Obtuseness, thy name is the Family Research Council: "When same-sex weddings kicked off in D.C. yesterday, the city wasn't seeing anything but dollar signs. In an absurd article in today's Washington Post, reporters tried to argue that counterfeit marriage could be the economic salvation of the city's economy. In a region with 12% unemployment, local officials claim that redefining marriage "will create 700 jobs and contribute $52.2 million over three years to the local economy." Not so fast, says FRC. The last census counted 3,678 same-sex partner homes in D.C. Assuming that number has stayed roughly the same, then the ...

Following outrage over Attorney General Ken Cuccinelli's advice last week that public universities should rescind their bylaws protecting gays and lesbians from discrimination, Governor Bob McDonnell issued a "directive" late yesterday saying the state should not discriminate based on sexual orientation. The WaPo:   "The directive is a formal statement of McDonnell's position that hiring, promotion, compensation, treatment, discipline and termination of state employees can be based only on an individual's job qualifications, merit and performance. 'We will not tolerate discrimination based on sexual orientation or any other basis that's outlawed under state or federal law or ...

In his latest edition of "Gaywatch", Jon Stewart looks at the recent anti-gay actions in Virginia — Governor Bob McDonnell's exclusion of gays from anti-discrimination policies and  Attorney General Ken Cuccinelli's urging of schools in the state to exclude gays and lesbians from their anti-discrimination policies.Stewart wonders how officials can behave that way under such a gay flag: "Even the rainbow flag thinks that flag is gay."Watch, AFTER THE JUMP...The Daily Show With Jon StewartMon - Thurs 11p / 10cGaywatch - Virginia Editionwww.thedailyshow.comDaily Show Full EpisodesPolitical Humor ...

Older gays and lesbians come out for social action Washington State Passes LGBT-Inclusive Student Anti-Harassment Bill Pope Says Nothing to Uganda’s Bishops About Kill-The-Gays Bill Students irate at Cuccinelli over gay-rights policies The backlash against the Virginia Attorney General’s gay witchhunt continues. Speaking of . . .Virginia House again says “No” to banning LGBT discrimination ...

“We’re overdue to wipe away the last stain of legal discrimination in our Armed Services,” said Senator Kerry. “Gays and lesbians should not have to hide who they are to be able to serve their country. President Obama, Admiral Mullen, Secretary Gates, former Secretary Powell, and – most importantly – our troops are speaking out, and it’s past time we listened.” KERRY: IT’S PAST TIME WE LISTENED TO OUR TROOPS AND REPEALED ‘DON’T ASK, DON’T TELL’ [Facebook] Kerry '04! Kerry '04! Kerry '04! Wait, what's that? It's actually 2010 and we're still debating this tired Don't Ask Don't Tell thing? Oh. *** *Maybe ...

A Virginia lawmaker today attempted to force a floor vote on a measure barring discrimination in public employment against gays and lesbians. The House voted against consideration of the measure 55-42, the Washington Post reports: "Del. Ken Plum, a Democrat from Reston, moved to revive the gay-rights bill that had languished in a House subcommittee, saying the legislature must respond to Republican Attorney General Ken Cuccinelli's recent advice to the state's public colleges and universities that they had no legal ability to add sexual orientation to their nondiscrimination policies. Cuccinelli has recommended that such statements be rescinded. 'It's ...

Image via WikipediaSource: Behind the mask - Feb 26     By Miles Tanhira As part of the constitution reform process currently underway in Zimbabwe, Gays and Lesbians of Zimbabwe (GALZ) has produced a 15-minute documentary on LGBTI people calling for inclusion of their rights and recognition as citizens of Zimbabwe in the new constitution Titled Tinzweiwo (Hear our plea) the DVD, according to GALZ, is a plea to Zimbabweans who have always brushed the issues of homosexuality aside as non-existent or unnatural to listen and address these issues. The DVD contains testimonies of about 10 GALZ members, their experiences of ...

 It didn't take long for the backlash to build against Virginia Attorney General Ken Cuccinelli's suggestion to put an end to anti-discrimination policies for gays and lesbians in the state's public colleges. Students all over the state are protesting the AG and the content of the letter he released on Friday. Virginia Tech's student government president says he has "never gotten so many e-mails from students wanting to do something." Naturally, they're doing it via social networking sites: Facebook sites have been set up here and here. Queer & Allied Activism of The University of Virginia, are ...

Roy Ashburn comes out, but now what? Complete and utter tosser California state Senator Roy Washburn has now officially come out, several gay news websites along with mainstream media report. Roy Ashburn, a republican politician and classic victim of internalized homophobia that ends up fucking things up for everyone else, spent the last several years voting against Harvey Milk day, anti-gay bullying initiatives, gay marriage, and apparently even organized an anti gay-marriage rally. Oh and he’s from California, that lovely prop-8 state. A few days ago he was booked by the cops after driving around drunk in his ...

