The Constitutional Court of Portugal has upheld a ban on same-sex marriage, denying the claim of two women who demanded the right to wed. The court said its five judges ruled 3-2 against an appeal lodged by the women two years ago. Teresa Pires and Helena Paixao, divorced mothers in their 30s who have been together as a couple since …

JMG reader Sean Chapin sends us his official promotional clip for the 2009 National Equality March on Washington.

Grace Jones, Pull Up To The Bumper, 1981. Last night my ex Ken and I saw Grace in concert at Manhattan’s Hammerstein Ballroom, almost 25 years after we last saw her at Fort Lauderdale’s Copa, where she appeared exactly three hours late. Grace took the stage a mere 90 minutes tardy last night, performing the first number entirely shrouded in …

The loons at World Net Daily have top-posted an “exclusive” story today, claiming that Jesus prophesied that the name of the anti-Christ would be Barack Obama. From WND executive editor Joe Kovacs: For centuries, many have wondered about the identity of a biblical leader who will do Satan the devil’s bidding, trying to thwart the plans of Jesus Christ shortly …

Last week I mentioned that copies of Pride ’09 magazine, featuring my cover story interview with Rachel Maddow, were seized by customs officials in Belarus, who don’t want any damn homo magazines marring their picturesque countryside. Rachel and her team covered the story briefly and I just got the clip from her fab assistant, Alana. It’s a cute bit and …

Obviously this poll speaks to the lingering racism of the U.S. south, where 53% of the respondents said “no” or “unsure” when asked if the president was a U.S. citizen. And 58% of Republicans answered the same way. (Via – Andrew Sullivan)

Maine’s anti-gay Stand For Marriage group today turned in 100,000 petition signatures to the secretary of state, almost double the required 55,087 names. The names must be verified, but with a margin like this, the repeal of same-sex marriage will surely be on the November ballot. Maine Freedom To Marry reports that they have gathered 60,000 pro-marriage equality pledge cards …

Anti-gay Referendum 71 wackjob Greg MacPherson didn’t want to be videotaped turning in petitions and screamed for the police, saying he was a famous public figure and therefore could not be taped without his permission. State troopers showed up to school the asshole. Via Pam Spaulding: As if trying to prevent Washington families from having solid legal protections isn’t harassment …

University of Hawaii football coach Greg McMackin apologized yesterday for using the word “faggot” several times while mocking a dance performed by Notre Dame players. McMackin used the slur during a speech to reporters yesterday at the Western Athletic Conference Football Preview, where each of the nine WAC coaches was allotted 30 minutes to talk about his football team. In …

– Two-time Tony winner Chita Rivera will receive the Presidential Medal Of Freedom at the White House on August 13th. – Avenue Q celebrates its sixth year on Broadway today. The show closes on September 13th. – Dolly Parton’s 9 To 5: The Musical will close on September 6th after a mere three month run. – The Broadway-bound First Wives …

Equal Love advises us that tomorrow (ish…depending on where you are right now) will see Australia’s largest same-sex marriage rallies ever. Protests will take place in Sydney, Melbourne, Perth, Hobart, Brisbane, Adelaide, and Canberra. Go here to find locations and times.

The federal government is considering legislation that would make the installation of anti-DUI devices mandatory for the vehicles of anybody convicted of drunk driving. The driver must blow into the tube and register a legal level for the vehicle to start. The current version of a federal transportation funding bill, which could be debated by Congress this fall, requires all …

The Quakers, one of the UK’s oldest denominations, are going to perform same-sex marriages in their churches and will ask the British government to make them legal. The Quakers – also known as The Religious Society of Friends – are likely to reach consensus on the issue of gay marriage without a vote at their annual gathering in York on …

Bill O’Reilly doesn’t attempt to hide his contempt. His cohost Megan Kelly joins in with some eyerolling and snickering, but ultimately says some very supportive things about transgender folks.

Rhode Island police have arrested three young women and a female minor for assaulting a group of anti-gay Catholic activists who were protesting same-sex marriage. Red-sashed members of the American Society for the Defense of Tradition, Family, and Property were waving anti-gay signs at a Warwick intersection when the women stopped to confront them. The salsa and eggs stopped flying, …

From Buzzfeed’s “15 Billboards That Don’t Belong Next To Each Other.”

The Salt Lake Tribune has obtained the surveillance video showing Mormon security guards handcuffing the two gay men whose kissing caused such a ruckus. Yesterday local police announced that they were dropping the trespassing charges against the men. The clip is murky and contains no audio, but it does look like the men were handled somewhat roughly.

The Victory Fund reports that Harvey Milk will be posthumously awarded the Presidential Medal Of Freedom, the highest civilian honor of the United States. Stuart Milk, Harvey’s nephew, will accept the award at a White House ceremony to take place on August 12th. “We are thrilled President Obama is honoring Harvey Milk with the Medal of Freedom. He’s an American …

Paul Hardcastle, 19, 1985. Who could have predicted that a dance record about the average age of U.S. soldiers in Vietnam would be a global smash, going to #1 in 13 countries? Strange, and the video was disturbing as well. Trivia: Mike Oldfield successfully sued Paul Hardcastle for plagiarizing his Exorcist theme, Tubular Bells, with this track. (I’ve never been …