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During tonight's taping of Logo's Trailblazer Honors in NYC, Caitlyn Jenner got a historic shout-out from President Barack Obama himself. In an exclusive video of Obama's message from tonight's big event, the Commander in Chief speaks about the state of equality and Lgbt issues in America. "Tonight is a chance to celebrate, not just ten years of Logo, but ten years of extraordinary progress for our country," Obama says in the exclusive clip. "When this network aired its first show, gay marriage was a political wedge issue used to divide us. Today the majority of Americans live in states where they can get married, no matter who they love. Today 'Don't Ask Don't Tell'...

Like thousands of other young men in the 1940s, Rupert Starr joined the Army, fought overseas and saw his share of hardship, including several weeks as a German prisoner of war. He returned to Ohio with a Bronze Star for heroism and a secret. Not until his service as a military man was needed once again - this time as an activist against the Pentagon's "Don't Ask Don't Tell" policy - did Starr, who is gay, slowly step out of the closet. Now 92 and still on the go, Starr - known universally by his family nickname "Twink" - is unabashed...

Tags: Rosario DawsonMary CheneycelebritiesMarie OsmondJennifer LopezKristanna LokenIMDb

Too often anti-gay people are homophobic because they don't think they know anyone gay. But statistics show that, well, we're everywhere — there's at least one of us in every family. We have power within our own families and communities to inspire change, and you can see that in these sisters, mothers and aunts who have inspired their high-profile relations. We can see their change in activism, on screen and in specific subcultures that don't often have discussions on different sexualities.

This week, Jennifer Lopez told Access Hollywood that her gay aunt inspired her to create The Fosters for ABC Family, which is poised to be a pivotal show about an interracial lesbian couple who also happen to be mothers. (Yes, One Million Moms is already hating it and we haven't even seen one episode.)

Cyndi Lauper is one of the biggest allies a gay girl could ask for,...

Novelist and screenwriter misses ceremony in wake of string of contentious comments on social media

Bret Easton Ellis was barred from attending the annual Glaad media awards at the weekend, the perennially controversial novelist and screenwriter has revealed.

Ellis was due to attend the La event, which honours organisations and individuals for their positive representation of those in the gay, lesbian, bisexual and transsexual communities, as the guest of an invitee. The writer, who is currently in a gay relationship, revealed via Twitter he would no longer be attending.

"As a gay man in a domestic partnership who plans to get married I'm sad to hear I've been banned by Glaad from attending tomorrow's event," the American Psycho author wrote. "Glaad is supposedly 'furious' about my tweets. And I'm guessing not the ones concerning my boyfriend or how sexy I think Adam Driver is."

Glaad later confirmed it had sought...

Tags: Morning BrewLinda HuntNaya RiveraRachel MaddowIngrid JungermannDegrassiLinda SchuylerChicago FireIMDb

Happy Friday!

Naya Rivera spoke to The Hollywood Reporter about Santana this season, with some details you'll want to know:

I think the breakup really put her at a crossroads and now she doesn't know what to do with herself. She gets to go back to McKinley again, but she's in limbo. I don't think she even knows what her long-term goals are and it does get brought to her attention that she should probably start thinking about those things. ... If you think back to your first love, you always remember them and little things always remind you of them. I feel like that's the relationship that they will always have. First love is always hard, that's why that speech was so beautiful. But long-term? My fingers are crossed for them.

Naya also noted she'll be back in Ohio for the...

Tags: Morning BrewAzealia BanksRomi KlingerEllen DeGeneresPortia de RossiIMDbGillian JacobsThe Slope

Good morning!

The lovely women of The Slope posed for Brooklyn magazine. I miss them!

AfterEllen.com is teaming up with the Wnba for our annual Score Your Seats Sweepstakes. You can enter once a day for a chance to win tickets to game three of the Wnba Championship in October, plus round-trip airfare and accommodations. So, hop on over and submit an entry! Do it now! If you win, you can share your tickets with a friend!

Jaime Babbit's new film Breaking the Girls has been acquired by IFC Films and is being sold at the Toronto International Film Festival this week. Guinevere Turner co-wrote the script and Heroes' Madeline Zima stars.

Presented to you with no comment, Dusty + Romi's music video for "Love."

Speaking of The Real L Word, Kacy and Cori were guests on the ScreenPicks podcast this week.

