September 2008 Archives

''When the media gets it wrong, it frustrates Americans who are just trying to get the facts and be able to make up their mind on about -- uh, a person's values.... And you know, I don't know what prayers are worthy of being prayed. And I don't know what prayers are gonna be answered or not answered. But as for homosexuality, I am not going to judge Americans and the decisions that they make in their adult personal relationships. I have, um -- one of my absolute best friends for the last 30 years who happens to be gay, and I love her dearly. And she is not my gay friend, she is one of my best friends who happens to have made a choice that, um, isn't a choice that I have made. But, I'm not gonna judge people.''

Alaska Governor and Republican vice presidential candiate Sarah Palin speaking on camera with news anchor Katie Couric. It was reported that Palin is not a member of any church but attends a couple when she goes home, and that she took issue with reports that the Wasilla Bible Church sponsored a conference where gays could be made straight through prayer. (CBS Evening News)

In an earlier report with Fox News, Larry Kroon, the Wasilla Bible Church pastor, already acknowledged that he ran the announcment for the Focus on the Family-sponsored, ex-gay conference, but could not explain why. The announcement stated that it is God's ''desire to transform the lives of those impacted by homosexuality.'' (AP via Chicago Sun Times)

''In the latest unsettling Sarah Palin interview moment on our growing list, the Governor reportedly came up empty when the subject of Supreme Court cases came up during her marathon interview with Katie Couric. CBS has not yet aired this moment, but when Politico's Jonathan Martin, citing a McCain aide, writes this, '[The gaffe] came in response to a question about Supreme Court decisions. After noting Roe vs. Wade, Palin was apparently unable to discuss any major court cases.''

Dr. Rachel Maddow of the MSNBC news analysis program, ''The Rachel Maddow Show'' during her review of Sarah Palin's interview with Katie Couric on CBS Evening News. (MSNBC)

''To discriminate further against Ms. Kulstad because of her sexual preference in this day and age is no different than telling a person to go to the back of the bus because of her skin color.''

District Judge Ed McLean of Montana granting Michelle Kulstad joint custody to a boy and girl who her ex-girlfriend of 10 years, Barbara Maniaci, had adopted. Mancini is now married to a man and sought to block Kulstad from having any say in how the children are raised since she is did not legally adopt the children nor is she a blood relative. Kulstad argued that because it is illegal for same-sex couples to adopt in Montana, she could not appear on the adoption records. (Associated Press)

[It's no longer about tolerance, acceptance of gay marriage is now mandatory.] That changes a lot of things -- people sued over personal beliefs, churches could lose their tax exemption, gay marriage taught in public schools.... [We don't have to accept this.]''

Part of an ad that promotes Proposition 8, an initiative which seeks to have voters in California overturn that state's inclusion of legal marriage rights for same-sex couples. The ad lists ''ProtectMarriage.com' and ''Yes on 8'' as the creators of the message, but also lists major funders of their effort as the Catholic group Knights of Columbus, the Christian evangelical group Focus on the Family, and a group headed by Maggie Gallagher who is a conservative columnist that has made fighting gay marriage into a career funded with thousands of Federal tax dollars funneled through President Bush's ''marriage initiative'' at the Department of Health and Human Services.

"In my everyday life, I never have issues, because I'm comfortable with myself. Once people realize that I'm no different, it makes them comfortable, too.... A lot of people told me this was going to be big. I was just hoping to start my career.... It wasn't hard, because I knew that this is who I've always been. But in high school, nobody knew -- I was living as a gay male, which wasn't right.''

Isis King of Prince George's County, MD, and the first transgender contestant to appear on ''America's Top Model.'' (Express)

''It would be an abomination in the Tampa area if someone was to say that [they oppose Amendment 2], especially a representative of the NAACP, because it does not represent the populous here. It certainly isn't one that I would abide by and certainly if the Florida NAACP is taking those kinds of stands then I think they are going to end up losing a lot of members because it certainly would be against the church.... I am offended at the suggestion that the plight of people who engage in certain sexual behavior is anywhere near equivalent to the struggle of black men and women in this country who suffered and many died for simple equality. Gay people were never denied the right to vote or to drink out of a water fountain or to sit where they pleased on a public bus. Gay people have never been hosed down with water canons or beaten back by police officers because they were denied personhood. Gay people have never been spat upon for the color of their skin or lynched like animals in the field for trying to gain their freedom. How dare anyone and certainly the gay community for saying that their efforts to normalize their sexual desires are anything like the struggle that my people have faced and gone through. Homosexuality [has] the elements of choice and volition, being black is a God-given, inherent and unchangeable characteristic.''

W. James Favorite, of Beulah Baptist Institutional, speaking for a group of 40 African-American pastors in Tampa, Florida who are pushing for the passage of an anti-gay marriage measure there known as Amendment 2. According to the article, the president of the Florida NAACP, Adora obi Nweze, stated that the civil rights group is opposed to the amendment to the state's constitutional that would ban same-sex marriage. (Florida Baptist Witness)

''I spoke to her about an affair with a woman and three days later she had this stroke,' she said. I realised it was a mistake on my behalf. It was an indulgence of me to tell her that. I was very shocked about what had happened to my mother since it began this terrible illness and led to this very black time in my life.''

