Phase 1, both the oldest standing lesbian bar in America and the last to remain in the nation’s capital, closed abruptly this month. Meanwhile, venues for gay men are booming. What’s the future of lesbian nightlife in DC?

It’s the start of a new week, so rise and shine and head on in here for some good gay news!

Frida, as always, is flawless.

What’s far too often missing from the narratives of global activism is the nuances of local contexts and agency of “oppressed” people, who don’t simply sit around waiting to be saved. Here’s where the ASC comes in.

veer nyc gives us ladies and outfits to drool over while we dab our tears from a few long reads.

Russia’s new lesbian magazine, Kansas’ proud gay parental unit, and women working harder than men. Again.

AUTOSTRADDLE HAS BEEN NOMINATED FOR A GLAAD AWARD! Other noms include Glee, American Horror Story, Degrassi, Mosquita y Mari and so much more!

Azealia Banks is controversial, but then again, what isn’t? Everyone’s freaking out right now about gay marriage, Amber Riley’s haircut, and Obama’s pen.

Willow Smith lives on, Chris Brown finally goes away, and you really just have to see this Swedish toy catalogue.

The 2012 Election is a gift that never stops giving. Or at least, it hasn’t yet.

NOM was more than ready to misconstrue the findings of the latest study on gay families to make gay families look as bad as possible.

Ohio’s capital city (and the third largest city in the Midwest) has everything you’d ever need, including the world’s best ice cream, one of the country’s largest universities, and a hoppin’ LGBTQ scene.

Stories related to Catholic School, health care, “The Game”, being out in Hollywood, culture clash on same-sex marriage, Billy Corgan, Tammy Baldwin, Secret Gay Pastors, Drugs and So Much More!

Probably not — Bachmann and Paul’s Ames straw poll victory isn’t the end of the world or the race.

We are all intersex, we’re not here to make friends, Michael Jackson and his kids, people don’t know who the celeb-gays are, bisexuals kill people, gays come home, NARTH publishes fake study in fake journal, teachers say yes to marriage equality.

“It’s a tiny tiny tiny fraction of our population, one or two percent has this particular orientation and they dominate, dominate, dominate the news, it’s amazing.”

“March Madness”, as completely unhinged and dated as it is, also reveals something far more depressing and contemporary: Nothing has really changed.

Let’s sing about rainbows, follow @autostraddle on twitter, appreciate jezebel, party in who-ville despite the Mormons and start all over again with “How do You Like Us Now.”

Are you subscribed to the Family Research Council’s mailing list? On the off chance that you’re not, we have some educational reading material for you, diligently footnoted. Yeah you’re welcome.

Remember Tila Tequila?