NEWS: Drama at Australian Open, PFLAG Honors Maple Leafs Manager, Gays Are Better Parents, And More!

Welcome to the Short List, where you’ll find all the news or entertainment tidbits worth digesting for the day.

Today’s news: an Australian politician accuses activists of “rainbow fascism” (really?), Romney panders to the anti-gay GOP base, and West Hollywood gays brainstorm ways to make their Pride parade less lame.

*Tennis player Laura Robson (right) wore a rainbow hair band at the Australian Open, where a conservative MP accused “extremist” gay activists of “rainbow fascism” for protesting the appearance of legendary player Margaret Court, who’s made several recent anti-gay comments. [The Australian]

*The men on trial in Derby for distributing “death to gays” leaflets said it was their “Muslim duty” to do so. [BBC News]

*While he used to think marriage should be left to the states, Mitt Romney now supports a federal amendment outlawing same-sex marriages everywhere. [ThinkProgress]

*Gay couples make better parents than straight couples. It’s a fact! [HuffPo]

*Also a fact: A meeting tonight in West Hollywood will address how to make the WeHo Pride Parade (left) less “lame.” [WeHo News]

*PFLAG honored Toronto Maple Leafs General Manager Brian Burke, who’s son Brendan came out before his death in 2011, with its annual Ally Award [Maple Leafs website]

*In South Carolina, three gay couples are going to apply for marriage licenses at the Greenville County courthouse, though they assume they will be denied. [CBS 7 SC]