Even in a Republican-controlled House of Representatives, a proposed amendment to the Constitution that would have placed a national ban on gay marriage was emphatically defeated. The vote of 227-186 fell far short of the two-thirds needed for approval on a measure that President Bush backed and the Senate had previously rejected. Even with Rep. Roscoe Bartlett sharing trite lines about Adam and Steve and the GOP forcing a vote earlier this week protecting the words "under God" in the Pledge of Allegiance from court challenge, the gay marriage amendment generated dissent even among Republicans.

MSNBC

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The long-awaited Simpsons gay character is apparently Marge's sister Patty. Purple-haired Patty decides to pursue women since McGyver isn't available and she's been snubbed by every man in Springfield. She finds true love after being seduced in a bar by a butch lesbian. Homer - who dubbed Patty and twin sister Selma the "gruesome twosome" - is horrified at first. But according to early scripts, he ends up being ordained as a minister - then marrying Patty and her girlfriend.

Ananova

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In Flint, Michigan, a forum on gay marriage hosted by a gay rights organization has been moved from the University of Michigan-Flint campus to a local cafe because of a policy prohibiting the university from taking sides on political issues. The panel discussion that was slated to be held in the University Center was moved to Good Beans Cafe. Legal issues arose because the event was being co-sponsored by UM-Flint's Lesbian Gay, Bisexual and Transgender Center in cooperation with the PFLAG chapter. The LGBT Center is a university-funded and staffed unit and not a student organization. According to a university spokesman, the panel discussion would have violated state law and university policy preventing public funds from being used to influence an election.

MLive

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Washington state Representative Jim Moeller was elected by the 49th District two years ago. Vancouver voters twice picked Moeller, 49, for the city council prior to that. His popularity unquestionable, Republican state House candidate Mike W. Smith posted on his gun-rights Web site that he's putting himself on the "front lines" by challenging a lawmaker who was both a liberal Democrat and "activist homosexual." It's almost inevitable that Moeller's opponents make his sexuality an issue. "He's gay! He's gay! He's gay!'" Moeller jokes. "It must (tick) them off that I keep getting elected." Smith describes himself as a man of God commanded to love everyone, including homosexuals. He said he'd like to see more studies done "to help them possibly change. I'm not homophobic," he said. "I'm compassionate. It's not like I'm a hard-nosed freak." We here at Queer Day beg to differ.

The Columbian

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In Ohio a constitutional amendment designed to block any recognition of same-sex marriage as well as prevent the granting of any rights to couples in any relationship that isn't marriage is heading to the November ballot. Secretary of State Kenneth Blackwell says the supplemental petitions submitted provided more than enough signatures to qualify State Issue One at the polls. Besides the obvious, the proposal will bar any type of civil unions or the legal privileges of marriage to any unmarried couple. Ohioans Protecting the Constitution is opposing the measure stating the law will abolish property rights for unmarried couples, eliminate domestic partner health-care benefits for both unmarried straights and gays, as well as eliminate maternity leave for unmarried mothers.

Ohio News Now

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The organizers of the WEDRock benefit concert wanted to raise support for same-sex marriage, but they didn't want some fancy cocktail or black-tie experience. Since they mostly came out in the punk rock scene, a club-oriented gay circuit party wasn't the vibe they were after, either. The result is WEDrock. John Cameron Mitchell, one of the co-creators of the event said let's "make a more rock n roll kind of statement for civil rights." Along with co-organizer Bob Mould, the two tapped other "iconoclastic," mostly rock-oriented artists for the October 5 event including Sandra Bernhard and her band and Henry Rollins as the night's MC. Freedom to Marry is the sole beneficiary.

Metro Weekly (photos)

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Hawaii's a little uncomfortable with the attention homophobic crimes are getting on the mainland. BizJournals notes that two recent incidents involving tourists Pamela Disel and Tim Noreuil got big play in the gay press and wonders what that might do to gay tourism on the islands. Here's a thought: Make it stop.

Pacific Business News

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A new anti-discrimination rule could permit conjugal visits for gay inmates in Mexico City prisons, a city official said. The city's secretary of government, Alejandro Encinas, told the newspaper Reforma for its Wednesday edition that under the regulation published Tuesday, requests by gay inmates for "intimate visits" would have to be considered, although no such requests have yet been made. Mexico permits conjugal visits for some inmates. Encinas noted that the rules require "a permanent, stable relationship" - though not necessarily marriage - between those granted the privilege.

