Queer Corner Quickie #28: Seattle Mariners, Alexander McQueen, Ann Coulter, Staceyann Chin, Ricky Martin, Jane Espenson, Rep. Phillip Hinkle

A quick roundup of this week’s gay happenings…

Video of the Week: All the major pro sports teams of Seattle joined together to make a powerful submission to the It Gets Better Project.

And speaking of, Massachusetts Governor Deval Patrick released his own It Gets Better video this week.

A Denver lesbian faces deportation Aug. 19, wife helpless because of DOMA.

This week David Boies and Ted Olson, lead attorneys in the American Foundation for Equal Rights’ federal challenge to Proposition 8, accepted the American Bar Association Medal. It is the organization’s highest honor.

Marriage News Watch posted a new video this week with updates on marriage equality and anti-gay marriage initiatives around the country.

The Alexander McQueen exhibit at the Met closed recently and the NY Times is reporting that the exhibit was record breaking, becoming the eighth most popular exhibit in museum’s history. Here’s video of the exhibit.

It was reported last week that Rudolf Brazda, that last living gay holocaust survivor, had passed at age 98. But the Dallas Voice is now reporting that there is another living gay holocaust survivor and his name is Gad Beck.

Ann Coulter has become the newest Board Member for GOProud, the gay conservative group that’s been making waves in the press lately. Here’s a video of Coulter on C-SPAN where she refers to herself as a gay icon. Huh???

Rick Santorum continues to embarrass himself on the campaign trail.

Gay Bashings Report: Convictions upheld in Colorado transgender murder

Great America amusement park in Santa Clara, California is being sued by a gay couple who were targeted there recently. After getting off a ride it was discovered that the picture of them (the one that’s typically taken while your on a ride and aviable for sale afterwards) was posted on another ride for display with the words “Were [sic] Fags” scrawled in neon underneath.

LOL ALERT! John Stamos’ Guide to Cuddling featuring Bob Saget.

Over at The Bilerico Project there’s a great series called Top LGBT Voices Name History’s Essential LGBT Figures.

The LA Times published an amazing feature on Dave Kruger, the first ever openly gay Republican Presidential Candidate.

It’s geting more and more unsafe for gays in Ghana by the day. This week came news that The Presbyterian Church of Ghana is planning to set up “therapy centers” for “homosexual victims” featuring “counselling and rehabilitation” in various communities across the country.

Madonna’s Gaga Nightmare continues.

Here’s a sneak peak of VH1′s new Behind the Music special on Ricky Martin featuring his struggles with being in the closet throughout his career. The special airs tonight at 10 p.m.

Jane Espenson’s (Buffy the Vampire Slayer, Dollhouse) new Web series Husbands premieres Sept. 13. It’s been described as Mad About You meets Will & Grace, with a dash of Dr. Horrible’s Sing-Along Blog. Here’s a interview with Espenson and the show’s stars, Brad “Cheeks” Bell, and Sean Hemeon.

Last year Aisha and Danielle Moodie-Mills were the first same-sex couple to be featured in Essence.com’s Bridal Bliss wedding features. Now Essence.com offers another feature updating their readers on the couple’s first year of marriage.

Staceyann Chin (an amazing poet and woman I’ve had the pleasure of enjoying dinner with), recently wrote an amazing piece for The Huffington Post called A Single Lesbian’s Quest for Motherhood.

Rep. Phillip Hinkle is the latest Republican Congressman to be caught with his (gay) pants down. He was caught this week picking up an 18-year-old on Craig’s List for a steamy hotel rendezvous. The young man and his sister turned over all of the detailed email correspondences between him and Hinkle to the press. The story(via The Indiana Star) is so thoroughly juicy, I actually felt bad for the guy, for like two seconds.

Out gay CNN contributor LZ Granderson put out an article that’s been getting some buzz. It’s called “‘Date night’ was wrecking my love life” and portends that “date nights” are what’s killing marriages today. He was even interviewed on air about his view.

Photo of the Week: The below sign is being displayed at a Wilmington, North Carolina church, which the pastor is defending in the press. Wilmington Pride is planning a peaceful protest outside the church tomorrow.

Queer Corner Quickie #27: NOM, Ghana, NPR, Pink Triangles, Kathy Griffin, Ben Cohen, Beyonce, Lady Gaga, Perez Hilton, Darryl Stephens

A quick roundup of this week’s gay happenings…

Video of the Week: Love this video of out MSNBC anchor Thomas Roberts taking Brian Brown, from the hate group National Organization for Marriage (NOM), to task last week for the controversial marriage pledge they created that was signed by Rick Santorum and Michelle Bachmann.

The war on gays in Ghana still rages on. From Ghana Web: “All efforts are being made to get rid of these people in the society,” Paul Evans Aidoo, Ghana’s Western Regional Minister said in a statement referring to the homosexual community in Ghana.

NPR released a segment last week focusing on gay conversion therapy that’s getting some serious backlash. The piece presents conversion therapy as “controversial” and “still up for debate” when every credible psychiatric association in the country condemns the practice as dangerous and psychologically damaging.

Marriage News Watch recently put up a new video with the latest update on the Prop 8 trial and what’s happening with the Defense of Marriage Act in New York.

Rudolf Brazda, the last living member of the Pink Triangles (a group of people who were sent to the Nazi concentration camps during he Holocaust because they were gay) passed away last week. He was 98. Here’s a video of him telling his brave and emotional story.

The CDC just released a report that shows the rate of HIV infections amongst young black, gay and bisexual men on a steep rise, and “requires urgent action.” Here’s more coverage on the significance of the report from The New York Times.

A video featuring the LGBT community in Detroit recently showed up online. I guess the point was to highlight how the LGBT community is thriving in a city that was hit the worst by the recession.

An LGBT rights group in Jamaica (one of the unsafest places in the world for LGBT individuals) just launched a series of anti-homophobia PSAs that are airing on Jamaican TV. The first one features former Miss Jamaica World and Miss Jamaica Universe Christine Straw and her gay brother, Matthew.

The GOProud/CPAC controversy continues to become volatile.

Don Lemon hosted an “Ask Me Anything” Q&A on Reddit last week that revealed some pretty interesting information about the now out CNN personality and he also gave some amazing advice to youth about coming out.

Nearly 200 people showed up for an impromptu march for equality in Holland, Michigan last week. The city’s government is currently debating an anti-discrimination ordinance that would include gender identity and sexual orientation as part of the city’s anti-discrimination policy.

Gay Bashings Report: ACLU of Florida reaches settlement in unlawful arrest of man reporting police misconduct in Miami Beach | Brother of Brandon McInerney (who killed 14-year-old Lawrence King for allegedly hitting on him in 2009) reveals in court that McInerney was sexually abused as a child | Hundreds rally over string of anti-gay attacks in Long Beach, CA | 5 lesbians attacked in D.C.; police refuse to take report

The Ben Cohen StandUp Foundation is officially up and running! It’s the world’s first foundation dedicated to ant-bullying.

Dolly Parton finally released a statement about the homophobic altercation that took place at Dollywood a couple weeks ago. Though I’m glad she’s “investigating” the situation, it doesn’t look like anything’s going to be done to change the policy.

Beyonce gave her first interview with a gay news source in five years at Pride Source and revealed her long support of the gay community. I’m going to have to call foul. I love me some Bey, but I distinctly remember her toting the “hate the sin, not the sinner” ideology when it comes to gays back during her Destiny’s Child days.

Kathy Griffin was a guest of Piers Morgan Tonight last week and gave her funny spin on various topics from plastic surgery to Michelle and Marcus Bachmann. Here’s a hilarious moment featuring the two of them with Anderson Cooper.

