AfterElton Briefs: Tony nominations, marriage equality advances in Maine and D.C., and more!

Ben Foster (here launching the Peace One Day educational effort in NYC) has come a long way since playing Claire's self-hating bisexual boyfriend on Six Feet Under, no? (Pic: GETTY)

Following this assortment of carefully-selected news items, interested readers can find a refreshing pic of a hot man in underwear after the jump. Yes, we're serious.

• Today saw advances in marriage equality in both Washington, D.C. and Maine. Everyone keeping up?

• The nominees for the 2009 Tony Awards were announced today, with out men Hunter Bell ([title of show]), Gavin Creel (Hair), Raul Esparza (Speed-the-Plow), John Glover (Waiting for Godot) and Christopher Sieber (Shrek) nominated, and gay-faves like Billy Elliot the Musical, Shrek the Musical, 9 to 5 the Musical and I Now Pronounce You Chuck & Larry the Musical up for awards. Okay, I made that last one up, but here is the full list.

• Speaking of 9 to 5, I don't think I've ever seen the words "visible erection" in a NY Times theater review before. Too bad otherwise it's a "gaudy, empty musical."

• And still speaking of Broadway, check out out actor David Hyde Pierce in the above clip from The Today Show promoting his new play, Accent on Youth.

• And finally, Madonna's new neighbors are a pretty fun bunch considering that they live in the sepulchre known as the Upper East Side. (I say this from experience, as I was once attacked by a mummy at the York Avenue D'Agostino's.)

And today's Briefs are brought to you by...

New DNA coverguy Matt Stone!