The American Film Institute’s AFI FEST 2012 is returning this year to Grauman's Chinese Theater, the Chinese 6 Theaters, and the Egyptian Theater in Los Angeles, Calif. from November 1 to 8 and will offer screenings of some of the fall’s most anticipated films.

Among the festival lineup are two LGBT-inclusive foreign films: a lesbian romance from Mexican director Raul Fuentes, and a trans-inclusive love story by Quebecois filmmaker Xavier Dolan.

Shot in black and white, Everybody’s Got Somebody… Not Me follows Alejandra, an intellectual but narrow-minded, middle-aged woman who struggles with maintaining friendships and romantic relationships until she meets Maria, an 18-year-old student.  Maria is intrigued by Alejandra’s sophisticated world but is not willing to let go of her teenage activities. As Alejandra tries to control Maria’s interests, the couple is forced to face their differences.

The film will be shown on Tuesday, November 6 at 4:45pm and Friday, November 2 at 10:00pm at the Chinese 6 Theaters.

Set in the 1990s, Laurence Anyways portrays the challenges faced by Laurence and his girlfriend, Fred, when Laurence announces that he wants to transition to living as a woman. The two are madly in love but their relationship is put to the test when they face hostile family members, friends and a society that doesn’t always understand Laurence’s gender identity. The film received the Queer Palm Award at the 2012 Cannes Film Festival and won the award for Best Canadian Feature Film at the 2012 Toronto International Film Festival.

The film will be screening on Tuesday, November 6 at 5:00pm at the Chinese 6 Theaters and Friday, November 3 at 10:00pm at the Egyptian Theater.

To get tickets and learn more about this year’s AFI FEST 2012 lineup head to the festival’s website, here.

Tonight catch all new episodes of The Office, Grey's Anatomy and Scandal.

What to Watch: Thursday, October 25

9:00pm: The Office, NBC (30 mins) NEW

Andy invites his college singing groups to perform at the office's Halloween party which leads to a fight with his college enemy played by Stephen Colbert. Meanwhile, Dwight tries to track down a suspect in the office and Jim and Pam clash over his new job.

9:00pm: Grey's Anatomy, ABC (1 hr) NEW

Callie and Alex are forced to confront their guilt as Arizona works to accept how her life will change following her amputation. Catherine returns to town to help Richard and Meredith struggles to find a balance between her own career and the worry that Derek will soon lose his.

10:00pm: Scandal, ABC (1 hr) NEW

A college student goes missing and her parents turn to Olivia for help and Fitz is feeling the pressure as Mellie makes some behind the scenes moves. Check out a sneak peek below.

This morning and afternoon, check your local listings for information about Ellen, The Talk (CBS) and The Chew (ABC). Days of Our Lives on NBC (check local listings for time) features gay character Will as a series regular; keep an eye out for developments between Will and recurring gay characters Sonny and Neil.

_____________________________

About TV Gayed
Grab the remote or set your DVR! GLAAD brings you the most up-to-date listing of LGBT content on television every weekday. Check GLAAD Blog for daily TV Gayed posts!

About GLAAD
The Gay & Lesbian Alliance Against Defamation (GLAAD) amplifies the voice of the lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender community by empowering real people to share their stories, holding the media accountable for the words and images they present, and helping grassroots organizations communicate effectively. By ensuring that the stories of LGBT people are heard through the media, GLAAD promotes understanding, increases acceptance, and advances equality. For more information, see www.glaad.org, www.facebook.com/glaad and www.twitter.com/glaad.

Pastor Brad Brandon has earned a place on GLAAD’s Commentator Accountability Project.

Who is Brad Brandon? Well, he’s the Director of Church Outreach for Minnesota for Marriage, the anti-LGBT activist organization pushing Minnesota’s anti-marriage equality constitutional amendment, which goes before voters on November 6. He’s also the pastor of Berean Bible Baptist Church in Hastings, Minnesota. He’s also someone who has a record of saying some extreme things about LGBT people.

Pastor Brandon’s latest offense occurred during a series Minnesota for Marriage events, in which he compared marriage equality supporters to Hitler. He sees the lack of support for the anti-marriage equality amendment as an assault on his religious freedom. His direct quote:

[Hitler] removed their voices in the public square and removed their control of their own businesses. So, he stopped Jewish people from speaking out in public and he silenced them.

Pastor Brandon presented this comparison at least three times before an audience member, who lost a significant portion of her family in the Holocaust, pointed out how outrageous and offensive his comparison was.

Minnesota for Marriage has apologized for the Holocaust analogy, but not for the sentiment behind it.

This is not Pastor Brandon’s first or only offence. He has a history of wild, anti-gay claims. It is this repeated pattern that has earned him a spot on the Commentator Accountability Project. Some of his other offences:

• Claims gay people are using Bob the Builder and Dora the Explorer to get kids to "sign a pledge online" to say that they are "for the homosexual agenda and the homosexual movement in this country" because "Satan knows that if he gets the kids he gets the future. Even Adolf Hitler knew that."
• Claims to have witnessed a "group of homosexuals" teaching students that "masturbation is okay" at Minnesota's State Capitol

And in this radio clip, one can hear Pastor Brandon give the highlights tour of his extreme statements. In one radio episode, Pastor Brandon compares being LGBT with alcoholism, adultery, and pedophilia. He attacks the religious freedom of another church body for considering ordaining gay and lesbian clergy. And he just after he calls cartoon characters LGBT activists, he invokes Hitler.

Yes, Pastor Brandon’s use of “Hitler” to talk about LGBT people is not new. This radio clip is from 2009.

Pastor Brandon often appears as the religious face of Minnesota for Marriage, and claims that his anti-gay activism “is not about people.” Here he is discussing with Kalley Yanta, Minnesota for Marriage spokesperson his love for LGBT people.

However, in his public statements, Pastor Brandon frequently compares being gay to being an alcoholic, an adulterer or a pedophile.

Even though Pastor Brad Brandon and Minnesota for Marriage would like to say that their activism are simply about marriage and not people, the evidence of animus toward LGBT people is mounting. Reporters who are covering the amendment need to be aware of the claims that Pastor Brandon makes to drum up support for the anti-marriage amendment in Minnesota.

Pastor Brandon has joined fellow Minnesotans Barb Anderson, Chuck Darrell, Bradlee Dean, John Helmberger, and Tom Prichard on the Commentator Accountability Project. View the entire Commentator Accountability Project at www.glaad.org/cap. 

A conservative Jewish day school in West Orange, New Jersey has announced that it will not renew its Boy Scout charter for 2013 because of the national Scouting organization’s policy banning gay scouts and scout leaders, the New Jersey Jewish News reports.

In an October 17 letter penned by Golda Och Academy's Dr. Joyce Raynor, the head of school writes, “[T]o exclude same-sex families from membership and adult volunteerism is in direct contradiction of School policies, which place high value on inclusion. It has been decided that GOA cannot act as the sponsor organization until [the BSA's] national policy changes.”

