Gay Oregonians have something to celebrate today. Lawmakers are currently mulling two bills that would guarantee them the basic rights afforded other citizens. One bill hopes to ban gay discrimination in the work place, while the other will extend certain rights to same-sex couples.

Of course, this isn't some willy-nilly gay nup law: couples will have to fit certain stipulations. The Washington Blade reports:

The bill includes a requirement that couples who enter into civil unions live in Oregon for a certain amount of time, and would allow a same-sex couple to enter a civil union via a contract, instead of needing a clergy member or judge to make it official.

Hmmm, that sounds convenient. Well, except for the living in Oregon bit. Yeah, it's pretty and all that, but we've never wanted to marry someone that badly.

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• It's Anglican war in Tanzania. Literally. Archbishop Peter Akinola called in an extra bishop, former army colonel Archbishop Nicholas Okoh.

• "No Tongue," says Courtney Cox on her not-so-Dirty lesbian kiss with Jennifer Aniston - a detail that doesn't really matter, considering that no one's watching.

• Gay Floridian foster parents lose custody of HIV baby! Yeah, that about sum's it up.

• Gawker has a crush on a man-loving, folk song-singing, baby-sitting Brooklynite named Ryan. Pass it on.

• Some Euro gay rights groups have joined forces to combat anti-gay bullying. So, bullies, you'd better watch your asses. Those Euro homos fight dirty.

• Speaking of dirty, you should head on over to Eastern Bloc and get drunk with us. Jimmy Im will be there spinning. Info below.

All right, enough of that lovey dovey bullshit. There are bigger things going on in the world, like Nigeria's public hearings on faggotry's legalities. People are coming forward to the House of Representatives to voice their opinions on the place of homosexuality in Nigerian society.

As happens, religious institutions have come to support the bill. The Christian Association of Nigeria and The National Muslim Center have both condemned homosexuality as being antithetical to Nigerian society at large, a sentiment echoed by some politicians.

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Anglican leaders will gather in Tanzania later this week to duke it out on the international churches most divisive issues, particularly the institution's stance on the homos. It will certainly be an eventful weekend, as more conservative leaders take a stand against Presiding Episcopal Bishop Bishop Katharine Jefferts Schori and openly gay Bishop Gene Robinson. Of those leaders, Nigerian archbishop and virulent homophobe Peter Akinola's voice will undoubtedly be the loudest. Before Akinola wears out his vocal cords, however, a number of Nigerian activists are asking him to raise his fist against the African nation's proposed ban on homosexuality.

You may recall the long-dormant bill got a breath of fresh air a few months back, a resurrection Nigerian activists blame on the British-based Outrage! and other international gay rights organizations. Regardless of who's to blame, the discriminatory documents will effectively outlaw same-sex relations. In a list ditch effort, pro-gay Christian non-profit, Changing Attitude Nigeria has penned a desperate letter to Akinola and his allies.

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Speaking of HRC: they get a lot of shit - and rightfully so - for blindly supporting democratic candidates. You may recall reported douche bag Chris Crain's comments against the group's stale politics, in which he said:

The effect of the new HRC strategy is to put all the gay movement's marbles in the Democratic Party basket... What's worse, HRC support for Democrats, especially in the most contested congressional races, often went to beat moderate and even pro-gay Republicans.

Those of you who agree will be intrigued by a piece in the fresh edition of The Atlantic, in which journo Joshua Green sits down with former software mogul and forever homosexual, Tim Gill: a man who may become the most powerful political donor in America.

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Oy vey, what a mess it must be to be a gay Russian. First Moscow mayor Yury Luzhkov bans Moscow pride, calls gay people "satanists" and sparks a court battle that's headed all the way to the EU Human Rights Court. Then President Vladimir Putin says he supports gays, although does raise the "joke" of their affect on birth rates. A few days later, the government backs gays by saying they have the right to free assembly.

That alone's enough to send someone over the edge screaming, but now comes news that conservative politician Nikolay Kuryanovich is looking to recriminalize homosexuality, something that hasn't been done since 1993. UK Gay reports:

The new bill, introduced into Russia’s lower house on Monday, is nearly identical to the 1933 criminal code, until Stalin, which made homosexuality punishable by five years of hard labour. Deputy Nikolay Kuryanovich ‘s new legislation would revive Soviet law that would also ban gay congregations and be especially harsh with Pride organizers.
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It is unclear how far Kuryanovich’s bill will get, as he doesn’t have any official party backing. The bill, however, has gained support from Communist supporters and the Russian Orthodox Church.

