Happy New Year's Eve!!!

Thanks for staying on this wonderful ride throughout 2011 and I am looking forward to being with you in 2012! Happy New Year! -Dave

Judge Rejects Last-Ditch Effort to Stop Hawaii's Civil Unions

A federal judge has rejected requests from two churches in Hawaii to block the state's civil union law from going into effect on Sunday. What took place?

Teens React to Rick Perry's Anti-Gay Advertisement (VIDEO)

My Top 3 Fave MUST SEE Gay Themed Videos of 2011 #equality #lgbt

Wicked LOL :: Best News Bloopers Of 2011

Via VJB

Just Because...

Arson String in West Hollywood

Nineteen incidents of arson were reported early Friday morning across Los Angeles, with four occurring in the city of West Hollywood, which is known as the L.A.'s gay area. Who is burning down this gay village?

Cartoonist Lashes Out After Amazon Pulls "Sissy" Calendar

"Amazon.com is no longer selling a controversial calendar by antigay cartoonist Joe King after several bloggers and LGBT organizations lobbied the online retailer to pull the item.

The calendar, "I'm Not Gay, I'm Just a Sissy: 12 Months of Sexual Confusion," was also pulled from Barnes & Noble on Wednesday.

King blasts, "Hoo-we! Hell hath no fury like a he/she scorned... The telephone tree of tantrums is lit up like a Las Vegas marquee for "Boy-Lesque" today with hate mail, threats of boycott and even the risk of Jesus spitting on me for my "Sissy" calendar. I SAID I WAS A SISSY UP FRONT. Ironic who the real bullies are isn't it? Let's see if I get a call from Oprah's people or even Anderson Cooper..."

He added, "The "truth" is that AIDS is an "elective" disease. It STOPS the day guys quit sticking it to each other. And for the tragedy of women and children infected... THAT stops the day their gay husbands and fathers stop cheating on them. Anyone need MORE education, science or funding to understand THAT?" (Source-The Advocate)

Wicked Sweet :: Friends for Life

Thanks to VJB for this one. I just love dogs so I had to share!

Google's Year In Review

Top 10 Gay Reasons to Vote GOP in 2012

"Republican presidential candidate Newt Gingrich told a gay Iowan recently that if LGBT issues were most important for him, then he should vote for Obama.

The GOP record on gay rights is pretty dismal compared to Democrats, but even so, in the 2010 elections, 31 percent of gay voters said they voted Republican. Surely these must not be single-issue gay voters.

But what if there were actual gay reasons for voting Republican? I stretched my powers of imagination and came up with a list of The Top Ten Gay Reasons to Vote GOP in the 2012 presidential elections."

Movie Crowds Dip to 16-Year Low as Apathy Lingers

Hollywood has more tricks in its bag than ever with digital 3-D and other new film tools. Yet as the images on screen get bigger and better, movie crowds keep shrinking - down to a 16-year low as 2011’s film lineup fell well short of studios’ record expectations.

Through New Year’s Eve on Saturday, projected domestic revenues for the year stand at $10.2 billion, down 3.5 percent from 2010’s, according to box-office tracker Hollywood.com. Taking higher ticket prices into account, movie attendance is off even more, with an estimated 1.28 billion tickets sold, a 4.4 percent decline and the smallest movie audience since 1995, when admissions totaled 1.26 billion. What has put the movie business in the dumps?

Hot or Not? You decide...

MEXICO: Gay Marriage Comes To Cancun

"Legal same-sex marriages are about to commence in the Mexican state of Quintana Roo, home to popular vacation destinations like Cancun.

Gay marriage is already legal in Mexico City and unions performed there are recognized throughout the nation. Hotels, airlines, and tour companies are already working to launch same-sex marriage packages to Cancun, Cozumel, and other beach towns in Quintana Roo." (Source-JMG)

Church Nativity Scene With Gay Figures Vandalized

Vandalism of a church’s Nativity display that includes depictions of gay and lesbian couples was being investigated as a hate crime, police said.

The damage at Claremont United Methodist Church occurred late Saturday or Sunday morning.

The display’s three panels feature silhouettes of three hand-holding couples - two men, two women and a heterosexual pair. The vandal knocked over the depictions of the gay and lesbian couples but left the straight couple alone. Full story here!

Should Presidential Candidates Get Involved with N.H. Marriage Debate?

Will marriage equality play a role in the New Hampshire primary?

With a vote on a bill that would repeal the state’s marriage equality law that could potentially coincide with the Jan. 10 presidential primary, this question remains all too real possibility. Will raising the issue with independent-minded New Hampshire voters prove an effective campaign strategy? Full story here!

