Jim Nabors, the star of the ‘60s hit TV shows The Andy Griffith Show and Gomer Pyle, U.S.M.C., married his partner of 38 years this month in Seattle, Washington.

Nabors, who is 82 years old, met his husband Stan Cadwallader, 64, during Cadwallader’s time as a firefighter in 1975. He began to work for Nabors, and the two fell in love.

The couple flew to Washington state (the state closest to their home state of Hawaii to allow marriage for same-sex couples) for the wedding. The two wed before a judge in their hotel room with close friends as witnesses.

"I'm 82 and he's in his 60s and so we've been together for 38 years and I'm not ashamed of people knowing, it's just that it was such a personal thing, I didn't tell anybody," Nabors said to Hawaii News Now. "I'm very happy that I've had a partner of 38 years and I feel very blessed.  And, what can I tell you, I'm just very happy." 

The character of Gomer Pyle was first introduced on The Andy Griffith Show in 1963. The character was wildly successful and got his own spinoff show, which follows Gomer as he leaves Mayberry for the Marines.

Nabors was born and raised in Alabama. In addition to the role of Gomer Pyle, Nabors appeared regularly on The Carol Burnett Show and hosted his own variety shows throughout the years.  In 1982, he co-starred with his friend Burt Reynolds and country music legend Dolly Parton in The Best Little Whorehouse in Texas.  Since 1987, he has become an Indianapolis 500 staple, performing “Back Home Again in Indiana” at the start of every race, missing only in 2007 due to health issues. He recorded a video for the race last year because of a heart surgery.

GLAAD would like to congratulate newlyweds Jim Nabors and Stan Cadwallader on this happy occasion, and offer them well wishes for years to come.

Earlier this year Wade Davis, the former NFL player who came out as gay after retiring, predicted that the NHL would have the first professional athlete to come out while still playing. If the Vancouver Canucks are any indication than that may very well be the case. If anything is certain it is that the NHL is arguably the most visibly supportive of LGBT inclusion  among the major American professional sports leagues. The NHL is home to You Can Play co-founders Brian Burke, former Toronto Maple Leafs GM, and  his son Patrick, a scout for the Philadelphia Flyers. You Can Play launched last year with footage of many NHL players expressing their support for equality in hockey, regardless of sexual orientation.

The Vancouver Canucks have gone a step further. The Canucks are already well noted for marching in the Vancouver Pride Parade and for players Henrik Sedin and Ryan Kesler giving their vocal support to the possibility of a gay player in their locker room. Yet, in a recent home game against the Calgary Flames, the Canucks took even greater strides in promoting LGBT inclusion in hockey by inviting 16-year-old Cory Oskam to skate on the ice with his personal hero and Canucks goaltender Cory Schneider. The teenager says he barely remembers the warm-up and singing of “O Canada” but was fortunate enough to receive a signed pair of hockey pads from Schneider after the game. Cory, who was named Anneke at birth, is currently in the process of transitioning and is the goaltender for the Britannia Hockey Academy. He was invited to skate with the Canucks during the pre-game of their matchup against the Flames as a part of Minor Hockey Week, an attempt by Vancouver to let kids skate alongside their heroes.

The inclusion of Cory into Minor Hockey Week is a great stride by the Vancouver Canucks organization to help promote LGBT inclusion within the NHL and hockey culture in general. His skating on the ice shows that he is a normal kid with normal dreams and aspirations. The fact that Cory Oskam could speak out against anti-LGBT bias at the Dare to Stand Out Student Conference mere days before his experience with the Canucks shows the positive amount of LGBT inclusion and equality that appears to have already taken root within the NHL.

UPDATE: According to Sports Illustrated Senior Writer Jim Trotter, and Buzzfeed senior political reporter Chris Geidner, Chris Culliver has apologized stating: "The derogatory comments I made yesterday were a reflection of thoughts in my head, but they are not how I feel. It has taken me seeing them in print to realize that they are hurtful and ugly. Those discriminating feelings are truly not in my heart. Further, I apologize to those who I have hurt and offended, and I pledge to learn and grow from this experience.”

Athlete Ally, You Can Play, and GLAAD, three organizations working for LGBT inclusion in sports, today released a joint statement in response to comments made by San Francisco 49ers cornerback Chris Culliver, after he wrongfully stated that an openly gay player would not be accepted in a NFL locker room. 

In interviews during the lead-up to this weekend's Super Bowl, Culliver was asked whether he had any gay teammates. He responded "We don't have any gay guys on the team," adding "They gotta get up outta here if they do. Can't be with that sweet stuff."

"Chris Culliver’s comments were disrespectful, discriminatory and dangerous, particularly for the young people who look up to him," said Athlete Ally Executive Director Hudson Taylor. "His words underscore the importance of the athlete ally movement and the key role that professional athletes play in shaping an athletic climate that affirms and includes gay and lesbian players. Culliver’s current views are as marginal as they are misguided. We’re seeing more and more NFL players take a stand against homophobia in sports through our advocacy and we know that support at this level is only going to grow. It is becoming clear that discrimination is on the fringe and has absolutely no place in sports."

Culliver's own team agrees, saying in a statement: "The San Francisco 49ers reject the comments that were made yesterday, and have addressed the matter with Chris. There is no place for discrimination within our organization at any level. We have and always will proudly support the LGBT community."

The key to changing that attitude is education. Culliver's coach Jim Harbaugh previously stated:

“I ask all players to play through their own personality and be who they are. What you ask of a player is to be a great teammate and be a good player. My expectations would be the same."

