“If there is an issue of shame, it is a result of acknowledging the number of people I have targeted, hurt and oppressed… much of [my work] I would now categorize as propaganda filled with strong and unnecessary rhetoric.”

Kristanna Loken’s broken up with her boy and has a new girl — guess that’s why we kept seeing her out at lesbian WeHo hotspots! The New York Times ponders Ellen’s influence on the marriage equality struggle, John Mayer loves gay clubs, LiLo wants Gaga and “Cracks” looks good!

Prominent Republican official and former George W. Bush campaign manager Ken Mehlman has come out as gay, saying that “It’s taken me 43 years to become comfortable with this part of my life… It’s something I wish I had done years ago.”

Canadian Prime Minister Stephen Harper says that the 5,000 same-sex couples from abroad who have been married in Canada aren’t legally married after all. Surprise!

Carlytron & Riese visit Johnny McGovern’s Big Gay Pimp Show, Adam Lambert signs a record deal and comes out on the cover of Rolling Stone, Rachel Maddow calls Obama Out, Anderson Cooper chats with Dan Choi, Lindsay & Sam travel together, Margaret Cho says “let my people go,” Sarah Palin appears in the woods.

Target recently donated $150,000 to a group that supports anti-gay Republican Tom Emmer. Vote with your dollars, sign change.org’s petition, or both!

New York really really really truly might almost definitely vote on gay marriage today. You can follow along by watching this livestream from the State Senate.

In celebration of New York Marriage Equality and in recognition of same-sex unions everywhere, I’m giving away free wedding photography to one gay or lesbian couple (a $4,000 value)!

Don’t worry, someone is going to look at your genes and figure out why you’re so freaking gay, and then they’re gonna get you a hot girlfriend! Also the debate over marriage (for straight people, obvs), eco-friendly transition towns, and a lack of female writers on the best books list. Yes, it’s a big day in the world of ideas..

Maine is over me. But I just can’t get over Maine. Welcome to the first “Riese’s Pieces” column, where I turn feelings into sentences and hopefully, sometimes, actual points.

Equality’s inevitable but so are death and taxes.

Autostraddle hits the streets on Friday night to talk to THE PEOPLE about marriage equality. Includes a lot of hopping and jumping and screaming and total cuteness.

Wanna look at cute and happy in love gay people who just got engaged?

If you were worried that your tax dollars weren’t going to be used to defend DOMA any longer, well, you can probably rest easy now.

Are you ready to get this Prop 8 thing taken care of once and for all? SO ARE WE. We recap today’s closing arguments on the Prop 8 trial on gay marriage in California, with characteristic Autostraddle style and class.

Blankenhorn is the other side’s Big Hope. He claims to be a liberal democrat but opposes same-sex marriage. Unfortunately, it seems the only peers who’ve ever reviewed him are the Americans For Truth About Homosexuality. NO BUT SERIOUSLY it’s really fascinating. Today’s recap = fascinating.

“Do u think part of the reason gay rights has moved forward while women’s rights backwards is b/c gay rights includes men’s rights?”

Guess what, another decade is over! Here’s a retrospective on the best of times and worst of times in the 00’s for the queers.

Taiwan’s ruling made me curious about how the news was being received by LGBTQ people across Asia. Did they too face cultural and institutional oppression against their gender and sexuality, or were their countries more accepting? Would the ruling have any impact on their livelihoods? Is Taiwan an inspiration for their leaders to consider marriage equality or LGBTQ rights overall, or will it not matter as much? I set out to find out by reaching out to LGBTQ activists in 42 Asian countries.

As new anti-gay marriage campaigns are released in anticipation of the 2012 referendums, let’s see how far homophobic ads have come (or not).