News: Portuguese Water Dog, Tea Party, Tila Tequila, Somalia Pirates

LGBT activists plan Tax Day rallies across nation: "As LGBT Americans, we work hard, take care of our families, and pay our taxes every year. Yet, our families are not included in the very policies we help fund. Our loved ones are treated like legal strangers and denied the economic protections given to our heterosexual counterparts."

Marc Jacobs, Kate Moss, and Justin Timberlake do some ego bonding in Vanity Fair.

Tila Tequila is dead: Or at least that's what her stalker wants you to believe.

Will & Grace creator Max Mutchnick on the Obamas' relationship with the gay population: "If more homosexuals were in the Obamas’ lives, there is no way Michelle would have worn a twin set when she met the queen."

Madonna speaks for first time about quest to adopt Mercy.

Gay activists in Salt Lake City turn to charity work rather than protest: "While protests and signs can be effective in advancing gay rights, volunteer Jason Trowbridge said the movement is about civil law, not religion. 'Really, I have nothing against Mormons,' said Trowbridge, who recently moved to Utah with his boyfriend. 'I have very nice Mormon friends.'"

NYT on the marriage equality state-by-state strategy and why the U.S. Supreme Court wil keep its distance: "The concern about creating another Roe v. Wade looms large..."

Obamas to adopt Portuguese Water Dog named Bo.

Freedom to Marry's Evan Wolfson on the "Gathering Storm" ad: "At a time when most Americans have had their fill of years of polarization and want to see us come together to deal with the pressing problems that hurt us all, gay and non-gay, could a negative ad campaign like NOM's work? Who would buy these obvious scare-tactics?"

Rex Wockner on gay Iraqi executions... UK Independent: Iraqi leaders turning blind eye. "In an unusual move, Amnesty International will today write to the Iraqi President, Nouri al-Maliki, demanding 'urgent and concerted action' by his government to stop the killings. Amnesty said the murders appear to have been carried out by militiamen and relatives of the victims, after being incited by religious leaders"

Transient accused of Matthew Shepard memorial park vandalism in West Hollywood.

Male model fix: Adam Phebus.

Navy Seal snipers killed the three Somali pirates holding captain Richard Phillips hostage simultaneously, in the dark, from the deck of a rolling ship 75 feet away: "Finally tensions had inflamed so that the pirates actually had the gun aimed at Captain Phillips, and commanders made a split second decision. Believing his life was in 'imminent danger', they ordered the snipers to fire."

Vatican blocks Caroline Kennedy as U.S. ambassador: "Vatican sources told Il Giornale that their support for abortion disqualified Ms Kennedy and other Roman Catholics President Barack Obama had been seeking to appoint. Mr Obama was reportedly seeking to reward John F Kennedy's daughter, who publicly gave her support to his election bid."

Towleroad Guide to the Tube #417

LESBIAN AND GAY BAND ASSOCIATION: In case you missed it, here's their appearance in the inaugural parade. Here's our interview with a few of its members.

GENE ROBINSON: The Washington Blade interviews the Episcopal Bishop. Corey and I pursued Robinson throughout inauguration weekend, but always seemed to be two events behind him.

SWEARING IN: At the swearing in of senior White House staff, Biden jokes about Justice Roberts' oath gaffe and Obama doesn't appear to be amused.

CAROLINE KENNEDY: She withdraws from Senate consideration "for personal reasons." NY Post: Paterson decided against her.

News: Lake Michigan, NASA, Richard Gere, Broadway, Steve Jobs

D.C. Mayor Fenty to meet with Gays and Lesbians Opposing Violence (GLOV) over increase in anti-gay bias crimes on January 16th.

Is there an ancient Stonehenge at the bottom of Lake Michigan?

Richard Gere frolics in the surf.

Toronto-area man shot after homophobic altercation at massage parlor.

Three men in custody following drunken air rage flight from Manchester UK to the Dominican Republic: "The trio were allegedly drunk, violent and abusive and the captain was so concerned about fighting on board that he had to divert and land in Bermuda. A 35-year-old man from Burnley, Lancashire, was arrested at Gatwick airport after being returned from Bermuda. He was arrested on suspicion of endangering an aircraft and is currently in custody at Crawley police station. The two other men are still in custody in Bermuda and are due to be flown back to the UK in the next few days. Police said the men would all be questioned about alleged homophobic public order offences, affray and smoking on board the plane."

Obama to tear down wall between NASA and Pentagon in face of Chinese space race?

Michael Phelps putting himself in a hairy situation.

Athletic new street artist covers New York.

UK MP and shadow justice secretary Nick Herbert in civil partnership with longtime boyfriend Jason Eades.

Clive Davis plays a very brief clip of a demo of Kelly Clarkson's next single, "My Life Would Suck Without You."

PR Maven Howard Bragman warns Caroline Kennedy to dig deep before tearing down that wall of privacy she's built her whole life: "I don't like to be too simplistic but you either love life in the public eye or you don't. I don't believe she does. One celebrity once said that privacy is like your health--you take it for granted until you no longer have it. She is putting something she worked hard to create at great risk. Once her wall between public and private comes down, there's no turning back."

University of Texas-Austin students working on legitimizing second gay fraternity in Texas: "They will become an official fraternity chapter after initiating three pledge classes. They inducted their first class in November."

Broadway bloodbath: Nine shows shutter due to recession.

Milo Ventimiglia bares it in Bora Bora.

Rare sea creatures come ashore on north Oregon coast.