620ktar

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Transsexual activist Elkyn Suarez fled Honduras for a European country willing to grant her asylum. "In Honduras, the political authorities and the police have so much power. ... But they won’t put you in jail; they’ll take away your right to life," she says. The recently passed Police and Harmonious Citizen Relations act granted even more power to the police, making activism on the behalf of sexual minorities a dangerous business.

Amnesty International (photo)

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Near the end of the gay marriage documentary "Tying The Knot," an Oklahoma farmer named Sam sits outside the home he's fighting desperately to keep and makes a phone call that deals a blow to his already teetering pride. On the losing end of a probate battle with his dead husband’s distant relatives, Sam has no choice but to ask a friend to lend him some money to keep the electricity on. That one moment captures the importance of marriage rights for gays and lesbians. "Tying The Knot" opens Friday in limited release in mainstream theaters.

Metro Weekly

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Javad, who lives in Iran, says he never felt quite right in his body, and for the past two years he has risked having his "arms and legs broken" by a family that refuses to accept his efforts to sort the problem out. "I'd rather die than stay like this," said Javad, a fresh-faced young man who would rather be called "Hasti", a feminine name meaning "existence." Fortunately for Javad, Sharia law scholars and doctors in Iran are authorizing gender reassignment, although it's still a tough road. And they want to be sure you understand that while one can be a transsexual, it is still not OK to be gay or lesbian in Iran. Got it. Anyway, this one's a good read.

Middle East Online

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A straight couple embroiled in a dispute with an apartment developer stuck up a huge banner advertising a 'gay and lesbian drop-in center' on their property in hopes of hurting apartment sales. Michael and Jean Ferre of Lee-on-the-Solent, England, say the apartments have lowered their property value and that vibration from construction damaged their home. The local gay rag called them bigots for hanging the banner, but the Ferres say they have lots of gay friends who did not find the banner offensive. We have to agree with the newspaper.

Portsmouth Today

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It took a jury less than three hours to find Thomas McDowell guilty of murder after they heard how he had picked German scholar Andreas Hinz up in a Camden, England, gay bar before taking him back to his flat in July 2002. Hinz ended up in little pieces. McDowell's mom insists he's a good person who doesn't remember what he's done because he's mentally ill. But even she was a little creeped out by the part where her son slept on Hinz's grave. McDowell faces life in prison.

Belfast Telegraph

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"Assume Nothing," a new book of photography by Rebecca Swan, captures the beauty beyond the binary of male and female. The title acts as both a warning and an instruction with Swan's subjects including transgender and intersex people, as well as fa'afafine and gender illusionists. Our favorite Georgina Beyer is among those pictured. Sydney Star Observer (photo)

One by one, around the room, they told their stories of abandoned love and broken promises. Donna Nolan talked about her 26-year marriage to her college sweetheart and best friend - and a confession that he is gay. When a spouse comes out, support groups can help with pain and confusion. Seattle Times

The Mobo Awards take place tonight in the UK with a very small reggae category, since the awards folks decided to dump singers whose music advocates harm to gay people. News24

In Clinton, Iowa, Clinton School District officials proposed adding sexual orientation to the district’s anti-discrimination policy for students, based on a recommendation from the Iowa Board of education. School board member Les Shields has the usual blah blah "liberal agenda" blah blah "gay or lesbian lifestyle" problems with that. Five of the six board members support the amendment. Quad City Times

School administrators in Fort Mill, South Carolina, have decided to remove the topics of gay marriage, abortion and stem cell research from debate. Officials worried that discussion of those topics might violate state law. The debate, which was designed to mirror tonight's presidential debate, won't be doing that citing a restriction is in the state's comprehensive health education act which prohibits health class discussion on abortion and homosexual sex. WSOC TV


Today's Short Takes

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Melissa Etheridge is crossing over to television as the star of an ABC sitcom. After competitive bidding among several networks, the project landed at ABC with a script commitment plus a six-figure penalty. To be written by Linda Wallem, the untitled project is described as a nontraditional family comedy and as a reversed "Will & Grace" with a kid. The show centers on a lesbian music teacher (Etheridge) who lives with her best friend, a straight man. The two are raising the daughter of another friend. Wallem co-created and executive produced Fox's comedy series "That '70s Show" and its short-lived spinoff, "That '80s Show."