The news comes amidst a growing number of local councils around the country that refuse to uphold the ban. GLAAD President Herndon Graddick said: "The dissent within the BSA organization is continuing to grow louder. The BSA will continue to lose its own members, local charter organizations and corporate sponsors until the organization stops promoting discrimination and focuses once again on scouting."

The New Jersey school's decision means that Boy Scout Troop 118 and Boy Scout Pack 118 will find a new space in which to conduct their meetings. The troops' leaders tell New Jersey Jewish News that they too disagree with the Scouts' discriminatory policies, which they described as “terrible” and “egregious.”

“There are lots of good people involved in Scouting who believe [the BSA’s] policy is wrong,” said assistant Scout master Rabbi Lisa Vernon, adding that she believes “it should be a unit by unit decision.”

Golda Och Academy joins a growing number of institutions that openly reject the Boy Scouts' ban on gay members, including several BSA councils. See Scouts for Equality's full map of all the BSA Councils that have rejected the BSA's discriminatory ban here. Many other packs have taken steps to reject this policy, instead opting to accept and welcome all families.

Last week, Ryan Andresen, a young scout who was denied his Eagle badge because of his sexual orientation, delivered more than 400,000 Chnage.org petition signatures to Mt. Dialbo-Silverado Boy Scout Council in Pleasant Hill, CA. Ryan and his mom recently spoke out against the BSA's ban on gay scouts and scout leaders with Anderson Cooper.

GLAAD has been working to end the ban alongside organizations including Scouts for Equality and individuals like Jennifer Tyrrell who was ousted as her son's scout leader earlier this year.

Watch their interview with Anderson Cooper below:

More and more Americans are calling on the BSA to join other national organizations like the Girl Scouts of the USA, 4-H Club, Adventure Scouts USA and Boys & Girls Club and end its discrimination against gay people.

For more information check out http://glaad.org/scouts

Google employees speak out in support of marriage equality in a new video from the social media campaign, TheFour.com. The video addresses the four states - Maryland, Maine, Washington and Minnesota - where marriage equality will be voted on this Election Day. Google has previously supported LGBT equality with its Legalize Love campaign and by endorsing Washington state marraige legislation.

Other tech companies that stand for equality include Amazon, Apple and Microsoft, whose founder Bill Gates recently gave $500,000 to the marriage equality campaign in Washington. Campaigns in Maryland and Maine are also working to pass marriage equality with a ballot vote. Advocates in Minnnesota are leading the opposition to a proposed anti-gay amendment that would ban marriage equality in the state's consitution. 

Check out other leaders in corporate America supporting equality here.

Minnesotans were rightfully outraged this week when anti-gay “Minnesota for Marriage” Pastoral Outreach Director Brad Brandon compared marriage equality supporters to Nazis. Brandon said:

"[Hitler] removed their voices in the public square and removed their control of their own businesses. So, he stopped Jewish people from speaking out in public and he silenced them."

Brandon has apologized for this absurdly insensitive remark, but Minnesota for Marriage stood by his statement, saying "His point was absolutely correct; he was just using a poor analogy and an incorrect choice of words."

It shouldn't have come as a surprise to anyone, given his history of using this kind of rhetoric.

But Brandon is far from the only active anti-gay operative to have said vile and inflammatory things about the LGBT community. He’s just one of the few who’ve been reported on as such.  From the other three states where marriage is on the ballot this November:

• Bishop Harry Jackson, a central figure in the debate over marriage equality in Maryland says marriage equality is part of “a satanic plot to destroy our seed," and that the movement towards marriage equality is "just like during the times of Hitler"
• Carroll Conley of Protect Marriage Maine calls marriage equality ”insidious” and “evil” and has distributed materials that compare the marriages of same sex couples  to man/horse marriage.
• Joseph Backholm from Family Policy Insitute of Washington equates marriage equality with the practice of bloodletting and has instructed his supporters that "tolerance is not something to be pursued."

It is the media’s responsibility, when reporting on these and other anti-gay activists, to provide audiences with the proper context.  Voters in Maine, Maryland, Minnesota and Washington should be informed that those leading the charge against marriage equality are doing so because they believe it to be satanic, insidious, or comparable to bloodletting or Nazis, or any number of other outrageous and hateful statements.

GLAAD’s Commentator Accountability Project is a resource for journalists to familiarize themselves with what lurks behind the mainstream-friendly versions of these activists’ talking points.  Audiences deserve to be told a complete story about the issues they are facing, and that is the media’s job. Minnesota media has reported widely on Pastor Brandon’s “Nazi” statement.  Voters know that Minnesota for Marriage Chairman John Helmberger wants marriage equality to be constitutionally banned. But do they know why? It’s because he believes it is necessary, in order to “restrain evil.”  Many Minnesotans might not agree with marriage equality, but do they believe gay people are an “evil” that needs to be “restrained?”

This type of rhetoric is obviously not going to show up in anti-gay campaign ads, because anti-gay activists would rather voters not know about the scope of their statements. But it's not the media's job to do PR for these anti-gay activists. It's their job to report the whole story. And the whole story, in this case, requires talking about this kind of language. If you see the media not giving these anti-gay activists the context they require, please let us know. And let the media outlet know as well.

GLAAD is calling on media nationwide and especially in Maine, Maryland, Minnesota and Washington to dig deeper when reporting on issues of marriage equality. Provide your audiences the context they need to make the most informed choices.  

It's always the way.  Just about any time an anti-gay group or individual is caught saying something that is obviously out-of-touch with mainstream America, the spin machine hops into overdrive and the messenger-shooting begins. Always, the claim is that the comments were taken "out of context."  And this week, we got two prominent examples of that common tactic delivered to us by two different state marriage campaigns.

Let's start with Maryland.  I was amazed on Monday morning when I stumbled onto some video clips in which a panelists suggested that both gays and their supporters are "worthy of death" and "on the wrong side of eternity" while the head of the anti-marriage campaign in the state, Derek McCoy, looked on and laughed his approval.  Those clips came from nearly two hours of video, which I posted *in full* on my Good As You site.  At other parts, a professional "ex-gay" made the case that gay people can and should "change," the same pastor who said the other stuff said marriage equality would lead to incest and prostitution, and Ellen DeGeneres was disparaged as "Ellen Degenerate."  I didn't want to hide any of the context—I wanted my readers to see the whole thing.

But what happened immediately after?  What always happens: Campaign head Derek McCoy—the same McCoy, let me remind you, who laughed on that incendiary pastor and who himself has claimed that gay-headed families are "not God's best"—went on Balitmore's NPR affiliate and said that bloggers like me were taking the comments "out of context."  Never mind that I posted the full, unedited video alongside whatever clips I posted.  In the anti-equality world, LGBT people (and especially bloggers) are always portrayed as the truth-twisters.

