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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