Actress Miriam Margolyes, 67, most recognizable as Professor Pamona Sprout in the Harry Potter movies, coming forward as a lesbian with a tragic coming out story. She says her mother had a stroke three days later, and never fully recovered before she died in the early '70s. And as a result of that experience she is burdoned with regret, and until now, she has been reluctant to speak about her sexuality publicly. (Daily Mail Online)

''These are not political issues. There are moral issues.... Or else we will find ourselves in America led by secularists and atheists. ''

Jody Hice, of the Bethlehem First Baptist Church near Atlanta, GA, reportedly endorsed John McCain while railing against homosexuality and abortion. (Atlanta Journal Constitution) This Sunday was to see a coordinated effort called, "Pulpit Freedom Sunday." Dozens of churches were expected to participate today. The political stunt is organized through a conservative, Arizona-based group called Alliance Defense Fund that seeks to challenge the IRS 501(c)3 restriction against endorsing candidates. If reported to the IRS, the church should lose it's tax-exempt status because it has become a political organization rather than a religious one.

Churches and religious organizations, like many other charitable organizations, qualify for exemption from federal income tax under IRC section 501(c)(3) and are generally eligible to receive tax-deductible contributions. To qualify for tax-exempt status, such an organization must meet the following requirements (covered in greater detail throughout this publication):

• the organization must be organized and operated exclusively for religious, educational, scientific, or other charitable purposes,
• net earnings may not inure to the benefit of any private individual or shareholder,
• no substantial part of its activity may be attempting to influence legislation,
• the organization may not intervene in political campaigns, and
• the organization's purposes and activities may not be illegal or violate fundamental public policy.

Portion of IRS document which explicitly states that churches receiving 501(c)3 tax exempt status may not try to influence legislation which, at least until now, has kept churches from endorsing specific candidates. Churches are still allowed a wide range of statements on various issues, and a past ruling on the matter found that removal of a church's tax-exempt status for breaking the IRS requirements does not in any way infringe upon a church's rights to free speech. (IRS.gov) Americans United for Separation of Church and State say they will be closely monitoring the situation and plan to take action. (Americans United)

''There are not enough famous gay actors to play these roles.... Our first concern was to get the best actor that we could get who was enough of a movie star to get the movie made. When one is casting a film for a lead role we always have to ask that awful question: 'Who puts bodies in seats?' Who has carried movies previously? Sadly, there don't seem to be openly gay actors that could carry a movie, but I think that will change.'''

Dan Jinks, a producer on the upcoming Harvey Milk biopic, ''Milk,'' explaining why Sean Penn got the lead role instead of a openly gay actor. (New York Times) The New York Times article features interviews and profiles of several of Hollywood's out, gay actors including: Jasika Nicole, Chad Allen, Bryan Batt, and many others.

''He's not [gay].... It's definitely put him in a class where he's going to have difficulty obtaining contracts for family-related shows.''

Liah Catanese, a lawyer apparently representing a heterosexual male model, Benjamin Massing, whose swimsuit photos and personal information were published in Genre, a gay magazine. Massing has filed suit in Manhattan against photographer Rick Day for allowing a "cruel and vulgar" picture of him to be published in a gay magaine (next to chat lines and sex toys) which made him look ''lustful and sexually promiscuous.'' Reportedly, the 20-year-old, Florida college student has said he now receives solicitations by strangers for "homosexual sex." The photos were republished on a number of gay blogs including Queerty and LeGayBlog. It is not clear at this time if a release form was to include the photos or if they were a free favor from the photographer meant only for the model's portfolio. (New York Daily News)

"[We] do not generally take a position on issues outside of our field, especially not social issues.... However, while there are many objections to this proposition -- further government encroachment on personal lives, ambiguously written text -- it is the chilling and discriminatory effect of the proposition on many of our employees that brings Google to publicly oppose Proposition 8. While we respect the strongly-held beliefs that people have on both sides of this argument, we see this fundamentally as an issue of equality. We hope that California voters will vote no on Proposition 8 -- we should not eliminate anyone's fundamental rights, whatever their sexuality, to marry the person they love.''

Sergey Brin, Co-founder and President of Google, in a post on the company's official blog. (GoogleBlog)

''I'm for anything gay. I adore gay men, gay women, gay everything. I think I was gay in a past life.''

''Heroes'' star, Hayden Panettiere, telling what she thinks of gay marriage at a an event to promote young voters. (E! Online)

''She had wanted kids. I had always wanted kids. Being a gay man, it wasn't something for me that was going to be an option any other way.... But, at the same time, I have a son.... I can't raise a son and teach him how to lie...

''You know, I think it's obviously something that, in this day and age, people in my position don't really have an opportunity to -- to keep anything of theirs personal.... No, it's not [a declaration], because I'm not making an announcement of any kind. I'm not coming and telling anybody anything. Speaking about it so that people will stop asking questions about it....

''We kind of look at it as a separated couple, in a way, who really loves each other and gets along.... There's nothing different about [the way we raise our child], except in that we're not married... We are raising a child, because we love the child....

