Morning Meme: Chris Evans' Tight Shirt Meets Nick Fury, Paul Rudd's "Idiot Brother," and Max Adler Talks Karofksy's Return

The big news seems to be that Simon Cowell has picked his X-Factor: USA judges (even if he hasn’t signed contracts with them yet). He wants Paula Abdul back at his side, along with Cheryl Cole. I know Cheryl is big in the UK, but most Americans know nothing about her.

While James Loney was held captive for 118 days in Iraq, his family hid the fact he was gay to protect his life. Now he has a book out, and is talking about it for the first time.

From the files of heartwarming stories about politicians, in Michigan, State Senator Bruce Caswell wants to pass a law that clothing vouchers for foster kids can only be used in second-hand stores like the Salvation Army. Because nothing helps a kid fit in at school like a Bush/Quayle sweatshirt.

The Human Rights Campaign is planning a Tuesday protest outside the Atlanta offices of King & Spalding, the law firm hired by Speaker Boehner to defend the Defense of Marriage Act. The law firm touts their ties to the GLBT community, but plans to accept tax dollars, gay and straight, to keep us less-than-equal.

In news that shouldn’t be news to anyone, the National Organization for Marriage told their staffers on their summer bus tour to get pictures of gay counter-protesters acting “crazy.” Which is why when the bus came to Charleston, WV, 20 people listened to Maggie while two blocks away, 60 gays had a party.

Chris Evans was doing some last minute shoots dressed as Steve Rogers, all muscled in a t-shirt. He’s also seen talking to Nick Fury (Samuel L. Jackson). It’s not clear if it’s for Captain America, The Avengers, or something else entirely.

Anti-gay New York Senator Rueben Diaz plans a big anti-gay rally again, likely with bussed in evangelicals from several states. But he’s seized on some inflammatory comments on gay blogs as direct personal threats to his well being. Please, moderate your tone and don’t give the man any ammunition.

In New Zealand, a glitch in a computer security system turned on the lights and opened the doors at the Pak N’ Save supermarket at 1am. It was open for about eight hours before anyone called the police about people walking out with mountains of groceries. The owner says he was gratified that twelve people at least used the self checkout to pay for what they took.

Rio held on to the number one spot with a $26.8 million take. Newcomer Madea’s Big Happy Family slid into second with $25.7 million, and the Robert Pattinson/Reese Witherspoon Water for Elephants took the third slot with a better-than-expected $17.5 million.

The “Don’t Say Gay” bill has cleared a Senate committee in Tennessee. The bill would prohibit teachers and administrators from discussing any sexual orientation other than heterosexuality with any students in grades eight and younger.

A pastor connected to Jerry Falwell’s Liberty University has been arrested in connection with the parental kidnapping by Lisa Miller of her daughter with former partner Janet Jenkins. Miller is believed to have fled the country to Nicaragua with the couple’s daughter in violation of a Vermont State Supreme Court order. Miller and Jenkins were a couple until Miller underwent an Evangelical conversion.

Max Adler and his character Karofsky figure heavily in the “Born This Way” episode, but he’s not telling how the meeting in Principal Figgins’ office goes. But he does love his scenes with Chris Colfer, and the moments between scenes when they brainstorm an Oprah musical. Something else fun in this interview, some thoughts on how Karofsky relates to Santana, McKinley’s other closeted student.

Any day now could be the last for GLBT bookstore A Different Light in San Francisco, based on remaining inventory. The legendary store won’t last the month.

New York has approved conjugal visits for married/civil unioned gay inmates.

If the Supreme Court can deal with these five cases, surely they can handle Perry v. Brown with speed.