Birthday shoutouts go to Chandler Massey (above), who is 22, Colin Firth is 52, Ryan Phillippe is 38, Johnathon Schaech is 43, Siobhan Fahey is 54.Here's something special for fans of Doctor Who. Ae member Carlos has started a Doctor Who Forum for fans of the show to discuss this season. Speaking of, how great did Rupert Graves look on the last episode, 25 years after Scudder? Out Aussie Rules footballer Jason Ball has launched a petition calling on the Afl to do more to wipe out homophobia. Zac Efron talks to The Advocate about his gay fans and the inevitably of playing a gay role: "I’d never take a role just for the sake of playing gay, but I’m always looking for a role that’s challenging, different, and entails some risk, so there’s no doubt in my mind that one of those characters will be gay at some point in the future.

Tags: RihannaTabatha CoffeyLady GagaIMDbGLEEOlivia Munn

Good afternoon my lovelies!

Happy birthday to Grey's Anatomy's Kate Burton!

Out fitness guru Jillian Michaels is showing off her toned tummy (as always) on the cover of October's Redbook.

Also, over the weekend an article about Michaels and her family was featured as People magazine's “Top Story.” I love it when out celebrities get press!

Kristen Stewart's Bella takes down a big cat in the latest Twilight: Breaking Dawn-Part 2 trailer. What would you eat if you were a vegetarian vampire? (And since Bill Compton blew up all the True Blood factories synthetic blood isn't an option.)

If you can't wait until Thursday night's Glee season 4 premiere, then watch Kate Hudson's upcoming performance of “Americano/Dance Again.” My college professors at Nyu didn't look anything like Hudson, which was probably a good thing.

Here's a gratuitous link to view Olivia Munn on a motorcycle.

Tags: Tegan and SaraFamke JanssenStand Up To CancerLady GagaIMDbAmerican Horror Story: AsylumGemma ArtertonHansel and Gretel: Witch Hunters

Good afternoon!

Happy birthday Pippa Middleton, Foxy Brown, Naomie Harris, Macy Gray, Jane Curtin, Rosie Perez, Elizabeth Vargas and Swoosie Kurtz!

Pippa Middleton in London

Photo by Danny Martindale/Getty Images

This Friday a slew of celebrities will Stand Up To Cancer for the Logo's New Now Next telethon, airing at 8 p.m. Edt. Halle Berry, Justin Timberlake, Sofia Vergara, Gabby Douglas, Missy Franklin, Eric Stonestreet, Ray Romano, Felicity Huffman, Maura Tierney, Julia Roberts, Matt Damon, Michael Douglas, Jessica Biel, Samuel L. Jackson, Jeremy Renner, Seth Rogen, Emma Stone and Gwyneth Paltrow are just some of the faces you'll see trying to raise millions for cancer research. Make sure to tune in and help change the world for the better.

Also on Friday, Lady Gaga's (in)famous 2010 MTV Video Music Awards meat...

Fall is a hopeful time for TV viewers. Every new show is an unknown, save for a handful of promos and publicity photos and we're waiting to find out if the show lives up to the promise of a great idea or... withers away to inspire case studies of failure analysis.

There are few obvious trends this year. The New Normal and Partners both feature a gay couple among its lead characters while Arrow and 666 Park Avenue try to capture the Occupy Wall Street zeitgeist that helped make Revenge a hit. But overall, this fall lacks the "me too" quality that so often characterizes a TV season.

The one trend that does stand out this season are strong ideas that don't quite meet their potential in the pilot. Vegas, Last Resort, 666 Park Avenue and The Mindy Project are some of the pilots that left critics hoping that later episodes fix the rough spots.

Tags: Afternoon DelightEllen PageTig NotaroGrey's AnatomyShonda RhimesIMDb

Good afternoon!

Happy birthday to former Spice Girl Geri Halliwell, Adrianne Curry, Marisa Miller, Vera Farmiga, Michelle Yeoh, Melissa George and Punky Brewster's Soleil Moon Frye!

"America's Next Top Model" Season 1 winner Adrianne Curry

Photo by Jerod Harris/Getty Images

E! is reporting that out actress Lindsay Lohan is teaming up with Charlie Sheen for Scary Movie 5. I might have to skip this one.

Congratulations to newly married actress Natalie Portman! The Black Swan actress married her baby's daddy Benjamin Millepied on Saturday night in California.

Lady Gaga has announced her new album via Twitter. The album name, Artpop, has been tattooed on her right arm so for her sake I hope it goes platinum.

Rumors are circulating that more Grey's Anatomy characters will be written off the show. The show's creator Shonda Rhimes told TV Guide, "Just because you saw...

Ryan Reynolds is in final discussions to play the title role in the reboot of Highlander. I used to love the television show, but this feels like another unnecessary reboot.

