Last night Azealia Banks called blogger Perez Hilton "a messy fa**ot" on twitter after a heated back and forth also involving fellow rapper Angel Haze.  After being quickly criticized by others for her use of the word, Banks attempted to defend herself by saying her definition of the word doesn’t mean a gay male, but "any male who acts like a female," followed later by her saying "My most sincere apologies to anyone who was indirectly offended by my foul language.  Not sorry for Perez tho. Lol"

This morning she tweeted "Really not as moved by this f word thing as u all want me to be. As a bisexual person I knew what I meant when I used that word." 

We have written about her work as an out artist several times on our site and counted her as one of the most powerful coming out stories in 2012. 

However, Banks’ claim that the word "fa**ot" doesn’t mean a gay male is not true.  Regardless of her intent or her personal definition, what matters is the meaning given to that word by those who hear it, and the damage it causes when they do. Undoubtedly there are gay kids who follow her on Twitter who hear this word in an entirely different context. This word is used almost universally by bullies, often as part of a larger verbal or physical assault. This word hurts those kids, no matter what Banks meant by it.

Here are some recent uses of the word that received media attention last year:

February 2012:20 year-old Brandon White (pictured left) was brutally assaulted in Atlanta as his attackers shouted "No fa**ots in Jack City."

March 2012:A 29 year-old man in Washington, D.C. underwent two surgeries in which his badly severed jaw was reattached with two permanent titanium plates after attackers yelled fa**ot and began dragging and kicking him.

July 2012: A gay Oklahoma City man received first and second degree burns after discovering two people vandalizing his car who proceeded to throw a firebomb and spray paint the word "f*g" on his car.

August 2012:21 year-old Jordan Addison had to drive around with the words "die f*g" on his car after vandals defaced his car, smashed the windshield and slashed two tires.

Our society knows that "fa**ot" is a derogatory word for gay men, and in this case it was used to attack someone in a very public altercation with hundreds of thousands of fans and young people following.

It is an ugly, archaic word that was used to stigmatize a population of people who suffer high rates of violence both here in the U.S. and abroad.  As far as we’ve come in this society, seeing it used by an artist many young people may look up to is painful, but even more so for those young fans, many of whom GLAAD has heard from.

GLAAD has reached out to Banks’ representatives, and is working to compile stories of fans and teens who wanted to respond to the word and let others know what it feels like when they hear it. 

We also tweeted:

@azealiabanks Are you open to hearing from young #LGBT people & fans who have been hurt by slurs & comments like yours? glaad.org/blog/rapper-az…

— GLAAD (@glaad) January 6, 2013

We hope that Azealia Banks will take what they say to heart and uses her platform to promote acceptance of the LGBT community.

Tonight catch an all new episode of The Biggest Loser.

What to Watch: Monday, January 7

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

Players begin to work in the trainers' custom outdoor gyms and worry about hitting the week two slump. Meanwhile, the adults receive health assessments, the kids take a fitness test and NFL player Antonio Gates cheers the contestants on during a football-themed challenge. This season sees the return of out trainer Jillian Michaels and the introduction of the series' first gay contestant, Jackson Carter.

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 Sonny.

____________________________________________________

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
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, www.twitter.com/glaad and www.glaad.tumblr.com.

UPDATE: BSA executives kill approval of gay Boy Scout's Eagle application, smear team.

The Mount Diablo-Silverado Boy Scout Council in California approved gay scout Ryan Andresen's Eagle badge application, despite the Boy Scouts of America's national ban on gay scouts and leaders. The application now heads to the BSA national offices for final approval.

Ryan was refused the Eagle status last year after coming out as gay. Because the BSA has upheld its discriminatory ban, 18-year-old Ryan was told he was ineligible for the BSA's highest honor, despite years of scouting and his completion of an anti-bullying project. In response, Ryan's mom, Karen Andresen, started a Change.org petition that has since received more than 450,000 signatures calling for her son to be given the same opportunities as other Boy Scouts.

“I want other gay Scouts to know, especially those who are hiding who they really are, that this win is for you. Thank you to everyone who joined my mom’s campaign. Your signatures made this possible,” said Ryan Andresen. “It’s been a wild and exhausting ride. I’m really looking forward to life getting back to normal, and to being able to focus on my final year of high school and completing my college applications.”

On December 19, local Boy Scout leaders granted Ryan an official Eagle Board of Review and today Reuters reports that the Mt. Diablo-Silverado Council approved his application for the rank of Eagle Scout. Ryan’s application will now be forwarded to the national organization for final approval.

"Councils across the nation are rejecting the Boy Scouts' grossly discriminatory ban on gay scouts, echoing the support of fellow scouts, business leaders, and the American public,” said GLAAD President Herndon Graddick. “How long can the BSA go on ignoring its own members and its core values of fairness, leadership and integrity? The growing number of councils welcoming gay scouts and leaders reminds BSA autocrats: change will come with you, or without you."

As part of GLAAD's ongoing work toward ending the BSA's anti-LGBT policy, GLAAD worked with Change.org and Scouts for Equality founder Zach Wahls to share Ryan's story in the media. Ryan has continued to be an advocate for equality, standing up for LGBT youth and against bullying with GLAAD by going purple on Spirit Day, and being honored by the Califronia Assembly for his work against discrimination.

Ryan's mom Karen spoke out after today's news:

“I’m just so incredibly happy for Ryan. He’s worked so hard for this honor, and as a mother, it means the world to me to know that our local Scouting community believes in him, too. Regardless of what the Boy Scouts of America decide to do with his application, this victory makes it all worth it, and gives me so much hope for the future of the organization.”

