News: Brian Urlacher, HIV, Sasha Fierce, Napping, Vladimir Luxuria

Christian right launches 'Protect DOMA' site designed to build opposition in minority communities to the repeal of the Defense Of Marriage Act: "All of the photos and quotes on the main page are from black and Latino people, including the notoriously closeted Mexican-American actor Eduardo Verastequi. Funded by the Alliance for Marriage Foundation, the site's list of their board of directors is a who's who of black, Latino, and Asian religious leaders, as well as one Muslim imam. The logo for the Hispanic Evangelicals Coalition is on the main page." Divide and conquer, indeed.

You never know when there's a security camera around.

Obamafy yourself, become a Fairey.

Sasha Fierce does the "Single Ladies" moves for Meredith Vieira...

Obama team denies it will delay repeal of "Don't Ask, Don't Tell": "An Obama transition team spokesperson, who spoke on the condition of anonymity, said the decision on how to approach repealing “Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell,” which prohibits gays from serving openly in the military, would be made after more experts have joined the Obama administration. 'These decisions will not be made before the full national security team is in place,' the spokesperson said. The Washington Times reported last week that two people who have advised Obama’s transition team said the president-elect “will not move for months, and perhaps not until 2010” to repeal the 'Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell' law, which Congress passed in 1993."

Napping boosts 'sophisticated' memory: "Indeed, scientists increasingly are focusing less on sleep duration and more on the quality of sleep, what's called sleep intensity, in studying how sleep helps the brain process memories so they stick. Particularly important is 'slow-wave sleep,' a period of very deep sleep that comes earlier than better-known REM sleep, or dreaming time."

Don't get too close to Valentino. He may rub off on you.

Italian transgender former MP Vladimir Luxuria wins "Celebrity Island" reality show: "The 43-year-old served in parliament for two years as a member of the Refoundation Communist Party before losing his bid for re-election in April. Over the past six weeks Luxuria, whose real name is Wladimiro Guadagno, has been a star on reality TV, trying to survive living on the beaches of Honduras with other celebrity 'survivors'. In the end viewers picked Luxuria as their favourite. 'I admired his capacity to defy the prejudices of his companions,' said Giorgio Gori, the show's producer."

Iran sees rise in sexually-transmitted HIV: "Sexually transmitted HIV infections are on the rise in Iran and the Islamic Republic is setting up telephone hotlines to help fight the problem, a senior official said in comments published on Tuesday. Injecting drug users are the main risk group in Iran, which is on a heroin smuggling route to the West from Afghanistan, but officials are also concerned about the number of people who are infected with the AIDS virus through sexual contacts." Well, Ahmadinejad knows who he can't blame.

Former South African President Thabo Mbeki's crimes against humanity.

WHO researcher: HIV could be eliminated within decade "if all people living in countries with high infection rates are regularly tested and treated."

Britney Spears announces first dates on tour....

Brian Urlacher's wife demands the Chicago Bear stop painting their toddler son's toenails and dressing him in pink: "The mother, Tyna Robertson, threatened to block Urlacher from seeing the boy if the beefy linebacker kept up the alleged effeminate antics."

Hate vandalism at Skidmore College in upstate, New York: "An upstate college is investigating a possible hate crime after anti-gay sentiments and other vulgarities were written outside the school's Center for Sex and Gender Relations. Skidmore students say the vandalism is the latest in a series of similar incidents at the private liberal arts college in Saratoga Springs."

Former Project Runway finalist Daniel Vosovic has four roommates, and they keep their Lower East Side apartment very clean.

British police officer fired over anti-gay emails: "Norfolk police said Graham Cogman, 49, had been dismissed after a misconduct hearing yesterday. He faced disciplinary action for sending emails to colleagues quoting biblical texts and condemning homosexual sex, police sources said. He forwarded details of a group offering to 'cure' homosexuality, the sources said."

So is he or is he not?

Sphere: Related Content

Castro Residence of Gay Vietnam Vet Leonard Matlovich Recognized

Back in June I reported that the residence of Leonard Matlovich, a Vietnam war vet and gay rights pioneer who took up residence in San Francisco's Castro District in the late 70's and appeared on the cover of TIME magazine in September 1975 under the headline "I am a Homosexual", was to be recognized with a plaque thanks to the work of friends, including frequent Towleroad commenter Michael Bedwell.

Said Bedwell to the BAR at the time, "I wanted to memorialize him both to pay respect to him and to make newer generations aware of him. Mainstream society has countless examples of these which mark the people who came before, that inspire people, and reinforce people's identity themselves."

The TIME story concerned Matlovich's fight against the ban on gays in the military. According to the BAR: "He had told his commanding officers he was a homosexual but wanted to remain in the service. The Air Force kicked him out, and Matlovich sued the secretary of the Air Force. Matlovich settled out of court and received $160,000. The lawsuit did prompt the military after 1981 to switch from giving gay service members dishonorable discharges to honorable discharges."

Matlovich's headstone, in the Congressional Cemetery in Washington, DC, is well-known. It reads: "When I was in the military, they gave me a medal for killing two men and a discharge for loving one."

The plaque had a dedication ceremony last Saturday at San Francisco's LGBT Community Center. It is now up at the corner of 18th and Castro. Matlovich died of AIDS in 1988. He was 44.

In related news, over 100 of the U.S. military's retired generals and admirals called for the repeal of "Don't Ask, Don't Tell" in a document released Monday.

Sphere: Related Content

100+ Military Leaders Call for Repeal of 'Don't Ask, Don't Tell'

104 of the U.S. military's retired generals and admirals have called for repeal of the nation's discriminatory "Don't Ask, Don't Tell" policy in a document released Monday.

