On this week's Gay Agenda, Jennifer Vanasco and John Polly speculate on what will be next for Hillary Clinton if she doesn't get the Democratic presidential nomination. Governor? Senate majority leader? Queen?

Plus: How she opened the door for a future female president ... will she get the credit she deserves? Or is it kind of like when someone who can't open a pickle jar hands it to you and then when you open it they're all, "Oh, well ... I must have loosened up for you" and you're all, "Yeah, whatever..."?

No? K.

Check it all out after the break!

Elton, Hillary, and that other guy

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.

• I'm with Simon Doonan - those NYC street fairs really need to dial down the aromas a titch or three. There's nothing like going out to Blood Bath & Beyond for vacuum filters and coming home smelling like you just spent the night in a smokehouse.

• Last night our reluctant namesake, Sir Elton John, did what he does best: play music. Meanwhile, the subject of his tribute concert, Hillary Clinton, did what she does best: made bad puns with song titles. (Oh, I keed, I keed ... she's alright.)

• Soccer fans listen up: the folks behind the International Day Against Homophobia (IDAHO) have announced that on May 17th anti-hate events will take place in over 50 countries.

• This gay-inclusive ad for a first aid ointment from Brazil, made my day. And I don't even speak Portuguese. (from MadeInBrazil via Queerty)

• I came across this op-ed by a gay writer for the otherwise straight Falls Church News that did a great job of summing up just why it is the Jay Leno "gayest look" gag rubbed a lot of us the wrong way: On its own, "Gay" just isn't funny anymore.

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

Hillary Clinton is on The Ellen DeGeneres Show right now pledging to fight for gay rights as President and "eliminate inequalities for same-sex couples in federal law". She then tells a story about growing up next to a gay couple who had no right to visit one another in the hospital when one fell ill.

Not bad. She must have gotten word that Ellen is the most powerful gay in the country, and then some! Hats off to both these classy ladies.

This week on Flaming Politics, Japhy covers headlines about Cuba's proposed gay-inclusive policies, the largest gift ever given to a gay organization, Idaho's gay marriage ban, and of course the continuing question of why HIllary Clinton has so many gay fans, including a certain pop legend whose name has been co-opted for this very site.

Click below for it all!

Last night's Law & Order ripped its plot threads straight from the headlines ... that is, the headlines from the newspapers lining your cat box from several months or even years ago. When three Manhattan yuppie roommates are found shot dead in their apartment, the detectives are sent on a chase that manages to involve soldiers in Iraq, closeted gay politicians, crooked fundraisers, and a ruthless, manipulative lady senator with her eye on the Presidency.

What, did Fred Thompson ghost-write this episode?

After the three yupsters (well, two yupsters and one Iraq vet) are found riddled with bullets, detective Green (Jesse L. Martin) and Billy Chenowith (Jeremy Sisto) notice a subscription copy of a gay magazine on the coffee table and wonder if it might have been a gay love triangle. Naturally, because gay = multiple murder ... always, harder, and more often. 

The look into this and find out that only one of the roomies, environmental lawyer Josh, was actually gay. So maybe the soldier was a homophobe and shot him because he was gay ... and then shot the other roommate (the vet's childhood friend) because ... he had a gay roommate? They talk to the vet's ex-fiance and she says that doesn't seem likely.

They then notice that the gay guy has several more bullets in him than the straight guys. So they start investigating his personal life, and find out that he was having an affair with a married politician who had recently voted against gay marriage, which upset the gay guy greatly. Now, I'm not sure just how much righteous indignation a guy who is having an affair with a married man has the right to have over such behavior, but so be it. They find out that Senator Larry Craig the closeted politician stays at a flea-bag hotel across from Hellmann's department store (bring out the Hellmann's and bring out the best!) because it has the cruisiest bathrooms in the city. What, no one goes to Bloomingdale's anymore?

