THE SHOT — We already know Levi Johnston didn't bare all for Playgirl, but so far our enjoyment of the famous loose-lipped baby daddy has been relegated to computer screens (and iPhone backgorunds). No more! The print issue of Playgirl, which normally doesn't exist, hits on Feb. 22. And it sports what's perhaps the most revealing — or at least, least covering — photo of all. But that's not all the brand, now targeting gay men, is doing to entice new customers: There will also be a pay-per-view special hitting your cable box Feb. 12. Continued »

SOUNDBITES — "Rich says that it's no big deal to live hiding one's sexual orientation. If you're straight, try it for one day. Try never mentioning your spouse, your family, your home, your girlfriend or boyfriend to anyone you know or work with – just for one day. Take that photo off your desk at work, change the pronoun you use for your spouse to the opposite gender, guard everything you might say or do so that no one could know you're straight, shut the door in your office if you have a personal conversation if it might come up. Try it. Now imagine doing it for a lifetime. It's crippling; it warps your mind; it destroys your self-esteem. These men and women are voluntarily risking their lives to defend us. And we are demanding they live lives like this in order to do so." —Andrew Sullivan, responding to the National Review's Rich Lowry in this debate with Ana Marie Cox over serving openly in the military Continued »

We're just days away from what may by Johnny Weir's final attempt at scoring an Olympic gold medal, as he approaches the 2010 Winter Games with about seventy-eight chips on his shoulder. All of which he's displayed on Pop Star On Ice, the delightful docu-series build-up to an event that will either cement Weir as a world-class figure skater, or somewhere farther down the totem poll, closer to novelty athletic personality. In the meantime, there's this: his karaoke rendition of Carrie Underwood's "Before He Cheats," which is not very good, but Weir has made very public his wish to perform, rather than stick to technical skill. Continued »

Sarah Silverman just drew cheers from a slew of gay Americans — and, perhaps, some uncomfortable squirming from heterosexual newlyweds planning their spring weddings. Because the comic has highlighted what this nation's draconian marriage laws have created: an exclusive club for a certain class of people, from which others are barred. Continued »

Rep. John Murtha, the 19-term earmark-happy Pennsylvania Democrat and Vietnam War veteran who criticized the invasion of Iraq, and who consistently voted for ENDA and against 2006's constitutional gay marriage amendment, died today from complications involving gallbladder surgery. He was 77.

In a July 1993 article, the New York Times quoted a White House aide, when President Bill Clinton signed Don't Ask Don't Tell into law, that the policy "is going to discourage acting, practicing homosexuals from being in the military" but "will lead to significant advances for homosexuals in the military. It will clearly state that individuals cannot be asked about their sexual orientation nor will they be required to reveal it. It will clearly create, we believe, a zone of privacy in the military." Continued »

We all know school districts across the nation are facing budget shortfalls for their property tax-funded curriculums. So when an budget item comes up worth $120,000, the question begs: Do you hire two new teachers, or institute a support program for LGBT students? San Francisco is about to decide just that. Continued »

This stupid story about Kristin Davis, the accused Ellipt Spitzer madam, running for governor of New York against Cuomo and Paterson is stupid, and we feel stupider for even reporting it, but because she says she's in favor of gay marriage, our editor was like, "Well, at least mention it," so we're mentioning it, and that's the last of this we want to hear.