Then there's Minnesota.  The guy leading pastoral outreach for the anti-equality campaign in that state, Brad Brandon, is a very familiar name to me because I have been tracking his beyond-the-pale comments for several years now.  A longtime preacher and radio host with an extensive quote bank, I have listen to Brad advocate for gay "change" more times than I account.  He's also accused lgbt advocates like me (and preumably you) of being under Satan's influence, using Hitler's tactics on children, and has equated gays with alcholics and pedophiles.  You can learn more about Brandon by visisting his GLAAD CAP profile.

Well this week, many more learned about Brad Brandon.  At a recent campaign appearance, Brandon put up a big photo of Hitler and returned to his familiar territory of equating modern LGBT rights tactics with those of history's most ignoble genocidist.  Not only did a videographer capture what Brad Brandon said, but he also caught the outraged response from people in the audience.  The whole thing was incredibly damning for the campaign—a campaign that has been courting Brad for years, even though his rhetoric is familiar to anyone who has ever listened to his show.

So what happened when the campaign began responding to what Brad said?  Yup, you guessed it: Campaign spokesman Autumn Leva went on the news and said he had been taken "out of context."  Campaign spokesman Andy Parrish said they told Brad to "get back on message."  Oh, and in his own statement, Brad Brandon also claimed his words "are being taken out of context and used by opponents of marriage to make me, and our campaign to preserve marriage, seem to be extreme."  So typical.

Typical, but in no way surprising.  In nearly eight years of tracking the anti-equality opposition, I cannot remember one time when the other side responded to something I or someone else had found without somehow shooting the messenger.  

• When I posted unedited audio of Chick-fil-A COO Dan Cathy saying that "we are inviting God's judgment on our nation when we shake our fist at Him and say 'we know better than you as to what constitutes a marriage'," his first response, on a Fox affiliate in San Antonio, was to accuse me of "tak[ing] those statements and cut[ting] them up."  

• When I posted several clips of a North Carolina pastor named Ron Baity that led even some social conservatives (Alan Chambers, Jim Daly, Southern Baptist Convention, etc) to denounce Baity's overheated rhetoric, Family Research Council president Tony Perkins tried to smear me, saying the audio clips "were embellished and lifted out of context, from a pro-homosexual blog."  

• Greg Quinlan—who, incidentally enough, was the professional "ex-gay" on that same Maryland marriage panel we talked about above—has publicly accused my friends at Ex-Gay watch of fabricating quotes they obtained from prominent geneticist Dr. Francis Collins.  

• Oh, and remember Sally Kern, who was recorded saying that homsoexuality is more of a threat than terrorism?  Her entire book tour was built around the idea that her words were twisted, even though we all heard the audio..

And those are just some examples.  All of the groups, all of their voices—they all employ a PR strategy that shirks reponsibility and instead smears the sunlight.  There is nothing the professional anti-gay types dislike more than when we place a larger megaphone on the verbatim rhetoric that they themselves delivered (/courted).  They dish with ferocity, but they have a real problem when the general public finds out about it.

We're all getting pretty sick of this obvious game.  The anti-LGBT social conservative are always accusing us of stifling free speech, even though we are trying our darnedest to give them the biggest platform our media landscape will allow.  The problem is that they only want certain speech brought to light.  As Minnesota's Comm. Guy said in his reponse to the Brad Brandon controversy: They want their outreach voices to "get back on message."  What they don't like is when that carefully workshopped language slips and the truth of how these activists feel meets the unbearable lightness of a white hot media spotlight.

There's some context for ya.     

President Barack Obama has reaffirmed his support for the LGBT community by endorsing marriage equality in Maine, Maryland, Washington and Minnesota, four states in which marriage for same-sex couples hangs in the balance.   

According to the Seattle Post Intelligencer, President Obama, through Spokesperson Paul Bell, urged a “yes” vote on Referendum 74, which would legalize marriage between gay and lesbian couples, saying:

"While the president does not weigh in on every single ballot measure in every state, the president believes in treating everyone fairly and equally, with dignity and respect," said Bell. "Washington's same-sex marriage law would treat all Washington couples equally, and that is why the President supports a vote to approve Referendum 74." 

Likewise in Maine, where voters will decide to reverse an upset from 2009, President Obama pushed voters to a “yes” vote on Question 1.  According to The Portland Press Herald, President Obama supports marriage equality at the state level, as well: 

"[t]he president believes in treating everyone fairly and equally, with dignity and respect," said Michael Czin, Northeast regional press secretary. "The president believes same-sex couples should be treated equally and supports Question 1."

Tthe President Obama has also been on  record opposing the amendment in Minnesota to ban same-sex couples from marrying since April. In the statement provided to Metro Weekly, officials said:

"The record is clear that the President has long opposed divisive and discriminatory efforts to deny rights and benefits to same sex couples. That's what the Minnesota ballot initiative would do -- it would single out and discriminate against committed gay and lesbian couples -- and that's why the President does not support it."

President Obama also voiced his support for marriage in Maryland, where voters will decide whether to keep the marriage equality bill passed and signed into law this year, saying:

"We’re moving forward to a country where we treat everybody fairly and everybody equally, with dignity and respect," Obama said according to a transcript of the speech. "And here in Maryland, thanks to the leadership of committed citizens and Governor O’Malley, you have a chance to reaffirm that principle in the voting booth in November. It’s the right thing to do."

GLAAD has been working closely with the campaigns in each of these states to elevate stories of loving and committed couples as well as shining light on the anti-gay efforts to disqualify our relationships. We've also created information pages for of these campaigns and encourage you to visit their information pages: Maine, Maryland, Washington, Minnesota.

GLAAD’s Religion, Faith & Values program works to elevate LGBT-affirming voices of faith in mainstream, regional, and community media. To find out more, visit www.glaad.org/faith. For additional religion and faith updates, be sure to subscribe via our online registration form. We welcome suggestions at faith@glaad.org.

Spirit Day was last Friday. The United Church of Christ was the largest denomination to go purple, but the Catholic support for Spirit Day was strong, as well! Communities of faith preached sermons and writote about bullying. It’s a continuation from National Coming Out Day and Ally Week.

‘Religious Liberty’ has been a hot topic lately, thus warranting its own section this week. GLAAD released facts for media about religious liberty and LGBT equality. We also wrote and placed an op-ed about LGBT equality and persecution of LGBT supporters within religious communities. This theme has also been picked up by the Center for American Progress and Canyonwalker Connections.

We’ve been writing a lot about religious support of marriage equality lately, with four marriage equality votes in Minnesota, Maryland, Maine, and Washington. However, Unitarian Universalist congregations joined Baptists been working for protections for families in local communities.

Even as fewer people are listing a religious affiliation, LGBT students in Catholic colleges and universities are organizing to form a network to advocate for equality. Jennifer Knapp is still singing, the Torah still supports marriage equality, and LGBT Muslims make the case for relationships. And the number of LGBT Christians in New York City might surprise you.

