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VIDEO: Dallas Pastor Claims HIV Testing Billboards "Promote" Homosexuality and Black Gay Men

Another day and another example of a pastor opposing HIV awareness because it allegedly "promotes" sexuality. The latest case is in Dallas where a pastor and a city councilwoman are complaining about the Greater Than AIDS billboard that features two men and the words "Update Your Status."

"When I saw it I said, ‘Now what are they up to? They trying to promote two men being together?'" said Bishop Eli Jacobs.

Councilwoman Vonceil Jones-Hill wrote that the billboard has several messages: presenting African American men who are homosexuals as acceptable, engaging in such conduct presents health risks, feel free to continue what you are doing but protect your health.

In Dallas County, nearly half of all new HIV infections are among African Americans, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. "Black men who have sex with men account for 25 percent of all people living with HIV in Dallas County."

It's unfortunate that we are still having these discussions today with the soaring HIV rates in the Black community—and that includes heterosexuals and men who have sex with men. Do the pastor and the city councilwoman want people to be tested or not? Oh and hilarious that the sistah on the city council objects to the "message" that "African American men who are homosexuals [are] acceptable."

Watch FOX Dallas' video AFTER THE JUMP ..

DALLAS: Victims Reluctant to Speak with Police After Anti-Gay Attack

There is an update to the brutal assault of two young Black men in Dallas on March 13. The two men were ambushed on the street by at least five men who beat them with a baseball bat and shouted gay slurs.

So far, there have been no arrests. The investigation has "stalled" because the victims are not cooperating with detectives and refuse to be interviewed, reports the Dallas Voice. This is happening at the same time the Dallas Police Department is addressing "violence targeted at the black LGBT community."

Lt. Don Ham with DPD’s Northeast Patrol Division said officers have visited the apartment complex of the two men, left business cards and requested to be contacted. Police have not been able to reach them for further comments about the assault.

"Until they work with us, the investigation is stalled," he said. "We need tips and we need the guys involved, the complainants, to work with us." ...

Ham reiterated the need for the black LGBT community to unite together to report and stop crime that targets their community. He stressed building relationships with neighbors and more forums to address issues in the future. "Get to know your neighborhood," he said. "That’s how we fight crime."

The suspects shouted "fag" and "sissy” before exiting their vehicle and assaulting the two pedestrians. One of the victims said he was struck "at least four times in the head" with the bat before losing consci consciousness. Also: The clothing of the second victim became caught in the passenger door of the suspect vehicle. The victim was dragged or a short distance before he could free himself.

Just awful.

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2 Dallas Men Beaten with Baseball Bats

VIDEO: 2 Dallas Men Beaten with Baseball Bats in Anti-Gay Attack

The Dallas Police Department is searching for at least five men who beat two men with baseball bats, reports WFAA. The attack happened Tuesday morning in northeast Dallas. The suspects shouted gay slurs from their vehicle before ambushing the pedestrians.

Both of the victims were Black men, according to police reports published by the Dallas Voice.

According to a police report, the suspects called the victims, both black males, “fags and sissy” before exiting the vehicle and assaulting them. One of the victims said he was struck at least four times in the head with a bat and lost consciousness until after the suspects left. The other victim attempted to fight back and got caught in the passenger side of the suspects’ vehicle. The suspects dragged the victim an unknown distance before he could free himself.

The victims then transported themselves to Medical City Hospital, according to reports. Officers who responded to the hospital described the victims’ injuries as cuts to the head and nose, bruising and swelling to the cheek and eye socket, chipped upper teeth, and abrasions to the toe, finger, shoulder and stomach.

The FBI has joined the investigation. If police determine it was a hate crime this could become a federal offense.

FOX Dallas produced a good report on the incident. Note the inclusion of the Black woman who says that she has a gay son and is concerned. Watch it AFTER THE JUMP ...

VIDEO: Lalah Hathaway, Rahsaan Patterson Perform in Dallas

PHOTOS: Flickr RhythmicImages_CarolynGrady

In last week's Rod 2.0 interview with Lalah Hathaway, the ridiculously talented singer-songwriter discussed her new album Where It All Begins—from covering songs created by her late and iconic father to her 15-year friendship and collaboration with Rahsaan Patterson. Listen HERE.

The openly gay Patterson has written material for Hathaway and they have toured together for almost a decade. Hathaway and Patterson performed at a Dallas benefit last week. Watch an interview with both singers and the performance video—including clips of Lalah covering "Lover's Holiday" and "Forever, for Always, for Love"—AFTER THE JUMP ...

NFL Legend Michael Irvin Covers "OUT", Talks Gay Brother, Equality

Legendary former Dallas Cowboys wide receiver Michael Irvin is one of two alternative covers of OUT's new sports "straight ally" issue. Rugby phenom, gay pin-up fave and anti-bullying advocate Ben Cohen is the second cover.

Irvin offers his support of gay rights and same-sex marriage, which he has previously spoken out on before. The Pro Football Hall of Fame star also shares the previously untold story of discovering that his older brother Vaughn was gay. Irvin saw him walking down the street in women's clothes one day while driving with his father.

The discovery made Irvin insecure about his own sexuality:

Irvin couldn’t believe his eyes. He turned to his father. "My dad looked back at me and said, ‘Yes, that’s your brother. And you love your brother.'" That was it. Irvin, who went on to become one of football’s greatest players, as well as the epitome of the troublemaking macho NFL stereotype, would never again discuss the issue with his father. [..]