The NAACP has passed a resolution supporting marriage equality. “Civil marriage is a civil right and a matter of civil law,” says NAACP president Benjamin Todd Jealous.

As the Facebook Ipo fizzled (funny how a magic $100 billion appearing is a fizzle), Bono was reportedly set to reap a lot of money through his Elevation Partners, which purchased 2.3% of the company two years ago. Word was, he'd become the world's richest musician, surpassing Sir Paul McCartney's $1 billion net worth. But Bono says that the stock is owned by many partners, and the news of his ascension to billionaire is grossly exaggerated.

As sentencing approaches for Dharun Ravi in the death of Tyler Clementi, support for leniency is appearing from many gay voices,...

After Barack Obama told ABC's Robin Roberts "I do" when it comes to his support for same-sex marriage, the Twittersphere blew up with reactions from the celebrity set.

Obama is the first president to openly voice his support for gay marriage: "I've always been adamant that gay and lesbian Americans should be treated fairly," he said.

Andy Cohen, Russell Simmons, Jane Lynch, Neil Patrick Harris and Eliza Dushku all took to Twitter to share pride in their president, who explained the genesis of his supportive view of gay marriage during his sit-down with Roberts.

"I have to tell you that over the course of several years as I have talked to friends and family and neighbors, when I think about members of my own staff who are in incredibly committed monogamous relationships, same-sex relationships, who are raising kids together, when I think about those soldiers or airmen or Marines or...

In an interview with ABC News' Robin Roberts today, President Barack Obama announced that he now personally supports same-sex marriage, gaining a few supporters in Hollywood.

Video: President Obama Reacts to Secret Service Scandal

"Thank You Mr. President," tweeted Andy Cohen, as did hip-hop mogul Russell Simmons.

"Omg, it's official!" tweeted Ross Matthews. "Obama becomes 1st president to support gay marriage!!! Historic day!"

"It was good to hear him say everyone Should b able to get married," tweeted Louis Van Amstel.

"President Obama announces support for All/equal marriage!" Eliza Dushku.

"Pretty darn happy today," tweeted Jane Lynch. "Thanks Mr President, for supporting the dignity of my family and so many others!"

Video: Ted Nugent to 'Stay on Course' After Obama Rant

The president's new stance is the result of what he referred to as an "evolution" in his thought process.

"I have to tell you that over the course of several years as I have...

After Barack Obama told ABC's Robin Roberts "I do" when it comes to his support for same-sex marriage, the Twittersphere blew up with reactions from the celebrity set.

Obama is the first president to openly voice his support for gay marriage: "I've always been adamant that gay and lesbian Americans should be treated fairly," he said.

Andy Cohen, Russell Simmons, Jane Lynch, Neil Patrick Harris and Eliza Dushku all took to Twitter to share pride in their president, who explained the genesis of his supportive view of gay marriage during his sit-down with Roberts.

"I have to tell you that over the course of several years as I have talked to friends and family and neighbors, when I think about members of my own staff who are in incredibly committed monogamous relationships, same-sex relationships, who are raising kids together, when I think about those soldiers or airmen or Marines or...

Life is getting back to normal at Fort Marshall, as everyone dealt with issues created created either before they left or while they were away on "After Action Report."

She just crept up on me

If Jackie turned to popping pills when Kevin said no to a weekend in Savannah, how many do you think she took when he was away in Africa? I'm surprised she didn't overdose. It was nice to learn she might just be a normal Army wife under that tough exterior after all.

Don't be shocked, but I find I actually feel for Jackie. Yes, wanting to strangle her earlier in the season to caring about her well-being is a pretty big step. I can't even figure out how it happened, she just slowly crept up on me and I don't dislike her any longer. What are you guys feeling about her now? That's some darn good writing,...

Actress teams up with Vogue's Anna Wintour for 'Runway to Win' fashion fundraiser.

By Uptin Saiidi

Scarlett Johansson before attending <i>Runway to Win</i> Tuesday night

Photo: Alo Ceballos/FilmMagic

Scarlett Johansson, a vocal Barack Obama supporter during his first election campaign, lent a hand to the President's re-election run on Tuesday night. The actress co-hosted a fundraiser event with Vogue editor in chief Anna Wintour at a Theory store in New York City, where they also promoted new merchandise.

The "Runway to Win" event brought together 23 of the biggest fashion designers, all of whom designed Obama swag to sell in support of the campaign. According to the Huffington Post, Johansson gave a talk in which she ticked off Obama's various accomplishments in the last three years, from signing the Fair Pay Act to ending Don't Ask Don't Tell.

