McCain challenged on evolving DADT position

Senator John McCain (R-Arizona) has changed his tune on "Don't Ask, Don't Tell." Four years ago his position was actually a lot more progressive than it is today. The difference? McCain is facing a primary challenge this year, so he needs to prove he is a true conservative. The quickest way to gain favor in GOP circles is to support discrimination against queer people. Watch.

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NY gays not fooled by Harold Ford

Harold Ford is giving himself until Sunday to decide if he will challenge Sen. Kirsten Gillibrand in a Democratic primary for the U.S. Senate in New York. Perhaps, like Gov. David Paterson, he will come to his senses and abandon his foolish effort.

After being anti-gay for many years as a politician in Tennessee, Ford is trying to have us believe that he's a gay-friendly ally now. As you might imagine, that lie is not being bought by the masses. Take a look.



UPDATE 3/1/10: Harold Ford Jr. has decided against challenging N.Y. Senator Kirsten Gillibrand.

"It's in the Bible..."

Further proof that God has a sense of humor! Yet another California beauty queen hates the gays. "Miss Beverly Hills" Lauren Ashley just loves to speak out against queer people because "it's in the Bible." There are fewer things more entertaining that some blond idiot spewing ridiculousness.

Who's responsible for Joe Lieberman's DADT bill? It depends on who you ask

I haven't been a fan of the Human Rights Campaign for quite sometime. I've used this blog, on several occasions, to detail the many reasons why HRC should be restructured or eliminated altogether. Here's yet another gripe in an ongoing series.

It appears that HRC is trying to claim credit for securing Joe Lieberman as the lead sponsor of a Senate effort to repeal "Don't Ask, Don't Tell." The only problem is that HRC may not have been responsible for that at all.

Just yesterday we learned that Lieberman plans to introduce a bill to repeal DADT next week. This news was first reported by the New York Daily News. After the story broke online, it was picked up by gay media and blogs, including this one. HRC issued a statement after news of Lieberman's bill had been widely reported.

The DC Agenda posted a story on its Web site this afternoon headlined "Questions surround Lieberman's 'Don't Ask' repeal bill." Without saying how, The DC Agenda reported that it had obtained an internal HRC memo, which detailed how the agency worked to secure Lieberman as the lead sponsor of the bill. Assuming The DC Agenda is not making things up, an HRC staffer leaked the memo intentionally -- either to claim credit or to embarrass HRC.

Here's why all of this matters.

The Human Rights Campaign is, by far, the largest and most powerful gay lobbying organization in the country. Though its track record of results is thin at best, the agency does have the best rapport with the Obama administration. In fact, HRC's relationship with Obama is in stark contrast to the relationship the White House has with the National Gay and Lesbian Task Force. HRC President Joe Solmonese is the first person President Obama calls when "gay" issues come up. And Obama was the keynote speaker at HRC's annual dinner last year. (You would be hard pressed to find anyone who could name the keynote speaker at the most recent Creating Change conference, which is thrown by the Task Force.)

It is well-known throughout the LGBT movement that HRC favored passage of the hate crimes bill and the Employment Non-Discrimination Act (ENDA) before a repeal effort of DADT. With ENDA stalled for now and Lieberman moving on DADT, HRC would have motive to claim responsibility for what's transpired this week so that it could be seen as the driving force for what's happening.

HRC has a long list of enemies, many of whom have been pointing out that the agency has accomplished so little with so much. After millions upon millions of dollars...and fancy dinners...and a huge fancy building, what exactly has HRC substantively accomplished? Not much.

In the Agenda article, the Servicemembers Legal Defense Network was careful not to criticize HRC outright, but it did point out that it had been working with Lieberman "for years" in an effort to pass a DADT repeal.