''I still consider myself [a Southern Baptist]. But there's a stereotype that Christians, and people who are religious are completely anti-gay, anti-this, anti-that. And I hate that! I hate that stereotype because I know so many people who are Chrsitians [who are] not representative of that stereotype.''

Singer Clay Aiken, who once came in second as a contestant on ''American Idol,'' talking with Diane Sawyer on ''Good Morning America.'' She tried to grill him on his coming out experience, but Aiken's responses came across as elusive to Sawyer, probably because of his nervous laughter and unemotional facade except for an occasional annoyance at being told that, after years of avoiding his sexuality, his coming out was a big deal. He shares a new son with his female friend, Jaymes Foster, via artificial insemination He added that the first person he told was fellow 'Idol' contestant, Kimberly Locke. (GMA on ABC)

''I didn't say [homosexuals] don't exist. I said, not the way they are here. In Iran it is considered a very unlikeable and abhorrent act. People simply don't like it. Our religious priests tell us it's against our values, and all divine laws actually believe in the same. Who has given them permission to engage in homosexual acts? It is considered as an abhorrent act. It shakens the foundations of a society -- the family foundation. It robs humanity. It brings about diseases.''

''It should be of no pride to the American society to say that they defend homosexuals or support it. It's not a good act in and by itself to hold others accountable for banning it. And it's not called freedom either.

''Sure, if somebody engages in an act in their own house, without being known to others. We don't pay any attention to that. People are free to do what they like in their private realms. But nobody can engage in what breaks the law in public.''

''Why is it that in the West, all moral boundaries have been shaken. Just because some people want to get votes, they are ready to overlook every morality? This goes against the values of the society. It is the Divine rule of the Prophets. And then, of course, in Iran, it's not an issue as big as it is of concern here in the United States. There might be a few people who are known. In general, our country would not accept it. And there's a law about it, too, which one must follow.''

[Confronted by the Democracy Now reporter with a picture of two gay Iranian teens, Mahmoud Asgari and Ayaz Marhoni, who were hung to death on July 19, 2005, and asked if he thought gay men and lesbians should die.]

''There's no law for their execution in Iran. Either they were drug traffickers or they had killed someone else. Those who kill someone else, or engage in acts of rape could be punished by acts of execution. Otherwise, homosexuals are not known to be hung in the second place. So, we don't have execution of homosexuals. Of course, we consider it an abhorring act. But it is not punished by capital punishment. It's basically an immoral act. There's a lot of acts that are immoral, but there's no capital punishment for them.''

''I don't know where you obtain these pictures from. Either they were a network of drug traffickers or people who might have generally killed someone else. You know that we take our social security as something important.... The rights of the society sit above the rights of the individual.''

Mahmoud Amadinejad, the controversial President of Iran, responding through a translator to questions this week about his statement one year ago that gays did not exist in Iran. He appeared to deny the existence of gays then; and now is denying that gays are executed, even when confronted with evidence. The two teens in the photo he was being shown were widely reported in western media to have been killed for being gay while falsely being accused on trumped-up charges of raping a child. (Democracy Now)

''One of his aids said to me immediately after that speech was, 'They misunderstood. They completely misunderstood. He was referring to the fact that, when he said "phenomenon" -- "We don't have that phenomenon in Iran,'' that's what he really meant. He meant, there's no gay rights in Iran. There's no gay rights movement. There's no gay activism in Iran. There is no public gay rights in Iran....' The 'problem' is a public gay presence, in the political and social scene.... The government doesn't have to not allow it: It just isn't gonna happen. If somebody walks down the street holding up a gay rights banner, the government doesn't have to beat him up. People will. I mean, that's unfortunate, but it's true; as it was true in America in the 1950s.... Everybody knows there's gays in Iran. There is quite an active gay culture in Iran -- subculture, and underground -- but publicly, no, the culture doesn't accept that.''

Hooman Majd, an American-Iranian author, journalist and translator who enjoys ties to the current Iranian regime, explaining what he thinks President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad was trying to say at Columbia University a year ago. (Fresh Air with Terry Gross on NPR)

''In Iran, we don't have homosexuals like in your country. [audience laughter] We don't have that in our country. [audience boos] In Iran, we do not have this phenomenon. I don't know who's told you we have it. [laughter and boos]''

Iranian President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad replying through an English translator to a question about human rights violation at Columbia University on September 24, 2007. The original question was, ''Iranian women are now denied basic human rights and your government has imposed draconian punishments including execution on Iranian citizens who are homosexuals. Why are you doing those things?''

''Until I have my gender reassignment surgery, there's some things I have to do extra that the other girls don't have to. I have on, like, three pairs of undergarments just in case the tape did peel off because of the water. I'm so nervous about that.''

Isis King, the most media-covered contestent on ''America's Next Top Model, Cycle 11,'' because she is a pre-op MTF transgender. Unfortunately, her nervousness about a possible wardrobe malfunction came across her while posing in a bikini, and she was sent by host Tyra Banks back home to Prince Georges County, MD.

''I didn't do very well on my photo shoot today. I was stuck. I don't like that. I like to feel that I can perform without help. I don't ask for help a lot, and I hate asking for help. So, that kind of got to me.''