Scouts for Equality founder Zach Wahls, who initially helped Karen launch her petition on Change.org, said in a Change.org press statement that he hopes this victory will embolden even more local Boy Scout councils to reject the Boy Scouts of America’s “hurtful” anti-gay membership policy:

“The Mount Diablo-Silverado Council joins a growing list of Boy Scout councils and charter organizations that are refusing to embrace the Boy Scouts of America’s hurtful anti-gay membership policy. The American Medical Association, corporate and political leaders, and countless Scouting communities across the country have spoken out against the dangers of policies that exclude gay youth and leaders. It’s time for the BSA to listen. More than 50 additional Change.org petitions have been launched by Scouts and Scout leaders, urging local councils to do what Ryan’s council did, and ignore the national anti-gay policy. Change is coming, council by council, community by community."

A national dialogue about the Boy Scouts' anti-gay policy was sparked in 2012 when GLAAD shared the story of Ohio mom Jennifer Tyrrell, who was ousted from her son Cruz's Boy Scout troop because she is gay. A Change.org petition supporting Jennifer garnered more than 300,000 signatures, which she hand-delivered to the Boy Scouts of America headquarters with GLAAD. Since then, more and more individual scouts, local scout troops, entire scout councils, national leaders, celebrities, organizations and companies who spoken out against the BSA's anti-LGBT ban. The Mount Diablo-Silverado Council joins the growing voice against the BSA's discriminatory ban by supporting an openly gay Scout. 

Tonight catch the season premiere of Pretty Little Liars and the return of The New Normal with guest star Matt Bomer! Plus all new episodes of Emily Owens, M.D., Happy Endings, Go On and Don't Trust the B---- in Apt 23.

What to Watch: Tuesday, January 8

8:00pm: Pretty Little Liars, ABC Family (1 hr) SEASON PREMIERE

Radley Sanitarium has given Mona a clean bill of health and she makes her return to Rosewood High. She tells the Liars that she's better now and would like to be friends, but can they really trust her? Fans can decode live tweets from @MonaVanderwaal to unlock a secret video featuring footage not included in the episode. Check out a sneak peek below.

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

Emily and Will disagree over the diagnosis of a patient brought in who is dressed as a costumed character. Meanwhile, Emily's blind date abruptly ends when her date has a mysterious allergic reaction and Dr. Bandari is inspired to work on her own marriage after dealing with a patient whose relationship is falling apart.

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

Max is in the middle of an identity crisis, so Jane and Derrick take him on a tour of themed gay establishments in Chicago in the hopes that Max will find somewhere he fits in. Meanwhile, Penny's public relations plan for a starlet visiting Alex's store backfires and Brad and Dave try to prove they can be handy as they undertake a list of home repair projects. Watch a preview below.

9:00pm: Go On, NBC (30 mins) NEW

Fausta invites everyone except Anne to her niece's Quincenierra and Anne is unsure of how to react. Meanwhile, Ryan receives an invite from his hero Bob Costas to participate in his new TV show and Mr. K searches for a new way to make a difference at work.

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

June and Chloe get a bad reputation in their apartment building following their first tenant meeting and June wants to change their image. Plans go awry when Chloe sets her eye on Mark and James decides to sabotage June's efforts at cleaning up the girls' image.

9:30pm: The New Normal, NBC (30 mins) NEW

Bryan and David discuss how many kids they want and return to Expanding Families and decide to set up Gary with Bryan's ex-boyfriend Monty (guest star Matt Bomer) who is back in town. Their plan may backfire, however, when Monty asks Goldie to be his surrogate. Meanwhile, Rocky and Jane help Shania deal with mean girls at school.

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 Sonny.

____________________________________________________

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
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, www.twitter.com/glaad and www.glaad.tumblr.com.

Yesterday, Scott Lively was in court, arguing for a judge to dismiss charges of human rights violations against the LGBT people of Uganda. Today, the plaintiffs, Sexual Minorities Uganda (SMUG), will be appearing on HuffPost Live at 3:00 PM EST to discuss the case, yesterday’s hearing, and what they hope for the future.

Pepe Onziema, a staff member at SMUG, will be joined by Pam Spees, an attorney with the Center for Constitutional Rights, who is representing SMUG.

Joining the conversation will be Roger Ross Williams, director of the documentary "God Loves Uganda," who will show a clip from his film that features Scott Lively at work in Uganda. Paul LeGrendre, the director of the Human Rights First Fighting Discrimination Program, will discuss LGBTI rights worldwide, and what recommendations they have for US government action.

The charges against Scott Lively are not just because of his harsh and inflammatory anti-LGBT rhetoric, although that is well documented in GLAAD’s Commentator Accountability Project. The charges were that he stirred up and helped to organize the laws and culture in Uganda that specifically targeted the country’s LGBT population with persecution. Even without the “Kill the Gays” bill, LGBT people have faced violence, harassment, and even death.

Join the conversation with Pepe, Pam, Roger, and Paul by visiting the HuffPost Live web site for the conversation today at 3:00 PM. Video of the conversation will remain on the web site.

UPDATE: Watch full video here:

Tonight catch the People's Choice Awards on CBS! Plus all new episodes of Modern Family, Suburgatory, Chicago Fire, Top Chef, American Horror Story: Asylum and Happily Divorced.

What to Watch: Wednesday, January 9

9:00pm: Modern Family, ABC (30 mins) NEW

Jay plans for the family to celebrate New Year's together, but he is left disappointed when everyone splits off to pursue their own plans. Meanwhile, Haley and Alex are left to watch over the younger kids and it doesn't go well.