This whole incident smells fishy to me. HRC can't possibly be dumb enough to try to claim credit for work it hasn't done; especially with so many critics eager to pounce. And it would seem foolish to intentionally leak this information to gay media. What would that accomplish? It makes HRC seem weak that it must leverage its influence through the press. If HRC is as close to the president as its reputation would lead us to believe, then the same effect could have been accomplished by simply calling the White House. One thing is for sure -- even HRC's richest donors don't want money going to waste. In this economy, the organization is under pressure to prove that it is worth the investment. Just last year HRC had to make staff cuts. Many queer people in the know gave up on HRC years ago and won't be coming back anytime soon. And episodes like this, played out in the press, is a prime reason why some folks won't be coming back ever.

Gaga offers her dick...and we love it!

Just in case you needed another reason to love Lady Gaga, check her out on the cover of Q Magazine. And yes, she's wearing a strap-on!

"We all know that one of the biggest talking points of the year was that I have a dick, so why not give them what they want?" said Gaga. "I want to wear a dick strapped to my vagina."

Wow. Just wow.

Hunky ally

I've always had a thing for wrestlers, and especially their clingy singlets, so I'll gladly take this excuse to gawk at Maryland University wrestler Hudson Taylor. Though straight, Taylor is an advocate for equality including same-sex marriage. He's talked about how much the film "Milk" effected him; and he's even worn an HRC logo on his helmet during wrestling matches. Hot and heroic!

Be sure to read this great feature about him at Out Sports.

Discrimination perfectly legal in Virginia

The consequences of losing an election could not be more clear -- discrimination is now legal in Virginia. Perhaps our Democratic Congress and Democratic president need to move ENDA up on their to-do lists!

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Troublemaker finds time for good deeds

Clutch the pearls! Independent Senator Joe Lieberman of Connecticut, who has been nothing but a troublemaker in the health care debate, has reemerged as a liberal hero. The senator has become the lead sponsor of a Senate bill to repeal "Don't Ask, Don't Tell." He is expected the introduce the bill next week. (No word on why he stole the thunder from New York Senator Kirsten Gillibrand.)

This news comes the same day that another general came out for the repeal of DADT.

Lieberman is up for re-election in 2012 and he is very unpopular among Democrats and Independents. Considering that Connecticut is as blue as can be, smart money says this move is purely political -- designed to get Lieberman back into the good graces of progressives.

I'm certainly thrilled that Lieberman is against discrimination, but he still deserves to be voted out of the Senate as soon as possible.

Blog Break...

I'm taking a little vacation for the next 5 days and a break from blogging. I'll be back next week with exclusive pictures from Mardi Gras in New Orleans!

Countdown to the Oscars: Presenters announced for acting awards

The Motion Picture Academy issued a statement today announcing that Sean Penn, Kate Winslet and Penélope Cruz will all return to the Academy Awards next month as presenters for the major acting categories. All three won Oscars last year. (The other acting award went to Heath Ledger, who is deceased.)

I am hopeful that producers will return to the tradition of allowing previous acting winners to be solo presenters. If tradition wins out, Penn would be presenting best actress, while Winslet would present best actor and Cruz would present best supporting actor.

Last year the producers used a team of 5 previous winners to present each acting award. It wasn't cute and I didn't like it.

Final ballots were also mailed today to all 5,777 voting members of the Academy; they are due back by March 2. The 82nd annual Academy Awards are March 7 on ABC.

Democrats must learn how to govern

It's truly amazing that Democrats have done so little with so much. You would think that with a Democratic president and huge majorities in both chambers of Congress, that the party would be able to govern. Wrong. Time and again, this president and this Congress has watched a minority party obstruct everything, while Democrats keep trying to achieve "bipartisanship." It's pathetic and sad.

I've long felt that President Obama and the Congress should remember that they are in charge and they must govern. This means running around the GOP when necessary. Rachel Maddow drives this point home excellently in this commentary below. Do yourself a favor and watch the entire clip.

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More Betty!

The vast majority of the commericals during Superbowl XLIV were dull as hell. But a Snickers ad featuring Betty White was one of the best. It's amazing and a pure joy to watch Betty White still at the top of her show business game.

