Activists opposing Arizona's ban on gay marriage unleashed some shenanigans this weekend:

More than 100 campaign signs that support Proposition 102 have been vandalized or stolen, according to a campaign spokesperson.

The signs promote a yes vote, which would define marriage in Arizona as between one man and one woman. A spokesperson for the campaign said the damage has totaled nearly $6,000.

We can't condone illegal activity, but, c'mon, this is kind of awesome.

The editors of Arizona's Tucson Citizen know where they stand on Proposition 102, the a ballot measure aimed at defining marriage as between one man and one woman:

The proposition is unnecessary: There's already an Arizona law banning gay marriage. And despite claims by its advocates of the modesty of the proposal's intentions, its passage would hurt the state.
…
You don't have to be a left-wingnut jurist, however, to see that a ban is wrong. The justices of the California Supreme Court, which earlier this year overturned that state's gay marriage prohibition, aren't "activist."

Six of the seven justices were appointed by Republican governors, and they saw the law for what it was - discrimination.

Social conservatives, unfortunately, are slow learners.

Two of Arizona's top Catholic bishops are lending their voices to the state's forthcoming battle on gay marriage, which will be on the ballot this November:

In a pastoral letter, Thomas Olmstead of Phoenix and Gerald Kincanas of Tucson said Proposition 102 "is in alignment with our deeply held moral beliefs regarding marriage." And without a constitutional provision, the pair say current laws which define marriage in Arizona as solely between one man and one woman could be overturned.

Olmstead was out of the state on personal business. But Kincanas told Capitol Media Services he sees nothing improper about urging people to put the church's view on marriage into the state constitution.

"The church has always and will continue to address issues especially that are related to moral and ethical principles," he said. "We believe that marriage is a sacred relationship, that it is at the heart and core of society."

Sometimes we read shit like this and just think, "Blah, blah, blah." Sigh.

Words, they say, matter - especially when dealing with potentially discriminatory legislation:

Arizona voters will be told when they go to the polls that it already is illegal for gays to marry in this state.

Secretary of State Jan Brewer agreed late Tuesday to add that fact to the description of Proposition 102 that will appear on the November ballots. Approval would add a same-sex-marriage ban to the state constitution.

Brewer — along with supporters of the measure — originally did not want that language used, saying it would only confuse voters. But Attorney General Terry Goddard, who has to approve the ballot summaries she writes, said the addition was necessary.

Unlike the ballot measure itself…

The hits just keep coming for Democratic National Committee chairman Howard Dean. And when we say "hits," we mean video of his testimony in the ongoing discrimination lawsuit filed by former gay outreach director Donald Hitchcock.

In case you're just joining us, Hitchcock claims key DNC leaders conspired to sack him as retaliation for his boyfriend Paul Yandura's public criticism of the party. Dean denies the allegations, claiming Hitchcock failed to seduce the gays.

This particular video - part of which has been blacked out for its confidentiality - has less to do with Hitchcock's firing and more to do with the Democratic Party's alleged inclusion, specifically with regard to the national convention's contentious gay goals.

CONTINUED »

Rest easy, readers, for at least one of our great nation's not-so-great homophobes has been arrested:

A 24-year-old Flagstaff man has been charged with aggravated assault for an incident following a gay-pride festival that police called a hate crime.

Travis A. Reiner also faces misdemeanor assault and disorderly conduct charges. Three other men were arrested but have not been charged.

Flagstaff police reports say two men who had attended the Pride in the Pines gay-pride festival were assaulted. One victim, who is gay, was briefly hospitalized.

Police said one of the suspects made anti-gay slurs.

We've said it before and we'll no doubt say it again: crime doesn't pay. Unless you're a robber, but definitely not in this situation…

Gay activists celebrated yesterday afternoon after Arizona's Senate failed to pass an anti-gay marriage measure. With the failure, many assumed that the proposed ban wouldn't make November's ballot. Unfortunately, they may have spoken too soon:

The thirty-member chamber voted 14-11 to place a proposed constitutional amendment banning same-sex marriage onto the ballot. But since the Arizona constitution requires that a majority of the members elected must approve the measure, sixteen votes are needed for passage.

When supporters of the ban realized that they didn’t have enough votes — Sen. Karen Johnson (R-Mesa) had gone on vacation — Sen. Linda Gray (R-Phoenix) switched her vote in a procedural move to allow her to bring the measure back again for another vote. Another vote will likely be called on Friday when Johnson is expected to interrupt her vacation to support the measure.

The civil rights loving kids over at Equality Arizona have some handy tips for those of you looking to fight the good gay fight.

Arizona's gay activists aren't taking any chances on this November's election:

Valley gay community leaders have launched their own voter drive ahead of this fall's high-stakes election: Out the Vote.

The nonpartisan group by the same name - conceived last month during a brainstorming session of about 40 gay community leaders - has been targeting bars, churches and other gathering places to register members of the gay, lesbian, bisexual and transgender community.

Leaders hope to boost voter turnout among the community during a critical election year when all 90 seats in the state Legislature, several Congressional seats and the White House will be up for grabs.

Those are some high stakes, especially since the state's social conservatives are pushing for a ballot measure to ban gay marriage. Out that vote, homos - and out it good!

Kyle Hutchinson made a bit of history last month.

The openly gay Arizona teen received high school's highest social honor: prom king. Too bad many of his classmates didn't appreciate the trailblazing and made a jeer-filled show of their disappointment. While obviously the taunts hurt, Hutchinson, being a resilient young homo, refuses to let the negativity bring him down:

I'm always trying to be a good role model for other people. To tell them, 'It's OK to be gay. Just because you're gay doesn't mean you have to be the lowest person, treated the worst.'
…
The people who booed me, I forgive them. But, I guess there's really nothing to forgive. I refuse the idea that 'being gay' is a reason to hate someone. I refuse to accept it, it has become obsolete. Those who do hold that hate in their hearts, well, after my crowning it is obvious they are now the minorities.

Don't you love when inspirational figures get all sassy and shit?