Baptist
Hodges: Why churches should support a Utah gay-rights law
Salt Lake Tribune, October 11, 2012
Va. church under fire for gay ordination
American Baptist Churches, October 11, 2012

Black Churches
Black, gay and Christian, Marylanders struggle with conflicts
Baltimore Sun, October 13, 2012
African-American clergy deliver powerful video message for marriage equality in Maryland
United Church of Christ News, October 19, 2012
In black churches, a gay-marriage divide
The Seattle Times, October 23, 2012
'NoWedge' Event Shows Blacks and LGBTQ Not Exclusive Identities
Believe Out Loud, October 23, 2012

Catholic
Gay marriage “endangers religious liberty”: Catholic bishop
Seattle Pi, October 8, 2012
Former Catholic priests announce support for same-sex marriage
Seattle Times, October 11, 2012
LGBTQ student groups at Catholic colleges form pro-equality association
Washington Post, October 11, 2012
Catholic Students Coming Out Gay, Want More Rights in Church
Opposing Views, October 11, 2012
Gay Washington senator remains rooted in faith
National Catholic Reporter, October 11, 2012
Will Catholic Voters Support LGBT Rights in Washington State?
Religion Dispatches, October 15, 2012
Don Mario Bonfanti, Italian Catholic Priest, Comes Out As Gay On Facebook: Report
Huffington Post, October 17, 2012
Most U.S. Catholics Back Marriage Equality, But Knights of Columbus Pour Millions into Opposition
Religion Dispatches, October 18, 2012
Students Fight for Gay Rights at Catholic University
The Student Fix, October 18, 2012
Phoenix diocese donates to anti-gay marriage effort, draws criticism
KTAR: The Voice of Arizona, October 23, 2012
My Catholic Conscience Calls Me to Approve Referendum 74
The Seattle Lesbian, October 24, 2012

Christian
Swarthmore Christian Fellowship Allied With Controversial Christian Organization
The Phoenix, October 11, 2012
Christian author goes undercover to understand homosexuality
Spokane FAVS, October 11, 2012
A New Testament: There may be a larger community of gay Christians in New York than you suspect
Next Magazine, October 12, 2012
Bible study group bridges religion and sexual orientation
Flagler College Gargoyle, October 12, 2012
On Being a Christian Lesbian
Salon.com, October 15, 2012
Matthew Vines talks the Bible, homosexuality and same-sex marriage
Political Fiber, October 22, 2012
Church Pastor Kicks Gay Keyboardist Out For Being One Of The Boys In The Band
Queerty, October 23, 2012

Disciples of Christ
Missouri Pastor Goes Viral on Gawker: “Separation of Church and Hate”
Religion Dispatches, October 22, 2012

Eastern Orthodox
Gay pride march banned in Serbia
Seattle Times, October 3, 2012
Gay pride march that Christian Orthodox church opposed banned by Serbian police
Tri Valley Central, October 10, 2012

Episcopal
Liberty and justice for all in Maryland
Washington Post, October 10, 2012
Book Review | 'God Believes In Love'
Courier-Journal, October 19, 2012
Gay bishop to speak about gay marriage in Maine
The Boston Globe, October 23, 2012

Evangelical
Franklin Graham sidesteps Christianity-Mormonism debate with CNN's Piers Morgan, says gay marriage is #1 issue for churches
God Discussion, October 16, 2012
Billy Graham's Anti-Gay Fundamentalism
Huffington Post, October 17, 2012
The Love We Dare Not Ignore
Christianity Today, October 17, 2012
Ted Haggard Endorses Civil Marriage Equality
Box Turtle Bulletin, October 21, 2012
Man says N.C. church confined him because he was gay
Charlotte Observer, October 23, 2012
When Straight People Tell Gay Stories
Religion Dispatches, October 22, 2012

Hindu
First gay sports fest shows changing Nepal attitudes
CNBC, October 15, 2012

International
Tension in Greece over 'blasphemous' Jesus Christ play
Y Net News, October 13, 2012

Jewish
A Jewish perspective on same-sex marriage
The Independent, October 10, 2012
Keep On Coming Out
Keshet, October 11, 2012
Words of Torah, for Marriage Equality: Rabbi Aaron Meyer
Keshet, October 12, 2012
Ethics of the Mother
JUF News, October 15, 2012
Gathering of the transgender tribe set for Berkeley
jWeekly, October 18, 2012

Lutheran
Gay Marriage Amendment Splits Richfield Lutheran Churches
Ritchfield Patch, October 10, 2012
First United Lutheran, San Francisco, Returns to the ELCA
ReconcilingWorks, October 18, 2012
Marriage: It's About Love and Commitment (A Transgender Perspective)
Huffington Post, October 23, 2012

Marriage Equality
Clergy, lay people counter Santorum visit with Rally for Love demonstration
Spokane FAVS, October 9, 2012
Law would not force churches to perform gay weddings, spots note
Baltimore Sun, October 10, 2012
A Catholic, a Muslim, and a Mormon Walk into a Marriage-Equality Campaign...
The Stranger, October 10, 2012
Faith plays big role in gay marriage debate
Kare 11, October 11, 2012
Various Christian Leaders Unite to Defeat Marriage Amendment
ABC 6 News, October 11, 2012
An open letter to the archbishop
Minneapolis Star Tribune, October 14, 2012
Religious leaders show a united front for marriage equality
WCSH, October 14, 2012
Frederick church, residents join to sing, talk about passing Question 6
Frederick News Post, October 15, 2012
Follow the Money: The Knights of Columbus and Anti-Marriage Politics
Box Turtle Bulletin, October 18, 2012
Knights of Columbus Spending Millions to Stop Marriage Equality
Equally Blessed, October 18, 2012
Catholic Church donating unprecedented funds to stop gay marriage
Current, October 19, 2012
Local impact of ballot questions: Same-sex marriage
Penobscot Bay Press, October 19, 2012
Religious implications of N.Y. federal appeals court striking down DOMA
Washington Post, October 19, 2012
Religious leaders urge approval of Referendum 74
West Seattle Herald, October 19, 2012
Vashon’s faith community holds gathering and vigil in support of marriage equality
Vashon-Maury Island Beachcomber, October 20, 2012

Metropolitan Community Churches
Gay Christian singer speaks at Houston church’s Coming Out Day event
Houston Chronicle, October 10, 2012

Miscellaneous
Gay rights and the ‘None’ percent
Dallas Voice.com, October 12, 2012
“Out & About” interview with Ross Murray (Audio)
WWRL, October 16, 2012
Values issues: Religions’ stances on homosexuality vary
The Columbus Dispatch, October 19, 2012

Mormon
‘Romney’s Gay America’ Dissects the Mormon Religion in Relation to Homosexuality
The Seattle Lesbian, October 20, 2012

Muslim
Malaysia: Muslim Transsexuals Lose Legal Battle to Wear Women’s Clothes
International Business Times, October 11, 2012
Celibacy Is No Prescription for Queer Muslims
Huffington Post, October 16, 2012