Says the document: "We – the undersigned -- respectfully call for the repeal of the "don't ask, don't tell" policy. Those of us endorsing this letter have dedicated our lives to defending the rights of our citizens to believe whatever they wish. Scholarly data shows there are approximately one million gay and lesbian veterans in the United States today as well as 65,000 gays and lesbians currently serving in our armed forces. They have served our nation honorably. We support the recent comments of former Chairman of the Joint Chiefs, General John Shalikashvili, who has concluded that repealing the "don't ask, don't tell" policy would not harm and would indeed help our armed forces. As is the case with Great Britain, Israel, and other nations that allow gays and lesbians to serve openly, our service members are professionals who are able to work together effectively despite differences in race, gender, religion, and sexuality. Such collaboration reflects the strength and the best traditions of our democracy."

The AP reports: "While Obama has expressed support for repeal, he said during the presidential campaign that he would not do so on his own — an indication that he would tread carefully to prevent the issue from becoming a drag on his agenda. Obama said he would instead work with military leaders to build consensus on removing the ban on openly gay service members. 'Although I have consistently said I would repeal 'don't ask, don't tell,' I believe that the way to do it is make sure that we are working through a process, getting the Joint Chiefs of Staff clear in terms of what our priorities are going to be,' Obama said in a September interview with the Philadelphia Gay News."

See the list of military leaders who signed the document, AFTER THE JUMP...

Former Secretary of the Army Clifford Alexander
Admiral Charles Larson, USN (ret.)
Lieutenant General Quinn Becker, USA (ret.)
Lieutenant General Henry Emerson, USA (ret.)
Lieutenant General Robert Flowers, USA (ret.)
Lieutenant General Robert Gard, USA (ret.)
Lieutenant General Jerry Hilmes, USA (ret.)
Lieutenant General Claudia Kennedy, USA (ret.)
Lieutenant General Donald Kerrick, USA (ret.)
Lieutenant General Ira Owens, USA (ret.)
Lieutenant General Thomas Rienzi, USA (ret.)
Vice Admiral Harold Koenig, USN (ret.)
Vice Admiral Jack Shanahan, USN (ret.)
Vice Admiral James Zimble, USN (ret.)
Major General Anders Aadland, USA (ret.)
Major General Floyd Baker, USA (ret.)
Major General Harry Brooks Jr., USA (ret.)
Major General Leslie Burger, USA (ret.)
Major General Alexander Burgin, USANG (ret.)
Major General Rosetta Burke, AUS (ret.)*
Major General William Burke, USA (ret.)
Major General Michael Conrad, USA (ret.)
Major General Eugene Cromartie, USA (ret.)
Major General James Delk, AUS (ret.)
Major General Oliver Dillard, USA (ret.)
Major General John Faith, USA (ret.)
Major General Jack Farris, USAF (ret.)
Major General Fred Forster, USANG (ret.)
Major General Robert Gamrath, AUS (ret.)
Major General Albert Genetti Jr., USA (ret.)
Major General Luis Gonzales-Vales, AUS (ret.)
Major General David Hale, USA (ret.)
Major General Randy Jayne, USANG (ret.)
Major General Lawrence Johnson, AUS (ret.)
Major General Dennis Laich, USA (ret.)
Major General Frederick Lawson, AUS (ret.)
Major General Thomas Lynch, USA (ret.)
Major General Dennis Malcor, USA (ret.)
Major General John Roth, AUS (ret.)
Major General Henry Rasmussen, USA (ret.)
Major General Alan Salisbury, USA (ret.)
Major General Michael Scotti Jr., USA (ret.)**
Major General Harry Sieben, USANG (ret.)
Major General Paul Smith, USA (ret.)
Major General Robert B. Smith, USA (ret.)
Major General Charles Starr Jr., USA (ret.)
Major General Story Stevens, USA (ret.)
Major General Joseph E. Turner, AUS (ret.)
Brigadier General John C. Adams, USA (ret.)
Brigadier General Clara Adams-Ender, USA (ret.)
Brigadier General Hugh Aitken, USMC (ret.)
Brigadier General John "Joe" Allen, USAF (ret.)
Brigadier General Patricia Anderson, AUS (ret.)
Brigadier General Dale Barber, USA (ret.)
Brigadier General George Baxter, USA (ret.)
Brigadier General Robert Baxter, USAF (ret.)
Brigadier General George Blysak, AUS (ret.)
Brigadier General Harold Bowman, USANG (ret.)
Brigadier General Douglas Bradley, AUS (ret.)
Brigadier General Jack Capps, USA (ret.)
Brigadier General Richard Carter, AUS (ret.)
Brigadier General Steve Chapplis, USA (ret.)
Brigadier General BG David Cole, AUS (ret.)
Brigadier General William Colvin, USANG (ret.)
Brigadier General Joseph Cutrona, USA (ret.)
Brigadier General Tom Daniels, USAF (ret.)
Brigadier General Von DeLoatch, USA (ret.)
Brigadier General Robert Dilworth, USA (ret.)
Brigadier General George Eggers Jr., USA (ret.)
Brigadier General Evelyn Foote, USA (ret.)
Brigadier General Robert Giffen, USAF (ret.)
Brigadier General Robert Hardy Jr., USA (ret.)
Brigadier General Carlos Hayden, AUS (ret.)
Brigadier General Edwin Heffelfinger, USA (ret.)
Brigadier General James Hunt, USA (ret.)
Brigadier General John H. Johns, USA (ret.)
Brigadier General J.D Johnson, USA (ret.)
Brigadier General Keith H. Kerr, CSMR (ret.)
Brigadier General Douglas Kinnard, USA (ret.)
Brigadier General Dean Mann, AUS (ret.)
Brigadier General James Martin, USAF (ret.)
Brigadier General William Meehan II, USA (ret.)
Brigadier General Harold Miller, AUS (ret.)
Brigadier General Kenneth Newbold, AUS (ret.)
Brigadier General I.R. Obenchain Jr., USA (ret.)
Brigadier General Phil Peay, USANG (ret.)
Brigadier General Dorothy Pocklington, AUS (ret.)
Brigadier General Robert Poirot, AUS (ret.)
Brigadier General Philip Pushkin, USANG (ret.)
Brigadier General Virgil Richard, USA (ret.)
Brigadier General William Richter, AUS (ret.)
Brigadier General Kenneth Rieth, AUS (ret.)
Brigadier General Ernst Roberts, USA (ret.)
Brigadier General Murray Sagsveen, AUS (ret.)
Brigadier General Norman Salisbury, USA (ret.)
Brigadier General Donald Schenk, USA (ret.)
Brigadier General Bettye Simmons, USA (ret.)
Brigadier General Theodore Vander Els, USA (ret.)
Brigadier General Daniel Wardrop, USA (ret.)
Brigadier General Robert Watling, AUS (ret.)
Brigadier General John Weinzettle, USA (ret.)
Rear Admiral James Barnett, USN (ret.)
Rear Admiral Robert Krasner, USN (ret.)
Rear Admiral Charles Rauch, USN (ret.)
Rear Admiral Alan Steinman, USPHS (ret.)

