AfterElton Briefs: Tasmania Recognizes Outside Marriages, Kevin Keller Arrives In Riverdale, and Who Wears a Mankini on "Glee"?

Plus Fidel Castro apologizes for gay persecution in Cuba, Lady Gaga sues a comic book, and Joan Cusack is Shameless.

Kevin Keller is a foodie, and the apple of Veronica's eye. /Image via ComicBookResources

• In anticipation of the arrival of Kevin Keller as the-only-gay-in-the-village of Riverdale, this is a decent history of gay characters in comics, the good and the bad. It also includes a short brief on the Comics Code Authority that would have prohibited the character from 1954 to 1989.

• Children raised by same sex parents are not statistically more likely to have problems in school than their peers raised in households with opposite-sex parents. The biggest determining factors for the student's success were education and income of the parents.

• Peter, Paul & Mary have sent a letter to the National Organization for Marriage asking them to stop playing their "This Land Is Your Land" at their rallies.

• As long as we're discussing NOM, Joe.My.God has the quote of the day from them concerning Exodus Ministries losing tax-exempt status in New Zealand:

An earthquake is beginning: If 'gay is like black,' then 'Christian is like racist.' The early warning signs are now taking place all over the globe. In New Zealand, Exodus Ministries was just stripped of its tax-exempt status, on the grounds that helping gay people lead Christian lives is not a charity.

• I really don't know what to about Clear Blue Tuesday, which everyone is calling "the 9/11 Musical." I do think they're trying to be serious and respectful, even if they didn't seem to hit the mark. I'm including the trailer because a male character says "I kissed a boy" in it. If you want more detail, the New York Times is on the case, and has an additional song.

• Tasmania has voted to recognize legal same-sex marriages performed elsewhere, which still puts it ahead of say, Texas, which had an appeals court overturn a decision allowing a same-sex couple to get divorced there.

• A day after we heard that all the male cast members of Glee were on terrified diets due to the Rocky Horror gold lame mankini, The Daily Beast says that Matthew Morrison is the one slipping into the iconic undergarmet. They do provide a bit of history on the bad rap the mankini has had in recent years in the U.S., but they also fail to provide any pictures of Morrison strutting his stuff in Broadway Bares.

• Meanwhile, Chris Colfer plays coy about Kurt's boyfriend, and Kevin McHale discusses wearing a gold bow tie to the Emmy Awards - coincidence? I think not!

• This piece by Fox News manages to reprint a tweet by John Cusack, and then lie about what he said in the next paragraph, which has to be a new record for them. He absolutely did not call for the "satanic death" of Fox News. They then accuse him of inciting violence against the network, or at least creating an environment in which that violence could happen. Well, they are the experts on that.

• In happier Cusack news, Joan Cusack has joined Showtime's Shameless as Frank's bird, Sheila. I hope they find a way to translate "bird" for American audiences, because I really associate that with Sheila and Frank.

• This Thursday is the 100th episode of Futurama on Comedy Central, and it's all about equal rights for mutants, which means they could make some smart gay rights quips if they find the time between Devo performances. For now, just enjoy this clip, and focus on Mom's sons faces in the bathroom scene.

• Estelle Getty's son says he regrets selling her Emmy Award for The Golden Girls for cash on eBay.

• Lady Gaga is getting a sequel to her Fame comic book, and MTV has a dozen pages of pencil art as well as the covers. They're not quite obscene, but be aware that conservative workplaces may not appreciate The Gaga. Update: Neither Lady Gaga or Justin Bieber are happy about their comic biographies, and have sent the publisher cease-and-desist orders, which the publisher intends to ignore.

• The Omaha World-Herald came under fire this week after refusing to print a same-sex wedding announcement for a local resident. The publisher regrets how the situation went viral before it could be resolved, and has put in place a new policy that will likely anger both sides. Going forward, the paper will print announcements from all legal ceremonies, but not symbolic ceremonies. So if Nebraska residents fly to Iowa to get married, they'll print it. If they have a backyard wedding in Omaha, they won't.

• Blabbeando has a raw translation of an interview that Fidel Castro did apologizing for Cuba's persecution of GLBT persons. He says that while he was focused on other, bigger things, he was still in charge and so he takes responsibility. It's refreshing candor from a national leader.

• Rami Malek has joined the second Breaking Dawn movie as Benjamin, an Egyptian vampire with the ability to control the four elements. Most news stories mention he previously appeared in The Pacific, but most readers here will remember his touching portrayal of Kenny, the gay friend on Fox's The War At Home.

• Due to some issues with mobile apps,the iPhone redirect to AfterElton.com will be removed. Other devices, like non-smart phones, will redirect but there will be a link to the desktop version of the site in a few days. Sorry for any inconvenience!

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