"As we continue to have culture-changing conversations about LGBT people, and as the leagues continue to show their commitment to diversity and inclusion, it's becoming more clear that when a player does come out publicly, the reaction will be more along the lines of what Culliver's own coach predicted: they will be welcomed and accepted," said GLAAD Director Aaron McQuade, who oversees the organization's sports work.

"It is unfortunately not uncommon for some athletes who have not been exposed to the LGBT community to hold fast to harmful and outdated stereotypes about LGBT people," said You Can Play President Patrick Burke. "Sports can often be an insular community- young athletes tend to associate with other young athletes, and that trend continues up through the high school and collegiate years. The lack of exposure to the LGBT community is something that our groups are working together to try to fix. We believe that most incidents such as these arise from ignorance, not hatred, and can be prevented and fixed through the type of education we provide. As we continue to work with the professional sports leagues to find the right ways to reach their athletes, we are optimistic that the future is bright for LGBT athletes, coaches, and fans in all of the major professional sports."

Both Athlete Ally and You Can Play have spoken about LGBT inclusion with athletic departments at dozens of college campuses. Last year You Can Play launched its campaign for LGBT inclusion with the full support of the National Hockey League and several high-profile active players. GLAAD and Athlete Ally teamed up to offer an LGBT Ally training to two classes of NBA rookies, and every major professional men's and women's sports league in the country sent messages of support to bullied LGBT youth on Spirit Day last October.

The San Francisco 49ers created an It Gets Better video last summer:

Tonight catch the season premiere of Chef Wanted with Anne Burrell, plus all new episodes of The Office, Grey's Anatomy, Glee and Scandal.

What to Watch: Thursday, January 31

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

David entrusts Jim with hiring someone new to take over for Jim and Dwight uses the opportunity to fill staff positions with his loyal friends. Meanwhile, Pam wonders who her new desk mate will be and Ellie searches for her birth parents.

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

Arizona empathizes with a young patient who is struggling with similar problems. Meanwhile, Derek and April search for a solution to help the hospital and Cristina has trouble with obeying the wishes of a family whose son is dying. Watch a clip below.

9:00pm: Glee, Fox (1 hr) NEW

The men of McKinley decide to create a sexy calendar to raise money for their trip to Regionals. Meanwhile, Finn and Sue have a major confrontation and Rachel has to make a decision about how much she is willing to reveal when she is cast in a student film. Watch the full performance of "This is the New Year" shared by Ryan Murphy himself below.

10:00pm: Scandal, ABC (1 hr)  NEW

Olivia's team begins to doubt her as they learn more about the rigged election. Meanwhile, Mellie is forced to step up and try to help Fitz recover. Check out a sneak peek below.

10:00pm: Chef Wanted with Anne Burrell, Food (1 hr) SEASON PREMIERE

The second season begins with out chef Anne Burrell on a search for the perfect Executive Chef at the Tuscan Kitchen in Salem, NH.

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.

In a story that has been making its way around the media for the past few weeks, a former teacher at a Roman Catholic prep school in Queens suing after being fired for coming out as transgender. Mark Krolikowski, who prefers male pronouns, was popular and well liked among students at St. Francis Preparatory School, where he taught for 32 years. Students particularly praised his “Human Love and Sexuality” course, which he developed and implemented 15 years ago.

Several students said they had noticed that he dressed in more feminine clothing, but stated that his appearance was never an issue for them. Krolikowski agreed to “tone down” his appearance after the parents of a ninth grade student complained and apparently received excellent reviews for the 2011-12 school year. Still, Krolikowski was terminated in August, before the school year started.

Cristina Guarino, a former student of Krolikowski, has started a petition on Change.org asking the school to formally apologize. In her letter, she states, “In a school that preaches love, respect, and acceptance, we are appalled to see that their lessons come with hateful fine print.”

Media outlets often struggle when writing about transgender people, particularly when it comes to pronouns. Mark Krolikowski confirmed his preference for male pronouns with several outlets, but many times transgender people are repeatedly misidentified by journalists who are unaware of how to accurately write about transgender subjects. The article on the Huffington Post included an editor’s note that addresses the issue in a sensitive manner, stating that they had reached out to Krolikowski about pronoun preference and had not yet received a response, but “because Krolikowski's attorney, Andrew Kimler, and the various news reports we have seen regarding this story use male pronouns when referring to Krolikowski, we are doing the same until otherwise instructed.”

The Roman Catholic hierarchy has been one of the most ardent opponents to LGBT equality. Last year, several people were fired from their jobs because of support for marriage equality. Additionally, some LGBT and allied Catholics were denied sacraments. However, according to the Public Religion Research Institute, more than three-quarters (76%) of Catholics agree that Congress should pass laws to protect transgender people from job discrimination.

Many news outlets, even those that have done some wonderful reporting on LGB people, still fail to provide fair, accurate, and kind reporting when it comes to transgender people. Just last year, the New York Times ran an article on Lorena Escalera, who had died in a house fire, that focused more on her appearance and how her neighbors perceived her than on who she had been as a human being. The article, along with the Times’ lackluster response to criticism, led to a “very frank, off-the-record discussion about issues that uniquely affect trans people.” Hopefully, news outlets will continue to report on issues affecting transgender people in a manner that is respectful and humanizing.