LOL ALERT! College Humor does an interesting parody of the MMA featuring the All Balls Brawl.

Somehow a controversy has exploded over this post on Gawker about rich but unknown 18-year-old Kevin Michael Barba. His reps sent the site a brief press release saying he was an “openly gay, up and coming New York socialite who is currently seeking the help of a PR firm to help him gain recognition and press opportunities…with millions of dollars at his disposal.” Many looked at this as an example of the downfall of gay youth, who want all the superficial trappings of fame without all the pesky hard work. Now Boy Culture has landed an interview with Barba, who just wants to be the next Andy Cohen.

Lady Gaga was a guest host on The View last week. She gave her two cents on a lot of different topics including gay rights. Here’s Part 1 and Part 2 of her full appearance.

I’ve mentioned the new web series Old Dogs & New Tricks before, but now they’ve finally released the pilot. It seems interesting, but I must admit, I think it just offers a tired and very small view of the gay community, but just from an older perspective, which is slightly new. You can check it out here.

Perez Hilton is releasing a children’s book titled “The Boy With Pink Hair” Sept. 1. My only reaction to this: Why???

Photo of the Week: Via Towelroad comes these steamy stills featuring Darryl Stephens (Noah’s Arc) and Danny Roberts (The Real World: New Orleans) from an as-yet-untitled new gay scripted series created by Larry Kennar (Executive Producer of The L Word) about a group of friends in downtown L.A.

Queer Corner Quickie #26: Dolly Parton, Queer History Museum, Baltimore Orioles, Rachel Maddow, ‘Twilight’

A quick roundup of this week’s gay happenings…

Video of the Week: One of Hair’s latest Broadway productions was high-jacked by three gay couples who were married on stage after the show. Check out the very emotional video below. And here’s full coverage of the event from Logo.

And mainstream media reports about the gay marriages in New York are still pouring in: Broadway and television star Audra McDonald talked with the ladies of The View about singing at the first gay wedding in New York City officiated by Mayor Bloomberg | Justin Timberlake and Mila Kunis (stars of Friends with Benefits) speak on their support of gay marriage in The Advocate | Denis O’Hare (True Blood, The Proposal) married his partner in New York on Thursday | Two “pop-up chapels” were erected in Central Park just yesterday where 24 gay couples were married | Video has been released from Avenue Q puppet stars Rod and Ricky’s wedding day!

Country music legend Dolly Parton has always been very vocal about her support of the gays, but it doesn’t seem like she holds her employees to the same standards. Last week a lesbian couple spoke out after they were descriminated against at Dollywood, Parton’s famous amusement park in Tennessee. A gatekeeper forced one of the ladies to turn her “Marriage is so Gay” t-shirt inside out. A spokesperson from the park said their dress code policy doesn’t allow controversial wording on clothing, yet there was several people wearing t-shirts with Confederate flags and profanity.

I’m loving that this new Pop-Up Museum of Queer History exhibit is traveling around NYC. I really hope they plan to expand it nationally.

The Williams Institute recently released new data that shows 1 in 3 gay employees are closeted at work. All the more reason to support the demonstrations happening around Equal Housing and Employment Act in Ohio.

The Baltimore Orioles are the latest MLB team to release an It Gets Better video.

In related news, the entire Massachusetts Congressional Delegation appeared in a video for the It Gets Better Project, except Republican Senator Scott Brown. After he was taken to task by the media on his decision not to participate, the National Republican Senatorial Committee responded for him with a statement that attacked the project’s creator Dan Savage. Savage then released a statement calling Brown’s decision ridiculous because IGB is not about him, but about the kids who are killing themselves because of the hate spewed by people like Brown and those on the NRSC.

Bradlee Dean is a former Christian rock singer who is suing Rachel Maddow for $50 million for her show airing comments he made about agreeing with the execution of homosexuals. His suit is rather ridiculous as his past and current hatred of the LGBT community is well documented.

Adam Lambert’s eagerly anticipated “Behind the Music” VH1 special airs Sunday, Aug. 7. Here’s a sneak peak.

LOL ALERT! – Madonna’s Gaga Nightmare Part 1 and Part 2

Gay Bashings Report: Miami Beach to fire two officers involved in a gay beating at the park

Effects of Tennessee’s Don’t Say Gay Bill has made it out to Minnesota where a small town’s school district is being sued for trying to adopt the same policy. Yesterday CNN aired a full report on the issue of teaching homosexuality in the classroom called “Don’t teach, don’t tell.”

It was recently discovered that the popular annual Republican convention known as CPAC will not be inviting back GOProud. Last year a big ruckus was made when the gay conservative group was one of the convention’s sponsors.

The Daily Show hilariously took aim at CNN anchor Don Lemon this week. And according to Lemon’s Twitter feed (below) he was “pleasantly” surprised.

Twilight star Kristen Stewart has dropped out the film K-11, where she would have played a transgender youth. She has yet to release a response, but the movie is to be directed by her mother and her brother was also set to star. Family drama maybe?

Photo of the Week: Speaking of, Twilight hunk Kellan Lutz stars in a provocative ad campaign for Abbot+Main by Dylan George‘s fall 2011 clothing line.

Queer Corner Quickie #25: Patrik Ian-Polk, Ghana, GOProud, Darren Criss, Daniel Radcliffe, RuPaul, DOMA, DADT

A quick roundup of this week’s gay happenings…

Video of the Week: Tuesday Patrik Ian-Polk (Punks, Noah’s Arc) released a lengthy teaser trailer for his new film The Skinny. CAN. NOT. WAIT!

Just this afternoon President Obama and the Pentagon certified the repeal of Don’t Ask Don’t Tell. Repeal will be officially implemented in 60 days. Am I the only one experiencing deja vu? I’m confused. Didn’t we already do this?

Officials in Ghana are calling for the arrest of all suspected homosexuals. According to The Star Observer: “Ghana’s Western Region Minister, Paul Evans Aidoo MP…has tasked Ghana’s Bureau of National Investigations and security forces to round up the country’s gay population and has called on landlords and tenants to inform on people they suspect of being homosexuals.”

The legislative hearings to repeal DOMA started this week. My favorite moment? Senator Al Fraken completely shuts down the testimony of Thomas Minnery, Focus on the Family’s Senior Vice President for Public Policy, who falsely sites studies that supposedly prove children raised by gays are worse off. You must check it out. It’s thoroughly enjoyable.

Fallout from California’s new law making it mandatory for public schools to teach gay history continues. Last week The Capitol Resource Institute, a conservative group in California, started sending around a petition to have the issue put on a ballot for California voters (much like the unconstitutional referendum that was Prop 8).

Stephen Colbert also donated some of his special hilarity to the issue on Comedy Central’s The Colbert Report this week. My fave line? “Bringing gay history into our classrooms teaches our children a dangerous lesson. That gay people exist.”

Speaking of Colbert, he recently put out a very serious and heartfelt It Gets Better video.

A new study out of Massachusetts has found that the the horrendously high homeless gay teens statistics are even worse then we thought.

Erica and Tevonda are a black lesbian couple from New Jersey who’ve had enough. The couple was forced to get a second-parent adoption to ensure legal protection of their son (born through surrogate) because of civil unions’ unequal status. With the help of Lambda Legal, they are suing the New Jersey government for their (and our) equal rights. Watch their powerful story here.

Academy Award Winner Dustin Lance Black has penned a new play about Prop 8 in California, simply titled 8. Staged readings will begin on Broadway in September.

