In surprising comments in a new book, Pope Benedict XVI departs from the Catholic Church’s zero-tolerance policy toward condoms and suggests that they may be justified in some instances, such as for male prostitutes to prevent the spread of HIV, where contraception is not a concern.

Health care advocate Kevin Lembo has entered the race for Connecticut comptroller, a post that oversees the state’s financial reporting. Rock icon Patti Smith recalls how late gay photographer Robert Mapplethorpe saved her from a predatory older man by pretending to be her boyfriend. The tawdry timeline of gay video game characters includes horny elves, sexually ambiguous bullies, and drug-addicted club owners.