We’re not sure if you’ve heard, but college can get expensive. Thus, it should come as no surprise to hear that thousands of high school graduates opt out of higher education to focus on stuffing their coffers for future academic endeavors. Hoping to stem the trend among homos, North Carolina gay couple Tim and Neil Griffin founded the Griffin Scholarship, $2500 awarded to two Carolinian gay students annually.

Though PFLAG and other organizations have been doing similar scholarships for years, but Tim Griffin says more must be done, particularly because of discrimination among particular institutions: There are kids out there who can’t get access to military scholarships, or church scholarships, or even … Continued…

Some gay daddies got editorial love in North Carolina this weekend. Rather than focusing on “mainstream” paternalism, The Asheville Citizen-Times used its front page to feature “unconventional” fathers, like queer couple Brian Alexander and John Brock, who adopted 18-month old Eric after becoming his foster parents: The couple decided their best route to parenthood was becoming foster parents, fulfilling a need in Buncombe County where there are only about 70 foster homes for 350 children.

Eric has been with the couple from the time he was 6 weeks old.

“He doesn’t know anybody other than us,” Alexander said. “We’re his daddy and papa.”

As two gay men raising a baby, Alexander and Brock have to … Continued…

Raleigh coppers caught up with the times this weekend. The flatfoots last week arrested two gay men who were having sex in private last week after one of them, Nelson Keith Sloan, called about a sexual assault. Both he and his partner, Christopher Ryan Flynn were charged with crimes against nature.

Realizing that 2003’s Lawrence v. Texas invalidated sodomy laws, the distract attorney straightened things out and dropped the charges, saying the men were having consensual sex. Despite the turnaround, Sloan says a threat remains: I am grateful that the DA’s office has a better understanding of the Constitution than the Raleigh Police Department However, as long as this law remains on … Continued…

The past sure can leave a mark.

Despite the fact that the 2003 Supreme Court case Lawrence v. Texas struck down federalist sodomy laws, North Carolina police this weekend charged two gay men with “crimes against nature.” And, as if that’s not bad enough, an alleged victim got snagged himself: Police first arrested and charged Nelson Keith Sloan, 40, who called them to the private residence to report an attack. Later, police arrested and charged Ryan Christopher Flynn, 25, with the same charge.

Flynn was also charged with simple assault for biting Sloan and communicating threats for telling Sloan he was going to disembowel him.

“This looks like a case of a consensual act that … Continued…

Jim Neal’s Senatorial dreams were dashed last week when he lost to fellow Democrat Kay Hagan.

The road to Washington wasn’t the most level, especially considering Neal’s relative obscurity and the fact that Hagan won the support of party leaders, who apparently worried Neal couldn’t take on Republican Elizabeth Dole.

While some would be sore about their loss, Neal’s taking it all in stride. He hasn’t yet decided what the future holds, but this homo-politicos sure of one thing: he made - and will continue to make - an impact.

Neal and our editor chatted yesterday about the candidate’s loss, gay group Human Rights Campaign’s non-endorsement and why this year will change America’s electoral process forever.
Continued…

John McCain’s right-wing wooing antics aren’t working.

A shocking amount of Indiana and North Carolina Republicans put their weight against the presumptive nominee, giving their support to fallen candidates like Mike Huckabee, Ron Paul or, of course, simply voting “no.”

Twenty-six percent of North Carolinians rejected the politico, while twenty-two of Indiana’s Hoosiers have apparently given up on the Senator from Arizona.

It’s probably a gloomy morning for homo-politico Jim Neal.

The North Carolina Democrat lost his Senatorial bid to rival Kay Hagan last night, sixty-to-eighteen percent.

It’s not surprising that voters would prefer Hagan, who has been a sitting Senator for five-years. What does shock us a bit is that people backed the candidate who originally didn’t want to run.

You may recall that Chuck Schumer and other party asked Hagan to run, fearing that Neal couldn’t compete with Republican candidate Elizabeth Dole.

Regardless, Hagan’s now the district’s Senatorial nominee and knows she needs to unify potential voters…
Continued…

Two points.

That’s Hillary Clinton’s margin of victory in Indiana, where pundits, pollsters and press thought the Senator would surely trounce Barack Obama for the Democratic primary.

Obama, however, surprised us all by securing a projected 49% of the vote, while soaring ahead in North Carolina, where he took a whopping - and telling - 56% of the vote. Clinton, meanwhile, only grabbed 42% of the Tar Heel State, giving Obama a fourteen point margin of victory.

And a considerable delegate boost: at least ninety-four.

So, where do the Democratic presidential candidates go from here? Well, the next primaries, of course, but both candidates struck a particularly conciliatory tone during their respective “victory” speeches last night.
Continued…

It’s a big day for homo-politico Jim Neal, who’s running for the Democratic senatorial seat in North Carolina.
Continued…

His own party and gay groups aren’t backing him, but North Carolina Senatorial hopeful Jim Neal keeps on fighting for his spot on November’s ticket. Most uplifting: his competitor, Kay Hagan, has a long political history in the state and is running television ads, but 34% of Democrats still don’t know who they’ll pick in next week’s primary. [BAR]

We previously informed you that North Carolina Governor Mike Easley used the word “pansy” in his Hillary Clinton endorsement. Said Easley, “[Mrs. Clinton] makes Rocky Balboa look like a pansy.” Well, you can check the video out after the jump.

Before you dive on in, one reader sent us a note on this poor word choice, which we’d like to share: You might point out top readers that one would use that term, say, when chasing a gay guy with intent to harm. Or, say, not hiring him. Or maybe not letting him rent an apartment in one’s building.

I expect more from her. She’s no dummy. She knows exactly what that word means. Considering the Senator’s silence, we get the impression that she simply doesn’t care. And this is a gay ally?
Continued…

Hillary Clinton’s campaign lives again!

The Senator from New York tidily won a victory in today’s Pennsylvania primary. Only about 85% of the votes have been counted, but early results give Clinton 55% over rival Barack Obama’s 45%. That’s a ten point victory and more than enough to fuel Clinton’s continuation.

The Democratic candidate made sure to highlight said continuation in her victory speech, telling voters that the “tide is turning.” Some counted me out and said to drop out, but the American people don’t quit. And they deserve a president who doesn’t quit, either.
…
Because of you, the tide is turning.
Continued…

North Carolina found itself in a virtual war this week. Despite the fact that the legislature voted against including sexuality in the state’s non-discrimination policy, the prohibition found itself on the state personnel office’s website. And right wing politicians are pissed. Don’t worry, conservatives, state officials insisted they’ll remove it at once. They wouldn’t want anyone thinking North Carolina endorses equality! [Citizen Times]

North Carolina’s Jim Neal may be new to the political arena, but he’s making great headway in his Congressional campaign.

A recently released poll indicates that the gay business man has tied with his rival, Senator Kay Hagan, who also wants to run on the Democratic ticket.

Hoping to keep up the momentum, Neal issued this call to action: asking supporters to donate ten bones to the campaign, enlist ten friends and bring ten people to the polls on election day.

We sense a common theme…

Political newcomer and notable homosexual Jim Neal’s doing well in his competition against veteran Kay Hagan, who also wants to run for their North Carolina Senatorial seat. On a related note, our editor analyzed the shit out of the candidate’s respective websites [Towleroad and Q-Notes]