When thinking of gay film festivals, Frameline (San Francisco), Newfest (New York) and Outfest (Los Angeles) might be the first ones that come to mind. However, the 13th Annual Philadelphia International Gay & Lesbian Film Festival is the largest event of its kind on the East coast with over 30,000 attendees.

This year the festival runs July 12th - July 24th and offers a diverse collection of documentaries, short films and feature films. You can also expect appearances from RuPaul, Anthony Rapp, Michael Carbonaro and more. It is sure to be a hot event. Here are just a few of the highlights:

Black Beulahs
"This colorful and engaging profile of three gay residents of a conservative South African borough reflects upon issues of image, identity and integration. "

Bears
"In this delightfully exciting, furry twist on contest documentaries like Spellbound, bearish contestants compete for the ultimate prize to represent their community."

The Gay Bed And Breakfast Of Terror
"An unusual amalgam, Gay B&B features a stunning selection of buff male flesh, plenty of belly laughs and loads of bloody, mutilated guests!" (pictured at left)

Lastly, there will be a special screening of Mommie Dearest. The Philly Film Festival is calling for everyone to "bring your wire hangers and scouring powder". If you haven't watched Mommie Dearest with a bunch of gays in one room, it is a homo-must. Be sure to remember this line as you are shouting out the words, ""I should've known you'd know where to find the boys and the booze!"

For ticket information you can go directly to the web site.

Check out the trailer below!

Just when the straights thought it was safe to enter a baseball game -- the gays took over! Well, not necessarily took over, but some of the paranoid Christian heteros felt so with "Pride Night" last night at Petco Park in San Diego.

AfterElton.com reported last week that July 8th was to be Pride Night at Petco Park, a group event for LGBT families. The Southern Baptist missionaries planned to boycott and called upon the citizens of San Diego to protest the event because "Bringing together homosexuals with baseball and kids is beyond bounds." That sounds like a tag line for a homo-horror flick -- someone call Bill Duke!

Well, the protest was a complete failure with 41,026 out of the 42,685 seats of PETCO Park filled. In addition, only seventy-five protesters joined (I guess the other slew said they just couldn't miss a friendly game of baseball!) and they were met with protesters, protesting them.

Taking advantage of a little press, Pastor J.D. Loveland, development director of Set Free Ministries, dropped a little knowledge: "We’re not anti-gay. We’re anti-anti-Christian." Is that suppose to be a polemic chant, spoken word or a line from a Christian rap album?

According to the Union-Tribune of San Diego, Pride Night at Petco Park went on without a dent from the Southern Baptist missionaries. There were no upsets according to the San Diego police, The Gay Men's Chorus of San Diego sang "The National Anthem" and everyone played a good game of baseball.

When Will Smith signed on to do the role, director Fred Schepisi begged Smith to do a kissing scene with another man. Smith adamantly refused saying a male kiss would "gross out" his fans. Over ten years later, Sir Ian McKellen, who played the role of Geoffrey Miller in the 1993 film, blasted Smith, saying his remarks were homophobic: "He thought he was saying something very individual but what he was actually confirming was that he's got the disease so many people have - homophobia." There were also rumors that Denzel Washington urged Smith to not do the kissing scene. For me, the refusal to kiss another man completely ruined Smith's already shakey performance and it's definitely a gay role I could've done without. Will Smith later said he regretted not doing the kiss.

R&B/hip-hop music gets a vicious rap for being sexist and homophobic. Sadly, many people in the hip-hop community help to perpetuate this attitude with artists like Tyrese, Busta Rhymes, 50 Cent and countless others. Earlier this week, on my site, ClayCane.net, I detailed some of hip-hop's “gayest” moments, debunking the myth that gays don't exist in this extremely homo-social sector of the music industry.

There are a group of artists (while small) who outwardly speak of their support for the LGBT community and recognize the toxic force of homophobia — in any community. Sometimes their voices get lost in the mix of the ignorance that surrounds them. Nonetheless, they are still there. Here are just a few:

A legend in hip-hop, Russell Simmons has been openly supportive of the LGBT community even when rumors swirl about his own sexuality. Earlier this month the Dallas Voice questioned the hip-hop mogul on the rumors. He answered, "I believe gay people deserve dignity ...Listen, I'm not gay. If I was, I would have the gift of another burden, and I would probably be instantly out. I fight for gay rights all the time. How about that?"

