Smiths Guitarist Johnny Marr Plays 'Heaven Knows I'm Miserable Now' for First Time in 25 Years: VIDEO

The genius guitarist at work. This clip is nirvana for Smiths fans. Spine-tingling.

Watch, AFTER THE JUMP...

Watch LIVE: The Illinois Senate Votes on Marriage Equality

UPDATE: The bill has passed 34-21!

A vote on marriage equality is planned in the Illinois Senate today. The session has begun. LGBT advocates are confident it will pass. No word yet on the exact timing of the vote.

Follow us on @TLRD and we'll let you know when they're back.

Watch it (a couple of options), AFTER THE JUMP...

Or, if that stream is not working, try this:

Watch live streaming video from gaychicagotv at livestream.com

37 Senators Send Letter Urging Obama to Issue Executive Order Protecting LGBT People from Employment Discrimination

Thirty-seven U.S. Senators led by Jeff Merkley (pictured) have sent a letter to President Obama urging him to issue an executive order protecting LGBT people from employment discrimination, the Washington Post's Plum Line reports.

Read the letter HERE.

Reads the letter, in part:

[Y]ou are in a position to protect millions of American workers immediately by including sexual orientation and gender identity alongside long-standing anti-discrimination protections.

As you know, ENDA would prohibit most workplaces in the United States from discriminating against potential and existing employees on the basis of their sexual orientation or gender identity. From our perspective, ENDA’s premise is simple: it would make federal law reflect the basic principle that Americans should be judged on their skills and abilities in the workplace, and not on irrelevant factors such as their sexual orientation or gender identity.

The letter is signed by Merkley, Tom Harkin, Patty Murray, Christopher Coons, Jeanne Shaheen, Mazie Hirono, Sheldon Whitehouse, Richard Blumenthal, Ron Wyden, Patrick Leahy, Barbara Boxer, Tom Udall, Al Franken, Dianne Feinstein, Claire Mccaskill, Tammy Baldwin, Martin Heinrich, Kirsten Gillibrand, Carl Levin, Elizabeth Warren, Frank Lautenberg, Amy Klobuchar, Barbara Mikulski, Sherrod Brown, William Cowan, Mark Udall, Richard Durbin, Bernard Sanders, Charles Schumer, Brian Schatz, Mark Begich, Mark Warner, Debbie Stabenow, Benjamin Cardin, Jack Reed, Robert Casey, and Robert Menendez.

Harkin, the Chair of the Senate Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions (HELP) Committee, promised during remarks this week at an event at the Center for American Progress that the Employment Non-Discrimination Act (ENDA) will "move this year."

Obama historically has favored the legislative process over issuing executive orders, but pressure has been growing around this issue.

Marriage Equality Legislation Filed in Texas

State Rep. Lon Burnam (D-Fort Worth) filed HB 1300 this morning, the Dallas Voice reports:

The bill filed this morning would remove provisions in the Texas Family Code from 2003 that deny same-sex couples the ability to marry in the state. It would also allow Texas to recognize same-sex marriages from other states.

“Marriage has been the greatest and most rewarding experience of my life,” Burnam said in a statement. “Continuing to deny all Texans the freedom to marry robs them of that experience and is detrimental to their families. Texans want a state where anyone can work hard and provide for their families. Our Texas values mandate defending the right of all Texans to have their rights and responsibilities as couples recognized by the state.”

The paper notes that it is the fifthe releationship recognition bill filed in two weeks in the Texas legislature:

Reps. Garnet, D-Houston, and Rafael Anchia, D-Dallas, filed joint resolutions to repeal the state’s anti-gay marriage amendment last week, as did state Sen. Jose Rodriguez, D-El Paso, marking the first time the repeal legislation had a Senate companion bill. And earlier this week, state Sen. Chuy Hinojosa, D-McAllen, filed legislation to create civil unions for gay couples if repeal of the amendment were to pass the Legislature and be approved by voters in November.

Here's Justin Timberlake's 'Suit & Tie' Video: WATCH

He cleans up well.

The clip, featuring Jay-Z, was directed by David Fincher.

Watch, AFTER THE JUMP...

President Obama Endorses Orlando as 'Gay Games' Host

The City of Orlando got a boost from the White House in its bid to host the 2018 Gay Games, the Washington Blade reports:

“I am pleased to voice my support for the City of Orlando’s bid to host the Gay Games 2018,” the president said in a letter to Orlando 2018, the organization working on the bid.

“As President of the United States, I am committed to advancing equality for the Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, and Transgender (LGBT) community, both in America and around the world,” he said.

Mikael Audebert, project director for Orlando 2018, said Obama’s endorsement letter is believed to mark the first time a U.S. president has expressed support for the Gay Games or any LGBT event of that size.

Watch Orlando's bid video, AFTER THE JUMP...