Free Republic

Roughly 4 out of 10 Britons — 39 percent — think Santa Claus can be gay, according to a YouGov poll released the day before Christmas Eve. The results come after the Norwegian postal service released an annual Christmas video featuring Santa Claus falling in love with another man to mark the 50th anniversary of Norway’s decriminalization of homosexuality. The video, entitled “When Harry Met Santa,” is a four-minute short film in which the main character interacts with Santa Claus several times, before writing him a letter stating: “Dear Santa, All I want for Christmas is you.”

Charges of anti-Semitism are standard fare when it comes to "The Merchant of Venice," but a new film adaptation of Shakespeare's play also raises another controversial question -- was the merchant gay? An emotionally charged kiss between two men raises the issue of their sexual orientation, but even the actors who play them do not agree about what the kiss means. The film, which opened nationally Wednesday, is based on Shakespeare's play about the merchant Antonio, whose friend Bassanio is deeply in debt and needs money to woo an heiress named Portia. To help his friend, Antonio borrows money from...

Homosexual activists blast man who posted warning to families ___ A promoter of tourism in a Colorado ski town has stirred up a controversy among local residents after posting a warning to potential visiting families about the city's Gay Ski Week. Al Heirich runs an online guide to Telluride, Colo., offering information about the town, its skiing, lodging and restaurants. Telluride is a world-class ski resort with a population of about 3,000. Heirich says promoters of the homosexual event, including the Telluride Ski Resort, have demanded he remove his warning to families on his website, claiming it is discriminatory. The...