Wanda Sykes kicks-off late night show

Comedian Wanda Sykes takes tothe late-night talk show circuit tonight with the premiere of The Wanda Sykes Show. Sykes is the first openly gay woman and only the third woman overall to headline a late-night show on a major network. You can watch Wanda on the Fox Network (can you believe she is on Fox??) at 11 pm Eastern.

Smile's Pie Tasting Event Raises Over $1,400

MANNA and Nightlifegay.com raised over $1,400 on Thursday night at Smile Happy Hour's pie tasting event. It was the 2nd year for the partnership, which allows Smile patrons to sample MANNA's Pie in the Sky pies before purchasing.

Each pie MANNA sells provides 6 meals for people in the Philadelphia region. MANNA prepares and delivers delicious, nourishing meals, along with counsel and hope, to people at acute nutritional risk due to a life-threatening illnesses, helping them improve their health and quality of life. Check out these photos of the event.









As of this date, the number of pies sold is still being counted (due to pricing structure) but it will be reported here later. If you could not attend the event, it is not to late to order your pie for the holiday! Pies through MANNA will be available until noon on November 20th and can be ordered online by clicking here.

Philadelphia jumps from 13 to 11 in gay U.S. destinations list

Community Marketing, Inc.(CMI), the San Francisco-based LGBT market research and communications firm, has taken an annual pulse on the state of gay and lesbian tourism and hospitality since 1994.

"In this dynamic market space, and with shifting trends in both destination acceptance and traveler motivations, it's as important as ever to gauge destination strength, and adjust marketing strategies accordingly," said David Paisley, CMI's Senior Research Director. "Our large surveys are representative of LGBT consumers who are influenced by destination marketing campaigns, and who decide their travel plans accordingly."

Top 25 US Destinations for American LGBT Travelers with percentage who visited (as Combined Leisure & Business Travel Ranking)
1) New York City: 32%
2) San Francisco: 27%
3) Las Vegas: 26%
4) Chicago: 25%
5) Los Angeles / West Hollywood: 24%
6) Washington, DC: 23%
7) Fort Lauderdale: 17%
8) San Diego: 15%
9) Orlando: 14%
9) Seattle: 14%
11) Boston: 13%
11) Philadelphia: 13%
13) Palm Springs 12%
13) Atlanta: 12%
13) Miami: 12%
16) Dallas: 11%
16) Denver: 11%
16) Phoenix/Tempe/Scottsdale: 11%
19) New Orleans: 10%
20) Napa County, CA: 9%
20) Provincetown, MA: 9%
20) Sonoma County, CA: 9%
23) Portland, OR 8%
23) Baltimore: 8%
23) Tampa/St. Pete: 8%

CMI's annual studies are unlike other reports, which are either popularity contests ("what's your favorite destination?") or present small samples. CMI reports on visited destinations; the places that gay and lesbians traveled to in the past year, and stayed at least one overnight in a hotel. Over 7,000 LGBT consumers took CMI's Gay & Lesbian Tourism Survey in 2009. The rankings above reflect the 4,726 LGBT survey-takers living in the United States. Participants were geographically balanced, closely matching census data.

New York's Patterson calls for action on gay marriage

New York Gov. David Paterson is calling the Legislature back to Albany for a special session to cut the budget and possibly vote on legalizing same-sex marriage.

Paterson wants the Senate to give final legislative approval to same-sex marriage. But there's no guarantee there are enough votes to carry the measure, which has already passed in the Assembly.

While the Legislature must attend the extraordinary session called by Paterson for Tuesday, lawmakers don't have to act on his agenda.

That agenda includes addressing a deficit of more than $3 billion with midyear cuts to school aid and health care, among other measures.

The Democrat also wants lawmakers to consider long-sought reform of public authorities, a so-called "shadow government" that's been caught in several scandals. (ap)

Here! CEO talks about The Advocate

Here Media CEO Paul Colichman talks about where the longest running published gay magazine, The Advocate, is heading. Colichman reflects on the past year being profitable(by a small margin) and goes on to say The Advocate will now be poly-bagged with Out Magazine to save on shipping.

As the owner of a television network, we realize the importance of professionally created video news content. Accordingly, we have hired and integrated several new staff members who can work cross-platform -- in print, online, and broadcast. Sadly, that meant we had to say goodbye to four valued members of The Advocate’s editorial team.

