Two ads by high-profile companies have been pulled from broadcast and print because of implied anti-gay sentiments. In a television ad for Snickers, Mr. T fires a gun that shoots candy bars at an effeminate speed walker. A Nike print ad depicts the face of a basketball player in the crotch of another player who’s jumping to make a basket with the caption: "That Ain’t Right."

Transgender transitions in the workplace
New York Times, September 4
Across the country, particularly at larger companies, transgender workers are being protected and assisted in ways that were hardly imaginable a few years ago. Currently, 125 of the Fortune 500 companies include "gender identity" in their nondiscrimination policies, compared with "close to zero" in 2002, according to Jillian T. Weiss, an associate professor of law and society at Ramapo College of New Jersey, and an expert on transgender workplace diversity.

Ninety percent of straight Americans OK with gay co-workers
PinkNews.co.uk, September 3
An annual US workplace survey found that 9 out of ten heterosexual adults said they would feel indifferent or feel positively upon learning that a co-worker was gay or lesbian, compared to one of ten who said that they would feel negatively. The 7th national Out & Equal Workplace Survey also found that 71% of heterosexuals agree that how an employee performs at their job should be the standard for judging them and not whether or not they are transgender.

Straight acting: The truth behind the myth
Edge, September 3
Do you really know what it means to be "straight acting"? Or do you just think you know? "Straight Acting: Gay Men, Masculinity and Finding True Love," the new book from author, columnist and psychotherapist Angelo Pezzote, is a guide book on navigating issues like internalized homophobia, self-esteem and building sustainable relationships based on healthy principles. Pezzote’s new tome provides a road map to real intimacy for all men-gay and straight.

Was a would-be saint gay?
Time Magazine, September 1
The long-running battle between gay rights activists and the Vatican has moved into the realm of the dead. With 19th century Anglican convert Cardinal John Henry Newman, arguably the greatest Catholic thinker from the English-speaking world, moving ever closer to sainthood, trouble is brewing over where his final resting place should be. The London-born historian and theologian died in 1890 and, following the instructions in his will, was buried beside his lifelong friend and fellow convert Ambrose St. John, who had died 15 years earlier.

Some Hallmark shops reject same sex wedding cards
CBS News, August 26
Seven Hallmark greeting card stores in the Idaho will not carry the company's new same-sex marriage cards. Cassi Jacobsen, an assistant manager for the Jordan's Hallmark store in Nampa's Karcher Mall, says the family that owns the seven area stores has decided against carrying the new line of greeting cards.

Regent Media acquires Out, The Advocate magazines
Associated Press, August 26
Privately held Regent Media said Monday it completed its acquisition of the owner of gay and lesbian magazines Out and The Advocate. Regent did not disclose financial terms for its purchase of PlanetOut's publishing properties, which also include The Out Traveler and Alyson Books, along with related Web sites.

Inside the closet, or the fine art of denial
Edge, August 25
What do Barney Frank, Elton John and Ellen DeGeneres have in common with Larry Craig, Clay Aiken and Ricky Martin? Well, for one, they’re all obviously gay. But while the first three came out after years of whispers, the others responded to mounting evidence by burying themselves deep into the sands of denial.

Heteroflexible: Girls kissing girls is the latest trend
Minneapolis Star Tribune, August 25
Imagine that you hear that your 18-year-old daughter was kissing another girl at a party last weekend. What races through your mind? "O my gosh, she's exploring same-sex attractions. She must be a lesbian." Hold up, Mom and Dad. You're showing your age. Chances are, your daughter's not fixed on the pretty young blonde she's locking lips with.

Poll: Majority would support a gay president
PageOneQ, August 22
The Zogby poll, conducted for the Gay & Lesbian Leadership Institute, shows that six out of ten American voters could support an openly gay candidate for president. 66% of the 1,089 respondents would back a gay vice presidential candidate, 69% a gay candidate for the Senate, and 70% would support an openly gay cabinet secretary.