9:00pm: People's Choice Awards 2013, CBS (2 hrs) NEW

Kaley Cuoco hosts the 39th Annual People's Choice Awards from the Nokia Theatre at L.A. Live. Check out the list of LGBT stars and inclusive series and films that received nominations.

9:30pm: Suburgatory, ABC (30 mins) NEW

Noah and Jill hire Mr. Wolfe to tutor their child. Meanwhile, Tessa becomes obsessed with finding out Dalia's test score when they receive vastly different rewards for their results and her quest for answers causes tension between George and Dallas.

10:00pm: Chicago Fire, NBC (1 hr) NEW

Severide finally opens up to Chief Boden about his shoulder injury and faces an uncertain future in his career. Meanwhile, Dawson takes matters into her own hands when she responds to a rescue call and finds one young survivor and Casey struggles to handle family drama while also dealing with work issues. Check out a preview below.

10:00pm: Top Chef, Bravo (1 hr) NEW

The chefs must impress Wolfgang Puck with one of his favorite ingredients in the quickfire challenge. The elimination challenge sees the kick off of Restaurant Wars as contestants prepare new ideas for over 200 people at the city's premier food event, Bite of Seattle. Watch a sneak peek below.

10:00pm: American Horror Story: Asylum, FX (1 hr) NEW

Grace tells Kit about the aliens' experiments on Alma. Meanwhile, Dr. Thredson gets a shocking visit from an unexpected person and the Monsignor scrambles to find a way to silence Jude before she can convince people of his guilt.

10:30pm: Happily Divorced, TV Land (30 mins) NEW

Judi's college boyfriend comes to town and Fran encourages her to give him another chance, but they worry he hasn't evolved all that much when he fails to show up for his date with Judi.

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 Sonny.

____________________________________________________

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
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, www.twitter.com/glaad and www.glaad.tumblr.com.

The Virginia-based Carilion Clinic, parent company of the Roanoke Athletic Club, has resolved to change its policies in 2013 and welcome LGBT families. In June of last year, Will Trinkle and his partner Juan Granados filed a lawsuit against the RAC, alleging that they had been granted a "family membership" by the health club only to have it revoked shortly after when it became known to the administration that they were not a straight married couple. Will and Juan have been together for more than eight years and have a two-year-old son. 

The Carilion Clinic and RAC did change the "family membership" policy, but unfortunately decided to rename it the "household membership" policy, refusing to recognize Will, Juan, and their son as a family. In an op-ed written for The Roanoke Times by Carilion CEO Nancy Howell Agee, this offensive decision by the company is addressed. "When Will Trinkle and Juan Granados received a family membership at the Roanoke Athletic Club, we should have reviewed and changed an outdated policy that contained a narrow definition of the concept of "family" in a more timely fashion," wrote Howell Agee. "I regret our delay, and I am sincerely sorry to the Trinkle-Granados family. We should have done better, and we will." Howell Agee went on to say that Carilion is dedicated to addressing the ways it can better serve all families, such as extending domestic partner benefits to its employees and creating a diversity task force.

After seeing the op-ed from Carilion, Will and Juan wrote a letter thanking all who supported them as they called for equal treatment. "Words matter: 'household' is not 'family'. Most all of you understood this and continued your unwavering support of our family and many kept the pressure on Carilion," worte Will and Juan. "We were, and are, humbled and honored by your support – the vast majority of all posts, letters, emails, in-person exchanges and comments were overwhelmingly supportive of us and of equality for our family...Carilion has truly 'stepped up'; we applaud - and thank – all involved in this outcome."

Now that Washington DC and Maryland have both legalized marriage for all loving couples, the National Cathedral, which is affiliated with the Episcopal Church, will perform weddings for gay and lesbian couples. The marriage rite for LGBT members was adopted by the Episcopal Church in 2012, though individual congregations can choose whether or not to implement it.

The National Cathedral is one of the most recognizable places of worship in the United States, drawing hundreds of thousands of visitors per year. It has also hosted many presidential inauguration services as well as the funerals for several presidents, including Ronald Regan and Gerald Ford.

The cathedral's dean, the Very Rev. Gary Hall, said:

I read the Bible as seriously as fundamentalists do. And my reading of the Bible leads me to want to do this because I think it's being faithful to the kind of community that Jesus would have us be. As a kind of tall-steeple, public church in the nation's capital, by saying we're going to bless same-sex marriages, conduct same-sex marriages, we are really trying to take the next step for marriage equality in the nation and in the culture.

The Bishop Mariann Edgar Budde, whose Diocese of Washington includes the District of Columbia as well as four counties in Maryland, decided in December that the National Cathedral would perform marriages for all couples, but waited until today to make the announcement. Due to the cathedral’s popularity and busy schedule, it will likely be at least six months until the first gay or lesbian couple marries there.

Welcome to the first LGBT Religion News Summary of 2013! 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.

2012 Recap: 10 Pro-LGBT Faith Voices and 5 LGBT Religion Advances

People of faith led marriage equality efforts in Illinois and Rhode Island over the holidays. The Roman Catholic hierarchy continued its harsh opposition, chasing the faithful from the church. In the Netherlands, people are actually getting “de-baptized” from the Roman Catholic Church. And some wonder why evangelicals got so quiet over marriage equality.

What’s Cardinal George really enCOURAGEing? Illinois media should ask.

While the Roman Catholic Church in England shut down a mass for LGBT people, the Church of England has allowed partnered gay and lesbian clergy, as long as they are celibate. Openly gay Bishop Gene Robinson is now retired, and the Rev. Cameron Partridge seems to be a rising transgender star in the Episcopal world. Rabbi Sharon Kleinbaum was recognized by Keshet for her advocacy, inspiring other LGBT leaders to continue in rabbinical school.

