Animal rights activists, PETA, and a NYC city councilman are proposing to replace the city’s horse and buggy trade with electric replicas of vintage Model T cars from the the early 20th century. The proposal – which has been pitched by animal-rights activists for months – has been taken up by Councilman Daniel Garodnick (D-Manhattan), who is hoping to put …

The American Family Association has launched SilencingChristians.com in conjunction with an hour-long television show decrying advances in gay rights. Pam Spaulding has the letter the AFA is sending its members to announce the launch. Dear XXX, Local network television stations will soon begin airing a new television special produced by the American Family Association. Most Americas get their information about …

Openly gay Australian Olympic diving gold medalist Matthew Mitcham has finally landed his first big endorsement deal. While it’s not in Stephanie Rice’s league, Mitcham’s year-long contract with Telstra is a “relief” for the diver, who has stuggled to attract corporate interest, despite his final dive receiving the highest single-dive score in Olympic history. He blames the current economic crisis, …

A New Jersey judge has approved the divorce of a lesbian couple who married in Canada. Superior Court Judge Mary Jacobson, sitting in Trenton, said the state has a long history of recognizing marriages that are valid in the country or state where they are performed. The state Attorney General’s Office has argued that the union of La Kia Hammond …

Michelangelo Signorile is helping rip the lid off the seamy goings on at New Life Church. On his Friday show on SiriusXM, Signorile hosted a private investigator who revealed numerous bits of nastiness at the House That Haggard Built. According to the private eye, there are at least ten more cases of sexual misconduct by Pastor Ted, three of which …

Amazon is unveiling the second generation of its Kindle ebook device today. Details are sketchy at the moment, but CNET predicts a few changes. What the final product will look like is unknown, but if a new Kindle is launched Monday it’s easy to imagine it will be lighter, slimmer, and have an updated look. The original design was largely …

The Center for an Urban Future has released a shocking report which reveals that it’s expensive to live in New York City. You knew it was tough to live in New York City — but this tough? A new report shows just how ugly — and expensive — New York City can be, especially for the middle class, squeezed by …

This will probably come to nothing, but Ann Coulter is being investigated for voting in Connecticut while living in New York. Via NY Daily News: Following our Jan. 11 column, Connecticut’s Elections Enforcement Commission is making a “thorough investigation” of whether the conservative pundit broke the law by voting in the Nutmeg State while living in New York City, according …

Speaking at a Human Rights Campaign function on Saturday, New York Senate Majority Leader Malcolm Smith said there was not yet enough support for marriage equality in the Senate for a winning vote in 2009. Mr. Smith said that while he and his fellow Democrats were committed to legalizing marriage between gay and lesbian couples, there were not yet enough …

It was definitely Alison Krauss and Robert Plant’s night, wasn’t it? I was especially pleased to see gay favorite Adele win Best New Artist. I’d never even heard of Adele until seeing her perform at last fall’s Out 100 Awards here in NYC. Complete list of winners here. Album of the Year: Robert Plant and Alison Krauss, Raising SandSong of …

Best NYC tabloid headline: A-Fraud or A-Roid? You decide. (Via – Gothamist) UPDATE: I knew I should have waited for the Post.

If you don’t want your photo in this slideshow, just email me. Full-screen versions of these pics are here.

Continued from last week’s reposting of Ashes, Part 1. When Gary died, we scattered his ashes into the Gulf Of Mexico off Pass-A-Grill beach. That was the gay section of the beach in St. Petersburg and Gary had stipulated that we release his ashes in that place where he’d spent so many languorous afternoons with his best friends. Then we …

Today the Wyoming legislature voted down a public referendum on same-sex marriage. The Wyoming House has voted down a bill that would have allowed Wyoming voters to decide whether to amend the state constitution to deny state recognition of same-sex marriages. Rep. Owen Petersen, R-Lyman, sponsored House Joint Resolution 17. It failed by a vote of 35-25 after frequently emotional …

A marriage equality bill was introduced today in Vermont’s House of Representatives, although it may not be voted on during the current session. A bill that would allow same-sex unio A bill that would allow same-sex unions was introduced in the Legislature, causing a crowd of about several hundred supporters to gather at the Statehouse in celebration. “This really is …

Shawnee Mission East High School in Prairie Village, Kansas has a Gay and Straight Alliance club and last year elected an openly gay homecoming king. And yesterday, hundreds of its students poured into the streets to counter-protest the Westboro Baptist Church. The school’s administration and principal worked with local police and dismissed classes so that these hundreds of beautiful future …

In response to Wednesday’s story about the Passion 4 Christ Movement, somebody is already out with these. You can also get one that says “Liberal Masturbator”, but sadly there’s no “Ex-Ex-Homosexual.” Yet. (Via – Slog)

Portland mayor Sam Adams’ one-time paramour Beau Breedlove has given his first on-camera interview on the controversy. The state is continuing to consider criminal charges against Adams. (Via – Towleroad)

There’s a mini-storm of controversy sweeping the gay blogosphere regarding the use of the word “tranny” to describe a broad range of gender nonconforming people – transsexuals, drag queens, cross-dressers, etc. The use of the word is being vigorously objected to by some trans folks and their supporters, but is also strongly defended by some trans people themselves. GLAAD’s media …