'Heroes' Star Zachary Quinto Comes Out After Gay Teen Commits Suicide

Zachary Quinto, the star of "Star Trek" and the former NBC series "Heroes," came out publicly on his website today.

Quinto said he was moved to make the announcement after hearing of the suicide of 14-year-old Jamey Rodemayer, a New York state resident whose parents say was bullied prior to his death.

Rodemayer had participated in the popular "It Gets Better" campaign months earlier.

Quinto's website statement read in part:

"[I]n light of jamey's death - it became clear to me in an instant that living a gay life without publicly acknowledging it - is simply not enough to make any significant contribution to the immense work that lies ahead on the road to complete equality.  our society needs to recognize the unstoppable momentum toward unequivocal civil equality for every gay lesbian bisexual and transgendered citizen of this country.  gay kids need to stop killing themselves because they are made to feel worthless by cruel and relentless bullying.  parents need to teach their children principles of respect and acceptance.  we are witnessing an enormous shift of collective consciousness throughout the world.  we are at the precipice of great transformation within our culture and government."

By referencing "living a gay life without publicly acknowledging it," Quinto threw down a gauntlet for the movie and television industries.

Hollywood, long an inwardly progressive environment in terms of homosexuality, still dictates that actors perceived as straight by audiences remain closeted.

There's no doubt that right now, some actors who still labor under this unwritten rule are mulling following Quinto's lead -- maybe even aloud, to their agents and publicists.

So we'll have to wait and see if Quinto's move triggers a ripple effect or just a single splash.

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GET READY: Here Comes Another Big Week For The Economy

Last week was kind of light data-wise.

This week's upcoming slate of econ data, however is stacked with juicy morsels.

Here's a quick preview, with estimates from Nomura.

Monday:

Empire Fed Survey: Estimate -7.5 up from -8.8 previously.Industrial production: Estimate 77.2 down from 77.4 (due to Hurricane Irene).

Tuesday:

Producer prices: Estimate -0.1%

Wednesday:

Housing starts Estimate of +4.7% or 598K annualized due to Hurricane Irene Beige Book (no estimate)

Thursday:

Jobless claims: Estimate 404KPhilly Fed Survey: Estimate -9.9 up from -17.5 previouslyExisting home sales: -2.5% after the 7.7% jump in August.

Of course, it will be jam packed with Europe news, as Sarkozy and Merkel have promised a solution on banks and debt within just a few days.

Oh, and of course tons of earnings, which we'll be covering all week.

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Fiscal Stimulus Comes Surging Back In Asia

As if yesterday's coordinated central bank intervention didn't make it clear enough, the world is in easing mode. And that's probably going to continue, with "Operation Twist" from the Fed, and the (seeming) inevitability of the ECB's two rate hikes.

The world is also leaning more heavily on fiscal stimulus. The Obama jobs bill raises at least the possibility that the US will get more tax cuts next year (probably not the spending parts though).

And even in emerging Asia -- which is arguably the most robust part of the global economy -- governments are ready to spend more.

Today it's reported that the Indonesia government plans more spending.

Jakarta Post:

To mitigate the impact of the world’s economic slowdown, President Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono’s administration launched a Rp 73 trillion (US$8.322 billion) stimulus package and added government spending as well as fiscal incentives in the form of government-borne import duties and value added and income taxes, to help revive business activities and to avoid employment cuts.

Recent mounting worries over debt troubles in European countries and stalling economic recovery in the United States have prompted policy makers across the world to guard against a potential economic slowdown worldwide.

Bank Indonesia (BI) has predicted a slowdown in the country’s economic growth to 6.5 percent from the 6.6 percent projected this year, due to slowing global demand, which could hurt the country’s exports.

Agus declined to give details of the planned stimulus package, which is scheduled to be launched in the first half of next year, but acting chief of the finance ministry’s fiscal policy office Bambang Brodjonegoro said it would combine “fresh money and policies”.

And in Thailand, the government is ready to spend as well.

Reuters:

 The Puea Thai-led government has aimed to start several of its stimulus programmes in the next fiscal year from Oct. 1, including tax incentives for first-time homebuyers, according to Deputy Finance Minister Boonsong Teriyaphirom.  

Probably the only area you can't expect any fiscal stimulus is Europe -- not because they don't need it, but because their economic structure currently prevents governments from spending.

More confirmation: Fiscal stimulus back form the dead >

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Here Comes The Challenger Jobs Report...

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