Rod 2.0:Beta #gay #news #lgbt #gaynews

PHOTOS, VIDEO: 22nd Annual GLAAD Awards in New York City

Russell Simmons, Ricky Martin, OUT/The Advocate, Scissor Sisters and Anderson Cooper were among the top honorees at the 22nd annual GLAAD Media Awards presented by the Gay and Lesbian Alliance Against Defamation on Saturday in New York.

Music and entertainment mogul Russell Simmons received the Excellence in Media Award presented by the Rev. Al Sharpton. Both are veteran supporters of gay rights and Simmons recently took part in advertisements for the Human Rights Campaign to support marriage equality. Simmons referenced religious-based homophobia in his acceptance speech.

"I'm humbled by having one of my mentors and heroes Rev. Sharpton giving me this award," said Simmons. "It's no secret that faith-based communities, in some cases, have been difficult, and I think that for all of us who step outside of our comfort zone and fight for the rights of others, we are blessed. And Rev. Sharpton [has] stood up in so many ways and has been very special. And to the gay and lesbian community he's a true blessing."

Ricky Martin was given the Vito Russo Award for promoting equal rights. Martin announced on his blog last March that he is gay and his Oprah appearance to discuss his coming out also won for outstanding talk show episode.

More from Reuters:

"I just want to be free. I can say, today I am free," the Puerto Rican singer said at New York's GLAAD Media Awards, which recognize the best portrayals of gay community members in film, television, radio, music, newspapers and blogs.

Martin, the 39 year-old singer of hits such as his 1999 single "Livin' la Vida Loca" who has sold more than 60 million albums worldwide, revealed he was gay in 2010 after more than a decade in the international spotlight. His coming-out included a TV interview with Oprah Winfrey and since then, he has been heralded as a gay role model, especially for Latin Americans. Martin thanked his parents and boyfriend before urged the audience to "let's go Latin America and let's share the love."

Rod 2.0 was nominated for a GLAAD Media Award and did not win. Bravo and congratulations to JoeMyGod for winning Outstanding Blog.

More awards will be presented in Los Angeles on April 10 and in San Francisco on May 14. The full list of winners and via Boy Culture, a clip of Simmons and Martin's acceptance speeches and Wilson Cruz on the red carpet, WHEN YOU JUMP ....

Janice Langbehn on AC360, Talks About Obama Health Care Memo

Last night after President Obama issued the memorandum—READ HERE and PDF —ordering hospitals to grant visitation rights and medical powers of attorney to gay and lesbian couples, AC360's Anderson Cooper interviewed the woman who inspired the action. Janice Langbehn says to this day, Jackson Memorial Hospital in Miami has refused to apologize for its despicable behavior.

Langbehn says, "They refused to apologize to the kids and I. But the President did which makes up for a lot. And then said that he had directed HHS to this memorandum that he was signing today so that patients could decide who their -- who their family is, who their circle of intimacy was. And I thanked him. Because I believe this will be Lisa's legacy. That she didn't die in vain."

Last week, the hospital changed its visitation rules consistent with the pending new federal regulations.

The hospital's behavior is shameless. Langbehn's experience, suffering discrimination in such a critical time of need, is one that many same sex couples have unfortunately endured. Thankfully fewer same sex couples will be subjected to that abuse.

Watch the clip AFTER THE JUMP ...

AC360: Pam Spaulding and Cleve Jones on National Equality March

CNN's Anderson Cooper talks to Pam Spaulding, Richard Socarides and Cleve Jones about the Congress and President Obama's record on gay rights and the reasons for this weekend's National Equality March. Spaulding says: "There's a long list of progressive issues that need to be acted upon and it's almost as if we were put back into the closet and told to wait."

Pam also explains the behind-the-scenes comedy that led up to the interview.

Kudos to Pam. She's done great work and it's about time we saw her on AC360.

JUMP to watch the interview.

AC360: Lt. Dan Choi and Elaine Donnelly Debate "DADT"

CNN's Anderson Cooper hosted a great debate "Don't Ask, Don't Tell" last night, featuring discharged former Lt. Dan Choi and gay-obsessed Elaine Donnelly of the Center for Military Readiness.

Donnelly makes a rather bizarre claim—"The law says that homosexuals are not eligible to serve in the military"—and moves on to the usual talking points about about showers, sleeping quarters and "forced intimacy."

Choi responds: "Well, I think the harm is you really hurt the soldiers that are having to get deployed now without effective, capable soldiers. It's a matter of capabilities. Now I'm an Arabic linguist. And when I get kicked out, it's not that I'm the victim. It's the soldiers in my unit that aren't able to communicate. So the question is to you, Elaine, I have to ask you, (SPEAKING ARABIC) If you can't answer that question, that's not a problem. If the soldiers can't answer that, it's very devastating."

And why is this woman who has never worn the uniform debating a West Point graduate on military readiness ... ?

Watch the clip, AFTER THE JUMP ...

CNN's AC360 Reports on Carl Joseph Walker-Hoover and Bullying

Last night on CNN, Anderson Cooper's AC360 reported on the tragic story of Carl Joseph Walker-Hoover, the 11-year-old boy who committed suicide after months of harassment and anti-gay bullying.

There is a great quote from the mother, who describes her son as "beautiful and flamboyant" and says she "never asked him if he were gay." The Advocate published an interview with the mother on Monday. That's the same day Carl Joseph Walker-Hoover was laid to rest.

Transcript HERE.
Watch CNN's report AFTER THE JUMP.