GayTalk-Tom Hanks, Star Trek, Ted Haggard, EightMaps, Maryland

1/26/2009 - 1 hr

GayTalk at 9 AM (PST). Call in during the live show (347) 237-5246 otherwise call voicemail at (360) 283-5052 or send me email tom@2015Place.com . Today we will talk about Star Trek: Phase II, Tom Hanks appology, EightMaps.com, Ted Haggard and more.

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All the best to you and yours.

Christchurch names Teen Queen 2008

GayNZ.com
New Zealand

Nominations were taken on Christchurch's Cruz nightclub's website, and at the bar. Then audience votes helped 18-year-old Tommy Hamilton beat out five other hopefuls on stage during their outrageous inaugural awards night – to become 2008's best Teen Queen...

More Pictures and Interview here

New Zealand: Gay row hits Shorty

TVNZ has been accused of trying to censor Shortland Street by asking producers to pull a gay male couple storyline.

South Pacific Pictures producer Jason Daniel says the state broadcaster is concerned about scenes of two men in bed together.

He claims they wanted the storyline dropped but eventually accepted re-edits of the controversial scenes.

TVNZ has denied asking for the storyline to be withdrawn, but wanted one scene re-edited, at its expense, because it could cause "parents some unnecessary difficulties in explaining it to their children".

The storyline, which starts this week, shows receptionist Gerald Tippett, played by Harry McNaughton, kissing a male friend. He is also seen in bed with him, partially naked.

Daniel said the re-edited scene involved one of the men ducking beneath the covers twice.

There was a suggestion he was performing a sexual act on the other, but the scene was "sped up" after TVNZ raised concerns.

Shortland Street, which screens at 7pm, has shown two men in bed before, most notably in 1997, when receptionist Moira Crombie discovered her son, Jordan, in bed with a chemist called Ewan.

full article

Tributes to Mahinarangi Tocker

The death of Mahinarangi Tocker was marked yesterday with a minute's silence in Parliament, and tributes from people of many walks of Kiwi life.

One of New Zealand's most talented and prolific singer/songwriters left us yesterday - peacefully and surrounded by loved ones.

Tocker achieved much in her 52 years, including writing almost 600 songs, which lead to the government recognising her contribution to New Zealand music by awarding her the New Zealand Order of Merit in the New Years Honours 2008 - an award she was scheduled to receive in a special ceremony today. Along her musical journey, she made many friends and fans, especially amongst the LGBT community, which she always said she was proud to be a part of.

"There are few people I've known who could outdo me in the minority stakes," Philip Patston's tribute begins. "She trumped me well and truly - my gay, disabled, vegetarian comedian status could never beat her place as a Maori, lesbian, crazy (her words) musician. And she was a comedian as well, really - her humour knew no bounds. Though our paths crossed too few times, when they did it was always hilarious.

full article

New Zealand trial begins over gruesome gay murder

The Palmerston North High Court has been told that two men kicked and beat a homosexual man to death and removed parts of his body in a frenzied attack lasting for hours.

Andre Gilling and Ashley Arnopp are accused of murdering 39-year-old Stanley Waipouri at his Palmerston North flat in December last year.

The court was told that a neighbour came to complain about the noise and when the door of the flat opened he saw a body lying on the floor inside with its clothes pulled down.

Later, the police found Gilling and Arnopp in the flat with Waipouri's body and blood everywhere, from floor to ceiling.

The Crown says Waipouri suffered widespread bruising, fractures and internal bleeding. The skin had been torn from his penis and the tip completely removed. One of his ears had also been severed.

full story

Air New Zealand: Pink Flight for Australian Mardi Gras

Air New Zealand is delving into the gay and lesbian market with a special themed flight that will feature drag queens, pink cocktails and a cabaret performed by the flight crew.

The destination for the airline's one-time "Pink Flight," scheduled to depart San Francisco International Airport on Feb. 26, is the Gay and Lesbian Mardi Gras in Sydney, Australia, one of the world's most well-attended gay events, said Jodi Williams, an Air New Zealand marketing director.

"We are looking at tailoring the inseat entertainment and having gay-friendly movies and contests and different music and things like that," Williams said. The airline also plans to throw a "Get-Onboard-Girlfriend" going away party for its passengers, who will pay an average of $1,000 roundtrip.

http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/20781123/
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