Sean Penn and his Milk men

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.

• Above, the first official publicity still released by the studio for Gus Van Sant's Milk, with Sean Penn as the slain gay civic leader. The star power and subject are getting the pic a good deal of mainstream advance press, and it's not of the gay cowboy joke variety.

• Here's a rather funny moment from the UK Friday Night Project show in which David Tennant, after being read some Doctor Who fanfiction, asks if it might not have come from castmate John Barrowman's blog. Heh.

• If you happen to be around the house tonight, you might want to tune into SyFyPortal radio to catch AfterElton.com editor Michael Jensen and Torchwood recapper Steven Frank as they discuss Torchwood!

• Time Out New York is featuring 19 NYC men who are willing to take it all off, and letting their readers vote on which fella will strip for a future issue. Thoughts?

• The troublemaking gay penguin daddies of And Tango Makes Three are public school (and library) enemy #1 for the second year in a row. I think The Daily Show's Samantha Bee pretty much summed up the ridiculousness of the whole gay penguin controversy in the above clip.

• Apparently, gay websites linked so much to the Cayman Free Press's story about the American who was arrested for kissing another man in a Cayman club that it crashed their website. Ya mess with the bull, ya get the horns, kids.

• Martin Freeman, the "Jim" of the original The Office, wonders why more gay men in show business don't come out, noting, "there are more poofs in it than you can have hot dinners thrown at you." I guess that's ... a good thing?

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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 "inspiring", "family-friendly" movie Tru Loved, which tells the story of queer youths in high school, has been selected as the opening night film of this year's Newfest and will play LA's Outfest as well. The flick stars Bruce Vilanch, Jasmine Guy, Alec Mapa, Cynda Williams, Jane Lynch, and more.

• Gay wizard lovers rejoice! Sir Ian McKellen has said that he will be playing Galdalf in the Hobbit films for recently-signed director Guillermo del Toro.

• Actor Jason Lewis (who played Kevin's closeted boyfriend on Brothers & Sisters and will soon be seen as Samantha's mancandy in the Sex and the City movie) chatted about playing gay at the recent Los Angeles GLAAD awards ceremony.

• James Franco isn't afraid to cry on camera, and he isn't afraid to show you how he does it (above). I wonder what kind of "sense memory" he'll utilize when he plays Harvey Milk's lover, Scott Smith, in Milk? (Warning, a little NSFW language in the clip)

• Check out these snaps from the recent Easter Bonnet competition (a fundraiser for Broadway Cares/Equity Fights AIDS), featuring out stars David Hyde Pierce, Harvey Fierstein, and Project Runway fave Chris March.

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Earlier this week, I blogged about the upcoming gay themed film Taking Woodstock and its director, Ang Lee. Ang's partner on the project, James Schamus, is about to receive the Golden Gate award from GLAAD, and is one of the most influential gay allies in Hollywood.

As head of Focus Features (a division of Universal), he's collaborated three times with Ang on gay-themed projects: the aforementioned Taking Woodstock, 1993's The Wedding Banquet (which he also co-wrote), and of course Brokeback Mountain. He also greenlit out director Todd Haynes' Far From Heaven, and the film 8 Women from queer director Francois Ozon. Most recently, he's responsible for getting Milk, by out director Gus Van Sant, out of the gate after years of delays.

Variety interviewed him to find out why he gives the go ahead to such potentially non-blockbuster projects:

"Schamus doesn't consider movies with gay themes particularly risky enterprises. After all, he says, any film -- even a horror pic -- faces its own challenges in the theatrical marketplace. "A lot of movies bomb every weekend," he points out. He says if he wanted to play it safe, he would only make movies with gay Chinese cowboys since he has had the most success with "Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon" and "Brokeback." But he's found that deviating from the norm often works best. "When we've parted ways with formula, we've done pretty well," he says. Schamus admits homophobia is an issue, but says it shouldn't be a deterrent. The problem, he asserts, is not the homophobia itself but "the assumption that homophobia has an effect."

