Barack Obama’s gay push continues.

In addition to releasing a gay pride message yesterday, the Senator’s campaign last night organized an impromptu conference call for about 1200 Democratic supporters. While ostensibly meant to inform the Democratic candidate’s constituents, the call served another, far more important purpose: rallying Senator Hillary Clinton’s supporters.

In fact, the former contender’s name arose within seconds of the call’s commencement, when Obama’s deputy campaign manager Steve Hildebrand began, “It is a very important time for our country, our party, for Senator Obama and Senator Clinton.”
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Human Rights Campaign’s getting in on the gay marriage action by pledging $500,000 to fight right wing attempts to ban same-sex nuptials in the Golden State. Said president Joe Solmonese, “With the $500,000 commitment to Equality for All today, HRC aims to ensure that California remains a state where every person has the opportunity to realize their hopes and dreams by being able to marry the person they love.” [HRC]

“Human Rights Campaign President Joe Solmonese met with a handful of transgender activists in Atlanta last week and apologized for “misspeaking” at last year’s Southern Comfort conference, where he promised HRC would only support an Employment Non-Discrimination Act that included gender identity, according to people attending the meeting… HRC supports including gender identity in ENDA, but urged Congress members to vote in favor of [Barney] Frank’s sexual orientation-only bill as an incremental strategy.” [SoVo]

Human Rights Campaign just announced Clergy Call 2009, an interfaith effort to raise queer awareness among the pious folk. Here’s what president Joe Solmonese had to say about the event, “America’s clergy are transforming our nation one congregation at a time and making it easier for Members of Congress to stand for equality. These trainings will encourage participants to take their conversations to the next level and work for change in the public sphere.” Those of you interested in salvation should sign up and feel the spirit [HRC]

Human Rights Campaign president Joe Solmonese yesterday released a list of 14 Senatorial candidates whom they’re backing. It’s worth noting that HRC did not endorse North Carolina-based homo-politico Jim Neal, who’s hoping to get the Democratic nomination over Kay Hagan, a veteran politician. HRC apparently doesn’t know which way to lean, so they’re just sitting on their haunches. They wouldn’t want to rock the boat, of course… [NY Blade]

Journalist Sara Whitman lays the smack down this morning. Whitman’s absolutely beside herself over gay leaders like Joe Solmonese, Matt Foreman and even Melissa Etheridge’s respective silences on 15-year Lawrence King’s murder: Who represents the LGBT community on a national and international stage?

Is there anyone?
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Who was at Lawrence King’s funeral? Where were our leaders?

In this star struck culture, the way to draw attention to an issue is to put a recognizable face out front to draw the press out. Where were Joe Solmonese of HRC, Matt Foreman of NGLTF, Kevin Cathcart of Lambda, Kate Kendall of NCLR, Neil Giuliano of GLAAD? Ellen DeGeneres did her part, but what about the newly out … Continued…

The time is upon us once again for the second time: Out magazine’s annual Power Issue. While we didn’t make the cut of the 50 most powerful homos, funny lesbian Ellen DeGeneres did - and, in fact, takes the cake, beating out the likes of Joe Solmonese, editor Adam Moss and fallen queen of the lesbians, Rosie O’Donnell.

Also in this issue, Michael Musto offers a follow-up to last year’s The Glass Closet, which called out people like Jodie Foster and Anderson Cooper for not coming out. This year’s essay, Shattered Glass, examines the parameters of coming out. Sure, Jodie Foster intimated at her lesbianic ways, but does it matter if … Continued…

With ENDA’s Senatorial revival, Human Rights Campaigns’ Joe Solmonese again finds himself on the firing line. Solmonese got ripped apart last year after his organization abandoned the fight for trans inclusion in the Employment Non-Discrimination Act. HRC had previously pledged not to support a non-inclusive ENDA, but went back on that deal, thus sparking an ugly civil war between activists hellbent on keeping a united front and those who felt it best to take baby steps: gays first, then trans folk.

Well, that debate rages on and this year Solmonese knows not to make promises he can’t keep. Nor does he want people to think HRC’s omnipotent, telling Ohio’s Gay People’s Chronicle that … Continued…

Human Rights Campaign offers itself some hopeful congratulations in this new video, “2008: A Year To Win.”

While certainly the group has done necessary work, even the George Michael scored montage doesn’t convince us that they’ll make good on all their promises. But maybe we’re just cynical. Or maybe we’re still traumatized by ENDA.

Karen Ocamb attended last weekend’s HRC Awards in Los Angeles and she didn’t like what she saw, heard, smelled and probably ate. And she’s especially displeased with HRC honcho Joe Solmonese. [Bilerico]

Did someone forget to take their disco nap? Neil Patrick Harris didn’t look very pleased during the photo call for HRC’s Ally Awards last night.

Meanwhile, George Takei’s sudden case of permasmile left guests wondering about his acting future, to which Takei replied, “I guess I’ll just have to be type cast: gay!”

Project Runway winner Christian Siriano seemed the gayest to be there. Speaking of smile happy PR alums, why did WireImage credit designer Nick Verreos as an “actor”. Even more importantly: what would Shakespeare say about reality shows?

HRC also wrangled wild woman Judith Light for last night’s Ally Awards. The Ugly Betty actress seemed randy as ever and got rather cozy with Point Foundation’s Jorge Valencia. Hot new couple alert? Speaking of hot couple - check out Ricki Lake’s diamond earrings. We’re not crying, baby!

Old friend and Ally honoree Anne Hathaway loomed large over HRC honcho, Joe Solmonese, who later gave Miss California Raquel Beezley a bit of a squeeze at the actual ceremony. Do we smell another political sex scandal?

The always handsome John Amaechi also joined the fun and Thea Gill flaunted her seamless skin. And, of course, it wouldn’t be a gay event until Wilson Cruz starts the so-called party. Thus it was done…

See the pictures - in that order - after the jump…
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There’s no pride in this one: “…[HRC and Joe Solmonese have] been nominated for San Francisco Pride’s Pink Brick award – an award meant to recognize groups and individuals who’ve run afoul of the community or pushed for antigay measures.” ENDA casts a long shadow, huh? [BAR]

Human Rights Campaign got little love at its annual New York dinner this weekend.
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Joe Solmonese and Mary Breslauer must be seeing stars after yesterday’s The Agenda! Broadway babe Idina Menzel, former Romanian ambassador and rabble-rouser Michael Guest and Daily Kos’ Dana Houle all stopped by the radio show to give their well-regarded regards. Those bold-faced named are all linked to their respective audio clips. Let old Solly - not to be confused Andrew “Sully” Sullivan - lull you into a homo coma of cultural bliss.

Comedy Central aired part two of HRC honcho Joe Solmonese’s sit down with tongue-in-cheek king Stephen Colbert. Watch as the boys talk about Congressional calluses, whether we gays can be blamed for Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell and when Colbert decided to be straight: late November of 1982. Why? He’s lazy and being gay takes a lot of work.

And, of course, the comedian tries to lobby Solmonese to the straight side - they’re soft, they smell good, they have vaginas. Unfortunately Somonese doesn’t bite. Nor does he high-five.