AfterElton Briefs: Scott Herman Joins The Trevor Project, Danny Miller Wins Big, and Stephen Colbert Takes On DADT

Happy Birthday, Kier!

• The United States of Tara's Kier Gilchrist turns 18-years-old today. He also has a movie coming out next week called It's Kind of a Funny Story, in which he's in a psych ward (which is ironic since he's the sanest member of his TV family). Here we have his mother, played by Lauren Graham explaining to him he has to stay committed.

• NOMExposed has launched today to help show the money trail and the power players in the anti-equality movement. Unfortunately, the site has suffered time issues all day, so I can't give much of a review yet.

• Hackers have published what's being called a definitive list of terms that Google Instant censors. There are a lot of GLBT specific terms on the list, and some activists are upset. but as someone who has to search the Internet with SafeSearch off, I know that innocent terms can produce profane results. Google isn't censoring the terms, just requiring you press "Search" before results pop up. And they seem to have gone out of their way with some GLBT terms, "Gay men " censors results, but "Gay Men's" will pop up "Gay Men's Health Crisis" instantly.

• If you're in Chicago and want help recording a video for the It Gets Better Project, a recording session will be held at the Center on Halstead this Sunday, October 3. It can do some kid so much good, like this video from Travis Richy, who talks about not just growing up gay, but also with palsy.

• If you're wondering why we need to tell teenagers that It Gets Better, it's because I keep having to report about children who kill themselves because of bullying. Today we're talking about Asher Brown, a 13-year-old who shot himself in Texas because of anti-gay bullying.

• GLSEN can help you contact your Senators to convince them to sign on as sponsors for the Safe Schools Act, which will provide resources for kids and teachers to stop bullying of all kinds.

• The Real World's Scott Herman has signed up to work with The Trevor Project, the only nationwide, 24/7 hotline dedicated to assisting GLBT youth who are in crisis.

• Gossip Girl had Eric mentioning that his bisexual boyfriend Elliott (who's away at Yale) normally tied his bow tie. This led the recapper at Vulture to (erroneously, IMHO) conclude that Elliott was the "top." *Note: I notice now all references to that are deleted from the recap itself, but it's still referenced in the comments. 

• Gwyneth Paltrow is confirmed for two episodes of Glee as a love interest for Mr. Schue (Matthew Morrison). She will have"three to four solos" which I think matches what Kurt (Chris Colfer) had the entire first season. Conveniently, the episode will air just before Paltrow's Country Singer movie comes out.

• Alec Mapa hosted the GayVN Awards Saturday night, then attended the Black Ball, where he had the accessories on the left. I jokingly said it was a shame he wouldn't have that arm candy at the We Are Golden fundraiser in Los Angeles last night. I was wrong, and I apologize to Mr. Mapa for doubting his ability to accessorize.

Did he just touch up their body makeup?

• Emmerdale picked up two awards for Aaron's storyline last night at the Inside Soap Awards. Danny Miller picked up Best Actor, while his coming out to Paddy nabbed Best Dramatic Performance. Congratulations!

• Speaking at the Inside Soap Awards last night, Hollyoaks star Kieron Richardson says he's relieved to have come out to the public last month on This Morning. He says:

Luckily, lots of people have come forward to say what I did gave them the courage to come out to their parents. It's not really a big deal but some people see it as a taboo subject still. It's nice to be quite young and be a role model to people going through it and hopefully make their lives a bit happier.

• Already having released the unintentionally dirty poster that quipped "Good things come in bears" with Yogi looming behind Boo-Boo, Yogi Bear now releases a trailer a day after Folsom Street that starts with "take off with the wildest bears on earth." I'm still not going to see this, no matter what they promise me.

• The Washington Post looks at the Republican dilemma on gay rights. As the country moves in support of gay rights, and more conservatives come out, the Republicans have to choose between a land grab with dissatisfied gay voters and angering the socially conservative base they can count on to turn out to vote.

• Russian President Dmitri Medvedev has fired anti-gay Moscow Mayor Yuri M. Luzhkov. The mayor has consistently cracked down on gay rights, protests, and activists, but this move is likely to help curb the growing national power of the billionaire mayor who had become a thorn in Medvedev's side on a number of issues. It's also unclear that Luzhkov accepts that Medvedev has the authority to fire him.

• Last night Stephen Colbert took on Don't Ask Don't Tell in his extended segment The Word. The piece was great for us, but it didn't seem to have the edge we're used to seeing

• Nick Youngquest is not just an enlightened, gay-friendly rugby star, he's also a sexy piece of meat. I knew he was in Los Angeles for a shoot, and they were kind enough to send over several shots. I do recommend going to look at the rest at the photographer's home and the Nous Agency site, because several were too hot for us to publish.

Those dimples are inviting.

And the body is a work of art.

• President Obama does an interview for Rolling Stone that touches on gay rights. You can read the whole thing, but it mostly boils down to "shutup and be patient."

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