* AUS is the Army of the United States.
**General Scotti passed away in September, 2007. His widow asked that his name remain on this statement.

Sphere: Related Content

News: Obama, Connecticut, Stop-Loss, Michael Phelps, West Side Story

Tonight's half-hour Obama TV spot airs at 8pm EST. The spot was rejected by CNN. Also, "Hibberd reports that Fox News was not approached by the Obama campaign. The ad is slated to air on MSNBC, making it the only cable news outlet to run the ad. NBC, Fox, CBS, and Univision will also broadcast the ad. Despite reports to the contrary, a Fox Broadcasting executive told Politico's Ben Smith that the network did not move the World Series for the campaign ad, and that the first pitch was never slated for earlier than 8:30 PM. Rather, Fox made a "business decision" to air the ad in lieu of the pre-game special." Here's a preview of what you'll see.

The headline says it all: Obama Addresses Crowd in Downpour; McCain Cancels.

Michael Phelps paid $100,000 to swim laps at L.A. pool party?

Same-sex marriages begin next month in Connecticut: "Attorneys involved in the gay marriage case said Tuesday that couples can begin picking up marriage license applications sometime on or after Nov. 10. A judge at the New Haven Superior Court, where the case began in 2004, still must decide the precise date."

Barney Frank is John McCain's new target on the campaign trail. Frank: "I'm flattered by this. But I don't think I'm the single most important member of the House after Nancy Pelosi. There are also a lot of straight white men who are committee chairmen."

Early turnout: Some Georgia voters waiting 8 hours in line to cast ballots.

Governor Charlie Crist extends voting hours in Florida: "He just blew Florida for John McCain."

VOTE: Judge rules Ohio homeless voters may list park benches as addresses.

Tom Cruise, Cameron Diaz, Leonardo DiCaprio, Snoop Dogg, Harrison Ford, Julia Roberts, Ben Stiller, Will Smith, Steven Spielberg, Justin Timberlake, along with Sacha Baron Cohen as “Borat,” Zach Braff, Colin Farrell, Neil Patrick Harris and others spoof 'Don't Vote' PSA.

Elisabeth Hasselbeck wins among view ladies for most death threats received.

It really is a thin line, between love and hate.

USA Network de-gays cheerleader movie Bring it On: "Not only did they remove the coming-out scene where he says he speaks fag "fluently," but also the bit at the end where he meets another cute guy backstage at the nationals. However, USA saw fit to leave the homophobic slurs (Eliza Dushku being called a dyke, one straight jock calling another a fag) intact."

What will they think of next: Melrose Place to return.

Gay bar to reopen in Lincolnshire, UK: "Lincoln's only gay bar is to reopen this week – following the disappearance of the previous landlords. Christopher's bar in Newland closed its doors in mysterious circumstances when the two licensees left earlier this month. But a new manager has now been found. Andrew Dickinson will open the bar at 8pm on Friday with a Hallowe'en event."

SLDN hits out at military's continued use of 'stop-loss' policy: "The continued use of stop loss illustrates how the discharge of over 12,500 qualified service members under 'Don't Ask, Don't Tell' has greatly strained military readiness at a time when our armed forces are already stretched far too thin around the globe. 'Don't Ask, Don't Tell' undermines the military's ability to attract qualified personnel of all backgrounds in order to keep pace with increasing deployment needs."

Cast announced for West Side Story Broadway revival: "Heading the cast will be Matt Cavenaugh (A Catered Affair, Grey Gardens) as Tony, Karen Olivo (In the Heights) as Anita, Cody Green (Movin' Out) as Riff and George Akram ("Stuck on You") as Bernardo. Twenty-one-year-old Argentinean actress Josefina Scaglione, who created the role of Amber Von Tussle in the Argentinean production of Hairspray, will make her Broadway debut as Maria."

Sphere: Related Content

Right-Wing Group's Secret Meet Against 'DADT' Busted by PFLAG

You may remember Elaine Donnelly. She's pictured here testifying at the July congressional hearings on 'Don't Ask, Don't Tell'. She's seated next to Eric Alva, the first Marine to be wounded in Iraq, who came out of the closet in February 2007.

Donnelly heads up the right wing group 'The Center for Military Readiness' and called upon Veterans Service Organizations to attend a "a private, off-the-record briefing" in Washington D.C. on Thursday intended to strategize on how to prevent the repeal fo "Don't Ask, Don't Tell" from going forward.

