Via the NY Times: If there was ever any doubt that gay people form one of Gov. David A. Paterson’s most loyal and enthusiastic constituencies, that doubt was erased on Sunday by the howl of a drag queen on Fifth Avenue. The drag queen, standing at the foot of the steps to the New York Public Library dressed in a …

Gentle readers, I’m rerunning my annual Pride rant for the fourth year. I wrote this post in 2005 a couple of days after attending Pride here in NYC. In the following years I’ve reposted it in advance of the day in the hope of encouraging you to attend. My apologies to those that have read it before. Have a wonderful …

Fascinating story from Science Magazine: The human immunodeficiency virus (HIV-1) responsible for most of the AIDS cases in the world infected people approximately 100 years ago, more than 20 years earlier than previously believed, according to findings presented here this week at the Evolution 2008 meeting. Its lesser known cousin, HIV-2, jumped into humans decades later, from a monkey species …

It took McSame a long time to finally say what we knew was coming. Here’s his short email to the haters of Protect Marriage. “I support the efforts of the people of California to recognize marriage as a unique institution between a man and a woman, just as we did in my home state of Arizona. I do not believe …

Check out the co-sponsors of a new federal “Marriage Protection Amendment”. Two United States Senators implicated in extramarital sexual activity have named themselves as co-sponsors of S. J. RES. 43, dubbed the Marriage Protection Amendment. If ratified, the bill would amend the United States Constitution to state that marriage “shall consist only of the union of a man and a …

Today is National HIV Testing Day. The above video is Part One from a web series called HIV Big Deal, which follows the lives of young gay men in Manhattan dealing with life, love, health, and HIV. Watch the clip. The acting is quite good, but be aware that the language is very frank and NSFW. And consider today’s news …

This week marks the 30th anniversary of the creation of the rainbow flag by Gilbert Baker, who will head the 38th NYC Pride March on Sunday as a Grand Marshall. The use of a rainbow flag actually goes back for hundreds of years, but it was Baker, the “gay Betsy Ross”, who turned it into a globally recognized symbol of …

The Trevor Project, the nation’s only suicide prevention hotline for LGBT youth, will stage a fundraiser gala this Monday at Manhattan’s Mandarin Oriental Hotel. Hosted by comedian Alec Mapa, this year’s gala honors Alan Cumming with the Trevor Hero Award. Sandra Bernhard and Idina Menzel will perform. Presenters include Cheyenne Jackson and Rosie Perez. Get tickets here.

Steve Ralls at Huffington Post reports on the latest poll of Hillary supporters. A poll released this afternoon, examining the seemingly ever-shifting loyalties of Senator Hillary Clinton’s presidential supporters (of which I have been an enthusiastic one), finds that, while 53% of Clinton’s backers are now firmly on-board with Senator Barack Obama’s White House bid, there are some who are …

Yeah, not very PC…but damn funny. Wait for the last line. UPDATE: For those of you questioning the possibly homophobic intent of the clip’s makers, here is a comment they made on YouTube: “Actually you must have missed the satirical commentary on how we view gay relationships in this country. We find homophobia ridiculous and immature. In the video, us …

A British tabloid based in gay-friendly Brighton published a front page photo of two men kissing in a story attacking Heinz for pulling their now world famous mayonnaise ad. “We were disgusted at Heinz for pulling their ‘gay kiss’ ad and for apologising so readily for their own ‘offensive’ imagery,” said Torsten Højer from One80news. “We just couldn’t believe that …

Michelle Obama spoke at the Democratic National Committee’s Gay & Lesbian Leadership Council dinner last night at the Waldorf-Astoria in Manhattan. A week after her smash appearance on “The View,” Michelle Obama returned here Thursday night to win more kudos – this time from well-heeled gay activists at a Waldorf-Astoria party fund-raiser. The wife of Democratic candidate Barack Obama spoke …

Could textbooks be Kindle’s killer app? I sure would have loved not to have to lug around a giant pile of over-sized textbooks. To say nothing of the their outrageous prices and the bother of selling them at the end of the term. On the other hand, I’m not so sure I’d be able to get a handle on flipping …

Coming this fall, the Tippi Hedren Barbie. They say when she got there, the whole thing started. I think she’s evil! EVIL! (And you know only gay men will be buying this doll.) (Via – Slog)

Congress appears poised to lift the ban on HIV+ people traveling to the United States. And who’s the lone Senator opposing the repeal? None other than David “DC Madam Diaperboy” Vitter (R-LA), pictured above with his mortified wife. Way to stay classy, Vitter. According to Senator Harry Reid, the repeal may come in the next few days. (Via – Andrew …

In a judgment that gun advocates are calling as historic as Brown V. Board of Education, the Supreme Court today issued its first ever ruling on the Second Amendment,saying that the long-contested amendment does protect the right of individuals to own handguns, not merely a “well-regulated militia.” Americans have a right to keep a gun at home for self-defense, the …

After several hundred breast-beating and wailing posts from the gay and foodie blogosphere (including here on JMG), not to mention a zillion-word eulogy from the New York Times, today comes word via Eater that Florent is not closing this weekend after all. Except it is. But not really. Though the MePa institution Florent will close this Sunday night, landlord Joanne …

San Diego-based Pastor Jim Garlow will make a 40-day fast leading up to election day in order to rally evangelical attention to the anti-gay marriage ballot measure. On Wednesday, Garlow took a first step toward organizing clergy in the state, convening a conference call in which more than 1,000 ministers, most from evangelical congregations, discussed tactics for passing a fall …