Cover Of The Day: Chris Kluwe For Out Magazine

Rob Gronkowski Makes Cover Of ESPN’s “Body Issue”

Boston.com reports:

Call it The Full Gronkowski. The extremely scantily-clad Patriots tight end, wearing only Hulk hands and a grimace, made the cover of ESPN The Magazine’s “body issue” that will hit newsstands on Friday.The fourth annual special issue is billed by ESPN as a “celebration of the athletic form” and will feature 27 world-class athletes. In addition to Gronkowski, the issue also includes Blue Jays home run hitter Jose Bautista, US women’s national soccer team forward Abby Wambach, and New York Knicks center Tyson Chandler.All 27 athletes posed nude for the issue’s signature Bodies We Want photo portfolio.The full lineup includes:

• Carlos Bocanegra (soccer)

• Daniela Hantuchova (WTA)

• Rob Gronkowski (NFL)

• Abby Wambach (soccer)

• Tyson Chandler (NBA)

• Candace Parker (WNBA)

• Maurice Jones-Drew (NFL)

• Jose Bautista (MLB)

• Brad Richards (NHL)

• Maya Gabiera (surfing)

• Ronda Rousey (MMA)

• Mike Smith (jockey)

• Tim Morehouse (fencing)

• Walter Dix (track)

• Danell Leyva (gymnastics)

• Suzann Pettersen (LPGA)

• Ashton Eaton (decathlon)

• Carmelita Jeter (track)

• Anna Tunnicliffe (sailing)

• Oksana Masters (paralympic rowing)

USA volleyball team:

• Destinee Hooker

• Stacy Sykora

• Alisha Glass

• Cynthia Barboza

• Megan Hodge

• Nellie Spicer

• Heather Bown

It’s a becoming a big week for Gronkowski. Last night in Buffalo he won a celebrity home run derby contest. And this morning, he’s a cover boy.

Entertainment Weekly On Coming Out

Via EW.com: 

In this week’s Entertainment Weekly special report cover story, writer Mark Harris examines the new, casual method gay celebrities are using to reveal their sexuality publicly for the first time. Fifteen years ago, when Ellen DeGeneres decided to come out of the closet, it was big news. Not just big: It was the cover of Time magazine, and a major story on Oprah, Primetime Live, and CNN. Last month, another star of a popular TV comedy went public with his homosexuality. But the news that The Big Bang Theory’s Emmy-winner Jim Parsons is gay was reported with such matter-of-fact understatement that many people’s first reaction was a quick Google search to see if maybe he was out already and we’d all just failed to notice.

But sometimes big news arrives quietly. That new blink-and-you’ll-miss-it style is an important hallmark of changing times. Fifteen years further into the evolution of gay equality than DeGeneres was, Parsons joins American Horror Story’s Zachary Quinto, White Collar’s Matt Bomer, and any number of other gay TV personalities, from Modern Family’s Jesse Tyler Ferguson to Glee’s Jane Lynch to CNN anchor Don Lemon to Bravo’s Andy Cohen, who have pretty much put to rest any questions about the viability of being out in showbiz.

Even if it’s accomplished in a subordinate clause or a passing reference, coming out casually is, in its way, as activist as DeGeneres’ Time cover, although few of these actors would probably choose to label themselves as such. The current vibe for discussing one’s sexuality is almost defiantly mellow: This is part of who I am, I don’t consider it a big deal or a crisis, and if you do, that’s not my problem. It may sound like a shrug, but it shouldn’t be mistaken for indifference. By daring anyone to overreact, the newest generation of gay public figures is making a clear statement that there is a “new normal” — and it consists of being plainspoken, clear, and truthful about who you are.

Cover Of The Week: Gareth Thomas On Attitude Magazine

Comic Cover Of The Month: Astonishing X-Men

Gay Cover: The New Yorker

This is for next week’s edition.

The Advocate’s Coverboy: Rick “Frothy Mix” Santorum

Straight Ally & Militant Atheist Daniel Radcliffe On GOP Presidential Candidates, His Man “Talent” Crush

Towleroad reports:

Once again, Daniel Radcliffe demonstrates that he’s one of the smartest actors out there, and best advocates for LGBT rights. In an Attitude magazine cover story which I picked up on the iPad, Radcliffe talks at length about anti-gay bullying and why straight kids should show their support. He also has good taste in men.
Says Radcliffe:

• “Don’t define yourself by your sexuality, don’t define as straight or gay, define yourself as people and help another person if they’re in trouble. The ultimate reason gay marriage should be legalized everywhere is because, as a kid, you look to your mum and dad and they’re married, then you look at the gay couple who’ve been together for the same amount of time, but because they can’t get married their relationship doesn’t seem the same. Yes, gay marriage is about symbolically blessing a relationship, but the larger issue is about transmitting a fundamental message about equality. Gay people should have equality in law everywhere. If you grow up as a young gay man knowing you dont’ have the same opportuniteies as everyone else, you’re going to feel victimised and massive prejudice towards you.”