Obviously, Hollywood would be a better place with more men like him in charge.

Straight-but-not-narrow actor Damian T. Raven, star of the just-renewed DL Chronicles

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.

• T.R. Knight has pooch in his trunk! Or bark in his boot! Something!

• The here! series The DL Chronicles, which tells the stories of "downlow" men, will return for a second season. The series was recently nominated for a GLAAD media award and is one of the few projects out there actively discussing gay men of color.

• How appropriate that today's Nuke kiss on As the World Turns (the first in what, seven months?) came on the five-year anniversary of the first same-sex kiss in daytime history, between two women on All My Children. Kismet?

• Director Stephen Daldry and gay pop legend Elton John held a press conference in NY to announce the cast of their new Billy Elliot Broadway musical, based on Daldry's film.

• Madonnarama! John and Colin from NewNowNext posted a special vlog with their take on Madonna's upcoming Hard Candy album and some cute behind-the-scenes outtakes with Madge and boytoy Justin Timberlake.

• James Franco discusses his role as Sean Penn's lover in Milk, and has some very nice things to say about Penn (the best on-screen lover he's ever had), director Gus Van Sant ("soft-spoken"), and the project overall ("comfortable and easy").

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Out actor Denis O'Hare is one of the most versatile character actors working today, and also one of the busiest. Currently featured as Travis March, the campaign manager of Rob Lowe in Brothers & Sisters, he's just been cast as one of the leads in the CBS pilot The Tower, as the editor of a Chicago newspaper. (It sounds like a modern Lou Grant, but without the hippie photographer and the bleeding heart reporter who "cares too much".)

Since winning the Tony Award in 2003 for the HOT NAKED GUYS PRETENDING TO SHOWER baseball drama Take Me Out, he's had diverse roles in such high profile projects as A Mighty Heart, Michael Clayton, and Charlie Wilson's War. He's also co-starring in the much anticipated biopic Milk, and the even more anticipated (by me, at least) Cloverfield-ish zombie movie Quarantine.

Denis has been out since high school and yet, defying conventions, has managed to stay a sought-after working actor. Here's hoping the new pilot is picked up, and we get to see more of this multi-talented actor.

Chris Marchmallow? One of the Peeps Show II finalists

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.

• Recently out Aussie entertainer Tim Campbell has been picked as the new host of their Wheel of Fortune. An out gay man hosting a major long-running game show ... one created by Merv Griffin, no less? Crazytalk.

• Victor Garber (Alias) and Douglas Smith (Big Love) will play assassinated SF mayor George Moscone and activist Paul Hogarth, respectively, in Gus Van Sant's Milk. This site offers up some pics of each, revealing some pretty savvy casting.

• Joe.My.God. braved NYC's Union Square to celebrate National Pillow Fight Day. (Disclaimer: No pillows were bitten in the making of this video)

• The Times magazine ran a fascinating (and lengthy!) piece on openly gay Mixed Martial Arts fighter Shad Smith, who lives with his boyfriend, parents and brother, had 46 counts of juvenile assault on his record, and is exceedingly good at Scrabble. (via Towleroad)

• The scamps as Good As You had some fun with Focus on the Family's new customizable website.

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Cheyenne Jackson (R) and designer/Ugly Betty star Kenneth Cole

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.

• In his attempts to get a crowd of extras riled up on the Milk shoot, Sean Penn referred to Sean Hannity as Rupert Murdoch's "butt boy". Er ... probably not the best choice of words, Sean.

• Broadway's Cheyenne Jackson will host the Live Out Loud Young Trailblazers Gala, a benefit for the organization, which aims to provide mentorship and support to LGBT youth. Seriously, Cheyenne, you can stop trying so hard to make me fall in love with you. It's getting a little embarrassing.