Reuters

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North Carolina's most experienced and talented drag queens, and one drag king, competed Sunday in The Independent Weekly’s fourth annual Queen of the Triangle Drag Pageant in Raleigh. Outgoing Queen Nellie Bottoms, however, wasn't flawless; She lost an earring and her blonde wig while dancing during her routine. Chastity Nichols clearly became the audience favorite after singing her bi-lingual version of Toni Braxton’s "Unbreak my Heart." Chastity Nichols was crowned the 2004 Queen. "I thought Conchita won," Nichols said. "I was like, 'I hate her.'"

The Chronicle (photo)

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Honolulu police detectives investigating the assault on Dr. Tim Noreuil. Noreuil suffered 30 fractures to the right side of his face after he was hit from behind with an unidentified object while walking home from Hula's. Three men walked by him and made eye contact before one of them doubled back and hit him. Detectives are trying to determine if there is a connection between that attack and the beating of a woman on her way to the same club just five days later. Near Hula's, Waikiki's popular gay nightclub, a man asked if she is a lesbian. When she said yes, the man hit her. "Whether it is one ethnic group or another or one persuasion or another, no one deserves to be beaten up," said Det. Larry Lawson said. We couldn't agree more.

Honolulu Advertiser (composite police sketches)

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Erica (originally Eric) Yañez was murdered in the streets of San Pedro Sula, Honduras, by two police officers last year. Elkyn Suárez, a transsexual activist, had valuable information about the killing that she passed on to authorities. She was then forced to flee the country following death threats. Suárez accuses the government of refusing to acknowledge when a crime against someone in the LGBT community has taken place. "For us, there is rape; for us, there are the murder victims; for our friends and our families, there are the multiple killings, but, for the government, none of that has ever happened."

Amnesty International (photo)

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Gay politician David Catania left the Republican Party today, ending months of public disagreement with national party leaders over their support for amending the U.S. Constitution to place a ban on same-sex marriage. Catania, 36, said he will change his voters registration to independent. For the past seven years, Catania has been an at-large member on the Washington D.C. Council. Catania said, "I will no longer rationalize my association with a political party that has so badly betrayed my values and principles." Previously one of the top fundraisers for the party, in June local leaders stripped Catania of his spot in the D.C. delegation to the National Convention, prompting him to resign from the local organization. Catania has endorsed Democrat John F. Kerry for president.

Washington Post

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A woman who moved to Virginia with her 2-year-old daughter after the breakup of her civil union in Vermont was awarded sole custody of the child Tuesday. Frederick County Circuit Judge John Prosser gave Lisa Miller-Jenkins, 35, full custody of 2-year-old Isabella and ruled that she can decide whether to allow visitation by her former partner, Janet Miller-Jenkins. Janet's lawyers plan to appeal. A Vermont court previously awarded her visitation rights. Press Telegram

Meanwhile, the Winchester Star gets into the dirt, calling Lisa a "former lesbian" for reasons it doesn't explain and airing her allegations that Janet was abusive and didn't try to be involved with Isabella's life. Nonsense, says Janet, who still lives in Vermont. Winchester Star

Virginia gives birth mom custody in lesbian breakup

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We're not sure this is news at all, but it is juicy. Brian McFadden, former pop star with Westlife, and his wife, Kerry, are having marital problems over Brian's visit to a gentleman's club. Something about a lap dance. Anyway, they're both cute as baby bunnies but Kerry is very upset about this dancer thing, so she has brought in a transgender therapist known only as Aunty Graham. Aunty has a good reputation in these matters and observers are optimistic.

IOL

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Nigerian soccer players who braid or dreadlock their hair, or wear earrings are being told by the league that they can't do so because it is too gay. Last week a leading government official from the information ministry, Otunba Olusegun Runshewe, chimed in, slamming the soccer trend-setters on national television: "Our youths are now taking after our great football stars... don't forget that in the developing world that the braiding of hair and earrings have a sense of homosexuality." Who knew? Anyway, don't miss the photo of Taribo West's green braid sculpture from the '98 World Cup.

IOL

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A Baton Rouge gay rights organization is asking federal authorities to investigate whether Jimmy Swaggart Ministries should lose its tax-exempt status for a "joke" Swaggart made recently about what he'd do to any man who looked at him romantically. Capital City Alliance Co-Chairman Joseph Traigle announced he has asked both the Internal Revenue Service and U.S. Attorney David Dugas of Baton Rouge to consider whether the ministry broke any federal tax laws. "Common sense, and a fair IRS ruling would prevent the continuance of a tax-exempt privilege for any organization that believes in and verbalizes violence against American taxpaying citizens," says the letter the alliance sent the IRS.