Russell also makes an interesting point about many homophobic rappers, "I know that 50 Cent is perceived as a homophobe. But if you asked him about gay marriage, I’d bet you 10-to-1, he’d approve. And if you asked Ludacris, he’d say the same thing,” Simmons adds, "Are rappers as violent as our government? No. Are the gangster rappers as gangster as our government? Hell no.”

Regardless of these rappers politics it does not take away the damage hateful music does to every community, but I would agree that President Bush is more "gangsta'" than 50 Cent.

On a blazing hot summer day you might not feel up to running the streets, rollerblading in the city or even a sweltering walk in the park. The heat can be exhausting and a day inside could be just what you need. We've already written about how there isn't much gay at the box office of late, so to help keep you entertained in the cool interior of your house are five of the best gay movies to fill up in your Netflix queue — and yes, I left out Brokeback Mountain!

Female Trouble

Despite some of the interview mishaps with John Travolta, many of us are looking forward to the third version of Hairspray due out in theaters July 20th. However, before Serial Mom and Hairspray, legendary director John Waters was known for his camp-a-licious films that shocked straights and gays. Waters' 1975 Female Trouble manages to not go as far as his first film, Pink Flamingos, but goes far enough to still get a NC-17 rating when the film was released on DVD in 2004.

Female Trouble is the story of Dawn Davenport, played by the larger-than-life drag queen Divine. Dawn is mortified when she does not get her cha-cha heels for Christmas and turns into a tawdry bad girl who combines crime and beauty to be a star. Female Trouble is vulgar, repulsive, shocking, but completely hilarious. If you haven't see it, it's a must and if you already seen it, it's a must to see it again.

If you missed the limited release of Brother to Brother in 2005, it is definite DVD viewing for the summer. Brother to Brother is the story of a struggling writer/student who is looking for love and struggling with his sexuality in urban New York. His life is juxtaposed with the Harlem Renaissance by characters such as Langston Hughes, Wallace Thurman and Richard Bruce Nugent. Director Rodney Evans delivers in this touching film that manages to combine humor with drama, leaving the audience with a sense that although we are from different eras, many things for gays have remained the same including the need for love and companionship which are universal.

From Logo to CNN to Bravo we are seeing more diverse representations of gay men on television. These images are creating a realistic view of what it means to be a gay person in America. In addition, these faces are openly gay, not just gay for TV. Check out some of the best (and hottest!) gay men of color on television.

Keith Boykin

Keith Boykin is that cool mix of sexiness meets brains. The former White House aide to President Clinton is now host of the BET TV show "My Two Cents" and a frequent commentator on CNN's "Paula Zahn Now". To top it off Keith is a bit of jock -- he won a gold medal in wrestling at the 2006 gay games!

Doug Spearman

Doug Spearman is one of the only "out" cast members on the Logo series Noah's Arc and we are glad he is. The forty-four year old and very sexy actor helped to balance out the show's sometimes single men with his happily-married character Chance. Even though Noah's Arc was not renewed for a third season, you can catch reruns on Logo and there is a film in the works.

One could argue reality shows were one of the forces that brought gay people to mainstream television. From Norman Korpi on the first episode of MTV’s Real World in 1992 to Queer Eye for the Straight Guy in 2003, these are some of the lasting images we have of gays on television. There are arguments on how “positive” or “negative” the images can be; nonetheless, reality television has had a hand in bringing numerous gay men into the public eye -- for good or bad. Check out some of the best gay moments on reality shows.

Naked Richard Hatch winning season one of Survivor

He was conniving and manipulative, but played a vicious game. From the beginning Hatch was openly gay and openly nude (not with the most fabulous body either!). Good ‘ole Dick had no problem prancing on the beach with all of his goodies out to the world. The Survivor cast was mortified, but maybe that was part of his strategy -- keep shocking them. After a Shakespearean speech from one of the booted cast members who said, “vote for him [Richard] as nature intended, because the snake must eat the rat”, Richard won one million dollars and became the first winner of Survivor. Sadly, he is currently in prison for tax evasion. I wonder if he wears the same birthday suit stomping the prison halls?

