Research Shows 4.5% Of Americans Identify As LGBT But...?

Back in 1977, when the U.S. National Gay Task Force was invited to meet with President Jimmy Carter’s representatives at the White House, founder/scientist/director Bruce Voeller of the NGTF declared that 10 percent of the population is gay, lesbian, bisexual or transgender.

Voeller based his estimate on the work of noted ‘sexologist’ Alfred Kinsey in the 1940s and 1950s.

But now, the Williams Institute at the UCLA School of Law has done a deep dive into statistics previously released by the Gallup Daily Tracking poll and found that an estimated 4.5 percent of Americans identify as LGBT.

Estimating there are approximately 11.3 million adult LGBTs living in the U.S., the data shows that the highest concentration of LGBT people - 9.8% - live in Washington, D.C.

(image via Williams Institute)

The rest of the top ten states (Oregon, Nevada, Massachusetts, California, Washington, Vermont, New York, Maine and New Hampshire) range from 5.6 percent to 4.9 percent in concentration.

North Dakota appears to have the smallest percentage of LGBTs with only 2.7 percent.

In terms of socioeconomic indicators, the respondents who identified as LGBT say they are:

• Slightly more likely to be unemployed (9% versus 5% non-LGBT)
• Slightly more likely to be uninsured (15% versus 12% non-LGBT)
• Admit to being ‘food insecure’ more than non-LGBT (27% versus 15%)
• More likely to have household income below $240,000 (25% versus 18% non-LGBT)

Fifty-eight percent of the LGBT respondents were female, while 42 percent were male.

Fifty-six percent of self-identified LGBTS were under the age of 35, while only 23 percent were 50 or older.

Kerith Conron, research director at the Williams Institute told Reuters, “Younger people are more likely to actually live as LGBT and to identify that way because they are growing up in a time when it’s more acceptable to acknowledge those feelings and to act on them.”

Addressing the overall lower percentage of LGBTs than previously assumed, Conron added a caveat:

“In surveys that are more anonymous and private, closer to 10 percent of respondents say they have some level of same-sex attraction even if they stop short of identifying themselves as gay, lesbian or bisexual.”

To find out more info regarding your state, click over to the Williams Institute’s website here where you can find an interactive map showing population percentages, percentage of LGBT parents and more.

Nielsen Begins Tracking Same-Sex Couples' TV Habits

The cast of 'Murphy Brown'

For the first time ever, TV data tracking service Nielsen has begun to report the television viewing habits of LGBTQ Americans.

Working in conjunction with GLAAD, Nielsen is now measuring the viewing habits of households with same-sex couples, whether they are spouses or unmarried partners.

The first results show that what we watch varies a bit from the general television viewing audience.

For instance, the top four shows for all viewers for the week ending September 30, 2018, were:

1. Manifest (NBC)
2. The Big Bang Theory CBS)
3. NCIS (CBS)
4. This Is Us (NBC)

But, for same-sex households, the top four shows were:

1. Murphy Brown (CBS)
2. Manifest NBC)
3. American Horror Story (FX)
4. This Is Us (NBC)

S0, there’s some crossover in the Top 4s with Manifest and This Is Us, but things diverge from there.

The cast of 'Manifest'

When it comes to the Top 20 shows preferred by same-sex households, eight shows don't appear at all in the general viewers' Top 20: Murphy Brown, American Horror Story, Modern Family, Mom, 9-1-1, Rachel Maddow Show, Grey’s Anatomy, Empire and Law & Order: SVU.

It’s easy to see why many of those are of interest to the LGBTQ community. Modern Family, American Horror Story, Empire and 9-1-1 all have gay leading characters. And Rachel Maddow is openly lesbian.

Conversely, some of the most popular shows on television like Blue Bloods, Bulland NCISdon’t show up in our Top 20.

According to USA Today, the new data collection is only including households with same-sex couples, not individuals, out of sensitivity to “privacy concerns.” Nielsen hopes to incorporate individuals eventually.