Walter Irvin’s message was simple: Michael was supposed to love his brother unconditionally, no matter what he looked like or who he was. But, still, the discovery was a shock that haunted Irvin as he grew into one of college football’s most feted stars. He worried that people would find out about Vaughn and bring shame upon the family. Most of all, he worried that he was gay.

On a side note: Irvin says mega-church Pastor T.D. Jakes has helped him deal with his "personal demons" and discuss his brother publicly. You may recall that Jakes' son was outed and arrested two years ago in a public park. Jakes has generally avoided publicly criticizing gays since then ...

The article was written by Outsports editor Cyd Ziegler, who offers a behind-the-scenes perspective on the interview, as well as Irvin's sporno-rific cover and fashion editorial by Roger Erickson.

When Michael walked into the stylist’s realm at the shoot he quickly ripped off his shirt, dropped his pants and went right for an old vintage leather football helmet and shoulder pads. Once the camera was turned on him he tightened his abs and pulled his pants down to show the top of his boxer-briefs. Feeling protective of Michael I pulled him aside and assured him he didn’t have to do anything he didn’t want to do. "This is what I want," Michael said. "Let’s get people talking about this issue.”

The other profiles include fellow cover star Ben Cohen; rugby hotness Nick Youngquest, who engaged in a Twitter bromance with Gareth Thomas; and straight ally and wrestler Hudson Taylor.

Irvin strikes a pose AFTER THE JUMP ...

PHOTOS: LeBron's Swagger Break

PHOTOS: Getty

No hurry. We're only in the NBA Finals ...

LeBron James sits under the Dallas basket as the cleaning crew mops up a spill on the court floor during last night's game. Miami won Game 3 88-86.

That's a Size 16, for all the size queens who are wondering, two more pics ON THE FLIP SIDE ...

REPORT: Ron Kirk to Commerce?

US Trade Representative and former Dallas Mayor Ron Kirk tops President Obama's short list to become the new Commerce Secretary, reports Politico.

Obama is naming Commerce Secretary Gary Locke to succeed his ambassador to China, Jon Huntsman, who’s leaving April 30. Officials say a top candidate to replace Locke is Ron Kirk, the U.S. Trade Representative. Under that scenario, look for Mike Froman, the deputy national security adviser for international economic affairs, to replace Kirk as USTR.

Former Republican Utah Gov. Huntsman is reportedly considering a 2012 presidential bid.

The 56-year-old Kirk was the first Black mayor of Dallas and after serving as Texas Secretary of State under Gov. Ann Richards. Kirk was elected Dallas mayor in 1991, overwhelmingly re-elected in 1995 and 1999. Kirk was pro-LGBT as Dallas mayor. In the 2001 Senate election that he lost to John Cornyn, Kirk campaigned on ENDA and an LGBT-inclusive federal hate crimes law.

FYI: There is also a behind-the-scenes push by some LGBT activists to get the White House to consider an openly gay Commerce nominee, such as Export-Import Bank Director Fred P. Hochberg ...

AP Reports on Marsha Ambrosius' Amazing Video for "Far Away"

The Associated Press and The Wall Street Journal report on Marsha Ambrosius' amazing music video for "Far Away."

R&B singer Marsha Ambrosius tackles gay bashing, suicide and homophobia in the urban community in her latest music video. Her song, "Far Away," is one she initially wrote after a close friend attempted suicide. "Because they're in such a bad place in their lives, there's nothing you can do to help someone if they can't help themselves," she said.

In the clip, a man seen with Ambrosius appears to be her boyfriend. They walk in a park, say hello to a group of men and to a woman and her children. Later, the video shows the man kissing another man. When the men return to the same park, now holding hands, the mother pulls her kids away. And when Ambrosius' friend is alone, he's assaulted while the American flag stands tall in the background. The clip concludes with the man lying on his couch; a suicide letter and dozens of pills are visible.

Ambrosius says the video will speak for those who don't have a voice. "I lost a friend and I've had friends that have attempted suicide. There are people that don't have a voice to speak out and show what is happening and what can happen, so I just wanted people to see the honesty in it and be aware," she said in an interview from Philadelphia on Wednesday.

And:

The 33-year-old singer, first introduced as one-half of the Grammy-nominated, British soul duo Floetry, says she has a strong gay following — and needs to support it. "I go to my shows and my audience is predominantly gay ... I've been approached by many who've said my music has influenced them and we'll speak about experiences that they've had. It's just only right that I give that voice back," she said.

The powerful new music video is for the second-single from Marsha Ambrosius' upcoming solo album Late Nights & Early Mornings. So far, the video has received more than 55,000 views on YouTube. #MarshaAmbrosius and #FarAway remain trending topics on Twitter.

In case you missed it before, watch the MV, as well as a recent live performance of the single in Dallas, WHEN YOU JUMP ...

PHOTOS: Tre Wilcox's Bulging Biceps on "Top Chef All Stars"

Unfortunately, culinary uber-hotness Tre Wilcox did not awaken shirtless on the last episode of Top Chef All Stars. But Tre and his bulging biceps were in top form while dining and cooking at Marea, finishing in the (ahem) top three, more AFTER THE JUMP ...

PHOTOS: Tre Wilcox Wakes Up Shirtless on "Top Chef All Stars"

In this week's elimination challenge on the new Top Chef All Stars, culinary uber-hotness Tre Wilcox of Top Chef 3 was reluctant to sleep on a cot because he preferred to "sleep naked." Unfortunately, none of that ... but we were treated to Tre awakening shirtless and showing off what's been hiding under that chef's jacket.

Survey says: A "top" chef ? A few more screencaps AFTER THE JUMP ...