PFLAG obtained the letter sent to the VSOs which reads, in part: "Given your organization's long-standing commitment to military readiness and the high standards and sound policy that promotes it, I hope I can count on you in joining CMR to defend the law regarding homosexual conduct in the military. We need to talk about what can be done, and why, face to face...Due to this issue's urgency, this invitation is not transferrable to casual observers, interns or other non-executive support staff. This PowerPoint briefing, which includes short video excerpts of the July 23 House Armed Services Committee hearing on gays in the military, will cover everything you need to know to provide the type of principled, engaged leadership that only you can give. I would welcome new ideas and commitment that could turn the situation around."

According to PFLAG's Steve Ralls, "The briefing, featuring CMR executive director Tommy Sears, will be held at the organization's Washington conference room, at 1615 L Street, N.W., Suite 650, on October 2nd from noon until 2:30pm."

Wrote Ralls iin the Huffington Post: "Thursday's briefing in Washington is a last-minute, last-ditch effort by Donnelly to try and curry some small measure of influence on Capitol Hill. To do so, she is likely to give VSO leaders misinformation, as she has done with the press and the public, in order to mislead them on the issue and attempt to win them over to her side. As polls of military personnel show that young service members and veterans are overwhelmingly comfortable and ready to serve with gay colleagues, she is attempting to reach out to the older, more conservative VSO membership to try and rally support for her cause."

Watch veteran and Rep. Patrick Murphy read Donnelly at the hearings in July, AFTER THE JUMP...

PFLAG Exclusive: Right-Wing Activists Plan Private D.C. Briefing on Gays in the Military [pflag]
Right-Wing Activists Plan Private D.C. Briefing on Gays in the Military [steve ralls - huffington post]

previously
Congress Holds Hearings on 'Don't Ask, Don't Tell' [tr]

Sphere: Related Content

Obama Clarifies Process for Repeal of 'Don't Ask, Don't Tell'

In a snippet of an interview to be published in the Philadelphia Gay News today, Barack Obama suggests he would proceed with caution in the repeal of the military's failed 'Don't Ask, Don't Tell' policy:

"I want to make sure that when we revert 'don't ask, don't tell,' it's gone through a process and we've built a consensus or at least a clarity of what my expectations are so that it works. My first obligation as the president is to make sure that I keep the American people safe and that our military is functioning effectively...Although I have consistently said I would repeal 'don't ask, don't tell,' I believe that the way to do it is make sure that we are working through a process, getting the Joint Chiefs of Staff clear in terms of what our priorities are going to be."

I'll be interested in seeing the rest of the interview. UPDATE: Here it is.

You may have missed...
Army to Pay Six-Figure Retention Bonus to (Straight) Linguists [tr]
Congress Holds Hearings on 'Don't Ask, Don't Tell' [tr]

Sphere: Related Content

Congressman Barney Frank Talks to Towleroad at the DNC

Yesterday we met with Congressman Barney Frank in the halls of the Pepsi Center at the Democratic Naitonal Convention in Denver. Frank spoke to Towleroad's Corey Johnson about gays voting Republican, 'Don't Ask, Don't Tell', and the Employment Non-Discrimination Act. Here's part of what Frank had to say about that:

"If we pick up 15 or 20 Democrats, most of them will be supportive. But I am disappointed in the transgender community. They seem to think that if Nancy Pelosi and myself, George Miller and a few others waved a magic wand we could deliver it. Look, this past year in the legislatures of Maryland, Massachusetts, and New York, efforts to add transgender protections...were defeated. And I testified for it in Massachusetts and lobbied for it. And as a political problem out there, I wish there weren't, but pretending that something doesn't exist is never a good way to deal with it. I am afraid that too many people in the transgender community think that talking to me and Nancy Pelosi is the way to do it. I don't yet see enough grassroots lobbying on their part.

"I do think that the hearing that we had — and by the way, we had a hearing in the House over the objections of many of the transgender leadership. But I really doubt their political wisdom...Because they said it was part of our deal to separate it from ENDA and they wanted to not have anything separate. We did a good job in that hearing and we helped persuade some people. So we're making progress. We'd make even more progress if the transgender community was willing to do the hard political work. And not, frankly, think they can just talk a few leaders into handing this to them."

Previously
Congresswoman Tammy Baldwin talks to Towleroad at the DNC [tr]
A Partisan Message from DNC Treasurer Andrew Tobias [tr]
EXCLUSIVE: Interview with Jared Polis, Democratic Congressional Candidate from Colorado [tr]
Notes from The Democratic National Convention [tr]
Inside the Pepsi Center [tr]
Towleroad Guide to the Tube #345 DNC Highlights Monday Night [tr]
Breaking: Four Arrested in Obama Assassination Plot [tr]

Sphere: Related Content

Congresswoman Tammy Baldwin talks to Towleroad at the DNC

Today, Towleroad's Corey Johnson spoke with Wisconsin Congresswoman Tammy Baldwin at the Democratic National Convention in Denver. Baldwin talked with us about her position on the platform committee and why this Convention's platform is historic as it relates to LGBT citizens.

Says Baldwin: "We have seen in the past three platforms — the year 2000, 2004, and 2008 — a steady and bold progression to really embrace all the issues of equality that we've identified. So this platform calls for the first time ever for a comprehensive strategy to fight AIDS and HIV in the United States. It calls for the first time ever of fighting discrimination against people on the basis of many characteristics including for the first time gender identity. I think this is very powerfully important as we try to pass inclusive legislation. It speaks to the importance of our families, and our families (i.e. same-sex couples) receiving equal benefits obligations, and responsibilities as we try to protect our families. And putting our same-sex couples on the same and equal footing with all American families. It calls for the repeal of 'Don't Ask, Don't Tell' and replacement  with a policy that allows all qualified servicemen and women to serve openly regardless of their sexual orientation. It opposes DOMA and calls specifically for an end to using the issue of our families as a wedge issue to divide Americans...As you hear me list those, it is unprecedented compared to prior platforms with its specificity. Not just general equality language but getting down to the specifics of what legislation we must pass. It calls for passage of a comprehensive ENDA. It is a remarkable document. We should feel very proud of it as Democrats and also because it reflects the vision and the values of our nominee."