Elina, the women-loving contestant on ''America's Next Top Model - Cycle 11,'' won last week's photo challenge despite being given a wild and fiery hair weave. But this week she appeared stiff on the runway, and got stuck trying to find a way to pose in the pool. Miss Jay referred to her as a ''control freak.''

''The wording of Prop 8 is tricky. It's like if someone asked you, 'You don't want dessert, right?' But you do want dessert so you say, 'Yes,' which really means you don't want dessert. And if you say, 'No,' which means you do want dessert -- it sounds like you don't. Either way, you don't get what you want. See -- confusing. Just like Prop. 8.''

Comedian and talk show host, Ellen Degeneres, trying her best to explain how and why the people of California should vote on Proposition 8. Degeneres, as you likely know, legally married actress Portia De Rossi this summer in California. (Ellen Degneres Show blog)

''Anonymity on the web can be a really good thing in some ways but, by and large, I think it creates an atmosphere where those people who feel like than can be really, really hateful -- they have the veil of the internet to protect them.... Part of me wanted to create a safe space for gay gamers and non-gay gamers to come and feel comfortable, and not have to feel like they're going to say something that's gonna result in being called a faggot. [Two guys] were flooding our chat with hate speech, and then they flooded our forums with hate speech and large files trying to shut it down.... Eventually, we got them blocked. Almost immediately, we received a Denial of Service [attack, and because of that,] our ISP shut the site down.''

Flynn DeMarco, founder of GayGamer.net using a Current TV segment to shed light on the hateful, anti-gay comments and actions that are a constant part of online gaming. (Current.com)

''They invited me to come and give prizes to 13-year-olds in front of the parents and to talk, partly, about being gay.... I said hands up who thinks they are part of a minority group and all the hands went up. I had Gandalf's sword with me and I knighted a pair of children Sir Minority and Dame Minority and it went down very well.... It is essential to talk to 12 and 13-year-olds because they absorb what's thrown at them, whether it be homophobia or tolerance - and we have to make sure it's positive stuff.''

Sir Ian McKellen, most widely known from his movie roles as the wizard Gandalf from "Lord of the Rings" and Magneto in the "X-Men," speaking of his experience at a UK school to address young teens on gay issues. The actor has been openly gay and politically active on gay issues for quite some time, and the interview can be read in Attitude magazine. (The Daily Mail)

''[Looking at the Clinic's HIV-infection numbers from the first half of this year]. In the same period this year, we've seen 266 new HIV cases. During the same period last year, it was 80 case. It was shocking.... We have not seen a drastic increase like this, except for, back in the day when HIV was first coming about and probably back in the early '90s.'' -- Dr. Raymond Martin of Whitman-Walker Clinic.

''I don't think we see an indication that there's a huge upsurge in new transmissions.... If we are truly successful in our intention of getting as many people as possible to know their status and know their status routinely, our number of cases that we know about is going to jump.... [Looking at areas of DC with high HIV & poverty rates] there wasn't a lot of [traditional high risk] behaviors.... We found out, well, a lot of folks weren't using condoms. Dig a little deeper, in these regular committed relationships, 'Do you know your partner's HIV status' [50% said no, and 50% thought they might be having sex outside of the relationship.]... We didn't find that HIV transmission was going on because people have 10, 20, 30 sex partners. That wasn't what was driving it. It was very normal, normative relationships in a setting of a lot of HIV.'' -- Dr. Shannon Hader of the DC HIV AIDS Administration

Portion of a news cast from WAMU that examined the reasons why new HIV/AIDS rates continue an alarming rise in DC, especially among gay and black populations. Whitman-Walker Clinic is the District of Columbia's largest HIV testing facility and also provides health care services specifically for gay, lesbian and other minority populations. (WAMU News)

Listen to the broadcast in RealAudio or Windows Media

''New Dad Clay Aiken: Yes I'm Gay. The 'Idol' star opens up about his emotional decision to come out: 'I cannot raise a child to lie or to hide things.'''

Chicago Sun Times reporting on the new cover of People magazine featuring singer Clay Aiken and his new baby. The new cover echoes the magazine's previous covers from Ellen Degeneres and Lance Bass that served as springboards for their public profiles. (Chicago Sun Times) Aiken has been silent, even avoidant on the matter, yet he has long remained the subject of speculation about his sexuality -- including an angry reaction to Diane Sawyer; an outing by Rosie O'Donnell during her misdirected 'homophobic' beef with Kelly Ripa; the appearance of shirtless photos from an alleged gay video chat session; the birth of his new baby son, Parker Foster, by artificial insemination; and the nickname "Gayken" assigned to him by comedian Kathy Griffin.

''Despite much speculation about the future of Heaven, it is my priority to make sure not only will Heaven be the new home for G-A-Y, but also to continue the success of other nights, allowing Heaven to be a diverse venue, making it's Britain's best gay club. The next couple of weeks I will spend getting to re-know Heaven and will be making plans that will include a major refurb.''