Speaking of Broadway, Darren Criss (Glee) is in talks to replace Daniel Radcliffe (Harry Potter) in the Tony-nominated musical How To Succeed in Business Without Really Trying.

And in more theater news, there are, not one, but two stage musical versions of the Stanley Kubrick classic A Clockwork Orange in the works. I wonder if the people behind these have read the book?

Gay Bashing Report: Reported hate crimes on the rise in NYC | Transgender woman shot and killed in Washington D.C. Wednesday | Jimmy LaSalvia, GOProud executive director, was involved in an anti-gay attack last week, he went on MSNBC to speak about the incident this week, saying (in so many words) “gays need guns, not hate crimes legislation.” Interesting.

Jim Dabakis was elected last week as the first openly gay man to lead a major political party in Utah. And he’s apparently got the Mormon Church there on his side. Did someone forget to tell me that hell froze over?

Must-watch: Dan Savage takes on Michele Bachmann, Rick Santorum on Real Time with Bill Maher.

And speaking of GOProud, the gay conservative gay group has been on the news recently talking about how they are trying to get a meeting with Michelle Bachmann. I used to give these gays the benefit of the doubt, now I’m not so sure. Here is one of their leaders talking about it on MSNBC.

Here’s a pretty interesting piece on the HBR (Harvard Business Review) Blog Network by Karen Sumberg about coorporate discrimination called The Cost of Closeted Employees.

Gays in New York can start legally getting married on July 24th and NYC is expecting a large rush to the alter come Sunday. To quell the demand the City Clerk’s Office has instituted a lottery system. Here’s a cute local news story about a lesbian couple hoping to get in on the lottery.

Speaking of, The NY Times just put up an interactive feature titled Young New Yorkers Speak Out on Gay Marriage, where you can hear 18- to 24-year-olds dish on gay marriage. Some of it’s good, but some of the kids make me want to slap their parents.

RuPaul’s new CD Superglam DQ was released on iTunes this week.

Louis Marinelli, who became known a few months ago for defecting from the anti-gay National Organization for Marriage (NOM), has started a group called NOME (National Organization for Marriage Equality). Marinelli served as the bus driver on NOM’s hateful “Summer for Marriage Tour.” He just released a statement announcing the new group’s Summer Equality Tour that will travel through 17 states. It kicks off in San Diego on August 14.

A group of gays dressed up as barbarians glittered Michelle and Marcus Bachmann’s alleged anti-gay clinic.

The AIDES organization, of France, put out yet another NSFW cartoon about safe sex.

Photo of the Week: The people over on Avenue Q (I’m just brimming with Broadway news today) recently released the below image. Now that gay marriage is legal in New York, puppet same-sex lovers Rod and Ricky are planning to tie the knot!

Queer Corner Quickie #24: Bachmann drama, Daniel Tosh, Newsweek fail, Big Brother 13, DOMA, Michael Irvin

A quick roundup of this week’s gay happenings…

Video of the Week: History was made this week when California’s governor signed the FAIR Education Act, requiring schools to add LGBT history to its curriculum. The video below features an MSNBC interview with Mark Leno, who wrote the bill, just after it was signed into law.

The undercover expose on Michelle and Marcus Bachmann’s “ex-gay” clinic that I mentioned last week, jumped from the gay blogoshpere to the mainstream media this week. Here’s a comprehensive look at the story from Anderson Cooper. In this clip Michelle blatantly dodges a journalist’s question about the clinic. Also be sure to check out Jon Stewart’s hilarious take on the subject on The Daily Show. And just for good measure here’s a YouTube parody video of the Bachmanns that’s pretty hilarious.

Marcus Bachmann finally spoke out about the accusations against his clinic this week, saying that they only use “reparative therapy” on gays who ask for it. As if that makes it O.K. That’s like a doctor saying he used an outdated surgical approach that nearly killed his patient because the patient requested it.

A New York couple is appealing to the Supreme Court over an adoption case. State officials in Louisiana are refusing to recognize the gay couple’s adoption and won’t put both the parents names on the Louisiana-born child’s birth certificate, though he was legally adopted by the couple in New York.

The Romeo Files is a new web series you should check out about a teenager dealing with being gay in a rural town. Sound familiar? 

In response to New York legalizing gay marriage, comedian Daniel Tosh, of Comedy Central’s Tosh.0, rounds up a bunch of straight married guys to warn gays It Gets Way Worse.

Speaking of, a nasty trend is starting in New York, where city clerks are quitting because they refuse to sign marriage certificates for same-sex couples.

Newsweek is a mess for publishing this, and I’m glad their being taken to task for it.

I mentioned that a federal judge ordered the immediate end of Don’t Ask Don’t Tell, now the courts are ordering the Pentagon to take a position for or against the policy. And in response to tall this, the White House is trying to get that ruling reversed. To which, the courts complied. DADT is back on ladies and gentlemen. I’m falling more and more out of love with Obama by the day.

This YouTube commercial for 2xist’s new SHAPE underwear line is too hilarious to ignore.

This YouTube video about marriage equality set to Lady Gaga’s “Edge of Glory” is too cute to ignore.

Out singer/songwriter Ferrad recently released his flashy new music video for his song “The Way You Do.”

Another anti-gay controversy has cropped up on Big Brother. Housemate Jeff Schroeder went on a homophobic rant comparing gays to pedophiles. Somehow the conversation was sparked from his discovery that the character Dumbledore from Harry Potter is gay.

FCKH8.com has released a new video and new campaign to fight the gay-marriage ban bill in Minnesota.

The winner of the macho show One Many Army on the Discovery Channel came out as gay in the final episode after his win. The show is a “toughest man” type of competition geared toward straight men and Republican NRA lovers. Love it!

First-ever hearing to repeal DOMA (Defense of Marriage Act) scheduled in the Senate for July 20.

The 14 most hilariously effective signs supporting gay marriage.

Photo of the Week: OUT magazine released their Sports Issue this week. Inside is an article (and this lovely photo) featuring NFL Hall of Famer Micheal Irvin who talks about his gay brother and openly declares his support to marriage equality.

Queer Corner Quickie #23: DADT officially dead, California, Marcus Bachmann, Bono v. Coulter, Fred Karger, Batman Live

A quick roundup of this week’s gay happenings…

Video of the Week: There’s been quite a bit of LGBT news this week, not the least of which is that Don’t Ask Don’t Tell may finally be dead! A federal judge ruled last week that the Pentagon must suspend enforcement of DADT immediately. The president signed a repeal earlier this year but the policy was to still be in affect until a lengthy “repeal process” was finalized. After the court’s ruling the Pentagon issued a statement that they’d be “taking immediate steps to comply.” Just this past Friday the Pentagon released another statement saying the military has officially stopped discharging openly gay soldiers and must now allow gays to enter the military. In the video below Rachel Maddow interviews gay rights activists Lt. Col. Victor Fehrenbach, who suggests gays entering the military still proceed with caution. But it looks like DADT is no longer!

I’ve mentioned Andrew Wilfahrt’s parents on here before. Their gay son was killed while serving in Afghanistan and they’ve been vigorously fighting against DADT and for marriage equality in memory of their son. Here they talk with CNN about their son.

The New York Times’s editorial page has been filled with gay love lately. Just before the DADT ruling they published a piece criticizing the slow repeal process and on the same day they took on the blatant discrimination of DOMA.

The NYT DOMA editorial mentions the government’s recent decision to drop the deportation of Henry Velandia, a Venezuelan gay man who was legally married to his American partner, Josh Vandiver, in Connecticut. Gay marriage is not recognized under DOMA, which was threatening to tear the couple apart when Vandiver was facing deportation because of an expired visa. Here’s a video from CNN with more information about that couple and their victory.

