Today the Vermont House Judiciary Committee voted 8-2 to advance their marriage equality bill to a full House vote. However, an amendment was added to the bill which stipulates specific exemptions for religious institutions that do not wish to perform same-sex weddings. This means that upon the bill’s approval by the full Vermont House, it must either return to the …

CNET, Symantec, Microsoft and other computer sites are warning of an April Fool’s Day virus which is supposed go global tomorrow. A giant computer worm is set to take effect on April Fools’ Day and your computer may already be infected. The Conficker computer worm is estimated to have already infiltrated between 5 and 10 million computers across the country. …

Kathy Griffin appeared at the conclusion of a cross-state march for marriage equality in Sacramento to reference Sally Fields’ Oscar-winning “UNION” moment in Norma Rae. That bit starts at 6:30.

Courtesy of Kensington Publishing and the author, today’s Swag Tuesday prize is an autographed copy of Straight Lies, the latest novel from Lambda Literary Award winner Rob Byrnes. STRAIGHT LIES is the story of a pair of small-time gay criminals who learn about a sex tape proving that the world’s hottest openly gay celebrity is actually heterosexual. What should be …

Yesterday the Westboro Baptist Church picketed the White House in their continuing national tour to drum up support for the LGBT movement. Every time they appear, thousands more come to our side. Go Westboro!

Tabloids are lighting up about the latest “scandal” at Oprah Winfrey’s all-girl boarding school in Africa. Oprah Winfrey’s elite boarding school for girls in South Africa has been rocked by its second sex scandal in fewer than two years. Seven students were suspended last week for sexually harassing their schoolmates, the “Afrikaans on Sunday” newspaper reported. One 15-year-old was accused …

“All text taken directly from online Christian fundamentalist forums.” (Via JMG reader Mike)

Openly gay Ocala, Florida high school student Justin Reynolds was well-received by his fellow students last week when he appeared for classes in (very casual) drag as way to highlight gender identity discrimination. But the school sent him home anyway. Inside the halls of any typical American public high school, the outfit would hardly be construed as outlandish: a V-neck …

For this year at least, West Virginia will not become the 31st state to outlaw same-sex marriage. The possibility of a constitutional ban on same-sex marriage in West Virginia is over for this legislative session. On Monday, Republicans in the House of Delegates tried to advance a bipartisan resolution that would define marriage in the state constitution, but the Democratic …

Grand Central, Monday, 7pm A lone bagpiper in full Highlander drag is playing an unrecognizable tune in the S-train passageway…. MTA Worker: Bagpipe! You ain’t shit. Fuck this. Hey bagpipe! Where the beat at? Fuck bagpipes. Hey Norway! Fuck this. Hey bagpipe!

Former Vermont governor Howard Dean appeared before LGBT activists yesterday to demand that Vermont approve its pending marriage equality bill. A boisterous crowd cheered former Gov. Howard Dean’s support of Freedom to Marry legislation and health care reform Saturday at a Vermont Democratic Party reception at the Hilton Burlington. Dean’s emotional endorsement of both issues headlined his acceptance of the …

“San Francisco Values Democrat Ellen Tauscher (CA) has introduced H.R. 1283, the “Military Readiness Enhancement Act Of 2009.” She already has 136 co-sponsors. Her misnamed bill should be called the “Legalization Of Sodomy On The Battlefield And Barracks Act” to more accurately describe what the legislation will legalize. [snip] “This will open up the possibility that every sexual orientation could …

Last year a New Jersey man successfully sued Christian-run dating site E-Harmony under his state’s anti-discrimination laws. As part of their settlement, today the site launches their LGBT dating campaign. As of today, EHarmony comes out of the closet. The adamantly heterosexual dating website, which has accepted only male-female couples since its inception in 2000, is launching a gay matchmaking …

Here’s the latest from gay singer/songwriter Jay Brannan. Really, really sweet. You might also want to check out Housewife, Brannan’s fantastic single from last summer. (Via – Towleroad)

Brooklyn artist Kiersten Essenpreis has embedded 99 Seinfeld references in this illustration. (Embiggen for better detail.) I think I get just about every single one. Sad? Cool? Go here for a cheat sheet. (Via – Gothamist)

I’d love to see the questions on the test. Q: The Supremes did their best work after Diana Ross left. True/false? (Trick question, homo. Real men don’t even know who Diana Ross IS.) Melbourne Catholic Church has confirmed it is following Vatican recommendations to test would-be priests to ensure they are not gay. The head of the Vatican committee which …

Cute, but seriously – can we puh-leeze retire this song until the end of time? Even hearing Jennifer Holliday in person had me cringing recently. Has nothing come along in the last 30 years to replace this overworn number? I’d even almost prefer Popular. Almost.

Save The Children is criticizing Madonna’s latest baby safari to Malawi, saying that even destitute orphans are better served when allowed to remain in their home communities. Malawi has an estimated one million orphans, most of whose parents died of AIDS.

From their site: “Kathy Herrick of Macon anointed herself with the oil and God delivered her from 18 years of deep alcoholism!” Kathy may no longer get her drank on thanks to the Blood Of Jesus oil, but the site offers this disclaimer: “It is regular olive oil which represents the Holy Spirit and a special coloring to make it …