James Franco and Diego Luna (All pics: Getty Images)

Last night Milk premiered in San Francisco and the film's stars were there along with some high-profile gay folks, political figures, and a whole mess of people out to honor the film's subject and support the fight against Proposition 8.

Director Gus Van Sant and Josh Brolin
 

Our own Christie Keith was there, so be sure to check back for her red carpet report later today. For now, click on through for more great pics!

T.R. Knight says NO to the tune of $50K

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.

• Some good news and some bad news. The good news is that T.R. Knight has donated $50,000 to help defeat Proposition 8, which would strip same-sex couples in California of their right to marry. The bad news: The supporters of the bill are ahead in fundraising efforts and in the polls, so we need more people like Knight (the first gay Hollywoodian to pony up that kind of cash) to step up to the plate. For more info and to donate to the cause, check out NoOnProp8.

• The optimistically-titled LA Times piece "California Leads the Nation in Gay Rights" points out that even if Proposition 8 goes through (*shudder*), the state is still the pioneer for LGBT equality. Replied New York: "Marcia, Marcia, Marcia!"

Marc Felion and Fausto Fernós of Feast of Fools with drag queen Teri Yaki as Amanda

• I'll totally watch the October 17th What Not to Wear episode where the gay Feast of Fools guys throw their female friend Amanda to the ever-fabulous Clinton and Stacy for renovation. Apparently the producers have said that it's "the gayest episode ever" ... isn't that kind of like saying that one of the Golden Girls eps was the "most menopausal"?

• Out British comedy actor Richard Wilson (Merlin, Doctor Who, One Foot in the Grave, Father Ted) will host the next Stonewall Awards, which honor entertainers who have had positive impact upon the lives of LGBT people.

Chad Allen (with Adam Grimes) is among the few out actors in soaps

• TVGuide Canada's soaps editor posted a lengthy discussion of why there are so few out actors in daytime (Lea DeLaria and Chad Allen, who's technically in nighttime, being the only two), when gay characters are becoming more common both before and after naptime.

• And in today's "gay porn past" news: Defamer is reporting that the new VP of casting for FremantleMedia (the company behind American Idol and The Price is Right) began his Hollywood career as gay porn star Jordan Young. Idol from the Sky, indeed!

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David Burtka and Neil Patrick Harris on the Emmy Awards red carpet

Is being an out gay actor still an issue in Hollywood? Gay actors like Neil Patrick Harris and TR Knight are currently flourishing on television and testing the boundaries of that age-old argument, but will we ever have an openly gay star on the level of a Tom Cruise or Will Smith?

That’s the topic at hand in an article that appeared in Sunday’s edition of the New York Times that takes an in-depth look at the changing landscape for gay actors in Hollywood. Much has been made about the recent GLAAD report that found over 80 LGBT characters on television for the fall season, and even though a great deal of them play second fiddle to the straight leads, their presence still represents a dramatic change in the approach to being an out actor.

Gay publicist Howard Brageman is quoted as saying “We’ve gone from the revolution to the evolution”, and while that is in some ways true, Hollywood still has a great deal of evolving to do. Gays in the media now are arguably as visible as we’ve been at any other time in history, but the “revolution” doesn’t seem to extend beyond television. While television stars like Harris and Knight can play straight characters by day and walk the red carpet with their partners at night, that luxury doesn’t seem to extend to their movie-star counterparts. Internet chatter and innuendo on some of our big stars is deafening, yet we’ve still yet to see one take the next step and come out.

We are still, in the words of USC media professional Larry Gross, “Waiting for the Jackie Robinson moment”. Whether or not this moment ever truly comes is a question that won’t be answered for some time, but the article also highlights some promising new developments surrounding young actors like Fringe’s Jasika Nicole, who are defying the closet and maintaining successful careers. 

                                                     Out Noah's Arc star Daryl Stephens

The question really isn’t whether or not there are gay actors in Hollywood (anyone who has ever had any interaction with theatre geeks knows that it’s nearly impossible for all those ‘mos to get lost in translation on the way to the Walk of Fame), but rather when they will start to take their tentative steps out of the closet.

Three of our most well-known out actors (Harris, Knight, and Chad Allen) were outed or nearly outed by some form of tabloid intervention, so their coming out (while honorable and noteworthy) was less bold than, say, an actor who did so with no provocation while promoting a $100 million movie which bore his name above the title.

The first steps out of the closet from actors like the aforementioned as well as now officially out Noah’s Arc actor Daryl Stephens serve to show that the closet foundation is rattling, but the movement is still waiting for a big, splashy movie-star pioneer to open the door to the future of openly-gay actors in Hollywood.

Of course, we follow this topic rather closely here day-to-day, so the article wasn't much of a bombshell. Did anyone catch the article and have any thoughts? Share in the comments! 

 An exceptionally adorable T.R. Knight

On Saturday The Point Foundation, which gives support and scholarship to LGBT students, honored Kristin Chenoweth and raised over $300,000 at its Los Angeles Fundraiser. 