Radcliffe slammed religion’s influence on schools and the religious Right’s efforts to affect legislation affecting LGBT people:

• “I’m not religious, I’m an atheist, and a militant atheist when religion starts impacting on legislation. We need sex education in schools. Schools have to talk to kids from a young age about relationships, gay and straight.”

The article notes that Radcliffe has been “disgusted, amazed, stunned” by GOP candidates like Rick Santorum and Michele Bachmann, and their open hostility to gay rights. But he has a special dislike of one in particular:
“…they disgusted me less than candidates like Rick Perry, who made that ridiculous advert wearing ‘the Brokeback jacket’, and I think pretend to be homophobic just to win votes.”
Radcliffe also says he wishes Obama could come out for marriage equality but understands the political underpinnings behind his position:

• “Yes, I do, but can he really? Of course he’s in favour of it, but he has to be careful about saying so. I’d rather have someone like him in the White House than the alternative.”

Finally, has Radcliffe ever considered that he might be gay? Yes. Is he?

• “No. I can quite happily say someone is handsome, good-looking, and I can see why someone would want to f**k them, but I’ve never felt that way about a man myself. There is that moment in your late teens when you ask yourself the question, ‘Am I?’ but I wasn’t…Well, this year I have a talent crush on Ryan Gosling. I think he’s fantastic and…(ahem) you know he’d be nice afterwards. He seems smart. If I was gay, I would go for a smart man.”

The Advocate Magazine: Nancy Pelosi Calls Out Homocons

House Minority Leader Nancy Pelosi comments on the attacks on Barney Frank by the likes of GOProud:

Oh, but what about them? He [Barney Frank] chooses a party that supports his values. They’ve chosen a party that supports their income — a party that denigrates them and treats them with disrespect.

For Your Entertainment: Aussie Rugger Sacha Harding Melts Hearts As Gay Time’s Cover Boy

Queerty reports:

THE SHOT – “Manliest Man In The UK” and flanker for the Bedford Blues Sacha Harding will please your eyeballs as cover boy for Gay Times‘ 2012 “Naked Issue.”
He posed to support the Elton John AIDS Foundation, saying, “AIDS is such a devastating disease for so many people around the world and I was honored to get this opportunity to try and do my part to help raise awareness of the disease and ultimately save lives. I know I’m going to get some stick from the lads at Bedford but it’s all good fun and the whole campaign has a very serious message which needs promoting.”
Yes… get some stick from the lads (drool).
You can see more of the sexy rugger at Manhunt Daily (NSFW)…

Jack the Lad Swing Attitude Magazine’s PhotoShoot

Adele Talks Body Image Pride, Pre-Show Sickness In Vogue UK

The Huffington Post reports:

British superstar singer Adele gave by far the most moving, gorgeous performance at last Sunday Video Music Awards, wowing audiences worldwide. Her pre-performance routine remained private, however, and that’s probably for the best: there’s a good chance she was getting sick right before she sang.
The Grammy-winning singer covers the upcoming October issue of British Vogue, in which she talks about, amongst other things, her pre-show nerves, body image and show business.
Renown for putting on one of the most moving live shows in the music business today, Adele has had to cancel tour dates over the past year or so due to various illnesses, including losing her voice. But even when she is fit and ready to perform, she doesn’t always feel so well in the run-up.
“I puke quite a lot before going on stage,” she tells the magazine (via Just Jared). Though never actually on stage. But then, I s*it myself before everything … the bigger the freak-out, the more I enjoy the show!”
It’s a happier spin on what she told Rolling Stone this summer in her big cover story interview.
“I’m scared of audiences,” she said. “One show in Amsterdam I was so nervous I escaped out the fire exit. I’ve thrown up a couple of times. Once in Brussels I projectile vomited on someone. I just gotta bear it. But I don’t like touring. I have anxiety attacks a lot.”
Adele also discusses her weight, which she has been outspoken in defending as mindless critics focus on her body and not her music. Luckily, she doesn’t seem to care much what other people think; she’s happy the way she is.
“I’ve seen people where it rules their lives, who want to be thinner or have bigger boobs, and how it wears them down,” she tells the magazine. “And I don’t want that in my life. I have insecurities, of course, but I don’t hang out with anyone who points them out to me.”
Once again, it’s a similar sentiment to the one she expressed in her Rolling Stone cover article.
“My life is full of drama and I won’t have time to worry about something as petty as what I look like,” she told the magazine. “I don’t like going to the gym. I like eating fine foods and drinking nice wine. Even if I had a really good figure, I don’t think I’d get my tits and ass out for no one.”
Her approach is certainly working; Adele is atop the shortlist for the Mercury Prize, Britain’s top prize for original music, being handed out Tuesday night.
For more, click over to Vogue.

Today In Blasphemy: Ricky Gervais 

Joe.My.God. reports:

Ricky Gervais’ cover shot for New Humanist magazine will undoubtedly draw many death threats from God’s Gentle People. Gervais tells the magazine: “You have the right to be offended, and I have the right to offend you. But no one has the right to never be offended.” 

I’m loving it!

Tweet Of The Week: Cher On Michele Bachmann’s Newsweek Cover