MSNBC Anchor Ties the Knot

MSNBC anchor and host Thomas Roberts wed his longtime partner, Patrick Abner, this weekend, in a small ceremony at Manhattan’s toney Gansevoort Hotel. Roberts is the first cable news anchor to marry a person of the same sex. In June 2011, he and Abner served as honorary Grand Marshals for Wilton Manors’ Stonewall Street Parade and Festival. “Good Morning, America” weather guy Sam Champion’s similar announcement last week of an engagement brought sharp reaction—including from some who support his nuptials but thought GMA made too big a deal of it on the air.

This Is What a “Modern Family” Looks Like

For the third year in a row, ABC’s smash sitcom “Modern Family” won a clean sweep in most of last month’s Emmy Awards categories.  Star Eric Stonestreet, who plays chunky Cameron on the hit series, was up against— so to speak—his TV hubby, actor Jesse Tyler Ferguson (who plays uptight redhead Mitchell) for Outstanding Supporting Actor in a Comedy Series.

After Stonestreet (who is straight) proved a repeat-winner, co-star Ferguson stopped by the set of “Jimmy Kimmel Live!” to playfully bitch about the loss. Asked by host Kimmel if Stonestreet had been pulling for his screen-partner, Ferguson said with smarm, “Who knows if it’s true, but he said he wanted me to win.”

To bolster his chances of a win at next year’s Emmys, Ferguson, 36, unveiled a mock “attack ad,” in which he accuses Stonestreet of “steal[ing] gay American jobs,” and calls him a “liar” and an “ass-kisser.” Ah, family.

Etheridge Rocks for Maryland Marriage Equality

Still-rocking singer Melissa Etheridge has sent out a letter on behalf of Marylanders for Marriage Equality, calling for equal treatment under the law for every American. As some added incentive for supporting same-sex marriage, Etheridge is offering campaign donors a chance to meet her backstage during an upcoming show in Bethesda.

Last month, the singer (“Come to My Window”) told TV host Joy Behar, “I’m for gay marriage, because I’m for gay divorce.” She added: “I don’t think people realize what a system heterosexuals have for marriage. You can marry someone and then, oops.

“The New Normal” touched on a laundry list of topical subjects on last night’s episode, called “Obama Mama.” The show— about two gay men trying to have a baby through a surrogate—went through the World Tour of social and political issues, including abortion rights, racism, religion, marriage equality, health care, and the candidates for president.

Executive Producer Ryan Murphy (“Nip/Tuck,” “Glee”) said, “You have two clearly gay liberal guys at the heart of the show. But we all thought it would be great to do an episode where we presented…the conservative point of view, the Republican point of view, in a way that hopefully was as eloquent.”

The show, which airs Tuesday nights at 9:30 p.m., is based on Murphy’s real life experiences as a gay TV producer exploring surrogacy with his partner. “One of the fun things about this show is the ability I have to send myself up. I like to make fun of myself and to skewer what people think of me,” he added. NBC’s Salt Lake City affiliate, which is owned by the Mormon Church, announced in August that it would not broadcast “The New Normal,” which it believes is “inappropriate on several dimensions, especially during family viewing time.” The program gets an average audience of 6.4 million viewers, and is particularly popular with 25 to 54 year-old women, NBC saiys.

Paris Hilton Dumped From Doc Over Gay Remarks

Famous-for-being-famous Paris Hilton has at least twice (officially) apoligized for questionable comments about (some) gay men during a taxi ride in which her conversation was secretly recorded. (By the way—has anyone called the cabbie a s***bag for invading La Hilton’s privacy?)

On Sept. 7, Hilton, 31, was riding in a Big Apple cab with two friends, at which time she is alleged to have burbled (as part of a convo about gay hookup site/ app Grindr), “Gay guys are the horniest people in the world,” and then added, “They’re disgusting. Dude, most of them probably have AIDS.” (A full listening of the convo lends credibility to the theory that PH was referring to some of the people on hookup sites—and not all gay men.) The hotel heiress posted an apology on GLAAD’s Web site, calling gays “the strongest and most inspiring people I know.” But LGBT-targeted cable channel Logo has responded by shutting down the broadcast of a documentary about Hilton that was scheduled to air. At least one person has stepped into Paris’ corner over the controversy:

Bombastic Bi author Bret Easton Ellis tweeted his concurrence: “I kind of agree with Paris Hilton,” he wrote, adding that she “isn’t that far off.

In the HEAT of the Night: Hard Rock-style

The highlight of the 2013 South Florida Firefighter’s Calendar debut Aug. 20 at the Seminole Hard Rock Hotel & Casino had to be the moment when the Sexy First Responders lost their constraining outerwear to reveal their hard pecs, ripped abs, and sexy “stud-muffins” with a catwalk prowl for screaming fans.