To Catch a Senator! They of course send Billy Chenowith, the newbie, in to catch the creep in a little bathroom stall Riverdance duet, and we actually see, in close-up, the whole toe-tapping thing first-hand. It's beyond silly ... and their shoes are atrocious. They arrest him (the real police, not the fashion ones) but find out that he had an alibi the night of the murders: some other chicken that he was shacking up with. My God, when I moved to this town I couldn't get a date to save my life, and this married closeted guy is getting his ticket punched in Junior Petites on a daily basis. Guess I should have done more shopping ...

David Burtka

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.

• AfterElton contributor Michael Portantiere chatted to out actor couple Neil Patrick Harris and David Burtka, who confirm that they will be performing a duet together at Broadway Backwards 3 ... but won't dish on what the song is. (Please say it's "Shipoopi"!)

• Speaking of dreamy gay Broadway and film stars ... Xanadu's Cheyenne Jackson recently did a Q&A for Variety and revealed that he would like to play Rock Hudson in a biopic. Someone get this man a production deal and a pair of high-waisted swim trunks STAT!

• Gay writer/director Alan Ball (Six Feet Under, American Beauty) was at Sundance to screen his new film, Towelhead (formerly Nothing Is Private), along with castmembers, including Peter Macdissi (whom you might recall as Claire's testy art teacher, Olivier).

Aaron Eckhart, Eugene Jones, Alan Ball, Summer Bishil, and Peter Macdissi

• As a part of her online Q&A feature, Hillary Clintonspoke about the increased suicide risk for LGBT teenagers, noting, "we've got to do everything we can to send a clear message that we value you." Amen.

• Don't forget to check out Michael's zesty-fresh Best.Gay.Week.Ever. column, and have a great weekend!

• Soap Opera Digest offers a few witty (and a few groan-inducing) slogans to help boost Nuke interest.
  

• Out musician Rufus Wainwright performed the final of three tribute concerts to Judy Garland last night, this time at the Hollywood Bowl with the help of Lorna Luft, his sister Martha and mother Kate McGarrigle.

• Salon offers a gay voter's guide to the GOP. Our contribution? "Avoid"

• Some guy named Jake is on the cover of the next Interview. (pic above, more at link)
  

• Regis Philbin aficionado Neil Patrick Harris wins the Regis Philbin award at the fifth annual Rellys, beating none other than Regis Philbin for the title.

• The Advocate's next cover subject is Hillary Clinton. Favorite line: "I felt a connection with her in the same way I did with Madonna."

• T.R. Knight on his Grey's Anatomy's character in the next season: "George is a mess." Because the rest of the characters are soooooo balanced.
  

My take on last night's history making Presidential Forum on GLBT issues? Maybe I'm setting the bar too low, but I continue to be astounded by how pro-gay the whole lot of them are, and what a sharp contrast the Democratic slate is with the Republican one, none of whom are apparently even willing to share a stage with us GLBT folks.

For some historical perspective, the term "domestic partner" didn't exist until 1981. It was Michael Dukakis, back in 1988, who was the first presidential candidate to actually say the word "gay." In 1992, Bill Clinton actively campaigned on some of our issues, promising to repeal the ban on gays in the military (and trying to do just that, until the Republican Party, and Colin Powell, went nuclear on him in his third day of office). In 2000, civil unions were barely even on the radar. And in 2004, John Kerry was the first presidential nominee to refer to gay people in his convention speech.

And here it is, only 2007, and all the leading Democratic candidates are debating our issues with us personally (even actually sucking up to us!). And the number one issue they're debating is same-sex marriage!

Incredible. It's just incredible to me how much and how quickly things are changing on GLBT issues.

I also thought it was great that most of the candidates at least paid lip service to transgender issues. Talk about an issue not even being on the horizon just a few years ago!

I was disappointed in Barack Obama's performance. He's my candidate, but I thought he seemed nervous, and his answers were vague and meandering. It made me wonder if he's truly tested enough for the presidential campaign. That said, I thought it was very unfair that all four questioners asked him basically the same question, about same-sex marriage, even after he had already answered it. Maybe the reason he seemed nervous was because the questions directed at him were so adversarial.