Croatian woman sent to "ex-gay" therapy treatment center for five years: "Parents sent Rijeka-born Ana Dragicevic (21) to a mental institution in Lopac when she was 16, stating heroin addiction as the reason. Because she spent five years in hospital, she did not gradate and still has nightmares as a consequence...Ana was bound, she put on straight jackets, she was given injections, pills. The girl was in the same ward as schizophrenic patients, whom she was afraid due to their aggression."

Apple CEO Steve Jobs announces he's losing weight due to a hormone imbalance.

Courtney Love is desperately seeking something.

Lesbian gang rape in Richmond highlights anti-gay violence and the need for victims to report it: "'The only way we know about (the Richmond) case is because of the bravery of the survivor coming out,' Virago said. 'Hatred and bias are a routine occurrence for many LGBT people.' That may partly be due to the psychology behind hate crimes, particularly those involving sexual orientation, said a psychology professor at St. Mary's College in Moraga. 'What you get is this kind of immature desire to display power,' said Jose Feito. 'And so they go looking for easy victims, or suitable victims.' In the Richmond case, Feito said, 'suitable' meant someone the attackers could marginalize in their minds. Sexual orientation can serve as a hate crime's 'trigger,' as he called it. But it is often that factor combined with a perception of gender nonconformity that leads to violence, he said."

News: Right Whales, Carrie Fisher, Adoption, Northampton

Travolta son Jett dies while vacationing with parents...

Black gay activists: Ebenezer Baptist should dump Warren as speaker for MLK Day service. Atlanta Black LGBT Coalition: "Rev. Warren’s hateful opposition to civil rights for lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender people and reproductive rights for women, and his intolerance of diversity contradict the values of freedom and equality that this day represents...Bestowing Rev. Warren such a prominent role does not foster greater understanding between divided communities. Instead it drives more wedges between disenfranchised communities that are continually pitted against each other by the agents of racism and homophobia."

Scientists discover important endangered Right Whale breeding ground off coast of Maine: "In early December, surveyors counted 44 right whales in one day about 70 miles south of Bar Harbor, Maine, in an area known as Jordan Basin. On a day in mid-December, they counted 41 whales just west of Jordan Basin. Surveyors counted three right whales on Dec. 6 at Cashes Ledge, about 80 miles east of Gloucester. Surveyors in recent years have counted from three to five right whales each day prior to this, said National Oceanic & Atmospheric Administration spokeswoman Shelley Dawicki."

Eternal bachelor George Clooney has found love for 2009.

Pride & Joy: Longstanding gay-themed shop in Northampton, Massachusetts to close.

Michigan's LGBT community center, Affirmations in Detroit, cuts back staff, hours as it struggles to survive: "Thompson said she's been running nonprofits for more than 20 years and 'I've never seen a year end as bad as this one,' she said."

FOX runs "magic negro" ticker on New Years Eve telecast.

Sources to AP: Kennedy likely pick by Paterson for Clinton Senate seat.

Activist Peter Tatchell condemns homophobic BBC program: "Within the programme, which was broadcast in two parts on BBC3 on 30th and 31st December, lesbians were described as 'munters' and viewers were told that female Hollywood superstars should be saved for heterosexuals."

Looking to start a photography hobby in the new year? Here's a brand new auction from an old Towleroad friend...

Cynthia Nixon and family end year on a roller coaster.

Boy Culture looks at Carrie Fisher's new memoir, Wishful Drinking.

114 World's new oldest person Gertrude Baines voted for Obama in November - VIDEO.

BUSHED: Medic attends to Beckham after Milan work-out...

Tampa-area couple with two foster daughters profiled as state waits on adoption laws...

Half of Roman Catholic adoption agencies in UK that said they would refuse to abide by laws forcing them to consider gay and lesbian couples as prospective adoptees now say they will comply: "he agencies were given an 21-month exemption from the anti-discrimination laws, which came into effect in 2007, but that expired on 1 January. They said the law, which makes it illegal to discriminate against gay applicants, went against their beliefs. Five of the 11 agencies will now comply with the rules, while one is to close...Another two of the agencies are seeking exemption from the law by having themselves registered as charities explicitly serving heterosexual and single people. The position of the remaining three agencies is not known."

The Caroline Kennedy Backlash, You Know, is Fully Underway

The Washington Posts' Jonathan Capehart on the Caroline Kennedy backlash:

"As soon as Kennedy voiced interest in the seat, pundits confidently claimed that Paterson was boxed in and had no choice but to pick Caroline. But as many political and media observers are now discovering, this was a mistaken presumption. Paterson isn't in thrall to the Kennedy clan because he comes from a political dynasty himself. His father, Basil Paterson, was a state senator, a New York City deputy mayor under Ed Koch and New York secretary of state. Along with David Dinkins (Mayor 1989 - 1993), Percy Sutton (Manhattan Borough President 1965-1977) and Rep. Charles B. Rangel (now chairman of the powerful tax-writing Ways and Means Committee), the elder Paterson formed a potent political force that schooled his son in the nuances, benefits and perils of power politics."

And then, there are, you know, those who just dislike her speech patterns, AFTER THE JUMP...

You may have missed...
Caroline Kennedy Supports Full Marriage Rights for Gays and Lesbians [tr]
Towleroad Talks with the Washington Post's Jonathan Capehart [tr]

Caroline Kennedy Supports Full Marriage Rights for Gays and Lesbians

Politico submitted eight questions to Caroline Kennedy, among them her position on marriage equality. Kennedy's answer:

"Caroline supports full equality and marriage rights for gay and lesbian couples."

She gave a similar answer to the NYT, which reports that her bid to replace Senator Hillary Clinton is in full swing.

CBS News on Kennedy's chances, AFTER THE JUMP...