I am seeing double...

Caption Needed...

Top 10 Gay News Stories of 2012

It was the best of times; it was the worst of times. Has there ever been an age when Dickens’ famous opening sentence wasn’t appropriate? But somehow, 2011 seemed to embody the very best and worst scenarios for us.

On the minus side, GOP presidential candidates tripped over each other in attempts to once again make us the scapegoats for America’s problems. Teen suicides occurred with alarming frequency, despite the "It Gets Better" campaign and other attempts to reach at-risk youth. In the Muslim Middle East, all over Africa, and in Jamaica, fanatics in government and on the streets, conducted mini gay Kristellnachts. And gay marriage is under threat in New Hampshire and Minnesota, two states usually considered reliably free of cant. Full story here!

Just Because... (Sonny Bill Williams)

More hot photos here!

Question of the Day :: What are your....

New Year's Eve Plans? Do you go out to dinner, family affair, quiet night in, crazy in a club? Share with us!

14 Reasons That Made 2011 Great for Trans People

This has been a game-changing year for transgender rights, says Mara Keisling, executive director of the National Center for Transgender Equality. Full story here!

Stuffed in the Steamroom

What happens when a nanny cam records what takes place in a West Hollywood gym steam room...

Bishop Eddie Long’s School Shuts Its Doors

Students who attended Bishop Eddie Long’s New Birth Christian Academy were in for a surprise when their parents received a letter explaining that the school would be shutting down after Christmas break, reported the Christian Post in a Dec. 28 article. Full story here!

Backlash hits Kelly Clarkson over Paul endorsement

On Wednesday night American Idol winner Kelly Clarkson tweeted her support for Republican presidential candidate Ron Paul.

Negative reaction to Clarkson’s endorsement was immediate. The Washington Post reported this morning: "This informal endorsement of Republican presidential hopeful Ron Paul set off a firestorm of angry tweets, with people accusing Clarkson of supporting racism and the death penalty, and of not supporting equal rights for same-sex couples. One Twitter user called her ’stupid,’ while another tweeted, ’Now THAT is how you get someone to unfollow you on Twitter ... and in your career. Good luck - you’ll need it.’" Full story here!

Marriage Equality Debate Continues in New England in 2011

Rhode Island’s civil unions law took effect in July, while Maine activists collected enough signatures to prompt a 2012 marriage equality referendum. New Hampshire voters are poised to vote on a marriage equality repeal bill in January. Full story here!

WGB: Please share what equality measures are taking place where you live. Feel free to even add a link in the comments and I will blog it.

VIDEO OF THE WEEK :: Hillary Clinton's Historic UN Speech - Now with Music and Visuals

WGB: What an INCREDIBLE clip done with excellent music and stimulating visuals. Thank you Hillary for being an International voice for to those who have no voice.

Good Morning from Wicked Gay Blog...

Just Because...

Caption Needed...

Republican Presidential Candidate Michelle Bachmann Highlights Antigay Positions

In the final days leading up to the Iowa presidential caucus, Michelle Bachmann is touting herself as more anti–marriage equality and anti–abortion rights than her opponents.

“I have a record of defending life, marriage, and the family, and I’ll protect them as president of the United States.” Full story here!

WGB: Are there any Michelle Bachmann supporters who read this blog? If yes, I was wondering why.

Channing Tatum relives stripper past in upcoming ’Magic Mike’

"Soderbergh cast Tatum in the cast in the title role, as well as hottie Alex Pettyfer as a stripper named the Kid whom Tatum takes under his wing in the strip club where the film takes place. Joining them onstage (and in the film) are Joe Manganiello (of "True Blood") and Matthew McConaughey.

Manganiello and McConaughey. play a strippers named Big Dick Richie and Texas respectively. Also in the cast is Matt Bomer (from USA’s hit series "White Collar")." Full story here via Edge New England!

Just Because...

Being Gay is a Gift from God (VIDEO)

Ryan Bertroche is Cute as Fuck!

LGBT travel rebounds in the past year, survey shows

"Community Marketing Inc. (CMI) recently completed its 16th annual Gay & Lesbian Tourism Study, which surveyed over 10,000 LGBT participants.

CMI compiled responses from self-identified gay and lesbian consumers who read LGBT publications, visit LGBT websites and attend LGBT events. The company estimates that LGBT travelers have an economic impact of over $65 billion per year in the U.S. alone.

