OK, not sure this is totally offensive, but it pissed off my hubbie, so I thought I’d throw it out there.

During last night’s finale of “American Idol” (wow! way to go, Cook!), Fox teased the next season of its lie-detector game show, “The Moment of Truth.” In typical Fox fashion, it was kinda melodramatic, including this promo:

Announcer: “And get ready, ’cause we’re pressing the cringe factor further than ever before.”

Host asking question to male contestant: “Have you ever been physically attracted to another man?” (Audience gasps.)

I guess it’s the idea that even being attracted to a man would cause you to “cringe” is what sounds rude. Of course, ask me that, and I’d  happily run down a list of mancrushes. And it wouldn’t really offend me to be asked if I have ever been physically attracted to a woman — sure! Why not?

But aside from my dad — the straightest man I know, but also a total sweetheart to his gay son — I can  hardly think of living your life and not being attracted to a man (mostly, Brad Pitt). And I can’t see why, even for a straight guy, admitting it would be so awful — even on national TV.

Now, a lot of the questions on this show are about sex because people find that uncomfortable to talk about. But maybe it’s precisely because we don’t see his answer — a truthful “no” wouldn’t be such a big deal in any circumstance, and a truthful “yes” he’s comfortable with shouldn’t matter to anyone — that the segment seems homophobic. Cringe at an attraction? Geez, let’s hope I don’t go on the show and tell them what I would do (and have done) to another man. 

As a working travel journalist, I often get invited by cities, CVBs, regions and companies to tour their areas so that I might write travel stories that would be of interest to my readers. Some sound fun but impractical; some sound practical but fun-free.

And then there’s the one I just got, from the Branson, Mo., convention bureau.

I have been invited to enjoy a “family” vacation in the Ozarks. But I think my interpretation of the work “family” is different than theirs. Among the activities I can choose from: Showboat Branson Belle; Yakov Smirnoff in Concert; Hamner Barber Variety Show; Dolly Parton’s Dixie Stampede; and a stage production called “Noah: The Musical.”

Now, I appreciate the invitation. And Dolly is a bit of gay goddess in a blonde wig. But I think the Branson press office might have wanted to tailor the offerings more for a GLBT audience. Although I was intrigued by one option: “Baldknobbers Jamboree Show.” Sounds gayer than anything that’s ever happened in the Castro — and without the irony. But I think I’ll pass on this one.

In my opinion, John Wright was stretching it to say Ed Oakley and Sam Adams looked alike. Now, if you ask me, the following three gay celebrities — former Turtle Creek Chorale director Tim Seelig, novelist August Burroughs and Dallas Voice sales rep Gary Karwacki — bear more than casual similarities. Do I hear an amen?

Sam Adams (right), a city commissioner in Portland, Ore., made the history that Dallas’ Ed Oakley (left) was hoping to make last year. Adams avoided a runoff by capturing 58 percent of the vote to become Portland’s next mayor. He will be the first openly gay mayor to represent a “major city” in the U.S. For details on how major Portland is compared to Dallas and Providence, R.I. — which until now was the largest city to be represented by an openly gay mayor – see this previous post. According to the Associated Press, “the mayor-elect’s sexual orientation was never an issue in the contest, but Adams was aware of the history he was widely expected to make.”

Speaking of Oakley, The Dallas Morning News in recent weeks has repeatedly reported on its oh-so-cleverly-named “City Hall blog” that the former councilman is seriously considering a run for his old District 3 seat. Of course, we reported this months ago right here on Instant Tea. In any case, Oakley reportedly plans a fundraiser to gauge whether he’d have the necessary backing to take on Councilman Dave Neumann, who defeated openly gay candidate Joseph Hernandez f0r the seat Oakley gave up to run for mayor last year. Why do I get the sense that 2009 is going to be an interesting year in Dallas?

CORRECTION: Gay journalist Rex Wockner points out that San Diego, then the nation’s seventh-largest city, had an openly gay mayor in 2005. San Diego Councilwoman Toni Atkins was appointed to the position after the mayor resigned and the deputy mayor was convicted of multiple felonies. Atkins served until the next election. So, Adams is the first openly gay mayor to be ELECTED to represent a major U.S. city. Thanks, Rex.

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I’m withholding judgment on Jacquielynn Floyd’s column in today’s Dallas Morning News about how she finds women kissing women to titillate straight men “pathetic.” After this recent post, I don’t want Floyd to think I’m picking on her. Besides, any criticism of the column should probably come from someone who’s in a better position to speak about the subject, as in a lesbian.