In Court: LGBT People of Uganda vs. Scott Lively

Virulent anti-LGBT activist, Scott Lively, had his day in court, facing off against the LGBT people of Uganda, who has been persecuting. A viral video from the Philippines features a wedding in an MCC Church, even as MCC is profiled as a church where LGBT people have been welcomed for over 40 years. And if you are looking for something to do, you can join GLAAD at the NYC production of BARE on Wednesday, January 9. Ross Murray, Director of Religion, Faith & Values, will be hosting a TalkOUT about youth, the Roman Catholic Church, and LGBT Equality.

2012 Wrap Up

• A new birth: Faith and equality for LGBT youth, families and the nation
  • Washington Post, December 28, 2012
• Keeping the faith: 2012 in gay rights victories
  • Washington Post, December 31, 2012
• A Queer New Year
  • Religion Dispatches, January 2, 2013

Atheist/Humanist

• My take: 'Atheist' isn’t a dirty word, congresswoman
  • CNN, January 8, 2013

Baptist

• Bishop Simeon Hall, Bahamas Church Leader, Says Clergy Who Attack Gays May Be 'Closet Cases'
  • Huffington Post, December 31, 2013

Catholic

• Editorial: Notre Dame's bold LGBT step deserves applause
  • National Catholic Reporter, December 20, 2012
• Catholic Bishop Compares UK Marriage-Equality Advocates To Nazis
  • Queerty, December 24, 2012
• Dutch Catholics “de-baptize” to protest Pope Benedict comments against gay marriage
  • Reuters, December 27, 2012
• Cardinal George issues letter urging Catholics to oppose gay marriage bill
  • Chicago Tribune, January 1, 2013
• British Archbishop Puts Kibosh On Gay Mass In London
  • Towleroad, January 2, 2013
• The Catholic Church’s new gay insult
  • Salon, January 2, 2013
• Illinois Catholic cardinal fights gay marriage tide
  • USA Today, January 3, 2013
• Activists mobilize around White House’s Catholic ‘hate group’ petition
  • Religion News Service, January 7, 2013
• The 10 Things I Wish the Pope Could Have Observed on My Family's Trip to Disneyland
  • Huffington Post, January 7, 2013
• GLAAD's Ross Murray, Missi Pyle and More Set for BARE's TalkOUT Series, 1/9-31
  • Off-Broadway World, January 7, 2013
• Vatican Newspaper Compares Gay Marriage To Communism
  • Queerty, January 7, 2013
• Fired Transgender Catholic School Teacher Branded “Worse Than Gay” Files Suit
  • Queerty, January 8, 2013
• Progressive Catholic Group Ordaining Transgender Priest
  • Queerty, January 9, 2013

Christian

• Maryland Trolley Co. Ends Marriage Tours To Protest The Gays, 'Bigotry'
  • Towleroad, December 26, 2012
• Scarier Than Westboro Baptist: Confronting Quiet Anti-Gay Rhetoric at Church
  • Huffington Post, December 28, 2012
• What Would Jesus Do About A Gay Teammate? A Christian Response to Torii Hunter’s Comments
  • Deadspin, January 2, 2013
• Am I trying to justify my homosexual sins?
  • JohnShore.com, January 3, 2013
• Gay-condemning Christians and Their House of Mirrors
  • JohnShore.com, January 7, 2013

Episcopal

• Bishop Gene Robinson Prepares for Retirement
  • Towelroad, December 30, 2012
• Cameron Partridge, Transgender Episcopal Priest And University Chaplain, On Crossing Boundaries
  • Huffington Post, January 4, 2013
• Washington National Cathedral to wed same-sex couples
  • CNN, January 9, 2013

Evangelical

• Kate Kane, Anonymous Supporter Of Evangelical Gays, Plans To Come Out
  • Towleroad, December 22, 2012
• Bishop Simeon Hall, Bahamas Church Leader, Says Clergy Who Attack Gays May Be 'Closet Cases'
  • Huffington Post, December 31, 2012
• Have Evangelicals stepped out of the marriage battle?
  • January 2, 2013
• Regal and Real: Mary J. Blige
  • Los Angeles Confidential, January 8, 2013

International

• Church of England to Allow Gay Bishops, Sort Of
  • Religion Dispatches, January 4, 2013
• Scott Lively Gets His Day in Court
  • Washington Post, January 4, 2013
• French Muslims join opposition to same-sex marriage
  • NBC, January 7, 2013
• French President Tells Catholic Schools To Take Vow Of Silence On Gay-Marriage Debate
  • Queerty, January 7, 2013
• Scott Lively Defends Anti-Gay Uganda Work in Federal Court
  • Religion Dispatches, January 8, 2013

Jewish

• New Organization For LGBT Jews and their families offers support
  • Baltimore Jewish Times, December 12, 2012
• Queer Clergy in Action: Rabbi Sharon Kleinbaum
  • Keshet, December 26, 2012
• Will Orthodox Throw JONAH Overboard?
  • The New York Jewish Week, December 26, 2012
• Steven Goldstein, Head of NJ's Prominent LGBT Rights Group 'Garden State Equality', to Step Down
  • Towleroad, January 3, 2013
• Out In Lubavitch: Growing up and coming out in the Chabad Lubavitch community of Crown Heights
  • Gotta Give ‘Em Hope, January 7, 2013
• Build on Gay Marriage Victories
  • Jewish Daily Forward, January 8, 2013

Lutheran

• ELCA pastor testifies before Illinois senate committee on marriage equality
  • ReconcilingWorks, January 4, 2013
• RIC Sunday!
  • ReconcilingWorks, January 8, 2013