Religious Liberty
The Facts: Marriage for Same-Sex Couples Does Not Impact Religious Liberty
GLAAD, October 10, 2012
Does Religious Liberty Mean Bullying Your Own Flock of Believers?
Huffington Post, October 12, 2012
Same-sex marriage does not obstruct your religious liberty
LGBTQ Nation, October 14, 2012
‘Religious Liberty’ Does Not Give People a License to Discriminate
Center for American Progress, October 15, 2012

Spirit Day
Churches Kick Off Ally Week and Look Ahead to #SpiritDay
GLAAD, October 15, 2012
Spirit, Scripture, and Bullying: Bryan Fischer Gets It Wrong Again
Owldoltarous, October 15, 2012
Why Not Wear Purple on Friday?
America, October 15, 2012
Support our youth - Go Purple on Spirit Day!
United Church of Christ News, October 16, 2012
Lessons from the Biting Dogs
Owldoltarous, October 16, 2012
Don’t Stand Idly By This Jewish Social Action Month
UJA Federation of NY, October 18, 2012

Unitarian Universalist
Trial to begin for Holland pastor arrested after City Hall protest
M-Live, September 25, 2012
Standing on the side of love
Bangor Daily News, September 27, 2012
First Unitarian's new settled minister is social activist
South Coast Today, September 29, 2012
Sarasota Closer To Having Domestic Partner Registry
Sarasota Patch, October 2, 2012
Union Township approves revision to human rights ordinance
Central Michigan Life, October 4, 2012
32 Days Till Minnesota Votes on My Family
Huffington Post, October 5, 2012
Charlie and Gail Opatz: The marriage of Franny and Irene
Winona Daily News, October 5, 2012
Love Makes a Family: Nationally-Touring Exhibit Confronts Prejudice
KBTX, October 12, 2012
Locals in Odessa March For Equal Rights
KWES, October 15, 2012
MAINE COMPASS: Gay Christian minister asks that Mainers vote in support of love
Morning Sentinel, October 18, 2012
Green: Gays no threat to Christians
Amarillo Globe-News, October 19, 2012

United Church of Christ
UCC Southeast Conference churches to band together for LGBT awareness at pride parade
United Church of Christ News, October 11, 2012
Seattle congregation bringing together music to support marriage equality
United Church of Christ News, October 11, 2012

This weekend catch the season premiere of Say Yes to the Dress: Bridesmaids. Plus new episodes of The Amazing Race, Upstairs Downstairs, Revenge, The Good Wife and a showing of As Good as It Gets. 

What to Watch: Friday, October 26

9:00pm: Say Yes to the Dress: Bridesmaids, TLC (30 mins) SEASON PREMIERE

A bride-to-be and her twin confront their older sister and another woman clashes with her mother over her bridesmaids low-cut dresses.

9:30pm: Say Yes to the Dress: Bridesmaids, TLC (30 mins) NEW

A woman with 22 bridesmaids struggles to find a dress that pleases everyone and another woman's dress no longer fits and time is running short for alterations.

This morning and afternoon, check your local listings for information about Ellen,The Talk (CBS) & The Chew (ABC). Days of Our Lives on NBC (check local listings for time) features gay character Will as a series regular; keep an eye out for developments between Will and recurring gay characters Sonny and Neil.

What to Watch: Saturday, October 27

10:00pm: As Good as It Gets, Encore (2 hrs) REPEAT

A single mother, a gay artist and a misanthropic author form an unlikely friendship. Watch the trailer below.

What to Watch: Sunday, October 28

8:00pm: The Amazing Race, CBS (1 hr) NEW

The teams continue the race in Dhaka, Bangladesh. This season's cast includes gay couple Josh Kilmer-Purcell and Brent Ridge (better known as The Fabulous Beekman Boys) and gay Chippendales dancer Jaymes Vaughan.

9:00pm: Upstairs Downstairs, PBS (1 hr) NEW

The second season of this British period drama introduces Alex Kingston as Blanche Mottershead, a doctor who was in a relationship with Lady Portia Alresford and suffers the consequences when Portia releases a thinly veiled memoir about their relationship.

9:00pm: Revenge, ABC (1 hr) NEW

Emily and Victoria are confronted by people from their pasts and Victoria is left unsure what step to take next. Meanwhile, Jack takes on more responsibilities and Nolan's company may suffer the consequences of CFO Padma's actions.

9:00pm: The Good Wife, CBS (1 hr) NEW

Nick creates new trouble for Kalinda. Meanwhile, the accountant for Lemond Bishop is arrested and Alicia must figure out if they're targeting his legal income or drug money.

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About TV Gayed
Grab the remote or set your DVR! GLAAD brings you the most up-to-date listing of LGBT content on television every weekday. Check GLAAD Blog for daily TV Gayed posts!

About GLAAD
The Gay & Lesbian Alliance Against Defamation (GLAAD) amplifies the voice of the lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender community by empowering real people to share their stories, holding the media accountable for the words and images they present, and helping grassroots organizations communicate effectively. By ensuring that the stories of LGBT people are heard through the media, GLAAD promotes understanding, increases acceptance, and advances equality. For more information, see www.glaad.org, www.facebook.com/glaad and www.twitter.com/glaad.

GLAAD congratulates out transgender actress Laverne Cox on being named LGBT History Month "Icon of the Day" by The Huffington Post.  

October is LGBT History Month, and The Huffington Post has been spotlighting a different LGBT icon every day.  Their decision to recognize Laverne Cox today is a well-deserved honor.

Laverne Cox first came to GLAAD's attention when she appeared on the VH1 reality series, I Want to Work for Diddy.  Based on her participation, the show received the award for Outstanding Reality Program at the 20th Annual GLAAD Media Awards.

Cox followed-up her success by producing and starring in her very own show on VH1 called TRANSform Me, in which Cox, along with out transgender models Nina Poon and Jamie Clayton, helped women find their own inner (and outer) beauty.  TRANSform Me was nominated for Outstanding Reality Program at the 22nd Annual GLAAD Media Awards.

This year Cox starred in Musical Chairs, an independent film directed by Susan Seidelman (Desperately Seeking Susan) about the world of competitive ballroom dancing.  And look for Cox to appear in the new series by Weeds creator Jenji Kohan, Orange is the New Black.

In addition to her success in film and television, Cox is a strong advocate for transgender equality.  She regularly blogs for The Huffington Post, and has appeared on a variety of cable news shows discussing transgender issues.  She has supported GLAAD, the Empire State Pride Agenda, and recently participated in the National Center for Transgender Equality's "Voting While Trans" PSA campaign to raise public awareness about the impact new strict-photo ID laws will have on thousands of transgender Americans this November.

We are thrilled to see Laverne Cox's many contributions to LGBT equality recognized by The Huffington Post, and we look forward to seeing all that she has planned for the future.

Every week, The GLAAD Wrap brings you LGBT-related entertainment news highlights, fresh stuff to watch out for, and fun diversions to help you kick off the weekend.