Congratulations Jerry! Thanks for everything

Coverboy

Well, here it is. We've been waiting for months, and finally, Playgirl has released its Levi Johnston cover. Most of the pictures from his photo shoots were released previously in stages to maximize publicity.

I mentioned weeks ago that his pictures were lack-luster, but the cover shot is nice. It shows great definition on that chest. Yum. (Too bad we never got to see that cock...he's a huge tease.)

Now that we've had a good time gawking at Levi, maybe he'll just go away.

Madonna - "This Used To Be My Playground"

I remember seeing "A League of Their Own" in the theater. Of course I only went to see it because Madonna was in it, but I left blown away at Penny Marshall's masterpiece. This song has long be underrated in my view...it's easily one of Madonna's best ballads. Enjoy.

Say what? Pelosi a rambling mess on DADT vote

House Speaker Nancy Pelosi said today that she may wait until after the midterm elections before putting a repeal of "Don't Ask, Don't Tell" to a vote in the House of Representatives. Though the speaker is clearly in favor of a repeal, you would expect the person who represents San Francisco to have a greater sense of urgency.

Here's a clip from her presser today in which she attempts to explain what she intends to do about DADT. If you can figure out what the hell she is talking about, please explain it to me.

Who Dat destined for Superbowl glory?!?

I fell in love with football as young kid. I found it the most exciting sport -- by far. Even though I grew up in Louisiana, when I first started watching football, the San Francisco 49ers were in the midst of their dominance of the NFL. The Niners were the best team -- by far; so I took a liking to them. I've been a member of the 49er Faithful ever since and I've loved every minute of it...and our 5 Superbowl victories!

The New Orleans Saints are in their 43rd season in the NFL. This Sunday, the team will make its debut in the Superbowl. The franchise has no titles. Sunday's Superbowl will be the climatic end to a historic season for the Saints. This football team has literally lifted the spirits of an entire city. The Superdome, once the epicenter of so much pain during Hurricane Katrina, became the center of so much unbelievable joy when the Saints won the NFC Championship Game there on January 24.

Some of my closest friends are people I've bonded with over football. Needless to say, I've never doubted the sport's ability to bring people together. This is exactly what's going on this week in New Orleans.

New Orleans is a unique place; there is no place else like it in all of America. Hurricane Katrina revealed one of the city's ugly truths -- the haves and the have nots. Though rich in culture, the city has always struggled with classism and racism.

I lived in Uptown New Orleans. I fled the city just hours before Katrina arrived. I know the people of this special place and they are so hungry for their turn in the spotlight. A celebratory day in the proverbial sun that is so richly deserved. Whether or not the Saints will win on Sunday is anybody's guess. Beating Peyton Manning is not an easy task under any circumstances. But advancing to Superbowl XLIV has brought the people of New Orleans together. Fans who have waited a lifetime for this moment, weep openly. Strangers high-five each other on the streets, giddy at the prospect of having their city known as the home of the World Champions. It's amazing how football has brought a community together as one. The Saints are as resilient as the people they represent.

I'm rooting for the Saints this week; not because I believe this is their destiny, even though I do, but because I'm immensely proud to be from Louisiana and to have lived among some of the best people on Earth.

GO SAINTS!

Maddow on DADT hearing

A hearing on the repeal of "Don't Ask, Don't Tell" has begun before the Senate Armed Services Committee. Several military leaders have come out in favor of a repeal, however they insist such an effort would take years. As I mentioned over the weekend, that's unacceptable.

MSNBC host Rachel Maddow, who is openly gay, offered a great commentary on Tuesday's hearing.

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82nd annual Academy Awards nominations

For only the second time in the 82-year history of the Academy Awards, an African-American was nominated for best director (Lee Daniels, "Precious"). Meryl Streep landed yet another acting nomination. And there were 5 too many best picture nominees! The countdown is on to the Oscars.