But while the actress has been supportive during the president's first term,...

'Gay people [are] not Rick Santorum's punching bag, and we will punch back,' Savage tells MTV News of controversial website.

By James Montgomery

Rick Santorum

Photo: Justin Sullivan/ Getty Images

In 2003, when columnist Dan Savage decided to take on then-u.S. Senator Rick Santorum for equating consensual, same-sex relationships to polygamy, incest and adultery (among other things), he never thought he'd still be talking about the matter more than eight years later ... mostly because, well, he never thought Santorum would consider running for president.

Of course, a lot can happen in eight years. Savage launched his campaign to "attach [Santorum's] name to a sex act that would make his big, white teeth fall out of his big, empty head," started a website that displayed the definition of the sex act in question (chosen from more than 3,000 reader-submitted suggestions) and watched with disbelief as that website became a prominent result for...

Filed under: TV News

Chaz Bono's got time on his hands now that he's been eliminated from 'Dancing With the Stars,' but he won't be off TV screens for long. Own has announced that it will air a follow-up special to 'Becoming Chaz' on November 27.

'Being Chaz' follows Bono and his fiancée Jennifer Elia as they navigate life after his gender reassignment surgery. We'll see her getting used to living with a man and him preparing to compete on 'Dancing With the Stars.' The documentary is executive produced by the veteran reality team of Fenton Bailey and Randy Barbato ('Million Dollar Listing,' 'The Strange History of Don't Ask Don't Tell'), with Elise Duran ('Millionaire Matchmaker') as director and co-executive producer.

Own will air a second special focusing on issues affecting the transgender community after 'Being Chaz.' 'I Am...

Chris Wallace's heated interview with presidential hopeful Rick Santorum yesterday on his opposition to repealing Don't Ask Don't Tell returned to the fore of the Santorum campaign his social conservatism, but not in a way that would render Wallace immune to scrutiny, even on his own network. On The O'Reilly Factor tonight, Ann Coulter slammed Wallace in response to a question by host Laura Ingraham, arguing that race and sexual orientation were not socially interchangeable, and that guest Juan Williams "should have punched" Wallace for conflating the two.

You know how you're working on some Glbt political cause, and the issue loses, and some a**hole Republican comes out and says something incredibly homophobic and bigoted? And it's all you can do not to scream at the top of your lungs at the television about how evil they are, but how you finally calm yourself down by saying, "We may have lost for now, but history is going to remember this, and in the end, we're going to win, and everyone will see the other side for exactly what they are!"

The new HBO documentary The Strange History of Don't Ask Don't Tell is "history" finally setting the record straight, at least on the issue of gays in the military.

This film, which was made by longtime out documentarians Fenton Bailey and Randy Barbato (Becoming Chaz, The Eyes of Tammy Faye, RuPaul's Drag Race), will debut tonight at midnight.

SnagFilms has acquired "Don’t Ask Don’t Tell," a film that tells the stories of 18 real-life characters who were impacted on both sides of the controversial policy. "Don’t Ask Don’t Don’t Tell" is an adaptation of Marc Wolf’s Obie Award-winning one-man show, "Another American: Asking and Telling." Directed by John C. Walsh, "Don't Ask Don't Tell" uses three years of interviews with hundreds of soldiers and veterans, male and female, ...

Filed under: TV Replay

Christine O'Donnell has a habit of getting attention for all the wrong reasons. During the Delaware Republican Senatorial primary in 2010, she famously released an ad clarifying that she wasn't a witch, and her candidacy quickly turned into a walking 'SNL' parody. O'Donnell made headlines again last night, when she abruptly walked off in the middle of an interview on CNN's 'Piers Morgan Tonight.'

O'Donnell was there to promote her book 'Troublemaker: Let's Do What It Takes to Make America Great Again,' and grew strangely offended when Morgan began to ask her about gay marriage and Don't Ask Don't Tell, issues she'd campaigned on in the past and wrote about in the book.

"Why are you being so weird about this?" Morgan asked.

"I'm not being weird, you're being a little rude," O'Donnell responded.

 

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If there is one way in which today's CNN debate differed dramatically from Fox News' debate several weeks ago, it is that the absence of Gary Johnson and the inclusion of Mitt Romney and Rep. Michele Bachmann made the field far more socially conservative. Case in point: most of the candidates on stage support Don't Ask Don't Tell, and only one would oppose a constitutional amendment to ban gay marriage.

waterworks weeknights at 11

Tonight I thought we'd cover one of the most famous showers in entertainment history. It's not famous for the showering but for the singing. Raise your hands if you've ever sung this song in the shower.

