The city of Dallas has taken a proposal to provide comprehensive healthcare to transgender city employees off the table, for now. But unless you read it in an LGBT outlet, you wouldn't know it - and more importantly, you wouldn't know why it's even an issue.

In January the group Trans Pride Initiative scheduled meetings with the City of Dallas and United healthcare officials to further discuss exactly what is covered under the City of Dallas's current healthcare coverage plans.  The Dallas Voice reports that although the current coverage for transgender individuals does cover hormone treatment, counseling, and wellness checkups, it excludes gender reassignment surgery.   

Even though Dallas's healthcare plan goes much further than most, due to job discrimination and a lack of employment opportunities altogether, without comprehensive insurance coverage, many transgender individuals whose doctors recommend sex reassignment are unable to afford it. The need for medical coverage for trans persons is essential to making sure proper psychological and physical health needs are provided and accessible to everyone in the community.  Without insurance coverage, many transgender people sadly turn to self-medication, through the black market.

Unfortunately, media coverage has been all but nonexistent around this story and most others that involve the healthcare needs of the transgender community.

Trans Pride Inititative President Nell Gaither talked to GLAAD about the role the media should be playing in educating the public about this.

"The media could do more to promote an understanding of what it means for a procedure to be considered medically necessary, to promote a better understanding of the variety of procedures that might be covered, and to help folks understand that each trans person's medical access is based on the needs of that individual -- not everyone desires or needs the same procedures, and not every person weighs the benefits and risks of certain procedures the same."

Gaither added that the issue of healthcare is closely tied to other issues, like employment.

"The high rate of unemployment among the trans community, particularly among trans persons facing multiple factors of stigma (such as trans Latin@ persons, trans immigrants, and trans African Americans), is a separate issue. We need to see a trans-inclusive federal level Employment Non-Discrimination Act to be passed to help address high unemployment rates among the trans community. We also need education and better public advocacy to address stigma and misconceptions about trans identities."

Media coverage is crucial to that educational process by creating pressure on local and national political figures, while empowering that do support healthcare for Transgender persons to truly campaign for it.

This post was written by Janice Langbehn and originally appeared on her personal blog. Janice has worked with GLAAD since she was prevented from seeing her partner as she lay dying in the hospital after suffering from a brain aneurysm while on vacation in South Florida. She was honored with the Presidential Medal of Freedom in 2011. 

The holidays are behind us.  Danielle started her second quarter at EWU and is learning to adjust to the snow of Spokane.  David just returned from a school sponsored trip to DC watching the second inauguration of President Obama.  Katie is playing basketball and about to turn 16 and take her driving test (Yes, my 4th and final teen I taught to drive).  Michael is hoping to move in with a more able-bodied roommate so they can do outings together.  I am signed up to take the State Guardian Ad Litem program to expand on my volunteering CASA duties with Thurston County Superior Court.

I received an invitation from the White House, Office of Public Engagement to attend the inauguration of President Obama.  Unlike David who planned his trip to DC for over a year, I only received 9 days notice – apparently after an oversight it was assumed, as a Presidential Citizen Medal recipient, I already received my invitation.  Since I spent much of 2012, close to home and not engaged in public speaking, I didn’t want to ask for sponsorship from any of the LGBT groups.  However, once I posted on FB that I received an invitation – and my step-sister Teresa said “you better get your ass there” others jumped on the band wagon. Airline miles were donated, a “chip-in” account was started for expenses and best of all – Tom Sullivan, who since its inception on the Health Care Quality Index at HRC, offered up his sofa bed.  It seemed a hastily planned trip might be possible.  And then, GLAAD’s (Gay and Lesbian Alliance Against Defamation) Charlie Wells called and generously offered two round-trip vouchers on Southwest Airlines a corporate sponsor of GLAAD.  I am blessed.  I asked Katie to come with me but she didn’t want to miss school or more importantly basketball.  So I asked Sarah Jane to come with me but she was just recovering from surgery and it didn’t seem like a wise idea.  So I asked my crazy bare-foot running friend Christine to come along.  I jokingly call Chris, “my straight ally who knows more gay people than me”.

Chris has never visited DC.  What an adventure we had.  Tom and his husband TJ were amazing hosts – feeding us great home cooked meals and driving us to Mt. Vernon and then to the Washington Mall.  The guys also made sure we had our metro cards all ready for the big day so we could get down to the Capitol.  We visited the Lincoln Memorial, and looked out at the mall were Martin Luther King Jr, gave his speech at the March on Washington 50 years ago.  Then hearing the President call for full equality for the country’s “gay brothers and sisters”.  It was a truly historic day with the Inaugural Address, the Poetry and the Benediction all call for full equality for all Americans.  It was electric to be among the crowd of 1 Million people there to witness history.

I am grateful that this trip to DC allowed me to finally see places I have missed because of only being in town 2 days at most and being caught up in meetings – I am not complaining, it was pleasant to experience DC in a different way this time.

Thank you to Tom, TJ, Chris and all the individual donors on the Chip-In account that help pay for food and expenses.  A huge thank you to Southwest Airlines and GLAAD for sponsoring my trip to DC and allowing Chris to come along to help me get physically get around with my MS.

This weekend catch the season finale of Cyndi Lauper: Still So Unusual and Downton Abbey. Plus all new episodes of Malibu Country, Say Yes to the Dress, Revenge, The Good Wife and Shameless.

What to Watch: Friday, February 15

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

Reba and Lillie Mae are forced to put their vacation on hold when their neighbor makes a confession about that will shake the family and cause Kim to doubt her ability as a mother.

9:00pm: Say Yes to the Dress, TLC (30 mins) NEW

A bride who has lost a significant amount of weight prepares for her dress fitting, another woman works on a time crunch before she has to travel out of country and one woman searches for a vow renewal dress.

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

Three brides-to-be spare no expense as they search for the perfect gowns for their dream ceremonies.

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 16

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

Cyndi struggles with exhaustion as she jets from a New York Fashion Week runway show performance to Chicago for the premiere of her musical Kinky Boots.

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

As the release of her memoir approaches, Cyndi is concerned about how her sister and her mother will react to the story and the family secrets she shares. Meanwhile, Cyndi records a special version of her hit "Time After Time."

What to Watch: Sunday, February 17

9:00pm: Revenge, ABC (1 hr) NEW

The Graysons host their annual Labor Day party and Jack and Amanda set off on their honeymoon, but the seas may prove treacherous, and not even Emily can control the outcome.

9:00pm: The Good Wife, CBS (1 hr) NEW

Will and Diane ask Cary to oppose them in a mock trial, but tensions rise in the office when all parties take the case more seriously than intended. Meanwhile, Eli tries to hold on to his role in Peter's campaign.

