Portia de Rossi, Dan Choi, state debates

By Project Q Atlanta | Feb 9, 2010 | 4:49 PM

Tuesday headlines find first gay federal judge nominee, Portia de Rossi’s priorities on Advocate’s cover, gay Army translator back in uniform, and wrangling in New Hampshire, Rhode Island, New Jersey and Virginia.

• Outspoken “Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell” opponent and openly gay former solider is back on active duty. A valuable Arabic translator Dan Choi (top photo), for many the face of the issue, took his post last weekend, about a week after two top brass testified in favor of repealing the ban.

• New Hampshire panel recommends against gay marriage repeal. The state House Judiciary committee also defeated a proposal to define marriage in the process as between one man and one woman.

• ACLU accuses Fresno Community College professor of anti-gay preaching in class. As a public school employee, he breaks California law by presenting his religious views as fact.

• Both Democratic Rhode Island gubernatorial candidates pledge to sign gay marriage into law. Even the Republican nominee has backed same-sex unions in the past, but hasn’t made any promises yet during the campaign.

• New Advocate covergirl Portia de Rossi (bottom photo) dishes on gay marriage, love and a new book. She says she puts gay rights above acting on her priority list.

• New Jersey gay group suspends all political donations after the defeat of gay marriage in the state. They want to send the message to both parties that they can’t depend on continued monetary support with no victories.

• Archbishop of Canterbury apologizes to gays. He says the infighting over ordination of women and gays in England should stop, and that he has been shown to underestimate the value of LGBT contributions to the church.

• First openly gay man nominated to become federal judge. The gay judge on the Prop 8 case was closeted when appointed.

• Virginia senate passes non-discrimination bill for state workers that includes bias on the basis of sexual orientation. This marks the first time either body of the Virginia General Assembly has passed such a measure. The 23-17 vote was divided almost exclusively across party lines.

• Will U.S. Supreme Court catch the gay marriage bouquet? Litigants on both sides of the Prop 8 trial are expected to appeal any outcome favoring the other side.