Anchors a-Gay

So designer MARC JACOBS, whom I've long loved, went into rehab, announcing that he had just had a relapse (interestingly enough, the second he finished his Paris show)? But it was a while ago that his then-boyfriend the ex-hustler was telling people he only broke up with Marc so the designer would get clean. Then again, take it all with a grain of whatever. Get well, Marc!

CNN's THOMAS ROBERTS, whom I also adore, was interviewed by the same channel's ANDERSON COOPER last week about having been abused by a priest as a teen. The terribly brave piece was not the least bit incestuous. (Well, maybe just a wee bit, but I shouldn't talk, having recently interviewed myself in these pages.) More problematic was the fact that I didn't hear it mentioned that Roberts is now out and proud and can be publicly seen with his supportive boyfriend. I guess when it comes to serving up your own talent as news, tortured molesting victim plays better than devoted gay lover.

Possible rationales for the exclusion: "We don't want to equate having been molested with becoming gay." Well, they could have stated the distinction. Besides, by 14, Thomas was surely already gay—look at the photos. "We don't think his sexuality is relevant." But for the less-famous victim who also spoke out on the show, it sure was; he was presented as gay gay gay. "But our anchors shouldn't become the story. That's why they don't talk about their personal lives." No, they just do prime-time specials about being molested.

Maybe they thought it was only the molestation that was newsworthy because Roberts had finally come forward and the priest went to jail (albeit a year ago). That's fine, but if there was a story about a straight female anchor who was molested, you can bet there'd be a shot of her with her loving husband today. In any case, knowing that Cooper—who aggressively went after the interview, even though he thinks sexuality revelations alter an anchor's ability to be professional—adds to the intrigue.

On a lighter note, TCM will run a series of classic gay and gay-related films in the pride month of June, spanning Hollywood's hinting, homophobia, breakthroughs, bitchery, and prison dykes.

Back to a heavier note, I joined ACT UP in protesting the U.S. military recruiting office, demanding that the Pentagon fire the odiously honest GENERAL PETER PACE for saying he feels gays are "immoral" and must be prosecuted. "Pace is immoral! Gays are fabulous!" was the afternoon’s loudest cry, along with the less-catchy "Down with the royalist junta of Bush II." The turnout may not have been as good as in the old days—back then, we had protests, honey!—but it was solid, studded with all sorts of lavender legends like LARRY KRAMER (who ignited the action with a speech a few nights earlier), PETER STALEY, ANN NORTHROP, and MATT FOREMAN. In fact, it was exactly the same people who were at the old ACT UP actions! (All the survivors, anyway.) Well, there was one new kid: JIM McGREEVEY! Oh well, I guess we're all on the same level playing field now. And with wussy HILLARY announcing it's up to others to decide if gays—not to mention philandering presidents—are immoral, McGreevey’s all we’ve got.

To remind myself that it's immoral not to be gay, I went back to relentless bar hopping, diving into the pool of sparkly people who do tell even if you don't ask. The BARTSCH/KENNY KENNY Thursday night Kino 41 bash is so fabulously hot-guy-and-freak studded I'll forgive being ejected from a banquette to make way for bottle-service people. Vlada Lounge was also on fire last Saturday—and though I'm not terribly fond of the next-door lady who likes to snarl at the crowd outside and scream, "Die of AIDS, fags!" she is amusingly high-camp, so check her out; she generally appears at around one and three a.m. (And if she ever takes it on the road, General Pace would make a dazzling opening act.)