Sarah Kate Ellis, GLAAD's president and CEO, said in a statement, “We are at the highest levels ever reported for LGBTQ inclusion on television, and it's important that we know American audiences are connecting with these characters and shows.”

“We appreciate Nielsen’s commitment to ensuring that LGBTQ people wherever they live and consume television are being counted, and that those numbers are being reported,” she added. “GLAAD is proud to work alongside them as they continue to expand and enhance their capabilities."

Here are the Top 20 television shows watched by households with same-sex couples for the week ending September 30, 2018 (via USA Today):

1. Murphy Brown (CBS)
2. Manifest (NBC)
3. American Horror Story (FX)
4. This Is Us (NBC)
5. The Big Bang Theory (CBS)
6. The Good Doctor (ABC)
7. Modern Family (ABC)
8. The Big Bang Theory (special) (CBS)
9. The Voice (NBC)
10. Young Sheldon (CBS)
11. Mom (CBS)
12. 9-1-1 (Fox)
13. 60 Minutes (CBS)
14. The Voice (Tues) (NBC)
15. Young Sheldon (special) (CBS)
16. Rachel Maddow Show (MSNBC)
17. Grey's Anatomy (ABC)
18. New Amsterdam (NBC)
19. Empire (Fox)
20. Law & Order: SVU (NBC)

What do you think, readers? Are your favorite shows in this Top 20?
(h/t USA Today)

Gallup: More Americans Identified As LGBT In 2017 Than Ever Before

According to Gallup's daily tracking poll in 2017 (based on over 340,000 interviews), the percentage of American adults identifying as lesbian, gay, bisexual or transgender (LGBT) rose to 4.5% in 2017, up from 4.1% in 2016 and 3.5% in 2012 when Gallup began tracking the measure.

The two biggest stats to note are: more people are identifying as LGBT than ever before, and the biggest surge in those who see themselves as LGBT are in the younger age demographics.

The biggest one year jump came in the millennials age group (born between 1980 and 1999) which showed an increase from 7.3% in 2016 to 8.2% in 2017. That's the largest one-year increase since Gallup began tracking the issue in 2012.

Gen Xers (born 1965 to 1979) bumped up a tad from 3.2% in 2016 to 3.5% in 2017.

There was no change for Baby Boomers (born between 1946-1964) who maintained a steady 1.4% identifying as LGBT.

And, yes, there is a gender gap. More women (5.1%) see themselves as LGBT compared with only 3.9% of men.

When it comes to race, Hispanics (6.1%) were more than a percentage point more likely to identify as LGBT than other ethnic groups - Black (5.0%), Asian (4.9%) and White (4.0%).

Since Gallup began tracking the issue in 2012, LGBT identification has been and is more common among those with lower incomes. The income gap was even larger in 2017 than it has been in previous years, with 6.2% of those making less than $36,000 a year in household income identifying as LGBT, compared with 3.9% of those making $90,000 or more.

LGBT demographic experts say younger people who are LGBT are feeling more and more comfortable over time with their sexual orientation, and thus are more likely to identify as such.

Canada Apologizes For Mistreatment Of LGBTs In The Past

Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau attends LGBT Pride

Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau will formally apologize in the House of Commons in Ottawa this afternoon for the Canadian gay purge of the 1950s.

The "purge" began in the mid-20th century amid fears that the Soviet Union would be able to blackmail LGBTs for their private lives. Homosexuality was illegal in Canada until 1969.

In addition to the official apology, the government will offer reparation of over $100 million to those who were affected during the time.

The Canadian government will also donate $250,000 to LGBT charities that spotlight anti-LGBT discrimination and homophobia.

Legislation will be introduced that will allow Canadians to apply for removal of criminal records for convictions in the past, and families of those deceased will be able to do so as well to clear their loved ones' names.

Canada is following the lead of several other major countries who have reflected on the poor treatment of LGBTs.