1) Cloud Atlas, one of the most expensive independent films ever made, is out now in theaters nationwide. The film explores how the lives of individuals can impact one another in the past, present, and future as one act of kindness can ripple through centuries to inspire a revolution. Cloud Atlas's high-profile cast includes Halle Berry, Tom Hanks, and Susan Sarandon in multiple roles that vary in race, age, and gender. Based on David Mitchell’s novel, Cloud Atlas was written for the screen and directed by Tom Tykwer, Andy Wachowski, and Lana Wachowski, who recently gave a moving speech at the Human Rights Campaign’s gala this past weekend. Check out showtimes for the critically acclaimed film here.

2) TODpix, in conjunction with Story Center Productions and Furnace, announced the theatrical release for Codebreaker. The docu-drama from Emmy Award-winner Clare Beavan focuses on the life of Alan Turing, the genius British mathematician who assisted in breaking the German Naval Enigma code during World War II. One of the greatest thinkers of the 20^th century, Turing was a pioneer of artificial intelligence who helped usher in the computer age. His intelligence is comparable to the likes of Albert Einstein, Charles Darwin, and Isaac Newton, yet many have not heard his story. After WW II, he was convicted of “gross indecency” for his relationship with another man during a time when being gay was illegal. Codebreaker can be found in theaters now in Washington D.C. and New York City, and will be rolled out in other cities in the weeks to come.

3) Sassy Pants, from writer and director Coley Sohn, has been released in theaters in New York City and Los Angeles. The comedy chronicles Bethany, a recent homeschool graduate who lives under her overprotective mother’s thumb. When her mother rips apart her beloved scrapbook, Bethany runs away to her father’s mobile home. Life at her father’s is not peachy either as he has drunken outbursts riddled with self-loathing, although Bethany forms a nice friendship with her father’s boyfriend. Bethany sees her only chance to break free is by chasing her dreams at the Fashion Art Technology Institute. Check out showtimes here.

4) That’s What She Said, directed by True Blood’s Carrie Preston, opened in limited theaters. The film follows Bebe, who is about to embark on the most romantic date of her life. To help her prepare, she seeks out her best friend Dee Dee, who has nothing but cynicism and cigarette smoke to offer. They encounter Clementine, a complete stranger who never stops talking about her nymphomaniac behavior. The three women unexpectedly set out on a misadventure through New York City to turn their day around. That’s What She Said is a quirky look at friendship in the face of adversity. Check out showtimes here.

5) Call Me Kuchu is a documentary that follows four outspoken LGBT Ugandans for two years as they struggle to live their lives in a society full of rigid religious and cultural attitudes against gay people. Directed by Katherine Fairfax Wright and Malika Zouhali-Worral, the film was recently picked up for distribution by Cinedigm Entertainment Group and is expected to be rolled out in early 2013 and released on digital platforms, TV, and DVD shortly after. Call Me Kuchu received support from Film Independent’s artist development program, and garnered critical acclaim on the festival circuit. Film Independent co-president Sean McManus said, "While the film is set in Uganda, its message is a global one, reminding us that the relevance of having an ongoing dialogue around equality can't be understated."

6) Writer and director Alexandra Therese-Keining’s Kiss Me will be released on DVD on November 6^th. Kiss Me is the tale of Mia, a thirty-something architect whose life is turned upside down when she unexpectedly falls in love with the free-spirited Frida. The two women meet at an engagement party for Frida’s mother and Mia’s father, who are about to marry. With sensual love scenes and coming out angst, the lives of these women go in directions the two of them never imagined. Kiss Me, sometimes under the title of With Every Heartbeat, traveled the festival circuit to universal critical acclaim, winning the AFI Audience Award for Breakthrough Film.

7) Hunter Valentine released a new album this week. Collide and Conquer is the latest effort from the band and contains their new single “Liar Liar.” The alt rock band from Ontario was recently featured on the third season of The Real L Word. With the additions of Veronica Sanchez on bass and Somer Bingham as a guest keyboardist, the band has upped the ante, adding layers to an already unmistakable sound. Check out Collide and Conquer on iTunes, listen to "Liar Liar" below, and see Hunter Valentine’s tour dates here.

8) Details have emerged regarding the upcoming Buffy the Vampire Slayer season nine comic book spinoff starring the beloved character of Willow. In a world that has been emptied of its magic, the lesbian witch feels like she is missing a part of herself. Perhaps selfishly, Willow searches for a way to bring back the mysticism, confident in her abilities to do so. She might not know quite what she is getting into, as she enters a world where magic is the only thing that matters. However, Willow is determined and will stop at nothing. Titled Wonderland, the first issue of the five arc miniseries will be released on November 21^st. Check out the first three pages here.

9) In a little-known story from gay history, Richard Adams and Tony Sullivan are a bi-national couple who were legally married in Colorado in 1975, and they have the certificate to prove it. However, as an Australian citizen, Tony was deported in 1985 after the United States refused to recognize the marriage, and Richard gave up his life to follow. They made numerous public appearances on talk shows and hired attorneys to help them fight the case. A year after the deportation, the couple returned to the country undocumented, living a life in secrecy together for 20 years. Recently, they have become outspoken advocates for marriage equality for same-sex couples, and they appear at rallies across the nation. Check out the Indiegogo page for Limited Partnership from filmmakers Tom Miller and Kirk Marcolina as they attempt to acquire funding for such things as rights to use archival footage for the documentary about this brave couple.

The award-winning documentary Love Free or Die will make its television premiere tonight, Monday, October 29, at 10pm Eastern on PBS. Love Free or Die follows Bishop Gene Robinson from small-town churches in New Hampshire to the Lincoln Memorial at the President's inauguration in 2008. Bishop Robinson inspires people to change history … to stand for equality ... to open their hearts and minds to support LGBT dignity.

The timing for Love Free or Die couldn’t be more important.

When Bishop Robinson was elected, marriage equality wasn’t a reality in the United States. Today, six states, plus the District of Columbia have provided the support and protections that come with marriage for gay and lesbian couples. On November 6, that number could rise to nine states if Maryland, Maine, and Washington vote to approve marriage equality. Additionally, Minnesota has the opportunity to defeat a constitutional amendment that seeks to limit recognition of gay and lesbian relationships more permanently.

It has been demonstrated that knowing someone who is LGBT strongly increases the likelihood that someone will support marriage equality for committed, loving couples. The story of Bishop Robinson, as told in Love Free or Die, helps the viewer to see and understand the life of not just one, but many faithful and committed LGBT people as they work for inclusion in their church.

Join other Americans in seeing how the witness of one person rippled out and made a church, and a country, more inclusive. The film will also give you and your family a real and tangible way to talk about LGBT equality with others.

If you have family, friends, or loved ones who live in Minnesota, Maine, Maryland, or Washington, this film will be an excellent resource to understand the lives of LGBT people. This film may be the tool to help someone understand why a vote for LGBT equality is a vote to support humanity.