WBRZ

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Sometimes a cigar is not a cigar at all. Washington Township, New Jersey, officials issued a cease and desist order against Inside Out Cigars Tuesday because they suspect the business is a "gay gentlemen's lounge" based on a website that lists the location as a place to cruise men. Which is apparently a zoning violation. Police said concerns of other business owners in the plaza also drew attention to the cigar store. "We have not found any criminal activity at this point," Chief Charles Billingham said. No word on whether they've found any cigars.

NJ.com

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When Becky Goldberg couldn't access the Long Island Gay and Lesbian Youth website at Ward Melville High School, she decided to do something about it. Goldberg, a junior at the time, was appalled that school officials blocked access to the site simply because it featured words like gay and lesbian. "We fought for two or three months to get it unblocked," said Goldberg, now 17 and a senior. "The whole point was, we wanted it to be seen." More and more students like Goldberg are standing up for their rights as a result of Long Island Gay and Lesbian Youth.

New York Daily News

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Still no comment from Alan Keyes about whether that lesbian blog that's been around for three years is actually that of his daughter, Maya. Not that we're complaining; silence from Keyes is kind of refreshing. Washington Times

In Arizona, Phoenix Mayor Phil Gordon sponsored and held the first meeting of the city's LGBT Mayor's Advisory Group and Gordon was there to answer questions and listen to concerns. The group was formed to address issues affecting the city's lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgendered community. AZ Central

Today's Short Takes

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In Massachusetts, the effort to bring a constitutional amendment banning gay marriage to voters in November 2006 suffered a major setback yesterday with the departure of House Speaker Thomas M. Finneran and the elevation of Salvatore F. DiMasi. We're really broken up about it. Anyways, DiMasi's arrival is expected to shift the Massachusetts legislative agenda to the left on social issues such as gay rights, abortion, and stem cell research. In fact, as a result, a key legislative backer of the proposed amendment all but declared defeat, calling Finneran's exit from Beacon Hill the final straw in an effort that already was in trouble.

Boston Globe (Thanks Ron)

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Last night viewers of the CBS sitcom "Still Standing" were introduced to the new lesbian neighbors. Chicago TV couple Bill (Mark Addy) and Judy (Jami Gertz) Miller met Terry (Justine Bateman) and Shelly (Julia Campbell) who moved in next door. They tried to charm them in order to get permission to build a deck against their adjoining property. Saran Warn writes, "Turns out, the new neighbors are lesbians--or 'same-gendered love buddies,' as Bill calls them awkwardly. Judy and Bill proceed to fall all over themselves trying to be politically correct, with comments like this one from Judy: "We are totally cool with you two being lesbians. In fact, we admire it. We think you're heroes. You and firemen."

After Ellen (photos)

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Lambda Legal launched its first national youth education campaign today in an effort to make U.S. schools safer for LGBT and questioning (LGBTQ) youth. "Many of our nation's schools simply aren't safe for gay students -- we know that from the research, but mostly from calls we get every day from young people all across the country," said Kevin Cathcart, Lambda Legal's Executive Director. LGBTQ students having knowledge of their legal rights has proven to be a key factor in creating safer schools. "Out, Safe and Respected," provides in-depth info on a range of rights along with specific steps to take to make sure those rights are respected.

Yahoo

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A 78-year-old Cuyahoga Falls man said his name was forged on a petition to that was seeking an electoral vote as to whether or not to alter the Ohio state consitution regarding gay marriage, NewsChannel5 reported. Hilary Labbe said his name was misspelled and his address is also wrong. The registered Democrat said he would never sign such a petition and was stunned to get a letter from the county Republican Party thanking him for signing. Labbe's signature is one of about 100 being examined by Summit County election officials.

News 5

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The Human Rights Campaign Foundation unveiled its third annual report card on corporate America's treatment of gay, lesbian, bisexual and transgender staff, which includes 28 companies with first-ever perfect records and eight companies we should run from. Cheryl Jacques, president of the Human Rights Campaign, said, "These aren't movie ratings. An imperfect score could mean an unfair firing or families without health care." Some of the top scores went to Aetna, American Airlines, American Express, Apple Computer, AT&T, Bausch & Lomb, Best Buy, Borders, Capital One, Charles Schwab, Cisco Systems, Coors Brewing, Dell, Eastman Kodak, Ford Motors, Hewlett-Packard, IBM, Kraft Foods, Levi Strauss, MetLife, Miller Brewing, Motorola, Nike, PepsiCo, Whirlpool, Xerox and others. ALLTEL Corp was the only company to receive a score of zero. Other bottom listers include Exxon Mobil, International Steel, Meijer Inc. and Perot Systems Corp. - founded by 1992 Reform Party presidential candidate Ross Perot.