I'm gonna wash that man right out of my hair

I'm gonna wash that man right out of my hair

I'm gonna wash that man right out of my hair

and send him on his way.

Nellie talks herself out of love "before i go any further i better not get started."

It's so catchy it's like a commercial jingle. (Didn't it get coopted for actual commercial jingles at some point?) The strangest thing about the sequence in South Pacific (1958) is that it's not actually sung In the shower. I had totally forgotten this. Maybe "Billis Bath Club" charged extra for singing? I mean even "use of soap" is an extra there,...

This Week's Column Brought To You By The Letter "F"

Oh, come on, you had to know I was going to write about this week's "fag" controversy, didn't you?

In case you missed it, GLAAD, an organization for which I normally have a great deal of respect, brought all of their might down on the heads of Vanity Fair and their gay writer Brett Berk for cheekily and ironically using the word "fag" in his Glee recap. Both Berk and Vanity Fair apologized to any readers that were offended, which I think sets a very bad precedent for a whole host of reasons. Brent already weighed in on the issue, but as editor of AfterElton.com, I wanted to say I agree with him 100%. (Trust me, we don't always agree!)

I also wanted to try to add in some more context.

Ah, context! That's really at the heart of this...

Military-wide drills to implement repeal of Don't Ask Don't Tell have begun. Gay and lesbian service members can now read about how they must be treated equally-but still don't dare say they are gay for fear of losing their careers, reports Eve Conant.

This past Monday at 7:30 a.m., Air Force officer Jd Smith noticed on his work computer that training was about to begin. He was excited, and logged in right away for the online session.

Related story on The Daily Beast: Obama's War on Schools

It was the beginning of the end of Don't Ask Don't Tell-but only, as it turns out, yet another beginning.

He clicked through slides for about 25 minutes, filled with "basic info that all people will be held to the same standards with repeal coming." The overarching point: Everyone must maintain professional respect for military colleagues and harassment won't be tolerated. Smith...

"Born This Way" is Lady Gaga's minority and gay rights anthem, and as such, she's decided not to partner with a chain retailer known for its donations to anti-gay rights political candidates.

Metro Weekly reports, citing sources close to the deal, that Lady Gaga has nixed her deal for an exclusive special edition of her upcoming album; The Advocate then reported that a source close to Gaga said that the company's continued political activity -- specifically the main stumbling block.

"She and Target didn't see eye to eye on Target's policy of political donations and how they affect the Lgbt community," the source told the magazine's website.

In July, it was revealed that Target's Political Action Committee had made donations to Mn Forward, a Pac that supportered Minnesota State Rep. Tom Emmer's campaign for governor. Emmer is a hardline conservative who holds staunch anti-gay rights stances, and has been...

President Obama has declared the federal ban on same-sex marriage unconstitutional. But Natalie Neusch says what no one wants to talk about: a lot of gays just find gay marriage weird.

They cupped each other's hands and shifted their body weight ever-so-slightly. I had practiced the line a dozen times, but I couldn't believe what I was about to say: "By the power vested in me through the state of Massachusetts, I now pronounce you... married!" The room exploded with a cacophony of applause and clinking Champagne flutes. It was 2009, and I had just officiated the wedding of two of my gay friends.

Related story on The Daily Beast: Spousonomics: How Economics Can Help Figure Out Your Marriage

But something felt off.

For a brief moment, as I stared out at this joyous crowd comprised of the brides' family members and friends, I had the sensation that I was at...

If the White House won't fight for the Defense of Marriage Act anymore, there are plenty of legal eagles who will. Eve Conant and Daniel Stone talk to same-sex unions' newly emboldened opponents.

Rewind to a few months, weeks, or even just two days ago, and Peter Wolfgang, executive director of the Family Institute of Connecticut, was feeling like a profound underdog in his fight against gay marriage. "Let's just say the deck was stacked against us, it was not a level playing field," says Wolfgang. But today he is a happy man.

Related story on The Daily Beast: Facebook Chat Gets Hijacked

The administration's surprise announcement Wednesday that part of the Defense of Marriage Act was unconstitutional and that it would no longer defend the 1996 law in federal court-including in a key Connecticut case, Pederson v. Office of Personnel Management-has changed everything for him, and for the best. The...

When Sarah Palin chose not to go to Cpac, some said she was boycotting the inclusion of a gay group. But she said she was fine with them. Shushannah Walshe on Palin's gay rights flip-flops.

Michele Bachmann kicked off Cpac with "We're gonna party!" Newt Gingrich talked about the country's threat to freedom. And Rick Santorum warned of the evils of jihadism.

