Via White House press release: On Friday, May 30, Secretary of the Interior Sally Jewell will announce a new National Park Service theme study to identify places and events associated with the civil rights struggle of lesbian, gay, bisexual, and transgender Americans and ensure that the agency is telling a complete story of America’s heritage and history. The Stonewall Inn …

“Walking around Williamsburg last night, I was also reminded of one of the unique charms of NYC in the summer: vast piles of rotting garbage piled on the sidewalks, with that sweet yet nauseating smell of decomposing groceries sitting in the humid fetid air, and rancid food juices oozing over the sticky sidewalks. With my windows open to counter the …

Via press release: National Campaign for Youth Shelter calls for 22,000 beds for homeless youth: The Ali Forney Center and the National Coalition for the Homeless have released the list of speakers for the LGBT Rally for Homeless Youth, to be held in Washington Square Park at 6pm on Monday June 2nd. The National Campaign for Youth Shelter New York …

These are the gay guys from Pentatonix.

“Even though no reference to ‘homosexual,’ or any of the rest of the Alphabet Soup Perversity Brigade is mentioned in the legislation, homosexual activists are still waging war against the new law. Now, they have created window stickers for businesses that state, ‘We don’t discriminate. If you’re buying, we’re selling.’ The sticker has a rainbow-colored line running through its center. …

Things are underway. You can hear angry chanting from the haters outside the chamber.  Watch live here.

UPDATE: The Portland Press Herald reports. NOM executives, two of whom were present for the hearing, vowed to fight the ruling and protect the anonymity of the organization’s donors. John Eastman, the attorney and board chairman for NOM, said revealing the donors would put them at risk of threats and harassment while hindering the organization’s ability to raise money. Eastman …

Former Frankie Goes To Hollywood frontman (and JMG reader!) Holly Johnson will launch his first-ever solo tour in October. The October tour will mark the 30th anniversary of the release of Frankie Goes To Hollywood’s 3x platinum debut album ‘Welcome To The Pleasuredome’ which reached number 1 in October 1984. The album release followed the group’s controversial debut single ‘Relax’, …

“Marriage between homosexuals to me is perfectly acceptable and what’s more I am defending unions that exist between two people of the same sex with the rights and all of the same privileges that this union should receive. If these unions are called marriage or not is secondary to me. For me it is important that they have their rights. …

Legendary poet, author, and civil rights activist Maya Angelou has died in her North Carolina home at the age of 86. Winston-Salem Mayor Allen Joines confirmed Angelou was found by her caretaker on Wednesday morning. Angelou had been reportedly battling health problems. She recently canceled a scheduled appearance of a special event to be held in her honor. Angelou was …

Erasure has released the below teaser for their coming album, The Violet Flame, which will be released in September. There are no NYC dates on the supporting tour, but the duo will play DC, Boston, and Atlantic City. The Violet Flame will be their 16th studio album, not counting compilations, EPs, and greatest hits packages. To date Erasure has charted …

Details.

The clip’s maker is arguing with YouTube’s commenters about how he should have reacted. (Tipped by JMG reader Ray)

Pittsburgh Mayor Bill Peduto will officiate for as many as 20 same-sex couples during his city’s gay pride event. In the wake of the ruling, Mr. Peduto said he wanted the first marriage he officiated to be one for a same-sex couples. Now, he’s opening up a ceremony to 20 couples, whose marriages he will officiate in Triangle Park Downtown, …

Via the Associated Press: Porn performers in California must wear condoms during film shoots and their employers must provide regular testing under a bill that passed the state Assembly on Tuesday. The bill, AB1576 by Assemblyman Isadore Hall, D-Compton, advanced to the Senate on a 41-12 vote, the minimum number of votes needed. The bill follows a similar mandate in …

“Can five words change the outcome of a radical measure in Houston? Locals hope so. When openly lesbian Mayor Annise Parker said, ‘This debate is about me,’ she may have been the undoing of the very ordinance she’s fighting for. Under the watchful gaze of the rest of the country, America’s fourth largest city has been locked in a vicious …