Marriage Equality

• Members of the LGBT Great Falls Community React to Yesterday’s Montana Supreme Court Decision
  • Fox5 Great Falls, Montana, December 18, 2012
• Gay Marriage: Why Government Can't Endorse Any Theology
  • Opposing Views, December 27, 2012
• Local religious leaders sign letter supporting gay marriage law
  • State Journal-Register, January 1, 2012
• Counter-protesters outnumber Westboro church as gay couples begin to marry in Maryland
  • Gay Star News, January 3, 2013
• The Natural Law Scam
  • Religion News Service, January 3, 2013
• Marriage equality: Nothing to fear in Illinois
  • Windy City Media Group, January 8, 2013

Metropolitan Community Church

• Metropolitan Community Church of Washington Offers Services in Spanish
  • NBC4 Washington, DC, December 7, 2012
• Queery: Imani Woody Macko
  • Washington Blade, December 20, 2012
• Gay-centered church founded in 1960s debates role given recent progress for gay rights
  • Washington Post, December 18, 2012
• WATCH: Viral Wedding Video Presents Love, Filipino Style
  • Queerty, January 3, 2013
• Video: Do we need a gay church?
  • HuffPost Live, January 8, 2013

Mormon

• Salt Lake Trib’s Utahns of the Year: Mormons Building Bridges
  • Box Turtle Bulletin, December 26, 2012
• Years of tension yield to thaw between gays, Mormons
  • Religion News Service, January 3, 2013

Politics

• Accommodating religious freedom
  • Washington Post, January 7, 2013

Unitarian Universalist

• Minister and activist to officiate first marriage since 2003
  • Salon, December 27, 2012
• A real, legal, wedding, at last
  • The Wenatchee World, December 29, 2012
• Our work as a Welcoming Congregation doesn’t stop at our doors
  • Standing on the Side of Love, January 2, 2013
• Church embraces forum for youth struggling with sexual orientation
  • Blue Ridge Now, January 5, 2013

United Church of Christ

• UCC congregations to rally for marriage equality in 2013
  • United Church of Christ News, January 8, 2013

Jeanne Manford, who founded PFLAG in 1973, has died at the age of 92.

The idea for PFLAG started in 1972, when Manford marched in New York's Christopher Street Liberation Day March, the precursor to today's Pride parade, with her son, Morty, who is gay. By 1980, the group was distributing educational literature to educational and faith organizations nationwide. During the 1980s, PFLAG expanded, becoming an incorporated nonprofit, and started organizing chapters throughout the United States, notably in rural communities, where there was often little other support for LGBT people and their families. In the 1990s, PFLAG chapters in Massachusetts were integral in passing the first safe schools legislation in the United States.

"God is Love."A brief meditation on the life of Jeanne Manford, founder of PFLAG, a woman who loved prophetically. facebook.com/photo.php?fbid…

— James Martin, SJ (@JamesMartinSJ) January 9, 2013

Fr. James Martin, chaplain to the Colbert Report, tweeted about Manford’s death, with a link to a longer meditation on the impact she had by stating, simply, "I have a homosexual son and I love him," in a letter to the New York Post in 1972. In a statement, PFLAG officials said "she paved the way for us to speak out for what is right, uniting the unique parent, family, and ally voice with the voice of LGBT people everywhere."

Jeanne Manford’s unconditional love for her son led her to found one of the most important LGBT advocacy organizations in the United States. Her legacy will live on through the work of LGBT people and their allies.

Yesterday, 18 year-old Ryan Andresen and his family celebrated that he was one step closer to getting his Eagle award after an official Eagle Board of Review unanimously approved Ryan's Eagle application.

According to Eagle Scout and Scouts for Equality founder Zach Wahls, the volunteer Eagle Board of Review traditionally has authority over Eagle applications, and, if approved, a Scout leaves that meeting with an understanding that he is an Eagle Scout. In Ryan's case, the board chair took an additional step, and received verbal confirmation from Scout Executive, John Fenoglio, that he would approve Ryan's application.

But Ryan's victory was short-lived, as Fenoglio, a paid employee of the BSA, reversed course and rejected the board's unanimously approved application -- an unprecedented action. Local Scout volunteers speculate that Fenoglio's decision was heavily influenced by BSA national.

"It's an unprecedented move," says Wahls. "It's clear that Fenoglio's reversal was forced by BSA national. He's a paid employee, and unfortunately, National exerts a lot of influence over their staff. His reversal, however, is most disappointing."

"The Boy Scouts is a volunteer driven organization. What signal is the Boy Scouts of America sending to those volunteers, when they circumvent the local process and tell the official Board of Review that the volunteer board lacks authority?" questioned Ryan’s dad, Eric Andresen.

Indeed, the service of its volunteers remains the underpinning of the BSA. In 2011, the BSA reported 257,946,000 volunteer service hours, totaling $5,620,643,340 in services to support Scouting across America. How then can the BSA undermine its own volunteer leaders, the backbone of the organization?

The Andresen family is devastated, but what hurts them more is that BSA national would rather soil the official Eagle application process and pit local paid staff against volunteer leaders, than allow a gay Boy Scout to be awarded an honor he's earned.

This marks the second time Ryan has been rejected by Scouting leaders he looks up to -- just because he's gay. To make matters worse, BSA Executives – the unelected, paid brass helming an organization that touts the principles of honesty and integrity -- continue to malign Ryan in the national media. 

BSA national spokesperson, Deron Smith, falsely asserts Ryan disagrees with Scouting’s principle of ‘Duty to God,’ issuing the following statement to outlets including USA Today:

“The Eagle application was forwarded, by a volunteer, to the local council but it was not approved because this young man proactively stated that he does not agree to Scouting’s principle of ‘Duty to God’ and does not meet Scouting’s membership requirements. Therefore, he is not eligible to receive the rank of Eagle.”

