Reasoned Christianity: Peter J. Gomes: The Scandalous Gospel of Jesus [Fora.tv] *If you have the time, the full video is very interesting food for thought: ...

The Interwebs are abuzz today with speculation that Barack Obama will soon appoint Mary Beth Maxwell, an out lesbian, to the Secretary of Labor position: Union Activist Mary Beth Maxwell on List for Labor Secretary [WSJ] HRC Realizes After the Fact That They Maybe Should Have Endorsed Openly Gay Candidate for Labor Secretary [Queerty] And it's cool, because Mary Beth Maxwell's appointment would be a boon to both liberals and social conservatives. Liberals, because she's an out and proud lesbian with strong progressive credentials. Social conservatives, because many of them still think that "labor" and "secretary" are ...

This is Phyllis Nemeth, state director for the Concerned Women For America of California, demonstrating a shockingly self-centered inability to see the fight for civil marriage equality for what it truly is: "Since the success of Proposition 8 on November 4, several people have asked me what can be done now that the opponents seem to be 'sore losers' and have taken to raucous protests outside of churches and in busy intersections." "I believe that for both short and long-term, we need prayer and spiritual revival. Unfortunately, tolerance appears to be a 'one-way street.' Opponents seemingly do not understand that ...

This text snippet comes from a letter to the editor that was written in 1931: Wait, social conservatives -- what's that about marriage never changing with the times? 1931 Letter to the editor [The Daily Gleaner archive] ...

Here's "Family Guy" creator and star Seth MacFarlane, as quoted in the 2/26/08 issue of The Advocate: ADVOCATE: What inspired Family Guy’s season 4 gay marriage episode “You May Now Kiss the…Uh…Guy Who Receives,” in which Brian’s flamboyant cousin Jasper visits with his Filipino boyfriend? MACFARLANE: A couple of years prior I had teamed up to write a pilot with two writers, both of whom were gay. One of them said that when he travels through the Midwest with his partner they have to go through this fucking dog and pony act when they stop at a hotel and the ...

An email with this subject line just came into our inbox: It's unclear whether it was the time we referred to them as "indefatigable extremists for whose anti-gay bias there is no antidote," the day we said they are "frighteningly focused zealots who will ban, burn, or boycott anything that so much as farts in a gay-friendly manner," or when we branded them as "the oil to reasoned progress' vinegar" for which the AFA is most thankful. But we're sure that for them, our criticism are like their children -- it's hard for them to choose their favorite (heterosexual) one! ...

Dorothy Snarker, whose super wit graces the virtual pages of both AfterEllen and her own Dorothy Surrenders blog, has a major spoiler about the forthcoming final season of "The L Word." Or, as this writer's partner refers to the upcoming season: "Only eight more episodes to go in my televised, Betty-laden prison sentence!!! Oh dark Sunday night tunnel, I wasn't sure you'd ever again see light!" But enough about my long-suffering sweetie's inability to find a certain charm in suddenly-dropped characters, convoluted plot points, and male lesbians named Lisa. If you want to know who will join ...

Since earlier this week we were talking about tall, dark and handsome men and fun and sexy fashion .... there is a killer eight-page editorial in Uptown that features model of the moment hotness Pierre Woods. You may remember him... ...

When President-Elect Barack Obama said he would "change" Washington, he wasn't joking. Via Gay Politics and the Victory Fund is news that Mary Beth Maxwell, the founding executive director of American Rights at Work, is a top choice as Obama’s... ...

If your ears are very sharp and you're a vintage R&B and disco aficionado, you may have recognized one of the all time classics of the disco era was featured not once but THREE times in Milk and unfortunately did... ...

An update on the nomination of Eric Holder who would become the first black Attorney General of the United States. Gay rights groups praise the former deputy attorney general in the Clinton Administration as a fierce supporter of civil rights... ...

I turn 37 in a few hours.I wouldn't admit this, but my blogger profile will crank 36 all up into 37 at midnight, so I might as well fess up.I've taken to mentally just think "I'm 40". Pretty soon, I'm going to adopt my paternal grandmother's tactic of adding 10 years to my age in order to get showered with rapturous compliments like: "You look great for (your actual age +10)!".Now that she's 94, she's had to scale back on that particular mode of spin.Also of note, I'm leaving for Japan in the morning - thereby pitching my actual ...

Wow, why didn't anyone tell me that Liverpool is such a fantastic city? When I was forced to book an emergency appointment up here to get my visa renewed, I just assumed it would be some dreary fringe town: biggish, maybe, but probably grim, and resting on the laurels of the Beatles. Why? Dunno. Instead, I've discovered it's crammed with fantastic architecture and public sculpture and all sorts of grooviness. When I found out I'd need to race up here as soon as I returned from my week back in the States, I gave myself a couple of extra ...

new podcast! Part 2 of 2: Rachel Getting Married SpecialIf you sat through Rachel Getting Married, curious about where you'd previously seen Anne Hathaway's mediating papa "Paul" before I'll help you out. Bill Irwin's film credits stretch all the way back to Robert Altman's Popeye (1980) and he's popped up in films as diverse as Lady in the Water, A Midsummer Night's Dream, Stepping Out, Across the Universe and How the Grinch Stole Christmas. His television appearances include The Cosby Show, Northern Exposure and multiple stints on Sesame Street as "Mr. Noodle" For theater aficionados ...

The Salt Lake Tribune reports: "Police say a 50-year-old man was critically injured in an attack with a bottle outside a Salt Lake City bar and gym that reputedly caters to the gay community -- and that may make it a possible hate crime case. The victim told police that he left the 14th Street Gym, near 1400 West and 200 South, after midnight early Wednesday. As he was waiting for a cab ride, the man said someone walked up behind him, swore at him, used a derogatory sexual-orientation slur and hit him over the top of the head with ...

Causecast, the group that created this pre-election video based on Harvey Milk's "hope" quote, has produced another video in association with the film, this one placing Milk's story in the context of larger civil rights struggles. Watch it, AFTER THE JUMP... ...

India identifies terrorist siege mastermind. Tina Turner returns to the stage. Paper: Gay parenting the next skirmish in culture war. SURVEY: Most Americans favor gay adoptions, openly gay military service. "The Pulse of Equality survey, commissioned by the Gay & Lesbian Alliance Against Defamation (GLAAD) and released today, shows a majority of Americans favors a broad range of policies and protections for gays, as well as supporting them as adoptive parents. More than six in 10 would allow openly gay people to serve in the military. Another 63 percent favor expanding hate laws to include ...

Oh, well look who cares about equal rights for gays and lesbians: it's Comedy. Thanks, Comedy. (Everyone sit up straight and thank Comedy for caring. Yes, you in the back, you too!) "THANKS COMEDY!" There. Good. Now Comedy has dispensed with its obligation of showing 6 weeks too late that it cares about the gays, and we have dispensed with our obligation to pretend to be grateful or amused by Comedy's caring. We can now return to looking at internet things that don't involve musical numbers, intentional (i.e. not funny) web humor, or Proposition 8. ...

Dave, I just got back from one of those Academy screenings of Benjamin Button. Totally dug it... Especially the part where Brad Pitt looks exactly like he did back in '92. Golden! Brad can run through my rivers whenever he wants. I love the way your brain works, Dave.So... yeah, 1992. I'm sure that brings someone else to mind. I give you one guess you naughty man. Call me. I have an idea. I'll foot the f/x bill myself if needs be.xoxo,___S.S. ...