G-A-Y promoter and MAMA's G-A-Y business partner, Jeremy Joseph, commenting on the takeover of the Heaven nightclub by owners of the former competing club G-A-Y which shuttered it's doors at the soon-to-be-demolished Astoria in July, 2008. Heaven has been in operation for decades. The club is a large-scale, multiple dancefloor venue located at the arches under Charing Cross station in Central London. The largest dance space features a stage where an overwhelmed Cher once launched the single, ''Believe.'' G-A-Y featured live performances by gay faves including Madonna, Kylie and Danii Minogue, Christina Aguilera, Spice Girls and many more. (Rainbownetwork)

''I think it's so important for me to do this," he says. "But my biggest concern is I just hope it doesn't hurt the gay community in any way because, you know, we definitely can be scrutinized and picked apart. I definitely feel a responsibility of making sure I represent well.... I'm definitely not political. But [on California's Propsition 8,] I know what's right and wrong, and I know that's wrong. So I'm going to speak up about it. It's just common sense.''

Gay singer Lance Bass, formerly of the boy band N'Snyc, and now a contestant of the highly-viewed 7th season of the ABC show, "Dancing with the Stars" (E-Online) He described himself on the show as the worst dancer of his singing group, but did an admirable cha-cha with partner, Lacey Schwimmer to ''Jumpin' Jack Flash,'' earning 22 out of 30.

''This dramatic increase shows how far many networks have come in developing complex, multilayered lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender characters.''

Neil Giuliano, president of GLAAD, revealing the results of an examination of the new 2008-2009 network TV season that will include 16 regular characters who are gay, lesbian, bisexual or transgender in scripted programs. (Hollywood Reporter)

Over the past month I've been contacted by three different individuals (two of them members of the Log Cabin Republicans) claiming that McCain's Senate chief of staff, Mark Buse, is gay. None of these individuals would be quoted by name, though each described Buse as being rather "open" to those around him and to his family - in a "glass closet" rather than deeply undercover or trying to appear heterosexual.

Then I was contacted in recent weeks by 46-year-old Brian Davis, an Arizona resident, who told me about his intimate relationship with Mark Buse (confirmed by Davis' mother, as well as by a long-time friend), and who decided he needed to tell the truth about Buse, on the record, in light of John McCain's dramatic shift to the ideological religious right in this election and his choice of Sarah Palin, starlet of the evangelical movement, as a running mate.

Portion of blog entry from Michaelangelo Signorile, who finds hypocrisy in emerging evidence which he has gathered showing that John McCain's Chief of Staff, Mark Buse, could be gay. McCain, as the Republican presidential candidate, has repeated demonstrated that he will support socially conservative actions that are contrary to equal rights being sought by people in the gay community. (Michaelangelo Signorile's The Gist) Michael Rogers at Blogactive claims more info that backs up Signorile's revelation. (Blogactive)

''Started as an intern, worked in the mailroom, answered the phones, legislative correspondent, legislative assistant -- anything that he wanted you to do, I did. You know, sort of just plugged away in the trenches for year after year. And that's sort of the way that he runs things. You know, just, if you are willing to work for him and stick around, he believe in that sort Navy mentality of you work your way up in the ranks.''

Republican presidential candidate John McCain's Chief of Staff, Mark Buse, describing his history of working for the Senator to the Newshour on PBS. (PBS) Politico reports that he also worked as a lobbyist for two firms serving several large corporations. (Politico)

''By writing discrimination into our state constitution, Proposition 8 seeks to eliminate the right of each and every citizen in our state to marry regardless of sexual orientation. Such discrimination has NO place in California's constitution, or any other.''

Portion of a statement from Director Steven Spielberg and his wife, actress Kate Capshaw, who together donated $100,000 to a fund that seeks to derail Proposition 8. The ballot measure is designed to overturn same-sex marriages in the state of California. The anti-gay marriage initiative is driven by $18 million dollars in donations, most of which comes directly from conservative religious organizations and their followers including the Mormon LDS, and the Catholic Knights of Columbus. (LA Times)

''There's no question African-American and Latino voters are among our strongest supporters. And to the extent that they are motivated to get to the polls, whether by this issue or by Barack Obama, it helps us.''

Frank Schubert, of the anti-gay marriage group ''Yes on 8,'' seemingly pleased at the possibility of using minority voters in California to roll back legally-recognized same-sex marriages this November. (International Herald Tribune)

''This is black people talking to black people. We're saying, 'Gay people are black, and black people are gay. And if you are voting conservative on an anti-gay ballot measure, you are hurting the black community.... For too long, black people seemed to think there were no gay people around, especially black ministers. They'd say the most insanely anti-gay things, and then the choir would come up and the choir is 50 percent gay.''

Ron Buckmire, board president of the Barbara Jordan/Bayard Rustin Coalition, one of several gay rights group in California that are trying to reach out to the black community in a effort to educate the traditionally conservative members of African-American religious institutions on the reasons why same-sex marriage is a civil rights issue needing their support. (International Herald Tribune)

''I'm used to having friends I can call up and say, 'Let's go to [a movie],'" he says. "But now there's nobody to call.''

Bob McCoy, 78, of Brooklyn, NY, sharing his situation as a gay senior citizen today. (Newsweek)

''If you can imagine a situation where you're 80 years old, with no kids, a partner passed, no cousins or relatives and not one service that will provide you help with an emoticon of respect, that's what most LGBT seniors in this country face right now.''

