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VIDEO: Brendon Ayanbadejo on "Face the Nation", "HuffPost Live"

Love it. Brendon Ayanbadejo continues to use his celebrity in the fight for equality. The Baltimore Ravens linebacker appeared on Huff Post Live this afternoon and CBS News' Face the Nation on Sunday morning in advance of this week's Supreme Court arguments around Proposition 8 and the Defense of Marriage Act.

Ayanbadejo, Minneapolis Vikings punter Chris Kluwe and Cleveland Browns linebacker Scott Fujita are among the hundreds of legislators, politicians, employers and government agencies who submitted briefs to the Supreme Court opposing Proposition 8.

"My colleagues and I want to make sure that everyone is treated equally—and that includes the LGBT community," Ayanbadejo said on CBS News. "Being biracial, I know what it's like to be treated differently and discriminated against. ... This is a natural evolution from civil rights, equal rights and women's rights."

The Family Research Council's Tony Perkins also appears on FTN and—wait for it!—lies about how many states how voted for pro-marriage laws. The number is actually four. Watch both segments AFTER THE JUMP ...

VIDEO: Economist Paul Krugman on HuffPost Live w/ Marc Lamont Hill

The nation's economy will grow by only 1.4 percent in 2013 and "unemployment will remain above 7.5 percent through 2014", according to a new report released this week by the Congressional Budget Office.

How to end the recession? Marc Lamont Hill hosted a great Huff Post Live discussion with Paul Krugman, the Nobel Prize-winning progressive economist and New York Times columnist.

"It's the easiest thing [to do] in the world," said Krugman. "We know how to end it. To end this depression we need the federal government to give aid to the state governments. [The states] need to rehire the teachers that they laid off, begin road and infrastructure repair. ... But the political will is not there."

Watch AFTER THE JUMP ...

GLAAD Media Award Nominations Announced: R20 Included

The 24th Annual GLAAD Media Award Nominations were announced this morning. The list includes several pleasant surprises, such as the The L.A. Complex nominated for "Outstanding Drama Series." The series and its delicious storyline about a closeted gangsta rapper attracted a cult fanbase ... but not nearly enough viewers to avoid cancellation last month.

Rod 2.0 has been nominated for "Outstanding Bog" for the third consecutive year. The other nominees: Autostraddle, Blac(k)ademic, The New Civil Rights Movement and Towleroad. The nominees are terrific. So delighted to be included among them.

The full list of nominees HERE.

Last year we had the honor of being nominated in two categories—"Outstanding Magazine Article" and "Outstanding Blog." The article was "Making It Work: Black Same Sex Couples Raising Kids in the South" in the October 2011 EBONY.

More good news for EBONY this year. Marc Lamont Hill and EBONY.com were nominated for "Outstanding Digital Journalism Article" in "Why Aren't We Fighting for CeCe McDonald?" Other nominees in that category include CNBC.com, Advocate.com, Huffington Post and Buzzfeed's Chris Geidner.

The GLAAD Media Awards are intended to recognize and honor "culture-changing LGBT images and stories." The awards will be celebrated in three ceremonies: New York City on March 16, Los Angeles on April 20 and San Francisco on May 11.

Bravo and congratulations to all of the talented nominees. The full list of nominees HERE.

Expanding Black Masculinity to End "Black on Black" Anti-LGBT Violence

Millions of viewers have seen the brutal gay-bashing of Brandon White, the young Atlanta man whose vicious assault was videotaped and went viral across the internet. White could be seen ambushed by three young men, kicked, punched and hit with a tire while another man laughed repeatedly called him a "faggot."

Atlanta-based writer Charles Stephens—currently co-editing an anthology on Joseph Beam entitled Black Gay Genius—discusses this and other recent "Black on Black" anti-LGBT attacks at the Huffington Post. Stephens argues that definitions of Black "manhood" must be expanded—and that celebrated images of hyper-masculinity contribute to violence.

All of these incidents put a very real face to jarring reality that gay and transgender people of color are far more susceptible to acts of violence. Last year a report released by the National Coalition of Anti-Violence Programs showed that the number of hate crimes against members of the LGBT community rose 13 percent in 2010, and that people of color and transgender women were most likely to be targets of violence. The report also found that of the victims murdered in 2010, 70 percent were people of color and 44 percent were transgender women. ...

