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ROUNDUP 630 - GET YOUR NEWS FIX NOW!

BREAKING--AL FRANKEN WINS! Harry Reid congratulates!

IF YOU'RE ANGRY ABOUT THE RAINBOW LOUNGE FIASCO IN FT. WORTH TEXAS, THAN YOU NEED TO GET INVOLVED. We have a long way to go to full equality, and we have many fronts we are pushing on right now. One of those fronts is Employment Discrimination. If you DON'T know what it is, the inclusive Employment Non-Discrimination Act (ENDA) will protect LGBT people nation-wide from sexual orientation or gender identity-based discrimination in hiring/firing. CLICK HERE AND LEARN ABOUT HOW TO GET YOUR REPRESENTATIVE TO SUPPORT ENDA!

In.D.C|| Joe Biden acknowledges things are moving too slow at that controvercial DC fundraiser that DISAPPOINTINGLY raised $1M. Read LAW DORK'S AWESOME ACTION PLAN on turning rhetoric into results! Service Members Legal Defense Network (SLDN) demonstrated in front of the White House on Saturday to protest DADT--watch the video here. President Obama acknowledged the shamefulness of the discharges and the speed at which change is occurring at the White House cocktail party Monday, but stopped short of announcing an Executive Order ENDING the insanity. He did say some powerful things that were right on the mark, in my humble opinion. That is why--while I am very frustrated with this president--I still really expect great things from him.
And I know that many in this room don’t believe that progress has come fast enough, and I understand that. It’s not for me to tell you to be patient, any more than it was for others to counsel patience to African Americans who were petitioning for equal rights a half century ago.
LAWDORK has a powerful entry in his blog about what the president did right at this event, and where he fell short. Here is the VIDEO--my favorite part is the duck. Listen to him FINALLY SAY THE WORD TRANSGENDER! BoxTurtleBulletin's Jim Burroway expresses his optimism after this reception. There is some concern that the President may be behind the times with corporate America and many states already far ahead of the president's goals. However, people aren't yet content, and poor ole Bobby Gibbs is getting the sharp end of the stick--here he is on Hardball getting grilled again by Chuck Todd on DADT and DOMA. Secretary of Defense Gates says the Pentagon is looking at "more humane ways" to apply DADT until it is changed. Labor Secretary Solis condemns defacing of Pride posters.

Why are the big gay organizations known popularly as "Gay, inc." reversing their opposition to the Boies and Olson Federal challenge to Proposition 8? Maybe its not a total turn-around, but the legal groups in the bunch have all filed court briefs supporting Olson/Boies this week, most likely because its unstoppable now, so they mine as well get involved and be sure its done right. I absolutely love Jared Polis' stance on Obama. Hell I love him. Is he single? I did get to meet my Illinois gay politician crush this weekend finally--hey Greg Harris!

BY THE WAY, the Washington D.C. Superior Court just dismissed the case filed by anti-gay Bishop Harry Jackson on that voter referendum, which means the District will start RECOGNIZING SAME-SEX MARRIAGES ON JULY 6TH. This should be interesting.

STATE2STATE|| In PENNSYLVANIA, the Steel City Stonewall Democrats have created an awesome video denouncing State Senator Eichelberger's comments that straights are "allowing" gays and lesbians to exist. Senator Eichelberger is refusing to back down. In CALIFORNIA, San Diego cops busted up the Home Fundraiser for Democratic candidate Francine Busby--the home belonged to a lesbian couple. In ILLINOIS, Peter LaBarbera was at Chicago Pride and so was I! FROM MY HOME STATE OF MICHIGAN, The City of Kalamazoo has approved an inclusive anti-discrimination ordinance in employment, housing and access to public accommodations! In NEW YORK, Senator Duane is "optimistic" about passing the Marriage Equality bill this session, even as the Senate has become a total circus. And not even a good Circus like Britney's. Joe Biden's DELAWARE adds sexual orientation and gender identity to anti discrimination laws!

AROUND/THE/GLOBE|| UK Prime Minister Gordon Brown banned UK's most famous gay activist, Peter Tatchell from attending the Government sponsored gay pride event. In INDIA, gays held a successful second ever Pride event demanding decriminalization there.

SPIRITq|| 60% of gays say faith is important to them.

OFF/THE/MAP|| Last week Stephen Colbert had two of his most hilarious gay-related sketches ever--my favorite being the day's word Thursday: "Stonewalling!" McCain campaigners called Palin "Little Shop of Horrors!" HX Magazine may be doomed.

OURstory|| Today's OURstory should be titled THEIRstory--the story of the 'gayby boomers'--the generation of the first kids who were raised by openly gay parents--two daddy, two mommy households. They're entering their 30s and ExGayWatch profiles a few of their stories. I am combining a detailed Stonewall coverage with coverage of this weekend around the world and specifically reactions to what happened in Texas--since I think the three seem to all be made of the same stuff.

TOAST TO CHAD GIBSON--GET BETTER QUICK!

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