One would think that now that the election has come to a close, we no longer need to hash out Sarah Palin's… oddities.

That would only really be true if she planned on heading back to Alaska and staying there. But no one, from her fans to her archenemies, believe that we've seen that last of her. Thanks to an upcoming expose in Newsweek (and Fox News), quite a bit of new, if unsurprising, information has come out about her since America voted.

Here's a round-up:
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"Senator John McCain, the Republican presidential nominee, called for the resignation of his longtime colleague, Senator Ted Stevens, who was convicted on Monday of seven felony counts related to violations of federal ethics laws. Mr. McCain’s running mate, Gov. Sarah Palin of Alaska, issued a statement making a similar call for her state’s senior senator to step down." [The Caucus]

"Alaska Sen. Ted Stevens has been convicted of lying about free home renovations and other gifts he received from a wealthy oil contractor. The Senate's longest-serving Republican, Stevens was found guilty on all seven counts of making false statements on Senate financial documents… Stevens faces up to five years in prison on each count but, under federal sentencing guidelines, will likely receive much less prison time, if any." [Time]

"Gay constituents recently petitioned Gov. Sarah Palin to sign a proclamation for National Coming Out Day on October 11, and yesterday her office rejected the chance to support gay Alaskans and their struggle to live with dignity and acceptance outside the closet." [Petrelis]

Remember how multiple source said Republican presidential candidate Sarah Palin inquired about banning gay-themed books while mayor of Wasilla, Alaska? Funny, because she doesn't.

From an interview with Alaska paper the Frontiersman:

As people there know, all questions posed to the library director were asked in a context of professionalism, regarding the library policy that was in place. Before I became mayor, there was conversation in our community about what sorts of books were appropriate for the public library. I asked the librarian about the process for answering that question as a way to familiarize myself with city staff and the issues being discussed in Wasilla at that time. I certainly never advocated banning books.

You may not have endorsed such behavior, Sarah, but we're sure the thought crossed your little mind.

"Dinosaurs and humans walked the Earth at the same time." - So Said Sarah Palin to a Wasilla, Alaska, resident after a commencement address to home-schooled children. No wonder John McCain's camp has described Palin as "clueless." [LA Times via HuffPo]

Clay Aiken's coming out really doesn't come as much of a surprise. We've all known for many years that the crooner goes for the guys. Nor is Aiken's lavender revelation the most revolutionary. Scores of celebs have come out before him - Ellen DeGeneres, George Michael, Lance Bass and Martina Navratilova, a tennis player who came out far before it was fashionable - or advisable.

None of these outings were that surprising, but they have all slowly changed gay acceptance of Hollywood and, in fact, the world. Aiken's outing differs, however, in two notable, intrinsically entwined ways. And the aftershocks could help change the State of gay play.

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"Gay and lesbian Americans concerned with attempted censorship at public libraries recently donated copies of Heather Has Two Mommies and Daddy's Roommate to the Wasilla, Alaska, public library." That, of course, would be the library where Sarah Palin attempted to ban gay books. [Petrelis]

Upon hearing news that the ex-gays were coming their way, the parental figures of Alaska's PFLAG today came out against this weekend's Love Won Out conference.

And, realizing that Republican vice-presidential nominee Sarah Palin's former church endorsed the event, PFLAG used the opportunity to ask the politico for a little compassion:

"It is unfair, at this point, to assume that Governor Palin endorses so-called 'ex-gay' therapy like that espoused by Love Won Out," but that "Saturday's event in Anchorage provides an important opportunity for the first GOP mom on the party's presidential ticket to make clear that she, as a mother and a public servant, will not condone, either explicitly or implicitly, such attempts at dividing our families and hurting our kids."

"Palin, and lawmakers of both parties, should seize that opportunity," the group said, "and stand up as boldly and outspokenly for all of our kids as much as they do for their own."

So, how much money do you guys want to bet that the ever-silent Palin ignores PFLAG's pleas?

"Alaska Gov. Sarah Palin has billed taxpayers for 312 nights spent in her own home during her first 19 months in office, charging a 'per diem' allowance intended to cover meals and incidental expenses while traveling on state business… The governor also has charged the state for travel expenses to take her children on official out-of-town missions. And her husband, Todd, has billed the state for expenses and a daily allowance for trips he makes on official business for his wife. Palin, who earns $125,000 a year, claimed and received $16,951 as her allowance… The governor's daughters and husband charged the state $43,490 to travel." [WaPo]

"Sen. Ted Stevens, the longest-serving Republican in the U.S. Senate and one of the chamber's most powerful members, was indicted Tuesday in Washington, a result of a year-long investigation into corruption in Alaska politics." [McClatchy]

• Alaskan judge not fucking around when it comes to marriage law. Yeah, girl! [365 Gay]

• Is gay support by celebrities just a bunch of PR bull? Kim Ficera seems to think so. [AfterEllen]

• Brit play sheds light on Asian gays. A bit of an odd couple, but okay… [Pink News UK]

• Artists "revisit" male figure. As if we'd forget? [The New York Blade]

• Homophobes miss slave days. Shocker. [Gay Alliance]

The Alaska Supreme Court has just gone where New York City’s mayor Mike Bloomberg hasn’t had the cojones to go; it approved benefits for same-sex partners of government employees. Should you move to Anchorage? A look at the home page of that city’s PFLAG organization does show it recommending the book Two Teenagers in Twenty.

Because the Alaska court decision affects the entire state, gay residents of Clam Gulch will now enjoy civil rights greater than those that apply to homos on Eighth and Twentieth in the heart of Chelsea. Meanwhile, the non-profit group Advocates for Children carried out a study to see whether GLBT public school students are subject to harassment. Hold your breath; we’re not going to tell you right away whether they found that young queers get harassed at school.

We will remind you that Bloomberg vetoed the Dignity for All Students act. Could it be time to veto Bloomberg? That report did find that, amid much additional anti-GLBT harassment in the city’s schools, a boy threw and ignited a gasoline-soaked ball of newspapers at a girl whom he thought a lesbian. If you happen to be eligible to vote in New York and need a reminder of why you should vote for the candidate who most strongly endorses gay rights, spend time looking around godhatesfags.com.