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News This Week in DADT October 22, 2010 By Kerry Eleveld and Andrew Harmon Confused by the rapid-fire news on "don't ask, don't tell" this week? You're not alone. Here's a breakdown of what happened.
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News Alaska Sen. Candidate’s Antigay Adviser October 22, 2010 By Advocate.com Editors Sarah Palin–endorsed, Tea Party–backed GOP candidate for Alaska senator Joe Miller can add another antigay bullet point to his résumé. One of his campaign advisers is a self-described “Christian educator” whose organization denounced Rush Limbaugh for having Elton John appear at his wedding.
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News Fla. Gay Adoption Ban No More October 22, 2010 By Advocate.com Editors Florida attorney general Bill McCollum (pictured) will not appeal last month's court ruling that struck down the state's gay adoption ban, spelling the end of the 33-year-old law.
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News Gay Adoption Decision Due Today October 22, 2010 By Advocate.com Editors Florida attorney general Bill McCollum must decide before the end of today whether to appeal a ruling that overturned the ban on adoptions by gay people. More >

News Gold's Gym Gives Money to Rove Org. October 22, 2010 By Advocate.com Editors Robert Rowling, the CEO of the company that owns Gold's Gym, has donated more than $2 million to American Crossroads, Karl Rove's organization that works to elect antigay politicians. More >

News NOM Wants Freedom in Political Ads October 22, 2010 By Advocate.com Editors The antigay National Organization for Marriage is making progress in its legal efforts to spend money on political ads without scrutiny.
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News Push for Marriage Vote in Australia October 22, 2010 By Advocate.com Editors Some Australian politicians are issuing calls for a conscience vote on marriage equality following a poll showing overwhelming public support for the vote.
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News Young Professionals Step Up for Trevor October 22, 2010 By Julie Bolcer Young professionals spearheaded an inaugural fall event for the Trevor Project in New York City that raised more than $30,000 for LGBT youth suicide prevention efforts.
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Commentary

The Church's Closet Door
The Reverend Darlene Garner says the closet door and closeted pastors are warping the church and killing young people.
Duane: Seen It All Before New York State senator Thomas Duane says Obama's appeal of the anti-DOMA ruling is just the latest example of a politician claiming to be a friend of LGBTs while at the same time insisting his hands are tied.
Selective OutrageCOMMENTARY: Gays call out the hypocrisy and homophobia of conservative Christianity with remarkable élan. Why isn’t Islam being held to the same standard?
Revive the Conversation Commentary: Why HIV/AIDS issues need to return to the forefront of the gay community's collective consciousness.
Eddie Long and the Black Church
Advocate contributor Clay Cane says homophobia in the black church is to blame for Bishop Eddie Long's alleged crimes — crimes that will continue as long as gays and their supporters let the hate speech slide.

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Election

Kentucky's Gay HopeHe's 24, he'd had a brush with death, and he hasn't even finished college, but Matthew Vanderpool might be Kentucky's best chance at ousting one of the state's most antigay legislators.
Transforming Oklahoma
Brittany Novotny is hoping to become Oklahoma's first transgender state representative — by giving the boot to Sally Kern.
Big Gay Presence in Illinois Primary
Tuesday’s Illinois primary election boasted numerous openly gay candidates and saw wins for several.
Annise Parker: The Advocate Interview
Following her historic election in Houston over the weekend, mayor-elect Annise Parker talks about her hard-fought campaign—and her emerging role as a gay politician on the national scene.
Limited Bang for Focus Bucks
Right-wing group's spending gets desired results in Maine but not in Washington.

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Marriage Equality

White House Meeting Heats UpA White House meeting with state equality organizations has inflamed the blogosphere after LGBT Liaison Brian Bond said he was frustrated with bloggers criticisizing an administration that is "99 percent" supportive on equality issues.
Prop. 8 LessonsL.A. Gay and Lesbian Center CEO Lorri L. Jean explains what the new Prop. 8 analysis means for changing the grassroots game plan and winning over voters.
Marriage is a Bad WordCOMMENTARY: Porn entrepreneur and Advocate columnist Michael Lucas says that the fight over the word marriage stifles the fight for true equality
Marriage, Hawaiian StyleIn the Aloha State, legal same-sex marriage is almost a reality for the first time ever. Where do we go from here?
State of the UnionsThe fierce battle in Vermont to recognize gay relationships will have a ripple effect beyond the state’s borders.

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Media

“We Don’t Discriminate,” Says BBC
Reports that a gay couple was denied admittance into a taping of Top Gear, a British television show for car enthusiasts, have forced the BBC to release a statement insisting that it does not discriminate against gays.
Can Rupert Murdoch Create Two Americas?