9:00pm: Masterpiece Classic: Downton Abbey, PBS (2 hrs) SEASON FINALE

The family heads to a Scottish hunting lodge owned by Rose's parents. Meanwhile, Mrs. Patmoore grabs the attention of a local vendor, a new maid sets her sights on Branson and the staff attends a fair in Thirsk.

9:00pm: Shameless, Showtime (1 hr) NEW

Ned asks Ian to break into his wife's home for him. Meanwhile, Frank is concerned when the city announces they'll be digging up the sewer where Aunt Ginger's remains are, Fiona's boss is unhappy with her work and 

____________________________________________________

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 Valentine's Day, the Illinois state Senate approved a marriage equality bill, 34-21. One Republican voted in favor of the bill, Senator Jason Barickman of Bloomington. Before the vote, an amendment was added that states that no religious institution will be forced to perform a same-sex marriage ceremony, which Barickman said had an impact on his vote. This bill will now move on to the House of Representatives, where it has less support but is still expected to pass, and then on to Governor Pat Quinn, who has suggested he would approve such a bill. "Marriage equality is coming to Illinois," the Governor said last week. Illinois would be the 10th state, in addition to the District of Columbia, to legalize marriage equality. Civil unions have been legal in Illinois since January of 2011.

After the bill passed the senate, a number of localoutlets quoted Robert Gilligan, executive director of the Catholic Conference of Illinois, who said, among other things, “Marriage joins a man and a woman in love to meet one another’s needs, to procreate and to raise children. This is the lifeblood of any human society. This legislation tears at that definition with unknown consequences.” Very few news sources however, gave a platform to a religious leader who disagreed with this view. The Rockford Register Star spoke with the Reverend Dr. Matthew Johnson-Doyle who said "I’m thrilled. I’m very supportive of marriage equalities. I think all marriages should be treated equally under the law." However, even senators invoked their faith as a part of the floor debate. Sen. Willie Delgado of Chicago said in his speech that all citizens are the same "in the Lord's eyes."

Senator Kyle McCarter, a Republican, was quoted as saying, "It will have an effect on what our children are taught. I expect that what will happen to our state will be similar to Massachusetts, that it will change the curriculum." This mantra is very similar to the ads put out by Frank Schubert, in other states and on youtube, which Equality Matters and media in other states have already debunked, though this context was lacking from any of the outlets that quoted McCarter.

There are three other states, Rhode Island, Hawaii and Delaware, who currently have similar laws in the works.

"All eyes are on us," said Camilla Taylor, the marriage project director for Lambda Legal, who is based in Illinois. "It's looking great. We're very excited about Illinois."

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

1) Shoreline Entertainment has released a new teaser trailer for Geography Club. The film, based on GLAAD Media Award-winner Brent Hartinger's bestselling novel of the same name, tells the story of Russel (Cameron Dean Stewart), a high school student who finds companionship with a group of other closeted gay students at his school. You can check out the trailer here.

2)The Mortal Instruments: City of Bones fans rejoice! A new image for the film, depicting fan favorite Magnus Bane (played by Godfrey Gao) was recently revealed. In the books, Magnus, created from a powerful demon and human mother, is a bisexual warlock with a romantic interest in the gay Shadowhunter Alec Lightwood.

3) Glee's Jonathan Groff may be returning to television in an untitled HBO comedy pilot about a group of gay thirty-somethings living in San Francisco. Groff will play the lead character Patrick, a gay man with a successful career as a video-game developer who is less successful in his personal life.

4) Cheyenne Jackson has been tapped to star opposite Jeffery Tambor in a new comedy pilot called The Onion Presents: The News. The project is described as a fast-paced scripted comedy set behind-the-scenes of The Onion News Network that shows just how far journalists will go to stay at the top of their game. Jackson will play an ambitious young anchor who is a rival with Tambor's character.

5) The L Word's Jennifer Beals will be returning to television in the pilot for ABC's Venice, which will reunite her with former L Word show runner Ilene Chaiken who is creating the show. The Romeo and Juliet-esque drama tells the story of two rival families and the forbidden and dangerous romance that emerges between them as the families battle for control of Venice. Beals will play Lisa Carver, the elegant matriarch of the Carver family, one of the two feuding clans.

6) Back2back productions, an award winning, international documentary production company based in the UK is currently developing a program on gay dads in the Los Angeles area in conjunction with a major US broadcaster. Those who are interested and fit the profile can contact the production company here.

7)Lady Gaga has cancelled the remaining North American dates for the Born This Way Ball tour due to an injury. The singer is said to be suffering from a labral tear in her right hip. GLAAD wishes her a speedy recovery.

8) A new Kickstarter project has been started for a U.S. run of The River & The Mountain, Beau Hopkins' play about a Ugandan man murdered simply because he is gay. The campaign was created to help "promote this vital play and a discussion of the gay rights situation in Uganda in light of their efforts to pass a 'Kill the Gays' bill," according to the project's author. The play is currently set for a showing March 21-24, 2013 in Washington D.C.  Click here for more info on the project.

Former (and maybe future?) U.S. Men's National Team soccer player Robbie Rogers has come out as gay. The 25-year-old soccer player came out in a heartfelt post on his personal blog, in which he also announced that he was stepping away from the game. Rogers wrote:

"Life is only complete when your loved ones know you. When they know your true feelings, when they know who and how you love...For the past 25 year I have been afraid, afraid to show whom I really was because of fear. Fear that judgment and rejection would hold me back from my dreams and aspirations.   Fear that my loved ones would be farthest from me if they knew my secret.  Fear that my secret would get in the way of my dreams...My secret is gone, I am a free man, I can move on and live my life as my creator intended."

Rogers shared the post on Twitter and received powerful and immediate support from fellow Major League Soccer players, including New England Revolution and U.S. midfielder Benny Feilhaber, and New York Red Bulls and U.S. defender Heath Pearce.

Rogers played one year collegiately at the University of Maryland before signing onto the Dutch club Heerenveen in 2006. He later joined the Columbus Crew of Major League Soccer, during which the team captured the 2008 MLS Cup, and the 2008 and 2009 MLS Supporters Shields. Rogers made 18 appearances on the U.S. Men's National Team during his career. Rogers has had a history of injuries, some of which have kept him from playing for extended periods of time, and it's unclear what role these injuries played in his decision to step away from the game.  Should he return to an active role in professional soccer, he would immediately become the highest-profile active openly-gay athlete in the history of men's professional team sports. 

"In the mere hours since Rogers made his announcement, the world has seen the foundation that has been built for LGBT inclusion in the sports world," said Aaron McQuade, head of GLAAD's Sports Program. "Teammates, opponents, teams, leagues and fans alilke have already shown incredible support for Rogers, and they will continue to do so throughout his career, whether his path takes him back to the field or not."

