News: Tori Spelling: Lambda Literary Awards, Fred Hochberg, PSB

Lambda Literary Awards handed out in New York.

Quincy, Massachusetts Church of the Presidents has its rainbow flag stolen for the fourth time in nine months: "The flag was stolen last August, and again last September. Two months later it was burned, and this week it was stolen yet again. It’s a symbol of the congregation’s support for equal rights for [GLBT] persons."

Candy Spelling: Tori Spelling killed my husband.

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St. Petersburg, Florida vetoes unmessaged rainbow flag: "They say the flag does not meet St. Petersburg's street banner policy, which states all banners must carry a written message."

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New Yorkers plan weekend rally to pressure state senator George Onorato, who continues to refuse to meet with his constitutents on same-sex marriage.

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British soap EastEnders to feature gay Muslim storyline.

Gay Times: Cristiano Ronaldo is the sexiest man alive.

Pennsylvania court rules in favor of an accountant whose license was revoked following a hate crime conviction: "The panel, in a 2-1 ruling, ordered the board to impose a lessor punishment on Kevin Allen Ake, who was convicted of a felony in Chicago for leaving messages on the answering machine of a lesbian he believed had him kicked out of the YMCA for trying to start a Bible program."

Fred Hochberg sworn in as 23rd president of the Export-Import Bank of the United States.

Porn actors Damien Crosse and Francesco D'Macho get married.

Senator David Vitter does not support the Uniting American Families Act.

Once Upon a Time: A significant Keith Haring mural turned 20 this week.

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Harrah's Casino hopes you don't boycott Nevada because of its Domestic Partner bill-vetoing governor.

Schwarzenegger parole board appointee rejected for anti-gay comments: "Douglas Drummond, a former Long Beach City Council member, had been censured by the council for voicing support of Fidel Castro's sequestering of gays in Cuba, applauding the fact that same-sex couples don't reproduce and saying about gay political activity: 'How do we deal with it short of killing them?'"

Fred Hochberg to be Named Chair of Export-Import Bank

Groups have been pushing for Fred Hochberg to be named Secretary of Commerce, but the Victory Fund has learned that Obama will name Hochberg Chair of the U.S. Export-Import Bank:

"[The bank] serves as the country’s official export credit agency, helping to finance the export of U.S. goods and services to international markets. Hochberg will be the bank’s first-ever openly gay chair. The LGBT community’s Presidential Appointments Project has been working with the Obama-Biden Transition Team to identify qualified openly LGBT Americans who are willing to serve their country as presidential appointees. Hochberg, who was appointed to head the Small Business Administration by President Bill Clinton, has been mentioned for several high-level positions in the Obama administration."

Said Chuck Wolfe, president and CEO of the Victory Fund: "This is very good news. Fred Hochberg’s talent and business acumen will serve U.S. companies well. But he will also set an important example as an openly gay person in a top leadership position in the business community."

Obama to name Hochberg chair of Export-Import Bank [gay politics]