Karamo coming out in Real World: Philadelphia

At first glance Karamo Brown was another token black character (they always have one or two!) on the fifteenth season of 2004’s Real World. There was another gay guy in the house, Willie Hernandez, and we surely had no reason to believe MTV would put two gay men on the same season. However, by the second episode, "'Out' In Philadelphia", Karamo told all of his roommates he was a gay man. It was a bit of shock for many people that this "masculine" man was not hetero. In the gay community, it confirmed what gays already knew -- that gay men are not one monolithic group. Real World: Philadelphia put a bit more of “umph” in the recycled reality show. Unfortunately, the “umph” evaporated in future seasons.

We love Broadway Cares -- from Broadway Bares to the upcoming Broadway Barks 9 event, those kids are always brainstorming!

Nine years ago Broadway Cares/Equity Fights AIDS came up with this fabulous idea of Broadway Barks, where celebrities and stars of Broadway all unite for a full-tilt dog and cat-a-thon adoption. Previous years have brought out Harvey Fierstein, Rue McClanahan, Mario Cantone and others. According to BroadwayCares.com, "In 2006, for the first time in New York City's history, the euthanasia rate for dogs and cats in the city's Animal Care & Control shelters fell below 50%. A total of 20,581 animals were placed into homes. 9,313 were adopted; 9,937 were transferred for eventual adoption to local shelters and rescue groups; and 1,331 were returned to their owners."

This year Broadway Barks 9 will he held at Shubert Alley on Saturday, July 14 from 3:30 p.m. to 6:30 p.m. The event is hosted by Bernadette Peters and Mary Tyler Moore and "on paw" will be Angela Lansbury, David Hyde Pierce, Harry Hamlin, Cheyenne Jackson, Michael Cerveris and many more.

AfterElton.com gives a big salute to the relentless work of Broadway Cares/Equity Fights AIDS and all the Broadway community does in their various fundraising efforts.

Call 212-840-0770 extension 477 or visit BroadwayBarks.com for more information.

As we reported yesterday, Isaiah Washington appeared on a pre-recorded Larry King Live last night to finally tell his side of the Grey’s Anatomy saga.

To make a long story not as long, here is how it all began according to Isaiah:

Patrick Dempsey and Washington were driving to the set of Grey’s Anatomy, which was an hour and-a-half drive. They were already late and Dempsey needed a cup of coffee (that bastard!). Isaiah "failed as a leader" by not standing up to him, and due to Washington’s “failure", Washington and Dempsey both ended up three hours late to the set. Just like two divas!

Soon after, Isaiah Washington and T.R. Knight are chatting it up on a plane ride about the happenings on the job. Knight supposedly complained about “Patrick’s behavior” and that his role on the show was too small.

Fast forward to October 9th, Dempsey is late again, Washington calls him on it and the two get into a shouting match. Supposedly there was no choking and according to Isaiah, “I said there's no way you're going to treat me like a ‘B’ word or a ‘P’ word or the ‘F’ word.” Washington stresses — and this is important — that he was in no way referring to Knight, and that he only meant the ‘F’ word as “someone who is being weak." Like an Aaron Spelling plotline, the argument is mysteriously leaked to the press, Washington delicately implies T.R. Knight is to blame, and the media firestorm begins.

The White Tie and Tiara Ball raised over twelve million dollars and brought the likes of supermodel Elle Macpherson, Dame Judi Dench, Kristen Dunst and many more. Each ticket was $6,000 and the auction ranged from an Audi R8 sportscar for $650,000 to 1.2 million dollars for a trip to South Africa with Sir Elton and Furnish, and a Rolls Royce Phantom coupe, which has a waiting list till 2009. In addition, the timeless Shirley Bassey duetted with Elton on "Hey Big Spender" and Tom Jones joined Sir Elton for a performance of "Deliah".

According to the Telegraph, "Sir Elton told guests that in the last nine years more than £20.5 million had been raised, leading to a letter from America’s Charity Navigator which analyses charities worldwide, awarding the foundation 4-star status for the second consecutive year."

On Saturday, June 30th the Rocket Main joined forces with A-list celebrities in the Concert for Diana. Performances included Nelly Furtado, Kanye West, Joss Stone, Rod Stewart and many more. The concert was brought together by Diana's sons, Princes William and Harry, who lost their mother nearly ten years ago.

As we all know, Sir Elton is the alpha and the omega. He opened the show the with classic "Your Song" and closed the show with "Are You Ready for Love" and "Tiny Dancer". The BBC called the Concert for Diana a perfect tribute.

Check out the video below of Elton John singing "Your Song" at the event.