In what British tabloids are describing with headlines like “Gay Hate Jokes Get Banned”, the attempt to decriminalize anti-gay speech in the UK has failed. The government has defeated an amendment in the House of Commons that would have created a defence of “free speech” in a bill that is designed to criminalise incitement of hatred in relation to sexual …

Bad news. Vermont Gov. Jim Douglas says he will veto a bill to legalize gay marriage if it passes the Legislature. The Republican had said even before Wednesday’s announcement that he was against same-sex marriage. He also has said lawmakers shouldn’t have spent their time on the bill this session because of the economy and the state’s budget deficit. The …

The MySpace page of murdered gay newsman George Weber’s 16 year-old killer has been found and it’s extremely disturbing. From John Katehis’ profile: My name is John, I am sixteen years of age and live in Queens, New York. I enjoy long conversations, drinking, bike riding, hanging out, roof hopping, hanging off trains, any type of Parkour exercise, Extreme Violence …

You know, I really like Oprah – but enough already with the “shocking!” music and crime scene-ish flash cuts. Honey, it’s just lesbians, not serial killers.

Jim Carrey and Ewan McGregor’s latest movie, I Love You, Phillip Morris, appears to be headed direct-to-video, despite getting a generally positive reception at recent film festivals. Micheal Musto speculates that a particular sex scene may have film buyers squeamish, after receiving this message from one marketer: “The scene is not shocking in the sense that any body parts are …

Here’s the latest from brilliant satirist Edward Current.

Maryland is considering removing Civil War expressions like “Northern scum” from their state song. Maryland lawmakers are thinking maybe it’s time to find a way to scrub “Northern scum” — and a few other sensitive pre-Civil War phrases — from the official state song. “Maryland, My Maryland,” set to the traditional seasonal tune of “O, Tannenbaum,” was written in 1861 …

This is an interesting development. The nation’s health insurers offered Tuesday to stop basing people’s premiums on their health and extend coverage to all Americans regardless of pre-existing conditions — provided that everyone gets insurance. The suggestion from Karen Ignagni, president of America’s Health Insurance Plans, came at a Senate hearing and in a Newsmaker session with USA TODAY. It …

TV’s talking heads are giving President Obama rave reviews for last night’s press conference. (Via – Americablog)

In Monday’s post about bachelorette parties at gay bars, I mentioned that when at DC’s Town Danceboutique, I’d heard complaints about straight people “rubbing our noses” in their right to marry by holding parties at Town. JMG reader Chad forwarded the post to the owners of Town and here is their response. “The irony that straight people choose Town Danceboutique …

Using the murdered gay newsman’s email history, the NYPD has easily found the killer of George Weber, a 16 year-old he met on Craigslist. The killer has confessed. A 16-year-old confessed to stabbing WABC newsman George Weber during a drugged-up date with the older man, police sources said Wednesday. The emotionally disturbed teenager was arrested early Wednesday morning after he …

Last night ABC’s What Would You Do? sent two gay guys into a New Jersey sports bar to see how the customers reacted when the couple became affectionate. Things turned out better than you’d probably think.

Yesterday the voters of Gainesville, Florida refused to repeal that city’s LGBT discrimination protections. From Equality Florida: Equality Florida joins with local leaders in Gainesville and fair-minded people across the state and nation in celebrating today’s decisive victory over discrimination and fear embodied in Gainesville Charter Amendment 1. Voters rejected the amendment by a vote of 58% to 42%. If …

Meet our new hero, James Neiley. (Via – Bilerico)

Spoiler alert: If you didn’t watch it last night, the winner is revealed in this clip.

You know, I was soooo careful not to overdo it this weekend. Twelve hours of sleep before the party. Fully hydrated for the duration. Ten hours of sleep Sunday night. But then last night I had to check out a new UES restaurant whose name starts and ends with a vowel. Four hours later I was Googling “food poisoning” and …

Veteran openly gay ABC radio news reporter George Weber was found stabbed to death in his bed yesterday. Police are speculating that Weber was murdered by a someone he picked up on the internet. WABC newsman George Weber was slain in a struggle so violent that his killer’s blood splattered across the reporter’s Brooklyn home, police sources said Monday. Weber’s …

(Tipped by JMG reader Ohio Bill)

TMZ is calling 27 year-old freshman Rep. Aaron Schock (R-IL) “Congressman Studly.”

Today the city of Gainesville, FL will vote on repealing their LGBT discrimination protections. A charter amendment that would strip this university city’s anti-discrimination protections extended to gays, lesbians, bisexuals and transgender residents is before voters Tuesday. The fight began after the city commission last year revised Gainesville’s anti-discrimination ordinance to protect transgender people – those who are born one …