We hate to do it, but we've got to quote Alicia Silverstone's Clueless character and say "Old people can be so cute sweet!"*

Take, for example, Arizona-resident Norman Derouin, who's having some trouble with sexualized slang:

Call me of the older generation, but I remember a time when to be identified as gay was to be identified as a happy, outgoing guy. "Let's Be Happy Let's Be Gay Let's Declare a Holiday" was a popular song.

I feel disenfranchised. I cannot say in mixed company that I am feeling gay. I would get looks.

I have nothing against the people who are of that genetic disposition. But please, come up with another widely approved description!

Hmmm, "faggot" is probably out, as is the truncated "fag". Many people may find "Poofta" objectionable and "butt-fucker" far too crude. We've always been a fan of "homo," but have a feeling people won't agree.

So, what does that leave us? Not much. Sorry, Mr. Derouin, you're just going to have to come up with a new word for "happy and outgoing". How's animated? What about gregarious? Oh, we know! Frolicsome! That's very masculine.

*That hurt us more than it did you.

It's a big day in America today! If you close your eyes and take a big whiff, you can smell the distinct scent of democratic action. It's sweet, yes, but with a bit of…taint.

A new study from the Williams Institute in Arizona concludes that queer couples make less than their straight counterparts, especially when there are children involved.

"Gay men earn less than straight men," said Adam Romero, a public-policy fellow who co-authored the study. "Even when you hold constant occupation, race, geography, they earn less and that's something economists would call discrimination."
…
"When you only look for households where children are present, same-sex couples do much, much worse," he said.

Same-sex parents in Arizona have lower median household incomes, $39,000 a year compared with $54,000 for married couples.

Those numbers are pretty distressing, especially considering that all of the presidential candidates tout our nation's commitment to equality.

CONTINUED »

Log Cabin Republican leader Patrick Sammon hasn't officially endorsed John McCain, but we've got a sneaking suspicion the good Senator gives the gay a political erection: "It's good news that Sen. McCain is on track to win the nomination because he believes in a big tent Republican Party. His record is not perfect, but there are definitely positive signs." Too true, Sammon. McCain's not the worst, but he did campaign against gay marriage in Arizona, supports Don't Ask, Don't Tell and hates "gay sweaters". [AlterNet]

Arizona Representative John Shadegg will not be running for reelection. The Republican and John McCain pal previously used his political power to fight for a Constitutional amendment defining marriage as between a man and his woman. [WaPo]

Presidential candidate John McCain's home state of Arizona may again vote to prohibit gay nuptials. Lawmakers are pushing to put the matter on the ballot this November. Hetero activist Cathi Herrod had this to say: "This amendment is about bringing Arizonans together on an issue enjoying widespread agreement — that marriage is a union of one man and one woman." Yeah, because putting discrimination into a state constitution really brings people together. Twat. [AP]

Arizona State University's pink shirt wearing QB may or may not have had a homophobic tantrum last month. [Bland Life]

Oregonian gays face off against Arizona-based religious activists today. The two sides are battling over whether or not Oregon should move forward with previously passed domestic partnership legislation.

Randy Lovely tops all of America's gay news editors.

Arizonian queers are being blamed for a startling spike in the state's syphilis levels:

State health officials are spending $100,000 largely to tell gay men to get tested and, if necessary, treated for syphilis.

The cash from the state’s Health Crisis Fund, authorized by Gov. Janet Napolitano, comes after what she said is an increase in cases of the sexually transmitted disease. In particular, the governor said the number of cases in Maricopa County for the first six months of 2007 is 25 times higher than it was seven years earlier.

“The gay community, especially in Maricopa County, is where the bulk of the epidemic is now,’’ said Wil Humble, the state’s assistant director of public health.

Dirty whores and their johns are also named as prime transmitters of the nasty bacteria (pictured, looking nasty).

• British gays taking advantage of civil partnerships.

• Did Beyonce and Jay-Z get married? Sources say "Yes!" Other sources say "No!"

• Adrian L. Acosta talks - and talks! - about taking his mother to a gay bar.

CONTINUED »

Has HRC learned its lesson? The gay group may not have supported trans folk during the ENDA debacle, but they're now throwing their weight behind a trans-inclusive anti-discrimination law in Scottsdale. And they're not alone:

The Human Rights Campaign and National Gay & Lesbian Task Force have joined local gay rights advocates, including Equality Arizona and the Arizona Transgender Alliance, in backing the measure. The state chapter of Sharpton's National Action Network also is supporting the measure.

The ordinance would bar discrimination in employment, housing and other accommodations based on sexual orientation, gender identity as well as traditionally protected categories such as religion, gender, race and ethnicity.

Planned Parenthood and the ACLU are also joining the fight.

Gays, blacks, abortionists and free speech warriors joining forces? Social conservatives must be livid - and scared!

Two Arizonan queers clearly don't respect traffic laws:

Two gay men who were in an argument at Phoenix's Metro Center Mall risked killing themselves and motorists as they took their fight to the I-17 Freeway at rush hour. One of them had reportedly threatened to commit suicide. They were arrested shortly thereafter.

How long until Michael Savage turns this into some gay plot to run straights off the road and spread mayhem?

Arizona-based gay activists have a message for Arizona: stop discrimination. As Congress debates the Employment Non-Discrimination Act, Equality Arizona's Sam Holdren says the Copper state needs to take a stand for queers. And he explicity names Republican presidential candidate John McCain:

Arizona law doesn't protect people from being discriminated against in their employment based on their sexual orientation or gender identity. So, as you could imagine somebody who's the victim of a hate crime or eyewitness to events and reports it to police and the story makes the front page of the paper and they're out of a job because their employer doesn't like the fact that they're gay…I think ultimately what it's about is it's about anti gay sentiment. People aren't willing to step forward and to protect all citizens in this country regardless of their sexual orientation or gender identity.

Senators McCain and [Jon] Kyl are afraid to step up and do the right thing.

Sorry, Holdren, conservative McCain's too busy doing the Right thing…

• Kenneth Hill offers a closer look at John F. Kennedy and his best (and gay) pal, Lem Billings.

• Iranian queer couple speak out.

• Jonathan Rhys Meyers in Russian GQ.

CONTINUED »

Phoenix police have a mystery on their hands after a private citizen discovered 29-year old Anthony Cleaves' body in an alley on August 22.

A pizza delivery man, Cleaves also spent his time lending a helping hand to his queer comrades. Though coppers haven't released an official cause of death, one neighbor recalls hearing shots ring out. "I heard 3 shots at around 3 o'clock," Terri Garcia said.

The investigation, of course, continues…