One Direction's 'Kiss You': VIDEO

Just don't call them twinks.

Watch the full video, AFTER THE JUMP...

Hillary Clinton Given Helmet Upon Return to State Department

Secretary of State Hillary Clinton returned to work today following recovery from a concussion and a blood clot. She was give a welcome back gift, CNN reports:

Deputy Secretary of State Thomas Nides handed Clinton a box, saying, "As you know, Washington is a contact sport."

"Inside was a football helmet with a State Department seal,  lots of good padding and also a football jersey that said Clinton on the back and on the front it says #112 which symbolizes the number of countries she visited as secretary of state," Nuland said.

"She loved it.  She thought it was cool.  But then being Hillary Clinton she wanted to get right to business."

White House: 'Obama Believes Hagel's Statement of Apology' on Gay Rights - VIDEO

White House Senior Advisor Valerie Jarrett on the White House blog:

Recently, some in the LGBT community have expressed concerns about Senator Hagel's past comments. In response, Senator Hagel issued a statement in which he apologized for comments that he made in the 1990s, and affirmed both his commitment to LGBT civil rights as well as his support for open service and the families of gay and lesbian service members.

One of the great successes of the LGBT civil rights movement is that it provides the space and opportunity for people to change their hearts and minds, to right past wrongs, and, over time, to evolve. The President believes Senator Hagel's statement of apology, and his commitment to ensuring that all service members and their families are treated equally. The President would not have chosen him unless he had every confidence that, working together, they will continue to ensure that our military and DoD civilian workforce are as welcoming, inclusive, and respectful as possible.

Watch the Hagel nomination ceremony, AFTER THE JUMP...

Thomas Roberts Talks to Log Cabin Republican Leader About Hagel Opposition: VIDEO

Earlier today I posted about the Log Cabin Republicans' latest ad in the Washington Post opposing Chuck Hagel's nomination as Defense Secretary. Today, MSNBC's Thomas Roberts talked to LCR interim executive director Gregory T. Angelo about the group's ad.

Watch, AFTER THE JUMP...

In related news, Army veteran and OutServe-SLDN Executive Director Allyson Robinson issued the following statement today on the Hagel nomination:

"Senator Hagel is an exceptionally qualified nominee for Secretary of Defense and we believe, if confirmed, he will be an effective leader for the Pentagon. Significant challenges remain for LGBT service members and their families, however, and it's long overdue that our Secretary address those challenges.

Our message to the next Secretary of Defense would be the same, no matter who was nominated and confirmed. A commitment to support LGBT service members and their families must be a commitment to action. It's past time to extend all benefits available to married same-sex military couples and families while the so-called Defense of Marriage Act (DOMA) is still on the books. It's past time to put in place military equal opportunity and nondiscrimination protections so that all qualified Americans who wish to serve this nation in uniform may do so without fear of harassment or discrimination. We look forward in the weeks ahead to discussing these and other issues important to LGBT service members and their families with Senator Hagel and his designees, and to working with him should he be confirmed to create equitable conditions for all those who serve our nation so bravely in uniform."

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Supreme Court Schedules Oral Arguments in Prop 8, DOMA Cases

The Supreme Court has scheduled oral arguments in Hollingsworth v. Perry, the federal challenge to Proposition 8, and United States v. Windsor, the challenge to DOMA, according to a press release from the American Foundation for Equal Rights:

Today, the United States Supreme Court announced that it will hear oral argument in Hollingsworth v. Perry, the federal constitutional challenge to California’s Proposition 8, on Tuesday, March 26, 2013.  

The Supreme Court also indicated today that it will hear oral argument in United States v. Windsor, a challenge to the constitutionality of the federal Defense of Marriage Act (DOMA), on Wednesday, March 27, 2013.  Enacted by Congress in 1996, DOMA nullifies the marriages of gay and lesbian couples for all purposes of federal law. 

Written briefs are expected to be sent to SCOTUS in each case prior to the oral arguments.

'The Advocate' Print Edition to Return to Newsstands After Two-Year Absence

The Advocate will be returning to newsstands after a more than two-year absence, according to a press release from Here Media:

“Due to both reader and advertiser demand, we are thrilled to bring The Advocate print edition back to newsstands in 2013,” said Advocate editor in chief Matthew Breen and executive vice president publishing Joe Landry in a joint statement. “We remain committed to providing timely and in-depth reporting of issues important to the LGBT community and our community allies, as well as providing the best media outlet for businesses targeting the gay market.”

For the first time in over two years due to strong reader demand, The Advocate, which has been sold only by subscription since 2010, will again be available at major distributors nationwide starting February 2013.

The first edition will be back on January 15.