Former MLS player David Testo also came out as gay in 2011, and received an outpouring of support. 

Beginning tonight and continuing throughout next week, viewers across the Chicagoland area will get a chance to watch a TV program featuring David Smith, the head of the Illinois Family Institute (IFI), the key organization that is lobbying against marriage equality in Illinois.  And when they do, these viewers will come to learn what we already know: that the IFI's agenda goes far beyond the issue of marriage and instead seeks to "change" LGBT people.

Below is an advanced copy of the full, half-hour program.  Things to listen for:

• @ 4:15: Smith saying that we shouldn't love gays how they are: "I would say it's loving to tell them the truth about what their behavior is doing and where it's going to lead them."
• @ 12:50: Smith admittng that his real fear is "the normalization of homosexual behavior"
• @ 16:04: "Ex-gay" Linda Jernigan, who is working with the IFI on opposing the marriage bill, claiming that gay people abuse substances, engage in domestic abuse, and try suicide because "there is no peace...the laws do not bring peace"
• @ 19:00: Jernigan claiming there are millions "who have left homosexuality," but they don't have the courage to share their stories.  Then, @19:30, Smith "praises God" for the "ex-gays."  
• @ 19:50: Jernigan says LGBT equality activists have "stolen the real civil rights movement"; adds, @20:44, that LGBT rights cannot be a civil rights because homosexuality is "transformable" (David Smith "amens" this)
• @ 25:12: Jernigan closes by telling gays to "put trust in Jesus" so they can have "freedom" from homosexuality (Smith "amens" this as well).

There is no denying that this whole thing seeks far more than just the stoppage of marriage equality.  In fact, it might be the most proudly pro-"ex-gay" a state policy group has ever gone in the run-up to a marriage vote.  Have a look:

[SOURCE: Total Living Network]

If you want to change my ring finger, that is one thing.  If you want to change the core of my being, that is a whole other ballgame. And the IFI is trying to bait-and-switch by replacing the issue of marriage equality with one of trying to "change" LGBT people.

The Illinois Family Institute and its staffers (Laurie Higgins is another IFI-employed proponent of gay "change") are on record admitting their true animosity against the existance of LGBT people. When they talk about their opposition to LGBT people as LGBT people, I suggest the media take these statements seriously. They provide a much fuller context to whatever David Smith, Linda Jernigan, and Laurie Higgins say about marriage equality in Illinois and elsewhere.

**FOR MORE OF WHAT SMITH AND JERNIGAN HAVE SAID ABOUT LGBT PEOPLE (much of it blaming Satan for "causing" homosexuality), see their GLAAD CAP PROFILES:

David Smith [GLAAD CAP]

Linda Jernigan [GLAAD CAP]

also

Laurie Higgins [GLAAD CAP]

A group of local trans advocates are speaking out against the Los Angeles Times for an article about Cassidy Vickers, a transgender woman who was shot and killed in November 2011, titled "Slaying casts light on Hollywood's transgender prostitutes."

On Friday, members of Gender Justice LA delivered a petition, started by community activist Hannah Howard, to the Los Angeles Times offices, asking the paper to use more sensitivity and care when it comes to covering transgender people and issues.

"The use of male pronouns, birth names, and terms like 'men with women's breasts and clothes' to refer to transgender women brings up painful memories for many of us in the transgender community," the petition states.  "Throughout our lives, people refuse to acknowledge our gender identities, use our birth names and birth genders to refer to us against our will, and respond with varying degrees of harassment and violence when we protest."

On Friday, the Los Angeles Times agreed to meet with GLAAD and members of the city's transgender community to discuss the issues raised since the publication of the story in question. 

Violence against the trans community goes far beyond the media.  A 2011 study from the National Center for Transgender Equality found that transgender people faced twice the rates of unemployment and four times the rate of homeless compared to the general population, with 47% saying coming out as transgender cost them a job or promotion.  In schools, 78% transgender and gender-nonconforming kids reported being harassed, with 35% also reported having been physically assaulted.  57% of respondents reported significant family rejection, and a staggering 41% said they had at once point attempted suicide.  The national average is 1.6%.

"Given the tragedy of Vickers' story, Vickers deserve more than this extremely sloppy account of their life," the petition states.  "Moreover, transgender sex workers in general deserve a more dignified telling of their story that doesn't refer to them constantly with degrading terms like 'prostitutes,' and 'street walkers.'"

As of 2012, it is estimated that 14,428 transgender people are living in Los Angeles County, according to The Los Angeles County Department of Public Health.

The petition has collected more than 300 signatures. For more information, you may view the petition here.

Tonight catch all new episodes of Pretty Little Liars, Go On, The New Normal, Smash and White Collar!

What to Watch: Tuesday, February 19

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

Emily, Aria and Hanna finally seem to be making headway on their investigation into Detective Wilden's past, but they will soon learn just how far he is willing to go to protect his secrets. Meanwhile, Spencer finally listens to her friends and finds someone to lean on for help with her heartbreak.

9:00pm: Go On, NBC (30 mins) NEW

Anne steps up during group to put Ryan back on track to the truth. Meanwhile, Lauren is obsessed with finding out who gave her a poor review and Terrell Owens replaces Ryan when he stages a walk out over a certain advertisement he was meant to read on air.

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

Bryan and David have to rush their dog Harvey Milkbone to the veterinarian and they begin to learn that parenting comes with both joy and worry. Meanwhile, Goldie is called into the school when Shania's latest celebrity tribute disrupts class.

10:00pm: Smash, NBC (1 hr) NEW

Eileen asks Tom and Julia to work with a new collaborator and no one seems to be happy with the arrangement. Meanwhile, Kyle and Jimmy prepare their work to be presented for the first time, Derek asks Ronnie for help on landing a new job and Ivy needs a friend's help to get one step closer to her dream. Watch a sneak peek below.

10:00pm: White Collar, USA (1 hr) NEW

Peter and Neal investigate a pair of thiefs who are obsessed with the idea of going out in glory rather than being caught and their relationship suffering while in prison.

With the release of his new memoir, legendary music industry leader Clive Davis has come out as bisexual.

Davis might not be considered a household name by some, but a great many of the acts he's been largely responsible for certainly are.

At both CBS and Arista Records, he signed Aretha Franklin, Rod Stewart, Aerosmith, Kelly Clarkson, Alicia Keys, Bruce Springsteen, Chicago, Billy Joel, Pink Floyd, Christina Aguilera, Carlos Santana, Whitney Houston, the Grateful Dead, and dozens more.

He is also the co-founder of LaFace Records with L.A. Reid and Babyface, and the co-founder of Bad Boy Records with Sean "Diddy" Combs.