Conversation around African-American men and boys have centered on economic distress, employment instability, health disparities, and an unfair criminal justice system, and rightfully so. Unfortunately, what doesn't get attention is how stigma and structural anti-gay attitudes create an environment in which they are particularly vulnerable as both attackers and as victims. For instance, telling our young boys not to cry or to "man up" only shames them. They then grow up to "police" their brothers, male friends and sons in those same ways.

This can partly be prevented by challenging ourselves to imagine broader definitions of African-American manhood. Narrow notions of masculinity that privilege a particular kind of maleness are often part of the implicit and explicit anti-LGBT sentiment that shoots like an electric current through many of our communities. Certainly, what we call "hate crimes" and "gay bashing" is about targeting LGBT people. But there is a kind of "gender profiling" that happens as a way to penalize those among us who do not exhibit traditional notions of gender.

Charles Stephens' essay is very timely, especially in the wake of allegations on the circumstances of the videotaped gay-bashing. Read the full essay HERE.

In other news: A fourth man has been charged in the case of Brandon White but police have not yet made an arrest.  Three suspects have been arrested in connection with the assault. Seventeen-year-old Darael Damare Williams surrendered to Pennsylvania authorities on February 23.  Williams is awaiting extradition. Nineteen-year-old Dorian Moragne surrendered on Feb. 17.  Eighteen-year-old Christopher Cain was arrested on February 11. All  face charges of aggravated assault and robbery.

Magic Johnson to Recruit Rappers to Address Homophobia in Hip-Hop

PHOTO: NBA

NBA superstar Earvin "Magic" Johnson was diagnosed with HIV in 1991. Johnson's coming out was a major international story and he was credited with helping de-stigmatize the disease at the height of the HIV/AIDS scare. Johnson wants to continue educating Black audiences about HIV and hopes to tackle another issue: Homophobia.

The NBA legend recently spoke with The Huffington Post about a new project that he's developing with hip-hop and rap stars to rally against homophobia.

"I learned a lot from the white gay community because they had gotten their community, rallied them, educated them and did a wonderful job about driving the numbers down. That is the best approach that I’ve seen; it’s been the most effective. So what we try to do in our community is bring those results to us. So I’m working hard to continue to educate minorities about HIV and AIDS and we’ve got to band together. We’re too fragmented right now, but if we can do that, we’re going to do well.

As a hip-hop fan, you realize that homophobia is still an issue everywhere, but especially in the black community. When people are scared to talk about it, that’s how the disease spreads. So what have you been doing to get that risk reduced?

What we’re trying to do is reach out to the hip-hop community because they have power — power with their voice, power with that mic in their hand and power with the lyrics that they sing. I have a lot of friends in that industry and so what we’re trying to do is rally them to get behind the cause, deliver the message to these young people that HIV and AIDS is big and it’s not going anywhere. They can make a difference right away by speaking out, because they have a big fan base.

So we’re finding out that a lot of them want to be involved; they’re just looking for a group like ours to latch onto and be a part of it. We haven’t really had any push-back from the hip-hop community.

Johnson says that he has a number of major names booked for the project, but would prefer to announce all the talent at a press conference. Read the interview HERE.

Homophobia and opposition from Black churches were largely the reason why HIV/AIDS was ignored for so long in Black communities. As a result, Blacks now account for more new HIV infections, AIDS diagnoses and HIV-related deaths than any other racial/ethnic group in the U.S. Black men are particularly at risk—and Black gay and bisexual men have the highest risk in the nation.

Johnson's new project is admirable and it will be interesting to see who he recruits. Hip-hop remains the bastion of Black hyper-masculinity. Kanye West's public calls against homophobia were not embraced by the community. Lil B's I’m Gay (I’m Happy) album provoked death threats and homophobic slurs from some angry fans. To be continued ...

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SLDN to Sue Govt Over DOMA and Benefits for Spouses of Gay Troops

The Servicemembers Legal Defense Network will file a federal lawsuit that challenges the Defense of Marriage Act and other federal laws that ban recognition of same-sex marriage. The suit will argue the laws violate the Fifth Amendment right to due process because married same-sex couples are ineligible for the same benefits as their straight counterparts, reports the Huffington Post.