Bonnie Hazarabedian, the District Advancement Chair who headed Ryan’s Eagle Board of Review, refutes that claim, however:

“Ryan did everything right in this process, with honor and honesty. He completed all of his requirements, he turned in his application along with the appropriate request for an appeal before an Eagle Board of Review, and he satisfied every member of the Board that he has earned the right to be recognized as an Eagle Scout. The Board reviewed all of Ryan’s scouting history, his advancement records, his Eagle project and his spiritual beliefs, and we are convinced that Ryan has more than demonstrated that he deserves the award.” (Emphasis added.)

“That BSA national executives would not only thwart the approval of, but also simultaneously lie about, the Eagle badge application of a committed young Scout is not only shocking, it’s shameful,” said GLAAD President Herndon Graddick. “The organization continues to use smoke and mirrors to preserve an outdated policy that is wholly discriminatory and continues to erode the integrity of the organization.”

The local Scouting community continues to stand by Ryan. Although it appears Scout Executive Fenoglio ceded to pressure from the national organization, Ryan's Scouting community – including the official Eagle Board of Review that unanimously approved Ryan's Eagle application -- does not support discrimination.

In October 2012, Ryan’s mom launched a Change.org petition calling on local Boy Scout leaders to reject the BSA’s discriminatory anti-gay policy and to give Ryan the Eagle award he has earned. To date, the petition has more than 460,000 signatories.

Rosie O’Donnell and wife Michelle Rounds welcomed new daughter Dakota on Saturday, January 5, Rosie’s rep confirmed to People Magazine. Dakota weighs in at 5 lbs., 5 oz. and “moms and baby are healthy and happy.”

O’Donnell announced the news on Twitter this afternoon and included a snapshot of the happy moms and baby. O’Donnell has four other children, but baby Dakota is the couple’s first child together. GLAAD congratulates the new parents and wishes them all the best!

we r thrilled to announce the arrival of r daughter Dakota -#withloveandthanks - AMEN instagr.am/p/URkSICjmJp/

— Rosie O'Donnell (@Rosie) January 9, 2013

How to Survive a Plague has been nominated for Best Documentary at the 85th Academy Awards!

How to Survive a Plague is an unflinching and powerfully moving look at how the activists behind groups like ACT UP forced the medical establishment into action following its tragically stunted response to the HIV/AIDS crisis.  The film made a big impact at its Sundance Premiere earlier last year, and we’re excited that it has been nominated for an Oscar!

The documentary takes a look at how activists including Peter Staley turned AIDS from a death sentence into a condition that was manageable. It uses footage from the 1980s and 90s to transport viewers back to a time when many lived in fear until members of ACT UP and TAG (Treatment Action Group) took control of their own fates. Watch the trailer below:

Congrats to David France and Howard Gertler and everyone else involved in the making of this powerful film. The Academy Awards ceremony airs on Sunday, February 24. 

On Saturday, January 12, Harlem Pride will host its first Town Hall meeting to outline its 2013 Schedule of Events and to formally announce the launch of a new capital campaign to establish a Harlem Community Pride Center. 

Founded after the inaugural Harlem Pride Day Celebration, which garnered more than three-thousand guests, since 2010, Harlem Pride has expanded to include monthly seminars and workshops, social events, and other community outreach activities.

The theme for the town hall is "Celebrating Pride and Diversity in our SGL & LGBT Communities and Organizations in Harlem!"

The town hall will take place at the Countee Cullen Library Auditorium located at 104 West 136th Street (at Lenox Avenue) and is scheduled to last from 2 pm to 4 pm. A light lunch will be served.

For more information and to RSVP, please visit: www.HarlemPride.org 

The White House invited Rev. Louie Giglio, an Evangelical pastor of the Passion City Church, in Atlanta, to lead the benediction at President Obama’s inauguration. However, once Rev.  Giglio’s past anti-gay sermon surfaced, the White House has decided that he is not the right person to be praying for a blessing on the people of the United States.

Georgia. Rev. Giglio was selected because of his work in mobilizing college students to oppose slavery and sex trafficking. However, when ThinkProgress discovered that he referred to the “aggressive agenda” of the LGBT community, advocated for so-called “ex-gay” therapy, and called being gay a “malfunction,” the White House realizes that his presence does not reflect the LGBT-inclusive record of the Obama administration, or of the American people.

Rev. Giglio released a statement that acknowledged that his anti-gay messages of the past has become a stumbling block to his effectiveness in the inauguration:

Due to a message of mine that has surfaced from 15-20 years ago, it is likely that my participation, and the prayer I would offer, will be dwarfed by those seeking to make their agenda the focal point of the inauguration. Clearly, speaking on this issue has not been in the range of my priorities in the past fifteen years. Instead, my aim has been to call people to ultimate significance as we make much of Jesus Christ.

Addie Whisenant, the Presidential Inauguration Committee Spokesperson, agreed:

We were not aware of Pastor Giglio’s past comments at the time of his selection and they don’t reflect our desire to celebrate the strength and diversity of our country at this Inaugural.  Pastor Giglio was asked to deliver the benediction in large part for his leadership in combating human trafficking around the world. As we now work to select someone to deliver the benediction, we will ensure their beliefs reflect this administration’s vision of inclusion and acceptance for all Americans.

This leaves us with an opening in the program for a new faith voice. Four years ago, the White House attempted to balance out anti-gay preacher Rick Warren with openly gay Bishop Gene Robinson.  Other portions of the inauguration have LGBT representation. Richard Blanco will be giving an original poem as a part of the inauguration ceremony. As LGBTQ Nation points out, Blanco is the first Latino, youngest, and first openly gay person to be given such an honor.

