Rapper Tyga Is No Fan Of "Gay S**t": VIDEO

Rapper Tyga, known for the song "Make It Nasty," is currently dealing with two $10 million lawsuits from women who said their nipples were exposed in his music video. When TMZ tried to interview him about the suits, the artist chose to attack the TMZ photographer instead, saying,

"What you got a camera for? That's gay as s**t." 

While this could be dismissed as the usual casual homophobia where people use "gay" as a pejorative analogous to "stupid" as opposed to "homosexual" (which is it's own discussion), Tyga followed up with,

"You got a CAMERA on a n**ga ... go in [the club] and get some bitches." 

Incidents like this are not terribly surprising given hip hop and rap's established problems with homophobia, which is a bit ironic given how gay some rap lyrics can be.

TMZ's video of the incident can be seen AFTER THE JUMP...

Rep. Ted Yoho (R-FL) Says America's 'Confused' Society Is Leading to Gay Marriage: AUDIO

With Obamacare back in the news as foes attempt a final push to stop the health law's implementation, town hall fever has slowly been picking up again across the country. Unfortunately, members of congress oftentimes use these town hall meetings as a broader soapbox to rail against political opponents and their ideology in a bid to appeal to increasingly partisan constituencies.

Earlier this week, freshman congressman Rep. Ted Yoho (R-FL) used one of these town hall meetings as an opportunity to lament the 'sad state of affairs' in America today and unpack all the grief he's been feeling lately about gay marriage, food stamps, and terrorist immigrants.

Via Right Wing Watch:

At a town hall meeting earlier this month, after he announced he would back birther legislation and accused Obamacare of being racist against white people, Rep. Ted Yoho (R-FL) went after gay marriage, immigration reform and food stamp funding. "I think it's a sad state of affairs in America today that we as a society are so confused that we have to redefine what marriage is," Yoho lamented. "It's an institution that's been around for thousands of years and I feel like it's ordained by God; are we that confused as a country that we have to start redefining these things?" 

 Listen to the entire diatribe, AFTER THE JUMP...

D.C. Passes Country's Most Trans-Inclusive Policy For Updating Birth Certificates

On Tuesday, District of Columbia mayor Vincent Gray signed into law the country's most trans-inclusive policy for updating birth certificates, one that transgender advocates hope will become a nationwide model in the near future. The Los Angeles Times details the new changes to D.C.'s birth certificate policy:

The Washington measure eliminates requirements for surgery and a court order that, transgender rights attorney Lisa Mottet said, make it too expensive and inaccessible for most transgender people to complete a legal transition.

...

Nationwide, only 24% of transgender people can get the gender changed on their birth certificates because of restrictive laws, according to a study by the National Gay and Lesbian Task Force, where Mottet works. This can create problems when they enroll in schools or apply for jobs, she said.

Washington's new policy "means that people can go about their lives and have their gender recognized, instead of having government documents that say you're not who you say you are," said Mottet, who was an advisor on the measure's language.

Washington will grant new birth certificates to transgender people who provide a statement from a licensed healthcare provider that they have undergone "appropriate treatment" for a gender transition. The measure, which passed unanimously, also exempts them from a requirement to advertise a concurrent name change for three weeks in a newspaper.

Fred Sainz, vice president of the Human Rights Campaign, said that with the Supreme Court's pro-equality rulings in June, the push for full LGBT equality should be a prime focus for advocates and allies moving forward. "Now we have momentum at our back, and we really need to use this time effectively to gain as many protections as possible for transgender people," said Sainz.

Civil Rights Hero Bayard Rustin, Astronaut Sally Ride to Receive Presidential Medal of Freedom

Two LGBT heroes are among 16 recipients of the Presidential Medal of Freedom announced today by President Obama. The award is the nation's highest civilian honor, presented to individuals who have made especially meritorious contributions to the security or national interests of the United States, to world peace, or to cultural or other significant public or private endeavors.

From the White House announcement:

Sally Ride (posthumous)

Sally Ride was the first American female astronaut to travel to space.  As a role model to generations of young women, she advocated passionately for science education, stood up for racial and gender equality in the classroom, and taught students from every background that there are no limits to what they can accomplish.  Dr. Ride also served in several administrations as an advisor on space exploration.

