Klaus Wowereit, the gay mayor of Berlin, will be welcoming those gathered for the Folsom Europe 2005 street festival.

Parts of the welcome letter he will be reading:

“The international leather and fetish scene is meeting for the second time in Berlin for the Folsom Europe 2005 street festival. Welcome to Berlin!…

Berlin is a tolerant and open metropolis. We are proud that people from different backgrounds and with different preferences feel comfortable here and party together.”

Berlin conservative leader Nicolas Zimmer calls the letter “not in line with the dignity of the office” of mayor and I’m sure he’s not alone.

You would think a mayor has more important things to do. No, I don’t think Folsom Europe 2005 is all that important.

What else ya got for me? This:

*House of Blues Refuses to Cancel All Concerts by Homophobic Reggae Singer
*Utah Supreme Court Hears Lesbian’s Child Custody Case
*Lesbian Newsreader Awarded $16,000
*Right-to-marry case proceeds in Maryland
*SNL’s Cheri Oteri to play lesbian villain in Southland Tales
*Study: More Homosexual Characters On TV