• In an interesting series of events, a West Point senior writes a thesis paper on how the military's anti-gay policies actually hurt the the armed forces they're meant to proect — and the U.S. Military gives him an award. [AP]

• In Connecticut, incumbent Joe Lieberman loses the Democratic primary for U.S. Senate to newcomer Ned Lamont — though Lieberman promises to run for his seat anyhow, as an indepdendent. [NYT]

• In Philadelphia, a HIV awareness campaign ended abruptly when its message got mixed with one of stereotyping black violence. The ads urging young men to get tested for HIV – and feature "young African American men ... in the crosshairs of a gun with the tagline 'Have YOU been hit?'" – were pulled when the Black Gay Men's Leadership Council voiced concerns over the ads violent message. [Philadelphia Inquirer]

• In Iran, an underground gay magazine says "thank you" for the worldwide support of other GLBT organizations bringing attention to their push for equality. [Pink News]

• The rainbow flag waving outside a Kansas B&B comes back into the spotlight, with a local chapter of the Kansas Equality Coalition planning to gather at the hotel to give the local gay community a voice. [Hutchinson News]

• In Israel, Jerusalem police have banned a demonstration in the city's centre, claiming World Pride organizers failed to limit the number of participants, supposedly for safety concerns. Demonstrators, however, are reportedly still set on holding the event. [Jerusalem Post]

• In Washington, state Medicaid officials are pushing to stop publicly funded sex-change operations. There are still two operations in the queue, and those will go ahead, and the state will remain paying for "hormone treatment and psychotherapy for low-income people diagnosed with gender-identity disorders." [Advocate]

• In Connecticut, the State Supreme Court has denied a request from the conservative Family Institute of Connecticut to get involved in a lawsuit between the state and gay couples looking for gay marriage rights. Connecticut is the second state to allow civil unions, but many advocates are pushing for full marriage rights. [AP]

• Also in Connecticut, it's the Democratic primary faceoff between Joe Lieberman and Ned Lamont. If he loses, Lieberman has suggested he'll run for his U.S. Senate seat as an independent. Connecticut voters: find your polling location here. [NYT]

• In Iraq comes news that insurgents are targeting a new enemy: gay men and boys as young as 11. Reports abound of men murdered for being gay and of boys being sold as sex slaves into gangs — and in some cases, murdered. The murders, of course, fall under honor killings for Muslim families. The result? A influx of refugees in European countries. [The Observer]

• As WorldPride 2006 attendees continue to celebrate in Jerusalem, organizers are quick to express solidarity with gay Palestinians — with a demonstration taking place today. [Gay.com]

• Meanwhile, WorldPride continues to bring out the zealots, with Orthodox Jewish leaders again condemning the event for fear that turning Jersualem into a "homo city" it will bring God's wrath. [WDC Media]

• In Colorado, some 133,000 signatures are expected to be submitted by same-sex marriage foes, a move to increase pressure on voters in November who will decide on the matter at the ballot box. [Advocate]

• WorldPride 2006 kicks off this weekend in Jerusalem, despite vast efforts to have it shuttered or moved. Organizers prepare for a week of events, depsite the on-going attacks with Lebanon. [Pink News]

• Switching from California to New Mexico, three gay bashing suspects have been arrested and charged with hate crimes in the beating of an 18-year-old gay man. [Advocate]

• As Connecticut's Democratic race for U.S. Senate heats up, incumbent Joe Lieberman has decades of healthy relations with the gay community to back him against challenger Ned Lamont. [INW]

• The annual gay pride/AIDS event aimed at people of color in Queens, New York – Pride in the City – had its five year history put into jeopardy after park services officials tried to limit attendance at 1,500 (it usually reaches 5,000) and ban the live concert, supposedly an effort to curb littering and obstruction to beach goers. After plenty of media attention, the city officials relented somewhat: live music will be allowed, at a distance, but attendance will still be capped at a fraction of what's expected. [NYT]