Edwards? He's slick, I'll give him that. I loved the whole "I'm gonna level with you — we've had enough doublespeak from politicians" answer, even as I felt manipulated by it. But I just can't shake the sense that this just isn't the year of a straight white man. Basically, I think Elizabeth Edwards is right: for me, the symbolism of the first black of female president is just too cool to pass up.

I continue to be impressed by Hillary. Maybe it's because I'm a political wonk, and she clearly is too. But the contrast between her, who clearly has complete command of what seems like every issue, and our current President Bobblehead, is jarring. I remember when Bill became president after twelve years of Republican platitudes and banalities, how refreshing it was to have a president who didn't talk like the whole country was a bunch of simple-minded idiots. (I know Reagan worked for some people, but he always struck me as a completely empty suit.)

Tonight at 9PM EST/6 PM PST Logo (AfterElton.com's parent company) and the Human Rights Campaign make history when Hillary Clinton, Barack Obama, John Edwards, Dennis Kucinich, Bill Richardson and Mike Gravell participate in the first ever televised presidential forum addressing GLBT issues.

How cool is that? To help stimulate conversation about which issues should be discussed and are most pressing for our community, Logo established a website -- Visible Vote '08 -- and invited a wide-ranging group of GLBT voices to blog about what they find most urgent in this next election. Participants include tennis legend Billie Jean King, author Charles Kincaid, singers Melissa Etheridge and Lance Bass, and our very own Brent Hartinger.

I've been checking out the blog daily and thought I'd post a couple of quotes from some of the posts. Lance Bass writes about gay marriage and how the fact it is denied to gays and lesbians hurts today's youth because they see no place for themselves in American society.

My main fear is for the LGBT youth in America and around the world who, for one reason or another aren’t able to cope or can’t escape their prejudice cities, towns and communities. I often wonder how many teens have committed suicide because they’re struggling with their sexuality and feel the incredible weight of the shame their community puts on homosexuality? I am hoping in this election we have Democratic candidates who feel as passionately about this issue as I do.

Meanwhile our own Brent Hartinger tells how he came to believe our very democracy is at stake

I’ve completely given up on the Republicans. All the elected ones have either supported the beyond-appalling actions of the Bush administration, or they’ve enabled them by simply remaining part of the national party.

BTW, the utterly brilliant partner he refers to in his post? Yes, it's moi!

Anyway, go check out the site, and watch the debate on Logo tonight or online. Brent and I will be blogging it as well, so if you miss it check back here for our reactions!

Judging from the political blogs I follow, I'm not the only gay voter who feels taken for granted by Democratic candidates. Too often, statements supporting LGBT rights seem to be cautiously phrased to offend the fewest number of people, trying hard to not to alienate anyone by being too friendly to our issues while reminding us there aren't many great alternatives.

However, here's some news that leaves me feeling encouraged: on August 9, Logo (AfterElton.com's parent company) and the Human Rights Campaign Foundation will co-present a live forum with Democratic presidential candidates to discuss issues important to the LGBT community. This is the first time a group of Presidential candidates have addressed a queer audience in a national forum, which is a big deal. This also strikes me as the first time we're being addressed as a community of individuals instead of as a handful of leaders of "special interest" groups -- or at private fundraising dinners that don't get much media coverage.

In some ways, I'm reminded of how Bill Clinton addressed young voters by appearing on an MTV News special. I guess you could say that the Democrat's support of gay issues will officially "come out" with this debate.

Hillary Clinton, John Edwards and Barack Obama are confirmed as appearing at the forum, so far. Melissa Etheridge and Human Rights Campaign President Joe Solmonese will lead the discussion. It all takes place August 9 in Los Angeles at 6:00 p.m. PT / 9:00 p.m. ET and will be broadcast live on Logo and LOGOonline.com. Plus, viewers will be able to submit questions to the candidates.

Hats off to the candidates, Logo and HRC for pulling this one off!