It seems to us this bill won't get the go ahead, but even the thought of it's pretty scary, no? Although, we can't say we're surprised Kuryanovich and his pals want to see the rise of an anachronistic ideology. Seems to be a lot of that going around lately...

Via The Smoking Gun comes an old Rudy Giuliani "vulnerability report". Compiled way back during his ultimately successful 1993 New York City mayoral run, the report outlines some possible attacks the opposition may stage to discredit his campaign. Above you see their advice on how he can avoid being called "anti-gay", as well as how to cope with questions about his participation in the notoriously homophobic St. Patrick's Day Parade and endorsement of needle exchange programs.

Can't wait to hear what the Evangelicals who think he's too gay-friendly will have to say about this...

• Moscow's mayor may have banned gay pride, but the Russian government supports the queer right to assemble.

• Gay rights activists may have cheered Italy's potential civil partnership law, but Pope Benedict XVI ain't feeling so cheery. (Surprise, surprise.)

• Potential GOP Presidential candidate Mike Huckabee may not want to comment on Mary Cheney's pregnancy, but he does say he doesn't support gay marriage.

• Scissor Sisters may be uber-talented, but it doesn't really translate on their second Passions appearance. (Or the first.)

• Howard K. Stern and Larry Birkhead may think they're Dannielynn Marshall Stern's papas, but Zsa Zsa Gabor's hubby, Prince Frederick von Anhalt says he's the real deal.

• The Red Cross may ban men who have sex with men from donating blood, but Cleveland officials think they're wrong.

Now, in actual news, Colombia's Constitutional Court has ruled that gay and lesbian couples have the same property rights as straights. The ruling came after a gay rights group argued that the court's use of man and woman when referring to property rights violated the constitution. The court agreed. BBC elaborates:

The decision applies to those who have been living together for two years.

A gay rights group, which had sought the clarification from the court, said at least 100,000 couples would benefit.

A court source said it did not mean same-sex civil unions - which are part of a bill currently being debated in Congress - had been approved.

Catholic and other religious groups blasted the decision, insisting it threatens the oft-referenced "family", an argument we don't really understand - how does two homos having joint custody over a television alter the cultural landscape?

You may have heard that today's Oprah will feature "Extraordinary Parents". In conjunction with that earth shattering news, you probably heard that two men make up one of the astounding parental units. Yeah, two men. They're named Mark and Andy Sutherland-Trevino. They're totally gay. And they're totally remarkable.

So, why are notable enough to grace her royal Oprahness' stage? According to the introduction to their interview with AfterElton, it's because they have seven children, all adopted. Sure, it's nice they adopted all those kids, but seven? That doesn't make them extraordinary. That makes them total crazies with big hearts.

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Meanwhile, in actual news, Moscow's mayor Yury Luzhkov insists that he'll never allow gays to march through his beloved city. You may recall Luzhkov refused to permit last year's march, setting off a legal battle gay rights activists promise to take to the Russian Supreme Court.

In a televised speech, Luzhkov reiterated his stance:

Last year, Moscow came under unprecedented pressure to sanction the gay parade, which can be described in no other way than as satanic... We did not let the parade take place then, and we are not going to allow it in the future.

Not surprisingly, gay organizers have taken offense at the comments.

Moscow Pride organizer Nikolai Alekseev replied to Luzhkov's speech, saying:

We are shocked by the statements of Mr. Luzhkov that “gay pride is a Satanist happening” and consider them as personal insult against the organizers and potential participants of the gay pride. Such words in respect to huge number of homosexual people who live in Russia are not worthy of an official of such high standing.

You're shocked? Really? Why? Luzhkov's made his political and social leanings known, so his vehemence really should come as a surprise. As for being insulted - well, yes, being called a "satanist" ain't the nicest thing, but think of all the other crude things he could have called you. Also, who's to say some of the gays aren't satanists? Sheesh, so narrow-minded...

In more hopeful presidential hopeful news, Hillary Clinton finally got it over with and threw her hat into the '08 race, while New Mexico Governor Bill Richardson started up the ever-important exploratory committee.

Certainly a controversial figure, Clinton's viewed by some as the most viable candidate. Democrats, however, fear her past will come back to haunt her. 365 Gay reports:

Many Democrats, eager to reclaim the White House after eight years of President Bush, fret that she carries too much baggage from her husband's scandal-plagued presidency to win a general election. Among many voters, she is best known for her disastrous attempt in 1993 to overhaul the nation's health care system and for standing by her husband after his marital infidelity.

To overcome these obstacles, Clinton intends to flaunt her opposition to President Bush and keen knowledge of foreign affairs as two of her biggest advantages.

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