More good gay news abounds, California lawmakers passed the popular bill that mandates public schools teach gay history.

And, Connecticut governor signs law protecting transgender people.

Gay Bashing Report: Anti-gay slurs precede a violent assault in Colorado | Six Atlanta officers involved in gay bar raid fired | Death penalty sought in cult case where North Carolina religious leader killed 4-year-old boy for being gay | Massachusetts teens allegedly beat gay man, police investigating hate crime | Trial commences for student killer who murdered California teenager Larry King

There’s been a lot of talk recently about Republican Presidential Candidate Michelle Bachmann’s husband, Marcus, and his ownership in Bachmann & Associates, a state and federally funded counseling center that is said to be an “ex-gay clinic.” Many are saying he’s an ex-gay himself. The Bachmann’s are denying both accusations. John M. Becker from Truth Wins Out, recently released an article about how he went undercover as a patient at the Bachmann clinic. The article goes into great detail about the clinic and how their practices definitely tries to “cure” homosexuality. Here’s Becker’s full report. Here’s a summery of the lengthy report from Towleroad.

Here’s an interesting crew of commentators. Bill Maher, Ann Coulter, Chris Hayes, And Chaz Bono debate religion on Real Time.

In response to New York’s recent legalization of gay marriage, out jazz musician and celebrity saxophonist Dave Koz released this new music video supporting marriage equality for his song “This Guys in Love With You.” (I’ve interviewed this guy before. He’s extremely cool, and definitely someone you should support!)

Darren Criss planted a big wet one on an unsuspecting Chris Colfer at the Glee concert at the O2 in Dublin last week.

Comedian Bryan Safi recently interviewed first openly gay Presidential Candidate Fred Karger. Safi becomes a little unhinged after “discovering” Karger is running as a Republican.

You’d think the theater world would have learned from the Spider Man: Turn Off The Dark fiasco. Apparently not. I present to you Batman Live: World Arena Tour. Here’ssome footage of the latest rehearsals. It’s not looking good.

The Ontario government has announced that all schools receiving public funding, including Catholic schools, must allow GLBT support groups starting this September.

Photo of the Week: Out country singer/model Josey Greenwell. Just because…

Queer Corner Quickie #22: Cory Monteith, Rhode Island, Lil B, Dolly Parton, Red Sox, Brett Lockett

A quick roundup of this week’s gay happenings…

Video of the Week: Glee’s Cory Monteith joins the powerful Straight But Not Narrow campaign. An organizations that’s using famous young straight males to spread the message that homophobia is not O.K.

Rhode Island legislators recently passed a civil unions bill, but the gays and allies there are not happy about it.

And here’s a marriage equality update from Matt Baume’s “Marriage News Watch” video blog (formerly Prop8.org’s “The Week in Prop 8″).

Perez Hilton tells PinkNews.com: “Gay men were embarrassed by me but I’ve changed”

Lil B releases I’m Gay (I’m Happy) album. Not one lyric on the album is dedicated to homophobia. Publicity stunt?

MSNBC takes on the straight-in-gay-sports controversy.

Disappointing Gay Best Friend is getting married! Sort of.

Hollywood to Dollywood is an interesting documentary that’s making it through the gay film circuit. Gay twin brothers Gary and Larry travel across the country trying to meet Dolly Parton and get her to read their script in which she stars.

Boston Red Sox release It Gets Bette Video. They followed the Cubs, and next up are the Twins and the Mariners. MLB is really stepping to the forefront on this one. Are they becoming the most gay friendly pro sports organization?

For those who missed it, etired pro footballer Michael Strahan came out for marriage equality a couple weeks before the big NY vote.

Def. Sec. Gates was not able to certify the repeal of DADT before he retired, but Leon Panetta, who took over the position today, promises to do so.

In related news, the Senate recently passed the Defense Bill, which didn’t include any of the anti-gay amendments that threatened the repeal of DADT. And the Army has even set up a Web site specifically to inform soldiers about the repeal.

Photo of the Week: Patriots safety Brett Lockett, who has most recently become know for being embroiled in a sex scandal with Kim Kardashian, recently became another in a long line of sports figures to come out for equality by posing for the NOH8 campaign.

Queer Corner Quickie #21: Kylie Minogue, NY victory, Glitterati, Rise Against, Chicago Cubs, Raja

A quick roundup of this week’s gay happenings…

Video of the Week: Kylie Minogue gave a fan the opportunity to propose to his boyfriend at her packed concert in Perth. The emotional video has gone viral. I heart Kylie

Of course the big news this week is that New York’s Senate voted to legalize gay marriage, making it the six and largest state in the nation to do so.

History was also made at the U.N. last week when the United Nations Human Rights Council passed a resolution supporting equal rights for all regardless of sexual orientation.

The President has been getting a lot of flack (and rightfully so) from the press lately about his position on same-sex marriage. Many believe (and I agree with this assessment) that he refuses to come out officially for gay marriage because he’s up for re-election soon. He recently appeared at a gay right’s organization’s fundraiser for his campaign and gave a painfully democratic response to the marriage equality vote in NY. In this NYT article Maureen Doud takes him to task for being bi (as in binary). Get it together Obama.

Darian Aaron from the popular blog Living Out Loud with Darian has recently released When Love Takes Over: A Celebration of SGL Couples of Color, a book profiling 18 gay couples of color.

Rachel E.B. Lang and Nick Espinosa want you to join the Glitterati.

Gay Bashings Report: California man charged with hate crime for hanging noose at gay rights event | Vandals slash tires of 30 Chicago Pride floats | New York gay bar suspiciously raided during celebration of marriage equality vote

Rock band Rise Against’s new album, Endgame, features the song “Make It Stop (September’s Children)” which is a tribute to the eight kids who committed suicide in the month of September last year becaues of anti-gay bullying. The song and the music video are benefiting the It Gets Better Project. The video features stark images of gay youth dealing with bullying and contemplating suicide. It’s extremely powerful and definitely a must-watch. The band’s lead singer talked with MTV about the video and the IGB campaign.

It’s being reported that government officials in Hong Kong’s Social Welfare Department have hired a a psychiatrist who claims he can “cure” homosexuality. Gay activists have protested the department’s offices. “This could be the world’s first government-sponsored training session on gay conversion therapy,” reports the AFP.

Comedian Bryan Safi does spoof of NBA hurt speech PSA.

The Chicago Cubs released an It Gets Better video.

The Glee Project is my new obsession. This week the theme is vulnerability and out contestant Alex uses the assignment to shine light on the oppression faced by LGBT people.

RuPaul’s Drag Race reining champ Raja released the music video for her coronation song, Diamond Crowned Queen.

Photo of the Week: Patrik-Ian Polk Tweeted out this photo of himself, Darryl Stephens and Wilson Cruz on the set of his new film The Skinny. Love, love, love these three men and so can’t wait to see this movie!

Queer Corner Quickie #20: Prop 8, Gay Marriage in New York, David Tyree, Eddie Long, ‘The Bus,’ Lady Gaga

A quick roundup of this week’s gay happenings…

Video of the Week: This wasn’t the most popular video of the week, but it must be featured. Darryl McDaniels Run D.M.C did a photo shot for the popular NOH8 campaign and has issued a call-to-action from the hip-hop community to stop the homophobic hate. D.M.C., Russel Simmons, 50 Cent, and now Soulja Boy. When did mainstream rappers become so homo-friendly?

Columbus Pride 2011 is this weekend! If you’re in Central Ohio, show your Pride and join in on the festivities! Get all the info at ColumbusPride.org.