Many had to wonder why it appears to be so difficult to find a faith leader without an anti-LGBT background. Just a couple of weeks ago, GLAAD released Ten Pro-LGBT Faith Voices of 2012. Any of these people would have been superb. Some are clergy, some are lay  people. All of them have shown a commitment to their faith and to justice for ALL people.

The president’s own Advisory Council on Faith Based and Neighborhood Partnerships includes Rev. Nancy Wilson, the moderator of the Metropolitan Community Church, which has been a haven and an advocate for LGBT people for over 40 years. Rev. Wilson can surely pray for the president and for America, as she has demonstrated a willingness to work with him.

It must be noted that the benediction does not have to be given by an LGBT-identified person. There are numerous straight faith leaders who affirm God’s love for all people, regardless of sexual orientation or gender identity. Let’s name a few:

Jay Bakker has been ministering to young adults and those on the margins after growing up the son of Jim and Tammy Faye Bakker. His church and all his writing place a heavy emphasis on grace. He is theologically quite conservative, even while being outspoken in his advocacy for inclusiveness of all people.

Jacqui Lewis is Senior Minister of Middle Church and Executive Director of The Middle Project, a not for profit institute that trains progressive ethical leaders for a just society.

Andrew Marin learned from his own anti-gay history to become a better ally. He now runs a ministry to build bridges between the evangelical and LGBT community. 

Rabbi Denise Eger, vice president of the Central Conference of American Rabbis, and has been recognized as an LGBT advocate.

James J. Martin, prominent Catholic priest and theologian and chaplain to the Colbert Report has supported Spirit Day as a day to protect all youth.

Rev. Dr. Otis Moss III, the pastor of Obama’s former church, Trinity United Church of Christ in Chicago, has been a strong voice of unity for all Americans, resisting wedge issues at the voting box.

Rachel Held Evans has been a voice to challenge the notion of “biblical living, ” as well as building an authentically Christian and inclusive community.

These suggestions are just possibilities. The person giving the benediction doesn’t have to be LGBT identified. However, they should reflect the growing sentiment in the US and in faith communities that LGBT people are full and equal parts of society. When the Inauguration Committee makes their decision, we hope they will keep this in mind.

We want you to vote for us in the 5th Annual Shorty Awards! Tweet a vote of support for us in the activism category. The Shorty Awards“honor the best in social media; recognizing the people and organizations producing real-time short content across Twitter, Facebook, Tumblr and the rest of the social web.” Each year, millions visit the Shorty Awards site to vote for the social media content creators of their choice.

GLAAD has led the conversation toward equality on social media this year. We have used our Twitter, Facebook, Tumblr, and Instagram accounts to spread a message of equality and acceptance. Help us by going to the Shorty Award website and tweeting a vote of support in the activism category. 

The People’s Choice Awards, the first award show of the year, aired last night on CBS and several out stars and LGBT-inclusive series and films won their categories as voted on by the fans.

Ellen DeGeneres picked up an award for Favorite Daytime TV Host. She also presented Chris Colfer his trophy for Favorite Comedic TV Actor. Check out Ellen and Chris below.

Shonda Rhimes’ hit Grey’s Anatomy took the Favorite Network TV Drama title. Ryan Murphy’s The New Normal won Favorite New TV Comedy. The X Factor, which this season included an out contestant, took home Favorite Competition TV Show. MTV’s Awkward. picked up the award for Favorite Cable TV Comedy, while True Blood took Favorite Premium Cable TV Show. On the film side, The Perks of Being a Wallflower won Favorite Dramatic Movie. Congratulations to all the winners!

Singer-songwriter Janis Ian has been making music since she was just a child, and began recording albums professionally as a teenager.  Since then, she’s had a storied and celebrated career that has seen her tackle a wide range of timely subjects not only in her music, but also in her writing as an author and columnist.  She also came out as a lesbian in 1993.

Ian is probably best known classic songs like “At Seventeen” and “Society’s Child,” the latter of which was inducted into the Grammy hall of fame in 2001.  Now Ian is being recognized by the awards once again, having just been nominated for the spoken word version of her 2008 autobiography, Society’s Child.  Ian took a moment to answer a few of our questions about coming out, her career, and what she’s planning next.

GLAAD: What has been your experience as a working (and highly celebrated) musician since coming out almost 20 years ago? 

JANIS IAN: Hard to say exactly when I came out... I was always out to family and friends and colleagues - everyone at what was then CBS Records knew, for instance. Then I was outed by the Village Voice when I was 26, but the other papers were kind enough to not pick it up - that was when we still had morals clauses in contracts, and it would have destroyed my career. I came out formally in 1993 at the Triangle Ball, along with k.d. and Melissa. So I've actually "come out" three times.

….. I wouldn't notice much of a difference, frankly. The bulk of my audience in the US is there because of "Society's Child" or "At 17" intiially, and is straight. Although it seems like just in the past year, I've been getting thanked more by gay couples - probably because I wrote a song called "Married in London" and have been singing it at every show for the past five years, even when it caused walk-outs. It's also up for free on my website, which might explain it too.

GLAAD: Did coming out influence your musical perspective or song writing in any way? 

JI: I think any time you make your daily life more congruent, it influences your entire life. It's hard to be in two places at once, which is what happens when you're in the closet.

GLAAD: You’ve been writing and recording music since you were a teenager back in the 60s, and have continued to steadily release new material since then.  What stands out in how you’ve seen the musical landscape change over the past several decades, and how would you like to see it evolve from this point forward? 