Michael Adams, Executive Director of New York's SAGE (Services and Advocacy for Gay, Lesbian, Bisexual & Transgender Elders), the nation's oldest senior network. (Newsweek)

''I know that because of my past people will always bring up the subject, I can't get away from it. But I hope that one day I might be better known for my music than for my past.''

Kim Petras, a 16-year-old MTF transgender from Germany who just launched her first pop music record. She is reported to possibly be the youngest person in the world to have started gender transition therapy at 12. (TheSun.co.uk)

Same-sex marriage hits at the heart of Mormon theology, said Terryl Givens, a professor of literature and religion at the University of Richmond. According to scholars and documents on the Mormon Church's official Web site, couples married in a Mormon temple remain wedded for eternity and can give birth to spirit children in the afterlife. Most importantly, Mormons must be married to achieve "exaltation," the ultimate state in the afterlife. Mormons also believe they retain their gender in the afterlife.

"This all explains the Mormon difficulty with homosexuality," said Mr. Givens. In a theology based on eternal gender, marriage and exaltation, "same-sex attraction doesn't find a place."

Portion of a Wall Street Journal article that examines what is motivating religious groups to donate many millions of dollars to Vote Yes on Proposition 8, an organization that seeks to overturn California's recent allowance of legally recognized same-sex marriages. The Mormon Church of Latter Day Saints reportedly accounts for 40% of the total sum raised to fight gay marriage, and it is well known that Mormon leaders have organized massive fund raising announcements throughout their California congregations. One of the muddying questions raised about gay marriage remains the argument that polygamous marriage will then be allowed, which is something the LDS says they are against, but which some Mormons still choose to engage because it has always been part of the philosophies espoused by the church's founder, Joseph Smith. (Wall Street Journal)

''He was taken to a North London police station where he received a caution and was released with no further action. The caution was for the possession of class A and class C drugs, cocaine and cannabis.''

A spokesperson for Metropolitan Police of London who arrested the long-troubled, gay, pop and standards singer George Michael. (Contact Music)

''It is especially gratifying that the court has ruled that discriminating against someone for transitioning is illegal. I knew all along that the 25 years of experience I gained defending our country didn't disappear when I transitioned, so it was hard to understand why I was being turned down for a job doing what I do best.''

Diane Shroer, a MTF transgender who just won her case against the Library of Congress. Eventhough she was highly qualified at the time, she was denied a position as a terrorism research analyst after having lunch with her potential supervisor and revealing that she would be making the final gender transition from male to female. (Washington Post)

''Schroer's case indeed rests on direct evidence, and compelling evidence, that the Library's hiring decision was infected by sex stereotypes.... She was well qualified for the job.''

Portion from US District Judge James Robertson's decision that the Library of Congress had violated the Civil Rights Act's prohibition against sex discrimination. It was argued by the LOC that transgender status is not covered under Federal protections, but the ACLU argued that Shroer's case fell under sex discrimination regulations. The Judge agreed. A hearing to determine what penalties will be levied or how Shroer will be compensated is to follow. (Washington Post)

''In refusing to hire Diane Schroer because her appearance and background did not comport with the decisionmaker's sex stereotypes about how men and women should act and appear, and in response to Schroer's decision to transition, legally, culturally, and physically, from male to female, the Library of Congress violated Title VII's prohibition on sex discrimination.''

More from the US District Court of DC's ruling in favor of MTF transgender Diane Schroer. (The Hill)

''We would like Sen. Obama to be much more emphatic in his opposition to Amendment 2. We'd like his campaign to acknowledge that in a stronger way.''

Stephen Gaskill, a spokesman for the Florida Democratic Party's gay and lesbian caucus, referring to Proposition 2, an amendment to that state's constitution that would strengthen a ban on gay marriages and also remove benefits for all domestic partnerships, too. The 37 words to be added to the Florida Constitution are reportedly: "Inasmuch as marriage is the legal union of only one man and one woman as husband and wife, no other legal union that is treated as marriage or the substantial equivalent thereof shall be valid or recognized." (Associated Press)

''No matter where you fall on the issue of marriage, people are seeing these divisive tactics for what they are.... McCain has been quite skilled at wrapping up discriminatory views in a nice package. I couldn't tell you where his heart genuinely is.''

Joe Solmonese of the Human Rights Campaign in Washington, DC. (Associated Press)

• Obama for Gay Marriage ... Against God
• Obama for Abortion (Murder)
• Obama Endorsed by the KKK
• Jessie Jackson hates Obama for Federal Child Support Act

Some of the signs from a group of about 10 people being called ''Blacks against Obama'' that interrupted the presidential candidate, Barack Obama, during a speech in Florida. (MSNBC) The website that they are promoting is for a book that displays the views of a religious fringe group that focuses on where the Book of Leviticus calls for homosexuals to be put to death, and claims to reveal Obama as the Beast (666), Oprah as the Devil who empowered him, Satan as Lilith living in 33% of black women, a connection between Obama and the ex-Klansman Senator Byrd of West Virginia, and on and on. The group appears to be led by an individual who calls himself, "Michael, the Black Man."

