The gay friendly politico couldn't attend last night's National Gay and Lesbian Task Force's leadership dinner, during which he was meant to receive an award, so the gay-friendly politico sent a video message in which he chats about the state's progressive history, how Martin Luther King Jr. paved the way for gay rights and why he's proud to have run with Eliot Spitzer, who resigned last month in the wake of his whore scandal.

The bulk of Paterson's message concerns marriage equality in the Empire State, which the Governor describes as a political imperative:

We will push on an bring full marriage equality in New York State. And when we have done that, we're going to do more.

We're going to protect young people from bullies. We're going to protect against the discrimination of people in the transgender community, and we're going to fight for decent and affordable healthcare for all citizens in this state.

If you will join with me, and if we work hard enough, we can change the face of New York, which will be the catalyst to changing national policy.

The crowd, we're sure, went wild.

Dina Matos-McGreevey's big mouth got her into some trouble. The former New Jersey first lady stole the spotlight last week when she spoke out about Eliot Spitzer's whore loving ways - twice! Now her own free-loving past seems poised to bite her in the ass.

Teddy Pedersen alleges that he used to have some wild nights with Dina and former Governor hubby, "gay American" Jim McGreevey.

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Wow. We're kind of ashamed to admit it, but we kind of like Spitzer call girl Ashley Alexandra Dupre's mega-hit single, "What We Want." Well, maybe "like" is too strong, but we're shocked it doesn't suck.

Sure, it's not going to become a jam and it's entertainment value rests on slick production, but we expected pure and utter shit from this chick.

Sorry to doubt you, Dupre. Here's to your future as the next Traci Lords! (Give the track a spin, after the jump.)

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Governor Eliot Spitzer's resignation rocked Albany this week. And, as we've mentioned, gay rights organizations have been busy congratulating incoming Governor David Paterson, a longtime ally.

Certainly Paterson will work closely with gay rights organizations, but how does a gay non-profit really cope with such a massive political shift, especially after endorsing Eliot Spitzer's gubernatorial campaign? That's but one of the questions our editor posed to Alan Van Capelle, executive director of Empire State Pride Agenda.

As one of New York's largest, most influential gay rights groups, the Pride Agenda had a very intimate relationship with Spitzer, but those days are over.

So, where does the non-profit go from here? What makes Paterson so great? How can we define a gay ally? And what does Van Capelle think of Spitzer now?

Find out, after the jump…

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Ashley Alexandra Dupre ain't just Eliot Spitzer's fateful call girl. Oh, no, this chick's got bigger dreams than draining the former Governor. The NJ-born beauty wants to be a pop star. And the scandal may have given her the boost she needs:

On Amiestreet.com, "What We Want" is available for 98 cents, the website's maximum price per song. Yesterday morning the song was offered for free. By 8 p.m. last night the song cost 30 cents. By 10 p.m., 76 cents. By 11 p.m., the maximum rate of 98 cents, according to Silicon Alley Insider.

At this rate, Dupré could be a millionaire in a week's time.
…
On her MySpace page, Dupré, who has a taste for Aretha Franklin and Frank Sinatra, as well as hip hop, describes her life.

"I am all about my music, and my music is all about me," Dupré writes.

We're assuming it's not all about her, unless her tracks discuss the woes of the working girl.

New New York Governor David Paterson probably can't see straight right now. Well, actually, he barely see at all.

If he could, however, we're sure Paterson would be blown away by the outpouring of gay support. It's been a mere few hours since Paterson ascended and a number of New York's lavender leaders are extending their hopeful congratulations.

H. Alexander Robinson of the National Black Justice Coalition lauded Paterson's sudden rise:

David Paterson is known across Albany as a consensus builder and is highly respected on both sides of the aisle. He has also demonstrated his commitment to full equality for all Americans.

NBJC looks forward to working with Governor Patterson on a myriad of issues affecting our New York State constituents.

Alan Van Capelle of the Empire State Pride Agenda also highlighted Paterson's fight for equality, particularly Paterson's pro-gay Senatorial past.

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Dina Matos-McGreevey simply won't shut up about the Eliot Spitzer scandal!

In addition the yesterday's comments, the former NJ first lady today penned a relatively long NY Times op-ed again expressing her solidarity with Silda Spizter.

Don't be fooled into thinking this some girl-on-girl counseling, because the piece is all about Dina - and her martyrdom:

But no, there’s no protocol for the spouse or partner stuck in the klieg lights. Sure, political consultants will tell you that it’s better to see a politician standing up with his wife by his side. But who cares what they think? At that stage, it’s over anyway. What are the advisers trying to salvage?
…
I was in no emotional state to make a rational decision, and there simply wasn’t time. He asked me to stand next to him, and I did.

Frankly, all I was thinking about was my daughter. If I had to do it over again, I’d do the same thing. I did it for my daughter’s father.

That's the same daughter Mrs. McG uses as a pawn in her ongoing divorce drama. Disgusting.

Who do you turn to when your husband's in a sex scandal? Why, Dina McGreevey, of course!

This gal got a grade-A scandal education when her husband, former NJ Governor Jim McGreevey, came out as a "gay American".

Mrs. McG previously imparted her wisdom to Suzanne Craig, and now she's back to comfort Silda Spitzer, whose stony, press conference stare brought back many memories for Dina: "It all came back to me. I'm reliving that moment and what it was like standing there next to Jim. I wanted to embrace her and say,`Be strong, you'll survive this.'"

Dina also insisted that Mrs. Spitzer ignore her husband's political advisers and "not what's politically expedient for him". As for the "him" in this equation, Mrs. McG thinks the governor should resign, of course.

The political air's a-cracklin' today!

As the Democrats prepare to duke it out in the Mississippi primaries, New York Governor Eliot Spitzer's still in limbo. Will the former attorney general crusader resign following revelations that he had multiple encounters with a prostitute?

The calls for his head are growing louder by the second, and many say that resignation's imminent, thus leaving Albany open for Lt. Gov. David Paterson's ascension.

Black and blind, Paterson's no stranger to adversity. And no stranger to pro-gay activism…

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