So, to quote Bishop Gene Robinson:

Go out, buy a generator, and watch #LoveFreeorDie tomorrow night, 10pm, PBS!

— Bishop Gene Robinson (@BishopGRobinson) October 28, 2012

You can also join in live-tweeting the film using the hashtag #lovefreeordie. The filmmakers wish to make the PBS airing a national conversation. 

Watch Can a Church Preach Love and Discriminate at the Same Time? on PBS. See more from Independent Lens.

Next week on Election Day marriage for gay and lesbian couples will be voted on in Maine, Maryland, Minnesota and Washington. GLAAD’s update to the CAP project includes profiles of anti-LGBT activists working against LGBT families in those states. The profiles, which include direct quotes or writings from the activists, have also been shared with pro-LGBT campaigns in the states.

“Media have a responsibility to provide context when giving platforms to anti-LGBT activists who are dedicated to making life more difficult for LGBT families,” said GLAAD President Herndon Graddick. “Voters should know that ads and talking points put forward by these activists are not fueled by facts, but merely by anti-gay animus."

The profiles include several people who are often quoted as 'experts' on marriage or on LGBT issues, but without mention of their history of vehemently anti-LGBT remarks. The profiles, which include direct quotes or writings from the activists, have also been shared with pro-LGBT campaigns in the states.

MAINE

Carroll Conley - calls marriage equality "insidious and evil"

Bob Emrich - says pro-equality legislators are "mocking God"

Mike Heath - says the LGBT equality movement is "rooted in sorcery and it is a child of the devil"

Paul Madore - calls same-sex couples suffer from  "unadultered sophristy and perverted kind of thinking"

MARYLAND

Harry Jackson -  says marriage equality is part of “a satanic plot to destroy our seed"

Derek McCoy - says marriage equality is an assault on the kingdom of God

MINNESOTA

Barb Anderson - Says LGBT equality is "the greatest threat to our freedom and the health and well-being of our children"

Brad Brandon - claims gay people are using Bob the Builder and Dora the Explorer to make kids pro-equality because "Satan knows that if he gets the kids he gets the future. Even Adolf Hitler knew that"

Chuck Darrell - claims "medical evidence proves" that being gay "is a killer"

Bradlee Dean - has claimed that “On average, [gay people] molest 117 people before they’re found out”

John Helmberger - says it is necessary to vote against LGBT equality in order to "restrain evil"

Tom Prichard - equates being gay with pedophilia and infidelity

WASHINGTON

Joseph Backholm - equates marriage equality with the practice of bloodletting

Joe Fuiten - says "demons inspire people to believe that homosexual union is the moral equivalent of a proper marriage"

Ken Hutcherson - compared Governor Chris Gregoire, who signed marriage equality into law, to John Wilkes Booth, who shot Abraham Lincoln

Stephen Pidgeon - says the true goal of the LGBT equality movement is "about population control, and the goal is to get the United States to 150 million people"

GLAAD also released new profiles of anti-LGBT activists regularly quoted in national outlets along with updates to previously released ones including Keith Ablow, Brian Brown, and Bryan Fischer. 

If the key voices on one side of any other issue were to consistently state that their opponents are controlled by Satan, influenced by demons, comparable to Nazis, or equal to pedophiles, those beliefs would absolutely be a central part of the conversation," said GLAAD President Herndon Graddick.

Visit the GLAAD Commentator Accountability Project at http://glaad.org/cap and follow the Twitter hashtag #GLAADCAP. If you see any of these individuals appear in the media, without the context needed for voters to make informed decisions, please report it here.

The television premiere of Love Free or Die on PBS tonight provides a perfect opportunity to speak with friends and family about why LGBT equality is important for you. The film, which won a special prize at the Sundance Film Festival this year, follows Bishop Gene Robinson as he remains a constant presence and witness in The Episcopal Church and the United States.

Love Free or Die filmmaker Macky Alston has always been clear in his goal to make the film a tool for LGBT equality. Through telling the story of Bishop Robinson, Alston is inviting other people to tell their own stories about LGBT equality. To assist with that, Macky Alston and Groundswell have launched the Friends and Family Plan.

The Friends and Family Plan is a digital resource to help people who want to speak with their loved ones who are Christian and conflicted about supporting LGBT folk. Incorporating modern research, the Plan draws on Bible passages, insights and conversation strategies to suggest the most effective ways to have constructive, transformative conversations. 

The process is totally personalized.  People simply have to follow prompts to describe who they plan to speak with, and they will instantly receive customized reports.  

Take a look at a sample report. This is for someone who wants to prepare to speak with a 36-year old cousin, William, who is from Georgia, is white, and Southern Baptist.  The customized plan includes strategies and links to reports by Center for American Progress, Freedom to Marry, MAP, GLAAD and many others. Give it a try yourself.

With just over one week to go before Maryland, Maine, Minnesota, and Washington vote on marriage equality, now is the time for such conversations. If you have not already, reach out to friends or family who live in those four states, use the Friends and Family Plan, and tell them why their vote for equality is important to you. You can also encourage them to watch Love Free or Die tonight at 10PM eastern time.

2012 Macky Alston: "Love Free or Die" from Auburn Seminary on Vimeo.

Voting is now open for the 3rd Annual Audience Award for the 22nd Gotham Independent Film Awards and this year’s nominees include several LGBT-inclusive films. The Gotham Independent Film Awards honor the filmmaking community and bring independent films to a wider audience. The Audience Award category includes audience award winners from the top 50 US and Canadian film festivals and YOU get to choose the final winner. Round one of voting is open until November 4 at the Gotham Independent Film Awards website, simply enter your e-mail and choose your top five films. Below are this year’s LGBT-inclusive nominees:

Any Day Now, set in the 1970s and based on a true story, stars Alan Cumming and Garret Dillahunt as a gay couple battling to adopt Marco, a teenager with Down Syndrome who was neglected by his mother.

Call Me Kuchu is a documentary that follows four outspoken LGBT Ugandans, including slain advocate David Kato, for two years as they struggle to live their lives in a society full of rigid cultural attitudes against LGBT people.

Cloudburst, starring Olympia Dukakis and Brenda Fricker, is a drama about an elderly lesbian couple who break out of their nursing home so they can travel to Canada to legally marry when their families try to separate them.

Gayby is a comedic tale about two best friends, Matt, who works at a comic book store, and yoga instructor Jenn, as they decide to have a baby. Even though Matt is gay, they decide to conceive the old-fashioned way, while still putting themselves out there in the dating pool, each trying to find "Mr. Right."

How to Survive a Plague is a powerful new documentary which chronicles the rise and success of HIV/AIDS advocacy groups ACT UP and the Treatment Action Group.

I Stand Corrected is an intimate and engaging portrait of Jennifer Leitham, an upright bass player whose unusual technique and extraordinary talent has made her one of the most recognizable transgender musicians in the jazz world.