Yahoo Finance

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An almost exclusively Republican group of Maryland lawmakers said yesterday they will challenge a Baltimore judge's decision to bar them from joining the legal fight against an American Civil Liberties Union lawsuit aimed at legalizing gay marriage in Baltimore and four state counties. The judge wrote in a one-page order that such an "intervention would unduly delay and prejudice the adjudication of the rights of the original parties." She also ruled against two other parties seeking a similar inclusion in the suit.

Washington Times

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It was with grace and reluctance that Sky Gilbert accepted his award from the Toronto Arts Council Foundation for his outstanding contribution to the city. "The letter that came with notification of this award said something about me giving 'a voice to gay artists when it was not fashionable to do so,'" said Gilbert. The playwright/poet/novelist/director/actor was awarded the $10,000 Margo Bindhardt Award and the co-founder and artistic director of Buddies in Bad Times Theatre whose written several plays and films, penned novels and poetry and is a noted drag queen said, "I'm longing for the day when there's no need for such awards," said the outspoken advocate on gay and lesbian issues. "When race, gender and age are not issues. When there is a female president of the United States and no one ever thinks to call her a bitch; and when an effeminate queer man delivers the CBC evening news."

Toronto Star

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A gay couple in Londonderry say they have been driven out of their home following a number of attacks. In the latest incident this weekend, golf balls and bricks were thrown at the house. One of the men, who was too frightened to be identified, said he had been made to feel like a prisoner in his own home. "Nobody has the right to verbally or physically abuse or attack people or their property," he said. Ironically, a new hate crime laws comes into effect today stating that judges must treat homophobic, racially and religiously motivated crimes as an aggravating factor when sentencing. For Londonberry's gay couple, however, there must first be an arrest.

BBC

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The transgender sportscaster wears a miniskirt, the porn is gay, lesbian and bisexual, and Wonder Woman will be on every night at seven. France's first gay television channel, PinkTV, is an eye-opener. And that's the point. Pink's founders believe there's a ready audience for the channel, and not just among France's estimated 3.5 million gays. Pink's "a giant leap for television, a small step in high heels," said presenter Eric Gueho in a promotional clip shown at the channel's unveiling today - which was feted with pink champagne in case you had any doubts. Elsewhere in Europe for those keeping track Britain already has two channels on the Sky Digital platform - GayDate TV, a teleshopping channel targeting the gay community, and GayTV, a late-night soft-core porn channel. Sweden also has gay-friendly programming.

Miami Herald (Pink TV)

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Although a campaign aide said U.S. Senate candidate Alan Keyes would last night personally and publicly address reports on various websites, including ours, that his daughter, Maya, is a lesbian, he chose not to answer. The internet media storm brewing over photos reported to have been found by bloggers featuring Keyes' nineteen-year-old daughter Maya with another young lady who identifies herself as Keyes' daughter's lover has only begun to heat up. The story found its way into Rich Miller's CapitolFax yesterday morning, the same column that broke the Republican Jack Ryan swinging scandal.

Illinois Leader, New York Daily News (photo)

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Cynthia Nixon's girlfriend has been revealed to be Christine Marinoni, an educational activist. The pair became romantically involved while campaigning for more funding and smaller classes for state-run schools in New York. Marinoni, director of the Alliance for Quality Education, and the Emmy-award winning actress "share a strong commitment to improving the lives of children in the city and the state," a friend says. Not an especially good friend, because Nixon had planned to keep the woman's identity private. We, however, do not know Nixon personally. We just couldn't help ourselves.

New York Daily News (photos)

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Ginny Allen, director of operations for South Carolinian Jim DeMint’s U.S. Senate campaign, has been reprimanded for derogatory remarks she made in an e-mail she didn't realize was going to a lesbian. Lisa Hall, chairwoman of the Central Savannah River Area Rainbow Alliance, invited DeMint to a forum to discuss gay issues. She sent a follow-up e-mail Monday. Allen, apparently thinking she was forwarding the e-mail to someone inside the campaign, inadvertently replied to Hall. "Come on, fag, give this dike (sic) a reply," Allen wrote. No word from Allen or the intended recipient.