''Yeah, women started the whole fucking thing. Now you've got 'Uncle' Women, like Sarah Palin, who jumps on the shit and points her fingers at other women -- turncoat bitch.''

Comedian, singer and actress Sandra Bernhard commenting on Republican vice presidential candidate, Sarah Palin, at her revival show of ''Without You I'm Nothing.'' Her live show is currently running at Theater J in Washington, DC. (via YouTube) You can read Metro Weekly's recent interview with Bernhard here.

''The LDS Church has no business [sticking] their big nose in something that's a legal matter, not a religious matter. Constitutions are meant to protect minorities, not to take rights away from people.''

Bruce Bastian, an entrepreneur in Orem, UT who donated $1 million to battle Propositions 8, the ballot initiative designed to reinstate a ban on same-sex marriages in California this November. As an ex-Mormon, Bastian says he was offended by the Mormon Church of Latter Day Saints (LDS) which has been coordinating announcements in California church, canvasing neighborhoods with anti-gay marriage messages, and donating more than $1 million dollars itself. (Salt Lake Tribune)

''Even as we speak, he's still out there, getting up to no good. He's done nothing good with his life -- he's arrested time and time and again. I hear that he's trying to put a book out to trash us. He makes so much money from all those Village People royalties, but he can't leave us alone. He's just a bitter old man.... Of course it makes me sad... It would have been great if we could have got on together, but that wasn't to be. All he does is talk badly of us. That is, when he's not in prison.''

Felipe Rose, the original Indian from the Village People speaking about the original front-man, singing Cop, Victor Wilis, with whom the still-active, mostly gay band members have developed an ongoing rift. The Village People are celebrating 30 years of recording and touring, and Rose adds that even though they're not getting younger, if there's an audience, they will continue to play. (Independent.ie)

''Because no one has the right to deny another their life, even though they disagree with it, because everyone has the right to live the life they so desire if it doesn't harm another and because discrimination has no place in America, my vote will be for equality and against Proposition 8.''

A statement from actor Brad Pitt, who has donated $100,000 to fight against the Proposition 8 ballot initiative that seeks to repeal the rights of gay and lesbian couples to be legally married in that state. (LA Times)

''Oh, I don't know. But I'm not one to judge. And, uh, you know, I'm from -- uh, a family, and from a community with many, many members of many diverse backgrounds. And, you know, I'm not gonna judge someone on whether they believe that homosexuality is a choice or, um, genetic. I'm not gonna judge them.''

Sarah Palin during her very first national press interview with ABC News' Charlie Gibson, who asked her if homosexuality was genetic or learned. (ABC News via YouTube)

'''Brokeback Mountain' has had little effect on my writing life, but is the source of constant irritation in my private life. There are countless people out there who think the story is open range to explore their fantasies and to correct what they see as an unbearably disappointing story. They constantly send ghastly manuscripts and pornish rewrites of the story to me, expecting me to reply with praise and applause for 'fixing' the story.... Most of these 'fix-it' tales have the character Ennis finding a husky boyfriend and living happily ever after, or discovering the character Jack is not really dead after all, or having the two men's children meet and marry, etc., etc. Nearly all of these remedial writers are men, and most of them begin, 'I'm not gay but....' They do not understand the original story, they know nothing of copyright infringement--i.e., that the characters Jack Twist and Ennis Del Mar are my intellectual property--and, beneath every mangled rewrite is the unspoken assumption that because they are men they can write this story better than a woman can.... The general impression I get is that they are bouncing off the film, not the story.''

Writer Annie Proulx, the original author of the short story 'Brokeback Mountain,' in an interview with The Wall Street Journal. The tragic gay love story was made by director Ang Lee into a surprise-hit movie starring Jake Gyllenhaal and the late Heath Ledger. The author has just published her final collection of short stories about Wyoming called ''Fine Just the Way It Is.'' (The Wall Street Journal)

''It may just be a few dollars for a Big Mac and some fries, but if I'm going to spend my hard earned money anywhere, I should be able to do so without being verbally abused. The original name-calling was bad enough, but the fact that McDonald's refuses to do anything to make this right just adds injury to the insult.''

Ryan Marlatt relaying through the ACLU the details of a hateful incident that ocurred at a McDonald's restaurant on East Market Street in Louisville, KY. While he and two friends were waiting for their meals, an employee behind the counter referred to them as faggots. After telling their cashier that they were insulted and asking to see a supervisor, the friends claim that the other employee came forward to argue with them in front of other customers, repeatedly calling them faggots, cocksucker and bitch. (ACLU)

''Nobody should be treated the way my friends and I were at that McDonald's. When we finally got to speak with a supervisor, she said she didn't see what the big deal was. I couldn't believe what was happening

Teddy Eggers who was one of three friends who bought lunch at a Louisville, KY McDonald's restuartant in July, but were instead served a barrage of anti-gay slurs by one of the women staff. They say they were refused a refund of their $28 and their requests for response from the corporate office have gone unanswered, and that they are hung up on when they try to contact the East Market Street store where the incident happened. The friends say that their original cashier should be thanked because she was the only one on staff who recognized that the situation was wrong and that the abusive employee should stop calling them names. (ACLU)

"It is not this or any court's role to judge whether the legislature's prohibition of same-sex marriage ... is morally defensible or socially enlightened. Nor is it this or any court's role ... to craft any means by which the legal consequences of such a prohibition may be negated or avoided.... Unfortunately, the parties' sexuality preference or some other sympathy for their plight impaired the way legal professionals viewed the law.''

Judge Glenn Acree of the Kentucky Court of Appeals handing down a harshly-worded, 3-0 judgment against a lower court's ruling that allowed a lesbian to adopt her partner's child. The Appeals Court declared that stepparent status cannot be granted in Kentucky to a person who is not married to the child's parent. This disappointing ruling appears to apply to both unmarried straight and gay couples, but it is especially hurtful to gay families because gay marriage has been banned in the state of Kentucky through a constitutional amendment. (Courier-Journal)

''I would wish my daughter to have happiness and freedom to make her own choices. The Vice President said in the debate with Joe Lieberman, ever so long ago in 2000, that freedom in this country ought to mean freedom for everyone.''

Lynne Cheney, wife of current Republican Vice President Dick Cheney, wiggling her way around the "M"-word when asked if she would like for her lesbian daughter, Mary Cheney, to be married as actor George Takei has just become this past weekend since it is now legal in California. (CBS News)

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The new mayor also tended carefully to her evangelical base.... And she began to eye the library. For years, social conservatives had pressed the library director to remove books they considered immoral.

"People would bring books back censored," recalled former Mayor John Stein, Ms. Palin's predecessor. "Pages would get marked up or torn out...."

[In] 1995, Ms. Palin, then a city councilwoman, told colleagues that she had noticed the book "Daddy's Roommate" on the shelves and that it did not belong there, according to Ms. Chase and Mr. Stein.

Ms. [Laura] Chase read the book, which helps children understand homosexuality, and said it was inoffensive; she suggested that Ms. Palin read it.

"Sarah said she didn't need to read that stuff," Ms. Chase said. "It was disturbing that someone would be willing to remove a book from the library and she didn't even read it."

Portion of a New York Times article examining the history of controversial Vice Presidential candidate, Sarah Palin, who is also the Republican Governor of Alaska but previously served as Mayor of Wasilla, Alaska and as a city councilwoman. Laura Chase, who is mentioned in the article, was the campaign manager for Sarah Palin's first run for mayor in 1996. It has been widely reported that as Mayor, she looked into banning books at the small town's library, allegedly targeting a specific gay-friendly book called, "Pastor, I Am Gay." This new book of interest, "Daddy's Roommate," is an illustrated book for children designed to help them understand gay relationships, and at one time this book was the target of many protests by fundamentalist Christians. (New York Times)

''All I can remember is what the priest said. That this moment will never happen again. It's something to savor.''

Actor George Takei, 71, speaking with People Magazine after his wedding to Brad Altman, 54. (People)

"I was fighting back the tears. But they came oozing out anyway. I'm so happy that they're both able to legally proclaim their commitment to one another after spending the past 21 years together."

Actress Nichelle Nichols who served as matron of honor at the wedding of her "Star Trek" and "Heroes" co-star, George Takei, and his husband Brad Altman. Actor Walter Koenig served as the best man. (Daily Mail)

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"So I can walk into the office, wear a skirt and not be quite so afraid. The little tiny things in life that most of the rest of humanity take for granted, we look at and say, 'That could be a hurdle as tall as the Empire State Building.'''

Fay, a transgender woman who lives in nearby Prince George's County, MD, expressing what impact the passage of a measure that gives transgender people a range of protections. (Washington Post)

''In his documentary Fanshawe admits that the homosexualist movement has in the main achieved its political goals of equalising homosexuality with natural sexual relations, in abolishing laws against sodomy and creating legal equivalency with marriage and adoption. Given these achievements, Fanshawe asks, 'Why do we seem hell bent on behaving like eternal teenagers?' ... 'We're hooked on vanity, and regard older men with contempt. Despite AIDS we're still chasing the ultimate sexual high and what's more are determined to wreck ourselves on designer drugs. We're happy to assist the straight world in keeping alive the image of all gay men as limp-wristed queens.'''

From a posting at LifeSiteNews, an anti-gay, anti-abortion, Canadian organization's propaganda site that has dug up a 2-year-old BBC3 documenatary called, "The Trouble with Gay Men." The documentary filmmaker, Simon Fanshawe, 48 at the time, focused his examination of the gay community on the most shallow and troubling aspects of the scene including bath house orgies, drug abuse, barebacking, online cruising, circuit parties, youth worship, relationship avoidance and extreme exercises in vanity. While it's all very interesting in a salacious way, Fanshaw attributed his own interests and observations as universal social indulgences for gay men. And, for the most part, the tabloid-like exposé skipped over corresponding behaviors found throughout non-gay society, as well as any mention of successful gay couples or any gay men who might have interests outside of obsessive cruising, club hopping, and a need to look pretty in front of a camera. Perhaps because of a YouTube posting, conservative religious groups are finding his video and using it as fodder for their anti-gay rhetoric. (LifeSiteNews)