The calendar’s 20th anniversary edition features South Florida’s hottest heroes, who came together to support some of the area’s charities, including Safe Haven For Newborns, Here’s Help, and the Friends Forever Humane Society.

You can purchase the calendar by visiting firefighterscalendar.com/cart2/ products.php?catid=1, or drop by one of the numerous scheduled events and meet the Firehouse Hotties in person (and get your calendar signed). Over past two decades, the calendar has raised more than $240,000 for local charities.

I Guess It Depends on WHAT He’s Smoking “Down Under”

The leader of Australia’s Christian Lobby (ACL) said last week that smoking is healthier than same-sex marriage. During a debate at the University of Tasmania, Jim Wallace claimed that health statistics among gays are worse than those for smokers.

“I think we’re going to owe smokers a big apology when the homosexual community’s own statistics for its health – which it presents when it wants more money for health – are that is has higher rates of drug-taking, of suicide, it has the life of a male reduced by up to 20 years,” Wallace said, adding that “the life of smokers is reduced by something like seven to 10 years, and yet we tell all our kids at school they shouldn’t smoke.” Sounds like he thinks kids should trade in one kind of “fag”—cigarettes—for another.

Stevie Wonder Backpedals Over Frank Ocean Comments

Over the Labor Day weekend, Stevie Wonder issued a statement that clarified his recent remarks about R&B singer Frank Ocean’s sexuality.

In an interview last week with the Guardian, Wonder questioned Ocean’s coming out in July via a Tumblr post in July (just prior to the release of his debut album, “Agent Orange”). “I think honestly, some people who think they’re gay, they’re confused,” Wonder told the UK publication. “People can misconstrue closeness for love. People can feel connected, they bond.”

On Sunday, Wonder told MTV, “I’m sorry that my words about anyone feeling confused about their love were misunderstood. No one has been a greater advocate for the power of love in this world than I, both in my life and in my music.

“Clearly, love is love, between a man and a woman, a woman and a man, a woman and a woman and a man and a man. What I’m not confused about is the world needing much more love, no hate, no prejudice, no bigotry and more unity, peace and understanding. Period.” We feel you, Stevie.

Nicki Minaj Goes Back in the Closet

Rolling Stone reports that claims by rapper Nicki Minaj (early in her career) that she was bisexual were made just for the attention. “I think girls are sexy,” La Minaj cutely offered. “But I’m not going to lie and say that I date girls.” Mmm-hmmmmm.

And Here We Always Thought It Would Be Ken… The new Blond Diamond Barbie sports more than a sequined-and-jeweled cocktail dress and fur coat: The creation of designers David and Phillipe Blond is also sporting the naughty nickname “Drag Queen Barbie,” after Phillipe’s penchant for wearing stylish femme fashion.

Mars Needs Spears! In her music video for 2000’s “Oops!…I Did It Again,” a rubber-suit-wearing Britney Spears welcomes an astronaut to the surface of Mars, and receives a gift from the spaceman. After the real-life Mars rover Curiosity landed on the Red Planet’s surface Aug. 6, the singer asked on Twitter, So @MarsCuriosity…does Mars look the same as it did in 2000? To which the reply was given (presumably by some horny techie at NASA’s monitoring labs in Pasadena, Ca.), @britneyspears Hey Brit Brit. Mars is still looking good. Maybe someday an astronaut will bring me a gift, too. Drill bits crossed Geek “hot talk:” I’ve heard worse.

Tight Ends and Wide Receivers Top Bullies – The San Francisco 49ers have become the first NFL franchise to record a video condemning antigay bullying and violence. The minute-long commercial features players Ahmad Brooks, Ricky Jean Francois, Isaac Sopoaga, and Donte Whitner as part of the “It Gets Better” campaign, which began in 2010 in response to a string of suicides by students bullied over their sexual orientation. In the spot, Brooks informs kids, “Something you should never experience is being bullied, intimidated, or pressured into being someone or something you are not.”

The team was encouraged by 49er fan Sean Chapin, who collected more than 16,000 signatures on Change.org.

Say What? “I think the whole thing, memorizing lines and trying to, like, say them and still, like, do movement, all that. That was hard.” – Ryan Lochte, Olympic goldmedalist swimmer, “commenting” on his “90210” guest spot.

A “Teenage Dream,” But Not An “American Idol” Singer Katy Perry reportedly turned down a $20 million offer to join the judges panel for “American Idol” season 12. According to reports, producers offered the pop star $18 million (the same asking-price of Mariah Carey) and then sweetened the pot a few million more. Katy is reported to have passed on the offer because, well—does she really need to be doing this at this point in her phenomenal career (nine consecutive top 10 pop hit singles and counting, for starters)?It sounds like Katy is “Wide Awake”—at least when it comes to her career.