• Up north, Canadian Television (CTV) allegedly yanked an "ex-gay" ministry ad after receiving complaints that it was discriminatory. (Warning: links to a religious site, if you're not into that kind of thing.) If so, good for them.

• The BAFTA television award nominees have been announced, with three gay men (Stephen Fry, Simon Amstell, and Alan Carr) up for the Best Entertainment Performer prize. Additionally, out actor Sir Antony Sher is up for Best Actor for his role in Primo.

• Curtains, the show for which David Hyde Pierce won a Tony (and thanked his partner when receiving it), will close on June 29th after 537 total performances.

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Sean Penn reportedly took matters into his own hands (and lips) when shooting a disco birthday party scene for Gus van Sant's Harvey Milk biopic.

Performer Mark Martinez (aka Flava), who plays disco legend Sylvester in the scene, spoke to E! about his time on the shoot, including an impromptu kiss between him and the star:

“All of a sudden, Sean’s pointing at me, and he’s talking to the assistant director,” Martinez says. “The AD comes up to me and says, ‘Just to let you know, you are now going to break up Sean and [costar] James Franco’s conversation. You’re going to grab Sean, and Sean’s going to be really excited, and he’s going to kiss you.’”

And that he did. “I’m performing, and he comes onto the dance floor,” Martinez explains. “He grabs me, and he just slaps the biggest kiss on me...It felt like the kiss was forever. I’m like, Is he going to stop? I had to close my eyes. I couldn’t believe it.”

Martinez added that he tried to convince an obviously amused van Sant to do another take, but the director said that they got the shot.

Now our real question is, will Penn be kissing his co-star in the film? Like a real couple? 

Happy Birthday, John Barrowman!

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.

• Gus van Sant's Sean-Penn-starring Milk wrapped shooting in San Francisco this past weekend, and all I got was this lousy t-shirt a few different handfuls of snaps. Anyone else think it looks like Cruising without the Crisco?

• Exactly how many times did Neil Patrick Harris say "vagina" during the Q&A for Harold and Kumar Escape from Guantanamo Bay at SXSW? And while we're on the subject, the pic got a near rave from Variety, who called it "one of the ballsiest comedies to come out of Hollywood in a long time."

• J.K. Rowling again expressed her shock that anyone would be bothered by Hogwarts headmaster Albus Dumbledore's being gay, adding, "I think homophobia is a fear of people loving, more than it is of the sexual act."

• Stephen Colbert spun comedy gold out of the Governor Eliot Spitzer scandal (notice how no one is calling it a "Straight Sex Scandal!"), including noting that his "whoredar" failed him and that he is the prostitute who engaged Spitzer, but that most of his $4300 hourly fee went to his pimp, Jon Stewart.

• Twittering from SXSW, Whitney from Popcandy had this to say about the new comedy Forgetting Sarah Marshall (which stars Veronica Mars' Kristin Bell and How I Met Your Mother's Jason Segel): "It was funny throughout with repeated full-frontal male nudity and awesome puppet vampires!" Finally, someone has made a film out of my ongoing inner monologue.

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Yesterday the news hit the Webs that Gus Van Sant, who pulled a magnificent leapfrog move over director Bryan Singer in getting his Harvey Milk biopic into production first, had extended an invite for the X-Men wonderkind to make a cameo appearance in his Sean-Penn-led film, Milk.

Van Sant made it clear that scheduling such things is tough but that Singer had indicated that he was interested. So this leaves us with a delicious and rare inverse Fantasy Casting situation: What would you like to see Bryan SInger play?

It might be interesting to see Singer play assassin Dan White's lawyer, Douglas Schmidt, in faux newsreel footage or the like over the end credits. Singer could also play a customer at Milk and partner Scott Smith's Castro camera shop. Or a pot legalization demonstrator, disco flag-dancer, blue-skinned mutant, or city councilman.

Or how about a Twinkie?

Any suggestions?