Tracy Morgan is still on the back-peddling train. He recently met with youth at The Ali Forney Center in NYC (a center for homeless LGBT youth). And he’s also heading back to Nashville to personally apologize to the audience members that were offended by his homophobic rant. I hate to be so pessimistic, but I still think he’s just doing all this at the beckoning of NBC for 30 Rock’s hordes of gay viewers. I appreciate the effort, but he’s been saying stuff like this for year’s and just because he’s been caught in a big public way, now he’s had a change of heart. It just all rings false to me.

A judge in California threw out the motion by Prop 8 opponents to void an earlier ruling because of Judge Walker’s sexuality so fast that the bigots’ heads are still spinning.

My jaw literally dropped when I read this story, about a two mentally handicapped gay men being kicked out of a public pool in Kentucky “because of the Bible.” Gays and gay allies came out strong and have been calling the pool and the city’s mayor expressing their complaints around the clock. The mayor has issued an apology. I personally don’t think it’s enough. Someone needs to be fired. It’s a f—king public pool!

The big gay marriage news this week comes out of New York. The state’s House passed a gay marriage bill Wednesday by a vote of 80-63. It now heads to the NY Senate and then hopefully to the governor’s desk for a signature. It looks like it may come down to one vote in the Senate.

Former NFL player David Tyree recently became the new spokesperson for the anti-gay National Organization for Marriage. In a hateful interview with the organization he spews a serious of homophobic remarks about gay marriage. A backlash ensued (as it should have), which lead to CNN’s Kyra Phillips beautifully confronting the brute on national television, making him look like the neanderthal he is.

Last week the White House hosted the first ever Federal LGBT Youth Summit. Here’s a story from CNN about the historic event.

One good thing that came out of the summit was this: U.S. Department of Education says Gay-Straight Alliances are equal to other student clubs. Hopefully this will be helpful when students have to go up against bigoted school boards to get their GSAs started.

Bishop Eddie Long’s wife leaves him. That’s telling. Anyone still think he’s innocent?

Gay  Bashings Report: Stone-throwing extremists disrupt gay pride march in Croatia’s coastal town of Split

Dan Savage was honored at the 2011 WebbyAwards for his work with the It Gets Better Project.

A while back, legislators in Tennessee passed a law that keeps cities there from passing their own non-discrimination ordinances. Now a group of  gays and gay allies in the state are suing the government in response. It’ll be interesting to see if they get their day in court. I hope so.

Jack in a Box is my new obsession, and should be yours too.

Half-Share is a new series about Fire Island that’s getting some major buzz and it’s about to hit the gay film festival circuit.

At the Tony’s Whoppi Goldberg made a joke about Broadway turning all her movies into musicals (The Lion King, Sister Act). Next up is Ghost the Musical, which saw a popular run in London and may be heading to the states soon. My only question. Was this really necessary?

Gay film festival darling Judas Kiss has finally got a full trailer. The DVD is also already available for pre-order through Wolfe Video. The DVD release is scheduled for sometime this fall.

The creators of the Off-Broadway hit The Bus (about an unlikely gay romance that develops on a small town church bus) would like to take their show to the Westboro  Baptist Church, or as close as they can get. Good luck.

As someone who grew up in (and was shunned by) the church, this news report definitely hit close to home. In Omaha, Neb. this week, over 100 pastors, from various religious backgrounds, came together to publicly unveil a proclamation calling for an end to religious and civil discrimination based on sexual orientation. (I have to admit, a few tears were shed.)

Here’s a pretty interesting anti-homophobia PSA from the U.K. Not sure what to think. Maybe you can make heads or tails of it.

This article in The Grid called “Dawn of A New Gay” has been causing some major drama within the gay community. I personally think we have more important things to worry about than a bunch of young gays who think they’re better than all the old gays. The Grid recently ran a followup explaining why they published the story in the first place.

Lady Gaga recently released the music video for “Edge of Glory.” IMHO it’s extremely anticlimactic. Is it supposed to be  a tribute to NYC outer-burroughs’ architecture or something? But I’m pretty sure this was shot on a Warner Bros backlot. Anywho, apparently there was some major behind-the-scenes drama over the video, with Gaga ditching an original big-budget concept two days into shooting it.

Photo of the Week: Macy’s has always been a proud supporter of LGBT rights and this year they’ve released these Calvin Klein underwear ads just in time for Pride.

Queer Corner Quickie #19: The Mini Warbler, Tracy Morgan, AARP, Ann Coulter, Modern Family, Gay Christmas

A quick roundup of this week’s gay happenings…

Video of the Week: Four-year-old Kellen Mirador Sarmiento took over YouTube this week when his parents posted a video of him performing the Glee version of “Teenage Dream” by The Warblers, complete with custom Warbler jacket and tie, made by his grandmother (see vid below). Many are saying this is a publicity stunt and the parents are exploiting their child, but in this interview with Kellen and his parents it looks like  the kid just really loves him some Glee and is a genuine fan of Darren Criss, nothing more nothing less.

This week Tracy Morgan caused an uproar  in the gay community when he went on a homophobic rant during a stand-up performance in Nashville, in which he allegedly said he’d stab his son if he told him he was gay. GLAAD jumped right on it and called for Morgan’s apology, which he did. And even CNN reported on the outrage, and got an interview with the gay man in the audience who broke the story on his Facebook page.

Now GLAAD is calling for Morgan to meet with youth and families who are victims of vicious anti-gay bullying. I’m not surprised by what he said and I’m pretty sure the apology was bogus. This isn’t the first time Morgan has made homophobic statements. And, personally, I think we’re wasting our time trying to reform this imbecile. By the way, Tina Fey and 30 Rock producer Bob Greenblatt have also issued comments condemning Morgan’s homophobic remarks.

The AARP has launched a new Web site dedicated to senior LGBT Americans.

In related news, the President recently signed into law a declaration that extends protections to same-sex couples under medicaid. Now if a same-sex couple is living together and one of the partners is admitted to a nursing home the other is legally entitled to the home they shared. This is a big win for LGBT senior citizens.

Progress: Portland City Council unanimously passes transgender-inclusive healthcare benefits for city employees

Anti-gay NY Senator Ruben Diaz Sr.’s grand-daughter, Erica Diaz is an out lesbian and pens an amazing editorial in the New York Post condemning her grandfather’s homophobia.

Could someone please explain to me why Ann Coulter is relevant? I’ve never quite understood. She’s making waves again lately for statements she made about the possibility of her having a gay kid. First she dodged the question and then when asked again she gave this ridiculous quote: “I’d tell him he was adopted, ask for some help redecorating the dining room.”

Gay Bashings Report: Man calls beating outside California bowling alley a hate crime | An Australian man claims he bludgeoned his gay roommate to death with a platypus statue because he made an unwanted advance | In Peurto Rico, 3 gays killed in three days last week; brings number to 18 gays killed in 18 months | Model in gay activist lover’s NYC hotel castration slay, likey to use insanity defense

With Glee taking over the world, the logical next step would be a series featuring all gay high school characters, right? Well, the new web series Fabulous High doesn’t necessarily feature a all gay cast, but it is advertising itself as a show that focuses on LGBT themes. They recently met their fundraising goal on Kickstarter. No word on when the show will air, or where for that matter. But I must say, I’m definitely looking forward to the final product.

Speaking of Glee, Oxygen’s new reality competition The Glee Project premieres this Sunday. Here’s a preview video featuring the final 12 singing Katy Perry’s “Firework.” (Loving it!) The winner will be awarded a multi-episode, guest-starring role on Glee’s third season.

