It's been up and down for Alabama state legislature hopeful lesbian Patricia Todd. She beat her opponent Gaynell Hendricks – by 59 votes – in a Democratic run-off election in July. On track to win her seat in November's elections, she then suffered a huge setback: the Alabama Democratic Party last week stripped her of her slot on the ballot after her opponent's mother-in-law pointed out Todd didn't file her campaign finance forms with the party's chairman. Turns out neither did Hendrinks, and they were both disqualified (even though this rule has been largely ignored by many sitting public officials).

But on Saturday, the Democratic Executive Committee overruled last week's decision and reinstated Todd's ballot position, virtually guaranteeing she will win — and become the state's first openly gay elected public official.

Todd election restored [Birmingham News]

• In Alabama, Patricia Todd – set to become the state's first openly gay state legislator – was ousted (along with the woman she defeated in a runoff vote) for violating a financial disclosure rule no other candidate has obeyed since 1998. [AP]

• In Wisconsin, researcher Rob Carpick – responsible for bringing in millions of dollars in grant money – quits his position at the University of Wisconsin at Madison because it doesn't offer health insurance benefits for his partner. He's headed to the University of Pennsylvania. [Wisconsin State Journal]

• In Vermont, Carolyn Conrad and Kathleen Peterson – the nation's first gay couple to enter a civil union – have split.

• In Nepal, two men prepare to get married — in the country's first openly gay wedding. Meanwhile, homosexuality remains a crime, punishable by a year in prison and a fine. [Times of India]

• In Massachusetts, an inmate's fight to have the state pay for his sex change operation now rests in the hands of a federal judge. If the court rules in Robert Kosilek's favor, it will be the nation's first state-sponsored transgender operation in history. [AP]

• Another blip on the gay radar for Desperate Housewives: Though Marcia Cross insists she's straight, co-star Eva Longoria hopes she'll get to go gay. [Contact Music]

• Patricia Todd knew her being gay might be a campaign issue when she campaigned for a seat in Alabama's state legislature. But now, having defeated a black candidate in a run-off election, it's her white skin that's become the center of debate in a primarily black district. [AP]

• Speaking of race, is it possible to be white and on the downlow? Maestro of all things relevant to the under-34 set, Benoit Denizet-Lewis investigates. [Slate]

• The friendly NYPD we just saw marching in New York's gay pride parade can now be seen issuing citations to gay bar patrons. [Towleroad]

• Illinois voters will not be deciding on a gay marriage ballot measure: The Board of Elections on Friday followed procedure and refused conservative organization Protect Marriage Illinois's signature list for being too small. [Bgay]

• Enough about Anna Wintour and The Devil Wears Prada. Let's turn our attention to Vanity Fair's Graydon Carter — and who will be his Meryl Streep. [Jossip]

• It's Lindsay Low-hang-an. [MollyGood]

NOTE: So you noticed our technical dalliances over the weekend, did you? Oh, you didn't? Then forget we ever said anything. But if you did notice some unpleasant downtime (though accompanied by a pleasant downtime note), we're very sorry. We were moving things around with the big machines that keep Queerty pumping like a rhino in heat. But let us know if you find anything amiss, won't you?