Funny how Toronto is described as "the centre of the universe" everywhere BUT Toronto.  (Seriously, it's not.)

Ah, but from tonight until May 24th, it might as well be -- the 19th annual Inside Out LGBT Film & Video Festival is on!  Among the highlights:

The 'Hogtown Homos' program features a collection of shorts from Toronto filmmakers, including the screenwriting debut of former Xtra writer Matt Guerin in 'The Golden Pin':

John Greyson brings 'Fig Trees,' his audacious and award-winning blend of documentary and opera featuring AIDS activists Tim McCaskell and Zackie Achmat. Here he is discussing it at an Italian film fest:

I'm looking forward to the documentary 'Sex Positive' for its look at the early AIDS crisis and the wildly different responses to it from activists Richard Berkowitz and Larry Kramer:

 

In a shocking revelation, FOX News' Sean Hannity watched the Oscars last Sunday (I thought he was straight?) and was shocked (shocked!) at the clips from "Milk" aired in an awards show honouring "Milk."  As usual, Hannity was only doing it for the kids:

Nice of GLAAD to try and inject some rationality into the discussion because it's never been the FOX gang's strong suit.  For real comedy, check out Glenn Beck's "debate" with a marijuana legalization activist:

Beck is a truly unique piece of work.  I haven't seen a tool that big since Rascal's "Excess Dildo."

But see?  I'm part of the problem!  No kid should have to see giant dildoes on the internet (unless he's the one Googling it, I suppose). Maybe their right-wing defenders have a point:

No, I was right the first time -- they're idiots.  Kids need loving, stable families, regardless of the number of mommies or daddies within.  I can't believe we're still arguing this point after the "thousands of sociological research studies" that Mr. Staver here clearly hasn't read.

The only person truly looking out for the children?  Cyndi Lauper. 

While Mr. Milk himself, Sean Penn, has teased ex-wife Madonna about her recent boytoy flings, Cyndi was asked her opinion:

"What's your issue? You know how many old geezers do you see with young women. What's the double standard? Who cares? You know, they're both adults. Who cares? What's good for the goose is good for the gander."

Thanks to the gays' True Colors diva, straight boys can live in a world where they too can have sex with Madonna.  You're welcome!

Like us, the US gay activists quoted in The Globe and Mail were delighted by the Oscar speeches by Sean Penn and Dustin Lance Black:

"Many gay advocates are hoping the win adds momentum to their cause as the California Supreme Court prepares to consider the legality of Proposition 8, which banned gay marriage in the state."

Me too but, at the risk of being Debbie Downer, let's remember that Hollywood isn't that influential.  Just ask Rupert Everett:

A solid profile in the New York Times recognizes that Everett never become the movie star he should have been. While it's delightful that actors like Penn, Tom Hanks, William Hurt, Phillip Seymour Hoffman and Hilary Swank have won Oscars for playing gay roles, actual gay winners are rare or, in the case of our brilliant actor Ian McKellen, they lose out to Roberto fucking Benigni.  Just sayin'!

But true progress, of course, is always slow -- while we honour the memory of Canadian writer Scott Symonds, remember that he had to flee the country in 1967 with his younger lover.  Now there's a movie waiting to be made!

And progress is bumpy -- last week, we praised another Canadian literary legend Margaret Atwood for spurning a Dubai book festival for censoring a gay-themed book.  Now it turns out we were all conned by some publicist.  I'm still glad Atwood stood up for us but I would not be the guy who crossed her -- dude, her book's called "Bodily Harm" for a reason!

And progress is strange -- check out this past Saturday's Scrabble Word of the Day: 

So who knows where all this is headed -- let's just relax and smile on the way, preferably with a soundtrack from Royksopp:

As spokesmen for gay rights go, I'm not sure I would've chosen Sean Penn. The ex-Mr. Madonna can be smug and oddly tone-deaf sometimes ("Butt boy?"  Really?) but his perfomance as Harvey Milk was masterful and duly recognized at last night's Oscars.  While his acceptance speech didn't match Tom Hanks' classy and powerful tribute to his gay teachers, Penn went to bat for us and his opening line was an instant classic:

Oh well, we can pick on her all we like but since she's dating 20-year-old underwear model Justin Gaston, Miley gets the last laugh:

Sigh.  Now if you'll excuse me, I'm downloading the "Slumdog Millionaire" soundtrack and reading "The Communist Manifesto."  Thanks, Sean!

As we watch loser rivals Stephane Dion and Jack Layton suddenly kiss and make up following Stephen Harper's amazingly self-destructive trick of pissing off every other party at once, we ask: Which of these other new unions seems craziest?

a) New World Order BFFs Barack Obama and Hillary Clinton?

b) Tom Cruise's family "marrying" David Beckham's family?

c) US Senator for Georgia Saxby Chambliss (real name!!) and his, ewww, granddaughter? Check out the wandering hands:

d) The famously feuding Kids in the Hall returning to the CBC?

e) Sean Penn wanting more sex from James Franco? (Actually, that one is perfectly understandable)

f) Slightly "fruity" "Attack of the Show" hottie Kevin Pereira and Batman?

g) "Guitar Hero" and the vagina?

I'm gonna go with b) myself -- every time I think Tom Cruise has reached the upper atmosphere of insanity, he fires up a new booster rocket of crazy!