But I couldn’t resist sharing the above video, which appears to be the clip from the TV show “Shark” that Floyd is referring to, along with a few comments from the online poll that’s associated with the column. To view all the comments, go here. The poll question is phrased as, “Do women go too far to portray themselves as ‘hot’?” Thus far, 63 percent have said yes, while 35 percent have said no. Here’s one comment taking issue with Floyd followed by one backing her up:

“It’s pathetic. That’s what you’ve come up with: It’s pathetic. No, pathetic is taking the ground-breaking California ruling and using it as an entry point to broadcast your prudish ignorance about the youth of today. Maybe some girls kiss girls to titillate guys, but most do it because they’re curious or, god forbid, they like it. Come on down from the tower and see it for yourself.”

“After so many women fought so hard for so long to be taken seriously — to have it all trashed by a generation of insecure women who are so absurdly lazy that they let their breasts speak for them…what happened to basic human dignity and self-respect? And what’s so great about this kind of man that we need their attention?!”

George Takei

George Takei — the 71-year-old openly gay actor who will forever be known to many as Mr. Sulu on the original “Star Trek” television series — has announced that he and his longtime partner plan to get married now that the California Supreme Court has issued its decision legalizing same-sex marriage in the Golden State.

Takei made the announcement first over the weekend on his Web site, and then made the announcement Monday to Reuters news service. He said he and his partner, Brad Altman, 54, who is also his business manager, are already in the middle of “the delicious process” of planning the wedding.

He said: “There’s no tradition in terms of same-sex marriage. We are designing and shaping our own wedding in our own way, so it’s going to be singular and unique.”

Read more here.

Avner Samuel, the temperamental genius behind Oak Lawn’s most elegant — and perhaps priciest — restaurant, Aurora, has announced a change that might seem negligible to some, but trust us: It’s a big deal.

Aurora, which specializes in French-style cuisine in small but satisfying portions, has apparently felt the economic pinch the rest of us have. In a press release from his rep, Samuel will be changing his menu “to reflect the new times.” That means more sustainable (read: locally-grown and organic) ingredients and lower prices than before. No details yet, but for those who get culinary sticker-shock and have avoided it until now, it might make Aurora worth a look. 

Members of the Carrollton Project, an LGBT equality group, will bid farewell to gay-friendly Mayor Becky Miller at Tuesday night’s City Council meeting. According to an e-mail from Bob McCranie, founder of the Carrollton Project, Miller plans to ask council members to stress diversity as they move forward and has invited like-minded folks to attend in a show of support.

In case you missed it, Miller was defeated by former City Councilman Ron Branson in the May 10 election after The Dallas Morning News published a story that called into question statements she’s made about her past. Miller became the first suburban mayor to ride in Dallas’ gay Pride parade in 2006. Branson has criticized Miller’s appearance in the parade, and he told Dallas Voice that homosexuality is “just not a lifestyle that I endorse.”

Tuesday’s City Council meeting is at 7 p.m. at City Hall and will be followed by the Carrollton Project’s regular monthly meeting at 7:45 at Nico’s restaurant. For more info, e-mail bob@bobmccranie.com.

Our office manager is not a bad man. Everyone likes him, and he looks out for all of us.

But I am beginning to wonder if he brings puppies to orphanages on weekends and then leaves with them an hour later. Because that’s how we feel right now.

Last week, he installed “on spec” a coffeemaker than brews individual cups of flavored coffees and hot chocolate. Instantly. Honest — it takes less time to brew a cup than it does to pour one for yourself. If you’ve seen them around, trust us: They are great.

Just not great enough to keep — it goes back to the company this week, and we’re all pretty bummed.

“It costs five times what we pay now for coffee,” he says. “It’s this or health insurance.”

I’m willing to give it a shot… anyone else?

Ever see “Shortbus?” It was John Cameron Mitchell’s full-on-sex drama, his followup to “Hedwig and the Angry Inch.” I didn’t care for it — maybe it was all those shots of neurotic women masturbating while crying. But one scene I really liked: Three guys are about to hook up, and actor Jay Brannan describes to the other two how modeling is all about discovering the right angles. Anyway, Brannon is a singer-songwriter, too.

He’s playing Dallas — The Loft on July 20. He has a new song , “Housewife.” And it’s good.

Check it.