SOUNDBITES — "2010 has the potential to see even more achievements for this community than at any other time." —The always optimistic HRC president Joe Somonese, speaking at the group's annual New York fundraiser gala, and ignoring House Speaker Nancy Pelosi's commitment to shut down any "controversial" bills that come her way

Saying that Rep. Barney Frank got cranky with an interviewer is no longer a Queerty-approved way of introducing a post. So how about saying Frank is pissed off at whiny gays who aren't doing enough to lobby their lawmakers and how they need to lay off the president? Oh, that's cliche too? Continued »

Anecdotal evidence might suggest, for every enjoyable holiday spent aboard a gay cruise ship, there's a death in the family. GLAAD board member Spencer Yu passed away last year during an Atlantis cruise, and a 37-year-old passenger aboard Atlantis's enormous Liberty of the Seas ship was found dead in his cabin last month during a Cayman Islands jaunt. But just because you're going to gay travel route doesn't mean you'll have a not-so-fantastic time. Well, not always. We asked for your stories, and you delivered. Continued »

Orlando's Florida Family Policy Council, headed by John Stemberger, was very upset when a judge gave custody of a 1-year-old boy to her foster parents, because her foster parents are lesbian couple Vanessa Alenier and Melanie Leon. In notifying its mailing list about the "arrogant judicial activism," the FFPC included a photo of the pair (at left) to show supporters just how repulsed they should be by the adoption case. Except that's not the adoptive couple; that's them, on the right. They're a couple of good looking women who are the perfect, media-friendly faces for the same-sex adoption debate. It was a stupid ruse, and FFPC, an affiliate of Focus On The Family, has been fairly called out for their sensationalism. But this website is not above sensationalism. Which is why, in reporting on this story, we're going to substitute the original photo of John Stemberger — who also served as chair of Florida's Yes2Marriage.org — for a scarier version. Continued »

When you're the chief executive of an enormous oil concern, your duties include finding new energy sources, navigating international environmental regulations, and delivering hefty profits for shareholders. But Lord Browne, who headed BP (née British Petroleum) until 2007, had another line item on his job description: hide his sexuality. And it all came crumbling down when he lost a court case he hoped would prevent newspaper from publishing his same-sex private life, and expose him as a perjurer. Continued »

Maybe because the St. Louis Rams weren't playing in the Super Bowl. Or maybe because the big game's gay themes were focused on CBS's refusal of a gay dating ad. But news that Carrie Prejean, the one-time Miss USA runner-up, is engaged to Rams quarterback Kyle Boller merited barely a blip on our radar. But congratulations to the pair, who cemented their promise on Saturday in San Diego. Continued »

Does it matter that it took a spot featuring rabid heterosexual mascot Megan Fox to include a pair of gays during a Super Bowl ad? And does it matter that, in an ad obviously aimed at heterosexual men, the representation of the gays comes down to bitchy queens slapping each other? Continued »

Because children are ripe for political maneuvering, a pair of Iowa lawmakers figured queer youth didn't need any legal protections from bullying in schools, which explains why they're trying to remove sexual orientation and gender identity from the state's Safe Schools Law — all as a means to chip away at the Iowa Supreme Court's gay marriage approval. Continued »

Costa Rica: No military, excellent coffee, unbeatable beaches. And thanks to this weekend's election of Laura Chinchilla as the nation's first female president, there will be no support for gay rights at the executive level. Continued »

SOUNDBITES — "The whole family converted to Episcopalianism after my elder brother came out. Why should I support an organization that has a limited view of my beloved brother?" —Actress Anne Hathaway to GQ on why her family left the Catholic Church, adding that the Episcopal Church isn't perfect either: ""So I'm… nothing (no denomination). Fuck it, I'm forming. I'm a work in progress."

Testifying before the United States Senate, Defense Sec. Robert Gates and Joint Chiefs Chairman Adm. Mike Mullen promised lawmakers they would investigate and review the best strategy to implement a Don't Ask Don't Tell repeal. To do this, the men said, they would put together a team of qualified individuals who would look into the feasibility of such a move. Too bad the Military Times just beat them to it. Continued »

The three-year-old Al Jazeera English is lauded by The Gays for regularly covering, with responsible reportage, gay rights issues and stories, unlike, say, CNN. Which is why the Canadians Gs are so thrilled the network is finally arriving there. But it isn't sparing criticism of the parent network, based in Qatar, which still treats homos as worthy of a stoning. Continued »