Much more in the interview on ENDA, her support of Clinton during the primary, and what's ahead for the next four years.

Sphere: Related Content

Army to Pay Six-Figure Retention Bonus to (Straight) Linguists

Between 1998 and 2003, the GAO found that more than 60 gay linguists were discharged from the Army under 'Don't Ask, Don't Tell'.

Now, the Army finds itself in urgent need of linguists so it is planning to offer a six-figure bonus to retain them:

Writes Steve Ralls in the Huff Post: "This morning's Christian Science Monitor reports that the Army is preparing to offer a staggering $150,000 retention bonus to service members who are proficient in Arabic, "in reflection of how critical it has become for the US military to retain native language and cultural know-how in its ranks." Indeed, as the war in Iraq goes on, and the military subsequently finds fewer and fewer people anxious for extended stays in the desert, retaining trained troops is becoming a critical centerpiece of many commanders' strategies. The supply of Arabic speakers just isn't keeping up with the demand created by ongoing wars in Iraq and Afghanistan."

I've reposted Brave New Films powerful clip about Don't Ask, Don't Tell and the discharge of gay linguists, AFTER THE JUMP...

Previously
More Gay Linguists Discharged Under 'Don't Ask, Don't Tell' [tr]
Outed by Email: An Army Sergeant's Digital Discharge [tr]

Sphere: Related Content

Congress Holds Hearings on 'Don't Ask, Don't Tell'

Reports are filtering out about today's hearings before the House Armed Services subcommittee on Military Personnel on the military's "Don't Ask, Don't Tell" policy.

Three former servicemembers testified for the Democrats — Marine Corps Staff Sgt. Eric Alva, retired naval intelligence officer Capt. Joan Darrah, and retired Army Maj. Gen. Vance Coleman. Coleman is straight, Alva and Darrah gay. Elaine Donnelly, president of the Center for Military Readiness, one of two witnesses brought by the Republicans (the other was retired Army Sgt. Maj. Brian Jones) seemed to cause the greatest stir. Below, a clip of Donnelly being questioned by Rep. Patrick Murphy. Donnelly was grilled, chastised, and lambasted, according to The Hill.

Clips of testimony from Subcommittee Chairwoman Susan Davis, Alva, and Darrah,
AFTER THE JUMP...

The Washington Blade reports: "Rep. Patrick Murphy (D-Penn.), a former Army private, said he was “insulted” that Donnelly did not believe that service members were 'less professional' than other workers and could not handle gays among their ranks. He disputed the notion that letting gays serve openly would encourage sexual misconduct in the military. 'We're talking about orientation and not misconduct here,' he said...Donnelly recommended that recruiters ask enlistees about their sexual orientation when they enter service so that they can be removed if they are gay. Donnelly maintained that nothing in the law prevents recruiters from asking questions about sexual orientation. Donnelly said straight service members would be exposed to harassment if gay service members were allowed to serve openly. She frequently cited a 1974 incident in a letter she says she received from Cynthia Yost, a former Army medical corpsman. Yost said a group of black lesbians sexually assaulted her, but she didn't report the incident to keep her record clean."

Chris Johnson at the Human Rights Campaign who liveblogged the event, describes the scene during Donnelly's testimony:

"Elaine Donnelly, president of the Center for Military Readiness is speaking. There is an audible burst of laughter when Donnelly throws in a 'San Francisco left' phrase just for dramatic effect. Another guffaw from the crowd when Donnelly expresses her concern over gay men sharing a 'cramped submarine' with other soldiers....There is on older lady in the room who just turned around to the room brimming with youngsters and issued the warning, 'Show respect while she speaks!' The room keeps laughing at Donnelly's outrageous statements. The older woman is obviously losing this fight. 'They're just disrespectful people!' she hisses."

Incidentally, some are questioning Donnelly's qualifications to testify. That's a shocker.

Eric Alva wrote a piece for the Huffington Post in conjunction with his testimony.

And in related news, Idaho Senator Larry Craig told CNS News that he supported the policy: "Current policy has served us well. I think we ought to sustain it. I see no evidence that it should be repealed." And why wouldn't he? It's worked perfectly well for Craig and his wife.

Clips of testimony from Subcommittee Chairwoman Susan Davis, Alva, and Darrah,
AFTER THE JUMP...

Opening remarks from Subcommittee Chairwoman Susan Davis

Retired Naval intelligence officer Captain Joan E. Darrah and wounded Iraq war veteran Staff Sergeant Eric Alva, USMC.

Sphere: Related Content

News: Christian Bale, Prostate Cancer, Elton John, Iran, Serotonin

Congressional hearings on "Don't Ask, Don't Tell" to be held tomorrow.

Christian Bale arrested on assault charges brought by his mother and sister.

A push or a brush: Bale charges trumped up?

BBC Radio1 DJ Kevin Greening, who died last December during a gay bondage session, left £515,575 to his 'life partner' Andrew Lowe and nothing to his mother: "Greening's will instructed that his mother Mary would only receive a payout if she had outlived Mr Lowe at the time of the DJ's death. Even then she would only be entitled to half the money, with the rest going to AIDS charity the Terrence Higgins Trust."

Archbishop of Canterbury Rowan Williams says he's "committed" to Anglican church's stand against living in sin and gay sex: "I do not believe that sex outside marriage is as God purposes it."