[Aubrey Sarvis, executive director of SLDN], spoke about his group's plans at the OutServe Armed Forces Leadership summit [in Las Vegas] over the weekend. The case would be brought by several currently serving members of the military who were married in the seven jurisdictions where same-sex marriages are legal. He declined to identify the plaintiffs.

"We're looking at all the legal remedies available," Sarvis said, noting that the group also is working to change Title 10 of the U.S. Code, which governs the armed forces and defines marriage as between two individuals of the opposite sex. ...

While gay military couples are now eligible for "member-designated" benefits such as group life insurance, missing member notification and hospital visitation rights, DOMA keeps health care coverage and housing allowances off limits. Base housing or housing allowances and health insurance can account for as much as 40 percent of a service member's compensation, Sarvis noted, yet those benefits are not available to same-sex married service personnel.

"There is a huge disparity between gay and straight service members who are providing equal service, taking equal risks, making equal sacrifices," Sarvis said. "This inequity should not and cannot stand."

This is the second federal lawsuit in as many weeks that targets the military over the Defense of Marriage Act. Last week, an 18-year lesbian Navy veteran announced a lawsuit over disability benefits. But that case names the Department of Veterans Affairs "and does not touch upon the compensation of active-duty service members," adds the report.

The Obama Administration announced in February that it will NOT defend recent lawsuits challenging the Defense of Marriage Act, which prohibits federal recognition and benefits to same-sex couples. If the government chooses not to defend the case, it is likely that counsel hired by House Speaker John Boehner (R-OH) to defend DOMA's constitutionality will take the case.

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House Members Launch First Bipartisan HIV/AIDS Caucus

Democratic and Republican House members formally introduced the first-ever bipartisan Congressional HIV/AIDS Caucus. Fifty-nine Democrats and Republicans have united in pledging to spend more money for research and prevention efforts to fight the epidemic, reports the Huffington Post.

Led by House members Jim McDermott (D-WA), Barbara Lee (D-CA) and Trent Franks (R-AZ), the group marks the first time Republicans have joined with Democrats to create a group aimed at eradicating AIDS, which has claimed 25 million lives around the globe since 1981. Prior to Thursday, similar groups in Congress contained only Democrats. As of Thursday, three other Republicans have joined the caucus: House Foreign Affairs Committee Chair Rep. Ileana Ros-Lehitnen (FL), Rep. John Carter (TX) and freshman Rep. David McKinley (WV).

The caucus will focus funding and resources on those most impacted by the epidemic, many of which are communities of color, reports the Washington Independent. But:

No mention was made of federal legislation Lee is currently working on to repeal state laws that criminalize individuals with HIV. The Michigan Messenger has extensively reported on cases where HIV-positive individuals have been charged with felonies, such as the case of Daniel Allen from Clinton Township, Mich., who in 2009 was charged with bio-terrorism for biting his neighbor. ... One of Lee’s staffers told TAI that the representative’s legislation, currently known as the “Repeal HIV Discrimination Act,” is still in the drafting stage. Currently, 34 states have criminal statutes based on exposure to HIV.

Housing Works has criticized the new caucus for having "no specific legislative objectives" and for neglecting to mention the crisis over funding life-saving HIV/AIDS medications.

No caucus members mentioned the country’s most pressing HIV/AIDS issue—the growing number of people who cannot access HIV-related medication through the country’s AIDS Drug Assistance Programs. "Just forming isn’t enough," said Larry Bryant, Housing Works’ director for national organizing. "We’ve seen many press conferences where the words don’t travel beyond the beltway. It’s not going to matter what was said today if we don’t see real changes put in place."

The recession has forced a number of states to slash funding to the ADAP, the federal/state program that helps low-income, people living with HIV/AIDS pay for their expensive, life-saving medications. Those in the program are disproportionately black, many of the men are gay or bisexual. In 2010, at least a dozen states closed enrollment in ADAP. Virginia recently closed enrollment in its ADAP program.

King & Spalding Law Firm Drops House DOMA Defense

After a week of mounting criticism, the law firm retained to defend the Defense of Marriage Act (DOMA) on behalf of the U.S. House of Representatives has announced it will withdraw from the case.

Paul Clement, the former solicitor general in the George W. Bush Administration, was named to lead the defense for King & Spalding. Via a spokesman, K&S Chairman Robert D. Hays, Jr. released this statement to Ben Smith at Politico:

Today the firm filed a motion to withdraw from its engagement to represent the Bipartisan Legal Advisory Group of the House of Representatives on the constitutional issues regarding Section III of the 1996 Defense of Marriage Act. Last week we worked diligently through the process required for withdrawal.