Bayard Rustin (posthumous)

Bayard Rustin was an unyielding activist for civil rights, dignity, and equality for all.  An advisor to the Reverend Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr., he promoted nonviolent resistance, participated in one of the first Freedom Rides, organized the 1963 March on Washington for Jobs and Freedom, and fought tirelessly for marginalized communities at home and abroad.  As an openly gay African American, Mr. Rustin stood at the intersection of several of the fights for equal rights.

Also receiving the honor: Ernie Banks, Ben Bradlee, Bill Clinton, Daniel Inouye, Daniel Kahneman, Richard Lugar, Loretta Lynn, Mario Molina, Arturo Sandoval, Dean Smith, Gloria Steinem, Cordy Tindell "C.T." Vivian, Patricia Wald, and Oprah Winfrey.

Towleroad Guide to the Tube #1411

BILL DE BLASIO: NYC mayoral candidate's first TV ad featuring his son.

SHARON NEEDLES: "Call Me on the Ouija Board".

KEN BUCK: Announced he's running for Senate in Colorado against Mark Udall. This clip tape is from 2010.

FATBERG: Bus-sized mound of fat removed from London sewer.

For recent Guides to the Tube, click HERE.

News: Ramen Burger, Powerball, Joe Jonas, Dolphins, Lyme Disease

Nancy Boy: Lindsey Graham gay-baited in South Carolina GOP primary.

Winning $448 million Powerball tickets bought in New Jersey and Minnesota.

Who wants a ramen burger?

Police investigate Big Brother contestant (and noted homophobe) Spencer Clawson.

Petition to ban Russian lawmakers responsible for human rights abuses: "The Secretary of State can place both Ms. Mizulina and Mr. Milonov on the visa ban list under his own authority and we respectfully request that the President direct Secretary of State Kerry to do so."

Chris Colfer reveals that Adam Lambert will play his nemesis on Glee.

US Embassy in Malta awards $26,000 grant to Malta Gay Rights Movement: "The funds will support the professional development of MGRM and its 'Rainbow Project' to provide counselling services to LGBT people and organize educational outreach in the community, the embassy said."

Emile Hirsch is a cuddly cub.

Book on Gore Vidal's sex life on the way.

Maggot-filled sandwich causes alarm at Atlanta airport.

Ivory smuggler responsible for the slaughter of 10,000 elephants over the past 40 years is arrested: "The trafficker, Emile N'Bouke, was found to be in possession of 700 kilograms (1,500 pounds) of ivory at the time of his arrest Tuesday afternoon at his shop in Lome, the capital, Dede Ekoue said. It was the first arrest of its kind in the small West African nation, which has emerged in recent years as a main transit point for ivory bound for Asia and other markets..."

Lyme Disease vaccine shows promise...

Dolphins keep lifelong social memories: "Dolphins can recognize their old tank mates’ whistles after being separated for more than 20 years—the longest social memory ever recorded for a non-human species. The remarkable memory feat is another indication that dolphins have a level of cognitive sophistication comparable to only a few other species, including humans, chimpanzees and elephants. Dolphins’ talent for social recognition may be even more long-lasting than facial recognition among humans, since human faces change over time, but the signature whistle that identifies a dolphin remains stable over many decades."

VIDEO: New clips from The Counselor with Michael Fassbender and Javier Bardem.

Joe Jonas doesn't want Nick to get all the selfie attention.

Philadelphia urged to break Sister City ties with Russian city Nizhny Novgorod over anti-gay laws.

New protein bar contains crickets.

Greg Louganis talks to Policy Mic about why he's against an Olympic boycott: "There’s a better way to speak out against President Putin and call out his bigotry for exactly what it is: speaking up for equal rights and educating people around the world about the persistence of homophobia. I’ve spent my post-diving career doing just this. I’ve promoted HIV/AIDS awareness, defended the civil liberties of the LGBT community, and taken a stand against “Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell.” Rather than boycott, I, along with several amazing organizations including Athlete Ally and All Out, plan to use the Sochi Games as a teachable moment for the world."