Torontoist debunks a report that ranks Toronto a paltry 44th on a global index of gay-friendliness. The, let's face it, silly report ranks Toronto behind such known queer hotspots as Montevideo, Rome, Quito, San Jose, Phnom Penh, and Panama City -- all of which also outrank London (UK), New York, and Los Angeles.
 
A very contrite Margaret Atwood has now decided she will participate -- via video conference -- in a Dubai book festival after falsely accusing it of censorship related to a queer-themed book.
 
And The Toronto Star is all agog over the exposed, and likely digitally enhanced, genitalia of Billy Crudup, playing Doc Manhattan in the upcoming Watchmen movie, to be released next week.

Canada's Best Diversity Employers were announced yesterday, including lots of Toronto-area businesses.

Margaret Atwood retracts her condemnation of a Dubai book expo after it turns out that a gay-themed book wasn't banned from the expo after all. It`s good to know that persecution of imaginary gay sex inspired such strong feelings, even if persecution of real gay sex in Dubai doesn't seem to.

Sad news, iconic queer Canadian novelist Scott Symons has passed away.

Metro publishes a shocking expose revealing that online hookups are popular in the gay community. Metro, this is what happens when you replace your entire staff with unpaid interns. 

Meanwhile, according to The Globe, people are still getting haircuts despite the recession, so at least some gays are weathering the economic storm.

For those who have lost their jobs, it may pay off to take a look at the soon-to-be-announced finalists of the Canada's Best Diversity Employers Competition.

Toronto author Margaret Atwood wins a civil liberties honour after refusing to attend a book festival in Dubai that may or may not have censored a book that may feature a gay sheik as a character.

And Buddies' in Bad Times Theatre's 30th annual Rhubarb Festival closes this weekend. Catch it while you still can!

Torontoist has noticed that Eye Weekly’s new web site is rife with woefully inappropriate hyperlink adverts including a bizarre link to Match.com referenced from the phrase “hand-jobbing Rahm Emmanuel.” No, I’m not going to give you the context. It’s more fun this way. The eagle-eyed writers at Torontoist also catch a hilarious typo in Metro.

 

Harper and McGuinty made friendly in Etobicoke yesterday with the announcement that previously pledged infrastructure money will go to the construction and refurbishment of GO Transit parking lots. Harper to the media: see, I do support the arts. Look at the show we’re putting on right now!

 

Speaking of uncomfortable shows of friendship, here’s a funny joke: Why are openly gay provincial infrastructure minister George Smitherman and federal transport minister John Baird suddenly so chummy that Baird is asking reporters if they can “feel the love”? Answer: Because they’re both responsible for massive transit projects, you nosy nelly.

 

The final week of the Rhubarb Festival opens at Buddies in Bad Times Theatre on Wednesday. It’s your last chance to catch Canada’s premiere experimental and new queer works theatre festival. It’s a great line up in the final week, so set aside at least two nights to catch it all!

A bizarre scandal lights up the pages of The Star, as they report that former Toronto Bluejay and star of many erotic fantasies set in the early 90s Roberto Alomar's ex-girlfriend is suing him for allegedly exposing her to HIV. Normally, we at Xtra don't cotton to printing people's sero-statuses, but this case is already very high profile, completely ridiculous, and still has offered no proof of either party's sero-status. The girlfriend alleges Alomar forced her to have unprotected sex with him repeatedly despite both believing him to be HIV-positive, and even though she has not tested positive herself, she's seeking compensation for the mental and emotional stress of the experience, to the tune of $15 million. I certainly hope she's getting the mental treatment she clearly needs.

Perhaps this girlfriend could use exposure to one of the newest HIV/AIDS awareness campaigns being launched by Sero-Zero in Montreal in partnership with service organisations in cities across Canada.

Sad news from Buddies In Bad Times Theatre, which is apparently in such financial straits that it has had to cancel its upcoming show, Gay4Pay, which promised to be a look into the lives of a group of porn addicts and the model they love. Hopefully, the Ed Roy-penned piece will be back at some point. In its place, Buddies has scheduled fundraising events, including a remount of Daniel MacIvor's Cul-de-Sac.

Buddies is currently in the second week of its Rhubarb Festival, and there are lots of great shows on schedule, including my own solo show, Fucking Stephen Harper: How I Sexually Assaulted the 22nd Prime Minister of Canada and Where It Got Me, a fictional piece inspired by my work at Xtra covering last year's election. FSH is playing as part of the Young Creators Unit presentations, Saturday and Sunday evenings at 6:30pm, and makes a great beginning to a Valentine's date. Tickets are free for those under 25.