Best. Gay. Week. Ever. (June 8, 2007)

FORGET MIKA. WE WANT ENRIQUE!

Turns out I wasn't the only one blown away by Enrique Iglesias' performance last Saturday night at G-A-Y in London. The blogosphere was positively atwitter with gay men moved by Enrique's serenading of a male fan during a performance.

A little more digging uncovered the tidbit that Enrique first asked the crowd if he should have a man or a woman come up on stage to have "Hero" sung to them. When the crowd screamed for a man, Enrique obliged, plucked a fellow from the audience, told him to pretend Enrique was gay, and proceeded to give him the full "serenade" experience, complete with the kiss.

I think the fact that so many gay men have had such a strong reaction clearly indicates how unaccepted we often still feel. Frankly, I was shocked at much it moved me. At any rate, I've little doubt Enrique garnered thousands of new gay fans. Meanwhile, as for Mika, his stock continues to fall with some in the gay community as he continues to play coy.

BARROWMAN PANTOMINES ALADDIN

Unless you're English, that headline probably makes no sense, but basically it means Torchwood's John Barrowman is the busiest man in England. And, as this picture attests, the most colorfully dressed since Elton John.

Turns out John is not only starring in Torchwood, dropping in on Doctor Who, crushing dreams judging on Andrew Lloyd Webber's Any Dream Will Do (which concludes on Saturday night), but he's also signed on as the star of Aladdin in something called a Christmas pantomime. This is a colorful, theatrical event that is a holiday tradition for many families with kids. Think of it as the U.K.'s version of The Nutcracker only with an openly gay man in the lead role.

As if this wasn't already enough for one man, Barrowman is also appearing at the Eridge Summer Fair on Sunday June 24th, then on Saturday June 30th he'll take the stage at Trafalgar Square for London Pride.