Related story on The Daily Beast: Palin Kills It in Gun Country

But there is one distinct rabble-rousing Republican voice missing this year. Sarah Palin declined top billing at the conference for the fourth year in a row, sparking speculation that she would not go because GOProud, a gay Republican group, would be there.

But she denied those charges on the Christian Broadcast Network, once again highlighting her ambivalent stance on gay rights.

"Should conservatives not reach out to others, not participate in events or forums that perhaps...

A few days shy of her single premiere, Lady GaGa takes it to her Twitter to share official artwork of the soon-to-be-released song. The singer is topless with her bare back to the camera in this black-and-white image. She is wearing wild hair as well as thick cat-like eyeliner and having pointy protrusions on her forehead, cheekbone and shoulder.

Titled "Born This Way", the single is now slated to make its way out this coming Friday on February 11, two days before GaGa showcases it live in front of star-studded audience at the upcoming live telecast of Grammy Awards. The music video is expected to follow later on.

Details about the clip have just emerged, revealing that it's directed by Jonas Akerlund, the same man behind the lens of Britney Spears' "Hold It Against Me". To fit the song which is meant to empower her transgender fans, GaGa reportedly films...

The Wisconsin Republican has the misfortune of playing second fiddle to President Obama's State of the Union address. History hasn't treated most first responders too kindly, says Samuel P. Jacobs.

Congratulations, Paul Ryan, you just got the worst job in politics: the chance to respond to the State of the Union, the president's yearly address to Congress.

Related story on The Daily Beast: Nice Rhetoric, but Need Real Results

By its very design, the response spot is a diminishing one. There's no sergeant at arms to announce your arrival. No geeky lawmakers reserving prime seats four hours before curtain, awaiting a brief moment to press the flesh. The State of the Union is American political theater at its grandest. The rebutter-in this case, the 40-year-old Wisconsin congressman-is usually exiled to a black-box setup, condemned to perform before an empty crowd. Last year, Republicans made a huge improvement in stage...

Paul Rieckhoff enlisted in the U.S. Army Reserves in 1998, and shortly thereafter went to work on Wall Street. When 9/11 struck, he rushed to the scene to volunteer--and was then called to formal service as a member of the National Guard. Then in 2003, Paul deployed to Iraq. When he returned, he wanted to represent the voices of the more than 2 million veterans of the wars in Afghanistan and Iraq. So in 2004 he founded Iraq and Afghanistan Veterans of America (Iava). In just a few years, Iava has grown to over 200,000 members hailing from all 50 states. Iava advocates on behalf of their members on a range of issues from Ptsd to homelessness and from the recent Don't Ask, Don't Tell bill to the New GI Bill. Paul wrote an acclaimed book about his experiences, and was named by GQ as one of the 50 Most Powerful People in D.C. He's appeared...

The Connecticut senator will announce his retirement Wednesday. In the end, Howard Kurtz writes, the Democrat-turned-independent never really healed from 2004, 2006, and 2008, though he briefly became a hero of the left by championing the repeal of Don't Ask Don't Tell.

In the end, Joe Lieberman decided he didn't need any more tsuris.

Related story on The Daily Beast: Why Obama Won't Touch Gun Control

Not that the Connecticut senator would describe his decision to retire with that Yiddish term. He will offer a more philosophical explanation when he makes the official announcement Wednesday, a move that a Lieberman aide confirmed to The Daily Beast.

Lieberman, 68, plans to quote a passage from Ecclesiastes, popularized by a Byrds song: "To everything there is a season..."

As a man without a party, the Democrat-turned-independent faced a rocky path to reelection in 2012. The Lieberman aide did not dispute that, while noting that his boss has...

During last night's Golden Globes there was a palpable tension in the air which can be clearly attributed to Ricky Gervais's controversial and caustic hosting style. Ramping up the snark from last year, he dealt several harsh quips, the most unpopular (with the Globe crowd) being one presumably levied at John Travolta and Tom Cruise. He said, in reference to I Love You, Phillip Morris, "Two heterosexual actors pretending to be gay. So the complete opposite of two famous Scientologists, then." You can see the entire monologue here (Gawker).

So the question is, was it the Scientology aspect or the gay aspect that made that particular joke so uncomfortable? Gervais is, I believe, obviously not homophobic, but the Hollywood community is particularly spiky and protective of privacy when it comes to sexuality. While homosexuals still can't marry in this state (dammit), the prevalence of gay characters in film and television,...