For Victory Fund, not all politics is local
Edge, August 22
The Victory Fund is actually two organizations. The fund itself is a political action committee that endorses and funds campaigns. On the other side is the non-partisan Gay & Lesbian Leadership Institute, which conducts training sessions that teach GLBT candidates the nuts and bolts of how to run for office.

The Advocate to go monthly
Bay Area Reporter, August 22
The Advocate, one of the country's oldest biweekly gay publications, will go monthly beginning in January, its new editor said on August 21.The magazine is currently published biweekly.

Transgender job bank Web site debuts
PageOneQ, August 22
Launched in late July and described as the first and only organization dedicated to providing employment services to the transgender community, TJobBank's objective is to connect transgender professionals with inclusive employers, aiming to "bring hope to those in the historically under-employed transgender population."

Hallmark embraces gay marriage wedding cards
TimesUnion.com, August 21
The nation's largest greeting card company is rolling out same-sex wedding cards -- featuring two tuxedos, overlapping hearts or intertwined flowers, with best wishes inside. "Two hearts. One promise," one says. Hallmark added the cards after California joined Massachusetts as the only U.S. states with legal gay marriage.

Gay Olympian loses out on a medal, but wins hearts
Edge Los Angeles, August 20
Matthew Mitcham’s Beijing Games came to a close as he failed to qualify for the finals in the 3 meter event. Out of the 18 competitors vying for the top 12 slots, Mitcham finished 16th with a total score of 427.45. Mitcham made headlines back in May when he publicly came out in an interview with the Sydney Morning Herald.

Over 1,000 daily papers announce gay weddings
The Advocate, August 20
More than 1,000 newspapers across the United States now accept wedding announcements or commitment ceremonies for same-sex couples, an increase from only 69 publications in 2002.

Gay-baiting ads get their due
Advocate, August 14
Advertising Age columnist Bob Garfield takes issue with intolerance being used as marketing. After seeing the Mr. T Snickers commercial, Garfield fired off an open letter on AdAge.com to Omnicom CEO John Wren. Garfield called the company’s latest spot a "cartoonish recapitulation" of Matthew Shepard’s murder.

Infected woman with no HIV symptoms may hold secret to AIDS vaccine
Montreal Gazette, August 13
A woman who has never shown symptoms of infection with the AIDS virus may hold the secret to defeating the virus, U.S. researchers said. Infected at least 10 years ago by her husband, the woman is able somehow to naturally control the deadly and incurable virus -- even though her husband must take cocktails of strong HIV drugs to control his.

Are gay men wealthier than straight men?
GFN.com, August 12
According to a new national survey conducted online by Harris Interactive, more than half (53%) report they like to keep up with the latest styles and trends, compared to fewer than one-third (30%) of heterosexual men. Nearly half (49%) report they tend to upgrade to the latest model or version of a product, compared to 35 percent of heterosexual men.

Withdrawing allegedly offensive gay ads puts industry on notice
AdWeek.com, August 11
Late last month, as the Commercial Closet Association -- a non-profit organization promoting the positive use of gay, lesbian, bisexual and transgender references in mainstream media -- celebrated its fourth annual Images in Advertising Awards, the ad industry was under fire for ads that were at best misunderstood and at worst homophobic.

Transgender city worker dismayed by intolerance
Buffalo News, August 11
The person who made history six years ago by becoming the first city employee to openly transition from male to female in the workplace has never found a burning cross outside her home. The acts of bigotry and intolerance have been more subtle — but every bit as disheartening, said Camille Stephanie Hopkins.

Married with children: An option for more gay men
International Herald Tribune, August 10
The cost remains high, and a good lawyer is essential. Yet despite complications, the idea of becoming a biological dad with help from a surrogate mother is gaining allure among gay men as the status of "married with children" grows ever more possible.

Survey: Gays want suburban life, diverse culture
Gay.com, August 7
Nearly 80 percent of gays think it's important to integrate into the greater culture, and at least 64 percent are open about their sexual orientation to at least one family member, according to survey results released by Logo TV network.