Kristin Chenoweth
 

Chenoweth in particular was honored for her unflagging support of the gay community in the face of pressure from conservative groups (which even resulted in her losing a job, reportedly), and the gay and gay-fave stars were out in full force to celebrate and draw attention to the organization's latest crop of LGBT scholars.

Check out more pics after the jump! And for more on the Foundation, check out their website.

Boyfriends T.R. Knight and Mark Cornelsen hug actress Mia Barron at the opening performance of House of Blue Leaves in Los Angeles

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 rocker Bob Mould (Husker Du, Sugar) is writing an autobiography. Considering he lived through the 80s pioneering an otherwise hetero American music movement while a closeted gay man and drug user and came through the other side a blogger who shares casserole recipes on his website, it will no doubt be a fascinating read.

• RealityBlurred.com has an exclusive interview with Survivor: Gabon's Charlie Herschel who apparently wants to be a large, powerful, black woman. That sounds nice, but I'd just take the million dollars and call it a day. 

• Howard Stern strikes again during a CNN broadcast about the U.S.'s latest financial catastrophe.  No doubt John McCain and Sarah Palin will cite this as a reason to ban gay marriage.

• GLAAD's Damon Romine got his hands on George Takei and Brad Altman's wedding vows. The sickness and health part I get, but what's this businee about warp coil drives?
  

• Apparently a lot of American LGBT groups aren't getting the joke when it comes to Little Britain USA: They're calling a boycott due to the show's "homophobic" humor. Or is it all a joke itself?

• Gospel singer Ray Boltz has come out of the closet. Hallelujah!

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T.R. Knight shnugs with boyfriend Mark Cornelsen yesterday in Los Angeles

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 weekend wedding of Ellen DeGeneres and Portia de Rossi will be the cover exclusive of this week's People Magazine. Keep 'em comin'!

• But WTF is up with CNN International's coverage of Ellen's getting 'married'? Fearquotes are soooo 2007 ... and isn't it poor etiquette to misspell the name of one of the brides in the headline? 

• On the other hand, here's a cute clip of T.R. Knight, Katherine Heigl, and others wishing Ellen and Portia well on their weekend wedding.

• Above, from our sibs at 365Gay: A look at how how dark clouds over Wall Street are dressing down fashions for next season.

• Comeback of the year Robert Downey Jr. notes in the new Rolling Stone that his rumored bisexuality in the 80's was manufactured. Like everything else in the 80's!

• When is an apology about making offensive comments about an upcoming transgender contestant on America's Next Top Model not an apology? When it's coming from FOX News. ("Because their lips are moving!" ... Wait, did I mess up the joke again? Darn it all!)

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Out actor Wilson Cruz stylin' at the ALMA Awards, which recognize Latin American performers

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.

• Neil Patrick Harris and David Burtka are waaaaaay out in front in this Us Weekly poll on which same-sex Hollywood couple should get married next. Sorry, guys - the tribe has spoken!

• T.R. Knight sends his well-wishes to Ellen and Portia, noting that anybody's wedding is a big deal. The whole same-sex thing? Icing on the cake!

• Could out comic Graham Norton be the new host of the Eurovision Song Contest? And here we thought it couldn't get any gayer.

• Starting today, we'll be featuring selected videos from our newsy sib, 365Gay, Mondays through Thursdays. Above, Jason Bellini interviews out basketball star John Amaechi in Beijing.

• Milk and Eli Stone star Victor Garber chatted with LA Daily News about his recent successes, working with Gus Van Sant, and the fact that even he had no idea what was going on on Alias.

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

T.R. Knight and Mark Cornelson

Over the weekend the Hot in Hollywood AIDS fundraiser drew Hollywood's gay and gay-fave stars like moths to a flame. (A hot .... hot flame.) Check out all the fabulous folks who were there...

Neil Patrick Harris (sans David)

HIH founder Michael Medico (Kiss the Bride)

Bunches more after the break!

Katherine Heigl and TR Knight shopping. Cute tee, T! 

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.

• Jerri Blank and Chris Keller in a Nickelodeon movie about a gym teacher written and directed by Mr. Jellineck and featuring a cameo by Mango? Someone just peeked into my brain and printed it to tape.

• Here's a new interview with How to Look Good Naked "Fairy God Stylist" Carson Kressley in which he recounts a hilarious harrowing nudist-related prank on the Queer Eye set.

• Antonio Sabato, Jr. can't decide if he'd rather be gay or stupid. Too bad the decision was already made for him.

"Jooooiiiiin uussssssssss!"

• 20 Hot Male Bloggers! Hats off to local fave Chris Leavins (Cute With Chris), Andy Towle (Towleroad) and #1 snagger Rich Juzwiak (FourFour). In addition to Andy and Rich, there were a few other out gay fellas on the list. Wheee! Oh, and we'll be over here with the ugly folk, if you need us.

• If rumored Dancing With the Stars contestant Lance Bass is paired with another man, I think it's only fair that rumored contestant Dan Quayle is, too. (Yes, that Dan Quayle.)

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