The United Kingdom has issued a formal apology to thousands of gay men convicted of anti-gay crimes in the mid-20th century, and Germany’s Parliament unanimously voted to pardon 50,000 men convicted of homosexuality in the past.

You can watch Trudeau in the House of Commons deliver the country's apology at 12:15PM PT here.

Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau Issues Formal Apology For Abuses Of LGBT Citizens.pic.twitter.com/75RyZ9Yx2M

— Greg Hogben (@MyDaughtersArmy) November 28, 2017

News Round-Up: July 11, 2017

Wayne Skivington (via Instagram)

Some news items you may have missed:

• Cirque du Soleil Zumanity performer & super-dad Wayne Skivington (above) gets his workout on with his adorable son.

• Vice President Pence is putting some space between himself and Donald Trump Jr.:"The Vice President was not aware of the meeting. He is not focused on stories about the campaign, particularly stories about the time before he joined the ticket."

• Nearly two-thirds of American LGBTs feel less safe under President Trump.

• A much-rumored reboot of the Showtime series The L Word is officially in the works.

• True Blood star Nelsan Ellis died of heart failure due to alcohol withdrawal complications, and his family wants folks to know in an effort to save others.

• You have to stop, drop and scroll down to watch this awesome father of a 14-year-old transgender boy, Ashur, in Texas.

Ken Ballard speaks movingly about his son who has attempted suicide twice while coming to terms with being transgender and the anxiety about telling his parents and being accepted. Fortunately, Ashur is now living his authentic self and his parents love him unconditionally.

“I would rather have my son be alive than bury my daughter," says Ken.

Biden To LGBT Community: Hold Trump Accountable On His Promise To Be Your Friend

Vice President Joe Biden

Speaking at a private LGBT gala hosted by the Democratic National Committee in New York, former Vice President Joe Biden urged the LGBT community to push back against the Trump administration.

“Hold President Trump accountable for his pledge to be your friend. Just because you don’t have Barack and me in the White House doesn’t mean it’s time to give up, keep quiet, stay on the sidelines.”

Biden to LGBT community: "Just because you don't have Barack and me in the WH doesn't mean it's time to give up." https://t.co/CYSadPMwyN

— Greg Hogben (@MyDaughtersArmy) June 22, 2017

Biden really got going, though, when he fiercely denounced that there is "no justification" for inhumane treatment of LGBTQ community in other nations. "None, none, none."

Biden: There is "no justification" for inhumane treatment of LGBTQ community in other nations. "None, none, none." https://t.co/0PDmK5LEbv

— Kyle Griffin (@kylegriffin1) June 22, 2017

New York Times Op-Ed Spotlights LGBT Trump Fallacy

The editorial board of the New York Times addresses the "L.G.B.T. Trump fallacy:"

It was a jarringly unorthodox moment even for Donald Trump. At a rally in Colorado last October, an audience member handed him a gay pride flag that bore a handwritten endorsement: “LGBTs for TRUMP.” The candidate smiled as he unfurled the flag, displaying it for a few seconds. A spokesman later said Mr. Trump was “proud to carry the ‘L.G.B.T. for Trump’ rainbow flag on stage,” since he was campaigning to be “president for all Americans.”

It didn’t take long for prominent gay Republicans to proclaim that the Republican Party had, at long last, turned a corner on gay rights under Mr. Trump. After he was elected, some gay rights activists held out hope that Ivanka Trump and Jared Kushner, the president’s daughter and son-in-law, would be staunch allies in the West Wing, considering that they had traveled in liberal circles in New York.

Yet, the nomination of several key officials, who have disparaged the L.G.B.T. community and sought to curtail the rights of its members, has exposed the narrative that Mr. Trump would be a champion of gay and transgender people as a fallacy. “It has been a catastrophe,” said Mara Keisling, the executive director of the National Center for Transgender Equality and a leading strategist behind a string of legal and policy victories the community achieved during the Obama administration. “Every twitch we’ve seen from the administration has been anti-L.G.B.T.”

