Towleroad Talking Points: Winter Sucks!

 PHOTO OF THE DAY: Gay-themes and the Oscars. 

BY SAM GREISMAN

A look back at today's top stories

GAY ISSUES

This is an interesting subject for debate. A recent op-ed in the New York Daily News states that African-Americans have a greater responsibility to support gay rights because of their position under the over-arching civil rights umbrella. Do you think that's true?

Good news in Hawaii where a marriage equality bill was introduced into the State's House and Senate this morning. Confirmation hearings for John Kerry's position as Secretary of State began today and Code Pink was on hand to interrupt it. Also Reddit is not into the term "gaymer". 

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WINGNUTTERY

Proving that they are indeed right wingers to the core, GOProud will participate in "March for Life". As the Rhode Island House of Representatives succeeds in passing a marriage equality bill, NOM's Rhode Island off-shoot says "screw you" to New England. 

And though he may not fit the actual definition of "wingnut" there is certainly some crazy going on with the story of Manti Te'o and today he told Katie Couric that he is definitely not gay bro. 

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VIDEOS OF THE DAY

Now we know why Prince Harry ran out on his CNN interview. Who can resist the chimes of an ice cream truck!? If you wanna know all the lyrics to Justin Timberlake's new "Suit and Tie", here is where to go.

Also this just in! Winter is the worst!

Manti Te'o Hoaxer Wanted 'Relationship' with Him: Lawyer

The lawyer for Rohaiah Tuiasosopo, the man behind the alleged hoax targeting Notre Dame linebacker Manti Te'o, says it was Tuiasosopo's voice on the other end of phone calls and in voice mails with the football player, and that his client disguised his voice in order to develop "a relationship" with Te'o.

The NY Daily News reports:

Grimes insisted that former high school football star Tuiasosopo, 22, wasn’t trying to hurt or humiliate Te’o.

“This wasn’t a prank to make fun,” Grimes told The News. “It was establishing a communication with someone. ... It was a person with a troubled existence trying to reach out and communicate and have a relationship.”

Grimes declined to answer when asked to elaborate on his client’s intentions or what type of relationship he wanted with the college football star: “I wouldn’t describe his issues at this time.”

Te'o has said he thought he was speaking to a woman.

The NYDN adds: "Tuiasosopo’s résumé includes vocal and dramatic training. He was president of his high school drama club, performs with a Christian band and auditioned last year for the TV talent show 'The Voice.'"

Voice mails from 'Lennay Kekua', the woman Tuiasosopo claims to have spoken as, were played in Katie Couric's interview today, during which Couric asked Te'o point-blank if he had lied to cover his sexual orientation.

Towleroad Guide to the Tube #1292

REMEMBER THIS?: An ad that ran for a number of years telling you, yes you, to get a new television ahead of the Super Bowl.

BRAVE: Men experience labor pains.

REAL LOVE: Video for the Divine Fits' single "My Love is Real."

ASYLUM: Gay Iranians looking for safe space.

For recent Guides to the Tube, click HERE.

News: Gay Pride Suppression, Hillary Clinton, Russia, JJ Abrams

A gay man in Boynton Beach, Florida, is being accused of trying to start abstract "trouble" after his neighborhood association nixed his pride flag. The man, Dave Armstrong, says his neighbors are just homophobic. "I said, 'Listen, everybody else has an American flag on the front of their property, so why can't I have my pride flag right out here?'"

An Atlanta man is suing Georgia after state rejects his three gay-themed vanity license plates, "4GayLib," "GayPwr" and "GayGuy:" "All three were denied because they were already on a list of more than 10,000 banned tags, the state's 'bad tag list'. 'There are some limits that are proper but none of this makes any sense,' [Attorney Cynthia] Counts said. 'It's completely contrary to any first amendment principals.'"

The Connecticut Senate approved the state's first openly gay Supreme Court justice.

MSNBC panels says Secretary of State Hillary Clinton was "at her very best" during yesterday's Benghazi hearings.

New rules from the Kremlin demand military officers inspect recruits' bodies, including their genitals, for tattoos that may indicate gang or gay affiliation. "The reason for getting tattoos could indicate a low cultural or educational level," the directive reads. "If an influence by external factors is determined, for example, persuasion or direct coercion, this indicates the malleability of the young man, his disposition to submit to another's will."

