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Guess who’s back? Back again? : "Bicoastal, bigenerational and bipartisan–and now bi-z… SHOWBIZ NIGHT! In show 58 , we spoke to Hollywood Historian, Laurie Provost–previous guest John Provost’s wife. This author and comedian shared with us some of the coolest stories from Hollywood history. It was really fun! Laurie and Ace discussed her husband John’s time on Lassie as Timmy, and Lance and I asked her about Hollywood’s Haaaaaauuunted Hiiiistory… woooooooo! Do you know anyone who needs to be a guest on Lundon Calling? Do you know anyone who’s been affected by the Military’s Don’t Ask Don’t Tell policy? Anyone who wants to come on and talk about LGBT history, or where the movement is heading in the future? Let us know–we’d really love to talk to you about having them on! For now, check out Show 58 –the RETURN OF PHIL!" Make sure you take a listen to Show 58 !

Today I'm helping out with a huge blog swarm to put pressure on the Human Rights Campaign to use its status in DC to keep the "Don't Ask Don't Tell" repeal front and center on the Hill--to prevent this momentum from being squandered. We are hearing that the lawmakers are looking to turn this into a huge, long, drawn-out multi-year process. Let's be blunt. We could lose Congress in November. We can't wait until after the election. We can't wait until its politically expedient. We need this now. Let's end this institutionalized homophobia and discrimination. My latest Bilerico Post: "Pressure HRC: Demand leadership from Obama ": "When I blog about federal bills, I'm usually talking about ENDA - I still think this is our number one priority on the Hill - but there's another big priority that we need to move on now. We need a full repeal of the ban on gays and lesbians serving openly in the military. 4010407179_83b9a3a781.j...

My latest-- "Creating change right where you are" @ The Bilerico Project : "This past week I attended the Annual Creating Change Conference put on by the National Gay and Lesbian Task Force in various locations throughout this big gay nation of ours every year. This year the all-encompassing leadership conference was held in Dallas Texas, and--let me just tell you--everything really is bigger there. Well, everything except for the cell-phone reception, but that's another story. I have a confession to make. I was a virgin until this past Wednesday. A conference virgin, silly. I'd attended dozens of LGBT conferences in my life, but never a Creating Change. I was close to attending--and considered joining the local planning committee--when it was in Detroit, my hometown. However, I was on my way to Illinois, and didn't really want to take on a new commitment, only to be out of state when the conference occurred. So I've never been. And now? I can't wait ...

Check out my latest Out & About Illinois magazine Blog-- When California's John Perez becomes the openly gay Speaker, he won't be the first : "Phil Reese, February 12, 20010 -- Two months ago, Assemblyman John Perez became the first openly gay person selected for state House Speaker in history, but when he gets sworn in on March 1, he will be the second openly gay person to assume that position. Yesterday, The Rhode Island House of Representatives selected and swore in Majority Leader Gordon Fox as the 222nd Speaker of one of the oldest legislatures in the nation. The legislature of predominately Catholic state of Rhode Island--which is only one of two New England states without marriage equality, and the only state to never have passed a marriage equality bill--is now being led by an openly gay African American. In March, 4% of state legislatures in America will be led by out and proud gay folks. This is real progress. In 1989 Republican US Senator Mark Hatfield...

I just posted to my Lundon Calling blog about the shenanigans that went down on that show while I was away in Dallas. How dare they lie about my age on air while I was in hostile territory! After all, my last initials are J.R! When the cat’s away… : "OK, so I’m a week behind on blogging, but I have a good excuse. While Ace and Lance were recording the 57th show , I was off in Dallas, TX at the National Gay and Lesbian Task Force’s annual LGBT leadership conference, Creating Change! It was an amazing conference! I met some pretty fantastic people: I met Matt Foreman, Mike Rogers and Kate Kendell all for the first time, not to mention bloggers like George Cole and Chris Bartlett! I also learned so much at the brilliant workshops, and–of course–loved seeing my blogging buddies Bil Browning, Jerame Davis, Adam Bink, Waymon Hudson and his hubby Anthony and Michael Crawford. Finally, I had two great roommates–Zack Ford and Adam Taylor. Both are great bloggers and social networke...

Gail Collins: Illinois' Political Culture Is Even Worse Than New York's : "Illinois and New York both have such awful political cultures that it's tough to decide which state is the biggest loser, writes Gail Collins. Both states have governors who were forced out by scandals and whose successors are mired in controversy, although at least Eliot Spitzer isn't going to be appearing on Celebrity Apprentice, Collins writes in the New York Times..." Oh, and it gets better!

The UP Center of Champaign County : " Want to make an impact ? Help the UP Center empower LGBT youth and families now! Give now . “I’ve been trying to find a coming out support group for years in this community. I’m so glad this center is coming to Champaign so that I can finally find others to talk to with similar experiences and concerns.” Many lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, and questioning (LGBTQ) people living in the Midwest share feelings of isolation and being scared to come out to family and friends, feeling they have nowhere to turn for assistance. In order to provide a central location for LGBTQ individuals to find support and resources, several dedicated members of the community have come together to form The Uniting Pride (UP) Center. As with any new initiative that requires physical space, The UP Center’s biggest challenge is raising finances to open a facility large enough to meet the needs of the community. Now we need your help. We are asking you to give wh...

In case you haven't heard, Dan Choi got called back to his unit after Adml. Mullen's statement on DADT. Not sure if his Commander has actually had a change of heart or if the Government is just trying to silence the biggest voice against DADT we have. Either way, read the post bellow at Bilerico.com and be the judge. Exclusive Pics: Lt. Dan Choi back in service? | The Bilerico Project PS, I need a favor from you, dear reader. Please share this widely: in email, facebook, twitter and so forth. We need to make people aware of what's going on. This is an important move here, and we all need to be very aware ahead of time if Dan Choi is suddenly forced to go quiet. Dan's answer to Jeff's questions are powerful, however. "Actions speak louder than words." By joining his unit he hopes to be a powerful force from the inside. This is the man who on CSPAN, MSNBC, CNN in October ripped the tape from his mouth on the National Equality March's stage in a...