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Barack Obama has tapped Joseph R. Biden Jr. as his running mate, bringing to the Democratic ticket a veteran senator with deep expertise in international relations. Ohio Representative and avid supporter of GLBT rights Stephanie Tubbs Jones has died after suffering an aneurysm while driving her car. Louisiana' Republican Governor Bobby Jindal said he would not reissue a ban on discriminating against gays and lesbians in the workplace. After a slow start, the campaign against demagogic homophobe James Dobson’s induction into the National Radio Hall of Fame appears to be gaining steam.

Palin's record poor on GLBT issues
Edge.com, September 5
Republican vice presidential nominee Sarah Palin supported a constitutional amendment banning same-sex marriage in Alaska and opposed domestic partner benefits for state employees there. Meanwhile, Time magazine reported that the church where the Alaska governor’s family worships, Wasilla Bible Church, recently was promoting an "ex-gay" reparative therapy program sponsored by the right-wing group Focus on the Family.

Log Cabin Republicans throw support behind John McCain
GayWired.com, September 5
Log Cabin Republicans, the leading organization of gay and lesbian Republicans, announced its endorsement of Sen. John McCain for President of the United States at its "Big Tent Event" during the Republican National Convention in Minneapolis on Tuesday. "On the most important issue that LGBT Americans faced in the last decade-the federal marriage amendment-Sen. John McCain stood with us. Now we stand with him," said Log Cabin Republicans President Patrick Sammon.

Defiant Sarah Palin comes out swinging
Los Angeles Times, September 4
Sarah Palin, who vaulted from obscurity to controversy as the Republican candidate for vice president, cast herself Wednesday night as a reformer and a fighter, gleefully tearing into Democrat Barack Obama. Making her prime-time TV debut, the Alaska governor mixed a homey account of domestic life in the frontier wilderness with barbed attacks that left no doubt about her relish for political combat.

Former gay ambassador launches new rights group
Bay Area Reporter, September 4
Michael Guest, formerly the United States ambassador to Romania, is helping to launch a new group that will push America's government to support LGBT rights on the world stage. The openly gay Guest is a paid adviser to the Council for Global Equality, which will have its first meeting in Washington, D.C. on September 23.

Palin: Inclusive or divisive?
Washington Blade, September 3
Alaska Gov. Sarah Palin, Republican presidential candidate John McCain’s running mate, strongly opposes domestic partner benefits for Alaska’s state employees, even though she vetoed a bill to block same-sex partners from receiving the benefits. At the time of the veto, Palin reiterated her opposition to the court ruling on the benefits issue as well as her opposition to same-sex marriage.

Barney Frank: Sarah Palin’s family life is fair game
Boston Herald, September 3
Rep. Barney Frank is among the first Democrats to publicly say Alaska Gov. Sarah Palin’s family background, including the pregnancy of her unwed teenage daughter, should be fair game for campaign discussion. "They’re the ones that made an issue of her family," Frank, D-Mass., said in a telephone interview with The Associated Press. Frank says the recent disclosure about her daughter blunts conservative claims that liberalism harms family life.

Gay Republicans: GOP on 'wrong side of history'
CNN.com, September 3
A group of gay and lesbian Republicans has traveled to the site of the GOP convention this week to help convince its party that it is time to stop being on the "wrong side" of the same-sex marriage issue. "Clearly, the tide is turning," said Scott Tucker, communications director for the Log Cabin Republicans. "It's important for the Republican Party to be inclusive on this issue, because we are risk of being on the wrong side of history."

New York governor’s big court win: Gay marriages okay
Edge, September 3
A New York State Supreme Court justice has ruled that NY Gov. David Paterson did not exceed his authority last May when he directed state agencies to recognize marriages granted to gay families elsewhere.

Disclosures on Palin raise questions on vetting process
New York Times, September 2
A series of disclosures about Gov. Sarah Palin, Senator John McCain’s choice as running mate, called into question on Monday how thoroughly Mr. McCain had examined her background before putting her on the Republican presidential ticket.

Republicans scale back convention due to Hurricane Gustav
Los Angeles Times, September 1
Republicans scrambled Sunday to reshape their national convention to a more austere and less political event as Hurricane Gustav upended their plans to showcase John McCain and his new running mate, and to take apart Barack Obama in a nationally televised extravaganza.

