John Caldera a human interest journalist's wet dream: he's gay, has HIV, served our nation's military and will run with the Olympic torch in San Francisco. So, what's he think of all the Tibet protest: This is a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity. No one in my family has been a torchbearer. Those who want to protest should be able to protest. I just hope I don't get hit with tomatoes." Caldera's obviously a comedian, as well! [eBar]

If you're anything like us, you're wondering why GLAAD's remained silent on Joe Scarborough's trans trashing last week.

For those of you who missed it, Scarborough and his cohorts on MSNBC's Morning Joe took multiple shots at pregnant trans man Thomas Beatie, whom they referred to as disgusting and the such. Obviously we all knew Beatie's Oprah appearance would cause a controversy, but had hoped that mainstream news agencies would have a little more class. Not Scarborough, though.

CONTINUED »

The ever-opinionated politico David Mixner talks jock this morning, chatting with OutSports about the strained relationship between the athletic and lavender worlds. Mixner, who's a Bill Clinton chum, hypothesizes that endorsements prevent sports stars from embracing social progression:

Outsports: Few athletes seem to embrace social activism. Why do you think that is?

David Mixner: The clear answer to this question is just one simple word - endorsements. I also believe that many professional athletes skipped college,where they might have gained access to more social activism, and went directly into a sports league.

We're going to indulge our cynicism and put more weight on the endorsement side.

Is this altruistic activism or a clever marketing ploy? You be the judge…

Online gay "television channel" Village TV announced today that they will hold an eBay auction for one of their affiliate stations to benefit Amnesty International. From the press release:

The auction will take place on Sunday, May 4 (8:00 PM Central) and is being featured as part of the company's current expansion which will culminate in a massive re-launch by November of this year.
…
The idea for this one-of-a-kind auction is the brainchild of Village TV Founder and President, Corey Chambers, who, upon hearing about the state-sanctioned massacre of what leaders throughout the Islamic world… "I don't believe my own struggles with being gay in this country can even compare with those of anyone facing death for their sexuality, as is happening throughout Iran, Iraq and beyond," Chambers pronounces, adding "As someone involved in the gay media, we need to recognize our obligation to fight for this cause–it really is an overwhelming matter of life and death for far too many on this planet!"

The press release also points out that Chambers and the Village TV crew are looking to expand their operation to forty major cities.

"In an act of international solidarity to defend the institution of marriage, over 100 pro-family leaders from around the world signed a petition this week to defend efforts in Romania to outlaw same-sex “marriage.” [Christian Post]

Britain's Unitarians are playing hard ball!

Rather than work within "unjust" nuptial laws, the 300 year old Newington Green Unitarian Church has suspended all official weddings until gay people are given equal treatment. They will, instead, offer blessing for straight and gay couples who have gone through a civil ceremony.

Said Minister Andrew Pakula:

When we realized the extent of the injustice in the existing civil partnership law which completely prohibits any connection between religion and civil partnerships, we decided it just wasn't something we could take part in.

We have at this point continued to do blessings and civil partnership blessings so anyone who has done the legal business in the town hall can come to us and do a gorgeous religious celebration.

Pakula also said that his church is doing its part in combating more exclusive, dominating churches: "…We feel it is our duty to stand up on the other side. We are standing on the side of love here and that is our stance."

This weekend saw some rabble-rousing in London, where thousands of activists took to the streets to protest Olympic host China's perpetual oppression of Tibet.

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Forty years ago today, Martin Luther King, Jr., was murdered in Memphis, Tenn. He was assassinated before his work was done, but his role as a revolutionary has never been forgotten nor have some of his most famous words. There’s a lot of talk on the web today about how far we’ve come or haven’t come — and I think we both know and mostly agree with the arguments on both sides of that coin…

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Joe Scarborough can expect some angry letters! The Republican politico turned MSNBC host shocked and awed on his MSNBC show, Morning Joe when he derided pregnant trans man Thomas Beatie. A blogger by the name of Scandalous Candice passes on her account of the incident:

[Joe and his colleagues, Mika Brzezinski and Wilie Geist] reported on Thomas Beatie, the transgendered male who is having a baby. I admit that this is an unusual story. But they put the story in what they call an useless news category “News You Can’t Use” and proceeded to make fun of them and call the couple “disgusting” and make “ewww” sounds.
…
The also called it “garbage” and [said] “people don’t want to wake up to this crap.” That was quoted by Mika Brzezinski. Joe used the story to lead into the next story by saying “this is probably why 81% of Americans believe the country is headed in the wrong direction.” A poll reported by the New York Times.