No Look Pass is the coming-of-age story of Harvard basketball star Emily Tay, who is torn between respecting her mother’s conservative values and her own happiness as she falls in love with a servicewoman prior to the repeal of ‘Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell.’

The second round of voting will begin November 5 and the winner will be announced at the 22nd Gotham Independent Film Awards on November 26. Vote now!

Tonight watch Ellen DeGeneres accept the Mark Twain Prize; plus all new episodes of The Voice, Happy Endings, Emily Owens, M.D., and Don't Trust the B---- in Apt 23.

What to Watch: Tuesday, October 30

8:00pm: Ellen DeGeneres: The Mark Twain Prize, PBS (1.5 hrs) NEW

Ellen DeGeneres is honored with the 15th Mark Twain Prize for American Humor. The prize is given to comedians who follow in Twain's tradition of satire and social commentary. Check out a sneak peek of what celebs had to say about Ellen below.

8:00pm: The Voice, NBC (2 hrs) NEW

Knockout Rounds begin tonight with contestants facing off against each other and each picking their own songs. In these rounds there are no saves and half the contestants will be eliminated. Out contestant De'Borah Garner is on Team Xtina.

9:00pm: Happy Endings, ABC (30 mins) NEW

Max shows Brad how to enjoy a weekend in Chicago for free as Brad tries to cut expenses. Meanwhile, Jane reaches new levels of intense as she tries to help Penny shop for a car and Dave and Alex go apartment hunting.

9:00pm: Emily Owens, M.D., CW (1 hr) NEW

The interns compete in a medical quiz game to get a chance at being involved in a surgery. Meanwhile, Emily is forced to talk to a group of teens about safe sex following an STD outbreak at a local high school.

9:30pm: Don't Trust the B---- in Apt 23, ABC (30 mins) NEW

James has a long-held fear of Halloween and throws his annual Halloween "Positivity" party with Luther's help and June tries to stop Chloe's tricks before she ends up hurting someone she really cares about.

This morning and afternoon, check your local listings for information about Ellen, The Talk (CBS) and The Chew (ABC). Days of Our Lives on NBC (check local listings for time) features gay character Will as a series regular; keep an eye out for developments between Will and recurring gay characters Sonny and Neil.

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About TV Gayed
Grab the remote or set your DVR! GLAAD brings you the most up-to-date listing of LGBT content on television every weekday. Check GLAAD Blog for daily TV Gayed posts!

About GLAAD
The Gay & Lesbian Alliance Against Defamation (GLAAD) amplifies the voice of the lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender community by empowering real people to share their stories, holding the media accountable for the words and images they present, and helping grassroots organizations communicate effectively. By ensuring that the stories of LGBT people are heard through the media, GLAAD promotes understanding, increases acceptance, and advances equality. For more information, see www.glaad.org, www.facebook.com/glaad and www.twitter.com/glaad.

As November 6 draws nearer, videos are telling stories of real people in Maine, Maryland, Washington, and Minnesota. One video features Rebecca Johnson and Carrie Agnew, a couple who tells the story about their family, and the struggles they overcame to remain a family.

When they ran into complications with their pregnancy, the couple had to navigate a complicated legal terrain in order to properly care for one another. Rebecca and Carrie shared their video with GLAAD, and we want to share it with you. Watch their story here.

Rebecca and Carrie told their story to Ellen DeGeneres on her daytime talk show. Their daughter is now four years old, and the family is now fighting a proposed constitutional amendment in Minnesota that would block the protections that come with marriage. Equality advocates are urging the residents of Minnesota to vote NO on the proposed constitutional amendment titled, “Recognition of Marriage Solely Between One Man and One Woman.”

The video was produced by Project 515, a Minnesota organization whose mission is to ensure that same sex couples and their families have equal rights and considerations under Minnesota law. Project 515’s explains that there are at least 515 Minnesota states statutes that prevent gay and lesbian couples from being treated equally under the law, and how changing those statutes would improve the quality of life for the men, women, and children affected by them.

Hearing real people’s stories about why marriage equality matters can directly impact voters in these four states. Please share this video widely so that everyone can understand the impact marriage can have on families. To learn more about how you can help pepole in Minnesota, as well as Maryland, Maine, and Washington, visit GLAAD's vote page. 

On November 6, voters across the country will turn out to the polls to decide the fate marriage equality as well as other key ballot issues that affect LGBT Americans.  In just one week, voters in Maryland, Maine and Washington  will have the opportunity to become the first states to approve marriage equality by voter referendum. Minnesota, is voting to defeat a constitutional amendment that bans marriage equality within the state.

In addition to raising visibility around the impact marriage equality will have on countless LGBT families in and out of these states four states, GLAAD has also been working in partnerships with NCTE to elevate the voices of transgender Americans who this year face an unprecedented up-hill-battle trying to vote as a result of new voter-ID laws.

#LGBT and Ally voters need to be ready to vote!

During this week-long build-up to Election Day, GLAAD will be sharing information concerning marriage equality votes in each of the states, along with information to make sure all voters know their rights when trying to exercise their right to vote.  

What can you do?

Visit GLAAD’s voting page to familiarize yourself with the issues.

Visit GLAAD’s pages for Maine, Maryland, Minnesota, Washington, and Voter ID for the latest updates.

Use Groundswell’s Friends and Family Plan to reach out to people you know, urging them to vote for LGBT equality. There is still time to convince voters that equality is the right way to vote. You will be most effective with a personal contact with someone who knows you well.

Share informational graphics on Facebook, Twitter, Tumblr and other social network sites to make sure voters in each state know how to vote for LGBT equality. Ballot language is different in each state, which can be confusing for voters.

Share videos that support marriage equality. GLAAD will be promoting videos from each of the states.

Voting while trans

Stories and supporters in all the states

Google Employees support equality

Carrie and Rebecca

Visit the GLAAD Blog each day for updates.

With your help, we can help make this country more just and fair for LGBT people. We need every #LGBT and Ally voter to exercise their right to vote in every state, even as we place a special emphasis on marriage equality votes in Minnesota, Maryland, Maine, and Washington. Please vote in your state, and encourages others to vote for equality as well. Polls are incredibly close, and it will come down to whoever shows up to vote in the election.

We look forward to celebrating a time when LGBT lives are not subject to public referendum. Until that time, we will work for equality.

Hurricane Sandy struck the east coast late Monday night, leaving communities across the northeast paralyzed and millions without power.

GLAAD's Manhattan office remains closed after suffering a power loss from the storm. Our New York-based staff members are safe and working from home with limited resources. The best way to reach our staff based in New York is by email. We sincerely appreciate those of you who have asked about our well-being and safety.

As many people head for evacuation shelters as a result of Sandy, we encourage you to help prepare your local shelter for transgender evacuees with this guide  from the National Center for Transgender Equality.

Today, our thoughts are with all those families affected by Hurricane Sandy, as well as first responders working to keep us safe.