Scotland Yard says it has arrested three people suspected of being involved in a "Muslim street patrol" that recently assaulted a gay man in London.

More about corporations turning on the Boy Scouts for the Scouts' tenacious homophobia, including a chart on who's giving how much to the organization. (Click on image to expand.)

David Hall, the former Air Force sergeant booted under Don't Ask, Don't Tell, discusses his experience as a "citizen co-chair" during President Obama's second inauguration. "I think he tried to put us all at ease and talk to us as normal people," he said of the commander-in-chief's demeanor.

Rather than joining the momentum that will most likely usher in marriage equality in Rhode Island, and simultaneously going against his party peer, Gov. Lincoln Chafee, Democratic State Sen. Frank A. Ciccone III plans on introducing a bill that will put same-sex unions to a popular vote, rather than allowing lawmakers to decide.

Despite outcry from LGBT students, Chick-fil-A will stay put at Southern Illinois University Edwardsville. The school, however, agreed to give them $1,500 to see if they can start an anti-bullying and general awareness campaign on such a small budget.

Stephen Dorff found some relief in the Roosevelt Hotel's bushes.

Here are the president's remarks on the Pentagon lifting the ban on women in combat: "Today, by moving to open more military positions—including ground combat units—to women, our armed forces have taken another historic step toward harnessing the talents and skills of all our citizens..."

Polish lawmakers begin debating civil unions.

Why didn't Sheryl Crow tell the world that former lover Lance Armstrong was doping?

David Beckham in a "fashionable dressing gown."

Is JJ Abrams going to direct the next Star Wars flick?

"Does lightning cause migraines?"

Rhode Island House Passes Marriage Equality Bill in 51-19 Vote

Rhode Island's House of Representatives has passed marriage equality legislation in a 51-19 vote. The bill now moves on to the Senate where it faces a much tougher battle.

Back in December, WPRI reported on the bill's chances in the Senate:

Senate Judiciary currently has 10 members, two of whom won’t be back in January: Democrat Rhoda Perry, a staunch supporter of same-sex marriage, and Republican Glen Shibley, an opponent. Chairman Michael McCaffrey, a Warwick Democrat, announced on “Newsmakers” earlier this year he wouldn’t block a committee vote on the issue, but like Paiva Weed he remains personally opposed to gay marriage.

Among the other seven, Ian Donnis reports there are three likely no votes (Maryellen Goodwin, Harold Metts, William Walaska) and three likely yes votes (Dawson Hodgson, Eric Lynch, Donna Nesselbush). The eighth returning member, Paul Jabour, told constituents he opposes gay marriage but might vote for it anyway.

Just getting a bill out of committee, then, could be a challenge for same-sex marriage supporters. They need six votes in favor if all committee members are present and voting (some could take a walk and not cast a vote at all) but they start with only three. Getting two supporters appointed to the panel, and pushing Jabour to a yes, would give them enough – but there’s no guarantee who’ll be on the committee on January.

And even if they’re successful in committee, same-sex marriage supporters need to get the bill to the floor of the Senate and then convince as many as 19 senators to vote in favor of it. It’s safe to say there will be a lot of vote-counting on this issue happening in the upper chamber next year. Indeed, one reason for opponents like Paiva Weed and McCaffrey to allow a vote is to change the discussion from whether they’re blocking a vote to whether same-sex marriage’s proponents can muster adequate support.

It's time for Rhode Islanders to call their lawmakers. Information on how to do so HERE.

Manti Te'o Tells Katie Couric He's Not Gay: 'Far from It' - VIDEO

In an interview that aired today, Notre Dame linebacker Manti Te'o told Katie Couric that he's not gay when she asked him if he made up the dead girlfriend story to hide his sexual orientation.

COURIC:"One of the theories, many theories, Manti, making the rounds, is somehwo you created this whole scenario to cover up your sexual orientation. Are you gay?"

TE'O: No. (Laughs) Far from from it. Faaaaar from that."

Watch, AFTER THE JUMP...

Do you believe him?

Manti Te'o -- I'M NOT GAY - Watch More Celebrity Videos or Subscribe

Here's the full interview (till it gets pulled). The gay question is around 16:00 in the first clip.