News: Obama on "Don't Ask", Democrats on HIV, Patti LaBelle

· This week marks the 14th anniversary of "Don't Ask, Don't Tell," the controversial Defense Department policy that prevents gay men and lesbians from openly serving in the military. Throughout the week, the Human Rights Campaign features answers from Democratic presidential candidates on specific steps they would take to repeal the law if they were elected. The responses by Sens. Joe Biden (here) and John Edwards (here) have been fairly lackluster. Chris Dodd's was more specific.

· Barack Obama's response has been the most comprehensive. Money quote: "The eradication of this policy will require more than just eliminating one statute. It will require the implementation of anti-harassment policies and protocols for dealing with abusive or discriminatory behavior as we transition our armed forces away from a policy of discrimination. The military must be our active partners in developing those policies."

· The Democratic presidential candidates are polled on HIV/AIDS. Biden, Clinton, Dodd, Edwards, Obama and  Bill Richardson all "support lifting a ban on federal funding for needle-exchange programs and replacing abstinence-only sex education with comprehensive HIV prevention programs if elected."

· Promising news from the campaign trail. Hillary Clinton amplifies earlier promises to fight HIV/AIDS and unveils an ambitious, comprehensive strategic and funding plan that will "especially help groups in the U.S. that have seen HIV infection rates rise over the past several years, including African Americans and gay men, and address the continued risk in Latino communities and among women."

· Meanwhile, the The Washington Post details a sweeping new report on HIV/AIDS in the District of Columbia, described as "a modern epidemic" remarkable for its size, complexity and reach.

· Advocate.com publishes a beautiful interview with Patti LaBelle by entertainment writer Clay Cane. "I don't judge you because you love who you love," LaBelle explains. "I don't judge because of the color that you are. I don’t judge anything. I'm very honest with gay people. I’m very honest with calling you out and saying come up to the front of the stage and let the audience know that you're gay. You’re breathing and you're just like them. The only thing that you have is a different sexual orientation.

· Bil Browning at The Bilerico Project updates readers on the fight against same-sex marriage in Indiana: "While an Indianapolis Star poll released today shows that support for a constitutional amendment has dropped dramatically, the religious right has ramped up its propaganda machine...Political power, money, and influence will decide this issue more than respect for civil rights or religious fervor."