At times, people have been romantically involved with both men and women are referred to as bisexual by the media, but they don't actually identify themselves with that term. Not so with Davis, who now proudly identifies as bi. From his ABC News interview with Cynthia McFadden:

And there are deeply personal revelations: The end of his two marriages, and in the final chapter, Davis discusses his sexuality. He is bisexual, he told me. Since the end of his second marriage in 1985, he has been sexually involved with men. At first with both men and women, Davis said, but for the past 20 years with two male partners: A doctor for 13 years and for the past seven, with another man he does not name.

He tells me bisexuality is “maligned and misunderstood” but that it is his truth and he decided it was time for him to say so publicly.  I asked Davis about the old adage that people are “either gay, straight or lying.”

“I’m not lying,” Davis said. ”[Bisexuality] does exist. For over 50 years I never had sex with a male. It wasn’t repressed.  I had very good sexual relationships with women.”

Davis will be discussing his book, his career, and his bisexuality with Katie Couric on Katie this afternoon.

Davis has won four Grammy awards as a producer, and is a member of the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame. He is now one of the most powerful figures in the world to have ever come out as LGBT.

This guest blog post comes to us from mixed martial artist Liz Carmouche, who is about to become the first openly gay fighter and one of the first two female fighters in the history of UFC.

By Liz Carmouche:

On February 23, one week from this Saturday, I will be competing for the Ultimate Fighting Championship Women’s bantamweight title at the Honda Center, Anaheim.

The UFC is like the NFL or Major League of the sport of mixed martial arts (MMA). MMA is a combat sport comprised of five Olympic disciplines – Greco-Roman wrestling, boxing, freestyle wrestling, taekwondo and judo – plus traditional martial arts like jiu-jitsu, karate and Thai boxing.

You win by knockout, by forcing your opponent to concede the match with submission holds like an armbar, or by judges’ decision after 5 x 5 minute rounds are completed.

I fight in the main event of the UFC 157 card, taking on the world champion and Olympic judo medalist Ronda Rousey. It is a fight of firsts: it is the first women’s fight in the UFC, the first women’s title fight in the UFC, and the first time a UFC event has ever been headlined by a female fight.

I’m also getting a lot of attention because I’m the first openly gay athlete in the UFC. I’ve had unbelievable support from the sport and my fans – who I call my “Lizbos” – and want to shock the world by beating Ronda for them.

I first realized I was gay when I watched movies as a kid. There would be a kissing scene between the hero and the girl playing his love interest, and instead of wishing I was the girl, I’d wish I was the hero kissing the girl.

I had to live a very closeted life up until three years ago, though, because I served in the Marines for five years. It was during the “Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell” era and while I know some other gay people who had massively positive experiences in the Marines, I wasn’t so lucky. How homophobic your experience was depended entirely who you were serving with. Some Commands weren’t homophobic at all – but the Command I was in was completely negative. They would gay-bash all the time. If something wasn’t good it was “gay” and if someone wasn’t the best Marine they were a “faggot”. I knew that if I ever admitted to being gay in that environment I would lose my rank, my career, and be dishonorably discharged from the Marines.  So I lived a lie.

During this time I had amazing support from my family, my mom and sister, and my girlfriend, but in my working life I had to be careful. People would try and trip you up into admitting you were gay, there were a lot of people trying out gays like it was a sport. So am proud as I am of my time as a US Marine serving my country, I was very happy that Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell went away.

I’ve not had the chance to talk to anyone who is gay still serving but from what I’ve see online, with gay and lesbians coming back from combat and getting off the plane and being able to embrace their partner openly, that’s awesome. That’s a huge difference – to see a man in uniform come back from Iraq or Afghanistan and be able to hug his boyfriend. That is so amazing to see, it is so awesome.

It was different for me. I had to wait until I was home to hug my partner. And – as I’ve been asked to repeat in a lot of interviews - I had an experience where one of my best friends in the Marines, I will just call her “Kim”, she said that gays should be on the front line so they’d be the first to get killed. After I left the Marines, I had a very direct conversation with her and, ultimately, she did a full 180 and now feels embarrassed to have even thought like that. She said she’d just never known a gay person before. We are still great friends now.

But being gay isn’t the defining characteristic of who and what I am. Who I love and who loves me is a huge part of my life, but I don’t think who am an or am no attracted to sexually defines me. But, having been forced to live a lie in the Marines, when I became a professional mixed martial arts fighter, I swore I wouldn’t do so again.

And I thought about Kim. Just by showing her gay people aren’t anything weird or scary, she went from being a homophobe to the furthest thing from. If I could do that for a fight fan, or reach someone who followed me as an athlete, that would be something worthwhile.

Plus, I didn’t want to be “that athlete” who gets “busted” down the road having a girlfriend.

Now I am getting a lot of attention, being a gay person headlining a show which will be seen in 150 countries around the world, I am happy to say the MMA community has been very supportive. I did have one sponsor a while back say I should downplay being gay, but other than that everything has been 100% supportive. My trainers at teammates at the gym all laughed when I came out to them. They’d known all along…

Liz Carmouche challenges Ronda Rousey for the UFC women’s bantamweight championship live on Pay-Per-View, Saturday February 23.

The Trans People of Color Coalition (TPOCC) is a 3 year old non for profit organization founded by attorney, professor and activist Kylar Broadus. TPOCC is the only national social justice organization that promotes the interest of trans people of color. GLAAD during the month of February sat down with Kylar to discuss the current and future projects of TPOCC and how the organization has made an impact in the fight against defamation and discrimination against trans people of color.

Mari Haywood : What prompted you to establish such an organization for transgender individuals?
Kylar Broadus: I've had the concept for years; working within the LGBTQI community began to notice our movement runs parallel to the inherent racism and classism what happens in greater society.  There is systemic and institutionalized racism and classism, so we must be aware of it at all times and work hard to counter act it. Race is a subject people don’t like to discuss but it impacts us all particularly, people of color. Having worked in the private sector, I found the nonprofit world wasn’t any different.  The issues of race and class permeate the greater LGBTQI movement that has just in the last decade, begun to talk about racial and economic justice. In my eyes, this created a need for Trans* and gender nonconforming people of color to be self-empowered by telling our own stories and advocating for our needs best because we have lived our story.  So, who can tell it better?
The concept of centralizing the narratives and lived experiences of all people of color is imperative to building a collective identity that facilitates organizing around social and economic justice. However, it is equally as important to highlight the unique ways that Trans* and gender non-conforming people are targeted because of the assemblages of our racial and gender expressions and identities, as well as the unique skills, intelligences and strategies of living and survival that we possess. We must   come together and employ these assets and capitalize on the many ways we sustain ourselves when larger system of oppression (or the larger LGBT movement) do not. We are not helpless victims that need to be saved.

