The House was hopping yesterday as five witnesses took the stand to discuss Don't Ask, Don't Tell with the Armed Services Committee.

Among the witnesses one could find Eric Alva, a gay man who was also the first soldier wounded in Iraq, Capt. Joan Darrah and Army Maj. Gen. Vance Coleman, both of whom are retired. They all back a DADT repeal, as do the majority of Americans.

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Assumption College president Francesco Cesareo made an ass of himself earlier this year. The educator killed a gay student group's plan to bring gay veteran Eric Alva as a Veterans Day Speaker.

Cesareo, who joined the College this year, said Alva would be too political and told the students to drop their plot. Faculty cried foul this week, saying Alva didn't need a contract and admonished Cesareo's closed mind. They stop short, however, of actually doing anything about it:

Assumption College faculty members, by a vote of 45-33 this week, charged President Francesco Cesareo and his cabinet with violating policy when they refused to host a gay activist veteran as a Veterans Day speaker, but the faculty also voted not to pursue the issue.

That's teaching the children well…

Senator Chris Dodd cleared time this morning to answer questions posed at last week's gay forum, which the presidential hopeful missed because of "scheduling conflicts".

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The Advocate's reinvention tour continues. The gay news weekly has shed its shameful, oppressive cellaphane wrap and will now travel the United States postal system naked.

Publisher Michael Phelps tells NY Times that he and enslaved interns polled readers and the majority support free balling.

The majority no longer wanted the covering. For some, they said they were environmentally conscious and wanted to cut down on waste. For others, it was more of an out-and-proud issue.

Not incidentally, the first issue shipped features sacked soldier turned activist Eric Alva. Don't worry, closet cases, you can still request the protective shield.

While The Advocate "comes out of the closet," as market researcher Bob Witeck jokes, other magazines eschew the exposure. Raymonde Green, EIC of "urban" fag rag Uneq, tells journo Juston Jones, “We are a fairly new magazine, so we are still trying to gain the trust of our readers.”

Perhaps a game of truth or dare will help?

The Pentagon may be changing their tune on Don't Ask, Don't Tell. The Defense Department's Cynthia O. Smith released a statement saying that though they've been booted from the service, gay patriots can still help defend the nation.

[Gays and lesbians] have the opportunity to continue to serve their nation and national security by putting their abilities to use by way of civilian employment with other Federal agencies, the Department of Defense, or in the private sector, such as with a government contractor.

Gay defender defenders Servicemembers Legal Defense Network points out that this statement's the first time The Department of Defense has invited queers to help fight America's so-called good fight.

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