Ridiculously adorable out jazz man Dave Koz plays the 11th Annual GLAAD Tidings Concert (GETTY)

Following this 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.

• Out Broadway badunk-adunk Cheyenne Jackson has revealed that he will be playing the lead in Mormon Musical, a project being workshopped next month by the creators of South Park and Avenue Q. Please tell me there's a number about sacred underpants that really gets to the crotch heart of the issue...

• Out actor David Hyde Pierce was among the 20,000 or so folks in Los Angeles who marched on Saturday for marriage equality.

• I find it hard to believe that the man who unleashed Vanity 6 on the world could get high and mighty about anything, least of all the people who kept half of his camptacular acts in business.

Candorville

• Above, the always provocative Candorville comic tackled religion, race and marriage equality this week (click the link for the full strip). Artist Darrin Bell (who is himself of mixed religious and racial backgrounds) has a long history of supporting gay causes.

• Australian site SameSame is launching a webseries called Camp Surf that takes five gay men and teaches them how to ride the waves. Cute!

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

Neil Patrick Harris and Tippi Hedren at the unveiling of Harry Houdini's refurbished star last Friday

Following this 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.

• Dr. Horrible, meet Wally Wellesley: Neil Patrick Harris (a gay man nominated for an Emmy for playing a straight man) will voice the villain in the upcoming Eat Lead video game, opposite Will Arnett (a straight man nominated for an Emmy for playing a gay man) as action hero Matt Hazard.

• A 60-year-old San Francisco streetcar that appeared in Milk will be dedicated to slain politician Harvey Milk tomorrow, the day that the film's premiere is held in the city.

Dashing TV bros Dave Annable and Matthew Rhys (Brothers & Sisters) at a recent GQ event

• Out actor/director Tom Hulce (Amadeus, Animal House) was recently interviewed about his theatre work (including producing smash hit Spring Awakening) and shot down the IMDB rumors that he was married and had a child, noting that "there are a lot of falsehoods" on the Internet.

• The lineup for Lincoln Center's 2009 American Songbook series has been announced, with out stars Paulo Szot, David Hyde Pierce and Alan Cumming among the performers. (Pierce's concert, a tribute to Cole Porter, sounds particularly exciting.)

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Celebrated gay dancer/choreographer Bill T. Jones attends the premiere of HBO's The Black List
(Photo: Getty)

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 next season of America's Next Top Model will feature the show's first ever transgender competitor, Isis, effectively disabling the 90% of the blogosphere whose idea of "covering" the show consists of repeatedly remarking that all the contestants look transgender already.

• "You've out-gayed us, Peacock!": NBC runs an "Ab fab" feature asking readers to identify male Olympic swimmers by their washboards.

• Supposed comedian/actor Dane Cook trashes the poster for his new film because it looks like he's wearing lip gloss in the photo (um ... duh?). I imagine that in a few short years when his inexplicable career is in the toilet and this poster is all he has left to hug at night, he won't be so nit-picky.

Jake Gyllenhaal and his Persian rug

• There were a few pics of the first glimpse of a beefed-up Jake Gyllenaal in Prince of Persia shape floating around yesterday, and today there are tons of them over here. What do folks think of the new Hugh Jackman-ed physique? (Notice I didn't ask about the hair. We're just going to pretend it isn't happening.)

• The stage production of the musical Forever Plaid has been filmed for the screen, with David Hyde Pierce in the role of the celestial MC. For more on the project, check out the movie's website.

• Author Patricia Nell Warren (The Front Runner) gave a great interview to NPR recently about gay athletes, and discussed her collection of essays about gay athletes, The Lavender Locker Room. (t/y Thomasina for the tip)

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

Carson Kressley (Photo credit: Getty Images/Frederick M. Brown)

While things aren't yet where I would like them to be when it comes to gay visibility (I suspect there is at least one interview I'm not getting here at the Television Critics Association because we're a gay website), things are vastly improved from years past. What I found most encouraging was that this weekend's panels included three out gay men here to promote a wide array of projects. Best of all, their being out gay men wasn't even really of note to anyone, yet nor was it a topic everyone was afraid to bring up.

