's political rival—has called for greater tolerance and promised "not to prosecute anyone who is gay." Tsvangirai says he will continue to call out for tolerance despite an onslaught of criticism after his remarks.

Same-sex acts are currently illegal in Zimbabwe, as they are in at least 38 of 54 African countries. South Africa and Seychelles are the only African nations that protect LGBT rights. The neighboring Republic of South Africa is also the only African nation to guarantee marriage equality.

Some Background:
ZIM PM Tsvangirai Continues Calling for Gay Rights
ZIM: Tsvangirai Slammed Over Support for Gay Rights
ZIMBABWE: PM Tsvangirai Now Calls for Gay Rights
ZIM Service Chiefs "Demand" Mugabe's Resignation?
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

Newt Gingrich Tells Gay Iowan: "Vote for Obama"

Newt Gingrich isn't even trying to chase the gay conservative vote. The former House Speaker Newt Gingrich told a gay Iowa voter that he would be better off supporting President Obama, reports the Des Moines Register.

"I asked him if he’s elected, how does he plan to engage gay Americans. How are we to support him? And he told me to support Obama," said Scott Arnold, an associate professor of writing at William Penn University.”

Arnold, a Democrat, said he came to the event at Smokey Row coffee house with an open mind. But he wanted to ask Gingrich about how he would represent him as president after reading past comments the former U.S. House Speaker as made about gay and lesbians. "When you ask somebody a question and you expect them to support all Americans and have everyone’s general interest," Arnold said. "It’s a little bit frustrating and disheartening when you’re told to support the other side. That he doesn’t’ need your support."

Gingrich, who has a half sister who is a lesbian, has previously said in Iowa that same-sex marriage "is a temporary aberration that will dissipate." In his letter to The Family Leader this month, he advocated a federal constitutional amendment that would deny marriage rights to same-sex couples.

Waiting for spin from the homocons at GOProud ...

The anti-gay Gingrich is a thrice-married serial adulterer. The former House Speaker is one of the architects of the Defense of Marriage Act, which he pushed through Congress at the same time he was involved in an extra-marital affair with a staffer. That was the second of two marriages that ended after his adultery.

Gingrich is currently polling second in Iowa among likely Republican caucus voters, according to a poll conducted by Iowa State University/Gazette/KCRG. Ron Paul is first with 28 percent, Gingrich second at 25 percent and Mitt Romney at 18 percent.

DJ Baker Radio Show 1130ET

On DJ Baker's Da Doo-Dirty Radio Show at 1130 ET. We'll be discussing the Top Ten news stories of 2011 and joined by author and activist Nathan James. Tune in HERE.

Gilead Submits Truvada to FDA for PrEP Approval

Major developments in the fight against HIV/AIDS. Pharmaceutical giant Gilead Sciences has submitted an application to the Food and Drug Administration seeking approval of its antiretroviral drug Truvada for

PrEP is the daily use of an antiretroviral drug therapy that has dramatically reduced new infections in HIV-negative gay and bisexual men. Daily use of the cocktail—a combination of Truvada and/or Viread—has shown up to 73 percent efficacy in preventing HIV transmission. Newer clinical trials have demonstrated that PrEP is also effective for heterosexual couples.

If the application is approved, Truvada would become the first medication authorized for use by uninfected individuals to reduce their risk of acquiring HIV through sex.

There have been some questions about resilience and the impact of powerful antiretrovirals on a healthy immune system. But the major question: Who will pay for the drug? In the United States, Truvada can cost $36 a day or up to $14,000 a year.

San Francisco will soon become the first city in the nation to offer PrEP for HIV-negative gay and bisexual men. The news comes after the release of disturbing HIV seroconversion data. New HIV cases among Black gay and bisexual men aged 13-29 rose an estimated 48 percent between 2006-2009, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.

See our recent series "Reversing the Alarming HIV Increase Among Black Gay Men Part 1" and "Part 2", as well as "What Pre-Exposure Prophylaxis Could Mean for Black Gay and Bi Men" and "Clinical Trials Show PrEP Reduces Heterosexual HIV Transmission" that were syndicated by the Black AIDS Institute.

Brandon McInerney Sentenced to 21 Years for Lawrence King Murder

Seventeen-year-old Brandon McInerney has been sentenced to 21 years in prison for the execution-style shooting of his gay middle school classmate Lawrence King, reports the Ventura County Star.

"The convicted murderer sitting at the defense table did much more than simply kill our son," said King's father, Greg, as he read from a four-page victim's impact statement that castigated McInerney, his lawyers, the jurors, the school system and The Star, among others.

"He robbed us of one son and stole from his brother a lifetime of companionship, leaving him instead a lifetime of grieving. He subjected his own family to shame, guilt and profound level of remorse — emotions he has yet to display," Greg King said.

McInerney, 17, sat motionless as the back of his neck turned deep red. Just as he did throughout his nine-week trial, he showed little emotion as the judge sentenced him to 21 years behind bars for the use of a firearm and voluntary manslaughter. Though McInerney also pleaded guilty to second-degree murder, a plea agreement stated he would serve time only for the manslaughter and firearms charges. He is ineligible for parole and will not get credit for the nearly four years he has been in jail.

King also blasted the Hueneme Elementary School District, which operates the junior high school where the 15-year-old son was killed in front of dozens of classmates in February 2008. The father has previously blamed the school district for "encouraging" his son to "act gay."

Witnesses have testified that King's "feminine attire" and gender identity was upsetting some students and faculty at E.O. Green Junior High in Oxnard. The defense has portrayed  King as sexually "aggressive" and suggested that McInerney was "provoked."

Lawrence King was living in a group home at the time of the shooting. State child welfare authorities had previously removed him from the family home. King's parents filed suit against the school district after the murder ... accusing authorities of not enforcing the school dress code.

Rod 2.0's complete coverage on Lawrence King HERE.

Late Monday

Posting later this afternoon, running behind on several projects.

PHOTOS: Ronnie Cash Bulges and Blings in Marco Marco

PHOTOS: Manny Serratos

"I'll never stop looking flawless!" vows Russian-American model hotness Ronnir "Ronnie" Cash, showing (ahem) all of his muscles in briefs by couture designer Marco Marco and lensed by Manny Serratos.

For the deep-pocketed glam-goth fashionistas: Ronnie models this Swarovski crystal neoprene mask designed by Marco Marco. The mask was worn by Chris Brown during his acceptance speech at the 2011 BET Music Awards.

Who wore it better? More goth and more tighties AFTER THE JUMP