The study also shows us GLBT folks truly appreciate the car companies who acknowledge our existence. Nearly three-fourths of us in the market for a new car consider Volkswagen, Subaru, Volvo, and BMW, thanks to their GLBT outreach. I can guarantee one thing: no amount of outreach will ever get me to touch a Hummer. And get your minds out of the gutter.

THOSE BRITS ARE JUST SO BLOODY POLITE
In case you missed the news from the other side of the pond, British gays will get an early Christmas present come Dec. 21. That’s the date that the UK will start registering gay weddings, or civil partnerships as they are officially known. In order to be as welcoming to all comers as possible, the register’s office in Liverpool removed “traditional” wedding pictures lest it offend gay couples coming in to register. Instead of seeing a young, blushing bride, the soon-to-be legal happy couples will now be treated to a variety of landscapes. I doubt too many couples would have been offended over mere pictures--especially when they’re lucky enough live somewhere that recognizes their relationships, as opposed to, oh, say, Texas which just voted 3-to-1 to ban same-sex marriage.

But don’t aim all your vitriol at straight Texans. Voter turnout on Tuesday was very light. Had all GLBT Texans turned out, the constitutional amendment probably would have failed. I guess all our gay brothers and sisters in Texas were too busy doing whatever it is people do in Texas. Sitting around on their asses maybe?

OR MAYBE THEY WERE WATCHING OPRAH
Two week’s ago, Oprah did a show entitled "My Husband’s Gay," and this past Wednesday, The Queen of Daytime TV followed up with a confrontation between novelist Terry McMillan and her gay ex-husband. Oprah has usually been pretty good on gay issues, but the "My Husband’s Gay" episode has drawn some fire. For starters, Oprah claimed there are “millions and millions” of gay men who are secretly married. Unlikely, says Amity Pierce Buxton executive director of the Straight Spouse Network and author of The Other Side of the Closet. The Washington Blade argues that the show was sensationalistic, with one closeted husband reporting that he’d had sex with 1,000 men while married.

As for Terry and her gay boy toy, during the show she referred to him as a puppy, he confessed to having slept around a bit, and Oprah announced she’s bought the rights to Terry’s latest book. Minds more cynical than my own have suggested that show was somewhat staged in an attempt to boost sales of Terry’s book and the profile of the upcoming movie version. Say it ain’t so, Oprah!

In completely unrelated news, Tom Cruise’s sister, Lee Anne DeVette, will no longer be the super-duper megastar’s publicist. Having done more for Tom than anyone could have ever imagined, Lee Anne has gone on to help those truly in need of PR skills as sharp as hers. Reports say she’ll start working for the White House next week.

HEATH AND JAKE WILL SURELY ROCKET STRAIGHT TO NUMBER ONE
Radar magazine has released their list of the top ten male-on-male screen kisses. How did they ever choose? I mean there are so many to pick from. Maybe they ruled out all those that were meant as a joke or an insult. If so, how did they find ten?

PLANETOUT ASKS THE ADVOCATE TO GET HITCHED
New media meets (or eats) old media as PlanetOut Inc. has agreed to purchase LPI Media, the parent company of The Advocate, Out Magazine, as well as Alyson Books. PlanetOut’s press release didn’t use the word "synergy" in making the announcement, but you know that’s what they’re thinking by merging the print world and the cyber world. Wall Street was so excited by the daring move that PlanetOut’s stock price rocketed five whole percent. Excuse me while I rush over to Ameritrade to buy, buy, buy!

THE MONTGOMERY BURNS AWARD FOR OUTSTANDING ACHIEVEMENT IN THE FIELD OF EXCELLENCE
ADRANTS reports that United Church of Christ has won the—deep breath—Association of National Advertisers Annual Award for Multicultural Excellence. The winning ad—Bouncers—featured a pair of burly bouncers deciding who would and wouldn’t be admitted to a church. Go the head of the line if you guessed it was gays getting bounced, and not in a fun way. The ad was created by the Gotham Agency of New York. (How come they’re never from Topeka? Okay, the answer is kind of obvious.) In case you’ve forgotten, the UCC ad was the one major network’s refused to run alongside all of their ads for erectile dysfunction, fake weight loss medications, and promos for Who’s Your Daddy.

NO, SERIOUSLY, IT’S ART
If you’re not already familiar the world of Dieux du Stade, then hop on over to TLA Video to learn about the guys of the French National rugby team who take it all off for charity. Yeah, charity; that’s why the calendars and the DVDs are so popular. Believe it or not, the calendar itself is actually ranked #2 in Office Supplies at Amazon.com. Hmmm, perhaps office jobs aren’t as bad as I thought.

For those of you slightly more highbrow, the week also brings the release of Happy Endings. Directed by Dan Roos (The Opposite of Sex), Happy Endings was one of my favorite flicks this year, with performances by Lisa Kudrow, Jesse Bradford (in, um, Jockey shorts), and a surprisingly good Tom Arnold.

Now I’ll shut up so you can have the BEST. GAY. WEEK. EVER.

That's it for this week! Check back next Friday for a new installment of Best. Gay. Week. Ever., or read previous installments here.