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

Adrian Peterson Wouldn't Mind Gay Player, Concerned About Showers

Minnesota Vikings superstar running back and sporno hotness Adrian Peterson continues discussing all things gay ...

The 2012 NFL MVP made national headlines last week after announcing that he was "not with" gay marriage. And on Monday, the former University of Oklahoma phenom told The Oklahoman that he wouldn't mind having a gay teammate ... but the shower situation could make him "uncomfortable"

Peterson said an openly homosexual teammate "really wouldn't bother me that much" ... [but] did admit, though, that some aspects of it might make him uncomfortable.

"Simple things, as far as showers and things like that, you know, of course, anyone would be uncomfortable," Peterson said Monday. "But you know, I'm a grown man. There's things that I can deal with. I'm comfortable in my skin. I'll still high-five them. Pat them on the butt when he's doing good, and go on about my business."

Baby steps, bro ...

Peterson caused some controversy when he made this statement last week:

"To each his own [but] I’m not with it. I have relatives that are gay. I’m not biased towards them. I still treat them the same. I love them. But again, I’m not with that. That’s not something I believe in. But to each his own."

Meanwhile: Super Bowl champion and NFL legend Joe Namath appeared on HuffPost Live over the weekend and said homophobic players should "get over it."

"I have friends that are gay. I've worked in theater, I've been in art. We work shoulder to shoulder. There's a lot of love from me to them, too. That's life. And if you've got a hangup about it, I hope you can get over it because it's real."

Adrian Peterson's original remarks on marriage were asked in the context on Minnesota's new equal marriage law. On May 13, Minesota joined Delaware and Rhode Island to become the third state to approve marriage equality within two weeks. Minnesota and Rhode Island's laws become effective August 1. Twelve states and the District of Columbia will now allow same-sex marriage.  

You May Have Missed:
Vikings RB Adrian Peterson "Not With" Gay Marriage
PHOTO: Reggie Bush and Adrian Peterson Share a Moment
Is Bigger Better? Adrian Peterson Wants to Bulk Up
Nude Adrian Peterson Covers ESPN's "Body Issue"
Vikings Adrian Peterson Covers "Muscle & Fitness"
NFL's Ayanbadejo and Kluwe File SCOTUS Briefs

Vikings RB/NFL MVP Adrian Peterson "Not With" Gay Marriage

Minnesota Vikings superstar running back, 2012 NFL MVP and sporno hotness Adrian Peterson is not down "with" marriage equality, he told SIRIUS XM's Amani Toomer and Bruce Murray on Thursday.

Peterson ... said that he personally isn’t open to the question of same-sex marriage, but won’t come out strongly against it. Much like other hot-button topics such as abortion – it may be spiritually reprehensible to his own sensibilities, he doesn’t feel he can speak for those who feel strongly with a differing opinion. "To each his own [but] I’m not with it," Peterson said. "I have relatives that are gay. I’m not biased towards them. I still treat them the same. I love them."

Peterson also remarked on the recent loss of his teammate Chris Kluwe. Peterson does not believe the punter's pro-LGBT advocacy contributed to his dismissal.

"It hurt me to see him leave," Peterson said. “He was a good friend of mine and a really cool guy – probably one of the smartest guys I’ve ever been around. ... I’m sure the Vikings organization didn’t release him based on [his politics]. They know Kluwe. They’ve been knowing him for a long time. They know he’s outspoken."

Down "with" it or not, marriage equality is now the law of the land in Minnesota. On May 13, Minnesota joined Delaware and Rhode Island to become the third state to approve marriage equality within two weeks. Minnesota and Rhode Island's laws become effective August 1. Twelve states and the District of Columbia will now allow same-sex marriage.

You May Have Missed:
PHOTO: Reggie Bush and Adrian Peterson Share a Moment
Is Bigger Better? Adrian Peterson Wants to Bulk Up
Nude Adrian Peterson Covers ESPN's "Body Issue"
Vikings Adrian Peterson Covers "Muscle & Fitness"
NFL's Ayanbadejo and Kluwe File SCOTUS Briefs

Minnesota Becomes the 12th State to Allow Marriage Equality

In an historic vote, Minnesota has become the latest state to approve equal marriage. Today's vote in the state senate means that Minnesota will join 11 states and the District of Columbia to allow same-sex marriage.

Minnesota also becomes "the first state in the Midwest" to approve equal marriage by legislative vote, adds KSTP.

The Senate vote of 37-30 came four days after the House passed the bill on a 75-59 vote. When the tally was announced after more than four hours of debate, a huge cheer erupted in the chamber and gallery, where spectators stood and applauded. Minnesota will become the first state in the Midwest to make gay marriage legal via a legislative vote. Iowa legalized same-sex marriage in 2009 through a court ruling.