A Picture Might Be Worth A Thousand Words. Too Bad One Of Them Wasn't "Gay"

While it's ludicrous to say anything "positive" came out of the horrible shooting in Tucson last week, those events have given the Glbt community one very remarkable development — a bona fide hero who happens to be an out gay man. That hero is twenty-year-old University of Arizona student Daniel Hernandez, Jr. who is being so lauded for his actions that he not only spoke at the memorial for the victims on Wednesday night, but sat to the right of President Obama.

I confess that because I've been attending the TCA in Los Angeles this week, I haven't been able to follow the coverage as much as I would've liked. So what I can't say with any certainty is whether or not the fact that Hernandez is gay has been widely reported. I do know, however,...

As the new Congress starts its first week, Washington's got a new sheriff in Darrell Issa, a charismatic Mama Grizzly in Kristi Noem, and a rejuvenated Joe Lieberman. Samuel P. Jacobs on who to keep your eye on in the political year to come.

1. Rep Darrell Issa, California Republican

Related story on The Daily Beast: Rahm and Race in Chicago

Washington has a new sheriff. Issa will chair the House Oversight Committee, with the power to instigate investigations against the White House and anyone else who the runs afoul of the 57-year-old Californian. Issa promises a busy year: He's already announced that he'd like 280 hearings in 2011. During the first two years of the Obama administration, Issa fired off scores of letters to the Democrats, demanding investigations and asking questions about the White House's behavior. (He's called Obama, "one of the most corrupt presidents in modern times." ) "We'll get a lot...

You Think They Talk About Gawker This Way?

Well, Christmas is almost upon us and I have to say this week I received just about the nicest gift I've received in a very long time. Actually, it was a gift for the whole staff and we got it from ... you guys!

TigerCub started a forum thread he titled Merry Xmas Ae Staffers that was all about saying thanks for the site and the work we do. And he even did caption pics for it! (Of course, picture captions are my turf, but I'm willing to make an exception this time.)

Reading the comments you guys left on the post about the site, well, it means a lot to all of us here. Writing for the online world can be a rough and tumble experience as folks are usually not shy about sharing their opinions. That's mostly a good thing as...

Yeah, Oprah might be pretty charitable, and Angelina Jolie is known more for her philanthropic efforts than her movie roles. But it was Lady Gaga who gave back most this year. According to a new list of Top 20 Celebs Gone Good by DoSomething.org, Gaga was named the most charitable celeb of 2010. The website reads: In 2010, Lady Gaga had breakout popularity and breakthrough advocacy. Gaga called for the repeal of Don't Ask Don't Tell, walking the VMAs red carpet with service members and speaking at a rally. Her ladyship also hosted the Hands Up for...

President Obama held a year-end press conference today, and some might have mistook it for a victory lap. The White House had reason to be happy given how they rebounded from a tough mid-term election to pass a lot of legislation during a lame-duck session. ABC News' Jake Tapper focused on the passing of Don't Ask Don't Tell, but immediaitely tying it to the looming issue of gay marriage. Obama's response seemed to keep open the possibility that the Administration's position might in fact be evolving.

I've abbreviated the conversation heavily, but I just wanted to make you aware today of a masterfully executed debate that took place in the wee hours of the morning between Mark Millar and Brian Michael Bendis. Although you'll need to go to their Twitter accounts to grasp the full weight of their disagreement, below you can witness Millar's assessment of Steven Spielberg's carrer turned into an argument about Munich, which then devolved into a series of insults and ultimately culminated in the assertion that Brian K. Vaughan is now living in a home for old people. It was Twitter discourse at its finest.

In more serious matters Scott Allie spoke for the the soldiers of Sparta in response to Don't Ask Don't Tell getting repealed this week, while "Black Swan" and "Spider-Man: Turn Off the Dark" continued to be hot topics of conversation. Find out who you agree with...

Yesterday Senator Lindsey Graham complained to Fox News radio that the Gop had effectively capitulated to the White House on a number of policies during the lame-duck session, that "wouldn’t have passed in the new Congress." In fact, the last week and a half have been good to President Obama as he's seen the repeal of Don't Ask Don't Tell, Education reform, and the anticipated ratifying of the Start treaty. This morning ABC News' Jake Tapper reports that this is all part of a new bipartisan approach from the White House that could spell more political victories to come.

Railing against Don't Ask Don't Tell, shooting down an immigration bill he once sponsored, pushing his own changes to Start-the tougher John McCain who emerged in the primaries may be here to stay.

When Sen. John McCain took the floor before the groundbreaking vote to repeal Don't Ask Don't Tell, he furiously told the Senate, "Today is a very sad day," and announced, "There will be high-fives over all the liberal bastions of America," from "the elite schools that bar military recruiters from campus" to "the salons of Georgetown."

