Best. Gay. Week. Ever. (July 10, 2009)

3) The Advocate

Why? The gay and lesbian news magazine found itself in hot water this week when it announced its next cover story was being devoted to infamous gossipmonger Perez Hilton.

Reader action was so negative that publisher Jon Barrett actually felt compelled to post a video online explaining why the magazine gave Hilton such prominent coverage.

I actually feel for The Advocate here. They do cover gay news and Hilton has certainly been making a lot of it of late. Unfortunately for the magazine, that includes Hilton's recent altercation with Will.I.Am after the mag had finished the interview. That incident, in which Perez called the singer a "faggot" (and nearly called him the "N" word) seems to have ignited a backlash against the blogger and you could say The Advocate is collateral damage.

So, yes, the magazine had reason to cover him, but as they say, when you lie down with dogs...

But you choose the Asshat award so on to our fourth nominee!

4) Canadian Conservative MP Brad Trost and Prime Minister Stephen Harper

Why? Scandal is brewing north of the U.S. border over the apparent ouster of Canadian Federal Tourism Minister Diane Ablonczy as the overseer for that country's $100-million Marquee Tourism Events Program. Why the ouster? Trost, not exactly a friend of the gays, claims Harper's Tory government was embarrassed by the fact Ablonczy allotted $400,000 of the Tourism funds to Toronto's gay pride celebration.

Perhaps Trost has a point. It's not as if gay Canadians pay taxes or anything.

For the record, the Harper government denies Ablonczy was punished, but somehow I'm skeptical. Besides, the anti-gay Harper (who tried to overturn Canada's same-sex marriage recognition) is certainly worthy of Asshat nomination.

And now you can vote!

Next page! It's two Gays of the Week!