TIME is running an interesting article and podcast from the True Colors Tour, asking people to define what a "gay song" is. One of the people they ask is radio DJ J.D. Doyle, who hosts a show called "Queer Voices", and takes umbrage with a popular perception:

"I could be describing my radio show to someone who hasn't heard of it, and I'd say its purpose is to share and preserve the history of gay music," Doyle said on a show a few years ago. "They'd say, 'Oh, disco music.' No, no. And I'd climb up on my soapbox and ask why they would think disco music is gay music, since most of it is by straight artists, mostly women, and only a tiny percent is lyrically gay. Very little of it is actually about our lives. By this time their eyes are quickly glazing over, and I realize once again I've taken the purist approach. But I certainly can't deny that to most people disco or dance music is the genre most associated with gay culture."

So what is a gay song, exactly? Is it any song by a gay artist? Is it a song by a gay artist that's explicitly gay? Can it be a song by a straight artist that has a gay sensibility to it? Or is there no such thing anymore as a "gay" or "straight" song? One of the people interviewed in the podcast is a teenage girl, who says that her generation doesn't really think like that. To them, a good song is a good song, and as long as it speaks to them, it doesn't matter who the artist is, or what the intention of the song is.

Do you agree with that sentiment, or do you have a list of favorite gay songs? Feel free to use the comments section to name your favorites, or explain why you don't think in those terms. Do you think that "Beautiful" by Christina Aguilara is a gay song? What about "Secret Love" by Doris Day, or "Father Figure" by George Michael?

And what about "Sugar Walls" by Sheena Easton, is that a gay song? It certainly was when I performed it at karaoke.

Discuss!

The Advocate has an interesting interview with out newsman Thomas Roberts about his career since leaving CNN, and the difficulties openly gay newspeople have in the business.

Of course, a lot of what is covered was already thoroughly examined in our own two-part, GLAAD award-winning article from a year ago, "Gay Newsmen - A Clearer Picture". But there are some new insights from Thomas, who since leaving CNN was hired and then let go from the tabloid show The Insider. He also had to endure his own scandal when nude pictures surfaced that were allegedly of the former Headline News anchor. After intensely examining said photos, I still can't say conclusively that they are of him, but for the record, he denies it:

“I never put inappropriate pictures of myself on a public website,” he says by way of explanation. “For me it was really hurtful, for Patrick (his boyfriend) and I it was terribly painful, and I’m sure anyone reading this will realize that what happened was something that we needed to deal with on a personal level. And we’ve dealt with it -- we’ve closed the book on that issue and moved on.”

He also talks about his own coming out process, and the lengths that he had to go to keep his sexuality hidden when he was trying to establish himself in the news business:

Roberts too was skittish early in his career. For one thing, he wasn’t out at all. “I didn’t know how best to deal with that professionally, or personally for that matter,” he says, as flies buzz around us and the occasional dog trots by. “I thought it would be a roadblock -- or a brick wall -- to advancement.” So whenever he arrived in a new market, like San Diego or Lincoln, Neb., “I would automatically date a girl and have everyone at the station see it. We’d date for a little while and then I’d break up with them or do something to make them break up with me.” Later, when his friends would offer to set him up with another girl, Roberts would say he was “too hurt.” “That would get me out of the whole meet-my-sister thing.”

The article also looks at other out newspeople (most of who whom were profiled in our article), including newly out Jane Velez Mitchell, who regularly goes toe to toe with Nancy Grace, and most interestingly, a closeted anchor named "Jake" who talks about taking the first small steps toward coming out.

By the way, if you were thinking of perhaps including Roberts in your Hot 100 votes, we've included a beefcakier shot of the handsome newsman after the jump. 

Let's hope that doesn't mean what we think it means...
(Cheyenne Jackson in Paper magazine's "Beautiful People" issue)

In a continued effort to bring you all that is important in the world of gay entertainment and ensure that you are being spoon-fed images of gorgeous, commoditized manflesh, we present the newly-minted AfterElton Briefs. Following the usual 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.