MH: Acknowledging that all Transgender individuals face discrimination and are often targets of hate crimes do you do work with the mainstream LGBTIQ community?
KB: Yes, we do work with the mainstream LGBTQI community.  We work with other mainstream people of color community groups as well. Our approach is intersectional and based on the simple premise that there is strength in numbers and that our struggle as well as our liberation is interconnected. People discriminate against everyone in the LGBTQI community because we do not conform to some stereotype based on gender. Nevertheless, some of the hate that Transgender individuals face comes from within the LGBTQI community. So, working together can help to educate our fellow community members, allies and family members.   It's important to also realize that many of us are lesbian, gay, bisexual, straight, asexual and the list goes on. We must work in concert so that we realize that our struggle is the same struggle. It's the human struggle.

MH: During black history month what type of events or projects will TPOCC host?
KB: We are an all-inclusive organization which means we encompass all people of color.  We are inclusive of all gender non- conforming people as well. During the month of February we will be rolling out a national Trans POC initiative that is focused on Trans women of color. At Creating Change we unveiled a Trans Women: The Sisterhood workshop which Cecilia Chung, San Francisco Health Commissioner; Danielle King, The Aurora Project, Washington, D.C,; Ruby Corado, Casa Ruby, Washington, D.C. and Michelle Enfield, The Red Circle Projects, AIDS Project, Los Angeles.  We intend to use this panel at several other venues to help empower and tell the stories of transwoman of color. The idea is to educate and start a national dialogue to humanize transwoman of color. This panel series is part of a larger project to target the hate that impacts woman of color.  More information about this project will be released at the end of this month.

MH: Aside from the Steering Committee do you have a general membership, if so how does one join and what is required?
KB: Yes, we have a general membership which as a nominal fee of $35 dollars for a one year membership. This fee gets you on our action alert list and newsletter.  We will soon have a structure for groups to join as well. Since we are a coalition our focus is to partner with and empower existing local groups.  We do national work and help to build local communities in the process. People can join by going to our website at www.transpoc.org.   

MH: Is there a personal situation that encouraged you to create such an organization?
KB: I am a Trans person of color which is what inspired me to become an activist and to start this organization. I have been an activist for a few decades now. I have personally received inspiration from the Civil Rights Movement of the1950s and 1960s having grown up as a black American during this time.  I have always believed this was a Civil Rights moment for Trans people.   It’s our time!
Not to mention, there were many Trans* and gender nonconforming people that were a part of the earlier Civil Rights Movement that we don’t know about. While fighting for racial equality many had to hide the rest of their identity.  As people of color, we cannot divorce one part of ourselves from the other. We are Trans* and gender nonconforming and we are of color.  
This organization works as a bridge for the overlapping communities that Trans people must navigate.

MH: What type of annual events does TPOCC hold to bring awareness about the Transgender community and our struggles?
KB:  Along with doing advocacy work and responding to hate violence, we have convened workshops for three years in a row at Creating Change.  The first two years we held a workshop for Trans POC to get a sense of the needs and to build community.  This year we held a transwomen of color workshop which, was much needed and well received. We have been at the Philadelphia Trans Health Conference which has the largest people of color presence of mainstream Trans conferences.   We will be there again this year.  Moreover, we will be hosting a special gathering for Trans people of color as we have the past two years.  We have also been a part of Transfaith in Color conference in Charlotte as well.  Our intent is to add our own national event to help build advocacy skills for Trans people of color.

MH: What types of services does TPOCC offer?
KB: TPOCC does not offer services per se; we do however act as a liaison to assist those in need by putting them in contact with the right people.  

MH: Education is very important, Does TPOCC offer scholarship opportunities for Trans students?
KB: Currently, TPOCC does not offer scholarships at this time. We do believe education is important and support the groups doing this work. We are focusing on the hate prevention, the passage of the Employment NonDiscrmintion Act and other employment efforts. With this, we help to build a pipeline.

MH: Does TPOCC participate in the national pride events, if so what types of events does TPOCC host?
KB: TPOCC does not participate in national pride events at this time.

MH: Does TPOCC have any plans to set up a permanent center or hub where Trans people can receive services such as counseling, medical assistance and or shelter?
KB: TPOCC is not necessarily a direct services provider, but many of our coalition organizational –level members do. However, we will be opening an office within the next few months in Washington DC. We are honored to be housed by one of our local partners, Casa Ruby.

MH: What has been the overall perception by media outlets or mainstream organizations of TPOCC?
KB: It has been good.  TPOCC has not had any negative feedback or resistance from mainstream media.  We will continue forge relationships with mainstream and LGBTQI media.

MH: Where do you see the organization in the next 5 years?
KB: TPOCC will be a strong force in shaping and impacting law and policy over the next five years.  As this work is being done, TPOCC will be able to help strengthen and empower transpeople of color at the grassroots by providing more training, support and technical assistance.  This national effort will help us shape local and state law and policy by getting people engaged in their communities. This includes the need to vote and run for office, to be visible and part of “the system” in which we live.  On the national level, we will have more resources to do advocacy on key legislation and policies that impact Trans people of color. We must empower ourselves and shape our own destinies.  TPOCC is a vehicle for us to do this work. For more information on TPOCC visit www.transpoc.org.

Wonder what we’re up to at GLAAD?

Be sure to check out GLAAD Blog each week for updates about our latest work to build support for LGBT equality through news, entertainment and online media.

The CBS sitcom Mike & Molly went over the line this week with an offensive scene in which the main character Mike joked about his friend having once hooked up with a "she-male" and spending the night weeping.  Besides its use of an anti-trans slur, the joke was predicated on the hateful notion that transgender people are inherently disgusting, and was seen by 10.4 million audience members. After constituents and trans community leaders spoke out against the joke, GLAAD discussed the issue with CBS, who committed to meeting with GLAAD soon to discuss offensive content in their humor lineup more directly. Read more.

GLAAD pitched and placed articles on Ebony.com and The Root.com about the Boy Scouts of America's continued ban on gay scouts and volunteers.  For nearly a year, GLAAD  has been  advocating that the youth group change its policy barring gay members from joining the organization. In January, GLAAD was on the ground in Dallas, TX to deliver more than 1.4 million Change.org petitions to the Boy Scouts of America headquarters, calling for an end to the ban on gay scouts and leaders. Read more.

GLAAD placed author Daniel Hernandez Jr on MTV.com, BuzzFeed, Queerty and in Spanish-language media to discuss his memoir about being gay and Latino. Hernandez was hurdled onto the national media stage last year after he saved Senator Gabrielle Giffords' life. Read more.

GLAAD successfully pitched and placed an op-ed by Dr. Pamela Lightsey, the Associate Dean and Clinical Assistant Professor at Boston University School of Theology, in The Washington Post about the evolution of the black church on marriage equality. Lightsey was also a graduate of the 2012 GLAAD National People of Color Media Institute. Read more.