From there, the op-ed lists just some of the ways Trump has actually u-turned on LGBT issues by the personnel decisions he's made like Attorney General Jeff Sessions reversing course on transgender protections; the shift from openly gay Army Secretary Eric Fanning to Trump's choice, Mark Green, who has called being transgender "a disease;" and new Health and Human Services Secretary Tom Price, who has been a vocal opponent of LGBT rights for years.

Definitely worth the read.

Matt Baume On How The Repeal Of Obamacare Would Affect LGBTs

From super-smart guy Matt Baume (via Huffington Post):

If the ACA is repealed, as Republicans are trying to do, not only would 32 million people lose health care, according to the Congressional Budget Office, but LGBTs would be disproportionately affected. And “disproportionately affected” is a phrase which here means “get sick and die.”

For example, HIV treatment can cost thousands of dollars per month. Insurance companies that don’t want to pay for that treatment could just refuse to cover all gay people on the basis that gay men are more likely to be HIV positive. Or they could raise monthly premiums just for gays. Or they could create a lifetime cap, so you pay into their system and then as soon as you need expensive treatment, they drop you. All this was legal until the ACA banned it.

Trump Scrubs White House Website Of Civil Rights, Climate Change & Healthcare Sections

Obama White House LGBT webpage

Within minutes of being sworn in as president, civil rights, climate change, and healthcare were all scrubbed from the White House website.

From Esquire:

As part of the presidential transition, Trump's team assumes control of WhiteHouse.gov. Before today, the "Issues" tab of the website had a section devoted to climate change, the existential threat posed to our species that a scientific consensus holds is caused by human activity. That section is completely gone with the website revamp, along with any mention of climate change whatsoever.

Trump's new climate change plan: Act like it's not there until it goes away!

Jackie Kucinich, Washington bureau chief for The Daily Beast noticed the disappearance of the civil rights section of the website:

Not to belabor the point ... but civil rights section of the WH website, also gone https://t.co/20zIOymMAQ

— Jackie Kucinich (@JFKucinich) January 20, 2017

Here's what you get if you search for "LGBT" on the new site:

Trump White House LGBT webpage

Obama On LGBT Progress: "I Could Not Be Prouder Of The Transformation That's Taken Place In Our Society"

During his final press conference with the White House press corps, President Obama was asked by the Washington Blade's Chris Johnson on how he looked back on his administration's accomplishments on behalf of the LGBT community.

In his answer, he gave props to all those who came out and/or live out, and thereby make themselves visible to the world. He also points to the openness and authenticity of folks like Ellen DeGeneres.

I could not be prouder of the transformation that's taken place in our society just in the last decade. And I've said before I think we made some useful contributions to it, but the primary heroes in this stage of our growth as a democracy and a society are all the individual activists and sons and daughters and couples who courageously said this is who I am and I'm proud of it. That opened people's minds and opened their hearts and eventually laws caught up. But I don't think any of that would have happened without the activism, in some cases loud and noisy, but in some cases just quiet and very personal.

And I think that what we did as an administration was to help the society to move in a better direction, but to do so in a way that didn't create an enormous backlash and was systematic and respectful of the fact that in some cases these issues were controversial. I think that the way we handled, for example 'Don't Ask, Don't Tell,' being methodical about it, working with the Joint Chiefs, making sure that we showed this would not have an impact on the effectiveness of the greatest military on earth. And then to have Defense Secretary Bob Gates, Chairman Mike Mullen and Joint Chiefs who were open to evidence and ultimately worked with me to do the right thing--I am proud of that, but again, none of that would have happened without this incredible transformation that was happening in society.