Last week, Dayton, a Democrat, called the bill "one of those society-changing breakthrough moments." His staff scheduled a signing ceremony for 5 p.m. Tuesday on the Capitol steps.

It's a rapid turnaround for gay marriage supporters, who just six months ago had to organize a massive effort to defeat a constitutional amendment that would have banned gay marriage. The groups who defeated the amendment quickly turned their attention to legalizing gay marriage, and their efforts were aided by Democrats capturing full control of state government in November.

Three Democrats voted against the bill. One Republican voted yes.

Minnesota joins Delaware and Rhode Island to becomes the third state to approve marriage equality in the last two weeks. Minnesota and Rhode Island's laws become effective August 1.

Take that, Michele Bachmann and Tim Pawlenty!

NFL's Ayanbadejo and Kluwe File SCOTUS Briefs Opposing Prop 8

Very nice. Baltimore Ravens linebacker Brendon Ayanbadejo and Minneapolis Vikings punter Chris Kluwe are perhaps two of our strongest straight allies in the fight for equality. The two pro football players are among the hundreds of legislators, politicians, employers and government agencies who submitted briefs to the Supreme Court opposing Proposition 8. The Obama Administration has also submitted an amicus brief.

The brief reads in part:

"In short, just as application of the labels “gay” and “queer” in derogation indicate that one class of people is inferior, deprival of the label and status “married” equally indicates that the class is inferior. Even a fifth grader knows that words have very serious meaning, and even a fifth grader can see that the proponents of Proposition 8 provide no reasoned, evidence-based rationale for taking away that label and that all-important status. In America, there truly is no freedom until we’re equal."

And:

"When we advance the idea that some people should be treated differently because of who they are, demeaned in public as lesser beings, not worthy of the same rights and benefits as others despite their actions as good citizens and neighbors, then we deny them equal protection under the laws. America has walked this path before, and courageous people and the Court brought us to the right result. We urge the Court to repeat those actions here."

The brief can be read HERE.

On March 26, the Supreme Court will hear oral arguments on the challenges to California's Proposition 8, the voter-approved same-sex marriage ban passed in November 2008. The court will also hear a challenge to the Defense of Marriage Act. DOMA oral arguments begin March 27.

Brendon Ayanbadejo announced that he would leverage his appearance at the Super Bowl into a platform for equality. Looks like he has more than delivered. Kluwe has also been a strong supporter for equality and was a vocal advocate in the successful fight against Minnesota's proposed marriage amendment.

Brendon Ayanbadejo Coverage on R20:
Ayanabdejo to Speak Out for Equality at Super Bowl [EBONY]
Brendon Ayanbadejo Models Nipple Rings on the Field
Ravens LB Brendon Ayanbadejo Supports Marriage Equality
WaPo on Brendon Ayanbadejo's Support for Gay Marriage
Ravens LB Ayanbadejo for Maryland Marriage Equality
Ayanbadejo: "Being Gay is No Big Deal"

WNBA Star Proposes to Girlfriend, Criticizes MN Marriage Amendment

PHOTO: AP PHOTO/Seimone Augustus

One of the leading players in the WNBA says she will wed her girlfriend next year and will become more vocal about LGBT equality.

Seimone Augustus (right) is a guard for the Minnesota Lynx, a three time WNBA All-Star and won gold medals in women's basketball at the London and Beijing Olympic games. Augustus will wed her fiancee LaTaya Varner (left) in May. The November vote on a proposed constitutional amendment banning same-sex marriage in Minnesota prompted her to "speak out ... now", the openly lesbian athlete told the AP.

"I felt like it was the perfect time for me, being on a platform where I can make a change with my voice and my situation," Augustus [said]. "Maybe inspire someone else to come out and be comfortable with themselves. Or maybe someone else's parents will see my parents saying that it's OK to be with your child and love your child unconditionally regardless of your sexual preference."

Augustus came out to supportive parents when she was still in high school and has never hidden the fact that she's lesbian. But it wasn't until she proposed to Varner on Miami Beach that she started feeling comfortable with the idea of taking things public.

"I just never understood why someone else's love life and who they love and who they choose to be with affects so many other people's lives," Augustus said. "Is it a scare of, 'Gay people are going to be running around and everyone's going to turn gay?' I never understood the whole point of opposing or hating someone else's happiness."

Augustus and Varner met in June 2007 There's a beautiful feature in today's Star-Tribune that describes how they met, their first date ("Chicken and waffles") and how they fell in love. "I couldn't see myself with anybody else than her," said Varner.

The couple talks more about their relationship and the marriage amendment in a video interview. Note: Augustus erroneously says that "if it passes" in November, their marriage would be legal. Not true. Same-sex marriages are prohibited by statute in Minnesota. With that aside, it's still a great interview. Watch it AFTER THE JUMP ...

