He's an odd duck, that Adam Lambert.

Just a week after he responded to OUT magazine's accusations of playing it straight with the standard "I'm a performer, not an activist" stance, he caps off last night's American Music Awards show with this spectacle:

And America was shocked (SHOCKED!) at such a display, with a lively (and, of course, homophobic) discussion over on Entertainment Weekly.  To spare you some time, the comments boil down to "Adam Lambert has ruined his career by being too sexually provocative and not focusing on having stronger vocals."

And they may be right -- as you'll see from the following examples, being sexually suggestive and having a weak voice has killed many a pop career:

It's Labour Day, when we celebrate the history of workers who, over the decades, have banded together in solidarity to defend ourselves against being exploited by the owners of capital.  It's as important to gay people as it is to straight ones and also a lovely excuse for a day off to enjoy the lingering delights of summer.

In that spirit, I'm running off until tomorrow because, well, I'm horrrified at Britney Spears performing an Alanis Morrisette cover this weekend:

I can't work under these conditions!

(normal service resumes tomorrow)

Since this blog so often focuses on the latest lunacy from the homophobic Christian right (and there's so much to choose from!), it's only fair that I salute our straight allies in the church once in a while -- especially while they're making popcorn:

"We believe in taking the Bible seriously, but not literally." It's a nice start to undoing centuries of oppression, no?  And there's more where that came from.

What's lovely is that we're getting Lutherans on board and have even managed to win over cranky Presbyterian David Letterman, who this week not only treated us to the most awkward Britney Spears appearance ever (loves it!!) but also talked gay marriage with Donald Trump (not a proposal, thankfully -- just a very old but still welcome joke):

Letterman would never have stood up for us back on 'Late Night!'  But if today's brief focus on straight, middle-aged Christian guys isn't working for you (can't see how!), Perez Hilton has handy tips on how to stalk the cast of 'Twilight' in Vancouver.  See?  Whether you love straight men or looooove straight men, today we've got you covered!

I know, I know...a perfectly nice day and I'm paying attention to Pat fucking Robertson?  Well, it's a dirty job and all that...

But seriously, this clip from his still-disturbingly popular show is instructive because here, in one minute, is Pat laying down the entire conservative argument against homosexuality, equal marriage, the works.  One minute to explain just what their problem with us is:

The real "ultimate conclusion" here is that Pat is a friggin' idiot but you knew that already. Now I am hardly the chief spokesman for all gay men (or even most of them) but, for the last time, let me explain why this "long, downward slide" will never happen:

POLYGAMY:  Isn't it weird how it's the religious people who want it the most?  Gay men get the simple joys of the drama-free threesome as opposed to the terrifying episodes of "Big Love" I've seen -- not because the Mormons' multi-marriage lifestyle seemed immoral but because it looked exhausting!

BESTIALITY:  To paraphrase Bill Maher's joke, no thanks -- if I feel a nose at my butt when we're having sex, that had better be your twin brother!  For all that gay talk about bears and chicken and pigs, let me tell you that wanting an animal in the bedroom is purely metaphorical.

PEDOPHILIA:  I've joked before that until the children are old enough to properly mix me a martini, I have no use for them.  But seriously?  A culture that makes a role model out of Britney Spears in a schoolgirl outfit has no business lecturing gay men.  We've read Nabokov.

So here's to you, Mr. Robertson -- you may have millions of daily viewers but your future is stupid.  Canada's been handling these issues far earlier and with more grace.  My vision of the future involves David Hockney composing new paintings on his iPhone.  Long downward slide?  Please.  Where we're going, we don't need roads...

Franz Ferdinand -- no strangers to the gay bar, they -- have become the latest band to fall under the spell of Britney Spears' relentless hit single:

This of course follows months of cover versions from artists as diverse as Lily Allen...

The All-American Rejects...

Ladyhawke...

Fall Out Boy (sort of)...

a sexy sign-language version from 'Captainl0ver'...

the mysterious Marrina...

and, umm, this guy:

Oh dear. Well, at least Pete Wentz looks good in a habit.

Asked why Franz Ferdinand chose to cover "Womanizer," singer Alex Kapranos said it was because it's the best song out in the last few months. Maybe so, but I'm at the point of begging for someone to take on "Poker Face!"