You know when I gave Ellen the Presidential Medal of Freedom, I meant what I said, somebody that kind and likeable projecting into living rooms around the country, you know, that changed attitudes. And that wasn't easy to do for her--and that's just one small example of what was happening in communities all across the country, so I'm proud that in certain places we maybe provided a good block down-field to help the movement advance.

I don't think it is something that will be reversible because American society has changed--the attitudes of young people in particular have changed. That doesn't mean there aren't going to be some fights that are important--legal issues, issues surrounding transgender persons. There are still going to be some battles that need to take place. But if you talk to young people, Malia and Sasha's generation, even if they're Republicans, even if they're conservative, many of them would tell you "I don't understand how you would discriminate against somebody because of sexual orientation. That's just sort of burned into them in pretty powerful ways.

Listen to his answer below:

The Trump Cabinet Is Not Looking Good For The Gays

Newsflash - Donald Trump, who during the presidential campaign said he'd be "so much better for the gays," is not doing so great for the gays when you realize that all of his administration appointments so far oppose equal rights for LGBTs.

The guy who could barely pronounce "L-G-B-T-Q" at his national convention looks like he's rounding up every anti-LGBT political personality he can find.

Let's look at Trump's choice for Attorney General, Alabama Senator Jeff Sessions. Sessions voted against marriage equality, repealing DADT, and received a prefect "0" rating from the Human Rights Campaign.

Really makes you feel like America's next "Top Cop" is really going to be looking out for you, huh?

Secretary of Education nominee, Betsy DeVos, donated $700,000 to various anti-LGBT groups who fought tooth and nail against same-sex marriage. Plus, she basically opposes fixing public schools and would like to see school vouchers become the norm.

Secretary of Health and Human Services choice, Tom Price, is another total zero, at least when it comes to his Human Rights Campaign rating thanks in great part to his co-sponsorship of the First Amendment Defense Act which would legalize LGBT discrimination based on "deeply held religious beliefs. Plus, he called the Obergefell decision "a sad day for marriage."

Vice President Mike Pence - where to start? He started an international shit storm last year when he signed Indiana’s anti-LGBT ‘Religious Freedom Restoration Act’ into law, giving businesses the right to discriminate against gay people on the grounds of religion.

Pence would also like to repeal President Obama’s executive protections on LGBT rights, so that “the transgender bathroom issue can be resolved with common sense at the local level”.

Under Reince Priebus' leadership,  the GOP adopted it's most into-LGBT platform in years. Priebus has been tagged for the plum role of Chief of Staff in the Trump administration. He also bears the pride of a zero rating from the HRC,

Incoming National Security Advisor Michael Flynn has a long history of opposing gays in the military. Most recently he was very verbal about allowing transgender folks to serve openly in the U.S. armed forces.

Stay tuned for more. I'm sure this is just the tip of the titanic Trump iceberg.

Out Series: "Feral" on Dekkoo.com

New series set to air on LGBT streaming site Dekkoo.com - "Feral."

Via press release:

Like HBO’s "Looking" or "Girls," but set in Memphis, Tennessee. That’s how creator Morgan Jon Fox characterizes "Feral," a Dekkoo.com original TV series that debuts October 6 exclusively on the subscription streaming service dedicated to gay men.

In "Feral," Fox (who also serves as the series writer and director), weaves a tale of survival as a group of 20-somethings learn about love, loss and friendship while living in the vibrant, artistic queer community of Memphis.

The storyline revolves around the lives of Billy and Daniel, two best friends sharing a comfortably broken in bungalow in the diverse neighborhood of Midtown. It begins when the two are forced to kick out their third roommate, after discovering his heroin addiction.

National Gay & Lesbian Chamber Of Commerce Endorses Hillary Clinton For President

The nation's largest LGBT business association, the National Gay & Lesbian Chamber of Commerce, has unanimously endorsed Democrat Hillary Clinton for president.

This is the first time the group has endorsed a candidate for president in it's 15 year history.