Study: Serotonin affects spirituality. "A team of Swedish researchers has found that the presence of a receptor that regulates general serotonin activity in the brain correlates with people's capacity for transcendence, the ability to apprehend phenomena that cannot be explained objectively. Scientists have long suspected that serotonin influences spirituality because drugs known to alter serotonin such as LSD also induce mystical experiences. But now they have proof from brain scans linking the capacity for spirituality with a major biological element."

New prostate cancer drug called most significant advance in the field in 70 years: "Abiraterone could potentially treat up to 80% of patients with a deadly form of the disease resistant to currently available chemotherapy, they say. The drug works by blocking the hormones which fuel the cancer. The Institute of Cancer Research hopes a simple pill form will be available in two to three years."

YouTube Superstar Tricia Walsh-Smith loses battle for husband's cash. Judge slams YouTube antics.

Hello Yellow Brickle Road: Elton John finally plays the Green Mountain state. "The show — a celebratory culmination of a U.S. road trip that began in California in 1970 — was a musical milestone for the 61-year-old singer: With Monday’s Vermont concert, John has performed in all 50 states. 'I’m thrilled,' he said before the show, graciously accepting Vermont-made gifts. 'I love America. It’s taken me 39 years to get to Vermont and it’s worth it. It’s a glorious night out there. I’m very, very lucky.'"

Bet you can't guess whose legs these are.

British activist Peter Tatchell, who was the international grand marshall at last weekend's San Diego Gay Pride and participated in the protest of that city's Manchester Grand Hyatt, criticized U.S. foreign aid to countries with poor human rights records in a speech at the San Diego Pride Human Rights Vigil: "We must urge the US State Department to make foreign aid and trade conditional on the recipient countries agreeing to respect human rights, including the human rights of LGBT people. Tyrannies should not be rewarded: No US aid for anti-gay regimes."

Patrick Swayze on cancer progress: "I'm a miracle, dude. I don't know why."

Human Rights Watch demands release of two HIV/AIDS doctors being held by Iranian authorities: "Human Rights Watch says the authorities have not disclosed why Arash Alaei and Kamyar Alaei were detained last month, or where they are being held. The two brothers have travelled widely outside Iran, including to the US, to take part in conferences on HIV/Aids. They were due to take part in a major meeting in Mexico next month. Arash Alaei was scheduled to give a presentation on some of Iran's innovative HIV programmes, Human Rights Watch says. The brothers are credited with getting the Iranian authorities to tackle the stigma of HIV infection and the disease Aids, in a country where sex, drug abuse and the disease itself are taboo subjects."

Sphere: Related Content

POLL: 75% of Americans Approve of Gays Serving in Military

With Congressional hearings on "Don't Ask, Don't Tell" set to begin this coming Wednesday, a new poll reveals Americans approve in greater numbers than ever before of gays and lesbians serving openly in the military. The number is up from 62% in early 2001 and 44% in 1993, according to a new Washington Post-ABC News poll:

"Shortly after he took office in 1993, Clinton faced strong resistance to his campaign pledge to lift the military's ban on allowing gay people to enlist. At that time, 67 percent of Republicans and 75 percent of conservatives opposed the idea. A majority of independents, 56 percent, and 45 percent of Democrats also opposed changing the policy. Today, Americans have become more supportive of allowing openly gay men and women to serve in the armed forces. Support from Republicans has doubled over the past 15 years, from 32 to 64 percent. More than eight in 10 Democrats and more than three-quarters of independents now support the idea, as did nearly two-thirds of self-described conservatives."

Openness about sexuality makes a big difference for veterans:

"While 71 percent of veterans said gay people who do not declare themselves as such should be allowed to serve, that number drops sharply, to 50 percent, for those who are open about their sexuality. Non-veterans, by contrast, are as likely to support those who 'tell' as those who do not."

And the religious vote:

"Fifty-seven percent of white evangelical Protestants now support allowing openly gay service members in the military, compared with 82 percent of white Catholics and 80 percent of those with no declared religious affiliation. Three-quarters of both married and single people support the idea, both significantly higher than in 1993."

Recently
Study Says Gays Unlikely to Undermine Military's Ability to Fight, Win [tr]
"Don't Ask, Don't Tell" Sexist As Well As Homophobic [tr]
'60 Minutes' Sergeant Darren Manzella Discharged Under 'DADT' [tr]

Sphere: Related Content

Study Says Gays Unlikely to Undermine Military's Ability to Fight, Win

A study by the Palm Center at UC Santa Barbara has concluded that gays serving openly in the military are unlikely to undermine its effectiveness:

"The study was conducted by four retired military officers, including the three-star Air Force lieutenant general who in early 1993 was tasked with implementing President Clinton's policy that the military stop questioning recruits on their sexual orientation. 'Evidence shows that allowing gays and lesbians to serve openly is unlikely to pose any significant risk to morale, good order, discipline or cohesion,' the officers states."

The study was conducted by a bipartisan panel — "Army Lt. Gen. Robert Gard, who supports Barack Obama, and Marine Corps Gen. Hugh Aitken, who backed Clinton in 1996" as well as "Air Force Lt. Gen. Robert Minter Alexander, a Republican," and "Navy Vice Adm. Jack Shanahan...a self-described Republican who opposes the Bush administration's handling of the Iraq war."

According to the AP's report, "Shanahan said he was struck by the loss of personal integrity required by individuals to carry out 'don't ask, don't tell." He said: "Everyone was living a big lie — the homosexuals were trying to hide their sexual orientation and the commanders were looking the other way because they didn't want to disrupt operations by trying to enforce the law."