In reviewing this assignment further, I determined that the process used for vetting this engagement was inadequate. Ultimately I am responsible for any mistakes that occurred and apologize for the challenges this may have created.

King & Spalding faced a major public relations backlash after it was reported they were being paid up to $500,000 to defend the discriminatory anti-gay 1996 law. More questions were raised after Chris Geidner at MetroWeekly reported that the contract placed a "gag" order on all firm employees relating to DOMA. Employees were prohibited from any advocating or lobbying to repeal DOMA.

Shortly after the announcement was made, the Amanda Terkel at the Huffington Post reported that Paul Clement submitted his letter of resignation. "In his resignation letter, Clement stated that he is joining Bancroft PLLC, which is led by former Bush administration officials. Clement will continue to represent the House on the case while at Bancroft."

House Speaker John Boehner pushed for outside counsel to defend DOMA after the Obama Administration announced in February that it will no longer defend recent lawsuits challenging DOMA Section Three, which prohibits federal recognition of same-sex couples and denies all federal benefits, such as Social Security and health care.

Former NFLer Marcellus Wiley Says NFL "Has No Tolerance" of Gays

Openly gay Welsh rugby star Gareth Thomas was recently profiled on HBO's Real Sports. Thomas has been welcomed by the rugby union and has even engaged in a Twitter bromance with rugby hotness Nick Youngquest. "Unfortunately" that could not happen "right now" in the hyper masculine locker rooms of pro-football, former NFL defensive lineman and current ESPN football analyst Marcellus Wiley says in a refreshingly candid interview at The Huffington Post.

It would really be tough for a gay guy in the NFL, for the locker room to understand him as a homosexual -- I'm not saying it's impossible to pull off, but I'm saying right now the fear of coming out of the closet and more so coming out in the locker room would really be too tremendous to overcome.

While playing for the Buffalo Bills, Wiley was a teammate of Esera Tuaolo, who later came out of the closet. Wiley says teammates "suspected" Tuaolo was gay and sometimes joked about it. "It's unfortunate because it shouldn't be that way," Wiley said.

I understand that the locker room is pretty intimate. I do understand that there are 53 guys walking around nude at times and I do understand how guys may feel uncomfortable, but I don't think that it should impair someone's decision to live their life, have their freedoms and express themselves. I don't know whether that will be five, ten or twenty years from now but right now the NFL culture has no tolerance toward it.

Marcellus was born in Compton and later graduated with top honors from Columbia University. Wiley says living in New York City taught him to respect and tolerate diversity.

SAfrica: Thousands of Protesters Seek More U.S. HIV/AIDS Funding

Thousands of protesters marched on the U.S. consulate in Johannesburg, South Africa and demanded the United States increase its HIV/AIDS funding for Africa, reports the  AP.

 

"The protesters, clad in green T-shirts emblazoned with the words "HIV-Positive," marched before the consulate in a wealthy northern suburb of Johannesburg to demand that the U.S. government increase its contribution to the Global Fund on AIDS, TB and Malaria to $2.8 billion by 2013. Protest organizers said the lack of a significant increase in the President's Emergency Plan for AIDS Relief – a major funder of AIDS programs around the world – has led clinics to run out of drugs and forced providers to ration treatment.

"Officials from the international program, known as PEPFAR, say this year's budget had increased only marginally, from $6.8 billion in 2010 to nearly $7 billion for 2011. ... U.S. officials in South Africa said in a statement that the country's share has increased, and that 'the U.S. remains fully committed to the fight against HIV/AIDS, especially in Africa, and remains the largest funder and technical adviser of the global response.'"

On May 13 in New York City, a similar demonstration protested the Administration's record on HIV/AIDS funding in Africa.  

South Africa boasts an estimated 5.7 million people infected with HIV, more than any other nation in the world.

In April, South Africa launched the world's largest HIV testing and treatment program, aimed at providing drugs to 80% of HIV-positive people and testing 15 million people by June 2011. The ambitious strategy comes after years of AIDS denialist leadership by the South African government—and an estimated of 365,000 HIV-related deaths that could have been prevented.