In a statement to Buzzfeed News, Clinton said she welcomed the endorsement:

“The stakes in this election could not be higher for LGBT Americans,” Clinton said. “When Donald Trump says he’ll ‘make America great again,’ that’s code for ‘take America backwards.’ He has said he would appoint judges who would overturn marriage equality.”

The board of the LGBT chamber of commerce — which represents roughly 1.4 million LGBT business owners and has about 150 corporate and government partners — approved its resolution unanimously at a conference this week in Palm Springs, California.

In its resolution, the group praised Clinton for denouncing “LGBT discrimination as not only morally wrong, but fundamentally destructive for business.” The resolution rejected Trump’s policies, saying he has “vowed to revoke LGBT inclusive executive orders on his first day in office.”

Clinton's opponent, Donald Trump, has famously said in recent months that he would be better for LGBT Americans ("ask the gays!"), while at the same time saying that if elected he would appoint judges to the Supreme Court that would overturn the historic Obergefell decision that brought marriage equality to the entire nation.

Florida Attorney General Pam Bondi Says CNN Interview Was "Unfair"

Yesterday, I posted the absolutely EPIC take-down by CNN's Anderson Cooper of Florida Attorney General Pam Bondi over her past rocky relationship with her state's LGBT community.

To recap,  Bondi has spent years - and hundreds of thousands of taxpayer dollars - fighting against LGBT rights. But in the wake of the Orlando nightclub shooting that left 49 dead and 53 hospitalized, she has suddenly (in front of national news cameras) become our "fervent" ally.

Sarcasm intended.

So, during an interview yesterday, Anderson Cooper shared with the AG that many of her LGBT constituents don't think she supports them, and in fact, opposes them.

It was terrific, and long overdue.

Today, during an interview with NY's WOR 710 radio, she complained that she was treated "unfairly."

Via Politico:

Florida Attorney General Pam Bondi said her interview Tuesday with CNN’s Anderson Cooper was unfairly edited after it was posted online and served only to “encourage anger and hate.”

In an interview with New York’s WOR 710 radio Wednesday morning, Bondi said her understanding was that her interview with Cooper would focus on donation scams surrounding the mass shooting at an Orlando nightclub early Sunday morning. Instead, after one question about scams targeting people seeking to help victims, the CNN anchor grilled the Florida attorney general on her history of opposing marriage equality and other LGBT issues.

Bondi said it was inappropriate for Cooper to press her on her relationship with the LGBT community, especially in front of a hospital where shooting victims were continuing to recover.

“There’s a time and place for everything,” she said. “But yesterday wasn’t the time nor the place in front of a hospital when we could have been helping victims.”

As a reminder, I posted the ENTIRE segment yesterday. Here it is again, in all it's glory.

History Made As LGBT Group Marches Behind Their Own Banner In NYC St. Patrick's Day Parade

HISTORY AT NYC ST. PATRICK'S PARADE. #LGBT group fighting for 25yrs, marches behind its own banner. @wcbs880 pic.twitter.com/ATzRTJhIOh

— Peter Haskell (@peterhaskell880) March 17, 2016

For the first time in the 255 year history of the NYC St. Patrick's Day Parade, LGBTs were allowed to walk in the parade behind their own banner.

NBC New York reports:

For years, organizers said gay people could participate but couldn’t carry signs or buttons celebrating their sexual identities. Organizers said they didn’t want to divert focus from honoring Irish heritage.

Mayor de Blasio marched with the Lavender and Green Alliance, marking the first time he had participated in the festivities as mayor. He boycotted the parade his first two years in office because the march excluded gay and lesbian advocacy groups.

“Today everyone is celebrating together,” de Blasio said. “The city is at peace and unified.”

Gov. Cuomo and the entire New York City Council also joined in the parade and were watched by more than 2 million spectators who lined Fifth Avenue from St. Patrick's Cathedral in Midtown to the 79th Street Transverse in Central Park.

Included in the festivities were DOMA plaintiff Edith Windsor and Irish activist Brendan Fay.