Recently
"Don't Ask, Don't Tell" Sexist As Well As Homophobic [tr]
'60 Minutes' Sergeant Darren Manzella Discharged Under 'DADT' [tr]
San Francisco Street Artist Pleasures Tourists [tr]
SF Castro Residence of Gay Vet Leonard Matlovich to be Recognized [tr]

Sphere: Related Content

"Don't Ask, Don't Tell" Sexist As Well As Homophobic

The Houston Chronicle points out that Pentagon statistics show 46% of those expelled from the Army and 49% expelled from the Air Force under "Don'€™t Ask, Don't Tell" in 2007 were women—even though only 14% of the Army and 20% of the Air Force is female, respectively:

"The military did not volunteer these data. They were compiled under a Freedom of Information Act request by the Servicemembers Legal Defense Network, a military advocacy group. The Pentagon had no explanation for the sharp disparity, nor did it seem inclined to pursue the matter. 'At this time,' Pentagon spokesperson Elaine Lainez e-mailed the Chronicle, 'there is no plan to investigate the discharges.'"

Sphere: Related Content

'60 Minutes' Sergeant Darren Manzella Discharged Under 'DADT'

Army Sergeant Darren Manzella, whose story was the subject of a 60 Minutes piece back in December, has been discharged under the military's "Don't Ask, Don't Tell" policy, the Servicemember's Legal Defense Fund reports:

"The Iraq war veteran was the first openly gay active duty service member to speak with the media while serving inside a war zone....Manzella, 30, enlisted in the U.S. Army in 2002 and was twice deployed to the Middle East in support of Operation Iraqi Freedom. While under fire on the streets of Baghdad, he provided medical care to his fellow soldiers, Iraqi National Guardsmen and civilians. He was awarded the Combat Medical Badge, and also received several other awards recognizing his courage and service."

Watch the 60 Minutes segment, AFTER THE JUMP...

Related
60 Minutes Army Sergeant Manzella to Speak in D.C. [tr]
CWA Spokesman to Gay Troops Supporters: "Put a Cork in It" [tr]
Army Sergeant Darren Manzella Speaks Out After Interview [tr]
Duncan Hunter Defends Gay Ban: U.S. Needs "Hardened Warriors" [tr]
60 Minutes to Cover "Don't Ask, Don't Tell" Wartime Policy [tr]

Sphere: Related Content

Towleroad Guide to the Tube #316

NORTH KOREA: George W. Bush announces he'll be lifting sanctions on North Korea and may soon be removing them from the "Axis of Evil".

GAMES BEING PLAYED: Rep. John Conyers (D-MI) questioned Fmr. Deputy Asst. Attorney General Office of Legal Counsel John Yoo on detainee interrogation today at hearings.

GAY COWBOYS: 'Brokeback meets Broadway' on this week's America's Got Talent.

JASON KNIGHT: Gay soldier ejected under "Don't Ask, Don't Tell" submitted this question for Nancy Pelosi in advance of her appearance tonight on CNN's The Situation Room.

Check out our previous guides to the Tube here.

Sphere: Related Content

San Francisco Street Artist Pleasures Tourists

Some clever street artist took liberties with an ad for the USS Pampanito Submarine at Fisherman's Wharf in San Francisco. It certainly seems like a far more exciting tourist destination now.

Gawker lauds it as best in class in the recent trend in "remixing" advertisements, noting, "This is the kind of creative work you can only get when your city leads the country in both gay liberation and designers per capita."

(flickr user joestump)

Sphere: Related Content

Russian Soldier Thinks You Want a Piece of Him

This Russian soldier's performance (well, who knows if he's even Russian or a soldier) appeared on LiveLeak yesterday. It's quite something.

Watch it, AFTER THE JUMP (warning NSFW)...

Sphere: Related Content

SF Castro Residence of Gay Vet Leonard Matlovich to be Recognized

Leonard Matlovich, a Vietnam war vet and gay rights pioneer who took up residence in San Francisco's Castro District in the late 70's and appeared on the cover of TIME magazine in September 1975 under the headline "I am a Homosexual", will get a plaque in the Castro on his former residence (at 18th and Castro) thanks to friends, who include frequent Towleroad commenter Michael Bedwell.

Bedwell told the Bay Area Reporter: "I wanted to memorialize him both to pay respect to him and to make newer generations aware of him. Mainstream society has countless examples of these which mark the people who came before, that inspire people, and reinforce people's identity themselves."

The TIME story concerned Matlovich's fight against the ban on gays in the military. According to the BAR: "He had told his commanding officers he was a homosexual but wanted to remain in the service. The Air Force kicked him out, and Matlovich sued the secretary of the Air Force. Matlovich settled out of court and received $160,000. The lawsuit did prompt the military after 1981 to switch from giving gay service members dishonorable discharges to honorable discharges."

Many of you may have seen Matlovich's striking headstone, which sits in the Congressional Cemetery in Washington, DC and reads, "When I was in the military, they gave me a medal for killing two men and a discharge for loving one."

Said SF Supervisor and supporter Bevan Dufty: "I thought he was impressive. I was like 21 years old and this guy was amazing. He was out and proudly gay. Most gay men were closeted. It was kind of amazing somebody who had this military experience and all these military decorations for courage and service and bravery and he was an openly gay man."

Matlovich was an activist, a member of the Log Cabin Republicans, and died of AIDS in 1988. HE was 44. Bedwell, who spearheaded the campaign for the plaque, hopes to unveil it in the fall.

Friends plan plaque for gay Castro vet [bay area reporter]

Sphere: Related Content

News: Mitt Romney, Tivo, Judy Garland, Clay Aiken, Pete Doherty

As California gears up for a gay wedding boom, nine gay rights groups issue statement urging those who get married in California not to rush back to their states and sue: "In an unusual six-page memorandum, written for same-sex couples, groups ranging from the American Civil Liberties Union to Lambda Legal warned that lawsuits would invite 'bad' court rulings that could take years to overturn." Two California countries have announced they'll halt all weddings, saying they lack resources.