Rupert Murdoch wants to make all the news his News Corp. media empire generates unavailable to Google users. Is this mere folly or a move that could further divide our divided nation?
Video Honors Judy and Dennis Shepard
Just hours before President Obama is scheduled to sign the Matthew Shepard and James Bryd, Jr. Hate Crimes Prevention Act (scheduled for 2:30 p.m. Eastern), the Human Rights Campaign has released a tribute video to Judy and Dennis Shepard, who have lobbied for passage of this legislation since they lost their son Matthew to hate-motivated murder in 1998.
Westboro Denounced in New Jersey
Members of the Westboro Baptist Church found themselves outnumbered during their anti-Semitic protest at Rutgers University on Wednesday.
Fired: News Anchor Charles Perez Speaks
Allegedly fired for being "too gay," former Miami news anchor Charles Perez talks to Advocate.com about his termination, his gay boss, and Anderson Cooper.

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Military

Repeal Rhetoric The government's escalating opposition to a federal court order barring enforcement of "don't ask, don't tell" rests on threadbare arguments and false assumptions, writes Maj. Mike Almy, who was discharged from the U.S. Air Force in 2006 under the policy.
A Tale of Two TrialsUnlike with the closely monitored Prop. 8 case, few people paid attention to the Log Cabin Republicans’ suit against the federal government—that is, until a judge ruled “don’t ask, don’t tell” unconstitutional.
Awaiting Our Fierce Advocate President Obama still has a chance to make it right on the repeal of "don't ask, don't tell," writes Palm Center deputy executive director Christopher Neff.
DADT in Reid’s Hands
Senate Democrats will have just four weeks to vote on DADT upon their return next week, otherwise it may not pass before the end of the year.
White House Meeting Heats UpA White House meeting with state equality organizations has inflamed the blogosphere after LGBT Liaison Brian Bond said he was frustrated with bloggers criticisizing an administration that is "99 percent" supportive on equality issues.

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Politicians

Unlocking the Conservative ClosetFrom Ken Mehlman to Ted Olson, a short list of GOP icons now taking a stand for gay rights primes the next generation of Republicans to come out.
Michael Lucas on Bad JournalismIranian president Mahmoud Ahmadinejad has now addressed the United Nations six times — Michael Lucas wants to know, Where are the tough questions?
DADT in Reid’s Hands
Senate Democrats will have just four weeks to vote on DADT upon their return next week, otherwise it may not pass before the end of the year.
White House Meeting Heats UpA White House meeting with state equality organizations has inflamed the blogosphere after LGBT Liaison Brian Bond said he was frustrated with bloggers criticisizing an administration that is "99 percent" supportive on equality issues.
King of the Cabin
The new executive director of Log Cabin Republicans, R. Clarke Cooper, on BP, the GOP, and DADT.

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Prop. 8

After 8California celebrates the defeat of Proposition 8, and though the party was short-lived, the enthusiasm captured in these images will certainly help fuel the continued battle for marriage equality.
Formal Prop. 8 Appeal Filed
Marriage equality foes jumped at the chance to appeal Judge Vaughn Walker's decision striking down Prop. 8 and formally filed an appeal Thursday morning.
Streisand's Statement on Prop. 8 RulingBarbra Streisand has released a statement in response to chief U.S. district judge Vaughn Walker's decision deeming California's Proposition 8, banning gay marriage, unconstitutional.
Boies Attacks Antigay Spin MachineIn a celebratory West Hollywood rally following Wednesday's historic court decision striking down Proposition 8, co-lead attorney David Boies told a cheering crowd that anti-marriage equality forces "are not going to be prepared to deal with what the opinion has found."
Fiorina Opposed to Prop. 8 RulingRepublican U.S. Senate candidate Carly Fiorina said she disagrees with the federal ruling that overturned the same-sex marriage ban in California.

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Washington D.C.

View From WashingtonA series of strange and unfortunate circumstances culminated in two notable LGBT advancements this week delivered by President Barack Obama and Defense secretary Robert Gates.
View From Washington
The week's news held some clues as to who will be calling the shots on DADT after the midterms. Defense secretary Robert Gates promises to be the linchpin.
View From WashingtonAs Congress adjourned for the midterms, President Obama took his fight to the campaign trail, but where was he when the LGBT community needed him?
View From WashingtonTwo competing fund-raisers were held Wednesday night in Manhattan, one chock-full of conservatives and another laden with liberals. But which one did more to advance LGBT equality?
View From Washington
With law scholars on one side and the president of the United States on the other, key rulings in favor of gay rights show Obama may be on the wrong side of a growing trend.

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Video