The always funny Carson Kressley was here to tout the second season of his surpise hit Lifetime hit How To Look Good Naked. Season 2 looks to be very much like Season 1, but I mean that in a good way. I genuinely like the show's emphasis on learning to look at yourself in a realistic, healthy way as opposed to trying to physically be something most of us can't be. (I spoke with one critic afterward who seemed disbelieving of the idea I actually identified with the women Carson helps until I explained I'd been pretty heavy myself until my early 20's.)

Carson was his usual funny self, getting off a series of one-liners. When he was asked if he was surprised to have this particular job, he replied:

You know, I wake up every day and think to myself, wow, I'm doing women. I never thought this was going to happen. I was a little surprised when we first talked to the producers about the show, and they were like, would you host this show "How to Look Good Naked"? And I was like, "That's easy. "A box of wine and a dimmer switch."

Carson also announced he's got a daily talk show in the works. Could we finally have our own Ellen or Rosie? While I suspect Carson would do well in this format, it's not quite the breakthrough I'd been hoping for in talk shows. Where is our David Letterman or Arsenio Hall?  

David Hyde Pierce

(Photo credit: Getty Images/Frederick M. Brown)

Present for a much more somber reason was stage and television star David Hyde Pierce continuing his longtime Alzheimer's activism. PBS is presenting a rebroadcast of The Forgetting: A Portrait of Alzheimers, followed by a thirty minute panel discussion hosted by Pierce covering the most recent developments in the treatments of Alzheimers. David and I chatted afterward about our experiences with Alzheimers (the disease runs on both sides of my partner's family having killed both his mother and grandmother), same-sex marriage, and what he has coming up next. More on that to follow.

Stan Zimmerman

(Photo credit: Getty Images/Frederick M. Brown)

Last in the gay male department, out writer Stan Zimmerman (The Golden Girls, Roseanne, A Very Brady Sequel) has a new show on Lifetime called Rita Rocks starring MadTV alum Nicole Sullivan. During the panel, the show was described as being similar to Reba and the clip show definitly confirmed that with a slightly hipper edge thanks to Sullivan who truly shone on MadTV.

Of course, it wasn't all just gay men this weekend. In fact, it was quite a eclectic line-up including one of the last true movie stars, Shirley MacLaine.

Shirley MacLaine

(Photo credit: Getty Images/Frederick M. Brown)

Ms. MacLaine (it just feels wrong to call her Shirley) is starring in Coco Chanel, a Lifetime movie about the French designer. For you MacLaine fans who will only be tuning into see her, I should say that she is only in about 20% of the movie, 10% at the start and 10% at the end. During the panel and afterward, MacLaine was funny, outspoken and normally jaded critics actually seemed a little in awe.

Afterward, a group of us were chatting with the screen legend who has very definite views on politics. Asked what she watches MacLaine named off a variety of programs before someone asked which news channels she watces. Said MacLaine, "I want to see what old Bill O'Reilly is up to because he's so full of shit. Gotta see what he's doing now. ... I like Bill Moyer. I very much like that society lady's son [Anderson Cooper]. I like him. I think he's honest."

So Anderson not only made the AfterElton.com Hot 100 top ten, but now he's got Shirley MacLaine's stamp of approval.

After the jump, Ewan McGregor, Kevin Kline, and Lee Tergesen!

Here's some great news for theater lovers, supporters of LGBT visibility, and anyone with a weakness for a hot Brazilian gay hunk with a body carved from marble and a voice that could melt glass:

Gorgeous and talented Paulo Szot, who last week won the Best Actor in a Musical Tony for his performance in South Pacific, is an out gay man.

There had been some speculation about Szot (who was rumored to be openly gay in his native Brazil, where he is a celebrated opera singer), but not much was known about him in the States before he took the stage in Pacific. And of course the sight of him and sound of his pipes set tongues wagging and Internet speculation afire the day after the Awards. We contacted his publicist and were told that yes, he is gay, and we're welcome to say as much.