REPORT, PHOTOS: LGBT Strategy Session at Netroots Nation 2011

PHOTO: Rod McCullom

Building on the success of the path to "Don't Ask, Don't Tell" repeal, finding more effective strategies to pass the Employment Non-Discrimination Act and including transgender individuals in ENDA and immigration reform were among the strategies discussed at the 2011 Netroots Nation Strategy Session.

The LGBT caucus and strategy session had over 80 attendees, says Mike Rogers, the director of the Netroots Nation LGBT Netroots Connect program. Rogers has brought more than 50 attendees to Netroots Nation 2011 as part of a LGBT pre-conference and scholarship program.

Dr. Jillian T. Weiss facilitated the 90-minute conference. Weiss is a professor of law at Ramapo College of New Jersey, and a management consultant on transgender diversity. Weiss is also well known across the LGBT movement and virtual community as a contributor at Bilerico.com and for her work pushing ENDA.

The goal of the strategy session was to "capitalize upon what worked and didn't work" in pushing for DADT and DOMA repeal, as well as "synthesizing momentum" around the introduction of ENDA and the United American Families Act, said Dr. Weiss.

The session was divided into two groups: Those who worked with policy and on the "inside" track and those who worked in media, blogging and the "outside" track.  Chief among the frustrations: Finding an "optimum" narrative to win passage of ENDA.

"I can say what worked best on 'Don't Ask, Don't Tell'," said Freedom to Marry's New Media Director Michael Crawford, who co-facilitated one of the breakout sessions. "That was the personal narrative. I can say how we will win marriage, state by state, or a court strategy or even a DOMA repeal in Congress." But the movement "has yet to develop" a winning "narrative" on ENDA.

"And that's a shame because ENDA would effect 150 million people," added Weiss.

It's also important to keep ensure that our "media representatives are diverse" when buillding a narrative, added Pam's House Blend Editor Pam Spaulding.

Another chief concern: Transgender inclusion. "We obviously didn't have that in DADT because it was an 'LGB' issue but some of the organizations" were fearful around using trans case studies and spokespersons to push for ENDA, said Jos Truitt, the transgender activist and blogger at Feministing. Truitt and others said the need for trans inclusion was more imperative around ENDA, the United American Families Act and immigration reform.

Some images from the LGBT Strategy Session are HERE:

PHOTO: Live from the Daily Kos Lounge at Netroots Nation 2011

PHOTO: Rod McCullom

Power strips and lunch buffets? I'm soooo there.

The Daily Kos Lounge in the lower level of the Minneapolis Convention Center has become the gay e-telligentsia's de facto mobile office at Netroots Nation 2011. To the right are Scott Wooledge (aka @Clarknt67 from Daily Kos and Pam's House Blend), Joe Jervis and Jeremy Hooper. That's my laptop and BlackBerry on the table.

Still haven't figured out the inflatable kiddie pool.

PHOTOS: Finally! Netroots Nation 2011 Media Credentials, Tote Swag

I'm no longer anonymous! Last night, the Netroots Nation registration desk printer "went back online" and a staffer texted me to pick up my badge. As usual, the spelling is wrong, but no worries. I'm happy to be here.

The stylish Netroots Nation 2011 tote bag is filled with progressive swag from condoms to t-shirts, magazines and wristbands. Check it out WHEN YOU JUMP ...

LISTEN: Activist Viktor Kerney on LGBT Leadership and Diversity

Viktor Kerney is a Los Anegles-based collegiate student affairs administrator. He is also the blogger and activist behind the Black Weblog Award-nominated Southern4Life. Viktor is known across the Twitterverse as @Wondermann5—and has been critical on the lack of the diversity in LGBT media and organizations.

"I'm hoping Netroots Nation will change that," Kerney tells R20. "[LGBT media] will go to a few voices but there are many others as well. They need to challenge themselves and see what other people are writing,"

"I'm happy [some of us] are here," Kerney tells R20. "But [the relative few]  shows that we have to encourage our own to attend these events. I would like to see more Black LGBT leadership on the boards of major organizations. And more outreach towards finding more LGBT leaders of color."

This is Viktor's first Netroots Nation. He is one of about 40 bloggers and activists recruited on a scholarship program developed by the fabulous Mike Rogers and Netroots Nation. Listen:

VICTOR KERNEY

Minneapolis Morning: Rainbow Taxi

Can you imagine an announcer's voice: "When in Minneapolis, travel in gay comfort with the Rainbow Taxi Service!"

My chariot awaits but I'm walking this morning. At a $5 minimum and a $2.50 flag drop per mile, umm, it ain't a cheap ride. Luckily downtown Minnie is compact, beautiful and very easy to walk around.