GLAAD worked closely with a writer from Being Latino, (one of the nation's leading Latino community and social media platforms and publisher of English-language online magazine Being Latino) on a story about the importance of the first-ever Latino daylong institute at Creating Change, a national conference on LGBT equality hosted by the National Gay and Lesbian Task Force . GLAAD connected the writer with the lead organizers and provided important data on the increasingly high levels of support for LGBT issues among Latinos, as well as sobering statistics about the challenges LGBT people face, in particular transgender people, in terms of health, employment, and violence.

GLAAD intern Todd Clayton's essay for Black History Month, "Gay Will Never Be the New Black" was posted on The Huffington Post, the GLAAD Blog, Bossip, and others, and has been shared hundreds of times. It talks about the relationship between white privilege and the LGBT community. Read more.

GLAAD's Religion, Faith & Values team helped tell the story of a group of Presbyterian ministers who gave out ashes on Ash Wednesday, including a man who requested that the word "GAY" be placed on his forehead, in The Huffington Post.

To get the latest updates and take part in GLAAD’s work to build support for LGBT equality, be sure to ‘like’ us on Facebook and follow us on Twitter!

Late last week former US National Team and Major League Soccer player Robbie Rogers revealed through a late night blog post that he is gay and, additionally, would be stepping away from the game of soccer. He immediately became one of the most visible and accomplished professional athletes to have come out. If Rogers does decide to come back to the game he would become the most visible and well known LGBT athlete ever. If he did return, would he be welcomed back?

Brian Straus reported on Sporting News that Rogers's sexuality was far from a secret in the locker room during his playing days for the Columbus Crew of the MLS. Also noting that this fact did not inhibit the team from winning the MLS cup in 2008. In fact, Straus claims that soccer is one of the most likely sports to accept an openly gay player as fans of the sport tend to be younger, more diverse, and urbanized. This is reflected by the outpouring of support that Robbie Rogers received after the blog post was published. Almost immediately following the statements published by Rogers the US Soccer Federation came out in support of the young star, commending Rogers and wishing him success in the future. Many US National and international players, MLS players, and former teammates of Rogers tweeted their support of his decision to come out. These actions did not go unnoticed by sports media writers who generally felt that the reactions by those within the soccer community mark a step forward in the acceptance of LGBT players within professional soccer.

However, the fact that Rogers felt he had to make the statement in the first place, coupled with the fact that the soccer player only felt comfortable discussing it after he had stepped away from the game did not go unnoticed. There is a general reaction of happiness by those within the sports community that Rogers can now feel free and can accept himself after coming out. However, that didn't stop many from questioning why anyone should care whether an athlete is gay or not and why it is that such an importance is placed upon sexuality within professional sports.  It has also been noted that the problem should not be whether or not Rogers could or could not live an open life in professional soccer but rather the fact that felt he could not. NESN made sure to note how soccer, for any athlete, should be a sanctuary where they can get away from any problems they might be having and just focus on the game. MLS has taken great strides to curb homophobia in the league, and it's clear that if Rogers ever did return to MLS, the league would welcome him.

Prom is often a milestone for high school students that is prepared for weeks, maybe months, in advance, and that they expect to remember fondly for a lifetime. Students may envision a perfect night dancing with the person they love, dressed in clothes that make them look and feel great. However, this vision can be hard to realize for LGBT students. Some schools have discriminatory policies that prevent people from bringing same-sex partners or wearing clothes that do not fit established gender norms. When a student who faces such discrimination speaks out, such as by threatening legal action, it usually becomes news.

The media must be careful about the way they cover prom stories involving LGBT youth, and as prom season draws nearer, GLAAD has created a Prom Resource Kit to help journalists craft fair, accurate and inclusive stories. Speaking to the school or the local department of education for an explanation of the policies is important, but so is speaking with the student at the center of the issue. Additionally, the media should seek out any organization aiding the student facing alleged discrimination, as well as other qualified voices on LGBT youth issues.

Recently, when a group of students and teachers at an Indiana school proposed creating a prom that banned gay students from attending, the media failed to provide a fair, accurate and inclusive understanding of the issue by speaking only to those in the community with anti-LGBT views.

In another recent story out of Missouri, teenager Stacy Dawson was denied the option to bring his boyfriend to prom because of a discriminatory policy in his school's handbook, which stated, "high school students will be permitted to invite one guest, girls invite boys and boys invite girls." Initially, Dawson was told that the school would not change its policy, but only one day after the Southern Poverty Law Center threatened to take legal action on his behalf, the school removed the anti-gay ban.

Media coverage of this story often cited the 2010 case of Constance McMillan, whose school canceled prom after she asked to bring her girlfriend and wear a tuxedo. The school then held a private prom, while sending McMillan to a decoy event. She was eventually awarded $35,000 to settle a lawsuit filed by the ACLU on her behalf, and the school had to change its policy.

For more information on covering prom stories involving LGBT youth, visit GLAAD’s Prom Resource Kit. We also encourage LGBT youth and allies to share their prom stories with us!

In honor of Black History Month GLAAD is highlighting the roles African Americans have played in the advancement of LGBT rights. Recently, GLAAD spoke with basketball player and transgender advocate Kye Allums.

Kye made headlines in November of 2010 when he became the first transgender man to play Division I basketball while attending George Washington University. Kye Allum's decision to come out as transgender while playing basketball and his continued efforts to advance LGBT rights in athletics prove him as a pioneer in the LGBT community.

GLAAD spoke with Kye about his experiences as a transgender, African-American athlete and what advice he would give to youth who are also LGBT athletes.

Elliott Moore: Could you discuss your experience playing basketball at George Washington prior to coming out as transgender and could you expand on what the experience was like coming out as transgender to your team?

Kye Allums: It was good and bad, I had a very supportive team, the environment that my coaches created made it easy for me to feel I could come out and say who I am. When I came out publicly that’s what was difficult, the media made it difficult for my teammates and my coach. That placed stress on me and my team. If you place the media aside my experience of coming out was very positive. My teammates were very supportive and they used appropriate pronouns so they were always good.

EM: Can you compare this to the experience with opposing teams/fans after coming out as transgender?

KA: You would probably think it would have been negative. The most negative experience was actually the people in the stands staring and pointing. Nobody on the other teams said anything negative to me. They were just focused on keeping me from scoring and they never said anything negative me on the court.

EM: Do you feel growing up playing basketball later affected your decision to transition?

KA: It didn't really affect my decision at all.  

EM: How do you think the media attention that you received after coming out as transgender affected your ability to play and focus on basketball?

KA: Then I would have told you the media didn’t influence or affect me at all. But it did. It stressed me out, I was so stressed out. It was a lot of attention on me. I felt I couldn’t even walk outside because I felt someone would recognize me. I'd never experienced something like that before. All I wanted to do was focus on basketball and I felt I couldn’t do that. The media attention I received made me have to try even harder to tune everything out to focus on school and basketball.