• Paper magazine has released their annual "Beautiful People" issue, and out Broadway wonderhunk Cheyenne Jackson is among those honored. Everyone cool with that? Yeah, I thought so.

• The Queerty boys chatted up gay author Scott Heim (Mysterious Skin), whose new novel, We Disappear, is a return to dark, quasi-autobiographical territory.

• Lifetime is going Project Runway crazy, with a makeover series called Project Pygmalion and another as-yet-unnamed series about the Runway models (America's Next Top Coathanger?) in the works for November.

• Decorating duo Colin McAllister and Justin Ryan (we profiled them back yonder) have gotten hitched in their native UK after 22 years of being together. Congrats, fellas! I guess our invite got lost somewhere in the Atlantic ... :(

• Gay Doctor Who, Torchwood, and Queer as Folk mastermind Russell T Davies laughed off being named the "most influential" gay person in the UK, and then called the designation "slightly demeaning". (He'd been hoping for "Best Dressed", maybe?)

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

While nothing can bring gay teen Lawrence “Larry” King back to life, his murder at the hands of a fellow junior high student brought to light the mostly ignored subject of the violent bullying often endured by kids who don’t fit in at school. Given that gender expression and sexual orientation were key elements that made Larry different from his peers, it makes perfect sense for The Advocate to address the story at length, which it does in its April 8 cover story by Neal Broverman, "Who’s to Blame?”

What at first seems like a broad rhetorical question on the cover unfortunately takes a literal turn as the writer searches high and low for scapegoats other than Larry's murderer, including the group home where Larry lived, LGBT advocates, “society,” and even Larry himself.

Casa Pacifica, the group home for abused, neglected, and emotionally troubled children where Larry lived, is blamed for somehow being a safe haven where he was “encouraged to dress as he pleased and live as the person he wanted to be.”

Broverman states that ”(i)t may be beyond the capacity of kids to reconcile a tolerant atmosphere like Casa Pacifica with the xenophobic, conformist nature of school.”

LGBT advocates, particularly the National Center for Lesbian Rights, are also blamed for their “Know Your Rights Guide” and “Queer and Trans Youth in California Foster Care Have Rights!” pamphlet, provided to all LGBT children at the Larry’s foster care facility. The author highlights many of these rights, like safe bathrooms and “the right for kids to wear clothes and hairstyles that fit their gender identity.”

These rights, and even “an illustration of a teenager in overalls and high heels” (pictured above) in one of the guides, are presented as dangerous freedoms taken “to heart in the last weeks of (Larry’s) life.”

Does anyone believe that an illustration and exposure to legal rights are responsible for Larry’s death?

Out magazine has released their second annual "Power 50", their rankings of the 50 most powerful gays and lesbians in the country. It's pretty much a by-the-numbers list as far as those things go, but one name close to the top of the list is not like the others:

3. Anderson Cooper

This is nothing new, considering the mag tried to nudge (shove? bum-rush?) the foxy newsman out last year in the first annual list. (Last year's controversial issue also featured pics of Cooper and Jodie Foster - who appears on the list again this year - on the cover. Foster has notably inched out a smidge in the year since.)

Again the question of whether a publication called Out should be placing a public figure who is NOT "out" on a list of influential gays and lesbians, much less at #3. If an assumedly gay anchor shouts "fire" in a crowded theatre and no one knows that he's gay, is there still a fire? Or something like that?

Ellen DeGeneres takes the top spot, and it's hard to argue there. And Brothers & Sisters creator Greg Berlanti makes the list and rates a feature on the queer-inclusive shows he's gotten on the air.

Full list after the jump ... any thoughts?

NewNowNext grabbed Kate and Fred of The B-52s for a quick chat. Check it out!

In a continued effort to bring you all that is important in the world of gay entertainment and ensure that you are being spoon-fed images of gorgeous, commoditized manflesh, we present the newly-minted AfterElton Briefs. Following the usual 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.