It's been nearly a year since GLAAD first called on the Boy Scouts to end the ban on gay scouts and leaders. After hearing from GLAAD and seeing 1.4 million signatures on Change.org in support of equality, they're considering changing the policy once and for all, but first they want to hear from you.

In just a few days, the Boy Scouts Board of Directors will vote on ending the discriminatory policy, and anti-gay activists are already doing everything they can to make sure that vote comes up short.

It's up to you to bring us across the finish line. Visit www.glaad.org/tellbsa right now to send a message to the Boy Scouts letting them know that ending the ban is the only way forward.

Since first meeting Ohio mom Jennifer Tyrrell last year, we at GLAAD have been working around the clock to make sure that when the Boy Scouts kicked someone out for being gay, it was front-page news. Because when people like Jennifer, or 18-year-old Ryan Andresen, or Scoutmaster Greg Bourke, or countless others are told they can't take part because they're gay, the Boy Scouts are telling them they're not good enough.

Please help us put an end to the anti-gay ban once and for all so that young people are not told that they aren't good enough to be scouts simply because they are gay.

Yesterday, GLAAD made a statement along with Athlete Ally and You Can Play, on the actions of Chris Culliver, who stated that he would not want an openly gay player on his football team and wrongly felt that they would not be accepted within his football locker room. Immediately after his comments were given the San Francisco 49ers, the team for which he plays, rejected his comments and reaffirmed their support for the LGBT community. In the past the 49ers have been very vocal in their support for the LGBT community as well as for a gay athlete within their locker room and the comments made by Culliver are clearly oppositional to their stance on LGBT rights. This statement prompted Culliver to issue an apology in which he stated that his comments were a “reflection of the thoughts in his head” but not how he actually feels.

Now, a day after the incident and while the 49ers are absorbed in preparation for Super Bowl XLVII, the sports community has begun to reflect on the significance of Culliver’s comments, and where they fit into the context of the modern sports world. Of course, some are questioning whether or not the anti-gay comments made by Culliver will have an adverse effect on how the 49ers prepare for and play in Super Bowl XLVII this Sunday. But others are speaking to the broader issue of LGBT people in the world of sports. Many sports writers like Tyson Langland from Bleacher Report are speaking out about how unacceptable Culliver’s comments are as a player within the NFL.

Marcus Thompson who is the beat writer for the Golden State Warriors and works for the Bay Area News Group responded to Culliver’s commentary by stating that “compassion is born out of understanding”, seemingly suggesting that Culliver lacks an understanding of the LGBT community. Tim Kawakami from The San Jose Mercury News reprimanded the comments made by Culliver by stating that his words were, “ inappropriate, small-minded and not befitting a representative of any sports franchise”. President of the San Francisco 49ers Gideon Yu responded to his player’s comments by tweeting that although he loves his team and players, he “Absolutely abhors discrimination”.

Hosts of Popular ESPN show Pardon the Interruption Tony Kornheiser and Michael Wilbon weighed in on the issue during their show. Wilbon noted how Culliver is, “out of touch” with the mainstream American public on the issue of LGBT inclusion. He also noted how Culliver’s actions, “reflect such intolerance” that he would keep a distance from the player and his “frightening comments” about the LGBT community. Head Coach of the 49ers Jim Harbaugh stated that Culliver’s comments were “not something that reflects the way the organization feels, the way the rest of the players feel.” At the end of the day many media outlets feel that Culliver needs to learn from the experience of expressing hurtful and intolerant ideology on such a national stage.

Gwen Knapp from the excellent Sports On Earth website rightfully points out that Culliver was responding to a "clownish radio-show host" who had led into this question about gay players by first asking how many "white chicks" Culliver was planning to "bang," then asking if he had been hit on by any gay men. (not necessarily players.) Knapp says about Culliver "What he really needs to do, though, is listen."

The real issue comes down to the ability of the 49ers, and the NFL in general, to create those listening opportunities, and to cultivate an LGBT inclusive environment within the professional football community.

This weekend catch the NAACP Image Awards, a showing of Brother Outsider: The Life of Bayard Rustin and a special episode of Cyndi Lauper: Still So Unusual! Plus all new episodes of Malibu Country, Spartacus: War of the Damned, Girls and Downton Abbey.

What to Watch: Friday, February 1

8:00pm: NAACP Image Awards, NBC (2 hrs) NEW

Tonight's NAACP Image Awards honor the achievements of people of color in film, television, literature and music. View the list of LGBT-inclusive nominees here.

8:30pm: Malibu Country, ABC (30 mins) NEW

Geoffrey helps Lillie Mae enroll in improv classes. Meanwhile, Reba's writing advice to Cash comes back to haunt her when Cash writes a play that has a lot of similarities to Reba's real life marital problems.

9:00pm: Spartacus: War of the Damned, Starz (1 hr) NEW

Spartacus begins a bold assault to acquire food and shelter for his followers and Crassus continues to build his army and welcomes a surprise guest to his ranks.

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.

What to Watch: Saturday, February 2

9:00pm: Cyndi Lauper: Still So Unusual, WE Tv (30 mins) NEW

Cyndi plans a fun day out for her family and friends at Brooklyn's Coney Island, but she can't escape work and fans who want photos which upsets her son.

9:30pm: Cyndi Lauper: Still So Unusual, WE Tv (30 mins) NEW

Cyndi visits Washington D.C. to accept an award for her work with LGBT youth and gets her chance to speak with important political players. Check out a sneak peek of Cyndi speaking with out Congressman Polis below.

