The amazing Matthew Mitcham!

With the Beijing Summer Olympics now wrapped up, I'll join the chorus of congratulations for Aussie dreamboat diver and openly gay Matthew Mitcham (pictured above and below), who won the gold medal for the men's 10-meter platform final in Beijing, denying China a clean sweep of this year's diving gold medals.

The adorable, 20-year-old Mitcham was the only openly gay male athlete at this year's games (there were nine lesbians out of the closet in competition), making this upset victory all the sweeter, not only for his home country, but for openly queer athletes everywhere.

You can read more about Mitcham here, here and here. Thanks to Gay Persons of Color for the tip today on Mitcham's win.

Montreal Simon also writes eloquently about the importance of Mitcham's win to gay youth around the world. Check out his lovely post here.

While I'm at it, let me also congratulate the Canadian Olympic team for its great performance this year, taking 18 medals, their best since Atlanta in 1996.

Canadian Adam van Koeverden came back yesterday from a tough week to finally score a silver medal in the men's K-1 500-metre final.

To celebrate, here's a nice pic of him directly below because we can never see too many...lol.

Snobby Rufus Wainwright should learn to respect his Toronto fans...

I've been a loyal fan of Montreal native Rufus Wainwright for 10 years. I've been a Torontonian for 13 years. Wainwright is one of my favourite performers today, I love all of his music. I also love living in Toronto.

It's too bad that Wainwright felt the need to spout off about his apparent contempt for the Big Smoke for Xtra recently.

Said Wainwright: "I hate visiting Toronto. I can't stand it. The place drives me mad. I have friends there, I work there, but I find it really hard to like. I will have to go back there, but I wish I didn't have to."

It sounds all so very Montreal/New York snobby, the kind of criticism we've gotten used to from types like Rufus, who himself couldn't wait to get out of Canada for New York and parts of Europe in his 20s. It's been funny listening to Wainwright struggle to compliment his native Canada for our progressive same sex marriage laws, while at the same time show general disregard for his birth country abroad.

I've attended numerous Rufus concerts in T.O. and have always felt he had a certain, subtle contempt for his Toronto audiences, people who had paid good money to see him perform. He once brought out a giant glass of red wine during his Convocation Hall concert and messed up a couple songs; I certainly didn't feel I got my money's worth at that one.

I think I might be through with Rufus concerts if this keeps up. Will I still listen to his music? Of course I will, but I'll probably only download it. Thank you Limewire! Maybe one day he'll learn to respect his Toronto fans and show a little love...

Despatie and Burnett do Canada proud...

Incredible performance by Canadian heartthrob diver Alexandre Despatie (pictured above) in the men's three-metre springboard Tuesday at the Water Cube, taking the silver medal.



Kudos also to Torontonian Jason Burnett (the redhead), who won the silver in the men's trampoline.

I'm so enjoying watching (the eye candy in) this year's Beijing Olympics...lol.

Click here for CBC's Olympics site...

All of our athletes are really starting to kick ass.

Yay for Canada! ;-)

Queen of pop Madonna turns 50 today!

The Queen of Pop turns 50 today! Wow, time flies. I remember first seeing her 'Lucky Star' video back in 1983 or so. This certainly makes me a bit old too. I was 11 back then, a mere puppy. Now I'm 36. Ugh. Well, at least I'm not (yet) 50! lol

Hallejulah!: Controversial U.S. church group stopped at border...

Read the National Post article here...

It's interesting to see a religious extremist group shut out of the country by Public Safety Minister Stockwell Day.

This is a victory over despicable, hysterical hatred. Keep your poison south of the border, please...

************ UPDATE

Sadly, some of that poison did make it north of the border, the wackos claim.

My friend Warren Kinsella has a great post today about this issue. I completely agree with him when he asks what Ezra Levant and other Canadian "members of the lunatic, absolutist "free speech" league...Rex Murphy? Mark Steyn? The National Post? Macleans?" think of this. I'd like to know too.