In an effort to right this fucked up wrong, Candice penned a letter to MSNBC demanding a full apology for the "foul and juvenile" remarks. She's also contacted GLAAD and other rabble-rousers to put some pressure on Scarborough and his team.

Update: Watch the video, after the jump. We're especially upset with Mika's comment: "don't want to know the deal. I don't want to hear. I'm gonna be sick. I'm gonna be sick. I am upset. That was not only stupid and useless, but quite frankly, disgusting." We're not sure why, but we expected better.

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Politicos in Kansas City, Missouri seem poised for progress.

Councilperson Beth Gottstein informs us that she and her colleagues voted unanimously yesterday to include gender identity in the city's non-discrimination policy.

A Kansas City Star article, however, has got Gottstein worried about a sudden rise in conservative opposition.

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The gents squared off on Jay Leno's gay face scandal, an offense which O'Reilly simply can't comprehend. The Fox News man goes on to lament the death of diverse comedy:

It looks to me in America that you can't ever make fun of any minority group. Ever. In any way. Anymore. In this country. I think that's where we are really. You can make fun of white Christian men. You can make fun of, famous people. But if you make fun of a minority, any minority…

A national tragedy, indeed.

O'Reilly also insists that he would never make fun of a social group. He will, however, fabricate stories about lesbian gangs, decry "gay apartheid," and generally spread gay panic, all of which are far more incendiary than Jay Leno's gag.

Gay activist and Truth Wins Out executive director Wayne Besen will be on The O'Reilly Factor tonight. Good luck, Besen…

It's a big day in Arizona! The Governor's Regulatory Review Council approved a controversial measure extending health care benefits to current and retired gay state employees' domestic partners. Equality Arizona's Barb McCullough-Jones offered this celebratory exclamation:

Today's ruling was a defining moment for Arizona. It is because of positive change in social norms, forward thinking lawmakers and progressive companies that we are celebrating a rule change that will have dramatic, positive impact on Arizona's families.

Throughout Arizona people work every day in state jobs that improve the lives of our residents, ensure public safety, protect the state's interests in water & land, and protect Arizona's families. Today's vote sends a clear message that Arizona values all families regardless of sexual orientation.

CONTINUED »

Are there dirty politics at work in Texas? Phyllis Cole says, "yes."

The City Commissioner of Plano, Texas, Cole accuses her enemies of enlisting some unseemly practices to derail her campaign, primarily the implication that her gay ally, 23-year old Justin Nichols' homosexuality makes him unfit for children:

An openly gay City Council candidate is being used like a pawn in an effort by right-wing conservatives to seize control of the Collin County Commission.

This is according to County Commissioner Phyllis Cole, who faces an April 8 runoff against Matt Shaheen for the Precinct 2 seat she’s occupied for the last 17 years.

An anonymous e-mail reportedly was sent out last week attacking Cole for her support of Collin County Teen Court coordinator Justin Nichols, 23.

The e-mail stated,“Look who Phyllis appointed to work with your kids,” and contained a link to a March 14 Dallas Voice article about Nichols, who’s vying to become the first-ever openly gay member of the City Council in the May 10 municipal election.

“I’m very disturbed about the whole thing, because I like what Justin does, I like Justin,” Cole said. “I don’t want to be a commissioner anymore if this is what’s going to be involved, taking a nice young man like Justin and hanging him out to dry.”

Shaheen, for the record, denies smearing Nichols, who happens to be the city's youngest city council candidate ever.

Four hundred activists of all ilks converged in Topeka, Kansas, this weekend to protest Fred Phelps and his vilely anti-gay Westboro Baptist Church. Said one "Million Fag March" participant, Angi Boetta: "We don't agree with him talking about hatred and how God hates this god hates that… We're just here to show him who we are and we're not going away no matter what you say or do." [Towleroad]