• Are we the only ones confused by the news that Tyra Banks and rapper Chingy are dating? No? We didn't think so. [Star Magazine]

• Selling pregnancy tests as HIV tests does not qualify as a Halloween "trick". That's a crime. [BBC]

• HRC President Joe Solmonese wants you to vote. He also wants to spread jam on Rick Santorum and eat him. [The Advocate]

• Meanwhile, British homo-activo Peter Tatchell wants to see former Iranian president Mohammad Khatami locked up for human rights abuse of homos. No mention of cannibalism. [The Guardian]

• Footballer player turned ESPN announcer Brian Kinchen just got suspended after sort-of homophobic remarks. What did he say? Something about caressing a football being gay, or something. [MSNBC]

It was only on Friday that we reported Pennsylvania's Senator Rick Santorum added his signature to an anti-discrimination letter "affirming that his office does not discriminate in hiring on the basis of sexual orientation or gender identity." But now the republican politico is – as many expected, but so soon? – un-inking. The letter is part of a GenderPAC project that has received much support on Capitol Hill. But not in Santorum's office.

The diversity statement is a joint project initiated in 2003 by GenderPAC and the Human Rights Campaign that has received bipartisan support on Capitol Hill from members of the House and Senate. Santorum's signature came after a meeting during the week of July 24 between the senator and GenderPac volunteers. After the meeting, Santorum posed for a picture with them. A copy of the senator's statement was faxed to GenderPAC on August 1, and the signature was confirmed the following morning by Santorum's openly gay senior aide, Robert Traynham.

On Wednesday, Santorum faxed GenderPAC a new statement that read in part, "To be clear, my office has not adopted the proposed 'diversity statement' nor the agenda of your organization.... My name should no longer be reported as having adopted the 'diversity statement.'"

Santorum rescinds support for employment diversity statement [Advocate]
Earlier: Santorum Signs On

In a shocking bit of news, Pennsylvania's republican senator Rick Santorum (yes, that Santorum) joined a letter "affirming that his office does not discriminate in hiring on the basis of sexual orientation or gender identity." The decision to slap his signature on the letter came after a meeting with Adrian Shanker, a college student and member of GenderYOUTH, a youth advocacy group under the GenderPAC umbrella. It should go without saying, however, that Santorum's public support for the initiative only goes so far as his own office — it doesn't change the way he feels about what his gay staffers might be doing at home in private.

Gay organization: Santorum signs sexual orientation non-discrimination policy [PageOneQ]

The Senate race in Pennsylvania is heating up as incumbent Senator Rick Santorum is trailing his opponent Bob Casey in the polls despite having raised twice as much campaign money. Hoping to help Mr. Casey out with his fundraising, sex columnist (and the one who coined the popular defitiion of the word "santorum") Dan Savage sent a $2100 check to his campaign, the maximum amount for a personal contribution.

Casey at first accepted the donation and even invited Dan to a campaign even in Seattle where he could have his photo taken with the candidate. Savage couldn't make the event, but days later the Casey campaign returned his check, claiming that Dan's occupation as a sex columnist could provide ammunition to Santorum's campaign that would be far more costly than $2100.

Savage took it like a man is now putting his money towards an organization called Philadelphians Against Santorum, who will help elect Bob Casey.

Casey To Savage: You’re Vulgar! [The Stranger via The Malcontent]
Philadelphians Against Santorum [Official Site]

• Brandon Routh continues his press rounds on David Letterman and, to the dismay of The Advocate's editors, doesn't say anything about Superman being gay. [Malcontent]

• In deciding whether Congress can halt funding to universities that disagree with the military's Don't Ask, Don't Tell policy and prohibit army recruiters on campus, Supreme Court Chief Justice John Roberts refers to gays only as "homosexuals." Does it matter? [Detroit Free-Press]

• Rick Santorum is going after female voters with his latest campaign effort for U.S. Senate reelection. He's got a shiny new website and everything! [PageOneQ]

• When a gay pride is a small Arkansas town gets little to no attention, organizers see it as a good thing. [THV 11]

• New data suggests the population of gay men is rising in one Indian region. That, or more queers are finding it less risky to report their behavior. [Times of India]

• Two murderers convicted of killing gay bar owner Jody Dobrowski in England received sentences of at least 28 years each in prison. [UK Gay.com]

In a desperate attempt to boost his sagging poll numbers, Sen. Rick "Gays are like dogfuckers" Santorum of Pennsylvania is showing his sensitive side with a lavendar blazer and day-glo pink tie. Too little, too late, Senator. We know those are not your true colors.

Great Moments in Senate Fashion [Senate Majority]

In a desperate attempt to boost his sagging poll numbers, Sen. Rick "Gays are like dogfuckers" Santorum of Pennsylvania is showing his sensitive side with a lavendar blazer and day-glo pink tie. Too little, too late, Senator. We know those are not your true colors.

Great Moments in Senate Fashion [Senate Majority]

As we always say, a little santorum on the sheets is unavoidable, but a big Santorum in Congress is something we can prevent 100%. A group of citizens protested outside of Sen. Rick Santorum's office in Erie, PA yesterday morning as the debate over an anti-gay marriage constitutional amendment was kicked off in the Senate.

The protest was covered by local TV stations and the anti-marriage amendment was on the front page of the local paper yesterday. With his poll numbers already very low, we expect all this new publicity can only be bad news for for the good (and by good we mean very bad) Senator.

Marriage Amendment Protest [Greg Underwater]
Specter quotes Sullivan [Townhall via PageOneQ]

It happens to everybody, even Republicans. No matter how hard you try, anal sex can never be completely pristine, and sometimes you experience a little bit of santorum on the sheets. Fortunately, it can be easily wiped away and comes out in the wash.

That is what we are hoping will happen in Pennsylvania this November as notoriously anti-gay Senator Rick Santorum fights an uphill battle to keep his Senate seat. He is currently "the most vulnerable congressional incumbent this election season" according to Rasmussen Reports, and we look forward to the day that Pennsylvania will once again be fresh, clean, and Santorum-free.

If you live in Pennsylvania, check out the website for Sen. Santorum's opponent, Bob Casey.

Pennsylvania Senate: Casey by 23 [Rasmussen Reports via Pam's House Blend]

NOTE: "Short Stack" is your morning news round-up, posted every weekday morning around 9:30.

• Rick Santorum has unwittingly leaked the Republican master plan to the gay elite! [Terrene]

• Goth teenagers are more likely to do well in school and be successful, well-adjusted adults, according to this detailed report. Our rich, goth friends have been telling us that for years! [The Guardian]

• Another minister, this time Unitarian, has chosen not to sign marriage licenses for straight couples until samesex marriage is legal in North Carolina. Not to be pessimistic, but these guys are pretty clever to eliminate an annoying administrative job in a promise they know will last maybe the rest of their lives. [365 Gay]

• Supreme Court Justice John Roberts has sent a coded message to The Gays about "Don't Ask, Don't Tell." Can we take the hint before 2008? [Village Voice]

• The penalty for suggesting that Islam could somehow be reconciled with Democracy and human rights? It's uncertain, but certainly your "safety cannot be guaranteed." An Islamic theologian was recently pressured not to make a speech suggesting Islamic reform in the UK because of such veiled death threats. [Pink News]