Paulo and fellow honoree Patti Lupone

It is of course wonderful to have yet another openly gay actor winning the Best Actor trophy (last year, newly-out David Hyde Pierce took the prize in an upset win over bisexual actor Raul Esparza), a trend that we hope to see continue ... especially in stereotype-breaking, traditionally masculine roles like the one Szot plays in South Pacific. And folks hoping to snag Szot for themselves, you might be out of luck, as the handsome man who accompanied him is rumored to be the "Eduardo" that he thanked in his acceptance speech, and he may be spoken for.

More pics of this fine fella after the jump!

Ben Barnes

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.

• FOXNews and FOX late night took dirty swipes at Ellen, calling her wedding announcement a "danger" to her show's sponsorship and the equivalent to talking about ones "bowel movements" on television. (Remind me to wear dark colors the next time I attend the wedding of someone from FOX.)

• Prince Caspian (Ben Barnes) is set to play Dorian Gray in a new film adaptation of gay author Oscar Wilde's classic (and quite queer) morality tale of obsession and vanity. The film comes from the men behind An Ideal Husband, The Importance of Being Earnest, and the recent and upcoming St. Trinian's films, all of which featured or starred out actor Rupert Everett.

• In this recent audio interview, John Barrowman confirms a Torchwood third season (with an apparently very different team), hopes for season four, and mentions a variety show he has in the works.

• We'd actually heard this from the horse's mouth at last week's GLAAD Awards, but Alan Cumming has officially joined the cast of NY indie flick Shifting the Canvas as an evil real estate developer. This movie is one Paul Lynde reference away from being the gayest thing in history.

• The bill to have Harvey Milk's birthday recognized as a day of special significance in the state of California passed the Assembly, and will now go to the Senate. Meanwhile, the bronze statue to be unveiled this Thursday (Milk's birthday) will be, according to the group that secured funding for the project, the "first likeness of an openly gay person to be permanently ensconced in a civic building."

• David Hyde Pierce will host the Forget-Me-Not Gala to raise money for Alzheimer's research. Broadway hottie Jonathan Groff (Spring Awakening) and Kate Burton (Grey's Anatomy) will also participate.

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

Tony winners David Hyde Pierce are and Sara Ramirez are all smiles at this morning's announcement

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 other day we mentioned that Neil Patrick Harris and Rosie O'Donnell would be among the celebrity guests on the upcoming primetime Million Dollar Password. Here's a rather hilarious interview with NPH behind-the-scenes, compete with another excellent Regis impression.

• Hiding in Hip Hop author Terrance Dean will be reading from the tell-most book this week in NYC, and taking Q&A. Check out AfterElton.com contributor Clay Cane's site for details.

• Hey Freak Show fans: Check out this kinda hilarious video of author James St. James reading from his brilliant young adult novel along with several other Lambda Literary Award nominees at A Different Light bookstore, hosted by Christopher Rice.

• In case you missed it, Neil Patrick Harris wound up in bed with Britney last night ... so that we don't have to. Thanks for taking one for the team, NPH!

• Apparently actor Mike Epps is famous enough to be stalked and harassed into a verbal and physical altercation by the bottom-feeders at TMZ. Epps regrettably stoops the their level by calling one of the paps "a fag, homosexual". 

• RADAR takes Joel Derfner, the author of Swish, to the Hello Kitty store and out for ice cream. Given that the rest of the book's title is "My Quest to Become the Gayest Person Ever", I'm guessing "Swish" isn't a basketball reference?

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

Happy 49th birthday to David Hyde Pierce, who came out publicly last year. He's best known for playing the neurotic fussbudget Niles Crane on the long running sitcom Frasier (and won four Emmys in the process). He caused a bit of a stir when he pulled off an upset win for Best Leading Actor in a Musical at the Tony Awards for the musical Curtains, and thanked his partner, Brian Hargrove, saying, "And my partner Brian, because it's 24 damn years of listening to your notes, that's why I'm up here tonight."

On his Wikipedia page there's this interesting tidbit:

"On February 3rd 2008 reports speculated Pierce was in preliminary talks with Warner Brothers pictures over the possibility of playing Batman villain The Riddler in any future sequels to the movie series. These reports are, as of yet, uncomfirmed."

To show how truly versatile this gifted performer is, here's a clip of David in a parody of Ricky Martin's Living La Vida Loca. Yes, that's not a typo.

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.

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