This time last year, Hollywood – as well as the LGBT community – was all abuzz about the lofty number of LGBT programs that were coming to network TV. It was a record high.
A year later, that bubble has been burst. Most of those high-profile shows are now gone, having fallen one by one. CBS’s “Partners” with Michael Urie was canceled quickly. “The New Normal” lasted a little longer but still bit the dust at NBC, which also canned the acclaimed “Go On,” with Julie White in a supporting role as a lesbian.
More than 30 national LGBT groups signed onto a letter Monday showing support for organizations and community leaders asking the federal government to investigate the slaying of Trayvon Martin after his accused killer was acquitted.
The NAACP, which openly supports marriage equality, has a petition set up at its website and is asking people to sign it to demand the Obama administration file a civil rights case against George Zimmerman. The petition went up on Saturday, the day a 6-woman jury found Zimmerman not guilty in the killing of Martin, an African American teen who was 17 and unarmed and was returning to his family's house after walking to a nearby convenience store for tea and Skittles.
Exodus International, the "ex-gay" Christian organization that in the past practiced “conversion therapy,” announced this week it is shutting down, and I couldn't be happier.
Alan Chambers, president of Exodus, issued a stirring apology in a statement posted to the organization's website. In it, Chambers recounts his own same-sex attractions and says that he hopes to mend the damage done by Exodus over the years to members of the LGBTQ community.
Exodus International was founded in 1976 and was considered by some to be among the most harmful anti-gay organizations. In February 2012, the "Love Won Out" conference sponsored by Exodus came to Georgia and dozens of LGBT activists protested. Among the protesters was Wayne Besen, founder of Truth Wins Out, who has spoken for years against Exodus and called gay conversion therapy "junk science."
Reaction from gay groups was mostly positive, reinforcing that it pays to be gracious in victory.
Former President Bill Clinton was honored over the weekend with the Advocate for Change award at the annual GLAAD Media Awards in Los Angeles, Calif.
The former president signed the 1996 Defense of Marriage Act into law and oversaw the implementation of the military's discriminatory “Don't Ask, Don't Tell” ban on gays in the military but has become a proponent of LGBT rights since his time in office ended.
Clinton credited daughter Chelsea for his change of heart during his acceptance speech.