Rod 2.0:Beta

Patrik Ian Polk and Fol Chen on European Tour

A few photos from the Rotterdam performance of Fol Chen, the Los Angeles-based art rock slash electro-pop band fronted by Noah's Arc director Patrik Ian Polk. The band's European tour ends tomorrow in Rennes, France and included Dijon, Paris, Amsterdam, and Antwerp.

Patrik has been Tweeting from the road such as this update earlier today: "In Nantes, France...performing at the University here tonite. Should be a fun show. 3 other bands opening 4 us #FolChenEuroTour09."

Fol Chen's Janet Jackson-inspired "Cable TV" was one of the  breakout tracks of the Noah's Arc: Jumping the Broom The Original Motion Picture Soundtrack. The band also covered Prince's "The Beautiful Ones" on SPIN's Prince Tribute CD Purplish Rain. Patrik Ian can be heard on lead vocals. The free download is HERE. The trivia answer is KEYBOARDIST.

[Rotterdam photos via Flickr User FrontStageMusic]

Beef is on the Menu at Brüno's "Pink Light" Brothel in Amsterdam

Sacha Baron Cohen continues the antics as "Brüno," the flamboyant fashion reporter. The comedian and fauxmosexual jetskied through a canal in Amsterdam's Red Light District to announce the grand opening of the "Pink Light" brothel.

" 'For too long, guys coming here from around the world have been forced to have sex with women,' Cohen said, standing in front of a pink-lit brothel building in the Dutch capital as surprised tourists and stag party goers looked on. 'It gives me great pleasure to declare Amsterdam's pink light district officially open for business,' he said, as about a dozen men emerged from behind curtains at the windows of a three-story brothel."

Brüno's fashion sense may be extreme, but his taste in beefcake is impeccable. Oh and the "fashion reporter" slash madam says the young man on the right "has been booked for the entire week."

AFTER THE JUMP, video and a few more pictures from the event. Two weeks ago at the MTV Movie Awards, the campy character gave rapper Eminem a taste of his jock. Looks like the thong and jockstrap theme continues ...

50 Cent: "Never" Tempted to "Have Sex" with "Naked" Female Fans

Another week, another ringing endorsement of heterosexuality from campy rap superstar 50 Cent. After channeling the Village People in his latest music video, Fiddy reveals that while on the road, he is overwhelmed with offers of sex (from women!) but is "never" tempted.

Showbizspy reports, "The In Da Club hitmaker—real name Curtis Jackson—is so popular with female fans, he often finds them hiding out in his hotel room without any clothes on. But Jackson claims he has never been tempted, comparing their behavior to that of the prostitutes selling sex in the Netherlands.

"He tells America's Vibe magazine, "I've been in hotel rooms, and girls were already there in the closet - naked. Hell, no! Are you kidding me? That's like Amsterdam."

Not really sure why "Amsterdam" immediately came to Fiddy's mind, maybe Lloyd Banks could answer that one, but, umm, aren't most naked groupies offering sex to rappers for, umm, free? Oh, and Fiddy has already said several times that he just waiting for the right "girl."

50 Cent's Naked Fans [Showbizspy]
50 Cent Compares Naked Fans To Prostitutes [EW]

Some Background ....
50 Cent "Inspects" the "Boys" in Campy New Music Video [R20]
Rapper Fat Joe Mocks 50 Cent and G Unit with "Gay Unit" Mixtape [R20]
50 Gave Good Face [R20]
No Homo [R20]
Get (Homo) or Die Tryin' [R20]
What Up S.L.U.T. [R20]
Bitch Better Have My Money And Some Prada [R20]
Gay or Rapper? [R20]

Poll: Dutch Would Consider a Gay or Black Prime Minister, Not a Muslim

As world attention is focused on the historic Democratic presidential primary in the United States, some surprising survey results from the Netherlands demonstrate the legendary Dutch tolerance toward minorities and women.

A survey of 21,000 members of the television program "EenVandaag" reports "nearly all participants (93 percent) found it acceptable to be governed by a woman" prime minister and 78 percent would accept a gay premier. "Three-quarters find a premier with a black skin acceptable" but support dwindled for specific ethnicities, with only 31 and 33 percent, respectively, willing to support a Moroccans or Turkish premier.

The lowest numbers were among those who would support a Muslim premier, barely more than a quarter at 27 percent. Holland is known for opening its borders to refugees and immigrants, but, there has been a significant recent public backlash against Muslims for their intolerant views on women, especially on the issue of headscarves, and, there have been numerous gay-bashings disproportionately committed by Muslim Moroccan youth. One such case that received substantial coverage were the beatings received by former Washington Blade editor Chris Crain and his boyfriend in Amsterdam in May 2005 by a gang of Moroccan youth.

Dutch Would Accept Gay PM, Not a Muslim [Dutch News]

News: Campaign Against Bigotry, GLAAD Targets Black Audiences

· The Gay & Lesbian Alliance Against Defamation (GLAAD) announces a new public service campaign to "bring heightened visibility" to lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender persons in black communities. Starting over Mother's Day weekend, the print adverts will run for one week in leading black community-based newspapers such as The Chicago Defender and Amsterdam News. This follows last week's announcement that actor Isaiah Washington will appear in television PSAs for the anti-defamation group.

· Alaska: A proposed constitutional amendment to prevent the same-sex domestic partners of state employees from receiving health benefits failed in the House. Meanwhile, in New York state, the state health plan is now open to some partners of gay and lesbian employees.

· One week after a group of prominent anti-gay black pastors lobbied Congress against the proposed hate crimes bill, a new multi-city campaign is launched against religious-based bigotry. Faith in America is running print ads across the country to publicly expose church-based bigotry against LGBT persons—especially ministries that target gays and lesbians of color.

· Bilerico publishes a guest post by Rep. Joe Donnelly, the conservative Indiana Democrat who voted against the hate crimes bill. Bottom line: "I am not convinced that a federal hate crimes law would reduce the incidence of crime in our communities."

· Taye Diggs and Jane Krakowski will announce the nominations for the 61st Annual "Tony" Awards on May 15th.

Euro Pride

This is hangover Monday in a few European cities. Pride celebrations in Amsterdam, Belfast and Brighton attracted hundreds of thousands. Amsterdam expected up to 400k spectators to its 10th annual pride boat parade, but rain kept some inside.

More high-res pics from Belfast and Brighton are below..