In California, Latinos support ban on same-sex marriage
Belleville News, September 1
Across California, a majority of whites appear poised to vote against Proposition 8 in November, according to a Field Poll in July. But that same poll found that Latinos, with their social conservatism and strong Catholicism, are in favor of a constitutional ban against same-sex marriage.

Web site features Republicans against California gay marriage ban
Ontop.com, September 1
A new Log Cabin Republicans web site, RepublicansAgainst8.com, aims to highlight Republicans who are against Proposition 8 – California's constitutional amendment which would once against ban gay marriage in the State.

Lots of no-shows expected at Republican National Convention
Los Angeles Times, August 31
Many GOP lawmakers have sent regrets -- citing tough reelection battles, previous commitments or other scheduling conflicts. An aide to a Republican senator, who spoke on condition of anonymity, offered another reason for the no-shows. "The party brand is in tatters," said the aide. "The president is highly unpopular. There doesn't seem to be much excitement around the candidate. And there's a real fear of being tagged with the Republican label and being seen with George Bush."

McCain shocks party, selects Palin as running mate
Gay Wired, August 30
Presumptive Republican presidential nominee John McCain has chosen Alaska Governor Sarah Palin as his vice presidential running mate. Palin, Alaska’s first woman governor, is a strongly conservative pro-lifer with a mixed record on gay and lesbian rights.

Log Cabin president supports Sarah Palin’s nomination
NewsPostOnline.com, August 30
Log Cabin President Patrick Sammon has given his approval to Sarah Palin’s nominaton by McCain. In a statement he said "Alaska Governor Sarah Palin can help Sen. McCain win this election by appealing to independent and young voters. She’s a mainstream Republican who will unite the Party and serve John McCain well as Vice President. Gov. Palin is an inclusive Republican who will help Sen. McCain appeal to gay and lesbian voters."

Obama includes gays in historic speech
New York Blade, August 29
A massive crowd cheered on Democratic presidential candidate Barack Obama as he delivered his acceptance speech at Invesco Field Thursday night and the cheers grew louder when he mentioned gay rights. Obama included his commitment to gay rights when he listed several contentious issues facing the American public, such as abortion and gun ownership.

McCain chooses Palin as running mate
Washington Post, August 29
Republican presumptive presidential nominee John McCain has chosen first-term Alaska Gov. Sarah Palin as his running mate, according to senior Republican sources who said they were briefed by McCain's staff. Palin, 44,would be the first woman nominated to the ticket by the Republican Party, and is a surpise choice after McCain considered more experienced politicians, including several of his former rivals for the GOP nomination.

Biden called a proven advocate for gay rights
Southern Voice, August 29
Democratic presidential candidate Barack Obama’s decision to pick Sen. Joe Biden (D-Del.) as his vice presidential running mate drew immediate praise from gay activists in Delaware, who called Biden a strong and reliable friend of the gay community.

GOP platform snubs gay rights
The Advocate, August 29
While the Republican Party's 2008 platform has diminished in size compared to its 2004 plan, the party has made sure to include measures to prevent gay and lesbian couples from gaining marriage equality.

New Orleans gay party threatened by tropical storm
PinkNews.co.uk, August 29
As tropical storm Gustav barrels towards America's Gulf coast, the organizers of the New Orleans Southern Decadence gay celebration are watching its every move very carefully. Although Louisiana Governor Bobby Jindal has already declared a state of emergency to prepare for a possible Gustav hit, so far Southern Decadence organizers say the celebration is still on track.

Democrats choose Obama in historic acclamation
Associated Press, August 28
Barack Obama stepped triumphantly into history Wednesday night, the first black American to win a major party presidential nomination, as thousands of Democrats transformed their convention hall into a joyful, shouting celebration.

U.S. lesbian pioneer dies months after wedding
Reuters, August 28
Del Martin, 87, who wed Phyllis Lyon, 83, in San Francisco's City Hall in June, died of natural causes at the University of California San Francisco Medical Center on Wednesday morning, the National Center for Lesbian Rights said.

The Obama camp asks GLBT Dems for help
Advocate, August 28
Obama's highest ranking gay staffer implored GLBT delegates Wednesday to get involved in the election, one of several clear pushes by the campaign this week to tap the resolve of our community.

California same-sex marriage ban is losing, state pollsters say
Venturacountystar.com, August 28
Likely voters in California would soundly reject a ballot measure to ban marriage between same-sex couples if the election were held today, a Public Policy Institute of California poll finds.