#LGBT marchers singing w/ their own banner at #NYCStPatsParade. Lavender & Green Alliance fought 25yrs. @wcbs880 pic.twitter.com/UgJEYBdzFa

— Peter Haskell (@peterhaskell880) March 17, 2016

Missouri State Senate Approves "License To Discriminate" Bill

After a historic 39 hour filibuster effort by Democratic state Senators earlier this week, Missouri Republicans have advanced SJR39. The bill would legalize discrimination against LGBTs in the state.

From the Human Rights Campaign:

Similar to so-called “First Amendment Defense Act” legislation introduced in other states, this extreme resolution would lead to a ballot measure that, if approved by voters, would enshrine discrimination against LGBT people and their families into the state constitution. If the House of Representatives passes the resolution, it would go directly to the ballot and the governor would have no opportunity to veto it.

“SJR 39 is an irresponsible and shameful attempt by Missouri lawmakers to put LGBT people and their families in serious danger of even further discrimination,” said HRC Legal Director Sarah Warbelow. “The freedom to practice one’s religion is one of the founding principles of our country, but to use it as a means of state-sanctioned discrimination is completely unacceptable. We call on the Missouri House of Representatives to listen to the overwhelming chorus of pro-equality voices outraged by this proposal and reject this attack on LGBT people.”

The bill now moves to the state House of Representatives where Republicans hold a 2-1 majority.

Study: More LGBTs Living In Red States Than A Decade Ago

ConsumerAffairs.com worked with data from Gallup and the Census Bureau to create this interactive map showing the migration of LGBTs to red states over the past decade.

Surprised? I was. And then, I wasn't.

Here's just a bit of what ConsumerAffairs found:

• Salt Lake City saw the biggest increase in the size of its LGBT community as a portion of the total population, moving from 39th place in 1993 to 7th as of 2014 (the most recent available data).

• Of the 20 cities that saw a positive change in their ranking, 11 were in traditionally red states including Virginia, Kentucky, Louisiana and Texas.

• Traditionally LGBT-friendly cities like Minneapolis, San Diego and New York saw a drop in their national rankings.

I'm of a mind to think that as we've become more visible, and our families and friends have become more accepting, LGBTs are not feeling the pressure to live in the cities we've previously associated with being safe for gay families.

Plus, we've seen more and more representation in local governments by LGBTs. Salt Lake City in Utah recently elected it's first openly lesbian mayor - if that isn't progress, what is?

The Man Who Wrote THE Book On Madonna - Matthew Rettenmund

Matthew Rettenmund, author and blogger for the popular LGBT blog Boy Culture chats with me about his two newest books - Encyclopedia Madonnica 2.0 (the ultimate book on the Queen of Pop) and Starf*cker, a memoir chronicling his life into and through the world of pop culture, founding a successful teen magazine and his obsession with celebrities.

The ultimate pop-culture enthusiast, Matthew has been obsessed with celebrities ever since he was born. Starf*cker documents Rettenmund's affection --in the case of Madonna, it's pure mania--for movie, television, and music personalities.

From his years as a star-obsessed gayby to his contradictory careers in porn and as a teen-mag editor (names will be named), Matthew details and deconstructs his - and our - passion for celebrity.

Matthew shares stories from behind the scenes during his years working on a teen fan magazine - dealing with teen stars like Zac Efron, Justin Bieber and many boy bands along the way.

Plus, Matthew talks about his approach to writing and editing a successful daily blog.

Really insightful interview for folks who are fans of pop culture (like me).

Video: Young Gay Couple's First Kiss

Very sweet video from popular UK vlogger Calum McSwiggan.

"In this Christmas gay love story, a gay teenage couple share an awkward first kiss."

I so remember my first real kiss. Talk about time stopping :)

(h/t JMG)

10 Ways Obamacare Improved LGBT Access To Health Coverage

(via HealthInsurance.org)