Page 1 Consider (08/03)

Fidel Gastro: Word has it that the Cuban dictator is recuperating from his gastrointestinal surgery, although he and his brother have remained out of sight. But will a change in regime be a positive for the Cuban gay community? (PinkNews)

Hugh Is Bustin' Out All Over: Hunky and oh-so-versatile Hugh Jackman is set to star as Billy Bigelow in a remake of the 1956 Rogers and Hammerstein musical "Carousel." He sure looks like he's ready for a musical or something equally fabulous in this photo (gay-face city!). (RTE)

Daisy-Razor Burn: You gotta hand it to Thursday Styles for tackling this one: "When a Beard Is Too Painful Remove": For gay men in heterosexual marriages, even after the status quo becomes unbearable, the pull of domestic life remains powerful. Many are desperate to preserve their marriages -- to continue reaping the emotional and financial support of wives, and domestic pleasures like tucking children in at night. (NYT)

A la Carte Activism: I'm so tired of idiotic "gay activists" who are against gay marriage: "For those of us who are single, there is this constant drumbeat," said one crusader for gay and anti-war causes. "You must be coupled to be really fulfilled, for us to treat you as a full person." Um, no one is saying that you have to get married if gay marriage is legalized -- it's called equality. When interracial marriage became legal it didn't mean that black people who championed it had to marry a white person -- or vice-versa. Perhaps it's your myopia and self-absorption that has allowed you to remain single. (NYT)

Shanghai Surprise: Given China's track record with human rights it should come as no surprise that their animals rights leave something to be desired. But bashing 50,000 dogs to death with a bat in an effort to curb a rabies outbreak? I can't even believe they'd do that. (AP)

Gay 'Bash' Turns Ugly: A third suspect has been arrested in connection with a series of unprovoked attacks on men who were leaving San Diego's gay pride festival over the weekend. The attacks have been described as hate crimes by police and elected officials. (Advocate)

AARP Discount: It only took 60 minutes for Andre Agassi to get eliminated by an Italian qualifier in the Washington tuneup for the U.S. Open. Somewhere Jimmy Connors is calling Agassi a big wuss. (WP)

Page Six Blind Item: WHICH hunky actor who once picked up a young man and brought him back to the Mercer Hotel for oral sex is now hanging out with a top athlete? The two are said to be more than just workout buddies. Sounds hot but I have no idea -- do you? (NYP)