Toronto’s gay rugby team recently put out this interesting recruitment mockumentary called The Gay Who Wasn’t Gay Enough. Inspired by the players’ true stories, it’s about one man’s quest to find himself.

Apparently YouTube celebrity Chris Crocker is trying to be a singer now. Personally, I think he’s taking his Britney obsession a little too far. It just sounds like a male version of Ms. Spears to me.

Entertainment Weekly has some footage of the hilarious Inside the Actors Studio featuring the Modern Family cast. If you do a little digging, you can watch the full episode on YouTube.

This ad from the organizers behind Toronto’s Pride Festival is causing a stir in the gay community. Gay publication Toronto Life took it to task for pushing the gay rights movement back 10 years. It is ridiculous, but I wouldn’t go that far. What do you think?

HIGH-larious!: Biebershop Quartet. It’s Lesbians Who Look Like Justin Bieber taken to a whole new level.

It was just a matter of time.

It’s kids like this that give me hope for the future.

HRC release a list of the worst companies for LGBT workers.

Gay Christmas, I mean the Tony Awards are this Sunday! Here’s a preview vid of host Neil Patrick Harris getting ready for the big night.

Photo of the Week: This safe-sex ad was taken down in Asutrailia after complaints came in from the religious group Australian Christian Lobby. After the company who took the ad down learned that all 50 of the complaints came from ACL they reinstated the campaign. I personally don’t see the problem, they’re not even nude!

Queer Corner Quickie #18: Old Navy, Ewen McGregor, Daniel Tosh, Cory Monteith, Wanda Sykes, Disney’s Gay Day

A quick roundup of this week’s gay happenings…

Video of the Week: Comdian Bryan Safi tackles the recent homophobia in sports controversies on infoMania’s “That’s Gay” as only he can.

Atlanta Rep. Rashad Taylor recently came out of the closet. It was in response to a sexual misconduct controversy that he has denied and its been reported that the accuser has no proof of the accusations.

Don Lemon continued his media takeover by appearing on Tavis Smiley’s show. They chatted about what it’s like being black and working at CNN, the response to his coming out and how he’s been dealing with all the attention.

An anti-gay group attacked participants in Moscow’s Pride Parade last week, many were arrested on both sides, including former Lt. Dan Choi, who’s been a major gay-rights activist in America at the forefront of combating the Don’t Ask Don’t Tell bill. Moscow police said the pro-gay group did not have permission to assemble. Gay rights activists in Moscow have been lobbying for permission to hold a Pride Parade in the city for many years to no avail. This was their sixth time trying to stage a parade and being shut down by police.

Old Navy is selling a new line of shirts specifically benefiting the It Gets Better Project. Ten percent of the proceeds from each shirt will go directly to the organization.

Speaking of IGB, the Chicago Cubs and the Boston Red Sox will be joining the San Francisco Giants and creating official It Gets Better videos representing the professional sports organizations.

The NAGAAA, a national gay softball league that holds the annual Gay Softball World Series, has been embroiled in a civil rights law suit for some time now because of refusing straight athletes. But a federal judge recently OK’d the softball league’s limit on straight players. The case will go to trial soon, but until then the judge hearing the case said they can continue with their current policy.

The White House has created a new Web site, called Wining the Future, that tracks and promotes the strides the President is making with LGBT rights.

As I mentioned a while back, this year’s big mainstream gay film is Beginners. Starring Ewan McGregor and Christopher Plummer, the film follows a man who comes out of the closet to his son when he’s 75. The movie opens to a limited release this weekend and the reviews have been amazing. Here’s hoping it becomes an Oscar hopeful and gets a wider release. Here’s an interview from Logo with the film’s cast and director.

Muslim leaders in Ghana are petitioning the government there over the “growing rate of homosexuals,” saying “if not checked it could prove very costly for the nation.”

A report has just been released in Health Psychology that states gay men are more likely to have safe sex with multiple casual partners than when in monogamous relationships. This information isn’t new amongst the gay community, but is becoming major cause for concern amongst medical professionals.

Gay Bashings Report: Gay-basher in Canada fails in attempt to reduce sentence | California couple charged with hate crimes in alleged gay attack | Night patrols by citizens in Portland, Ore. continue after gay attack earlier this month | University of Florida student charged with hate crime involving anti-gay slurs | 2010 murder of gay Buffalo, N.Y. man remains unsolved; mother asks for help

Daniel Tosh is out of control (NSFW). His appeal is split amongst the gays, either loving him or hating him. I personally think he’s hilarious and is just the type of guy who will do anything for a laugh, going gay included.

Fade In is a powerful new series by Novo Novus Productions (the same people behind Drama Queenz) that features the stories of homeless gay LGBT teens.

Hallelujah!!!

HIGH-larious!!!

I’m loving the new Straight But Not Narrow campaign, which gets famous straight actors to make PSA’s about acceptance and being allies of LGBT people. Their next PSA will feature Cory Monteith who plays Finn on Glee.

A recent study by the National Opinion Research Center at the University of Chicago shows the world as a whole is becoming more accepting of homosexuality.

Wanda Sykes appeared on Pierce Morgan Tonight and talked being black and gay in America. She discusses her controversial stance (which I share) that it’s harder to be gay than black in America today.

I’ve mentioned this before, but it’s now official. Nevada’s governor signed two transgender non-discrimination bills into law this week.

A full-length documentary about legendary drag queen Divine, is currently under production. Here’s the film’s first teaser trailer. I Am Divine is set to be released next year.

Last month Dan Savage and Terry Miller spoke at the Google headquarters about the It Gets Better Project and thanked the company for their powerful IGB ad.

Photo of the Week: This Saturday is Disney World’s unofficial Gay Day and in response the anti-gay Florida Family Association spent $7,000 to fly an ad across Orlando for two days “warning” people away from the amusement park. It’s blatant and public hate like this that’s causes anti-gay bully in schools, which often leads to gay teen suicides.

Queer Corner Quickie #17: 30 Years of AIDS, Eddie Long, Grindr, Lady Gaga, Fleet Week

A quick roundup of this week’s gay happenings…

Video of the Week: ABC’s latest What Would You Do segment featured two gay parents as they dined with their families at a restaurant in a small conservative town, and were berated about their lifestyles by a rude waitress. Suprisingly a large number of people came to their defense.

Don Lemon spoke with Dr. Drew this week about his book and the damage homophobia is doing to the black community. He also wrote this amazing piece about “parying away the gay” for CNN’s Belief Blog.

No More Down Low recently released their latest episode featuring intersting segments on homophobia in hip hop and the Kobe Bryant controversy.

Homohop update: The Freaky Boiz have released their first original song, “Warning.” It’s definitely a departure from their usual fare, think Salt ‘n’ Peppa meets old school Snoop Dogg. And in case you’re interested, here’s video from their Chicago concert May 25th. | Loco Ninja just released the first single, “I’m in Love,”  off his new mix tape, “Flame On,” available June 14th. You can also see him on the PBS special “Out in America” premiering June 8th.

To recognize the 30th anniversary of the AIDS epidemic, CNN is running a series of stories on the history of HIV/AIDS told “through the eyes of people who lived it.” Here’s a piece featuring Edmund White, founder of the Gay Men’s Health Crisis.

The New York Times has gone live with a new interactive feature that lets gay teens tell their coming out stories. It’s extremely powerful and something you must peruse.

According to a new Gallup Poll, support of gay marriage in the U.S. has hit an all time high at 64 percent.

It was just announced that mega-church pastor Eddie Long has reached a settlement with the four men who accused him of “sexual misconduct.” Reports are coming in that he settled so damaging information found during the investigation wouldn’t surface. It’s estimated that the final settlement payment was in the millions.