JI: Well, the obvious change is the technology. As Tom Paxton says, "I started out on vinyl and now I'm an app." The availability of all kinds of musical genres is astounding - when I was a kid, if you wanted African music you had to hunt for it, or hope someone else owned a recording you could borrow. On the other hand, there's so much available - in shops, cars, buses, trains, elevators, even places like Sea World - and it's so much louder than George Squier (the inventor of Muzak) intended - that I don't know why anyone would want to purchase it in the first place. 

The other area of change that's enormous is in songwriting - the lyric language changes hugely with the times. When I was working on adapting an unfinished Woody Guthrie song ("Mother Sing Again", which became "I Hear You Sing Again") I was very conscious of that. Slang and phrasing change with the times.

And of course, the consumer is a lot more educated now.

GLAAD: Your latest Grammy nomination is for your recording of your 2008 autobiography, Society’s Child.  What led you to write your autobiography in the first place, and how was the writing process? 

JI: The first time I was asked to write my autobiography, I was 16 years old! Absolutely ridiculous. But as I hit my 50's, I realized I'd lived through some pretty interesting times. I thought if I could write it as much about the times as about myself, it might be worthwhile.

I love writing - articles, stories, books, songs, speeches, I love them all. So the writing was a joy. And scary. And wonderful. I also took the entire year at home, no touring, which is my goal in life, so that helped. 

GLAAD: In addition to what looks like quite a few tour dates in the first half of next year, will you be going back to the recording studio at any point or work on another book?

JI: Yes, I'm planning to spend a lot of next year working on songs for an album that will hopefully be recorded in early 2014, for release that fall - and a couple of books. I have a children's picture book coming out fall 2013 called "The Tiny Mouse", based on my song of that name and illustrated by the Schuberts, published by Lemniscaat. That's leading me to think about a children's record as well.

Illinois Bishop Sally Dyck spoke out today in support of marriage equality, just as her state is expected to address a bill on the issue. In a statement to clergy and members of the United Methodist Church (UMC) Northern Illinois Conference, Bishop Dyck asserted, "I believe in the institution of marriage as the source of emotional and legal stability and security for families and communities...Therefore, I believe it is to the benefit of our families, communities and the state of Illinois for the Marriage Equality Bill to become law in our state."

Bishop Dyck's statement comes at a time when the UMC does not officially support marriage equality as a denomination, though the Church did consider the issue in 2012. Despite this official position of the UMC, several individual Methodist leaders and congregations have come out in support of the LGBT communtiy. In her own show of support, Bishop Dyck discussed her experience and beliefs about marriage, saying, "Because I believe in marriage, it’s my belief it will be a benefit for this law to pass."

Last month, over 260 LGBT-affirming clergy in Illinois signed a letter urging legislators to pass marriage equality in the state. 

This week we saw a very powerful reminder of something we don't often have to think about.

Whenever we talk, we need to not only think about what we want to say, we also need to think about what those who are listening will hear. We can change our personal definitions of words any way want. But we don't get to demand that everyone else do the same.

It doesn't matter whether anti-gay slurs are used to target someone specifically for being gay, for acting outside gender norms, or for something completely unrelated. What matters is what these words mean to the young people against whom these words are used as weapons, day in and day out, often alongside other verbal or physical assaults.

We are grateful that students from the Hetrick-Martin Institute shared their thoughts on the use of anti-gay slurs with us, after bisexual rapper Azaelia Banks used the word fa**ot on Twitter, then defended her use of it by saying she meant 'someone who acts like a woman.'

She has since not responded to GLAAD emails asking to speak about the slurs and what it could mean to her fans.

"I hate the word 'fa**ot.' It means dirty, trash, poor, 'you're nobody.' I feel like some people are judging my sexuality when they use it. I wouldn't tolerate it from anyone." - Nicole

"I'm a lesbian, and we aren't really called a 'fa**ot.' People more use words like 'd*ke' or 'abomination' for us. Either way, hate speech is hate speech. If you know the history of the word 'fa**ot,' it refers to a bundle of burning sticks, and how they used to burn gay people. There's nothing funny about the word at all. It breaks my heart when I hear people in the community using it toward each other, joking or not." - Angela

"We don't have many role models of queer women of color. I felt kind of upset when I heard that Azealia used that word. It's like so easy to go there and there's many other reasons why Perez Hilton is annoying, like how he 'outs' people. She could've said so many other things, like about his character, but she went there." - Jay

"I think if you're a celebrity, you have a certain level of responsibility. Young kids might listen to her and hear that and think it's okay because she said it. It wasn't until I was older that I realized the different levels and meanings of certain words." - Karisma

Perez Hilton also issued a response today, saying: "I'm no saint. I've made my mistakes. And I learned first-hand the negative impact of that word and stated in 2009 that I would not use it."

There is no debate that young lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender (LGBT) people today are subjected to a high and unfair level of bullying, harrassment and violence. When celebrities and media use the word, it gives license to their bullies. According to GLSEN's 2011 National School Climate Survey more than 80% of LGBT students reported being verbally harassed, almost 40% reported being physically harassed and nearly 20% reported being physically assaulted at school in the past year because of their sexual orientation. More than two-thirds of these students heard homophobic remarks (e.g., "dyke" or "fa**ot") frequently or often at school.

NoHomophobes.com tracks the number of times anti-gay slurs, such as "fa**ot" or "d*ke," are used on Twitter on any given day. At the time of this writing, "fa**ot" has appeared in over 14,000 tweets already today.

If you are interested in sharing your story about what anti-LGBT slurs mean to you, please visit www.glaad.org/shareyourstory.