Crucified by the media: rocker Pete Doherty undergoes plaster cast for marble statue of himself as Jesus Christ.

Obama meets with Christian leaders...

Jonathan Capehart warns of an Obama-Nunn ticket: "When Bill Clinton sought to keep his 1992 campaign promise to end the ban on gays and lesbians serving openly in the military, he met strong resistance in the Pentagon and on Capitol Hill. Nunn, one of the most adamant opponents, led a series of hearings that were stacked against ending the prohibition. Critics noted that Nunn held more hearings about and spent more time on gays in the military than he had on the defense budget or even the Navy's Tailhook sexual harassment scandal ... an Obama-Nunn ticket does not sit well with some prominent gay Democratic fundraisers."

Clay Aiken is not just having a son, but he has another baby in the freezer.

John Aravosis at AmericaBlog got some intense shots of the storm that passed through the east coast yesterday.

Judy Garland to sing on stage again: "Cutting-edge technology unavailable just a few years ago has enabled NY-based production company Running Subway to present Judy's larger-than-life passion and personal story to 21st century audiences in what can only be described as the greatest Judy Garland concert ever."

Fishnets: Experts conclude that the Oscar de la Hoya drag photos were indeed doctored.

Dolores Neuman, photographer whose camerawork was central to Rob Epstein's 1984 documentary The Times of Harvey Milk, dies in Washington D.C. of kidney cancer.

Justin Timberlake on Love Guru wardrobe: "This may be TMI but I was constantly digging out those wedgies!"

Canadian gay couple Theo Wouters and Roger Thibault settles $400,000 defamation lawsuit brought by neighbors out of court.

Chace Crawford reads a few juicy scripts in London.

Mitt Romney purchases $12 million home in La Jolla, California.

Democrats don't touch 'Don't Ask, Don't Tell': "Since taking control of Congress in January 2007, Democrats have not convened hearings on the matter or taken up legislation that would let gays serve openly, although most party members favor repealing the prohibition. Instead, Democrats have focused their efforts on bringing troops home from Iraq and other issues that have broad appeal among voters, such as lowering gas prices."

Tivo pulls web page which acknowledged their relationship with Focus on the Family.

Sphere: Related Content

News: Brody Jenner, Dolphins, Michael Cashman, DADT, Madonna

British MEP and former EastEnders actor Michael Cashman under fire for giving his boyfriend £30,000 secretary job.

Wet Willie: Prince of Wales gets royal dunking.

REPORT: Madonna hires Paul McCartney's lawyer for divorce from Guy Ritchie.

Canadian pastor censored and fined for anti-gay letters: "A former pastor will appeal a human rights ruling that orders an apology and the payment of thousands of dollars in fines for an anti-gay letter published in a central Alberta newspaper. The Alberta Human Rights Commission issued a written order on May 30 stating that Stephen Boissoin and the Concerned Christian Coalition must pay former Red Deer school teacher Darren Lund $5,000 in damages."

Mass dolphin death on Madagascar beach.

The story of the first Mrs. John McCain isn't pretty: "My marriage ended because John McCain didn’t want to be 40, he wanted to be 25. You know that happens…it just does."

Kyle Hausman was locked in a Williamsburg, Brooklyn bar all night long. Here's his story, and here's the pre-story: "The hours melted away. Four a.m. approached, closing time, so Ms. Misagal tallied the night’s receipts as a worker cleaned up. Mr. Hausmann was milling about with the last stragglers. Then, around 4:30, he went into a bathroom. And for reasons that are unclear even to him, he stayed in there for quite a while."

Same-sex relationships more egalitarian: "When I look at what’s happening in California, I think there’s a lot to be learned to explore how human beings relate to one another. How people care for each other, how they share responsibility, power and authority — those are the key issues in relationships."

FAA says UFOs seen recently over San Jose recently were probably satellites reflecting the sun: "The appearance of at least two fast-moving shining objects in the weekend daytime sky over San Jose has local residents wondering if they were UFOs. Bob Lochridge, a local resident who recorded the objects, said they streaked across the skies. 'They appeared to be triangular pieces of metal,' he said. 'They were up very, very high. I couldn't see them without the camera.'"

Brody Jenner looking for a "bromance" in new reality series that will feature hot tub eliminations. That's his real "bro" by the way.

The Bachelorette: here's the only thing worth watching it for.

Federal appeals court upholds dismissal of "Don't Ask, Don't Tell" lawsuit: "A federal appeals court has upheld a lower court’s dismissal of a lawsuit filed by 12 gay and lesbian veterans who had challenged the military’s 'don’t ask, don’t tell' policy. The plaintiffs had all been discharged under the policy, instituted by Congress. 1st U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals Judge Jeffrey Howard said in the decision issued Monday that while some people may question the wisdom of the policy, the court had to defer to congressional decision making."

Amy Winehouse's racist song and subsequent apology - video.

Sphere: Related Content

News: Gina Gershon, Tel Aviv, Sam Nunn, MTV, Scott McClellan

Missouri joins 10 other states in push to halt California's same-sex marriage law from going forward: "The other states filed a brief Friday asking the court to postpone action pending the results of a November ballot question in which California voters could overrule the decision. The ballot question was certified in California on Monday, prompting Nixon’s action. 'Regardless of how California decides to proceed, Missouri does not recognize same-sex marriages performed in California or any other state,' Nixon spokesman Scott Holste said Tuesday." UPDATE: Court gives green light to marriage.

John Mayer's hot rod.

Openly gay candidates win state legislature seats in California and Montana.

New York State Assembly passes bill banning transgender discrimination: "...the N