Yesterday, thousands of people marched in the streets of Cape Town during that city's annual gay pride parade. The participants called attention to the homophobia and oppression gays and lesbians face in Africa. As has been reported here in the past, a "kill the gays" bill has been introduced in Uganda and two men in Malawai were imprisoned last year for marrying in a symbolic wedding last.  ...

Virginian Republican Attorney General Ken Cuccinelli has written a letter to all of the state's public colleges encouraging them to abolish policies that prohibit discrimination of gays and lesbians.  "It is my advice that the law and public policy of the Commonwealth of Virginia prohibit a college or university from including 'sexual orientation,' 'gender identity,' 'gender expression,' or like classification as a protected class within its non-discrimination policy absent specific authorization from the General Assembly." Carl Pucci, student body president at Old Dominion University in Norfolk Virginia, had this rational reaction to Cuccinelli's letter: "It's going to be a mess. There's no doubt ...

National advisors form first-ever LGBT issues committee – The National Academies’ Institute of Medicine (IOM) — advisors to the nation on science, engineering, and medicine — has formed the groundbreaking Committee on Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, and Transgender Health Issues and Research Gaps and Opportunities. Leaders: ENDA will get House vote this month Oh, you know, just an usher at the Vatican involved in gay prostitution ring Gay marriage law comes into effect in Mexico City One third of gays and lesbians in Edinburgh physically attacked ...

Editor’s Note: Today is a Day of Action to repeal “Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell,” the policy that prohibits gays and lesbians from serving openly in the military. Author and Iraq veteran Michael Anthony sent me a guest post to share on the blog, so that readers might hear a veteran’s view of “Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell.” It seems highly appropriate to share it today. My name is Michael Anthony, I am an Iraq war veteran and having spent six years in the Army, at the age of twenty-three, I have spent more than a quarter of my life ...

The Washington Post editorial page had it right yesterday when they wrote, "the tide of history is moving … toward a recognition that gays and lesbians, no less than heterosexuals, are entitled to sanctify their love in marriage, and that... ...

 California gubernatorial GOP front-runner Meg Whitman gave an interview to the Mercury News in which she was asked about some of her positions on gay rights: "Asked to reconcile her stance against same-sex marriage with her willingness to allow gays and lesbians to adopt children, Whitman said she believes the term 'marriage' should apply only to the union of a man and a woman. Still, she's in favor of granting equal rights to gay people through civil unions and domestic partnerships. And she approves letting gays adopt because 'many kids need a great home.'" ...

If you've ever wondered why there are so many inauthenticities on eBay, perhaps you should look no further than the company's former head: Asked to reconcile her stance against same-sex marriage with her willingness to allow gays and lesbians to adopt children, [CA Republican gubernatorial hopeful Meg Whitman] said she believes the term "marriage" should apply only to the union of a man and a woman. Still, she's in favor of granting equal rights to gay people through civil unions and domestic partnerships. And she approves letting gays adopt because "many kids need a great home." Meg Whitman holds forth on ...

The ad in question was not about sexuality. It featured a father holding his son and the words, "All I want for my son is for him to grow up knowing how to do the right thing." Like the Tebow ad, it included the address of Focus on the Family's Web site and the slogan, "Celebrate Family. Celebrate Life." Now nice, I would have thought after what Miller did to Jerkins, it would mean that many of us would see what signal fathers goes through in after divorce, no being able to see or be apart of their kids lives. ...

General Petraeus was asked about 'Don't Ask, Don't Tell' on Meet the Press and said he supports Gates' plan for a study but is saving his opinion on the DADT repeal for testimony in front of Congress: "The U.S. commander overseeing troops in Iraq and Afghanistan says he's not sure that troops in the field care about the sexual orientation of fellow service members. Petraeus says he's served alongside gays and lesbians, and what matters are someone's skills and smarts...Advocates for a quick repeal have said the yearlong review is a stalling tactic. But Petraeus says it's a ...

Source: Eyewitness News - Feb 13 Gay and lesbian rights groups accused law enforcement officials of not taking hate crimes against homosexuals seriously. Rights campaigners held a demonstration outside Parliament on Friday February 12 to voice their concerns, chanting “Free Africa”. They have questioned why it has taken almost four years for lesbian activist Zoliswa Nkonyana’s murderers to be brought to book. Her murder trial is still on-going in the Khayelitsha Magistrate’s Court. Eight suspects have been arrested in connection with her murder, and the trial will resume in March. The Coalition to End Discrimination’s Koketso Makofane said Nkonyana’s drawn out trial is ...

Shameless hypocrites. Virginia Governor strips protections for gays and lesbians from anti-bias order. Scottish Terrier named Sadie is country's top dog. PETA protests. Pete Wentz wheeled out at fashion show in strait-jacket and Hannibal Lecter mask. Gardasil seen to prevent anal cancer in men. Inquest: Alexander McQueen died of asphyxiation, hanging.Whataya want from me? To turn off your damn phone. Study: Half a million Brits only wash their sheets three times a year. "One in six people also owned up to waiting at least four weeks ...