• A 1948 W.H. Auden poem about gay oral sex was deemed "too dirty" to mention in a Times book review of erotic poetry. Why? Because it's downright hot filthy!

• Probably the funniest thing I've read all week: Stuff White People Like #88: Having Gay Friends

• TIME magazine is running a readers poll of their best covers, and Ellen DeGeneres' "Yep, I'm Gay" cover is #1, with almost five times the votes of the next entry, 9/11. Take note, publishers: Gay people good, terrorism bad.

• Above, another preview clip from tomorrow's Make Me a Supermodel featuring special guest mentor ... Christian Siriano! He's there to help make their catwalks ... wait for it ... fierce.

• The Stranger's Dan Savage uses this week's column as an opportunity to answer some young readers' questions about coming out, and doesn't bother sugar-coating anything: "In two short years ... you'll be able to come out to your mom and dad - and, even better, you'll be able to tell them to suck it."

• The kids at Cracked list their 6 favorite offensive Hollywood stereotypes, and whaddayaknow, the "Gay/Effeminate Serial Killer is on the list. Glad we're not the only ones complaining about these things.

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

British gay magazine AXM has released their list of the ten sexiest men, as voted on by their readers. Comparing their picks with our own AfterElton.com Hot 100 List, the differences are noteworthy. Four of their picks made our top 100, but only one made our top 10.

Their #1 pick is no surprise. You may have heard of David Beckham: he's an underwear model, metrosexual trailblazer, and I think he plays some kind of sport. Surprisingly, he only came in at #39 in our poll. (Oversaturation, maybe?)

Channing Tatum comes in at #2. The model, Step Up and She's The Man actor was our #23 pick.

See the rest of the AXM top ten after the jump...

In a continued effort to bring you all that is important in the world of gay entertainment and ensure that you are being spoon-fed images of gorgeous, commoditized manflesh, we present the newly-minted AfterElton Briefs. Following the usual 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.

• The Queerty fellas read Star (so we don't have to!) and noticed that the rag did a piece on T.R. Knight's new fella, Mark Cornelsen. A mainstream tab covering a gay love interest just like they would a straight one? Awesome! (Except for you, Mark. Kiss your private life goodbye.)

• A recent episode of MTV's True Life focused on gay-for-pay porn star Aaron James, and Kenneth has all his vital stats. (He also has some commenters that suggest that James might be lighter on the "-for-pay" part than he suggests.)

• Us Weekly makes a point of acknowledging their GLAAD Media Award nomination.

• Gawker asks, "Hipster or Homo?" Really, if they all dress like that, we're good.

• Don't forget that we're liveblogging the Project Runway finale tonite at 10PM EST. And to prepare, check out this hilarious megamix of Christian's greatest moments (Courtesy of our fierce PR recapper, Christie Keith!)

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

For the second year, the British edition of GQ magazine has listed Sir Elton John and his partner David Furnish on their list of the most powerful men in Britain. The high profile couple are ranked at number 30 on the list and are the only case where two men share an entry. (Last year the couple shared the number 40 spot.)

This year's issue boasts a couple more gay men new to the list. Sir Ian McKellen comes in at number 98, while Spencer Livermore, Pink News' most powerful gay man in British politics, debuts at number 84.

GQ highlights John's annual fundraiser for the Elton John AIDS Foundation (which raised £3.5 million last year) as a contributing factor in his selection, while calling Spencer the Labor Party's "precociously young attack dog". The selection by GQ is less about popularity and prominence than it is a recognition of their accomplishments.

Men like McKellen, John and Furnish are rarities on the list, which largely avoids popular celebrities. Editor Darius Sanai notes that:

"We are becoming more savvy about the cult of empty celebrity. I think five years ago aspiring young gentlemen would have been much more influenced by the sort of celebrities on television. They are now seen as kind of irrelevant and kind of trashy."

Sounds reasonable enough. It takes a special kind of celebrity to demonstrate true power.