The State

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In an exercise to build camaraderie, former Chicago Bears quarterbacks coach Greg Olson asked football players a personal question to conclude meetings on the eve of games. Last season, one of the questions was, "What is the most difficult thing you've had to go through in your life?" Kordell Stewart launched into a long-winded explanation about having to face his teammates in Pittsburgh regarding rumors he was gay. Poor baby.

Chicago Sun-Times

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Republican leaders pressed for a House vote Thursday on a proposed constitutional ban on same-sex marriage they acknowledge will fail by a wide margin, but will force members to vote on the issue less than five weeks before the election. The vote appears part of a GOP effort to raise the pre-election profile of gay issues - and to kill a popular hate-crimes measure that could land on President Bush's desk before November 2 if it is allowed to proceed.

SF Gate

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In Brazil, Katia Tapety, a transvestite whose legal name is Jose, is running for vice mayor in the poor town of Colonia de Piaui in the northeastern desert. She is serving her third term as a city council member from the Socialist People's Party and she hopes to be Brazil's first transvestite vice mayor. Reuters

Gay rights groups in Northern Ireland have clashed with the Christian Institute, which is calling for the province to be excluded from the Civil Partnerships bill. Already well known for its opposition to the bill, the Institute thinks the government should not include Ulster in the legislation, which gives legal recognition to same-sex couples for the first time. Gay.com UK

Meanwhile, an Irish court required an expert to tell it that Thomas McDowell, who readily admits he chopped up would-be rabbi Andreas Hinz after they met in a gay bar, is a psychopath. Hello?Belfast Telegraph

As Spain moves closer to legally recognizing same-sex marriage, the Roman Catholic Church says the move will be like releasing a virus into society. It will also be like counterfeit money. Stay tuned for more irrelevant metaphors. ABC News

Although Coronation Street stars were left fuming after EastEnders pulled off a shock victory at the Inside Soap Awards, the gay kiss between Todd Grimshaw and male nurse Karl Foster did win best snog. We're so happy. ic Birmingham

Ugandan Anglicans say no thanks to money from U.S. Episcopal churches because of the ordination of gay Bishop V. Gene Robinson. The story's not too surprising, but the black-on-yellow page is a little shocking to the eyes. afrol

The gay and lesbian market is a market in transition -- or, perhaps, a market in maturation, according to "The U.S. Gay and Lesbian Market," a new report from market research publisher Packaged Facts. The report highlights the diversity within the gay and lesbian population -- families, seniors, people of color -- and the new sophistication with which marketers might address our demographic, whose buying power is projected to reach $610 billion in 2005. Yahoo Finance

Ohio's Attorney General Jim Petro is the first state elected official to come forward opposing a proposed state constitutional ban on same-sex marriage. Petro says the vague language on the proposal makes it sound more intolerant than similar proposals in other states. Channel Cincinnati

Today's Short Takes

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We started you on the first part of the Washington Post's "Young and Gay in Real America: Where I Come From" series, telling you that being young and gay and 17 in Oklahoma ought to be a country song. Michael Shackelford's story and his slow journey from isolation continues today with Part II. With the Shackelford family's permission, reporter Anne Hull spent hundreds of hours following Michael over the past year as he came to terms with being gay, a journey that paralleled Oklahoma's fight against same-sex marriage. We've found it to be some of the best first person story telling we've seen. The final two parts are scheduled to run October 3rd and 4th.

Washington Post

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The state of Oregon has emerged as a key battleground in the fight over same-sex marriage with gay rights advocates joining forces with other liberal groups to defeat a referendum that would enshrine marriage in the state constitution as the union of a man and a woman only. While similar measures are being put to voters in 13 states this election season, proponents say they are concentrating their extra resources in Oregon, a state where voters have a track record of defeating homophobic legislation. The No on Constitutional Amendment 36 campaign has what gay rights activists say is likely to be the best-funded state effort to defeat such an amendment in the nation, out-raising traditional marriage advocates in the state by a 3-to-1 margin so far.