Overall, the LGBT community has increased their travel in the last year, compared to the year before. Most destinations surveyed increased LGBT travel by 1% to 3% in the past year. This is in contrast to the last two years, which saw a decrease in LGBT travel due to the global economic recession.

Considering their size and number of hotel rooms, Provincetown, Key West and Palm Springs scored extremely well in all three indicators. If you would analyze the data by number of hotel rooms in a destination, these three destinations would be the most popular in the United States." Full story here!

Cities with the most gay couples are smarter, wealthier and more fun

"A new study has determined the gayest cities in America in 2011, both big and small, using the latest Census data. The Census had to rely on individuals volunteering their sexual orientation, so while it's not a perfect science, it's as close as we're going to get to the quantification of gay couples in the US. And it's full of some surprising (Minneapolis? Really?) and not-so-surprising (Hi, San Fran!) results.

The top larger-sized cities (population above 250,000) for same-sex couples includes: San Francisco, CA; Seattle, WA; Oakland, CA; Minneapolis, MN; Atlanta, GA; Portland, OR; Long Beach, CA; Washington, DC; Boston, MA and Denver CO.

The top smaller-sized cities (population below 100,000) for same-sex couples include: Provincetown, MA; Wilton Manors, FL; Palm Springs, CA; Rehoboth Beach, DE; Guerneville, CA; West Hollywood, CA; Pleasant Ridge, MI; New Hope, PA; Rancho Mirage, CA; Oakland Park, FL. No New Jersey town or city made the cut.

But it gets more interesting when we piece together other data about our nation's gayest cities. District of Columbia, Boston, San Francisco, Seattle, Minneapolis and Denver rank in the top 25 for the most educated cities in the country, and District of Columbia, San Francisco, Boston, Seattle and Minneapolis all landed on the highest earners list as well.

And is it surprising that out of the gayest cities, Boston, San Francisco, Seattle, Portland, Minneapolis and Denver were voted in the top 20 for most fun in the country? I think not." Full story here!

Ron Paul's Newsletters Get Tweeted

"Somebody is tweeting out Ron Paul's infamous newsletters, line by bigoted racist line."  (Via JMG)

Barnes & Noble, Amazon.com Sells Offensive “I’m Not Gay, I’m Just a Sissy” Calendar

"Both Amazon and Barnes & Noble are selling a HIGHLY offensive 2012 Calendar called ”I’m Not Gay, I’m Just a Sissy” wall calendar by “so called” Christian cartoonist Joe King.

So ofensive is this calendar that the cartoonist makes AIDS a target of his “Christian humor” by making fun of World AIDS Day with a sign that says, “We All Have AIDS.” Full story here!

Wicked Unsurprising Ron Paul Tidbit

Michael Heath, the head of Ron Paul's Iowa campaign staff, is also on the board of directors for Peter LaBarbera's SPLC-certified anti-gay hate group, Americans For Truth About Homosexuality. In 2009 Heath headed Maine's Christian Civic League. More at Box Turtle Bulletin.  Via JMG

Hot Jock of the Day :: Rugger Chris Robshaw

Chris Robshaw (born 4 June 1986) is a rugby union player and captain of Harlequins in the Aviva Premiership. Robshaw's position of choice is in the back-row, specifically blind-side flanker.

Same-Sex Couples Pay More Taxes, Have Fewer Rights....

CNNMoney reports that the federal government’s lack of recognition of same-sex marriages, which forces legally married couples to file separately on their federal returns, results in as much as $6,000 per year in additional taxes. Full story here!

Gingrich Promises Presidential Commission On Ending The Separation Of Church/State

Via JMG: "Newt Gingrich has published a document vowing that "on Day One" of his presidency he will create a commission to investigate any attempt to enforce the separation of church and state. He also promises that he will thwart any attempt to stop the religious bullying of LGBT students. Effectively, Gingrich is saying that he endorses the right of Christians to express "their conscience" and harass, threaten, bully, and beat LGBT kids if God says they should."

Just Because...

Let Your Money Talk to Help LGBT Organizations

A new report shows that less than 3% of LGBT adults in the U.S. gave money to any national LGBT organization, but that hasn’t stopped those who don’t donate from criticizing.  That’s a legitimate concern in today’s tight economy. And most people cannot afford the larger amounts that LGBT organizations historically favor for their marquee fundraising events. But certainly far more than 3% of the LGBT adult population can afford to give $35, $50 or even $100 a year. Give up a few more cocktails; your waistline will appreciate it and so will your local or national LGBT group. With the rise of email and online solicitations, organizations welcome small donations.  Full story here!

WGB: What a sad statistic.  I was actually shocked to read this article.