10:00pm: Girls, HBO (30 mins) NEW

Hannah decides to throw a mature grown up party to celebrate her writing job, but her friends' behavior leaves much to be desired. Marney and Audrey argue, Shoshanna realizes she unknowingly took her relationship with Ray to a new level and Jessa meets Thomas-John's parents.

What to Watch: Sunday, February 3

8:00pm: Brother Outsider: The Life of Bayard Rustin, PBS (1.5 hrs) REPEAT

The film chronicles the life of Bayard Rustin, an openly gay African American man who worked for more than 50 years as an advocate for various human rights initiatives. He most famously advised Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr., and was the chief organizer of the 1963 March on Washington. Yet, because he was gay, Rustin’s work and accomplishments were often carried out behind the scenes.

9:00pm: Masterpiece Classic: Downton Abbey, PBS (1 hr) NEW

Tensions continue between Cora and Robert rise as they stop talking to each other. Meanwhile, the servants shun Isobel and Matthew and Robert find themselves at odds.

___________________________________________________

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.

While February was declared Black History Month to recognize the many accomplishments and contributions of African Americans, the lives of black lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender (LGBT) people are often left out of the picture. From civil rights leader Bayard Rustin to community advocate Mandy Carter to well-renowned inventor George Washington Carver, black LGBT people have enriched our nation and our lives.

GLAAD, the National Black Justice Coalition (NBJC), the Black AIDS Institute, the Audre Lorde Project (ALP), Gay Men's Health Crisis (GMHC), Black Men's XChange, African Ancestral Lesbians United for Societal Change (AALUSC), Southerners On New Ground (SONG), and LGBT Faith Leaders of African Descent encourage journalists to include black LGBT people in their coverage of Black History Month 

Throughout February, GLAAD will feature guest posts from African-American LGBT writers, organizers and activists honoring the accomplishments of those who have paved the way for LGBT people of color and those who today continue to the work to improve the lives of LGBT people. We have also distributed a Black History Month resource kit to various media outlets urging them to include voices of black LGBT people in stories that survey African American history.  Our resource kit includes suggestions for inclusive coverage, story ideas, a list of famous African American LGBT people and various media contacts.

FAMOUS AND NOTABLE LGBT AFRICAN AMERICAN PEOPLE

Alice Walker: author, poet, and advocate
Alvin Ailey: choreographer and advocate
André Leon Talley: editor-at-large for Vogue magazine, current contributing editor
Angela Davis: political advocate, scholar, and author
Audre Lorde: author and advocate
Bayard Rustin: chief organizer of the 1963 March on Washington, advisor to Martin Luther King Jr. 
Bessie Smith: blues singer
Bill T. Jones: artistic director, choreographer and dancer
Countee Cullen: poet

Each 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) By now, the world learned that former New York mayor Ed Koch passed away early this morning in a NY hospital. As it happens, a new documentary about the late former mayor is scheduled to open in NY theaters this weekend.  Made with Koch’s participation, the film addresses his memorable and sometimes tumultuous time in office (and political life following it) including the controversy surrounding his handling of the AIDS epidemic and his carefully guarded private life.  The film will open in LA on March 1, and you can view the trailer below.

2) Pop star Ke$ha, who recently discussed being attracted to both men and women and her stand against anti-LGBT bullying with Seventeen magazine, will be debuting her docu-series Ke$ha: My Crazy Beautiful Life on MTV this April. The series will give unprecedented access to her personal life over the past two years, including her search for love.

3) Showtime this week announced the renewal of the LGBT-inclusive comedy Shameless for a fourth season. HBO’s Girls were also recently picked up for a third season. In casting news, Felicia Day will return for her third Supernatural episode as lesbian hacker Charlie Bradbury later this season. Her character will bring a case to the Winchesters for help. Neil Patrick Harris will reprise his role as Prince Gumball in another gender-swapped Adventure Time episode titled “Bad Little Boy” and Michael Urie (Ugly Betty, Partners) returns to TV with a guest role as a wedding planner named Jeffrey on Hot in Cleveland this summer.

4) Out in the Open, a documentary geared towards youth featuring LGBT individuals and allies who share their own experiences of isolation and anti-LGBT bullying, is now available on DVD. The film features interviews with politicians, celebrities such as Carson Kressley and Matthew Smith and everyday allies who celebrate the LGBT community. Out in the Open is available for purchase now on Amazon, and you can watch the trailer below.

5) Newly retired out Massachusetts Representative Barney Frank will make his Broadway debut in a one night only 20^th Anniversary performance of the political musical Fiorello! on Saturday, February 2. Frank will play a conservative senator in the show.

6) The off-Broadway musical BARE will close its run at the New World Stages this Sunday, February 3. The GLAAD Media Award-winner features music by Damon Intrabartolo, a book and lyrics by Jon Hartmere and choreography by Travis Wall. The musical follows three students in a forbidden love triangle at their strict Catholic boarding school as they deal with the transition to adulthood while exploring religion, sexuality and identity.

7) Zachary Quinto’s short film Dog Eat Dog, based on the true story of his own experience with adopting a shelter dog, premiered this week exclusively on the Petsami YouTube Channel. Dog Eat Dog got its start as a Kickstarter campaign where it raised over $30,000. Check out the full short below.

8) Out comedian and writer Carol Leifer (Modern Family, Seinfeld) has signed with Quirk Publishing to publish her new novelHow to Succeed in Business Without Really Crying,“a career advice tome” from someone who has been successful both in front of and behind the camera. This will be Leifer’s second book after her 2009 New York Times best-seller When You Lie About Your Age, The Terrorists Win: Reflection on Looking in the Mirror.

9) Peachy Keen 2 is a new graphic novel in need of funding help from artist Mandi Tremblay about a closeted lesbian couple, Logainne and Clover, living in San Francisco in 1957. "Logainne is terrified of being found out for who she really is - even going so far as to not being totally honest with herself. She stumbles upon an growing underground revolution that will either show the world what she's made of, or swallow her whole." This is the second book in the Peachy Keen series; the first novel Tempted followed Clover and Logainne through their senior year of high school in 1955. Visit the Peachy Keen 2 Kickstarter page for more information and watch the trailer below.

For the first time, a meeting of leaders from local, regional and national bisexual organizations convened at the National Gay and Lesbian Task Force's 25th annual LGBT conference, Creating Change. The Bisexual Leadership Roundtable (BLR) was organized and facilitated by BiNet USA and the Bisexual Resource Center, and was attended by leaders from several bi groups across the country. BLR attendees worked to establish strategies for addressing the disparities in advocacy for bi people, and set up working groups to focus on segments of organizing, such as political outreach and fundraising plans. 

Bisexual Resource Center president Ellyn Ruthstrom commented on the BLR's founding, saying, "We are excited to have set out a game plan for more communication, sharing of resources, and setting some new strategies for the bi movement. This is only the first meeting, and we are fired up about the future work of the BLR." Referring to attendees of the BLR, BiNet USA president Faith Cheltenham added, "While we may have different mission statements each organization has brought to the table a true commitment to work together on the urgent needs of our deeply underserved community.”

The BLR has established itself as a voice for bisexual advocacy, and attendees will continue to communicate with one another and work toward the goals outlined at Creating Change.

GLAAD on Friday reached out to the It Gets Better project, the National Football League and the San Francisco 49ers after two 49ers players denied having knowing participated in an "It Gets Better" video produced by the team.

The 49ers were the first football team to shoot an It Gets Better video alone (The Seattle Seahawks participated in one alongside other Seattle pro teams) but after the controversial anti-gay statements made by 49ers cornerback Chris Cullliver, two of the players in that video now say they didn't know it was meant to encourage LGBT victims of bullying.

As USA Today reports:

Two of the players who took part in the video — linebacker Ahmad Brooks and nose tackle Isaac Sopoaga — strangely denied making the video. Then, when shown the video, they said they didn't realize the aim of the production was to fight the bullying of lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender teens.

While the players involved did not actually say whether they would have still participated had they understood the aims of the It Gets Better project, the message received was loud and clear, and it was in many ways a worse message than the one sent by Culliver. Brooks and Sopoaga, by making this statement, are sending the message to millions of football fans that they do oppose bullying - unless the victim is gay.

GLAAD reached out to the NFL once the story of Culliver's comments came to light, and we have reached out again to the league and the team about this latest incident. The message sent by these players is not only completely unacceptable, it undoes all the good done by the team making an It Gets Better video in the first place, and action must be taken.

GLAAD has been working with You Can Play and Athlete Ally on a proposal for an LGBT awareness program that we are planning to take to the NFL during the offseason. We look forward to working with all of the parties involved on trying to minimize the damage done to LGBT youth by these statements, and on preventing incidents like this from happening in the future.

The GLAAD Media Award-winning documentary Brother Outsider: The Life of Bayard Rustin, produced and directed by independent filmmakers Nancy Kates and Bennett Singer, is set to air on PBS on February 3 at 8 p.m. ET, as a part of the America ReFramed series. The documentary commemorates the life of visionary civil rights and gay rights advocate, Bayard Rustin, who dared to live as an openly gay man during the dangerously homophobic decades of the 1940s, 1950s, and 1960s.

With its release in 2003, Brother Outsider helped introduce a new generation to the powerful legacy of Rustin who was a mentor to Dr. Martin Luther King Jr., a disciple of Mahatma Gandhi, and the man who organized the 1963 March on Washington. Critically acclaimed, Brother Outsider explores both the triumphs and tribulations that Rustin experienced over his lifetime as an openly gay man, revealing him as an iconic figure for social and economic justice.

In honor of the 50th anniversary of the March on Washington and as a part of Black History Month, the film will be returning to public television stations across the United States. In this tenth anniversary edition, director Bennett Singer, acclaimed journalist Farai Chideya, and series host Natasha Del Toro discuss the relationship between the movement for LGBT equality and the civil rights movement of the 1960s, as well as reflect on the ongoing relevance of Bayard Rustin's role in both movements. Check your local PBS listings to catch the film on February 3. For more information and a curriculum guide for educators, visit www.rustin.org.

It reamins an unfortunate truth that in 29 states an employee can be fired based on their sexual orientation. This lack of protection has concrete harms for countless LGBT employees and impacts their ability to take care of and provide for themselves and their families.

For its weekly "Lunchtime Live" video chat series, AOL Jobs spoke to a panel of experts -- AOL Jobs reporter Claire Gordon, AOL Jobs employment-law blogger Donna Ballman, and Ilya Shapiro, the senior fellow for constitutional studies at the Cato Institute, a libertarian think tank to ask the question: Is it time to end discrimination in the workplace based on sexual orientation or gender identity?

Check out what this panelists, including GLAAD 2012 National People of Color Media Institute graduate Jonathan Lang, had to say.

The anti-gay Family Research Council, which has been labeled a hate group by the Southern Poverty Law Center, is finding a way to push their radical anti-gay agenda on "Scout Sunday", which falls this Sunday, February 3.

Scout Sunday has been around for years, and is listed on the Boy Scouts of America religious calendar. It is a Sunday designated for church-sponsored troops to serve in worship in a variety of ways. Often, the sponsor congregation will recognize its relationship with the troop. Scouting Sabbath is observed next weekend, on February 9. I recall serving as an usher in my Cub Scout uniform when I was a young boy.

Next week, the Boy Scouts are seriously considering changing their blanket ban on gay scouts and leaders. Since then, the Family Research Council's Tony Perkins, Peter Sprigg, and others who are featured in GLAAD's Commentator Accountability Project, have taken to the airwaves, making outlandish claims about what the potential change.

Jeremy Hooper, GLAAD's Commentator Accountability Project contributor, noted on his own blog that the Family Research Council has made up special bulletin inserts for Scout Sunday, complete with its own set of misinformation and threats.  According to the bulletin:

From a practical perspective, departing from their long-held policies would be devastating to an organization that has prided itself on the development of strong moral character in boys.  It would also place these impressionable young men at risk to unwanted exposure to values contrary to those taught by their parents and pastors… or even worse.

Thankfully, the Family Research Council isn't the only group that is mobilizing on Scout Sunday. The United Church of Christ (UCC) is also asking its congregations to hang banners of welcome and speak out in support of policy change during Sunday's worship. They are also encouraging UCC members to contact the Boy Scouts to encourage them to drop the ban. The UCC has been highlighting one of its members, David Knapp, who has been working for 50 years to have the ban lifted. Knapp is now 87 years old, and continues to call for change. Knapp marched with GLAAD in the New York City Pride Parade, calling on the Boy Scouts to lift its ban.

"In this spirit, on this National Boy Scout Sunday, let us proclaim, 'We welcome ALL Boy Scouts,'" said the Rev. Mike Schuenemeyer, UCC executive on LGBT concerns. "Let us demonstrate this value with actions, communicating our support for a Boy Scouts of America that opens the door to everyone, including gay and bisexual scouts and scout leaders."

UCC President and General Minister, the Rev. Geoffrey A. Black, has previously written a letter to the BSA President Wayne Perry and the organization's executive board, expressing "prayerful support and strong encouragement" for the BSA to change the policy. "If [the BSA] choose to move forward in this important direction, the United Church of Christ will be a supportive partner," Black said in the letter.

Some have worried that the Boy Scouts policy change may not change much, since it would have the decision about gay scouts being made by local troops and sponsors. Many scout troops are hosted by congregations, and the stereotype is that people of faith oppose LGBT inclusion. GLAAD reminds media that many congregations and entire denominations are affirming and accepting of LGBT, and would be supportive of changing a policy. In addition to the UCC, many scout troops are hosted by Conservative and Reformed Jewish, Lutheran, Presbyterian, Episcopal, and Unitarian congregations. Even Mormons have been increasingly accepting of LGBT people, which means that many Mormon temples may not ban gay scouts as well.

Many, including the Family Research Council, would like to establish a false dichotomy that places people of faith and LGBT people on opposite sides of the Boy Scouts. In fact, people of faith are increasingly on the side for LGBT inclusion and opening the benefits of scouting to all. Denominations like the UCC, and the others listed above have LGBT inclusion as a part of their doctrine. The existing Boy Scout policy actually makes welcoming congregations go against their doctrine that says that God created and loves all people, including LGBT people, just as they are. By taking action today, the new Boy Scouts policy could reflect the doctrine of welcome and inclusion.

In a pre-Super Bowl interview today, President Obama reaffirmed his opposition to the Boy Scouts' ban on gay scouts and leaders. The Boy Scouts Board of Directors is expected to vote on a resolution that would end the national policy barring gay participants next week.

Contact the Boy Scouts and tell them to end the ban here.

When asked if the Boy Scouts should be open to gay members, the president replied, "Yes."

"I think that my attitude is that gays and lesbians should have access and opportunity the same way everybody else does in every institution and walk of life," he continued. "The Scouts are a great institution that are promoting young people and exposing them to opportunities and leadership that will serve people for the rest of their lives. I think that no one should be barred from that."

"President Obama echoes the voice of millions of Americans, who have already spoken out against the Boy Scouts' outdated and discriminatory policy," said GLAAD President Herndon Graddick. "What's clear is that anti-gay discrimination is no longer an American value, and until everyone is welcome, the Boy Scouts will only fall further out of touch with the growing majority of people who support equality for all."

This marks the second time President Obama has spoken out against the Boy Scouts' anti-gay ban. In an August statement to the Washington Blade, White House spokesperson Shin Inouye said: "The President believes the Boy Scouts is a valuable organization that has helped educate and build character in American boys for more than a century. He also opposes discrimination in all forms, and as such opposes this policy that discriminates on basis of sexual orientation."

GLAAD first started calls for the Boy Scouts of America to end its ban on gay scouts and scout leaders in April 2012 after Jennifer Tyrrell, a mom and den leader from Ohio was removed from her 7-year-old’s Cub Scout Pack for being gay. Tyrrell’s Change.org petition has attracted more than 330,000 signatures in support of ending the Boy Scouts’ ban on gay Scouts and leaders.

More than 1 million people have joined Change.org petition campaigns since Tyrrell launched her first petition. Since that day, advocacy efforts and successful petition campaigns have recruited two Boy Scout board members -- AT&T CEO Randall Stephenson and Ernst & Young CEO James Turley -- to denounce the national anti-gay policy. GLAAD, together with Eagle Scout and founder of Scouts for Equality Zach Wahls, have also used Change.org petitions to pressure corporate donors such as Intel and UPS to pull funding until the Boy Scouts end their policy banning gay youth and parents. Last fall, a Bay Area mother named Karen Andresen petitioned her local Boy Scout council to honor her son Ryan with an Eagle Award that was denied to him when the Scout came out as gay. An official Eagle Board Board of Review unanimously approved Ryan's application for Eagle, but a Boy Scout executive ultimately rejected his application.

Tonight catch all new episodes of The Carrie Diaries, The Biggest Loser and RuPaul's Drag Race!

What to Watch: Monday, February 4

8:00pm: The Carrie Diaries, CW (1 hr) NEW

Carrie and Walt go to a Halloween party in the city with Larissa and Walt is left confused about his feelings when he gets close to a party guest. Meanwhile, Maggie and Mouse hit up Sebastian's party to keep an eye on him for Carrie. Check out a sneak peek below.

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

These week the theme is "lead by example" and the twist is that only one player's weight loss will count this week, but players won't know who until final weigh in. Out trainer Jillian Michaels returns this season and the series' first out contestant, Jackson Carter, is a member of the red team.

9:00pm: RuPaul's Drag Race, Logo (1 hr) NEW

The drag queens must lip synch to spoken word as they recreate classic Drag Race moments in a viral video with guest judges Juliette Lewis and Kristen Johnson.

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.

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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
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.

On Monday, at 11:00 Central, Boy Scouts of America headquarters in Dallas will get a visit from ousted Boy Scout mom Jennifer Tyrrell, gay Eagle Scout Will Oliver, gay former Scoutmaster Greg Bourke, and Eric Andresen, father of a gay Scout denied his Eagle Award - and they'll be bringing with them the voices of more than a million Americans who want the BSA to end its ban on gay scouts and volunteers.

The national leaders of the Boy Scouts of America are gathered this week for to discuss an end to the organization’s discriminatory ban.

"Millions have been moved to speak out in favor of ending the anti-gay ban from across religions, race, and political backgrounds including current scouts and corporate sponsors," said GLAAD President Herndon Graddick. "While an end to the ban will strengthen scouting and stop the harm it caused to so many young gay people, the campaign for change will continue until the national policy is one where every young gay person is allowed to participate."

“More than 1 million people have joined Change.org campaigns urging the Boy Scouts of America to end their national anti-gay policy, and today, those signers are seeing their work and their support delivered right to the Boy Scouts of America, for one final push as the Boy Scout board determines the future of the organization," said Mark Anthony Dingbaum, senior campaign manager at Change.org. “Jennifer Tyrrell, Will Oliver, Greg Bourke, and the Andresen family have proven that long-standing institutions of discrimination are no match for cutting-edge online tools and powerful storytelling."

Tyrrell ignited a national movement last year after she was let go as Den Leader of her son's Cub Scout pack because she is gay. Working GLAAD, she started a Change.org petition demanding that she be reinstated, garnering more than 330,000 signatures. She led a second Change.org campaign asking the CEOs of Ernst & Young and AT&T, both of whom sit on the board of the Boy Scouts of America, to speak out against the organization’s ban on gay Scouts and leaders.  

Andresen will present Change.org petition signatures on behalf of his son, Ryan, who in October 2012 was told that he could not receive his Eagle Scout award because of his sexual orientation. Ryan’s story became a national phenomenon, and he appeared on The Ellen DeGeneres Show with his mother, Karen, to speak out against the Boy Scouts’ ban on gay Scouts and leaders.

Will Oliver, a 20-year-old gay Eagle Scout, will present signatures from his Change.org petition, which earlier this year called on the National Geographic Channel to speak out against the Boy Scouts of America’s anti-gay policy. The channel is slated to air “Are You Tougher Than a Boy Scout?” this spring in partnership with the Boy Scouts of America.

Bourke, who will travel to Dallas with his partner and their two children, will present signatures from his Change.org petition, which he started after he was removed as the Assistant Scoutmaster for the Lincoln Heritage Council in Louisville, Kentucky, because of his sexual orientation.

These petitions, plus more than 50 others that have been started on Change.org urging the Boy Scouts to end their national ban on gay Scouts and leaders, total more than 1.4 million signatures.

"This is an historic week for Scouting," said Zach Wahls, Eagle Scout and founder of Scouts for Equality. "We will continue to work with the BSA to implement further non-discrimination measures and bring them into line with the giving requirements for their corporate donors. We all want a healthy, vibrant Scouting movement that can foster lifelong values and principles in our next generation of leaders--with malice toward none, with charity for all."

And you can add one more voice to the list of those urging the BSA to drop this discriminatory ban - President Barack Obama, who also holds the title of Honorary President of the Boy Scouts of America. In a pre-Super Bowl interview on Sunday, President Obama reaffirmed his opposition to the Boy Scouts' ban on gay scouts and leaders.

"I think that my attitude is that gays and lesbians should have access and opportunity the same way everybody else does in every institution and walk of life," said President Obama. "The Scouts are a great institution that are promoting young people and exposing them to opportunities and leadership that will serve people for the rest of their lives. I think that no one should be barred from that."

You can contact the Boy Scouts and tell them to end the ban here.

You can see a timeline of some of the most significant milestones in the decades-long effort to get this ban overturned, including highlights from GLAAD's involvement, here.

Leaders of two United Methodist agencies— United Methodist Men and United Methodist Board of Church and Society— have joined the chorus of people and organizations calling for the Boy Scouts to drop its ban on gay scouts and leaders. United Methodist Men promotes the use of scouting ministries and civic youth-serving agencies across the denomination. The Board of Church and Society advocates for the denomination’s social witness.

“These proposed changes will allow local churches to reflect those tenets in their membership requirements,” said a statement by Gilbert Hanke, the top executive of the Commission on United Methodist Men. “It does not force changes, but allows local churches control over these requirements based on their beliefs.

These statements have come as the Boy Scouts are set to consider replacing a nation-wide ban on gay scouts and leaders with a policy allowing individual troops to make the decision. Similar policies have been put in place by major religious denominations, including the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America, and The Presbyterian Church (USA). This support for removing the blanket ban in the BSA comes despite the fact that the United Methodist Church still has a blanket ban on gay and lesbian people in its leadership.

The United Methodist Men are considered one of the more conservative organizations within the United Methodist Church, making this statement a marked improvement in LGBT acceptance. However, in a clarifying statement, Gilbert Hanke stated that he was not advocating for policy change within the denomination regarding gay and lesbian people.

The United Methodist influence on the Scouts is significant. The United Methodist Church is second only to the Mormon Church in the number of congregations that host Boy Scouts of America groups. It also has the highest members per unit of any sponsor. Some United Methodist congregations have resisted sponsoring troops because of the ban on gay scouts and leaders.

You can also join United Methodist leaders, as well as the United Church of Christ, the Episcopal Church, President Obama, Jen Tyrrell, and millions more who are calling on the Boy Scouts to drop the ban on gay scouts and leaders. Visit www.glaad.org/tellbsa to make your voice heard.

After initially being rebuffed by security, ousted Boy Scout mom Jennifer Tyrrell, gay Eagle Scout Will Oliver, gay former Scoutmaster Greg Bourke, and Eric Andresen, father of a gay Scout denied his Eagle Award, were able to deliver the more than 1.4 million signatures gathered on behalf of ending the Boy Scouts' ban on gay scouts and leaders.

The national leaders of the Boy Scouts of America are gathered this week for to discuss an end to the organization’s discriminatory ban.

Tell the Boy Scouts to end the policy now! 

“Today, I’m helping deliver more than 1.4 million Change.org petition signatures to the Boy Scouts of America, urging the national board to end ban on gay youth and parents, and give me the opportunity to once again serve my son’s Cub Scout Pack,” said Tyrrell, who launched her Change.org petition in April 2012 with support from GLAAD. “I do not want one more mother or father to have to look their child in the eyes and tell them that their parents aren’t good enough - or are different. The Boy Scouts of America can do better than that.”

Bourke, whose partner and children traveled to Dallas with him to deliver signatures from his petition, said that even though he had the backing of his community, the Boy Scouts of America still fired him from his Assistant Scoutmaster position because of his sexual orientation.

“After being forced to resign, I received unanimous support from the Boy Scouts in my Troop, the other Troop adult Leaders, the Troop Committee, my pastor and everyone at my church,” Bourke said. “In the name of fairness, in the name of equality, in the name of God I ask the Executive Board to please end this harmful discrimination now.”

Andresen, whose son Ryan fulfilled all his requirements for his Eagle Scout award but was told he couldn’t receive it because of his sexual orientation, said that it pains him to see the suffering the Boy Scouts’ anti-gay policy has caused his son.

“I want to tell the BSA that my son Ryan is not inferior and that no parent should ever have to go through delivering devastating news like I had to deliver to my son,” Andresen said, delivering nearly half a million signatures from his family’s petition. “I pray that the BSA national board starts to understand this, and acts quickly to make the incredible Scouting journey open to all young men across America.”

Oliver, a gay Eagle Scout who launched a petition calling on the National Geographic Channel, a strategic partner of the Boy Scouts of America, to condemn the organization’s anti-gay policy, said that a Scout should be judged on their trustworthiness, bravery, and kindness, and not on their sexual orientation.

“The Boy Scouts of America’s exclusionary policy fails to reflect the values I learned in Scouting,” said Oliver, who traveled to Dallas with his two brothers, also Eagle Scouts. “You do not learn discrimination in the Boy Scouts, yet every day gay Scouts and scout leaders are continually told that they don’t belong in this organization.”

After speaking outside of the Boy Scouts of America’s headquarters today, Tyrrell, Bourke, Andresen, and Oliver hand-delivered the petition signatures to a representative of the Boy Scouts of America.

“Today’s delivery marks one final push by the more than 1.4 million signers who’ve taken action on Change.org demanding an end to the Boy Scout’s national ban on gay youth and parents,” said Mark Anthony Dingbaum, senior campaign manager at Change.org. “Through cutting-edge technology and powerful storytelling, Jennifer, Greg, Eric, and Will mobilized millions, and stand at an historic moment where their work could undo years of discrimination.”

“The Boy Scouts of America have heard from scouts, corporations and millions of Americans that banning gay scouts and scout leaders is wrong,” said GLAAD President Herndon Graddick. “The BSA will continue to hear from these advocates until discrimination against dedicated gay scouts is a thing of the past. Scouting is a valuable institution and this change will only strengthen its core principles of fairness and respect.”

Tell the Boy Scouts to end the policy now!