Gay Bashing Report: Not guilty plea entered for NJ teen in Tyler Clementi case | Transgender woman beaten by mob in Virginia | Assault on two Portland, Ore. gay men investigated as a bias crime | 4 get prison, jail time in Utah gay man’s beating | 3 arrested after beating of gay man in Minnesota

Transgender individuals had a good week in Nevada as the governor signed a non-discrimination bill specifically protecting transgender citizens from employer discrimination into law. There’s also another law going through the state’s Congress that outlaws transgender discrimination in public establishments (restaurants, libraries, etc.).

Indie darling Violet Tendencies just got a DVD release. You can purchase it online here.

’80s pop singer Belinda Carlisle is interviewed by her out son James Duke Mason is this beautiful video (via The Advocate) about a family’s love and acceptance.

Vanity Fair profiles Grindr.

Two gay male teens are crowned prom king and queen at a high school in Maine. (I think it’s hilarious how no one who was against this had the balls to say so on television.)

Lady Gaga chats with the ladies of the The View about being bullied in high school.

Former New York Times food critic Frank Bruni becomes the first openly gay columnist in the paper’s 160 year history.

Photo of the Week: It was Fleet Week in NYC! And the popular Big Gay Ice Cream Truck got in on the fun.

Queer Corner Quickie #16: Don Lemon, AIDS cure, Don’t Say Gay Bill, Patrick-Ian Polk, Taylor Swift, Ben Cohen

A quick roundup of this week’s gay happenings…

Video of the Week: Obviously the big news this week was that CNN anchor Don Lemon came out of the closet. He’s now on a press tour for his new book, Transparent, and is stealing hearts with that beautiful smile, which has quickly made him America’s Sweetheart. Below he chats with Joy Behar about the book and why he came out.

There’s a man in Berlin who’s been cured of AIDS. The explanation includes a bunch of scientific jargon, but in lay man’s terms, he was given a bone marrow transplant because he has leukemia and apparently the bone marrow he was given was from a person who is immune to the HIV virus, which somehow erased the disease from his body. In this video a San Franciscan news station interviews ”The Berlin Patient” and other medical professionals about the miracle.

Tennessee is out of control. Not one, but two anti-gay bills passed this week in their Congress. The first was a bill that keeps city councils in the state from making their own non-discrimination laws forcing them to only enforce the anti-gay state laws. The second is the popularly protested “Don’t Say Gay” Bill, which just passed in the Senate with a 20-10 vote. (Side note: George Takei has lent his voice — and name — to protesting the “Don’t Say Gay” Bill. There’s even merchandise.)

A Kentucky judge recently passed down Kenton County’s first hate crime conviction. Devlin Burke and a group of his friends attacked two lesbians and two men last year outside a Covington club.

News has come down the pike that settlement negotiations in the Rev. Eddie Long misconduct cases have fallen though, and it looks like the cases will be heading to trial as early as this fall.

Patrick-Ian Polk is back! He’s raising money on Kickstarter for a new film project called The Skinny, about a group of Brown University graduates who reunite in New York City for Pride a year after graduation. I’m too excited. I was hoping he’d do a Noah’s Arc: Jumping the Broom sequel, but I’ll take whatever Mr. Polk is dishin’ out.

Keith Boykin in pairing up with Magnus Books to publish an anthology of writings on “living life, confronting obstacles and believing in yourself,” to be titled For Colored Boys Who Have Considered Suicide When The Rainbow Is Still Not Enough. And he wants your story!

Tuesday (May 17) was the International Day Against Homophobia and to recognize the day Pamela E. Bridgewater, who’s the U.S. Ambassador to Jamaica (one of the most dangerous places for gays in the world) penned this amazing piece in the Jamaica Observer in support of respecting LGBT people. And she even uses the Bible to make her point.

Taylor Swift’s new music video for her single, “Mean,” features a well-dressed kid reading a fashion magazine (read gay) being bullied by his high school football team, then becoming a famous fashion designer at the end of the video. Some are shooting hooray, while others are calling foul.

Remember when vagjazzling was all the craze? Well, now I introduce to you pejazzling.

Two lesbian students in Florida were threatened with suspensions because they were holding hands in school. Sometimes I just want to smack some of these school officials.

Speaking of such bullying, The Family Acceptance Project at San Francisco State University has released new research that links anti-gay bullying with long-term health and developmental problems in those tormented.

MTV is airing a special about Lady Gaga on May 25 titled “Inside the Outside.” They’re calling it her “most intimate interview ever.” Here’s a clip where she goes into detail about being bullied in high school.

SNL gave “The Ambiguously Gay Duo” a live-action update starring John Hamm and Jimmy Fallon, with cameos from Will Ferrell, Steven Carell, Ed Helms and Stephen Colbert. (Side note: Justin Timberlake and Lady Gaga take over the SNL season finale this Saturday!)

Sassy Gay Friend has released three new MiO commercials. I still prefer SGF pre-commercialization.

The independent film Judas Kiss is currently on a hot streak, winning awards at gay film festivals across the country, which has led to a DVD distribution deal, which will be released by Wolfe Video this fall.

Glee‘s season two finale is Tuesday and it focuses on the Glee Club’s trip to New York City for the National Show Choir Competition, which was filmed on location in Manhattan. Hundreds of Gleeks and press stormed the set. Here’s an inside look from The Hollywood Reporter. So can’t wait!

Improv Everywhere has produced another one of their amazing impromptu musicals. This time it’s Gotta Share! The Musical, which speaks to the obsessions of social networking.

Photo of the Week: European rugby star Ben Cohen announced this week that he’s retiring from the sport to lead the global fight against homophobia full time. He’ll be running the StandUp Foundation, an anti-bullying organization he founded. Here he is posing for a 2012 calendar StadnUp is putting out later this year as a fundraising effort.

Queer Corner Quickie #15: Presbyterians, American Idol vs. The Voice, Chris Crocker, Ricky Martin, FCKH8

A quick roundup of this week’s gay happenings…

Video of the Week: The COLAGE Youth Leadership and Action Program has put out an amazing documentary profiling five teen youth who are being raised by LGBT parents. You should definitely sit through the full 30-minute segment. It’s pretty powerful.

Progress: Craig Cassey, an openly gay high school track athlete in Pennsylvania, was recently voted the prom king at his high school garnering cheers (and no leers) from classmates.

Seattle Mayor says city should start paying for surgeries and other treatments for transgender employees.

The Presbyterian Church made history this week when after 33 years it voted to change its constitution and allow openly gay people in same-sex relationships to be ordained as ministers, elders and deacons.

In related news, Believe Out Loud is a new campaign started by Intersections International to get 1 million Christians to come out for LGBT equality. Here’s a commercial released by the campaign.

Moment, a Jewish magazine, recently did an article entitled, “What advice would you give if your child told you he or she was gay?” And some of the answers might surprise you.

Due to the recension, the National Youth Advocacy Coalition was forced to close their doors for good on May 13. The organization, formerly located in Washington D.C., was a fierce advocate for gay youth, best known for their programs focused on smoking reduction, voter registration, and movement building nationwide. Their absence will definitely be leaving a major void in the LGBT youth movement.

Entertainment Weekly validly asks: ‘The Voice’ has openly gay singers: Where are they on ‘American Idol’?

Minneapolis was recently named the No. 1 gay city in the country with San Francisco falling to No. 11. The Daily Show hilariously delves deep into San Fran’s downfall.

Here’s 27 shirtless ‘Glee’ guy photos. You’re welcome.

Michigan House approves bill cutting funding to gay-friendly universities. Yes, that statement was real.