EM: Can you discuss what you have done, post-collegiate basketball, to enhance and further transgender awareness and rights?

KA: I have been traveling to unis high schools sharing my story, education people on being trans, starting conversation that nobody wants to talk about, I'm just trying to let people shoe people that it is possible to play with a trans person on your team, it is possible to have a trans student, you teach them like anyone else, attack everything ahead first, put myself in situation where I can speak to ignorant or bully people and I've found that people want to learn and that just because someone is ignorant doesn’t mean that they will never understand.

EM: Do you think that division I basketball is ready for a transgender athlete or that it will happen any time in the near future?

KA: Yeah for sure, I think that the environment in division I sports for it is ok.

EM: Do feel your identity as a trans African-American man effected  how media told your story? Do you feel that race played a role in how they asked you question?

KA: I think that they felt they could ask me anything because that was the type of presence that I bring, I am a very open person. The reporters would say, "wow you make it so easy to talk to you, you make it so easy to ask you any questions". I don’t know, that’s a hard question. I'll have to think about it.

EM: How would you advise the media to interact with a Trans athlete?

KA: When you talk with trans athletes the discussion needs to be about sports. How many points I made, my rebounds, we should talk about what I'm doing on the court. There is no need to talk about, "am I taking hormones? Am I getting surgery?" That’s a confidential matter, but it's still being handled. The NCAA would not allow someone to be on a team if they didn’t take the proper steps to allow them to play. If you are trying to educate the world then ask "is it alright if I ask you a question about hormones or surgery?" Nobody asked me those questions, so what does that have to do with basketball? You should keep it sports related.

EM: Do you feel being and LGBT athlete is different in the black community and what affect does that have?

KA: Being black is not a privilege in this world, it is so easy to be hard on yourself. I often feel that I have to try twice as hard just because of the color of my skin. They think I'm not educated or smart or I don’t have money or a job just because of the color of my skin. And then you say I'm gay on top of that. It's just seems like oppression on top of oppression, on top of oppression. It just stems from how society is. It's easy to feel pressure, what do I have to do to be considered white, smart, not at the bottom of the pile. Being Trans, black and an athlete I kind of just want to take everything one at a time. If I'm attracted to someone, I'm attracted to someone and that’s it. If I'm playing a sport I focus on my sport. If I'm black that’s my race, that’s an everyday, every moment thing. But, by surrounding myself with so many strong and powerful people, it allowed me to keep being myself and still focus on sports.

EM: Do you have any advice that you would give to a young LGBT athlete of African descent.

KA: If I were to give anyone advise who was a black, LGBT athlete, surround yourself with people who care about you, focus on your sport and never bring LGBT issues with you on the field. Who you are and the color of your skin, own it. Be proud of who you are.

In July of 2012 The Transgender Equal Rights Law took effect in Massachusetts, which prohibits discrimination against Transgender persons and includes an amended definition of a hate crime which now includes any crime motivated by one's gender identity.  

Less than a year later on February 15th 2013 the Department of Elementary and Secondary Education in Massachusetts has implemented directives which allow Transgender students access to all school facilities that coincide with the student's gender identity.  Students not identifying with their born gender can now use the restroom, changing facilities and play on sports teams that correspond with their desired gender. Along with being allowed to use the desired facilities the directivities include instructions on the proper use of names and pronouns for transgender students, appropriate names and gender markers on student recorders including diplomas, and education and training for teachers about transgender students.  

A full list and outline of the guidelines can be found here on the Mass.Edu website.  Organizations in Massachusetts such as MTPC (Massachusetts Transgender Political Coalition) along with advocates Julian Cyr, Chair of the mass. Commission for GLBT Youth commended the DESE for acknowledging and implementing guidelines which now help to protect Transgender students and make such things as coming out not as difficult.

Transgender students face bullying at a higher rate than other students and can often feel ostracized. These new guidelines will let teachers and students alike know that trans students should be accepted, protected, and free to be exactly who they are in Massachusetts schools. 

Tonight catch all new episodes of Modern Family, Suburgatory, Chicago Fire and Southland!

What to Watch: Wednesday, February 20

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

Mitchell offers to watch Joe to give Gloria a break and Cameron jumps at the opportunity to use him in a photoshoot, but no one wants to be the one to deal with Gloria when a wig mishap leads to unfortunate results. Elsewhere, Claire attends her college reunion on her own and runs into a professor she used to date.

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

Tessa becomes a "relationship expert" and uses her skills to help everyone she knows, including Mr. Wolfe who comes to a sad realization about he and Chef Alan's relationship.

10:00pm: Chicago Fire, NBC (1 hr) NEW

Cruz puts himself and his team in jeopardy as he struggles with the guilt over his previous actions. Meanwhile, Casey and his sister confront their mother and Severide continues to reach out to someone from his past.

10:00pm: Southland, TNT (1 hr) NEW

John and Steele reach their breaking point and cannot agree on what to do going forward. Meanwhile, Ben investigates Mendoza's accident and Lydia looks into the death of a female boxer's husband.

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 Associated Press is known as a rapid response wire service for breaking news around the globe, but when it comes to the LGBT community, the AP has still not adequately explained a section from an internal memo which states that AP writers "generally" refer to same-sex married couples as "couples" or "partners" instead of "husbands" or "wives."

GLAAD is joining a rising number of writers, journalists and organizations in calling for the AP to take action. GLAAD President Herndon Graddick said:

"The AP needs to quit obfuscating and delaying and must fix its style guidance now so that reporters describe people in same-sex marriages accurately. That the Associated Press has let this issue drag on for a week is completely perplexing. What the hell is going on over on West 33rd Street?"

More than a week has passed since the Associated Press attempted to clarify an internal memo to journalist and media reporter Jim Romenesko on how they choose (and advise their reporters) to refer to a married same-sex couple:

SAME-SEX COUPLES: We were asked how to report about same-sex couples who call themselves "husband" and "wife." Our view is that such terms may be used in AP content if those involved have regularly used those terms ("Smith is survived by his husband, John Jones") or in quotes attributed to them. Generally AP uses couples or partners to describe people in civil unions or same-sex marriages.

This statement from the "world's oldest and largest newsgathering organization" says it generally refers to married same-sex couples with terms that apply to unmarried couples. This has prompted widespread criticism from the LGBT community. The National Lesbian & Gay Journalists Association called this a "double standard." John Aravosis of AMERICAblog questioned: "Is that AP's standard for straight couples too?  Only call straight people husband and wife if the couple calls themselves husband and wife?" Michelangelo Signorile, Editor at Large of HuffPost Gay Voices, said the "AP is taking the side of those who claim that marriages of gay couples performed and legally binding in nine states and the District of Columbia are not legitimate."