Related story on The Daily Beast: What If McCain and Palin Won?

John McCain, the fighter pilot, war hero, and the man who would be king (twice), has been left fighting an opponent that has already left the ring. On the same day as the Dadt repeal, he voted against the Dream Act, legislation he initially sponsored. On Tuesday, he voted...

Today's historic vote to repeal Don't Ask Don't Tell was the result of a behind-the-scenes effort in which gay activists of all stripes banded together-and won the day.

This afternoon 65 senators, including six Republicans, voted to repeal Don't Ask, Don't Tell, the law that barred openly gay soldiers from serving their country. In the obligatory appearance, Senate lead sponsor Joe Lieberman thanked Joe Solmonese of the Human Rights Campaign (Hrc) and Aubrey Sarvis of the Servicemembers Legal Defense Network (Sldn). "Part of why this passed," Lieberman said, "is that gay and lesbian citizens took advantage of their First Amendment rights and petitioned our government and throughout the country, speaking to senators where they live about why this law should be changed."

Related story on The Daily Beast: What If McCain and Palin Won?

That must sound pretty great to the establishment lobbyists at Hrc and its longtime ally on this issue,...

Big news! Barack Obama's transformation to a moderate pragmatist now appears to be complete. And no, it's not the capitulation compromise on the so-called "Bush Tax Cuts" that puts him in a more positive light amongst conservatives, nor is it a nuanced and delicate (weak?) approach to reforming Don't Ask Don't Tell. No, the clearest evidence to date that the Obama Administration is aiming to govern from the center is the following clip form The Larry King Show in which Barbra Streisand admits that she's a little disappointed in Obama.<...

Julianne Moore. Natalie Portman. Annette Bening. A few years ago, no one would have dreamed that such big, bankable names would be involved in pushing lesbian-inclusive cinema to the major studio mainstream, perhaps even to the promised land of the Oscars. But here we are at the end of 2010, and the future has never looked brighter.

With one truly breakout film, The Kids Are All Right, and high-profile projects including The Runaways, Black Swan, and the Millennium Trilogy, it seems that that queer female lead characters have finally made it into the cinematic forefront. Perhaps it's only a toehold, but it's a welcome trend, considering big-screen lesbians have most typically been portrayed as serial killers (Monster, Basic Instinct) or minor characters.

The lesbian movies are all right

For years, the lesbian movie-watching community has been waiting for "Dykeback Mountain" — that is, our own mainstream breakout in the vein of 2005's cowboy romance Brokeback Mountain.

Lady GaGa has stepped up her bid to force U.S. politicians to repeal the military's controversial 'Don't Ask, Don't Tell' policy regarding gay servicemen and women, urging lawmakers to stand up and fight against "discrimination". The "Poker Face" hitmaker has been a leading voice in the battle to allow homosexuals and bisexuals to serve openly in the armed forces and vowed to continue the campaign after the U.S. Senate voted against debating a new bill on the topic in September.

The opportunity was blocked by a Republican-led filibuster, but a report on the effects of ending the ban is due to be presented to senators on Wednesday, December 1 and GaGa has made a last-ditch attempt to appeal to their better natures.

In a two-minute video posted on YouTube.com on Monday (29Nov10), she says, "The Senate needs to get this bill passed this year to repeal 'Don't Ask Don't Tell',...

The senator doesn't go as far as Sarah Palin, who ripped Obama for the documents "fiasco," but he calls the Times' publishing of the cables "hurtful." McCain talks to Howard Kurtz about the diplomatic fallout, Don't Ask Don't Tell, and more.

John McCain is upset about the huge pile of secret diplomatic cables that hit the press this week. And he isn't just blaming WikiLeaks.

Related story on The Daily Beast: Cracking the New York Times Popularity Code

The Arizona Republican points an accusing finger at the American newspaper that obtained the cache of documents and is publishing them in nine lengthy installments.

"I wish The New York Times had chosen not to," McCain says in an interview. "It's harmful to the United States of America and our national security interests. Their argument is that it was coming out anyway. But there's a certain imprimatur of The New York Times...

A just-released Pentagon study on Don't Ask Don't Tell--covered live on all cable nets--finds overturning Dadt would not cause any longterm problems for the American military. "A strong majority (of American troops surveyed)--more than two thirds--do not object to gays and lesbians serving openly in the military," said Defense Secretary Robert Gates, who introduced the survey's results alonside Admiral Mike Mullen, Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff.