"[It] was about the LGBT community at large. And I think it was a hate crime. I think this will mobilize us to realize there's still homophobia in our communities -- all across Chicago and all across America.'' Steven Sondheimer of the Chicago Housing Authority, which was slated to have a float in the Chicago Pride Parade. It's reported ... [Read]

Despite the objections of Democrat Ruben Diaz, Sr. and most of the Republicans in the New York state Senate, a final vote of 33-29 essentially cleared the way for marriage equality on June 24, 2011. Governor Andrew Cuomo fought hard for the bill's passage and, according to AP, quickly signed the bill into law. MSNBC host Rachel Maddow covered the historic ... [Read]

MSNBC host Rachel Maddow took a look tonight at President Barack Obama's trip to New York today to raise funds for his presidential campaign. He appeared at a dinner with LGBT rights advocates during a week when the legalization of gay marriage may become reality or may find itself defeated by that state's Senate for the second time in two ... [Read]

Gossip site TMZ caught hip-hop artist Chris Brown on video using "gay" in a negative context. Apparently, he thought that photographers had called a parking enforcement agent to come ticket his illegally parked car. Brown said: "Y'all n**gas is weak. Did you all call them to try and film me? Y'all n**gas is gay." After the video was posted, Brown ... [Read]

Speaking of morals, religious beliefs and "what's right" for America, football player David Tyree stepped forward to express his point of view that gay men and lesbians do not deserve equal marriage rights. His ridiculous statement about "anarchy" being the result of same-sex marriage has caught the attention of many critics. Others, however, have defended his political maneuvering as freedom of ... [Read]

Singer Cee Lo Green set off gay alarms recently when he sent out a Tweet that appeared to some to be "homophobic." He opened for Rhianna's concert in Minneapolis, MN on Friday. An entertainment blogger named Andrea Swensson reviewed his performance. She called it "ho-hum," "lackluster," and "flubbed." Green responded to Swensson with a public post to Twitter (CityPages.com): @gimme_noise ... [Read]

Kevin Rogers, a gay man who reportedly attended a controversial stand-up performance by comedian Tracy Morgan, accepted Morgan's apology as "very genuine." Morgan returned to Nashville to appear with Rogers and a representative from the Gay and Lesbian Alliance Against Defamation. Morgan said he didn't mean what he said (AP via YouTube): "I have an opportunity to change my message ... [Read]

Much was made in the news last week about a saucy comedian, Reggie Brown, hired by the Republican Leadership Conference to do his impersonation of President Barack Obama. Brown's website says the actor is a Chicago native and has appeared on numerous TV shows. It promotes his act as "[C]ustomized material incorporating specific terminology your audience will enjoy expressly for ... [Read]

"What is this? An old-timey gay bar?" -- Victoria Chase (Wendie Malick), upon entering an Amish bar filled with bearded, hat-wearing men, on the season 3 premiere of Hot in Cleveland. The original TVLand sitcom, which had its season 3 premiere last night, features Malick, Jane Leeves and Valerie Bertinelli as three middle-aged L.A. women who, through an absurd set ... [Read]

This afternoon Anthony Weiner announced his resignation as New York's Representaive of the 9th Congressional District.   He apologized to Huma, his wife, his neighbors and his constituents once again for "the personal mistakes I have made and the embarassment I have caused." Weiner went on to say: ''I had hoped to be able to continue the work that ... [Read]

Cable network TV Land is set to premiere Fran Drescher's new sitcom, Happily Divorced. The veteran actress says in promos and interviews that the premise was inspired by her own life. She was married to producer Peter Marc Jacobson for two decades, and after they were divorced, he came out to her as gay. Jacobson is co-writer of the new show. TV Land ... [Read]

A coalition of gay rights groups staged a protest at the meeting of the Southern Baptist Convention on Wednesday, June 15. As part of an umbrella organization called Faith in America, Dr. Jack McKinney had announced earlier that his group would hold a "teach-in," followed by the presentation of a petition (with some 10,000 signatures) to SBC leaders. He said they ... [Read]

On Wednesday, Jon Stewart and The Daily Show did a funny round-up of this week's gay headlines, including the renewed effort to pass same-sex marriage in New York, and the bizarre case of two separate "lesbian" bloggers who turned out to be straight men: The Daily Show With Jon Stewart Mon - Thurs 11p / 10c We're Here, We're Queer, ... [Read]

Fred Karger, an openly gay Republican from California, has not drawn enough attention from his party yet to be included in major Republican debates. But he is getting attention for his effort to discredit the current frontrunner (according to polls) for the Republican nomination: Mitt Romney. He alleges that Romney falsely claimed to be a resident of Massachusetts so he could ... [Read]

The iconic Space Needle building of Seattle, WA raised the Rainbow Flag last year for the 2010 Gay Pride celebration. But this year, there was no plan to revisit that proud moment until complaints arose from area residents. Jeff Wright, chairman of Space Needle, LLC, says now in a press release that the Rainbow Flag will be raised at the ... [Read]

Amina Abdullah and Paula Brooks -- two lesbians who have affected the world with their blogs. Paula began posting her views about LGBT news headlines in 1998 via a blog, "LezGetReal," and that effort eventually grew into the coordination of contributions by several other female writers. Amina, with some help from Paula, began posting her personal struggles as the "Gay ... [Read]

Starbucks Corporation took to Twitter late yesterday and today to address claims that a gay man, "Jeffrey," was humiliated and fired from his job at one of the coffee chain's locations on Long Island. @golfshirt6 Your blog post is very concerning. It doesn't correspond with our values or who we are as a company. If you read a blog post ... [Read]

Camera crews and news reporters outside of the Northwest D.C. home of Representative Anthony Weiner (Photo by JD Uy / MetroWeekly.com) Congressman Anthony Weiner has been the focus of international media attention for two weeks for a "sexting" scandal which involves revealing photos and messages that he exchanged with several women online.  Today, Rep. Barney Frank (D-MA) talked to reporters saying ... [Read]

According to GlobalGrind.com, Tracy Morgan appeared on Def Comedy Jam to speak about his recent comments that many have perceived as being anti-gay and reckless in regards to bullying and children.  Morgan told Russell Simmons that he was sorry for his "hurtful" words and is committed to equal rights for everyone. Morgan said he is not on the side of bullies ... [Read]

Sunday night's broadcast of the Tony Awards proved to be an extra special addition for Gay Pride month. It will arguably be remembered as one of the theatrical ceremony's best moments and most inclusive evenings of gay entertainment. The show opened with a musical number by Neil Patrick Harris, who tried to show viewers Broadway's diversity by singing ''It's Not Just for ... [Read]

Tina Fey, star and creator of NBC's ''30 Rock,'' released a statement about concerning Tracy Morgan's rant against gay people. It's reported that he said being gay is a choice, that victims of bullying are "whiners" and that he would stab his son if he talked to him in a gay voice. Fey and NBC's Chairman Bob Greenblatt both said ... [Read]

On Friday, MSNBC Rachel Maddow explored the possibility that Texas Governor Rick Perry will enter the race to become the Republican candidate for President of the United States. She detailed Perry's conservative religious beliefs, his attempts to mix religion and government, and his connections to the American Family Association, a known anti-gay organization. Visit msnbc.com for breaking news, world news, ... [Read]

This week, Anderson Cooper explored the anti-gay work of George Rekers, who has made a career of promoting the idea that homosexuality and "sissy boy" behavior can be prevented through "therapy."  According to the 3-part CNN report, a boy named Kirk Andrew Murphy was experimented on by George Rekers to stop his "feminine" behavior. The boy's family members claim that the ... [Read]

As noted at Truth Wins Out, comedian Tracy Morgan, in a recent stand-up routine, made some comments about gay people that led an audience member to post a note on Facebook about the comments. As summarized by Truth Wins Out: Morgan’s entire demeanor changed as he allegedly claimed that being gay is a choice, that homosexuality is something that kids ... [Read]

''It's important to him because he's not ashamed of being gay.... He just wants to be treated equally. It's just really about equality....He wants to march in the parade.... He is not interested in pursuing this further if that's what he can do.'' Gloria Allred, a civil rights attorney representing Andrew Johnson, 28, a Chino, Calif., corrections officer who ... [Read]

A well-known blog called "A Gay Girl in Damascus" reports that its author, Amina Abdallah Araf al Omari, has been arrested (NY Daily News): Earlier today, at approximately 6:00 pm Damascus time, Amina was walking in the area of the Abbasid bus station, near Fares al Khouri Street. She had gone to meet a person involved with the Local Coordinating ... [Read]

Lady Gaga recently sat for an interview with gay actor and speaker Steven Fry. When asked if the song "Born This Way" was an affirmation of LGBT birth, the horn-wearing pop singer told him: "No, in fact, sexuality is just one very small part of it … it’s so interesting to see how people latch on to words. You say ... [Read]