Chris Geidner of Buzzfeed highlighted the story of Dr. Mark Bitgood, who has been with his husband for 19 years, and wrote to AP editors to let them know that he indeed refers to his lawfully wedded husband as his "husband" … just in case they are ever interviewed in the future. Other same-sex spouses have written to the AP with their preferred terminology as well.

Without official clarification in the AP Stylebook, many reporters and editors – including those not with the AP - could look to the above paragraph as guidance, and would therefore apply that harmful double-standard to same-sex couples who are married.

We are well past the point of needing clarification to that one section of that internal memo. We need a solution that carries more weight. 

The AP should codify, in the official AP Stylebook, what seems (in practice, if not in that paragraph) to already be its preferred terminology for same-sex married couples. Here are a couple of recent examples of AP getting it right, and GLAAD has never received a complaint about this issue. But that doesn't necessarily mean this double standard hasn't been applied in the past, or that it wouldn't be applied in the future.

Here's the bottom line. If you are a man, and you are married, you are "generally" a husband – regardless of the gender of your spouse. If you are a woman, and you are married, you are "generally" a wife – regardless of the gender of your spouse. Period.

Associated Press knows, better than maybe any other mainstream journalism organization, how married same-sex husbands and wives and their families throughout our entire nation are being continually and increasingly woven into the fabric of America.

It is AP's journalistic responsibility to ensure that these couples and families are accurately portrayed moving forward.

See more of what we've been up to at GLAAD this week.

After the flurry of LGBT religion news stories last week, this week was, well, a little quieter. The Pope is still resigning, and LGBT Catholic groups continue to the call for a gay-friendly pope to replace Benedict XVI, but one of the front runners—an African Cardinal—made claims this week that African traditions prevent people from being gay. LGBT Catholics are understandably anxious.

Check out some Catholic, LGBT-positive Valentine's Day images.

An amazing article was released this week about a Methodist minister whose only words about his gay son are, "I'm thankful to be his father.” Fair warning: You'll probably definitely cry when you read it.  In California, another gay preacher's son has found solace in the Episcopal Church. Meanwhile, in Michigan, LGBT Muslims shared their life stories.

Illinois Media Short on Pro-LGBT Faith Voices, Fact-Checks

The (almost ordained) Presbyterian minister John Russell Stanger took to the streets of New York this Ash Wednesday and applied ashes to the foreheads of passers-by, including a queer man who asked to have the word "gay" written across his forehead.  The head of the Metropolitan Community Church wrote several op-eds, including calling for LGBT-inclusive immigration reform. Meanwhile, underground in New York, a gay man stood up to a fundamentalist preacher, rebutting his anti-gay claims with the powerful chant, "Jesus is love." At the end, the whole subway claps in support. Maybe they should have sang a song by Micah's Rule?

Catholic

• LGBT Catholic Groups Call for Gay-Friendly Pope to Succeed Benedict XVI
  • The Christian Post, February 11, 2013
• Pope to Resign
  • The Bay Area Reporter, February 14, 2013
• Perspectives: Can you be gay and Catholic?
  • BBC, February 15, 2013
• Film About Gay Priest, Trans Doc Win Queer Teddy Awards At Berlin Film Festival
  • Queerty, February 17, 2013
• Final gay Catholic mass held in Soho after Archbishop banned services
  • Pink News, February 17, 2013
• Final mass held for gay Catholics in Soho
  • CNN, February 17, 2013
• Papal Contender Cardinal Peter Turkson Claims African Traditions Prevent Homosexuality
  • Queerty, February 20, 2013

Christian

• Saintly QB Tim Tebow to Give Talk at Rabidly Anti-Gay Megachurch
  • Queerty, February 15, 2013
• Church conference's focus is gay clergy
  • The Columbia Dispatch, February 15, 2013
• Gay man stands up to anti-gay preacher on NYC subway, train full of people applauds (video)
  • Americablog, February 19, 2013

Episcopal

• Preacher's gay son finds solace in Vallejo church
  • San Jose Mercury News, February 16, 2013

International

• Gay marriage: no opt-out for Christian registrars
  • The Telegraph, February 15, 2013
• Ghanaian Musician Wants 'Romantic Date' with Homophobic Peer
  • Towleroad, February 16, 2013

Jewish

• NYC LGBT Center Lifts Ban on Events and Groups Dealing with Israeli/Palestinian Conflict
  • Towleroad, February 15, 2013
• Jewish Gender Journey: A Review of Joy Ladin, Through the Door of Life
  • Frontier Psychiatrist, February 19, 2013

Lutherans

• Bishop Wayne Miller, Metro Chicago Synod, and Illinois pastors advocate for Freedom to Marry
  • Reconciling Works, February 15, 2013
• Oregon Bishop Dave Brauer-Rieke signs petition in support of freedom to marry
  • Reconciling Works, February 15, 2013

Methodist

• Minister about gay son: "I'm thankful to be his father"
  • Victoria Advocate, February 16, 2013

Metropolitan Community Church

• Immigration, DOMA and LGBT Families: Obama and Common-Sense Values
  • The Huffington Post, February 11, 2013
• Is the Pope Catholic?
  • The Huffington Post, February 12, 2013
• Ontario Premier Kathleen Wynne thanks historic gay-positive church
  • The Star, February 17, 2013
• Micah's Rule: Christian band, LGBT pride
  • Salon, February 17, 2013
• Va. Lawmakers Fail to Repeal Gay Marriage Ban
  • Williamsburg Yorktown Daily, February 18, 2013

Mormon

• Where Homosexuality and Mormonism Collide
  • KALW, February 6, 2013
• ”I Will Leave BSA if Discriminatory Policy Does Not Change."
  • Religion Dispatches, February 15, 2013
• A helping hand: LDS should support equal rights
  • The Salt Lake Tribune, February 17, 2013
• Mormon Student Tells His Friends and Family He's Gay and Films Their Reactions: VIDEO
  • Towleroad, February 20, 2013

Muslims

• Outcast gay Arabs struggle with backlash in a conservative and religious community
  • The Arab American, February 15, 2013
• UK Muslim MPs scared after voting for gay marriage bill
  • The News UK, February 17, 2013
• Peter Tatchell praises Muslim MPs for supporting equal marriage and blasts anti-gay fatwas
  • Pink News, February 18, 2013

Presbyterian

• Proclaiming the Gay Good News on Ash Wednesday
  • The Huffington Post, February 14, 2013
• PHOTOS: Gay-Inclusive Clergy Anoint the Faithful on Ash Wednesday
  • Queerty, February 15, 2013
• Writing "GAY" in Ashes
  • Presbyterian Welcome, February 15, 2013