Boston Globe

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On the list of possibly terrifying things we expect in college, living in an unfamiliar place for a year with someone you don't know can rank pretty high for anyone, much less worrying about how others perceive our sexuality or sexual preference. This fall, the University of Southern Maine began a pilot program designed to let students create a more comfortable living arrangement. The gender-neutral housing program shakes up traditional rules where students of the same sex share living space. Essentially, any student - gay, straight or transgender - can sign a contract to live with other students under an agreement arranged through the university. The only requirement is to be an enrolled upperclassman.

Press Herald

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Pop star wannabe Josh McGuire struck back after his hopes were dashed when X-factor judge Simon Cowell told him to become a drag queen - like that's a bad thing. McGuire, a Glasgow hairdresser and make-up artist, belted out the Elton John hit "Your Song" in front of the TV judges panel of Simon Cowell, Louis Walsh and Sharon Osbourne. McGuire, who previously worked as a professional club singer touring Britain, was left close to tears when Cowell told him he would be better singing as a woman. Viewers watched as Josh had a meltdown in front of the show's host Kate Thornton, demanding to bring in his lawyers to confront the panel.

Evening Times

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Daily Kos points out a Xanga blog that apparently belongs to Maya Keyes, daughter of well known homophobe and political candidate Alan Keyes, who recently called Mary Cheney a selfish hedonist for being a lesbian in case you missed it. Anyways, in the blog the author talks about being the lesbian daughter of a conservative politician and wearing her rainbow gear on the campaign trail (see Sept. 6). We're intrigued.

Daily Kos, (Maya's blog)

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Democrats scored a major victory on behalf of gay and lesbian Americans this week when, according to recent press reports, the Social Security Administration (SSA) halted its attempts to remove sexual orientation from the Administration’s non-discrimination policy. The head of the SSA abruptly halted the administration's proposed discrimination within one day of Democratic National Committee Chairman (DNC) Terry McAuliffe's public statement condemning the move. Bush-appointed SSA administrators had proposed to rollback gay and lesbian rights by striking protection based on sexual orientation from their contract with union workers, which would have allowed discrimination and firing based solely on sexual orientation.

Noticias

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Peter Tatchell, the gay rights campaigner, apparently has a bounty on his head after declaring war on reggae artists whose homophobic lyrics have caused protests. Scotland Yard is giving Tatchell special protection after he was told Yardie gangsters might have sent a hitman from Jamaica to bump him off. Tatchell, once a Labour parliamentary candidate, says he has received 20 death threats since his campaign against homophobic reggae artists began.

Times Online

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In Colorado Springs, they're not too sure about the Guardian Angels. Grassroots activists or vigilantes? Either way, their goal is law and order. Among the complaints was one from an anonymous woman who protested this year's Gay Pride. She says she was ordered to leave by one of the Angels because her sign was offending people. The Angels say the sign was actually smacking into people in the crowded festival area, and that they were just trying to protect the woman from the annoyed passersby.

Gazette.com

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The American Civil Liberties Union launched "Fighting For Marriage," an online resource designed to give local activists the tools to defeat proposals that would amend state constitutions so that same-sex couples could never be legally recognized. Get the toolkit along with practical advice and resources designed to make the case for, and counter arguments against, marriage equality. ACLU: Get Equal

Nadia Almada, the gorgeous transgender winner of the UK's latest Big Brother season, has been voted "Reality Star of the Year" at this year's ITV Celebrity Awards. Sky Showbiz

We told you about Michael Sabatino and Robert Voorheis, who were dumped from the St. Benedict's choir in Dobbs Ferry, New York, after marrying in Canada last year. Well, they're happily ensconced in the choir loft at their local Episcopal church, uhm, where the minister welcomed them with a sermon about the evils of homophobia. Nyaah. Journal News

An upcoming episode of ABC's "WifeSwap" will feature a lesbian mom, who trades families with a Republican gal from Texas. No details, really, but here's the link: New York Daily News

Matthew Shepard's mom, Judy, received a standing ovation upon her arrival at Western Michigan University's Dalton Center where she shared her personal experience with students. "You're not supposed to make me cry before I start," she said. Western Herald

Former Australian gay media tycoon Greg Fisher is on trial in New South Wales, accused of using his position to obtain an advantage for his private company, Satellite Group. We think it has something to do with investments. news.com.au

A look at sex and gender in 1930s USSR explores the question of when male homosexuality was re-criminalized in the Soviet Union and why. In 1933-1934 homophobic legislation returned after previously being removed by the revolutionary Bolshevik leaders in 1917. If you're into this sort of thing it's interesting reading. Worker's World

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