Gay Bashing Report: 5 charged in assault on gay South Carolina man | Same SC man attacked again a month later outside of gas station | Arrest made in Elmira, N.Y. homicide, victim was a gay-rights activist | South Africa killing of lesbian activist ‘a hate crime’ | Molly Wei enters plea deal in Tyler Clementi Webcam spying case | Victim’s sister says El Paso, Texas beating was anti-gay hate crime; police say victim still unconscious

The Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration has put out a series of videos on YouTube called Larkin Street Stories: The Homeless LGBT Experience, chronicling the lives of homeless LGBT youth at the Larkin Street Youth Services, a homeless shelter for LGBT youth in San Francisco. There have been talks about getting a center like this up and running in Columbus. I really hope it happens. The homeless LGBT youth statistics are horrendously above average and there definitely needs to be a place for youth to go if their  families kick them out after they come out.

After viscous attacks from the Religious Right, Barbara Lenk became the first open lesbian to be confirmed to the Massachusetts Supreme Court.

As a part of The Moth’s storytelling series Sex and the City writer Cindy Chupack offers “Til Death or Homosexuality Do Us Part,” about her gay husband.

Double Dose (a.k.a porn star Chris Porter) has added his voice to the current homohop resurgence with “F**k This Industry.”

Old Dogs & New Tricks is a new Web series about gay men of certain age. They’re looking for backers to help fun the project, you can donate here.

Anti-gay groups are coming together and planning a huge influx of funds to their cause for 2012 through an initiative called “Ignite an Enduring Cultural Transformation.” Counter attack anyone?

The groundbreaking Google Chrome ad featuring the It Gets Better Project has come under attack by the gays. Some are calling it a travesty and abhorrent attempt to make money off of dead gay teenagers. I beg to differ.

YouTube celebrity Chris Crocker takes on the effemiphobia in the LGBT community. I personally think he has a point, but unfortunately because of his reputation, it’s like Charlie Sheen trying to be the spokesperson for D.A.R.E.

The Smithsonian’s National Museum of American History will mark the 30th anniversary of the emergence of what became known as the HIV and AIDS epidemic with a three-part display and website beginning June 3.

Ricky Martin guested on The Tonight Show with Jay Leno last week to chat about life since coming out.

The FCKH8 campaign has released a new video, this time taking aim at the “Don’t Say Gay” Bill currently making it’s way through the Tennessee legislature.

Alejandro Iglesias, a transgender man who shocked the nation when he appeared on the country’s version of the television reality show Big Brother, has become the poster child for transgender people in Argentina. Here’s an amazing story about how he’s leading the movement against bigotry in the country.

Out magazine recently caused quite a stir within the gay community when they released their Power 50, an annual list of the most powerful gays in America. The list was surprisingly white-washed, there were a couple people of Latino heritage, no African American and no transgender individuals. It also included people who’ve never publicly declared their sexuality. Out editor Aaron Hicklin responded to the controversy in an interview on The Bilerico Project. Personally I think his response is bogus and I’ll be continuing to not support the magazine.

Photo of the Week: Will Ferrel and John C. Riley shared a smooch at a Lakers game last week. Ferrel explained himself on Chelsae Lately shortly after.

Queer Corner Quickie #14: NBC, Donald Trump, Michael Bloomberg, Atlanta Braves, Cary Grant

A quick roundup of this week’s gay happenings…

Video of the Week: Following Apple’s tear-jerking It Gets Better video, the employees at NBC recently released their own addition to the It Gets Better Project.

White House to host first ever transgender meeting.

Malaysia officials rounded up 66 teenage male students who were deemed effeminate and sent them to a government sponsored camp because it was feared they “could end up gay or transsexual”. A petition is circulating around the world to have the “Sissy Boot Camps” shut down.

Because of the hateful anti-gay views Donald Trump has spewing since he announced he’s “running” for President, GLAAD has issued a call-to-action asking the LGBT community and its allies to boycott all Trump-owned entities.

Pulitzer Prize winner Cynthia Tucker penned this amazing column, Eddie Long: homophobe, narcissist, con artist, about mega-church Pastor Eddie Long. He’s the extremely anti-gay and married pastor who made headlines recently for allegedly having affairs with multiple male members of his congregation.

French-based HIV/AIDS awareness organization AIDES has released another campy video about safe sex. This time featuring Willy the Tourist.

A federal judge ordered NYC Mayor Michael Bloomberg to restore funding to HIV/AIDS Services Administration. He was going to cut 254 employees from the organization, but it was found that such a large cut would be unconstitutional. So, the administration filed suite and they won!

Houston’s Fox affiliate Fox 26 recently featured a discussion that included American Family Association right-wing, nut-job Bryan Fischer discussing Glee and how it’s making TV too gay. The reporter even ridiculously states that the show is using homosexuality as product placement. Really!?

The Cosmopolitan Hotel in Las Vegas forcibly barred a transgender women from the hotel for life after she used their ladies restroom this week. But shortly after the story went viral and was then printed in Las Vegas Weekly, the hotel issued an apology and said the transgender guest was welcome back anytime. She says the apology is insincere and she won’t be returning.

I’ve mentioned Tennessee’s new “Don’t Say Gay Bill” before. It would effectively ban teachers in elementary schools from talking about homosexuality. Here the bill’s sponsor Senator Stacey Campfield (R-TN) talks idiotically about the bill’s merits. And here Washington Post columnist Alexandra Petri writes about how idiotic the bills is.

Tennessee is on an anti-gay roll. A bill that would ban cities in the state from passing anti-discrimination bills that include sexuality has been passed in the house. If signed into law it would resend a recent Nashville ordinance that was passed that added sexuality to the city’s anti-discrimination laws.

Loved this video about discrimination within the gay community. It’s an issue that we never talk about, but so needs to be addressed.

Gay Bashing Report: Vigil honors gay hate crime victim in Austin | Utah man assaulted outside Salt Lake City gay club | Thug beats up gay man in London over his shorts | Canadian lesbian awarded $22,000 over anti-gay tirade by comic | Convicted Kentucky gay basher faces delay in sentencing, hate crime determination | Thugs targeting men coming from gay bars in NYC’s West Village, police say

Openly gay former NBA star John Amaechi recently spoke in depth with David Pakman on the radio show Midweek Politics about the Kobe Bryant controversy, gay NBA players and more.

Speaking of meat-head athletes, an Atlanta Braves coach has come under fire for yelling anti-gay slurs and making inappropriate sexually suggestive gestures at a group of fans during a game last week in San Francisco. He’s apologized, but is still under investigation.

A male student at Riverview High School in Florida was kicked out of class for wearing high heels.

Killer Queen: The Story of Paco the Pink Pounder is a new play being staged in NYC about the the trials faced by an out gay boxer.

In a new memoir, Cary Grant’s daughter Jennifer says he was not gay, despite the barrage of evidence by Hollywood historians that he was.

Elton John and his modern family were recently featured in an in-depth segment on 20/20. Here’s Part 1 and here’s Part 2.

Here’s an interesting interview with out MSNBC anchor Rachel Maddow. She talks about why she’s out and why she thinks a certain famous news anchor should also come out.

Famous gay filmmaker Malcolm Ingram (Small Town Gay Bar, Bear Nation) is making a new documentary called Continental, about the famous bath house in New York city during the ’60s that saw such guests and performers like Bette Midler, Barry Manilow and Patti Labelle. But he needs your help. He’s raising money for the project on Kickstarter and must raise $20,000 by May 11.

Photo of the Week: Model Bak Jea Min at a recent Guess underwear fashion show.