After yesterday’s surprising failure of the New Hampshire House to reapprove a marriage equality bill with religious exemptions requested by Gov. John Lynch, state GOP leaders are now urging Lynch to veto the bill should it reappear on this desk. Republicans also called for a non-binding referendum on the same-sex marriage to go before voters in the 2010 election. New …

Last night I interviewed the charming and hilarious Rachel Maddow for the cover story of the next issue of Pride ’09 Magazine. I’ll post the interview here once the mag comes out – but I will tell you now that she is exactly as she appears on the air – just the funniest, sharpest person you’d ever want to bend …

Nevada Gov. Jim Gibbons has promised to veto the domestic partners bill passed by that state’s legislature on Tuesday. Senate Bill 283, sponsored by state Sen. David Parks, D-Las Vegas, would allow domestic partners, including same-sex partners, equal rights with married couples on issues such as estate planning, medical decisions, community property and children if they enter into a civil …

In what is sure to become the newest talking point for the American right, churches in the UK are being told that under the new Equality Bill, they cannot refuse to hire homosexual employees. Church leaders had hoped to be able to push for exemptions from the new laws but deputy equalities minister Maria Eagle has said the laws will …

Former Wonkette editor Ana Marie Cox puts the screws to Robert Gibbs on DADT again. Wait for the end as Rachel Maddow points out Gibbs’ big lie.

I find it more than a little annoying that while the Obama administration continues to kick out highly skilled soldiers like Lt. Dan Choi and Lt. Col. Victor Fehrehbach, the U.S. Navy has NO problem using openly lesbian rocker Joan Jett to promote NYC’s Fleet Week. Over on the website of the Commander Navy Region Mid-Atlantic, you’ll find several photos …

The Virgin Megastore space in Union Square will not become a Wal-Mart after all, much to the relief of many New Yorkers. Via Gothamist: While the shuttered Times Square Virgin Megastore transitions into a Forever 21, WWD is reporting that the Nordstrom folks might be taking over the Virgin Megastore space. The real deal high price Nordstrom department store you’ve …

“I love my daughter! She’s my baby girl, come on. So what if she’s gay? She’s my daughter and she’s an amazing woman and a good kid. I raised her, she better be good. I think it’s sad when we have to separate something from society. Whether it’s, ‘Oh you’re Jewish,’ and then it was ‘Oh you’re a Mormon,’ or …

What are you doing this weekend? Sailors? Sand? Staycation?

UPDATE: Well…shit. That was disappointing. Tonight’s American Idol final isn’t slated to end until about 10:15pm EST, so no update here until at least 1:15am Gotham time. Even if you have no interest in the competition, you must allow that the pitting of a devout Christian folk singer against a glam, guylinered and GAY rocker is a fascinating window onto …

Barbara Walters gets a few punches in too. Good stuff. Too bad it’s about something as silly as seating on Amtrak instead of Beck’s outrageous statements against gays and immigrants.

The New Hampshire House has voted 188-186 against the revised marriage equality bill requested by Gov. John Lynch. More: The Senate earlier approved the amendment on a 14-10 party-line vote, but the House rejected the change, 188-186. The House was left with the choice to kill the amendment or send it to committee, and it elected to send it to …

The website for the California Supreme Court nearly buckled under the traffic from anxious gays around the country this morning, but they have finally updated the site to indicate that no rulings will be issued tomorrow. Many had expected such, including Equality California and other groups that issued statements. As the Court only issues their rulings on Mondays and Thursday …

“My plea is for our LGBT leaders to call a March on Washington for Marriage Equality this November and if they won’t do it, I appeal to our young to come together and provide the leadership. “We need to come together in a display of powerful community unity to empower our young and to show the nation that anything less …

Noted LGBT activism blogger Pam Spaulding joins MSNBC’s Rachel Maddow and CNN’s Christiane Amanpour as a winner of the first annual Women’s Media Center Awards. Spaulding won in the category of online journalism. The Women’s Media Center was founded in 2005 by Gloria Steinem, Jane Fonda and Robin Morgan. Congratulations Pam!!

Unbelievable. Over the cries of his mother, who says she complained to the school numerous times, the Dekalb County school district has ruled that there is no evidence that Jaheem Herrera was ever bullied. Herrera’s mother found her 11 year-old son hanging from an extension cord. Retired Fulton Superior Court Judge Thelma Wyatt Cummings Moore, who headed the review, said …

Via New Civil Rights Movement: The NH Senate, by a 14-10 vote, approved Governor Lynch’s language strengthening religious institution protections in the gay marriage bill it had passed May 6th. Now, on to the House, for a vote expected today. State #6 by the end of the week?

Gossip rag Star Magazine is reporting that Carrie Prejean’s mother was involved in a “steamy lesbian love affair” that lasted until the night of the Miss USA pageant. Beauty queen Carrie Prejean has become the poster girl for opponents of gay marriage. But in a shocking exclusive, Star has learned that the reigning Miss California USA’s own mother, Francine Coppola, …

NYC’s Fleet Week begins today, but times are hard even for the military. Some 13 warships and other craft are sailing into New York Harbor this week for the annual observance of Fleet Week. The annual naval review that starts Wednesday is a sparse gathering compared to past years, with only three major U.S. combat vessels in the lineup. That’s …