News: Microsoft, Shawn Pyfrom, France, Christine Quinn

Satya Nadella named CEO of Microsoft.

Why saying something about Madonna usually says something about yourself.

Vanity Fair releases Hollywood issue cover.

Gay Norwegian minister to take husband to Sochi paralympics: "I cannot wait to watch and support all the Norwegian athletes. These are athletes with disabilities who perform at a very high level. Having said that, everyone understands what two married men think about gay rights."

Former NYC City Council speaker Christine Quinn joins Athlete Ally as a board member: “The Olympics being held in Sochi shows how necessary this mission is,” Quinn told the Daily News. “We want to support our LGBT athletes and use this as an opportunity to show that we need to be hands-on fighting homophobia in sports.”

Adam Lambert celebrated his 32nd birthday in style.

Elizabeth Warren: "Full time work should not be rewarded with full time poverty. Hardworking men and women who are busting their tails in full-time jobs should have a chance to support themselves and their families and build a little economic security. It is time for Congress to act and raise the minimum wage."

Neil Patrick Harris honored at Drama League's Broadway Musical Celebration.

Shawn Pyfrom opens up after Philip Seymour Hoffman death: "I'm an alcoholic and a drug addict."

Thousands protest against gay marriage in France: "Over 100,000 conservative French marched through Paris and Lyon on Sunday accusing the government of 'family-phobia' for legalizing gay marriage and other planned policies they say will harm traditional families."

Frank Bruni: Love, Death and Sochi. "On Thursday the Olympics begin. Worldwide attention will turn to Sochi, Russia, and there will be a spike in commentary about Russia’s dangerously homophobic climate, which has already prompted discussion and protest. But while this will be an important reminder of the kind of persecution that L.G.B.T. people endure in a country openly hostile to them, it will also be an incomplete one. Russia’s hardly the worst."

Zac Efron in talks for role in Star Wars: Episode VII: "I just went and met with them," said Efron. "So I don't know. It would be cool. I love [the Star Wars movies], I love them, but… who knows?"

Jesse Eisenberg cast as Lex Luthor.

Sister of same-sex couple whose Home Depot proposal went viral speaks out on faith, family, and freedom.

A Beyoncé anthem for cold season.

Thousands of anti-Putin protesters march in Moscow: "Some of them face up to 10 years in prison if convicted for the protest, held on Bolotnaya Square on the eve of President Vladimir Putin's inauguration to a third term as Russia's president."

High school bully apologizes after seeing classmate's viral gay marriage proposal. Here's the proposal if you missed it.

GQ: Inside the Iron Closet - gay in Putin's Russia.

More than 50 religious leaders in Scotland are expressing "deep concern" over the marriage equality law. "Will people working in the public sector who express the view that marriage can only ever be between a man and a woman be disciplined, or even have their suitability for employment questioned, on the basis that their views are deemed incompatible with their employer's commitment to equality and diversity?"

 

Conan O'Brien Lampoons Russia's Gay Winter Olympics: VIDEO

The Sochi Olympics begin this Friday, and much is still unknown about how the anti-gay propaganda laws there will impact the games. Conan O'Brien took advantage of the impending controversy, and the results are hilarious. Rattling off the supposed "Russian names" for many of our favorite Olympic sports, he scored big on this one. 

Check out the absurdity, AFTER THE JUMP...

 

Scottish Parliament Approves Marriage Equality in 105-18 Vote

Scotland's parliament has passed marriage equality in a 105-18 vote, the BBC reports:

The Scottish government said the move was the right thing to do but Scotland's two main churches were opposed to it. The first gay and lesbian weddings could take place this autumn.

Religious and belief bodies can "opt in" to perform same-sex marriages.Ministers said no part of the religious community would be forced to hold such ceremonies in churches.

During a debate at Holyrood, MSPs rejected amendments which were said to provide "protection" for groups and individuals opposed to same-sex marriage.

The SNP's John Mason tabled an amendment stating that no-one could be "compelled by any means" to solemnise gay marriage, including by a contract or a legal requirement.

The 'Sunday Times' Will Blow Your Mind with This Single-Shot Serving of Culture: VIDEO

Could you direct a 30-second single-shot film that seamlessly recreated each of the iconic cultural images you see above? The Sunday Times did in a new promotion for a series exploring the four corners of culture, and it's incredibly slick.

Can the Oscars hire this team to put something together?

Check it out, AFTER THE JUMP...

NYC Mayor Won't March in St. Patrick's Day Parade Over Gay Exclusion; Says Workers Can

NYC Mayor Bill De Blasio says he'll continue a personal boycott of the St. Patrick's Day parade because of its "exclusion of some individuals in the city," Politicker reports:

Said De Blasio:

“No I am not planning on marching in the parade, I haven’t in the past in my capacity as a public official,” he added. “I will be participating in a number of other events to honor the Irish heritage of this city … But I simply disagree with the organizer of that parade in their exclusion of some individuals in the city.”

The mayor says, however, that he won't stop uniformed city workers from doing so:

“I believe that uniformed city workers have a right to participate if they choose to. And I respect that right."

The parade bars the participation of gay groups.

Gay City News had called on the mayor to ban uniformed workers from marching in an open letter signed by many LGBT rights organizations

The presence of uniformed police and firefighters in such a procession sends a clear signal to LGBTQ New Yorkers that these personnel, who are charged with serving and protecting all New Yorkers, do not respect the lives or safety of LGBT people. It confirms the practice of the NYPD and FDNY at times of targeting certain communities for discrimination. What’s more, it betrays the current work of high level government agencies and human rights advocates working internationally against the current wave of extreme anti-LGBTQ legislation and discriminatory practices occurring in countries such as Nigeria, Uganda, and Russia.

Indeed, legal precedent on this matter, in Pappas v. Giuliani, 290 F.3d 143 (2d Cir. 2002), says: “The effectiveness of a city’s police department depends importantly on the respect and trust of the community and on the perception in the community that it enforces the law fairly, even-handedly, and without bias. If the police department treats a segment of the population of any race, religion, gender, national origin, or sexual preference, etc., with contempt, so that the particular minority comes to regard the police as oppressor rather than protector, respect for law enforcement is eroded and the ability of the police to do its work in that community is impaired.”

Matt Zarley is a Gay Dating Game Host in 'Somebody 4 Everybody': MUSIC VIDEO

Gay singer-songwriter Matt Zarley (you may remember his politically-charged clip for "Trust Me" or his introspective clip "Change Begins with Me") channels Dating Game host Jim Lange for his new track which pushes the old adage that there's somebody for everybody.

Watch, AFTER THE JUMP...