· Wanda Sykes becomes one of the new faces of gay activism and marriage equality in California and joins the board of directors of Equality California. On November 15 at a Proposition 8 protest in Las Vegas, the actress and comedienne officially came out of the closet. "I’m
proud to be a woman, I’m proud to be a black woman and I’m proud to be
gay."
· The Illinois civil unions bill appears to be stalled. Sponsors say it will take a back seat to the state's budget crisis and it seemed even less likely to be called "after FBI agents arrested Illinois Gov. Rod Blagojevich on federal corruption charges Tuesday, casting state leadership into disarray."
· Introducing model and "it boy" Zack Clark.
· The Lesbian and Gay Band Association will march in Barack Obama’s inaugural parade—the first LGBT group to ever participate in an inauguration.
· Iowa Supreme Court begins hearing oral arguments that the state’s 10-year-old law defining marriage as only "between
a male and female." violates the state constitution’s guarantee of equal
treatment and due process.
· CDC reports HIV transmission rates are falling in the United States. Only 5 percent of Americans infected with the HIV/AIDS virus "will infect someone else in any given year."
· The Advocate reports Obama will name openly gay Los Angeles
deputy mayor Nancy Sutley as chair of the Council of
Environmental Quality. "The
leaked announcement comes at a time when gay Democrats
have been beginning to express concerns over the
absence of LGBT representation in President-elect
Obama's senior-level appointees. ... She will
become the first out person named to a prominent
position in the administration by President-elect
Obama. Denis Dison of
the Gay and Lesbian Victory Fund said he was pleased to
see an LGBT appointee added to Obama's roster but still
has his sights set on a higher prize. 'I think the
community is still hoping that we will see an
openly LGBT cabinet secretary.' "
· Speaking of that: Is momentum building for openly gay union activist Mary Beth Maxwell as labor secretary? Greg Sargent at TPM reports former Rep. David Bonior, "who has deep roots in the labor movement, has
mounted an aggressive behind-the-scenes campaign, with letters and
personal lobbying, to press the Obama transition team and top labor
leaders to get behind ... Maxwell, who would make history as the first openly gay cabinet
member."
· Male escort claims "up to 30" top players paid him for sex.
· Oguchi Onyewu's milkshake brings all the football clubs to the yard. "Suitors from France and Germany already waiting to hear back on official bids" for the strapping 6-foot-4, 210 pound Washington DC-native. The struggling Blackburn Rovers of the England's Premiership "would also like to sign" Onyewu and the big defender "is likely at the top" of the team's Christmas list. That must be nice.