The recent closures of Gourmet, Portfolio, Genre, and other magazines have shown the weaknesses of the print publication model. The rising costs of paper, printing, and postage have become a major problem. Therefore, we plan to greatly reduce these costs by jointly marketing The Advocate and Out magazines. We will fulfill Advocate subscriptions via joint delivery with Out. Advocate subscribers will continue to receive their monthly magazine along with a copy of Out at no extra charge. This move will also allow us to continue to offer Out at affordable subscription prices, either as a stand-alone title or with the choice to receive The Advocate as well. The strategy preserves our ability to deliver the same high-quality print magazines while allocating additional resources to editorial content.

Garden State Equality runs two new TV spots

Garden State Equality release two new commercials that are currently running in New Jersey since Tuesday's elections. Check them out.

George Balanchine's "The Nutcracker" at the Academy of Music

The magic of the holiday season comes to life on stage as Pennsylvania Ballet and PNC Arts Alive present George Balanchine’s The Nutcracker. The most beloved holiday tradition for families throughout the Philadelphia region returns to the Academy of Music at Broad and Locust streets, December 12 through December 31, 2009.

Pennsylvania Ballet, one of the premier ballet companies in the nation, is proud to perform this timeless production, now in its 41st year. Steeped in tradition yet revitalized by stunning new sets and costumes in 2007, George Balanchine’s The Nutcracker is sure to charm young and older audiences alike. No other production matches its majesty.

“Being part of the holiday tradition for families is very gratifying,” Artistic Director Roy Kaiser says. “Every time that curtain goes up, each live performance is totally different.”

Performances of George Balanchine’s The Nutcracker at the Academy of Music:• Saturday, December 12 at 11 a.m.*, 3 p.m., and 7 p.m.
• Sunday, December 13 at noon and 4 p.m.
• Friday, December 18 at 7 p.m.
• Saturday, December 19 at 11 a.m.*, 3 p.m., and 7 p.m.
• Sunday, December 20 at noon* and 4 p.m.
• Wednesday, December 23 at 7 p.m.*
• Thursday, December 24 at noon
• Saturday, December 26 at 2 p.m. and 7 p.m.
• Sunday, December 27 at noon and 4 p.m.
• Monday, December 28 at 2 p.m. and 7 p.m.
• Tuesday, December 29 at noon and 4 p.m.*
• Wednesday, December 30 at noon and 4 p.m.*
• Thursday, December 31 at noon
*Sugarplum VIP Package available at these performances (see below)

Tickets for George Balanchine’s The Nutcracker are on sale now at paballet.org or by calling 215.893.1999.

Mixner: Campaign against us is Gay Apartheid

David Mixner, who called for the National Equality March, has had enough with the second class citizen treatment. Check out part of his blog post yesterday.

We have poured over $100,000,000 in the last two years into efforts where Americans feel it is there obligation to vote on our freedom. The entire concept is repugnant and disgusting. That we for the last three decades have been drawn into this game of 'this is politics' and fighting these ballot box horrors so that maybe by in five, ten or twenty years we will have enough victories to force our federal government to protect our freedom is simply not acceptable anymore. Imagine the good we could have done with all that money. Imagine the civil rights movement we could have built if we had the leadership that was willing to think out of the box and put it on the line.

Second, call this campaign against us what it is - Gay Apartheid.

Refuse to allow any of our fellow Americans, President Obama or our allies to view this as a political issue who time hasn't quite come. America is in the process of creating a system of Gay Apartheid. We will not quietly sit and accept it. All over the place, this nation is creating one set of laws for LGBT Americans and another set for all other Americans. That is the classic definition of Apartheid. Either our political allies are for Gay Apartheid or against it. If they are against it, they must fight with us and no longer duck like President Obama did in Maine and Washington. There is no half way in fighting Apartheid.

Third, it is clear that the political establishment in Washington doesn't understand that we no longer willing to wait until it meets their timetable or political needs.

President Obama standing on the sidelines in Maine and Washington was appalling. The failure of our national organizations and leaders to demand his involvement was equally appalling. The outrageous act of the Democratic National Committee sending an email into Maine asking Maine Democrats to call into "NEW JERSEY" instead of to support the fight against bigotry was unbelievable. No one gets to sit on the sidelines in an epic battle against apartheid and no one gets a free pass. If you want our support, you have to earn it. We are way beyond where we will accept a little bit in 2009, some in 2010 and maybe more in the second term. Does anyone think after yesterday election results and the upcoming 2010 election, Obama has the ability to repeal "Don't Ask, Don't Tell" and "DOMA" next year? Does anyone really believe we haven't already missed a historic opportunity in the first 10 months of this year? Only a courageous fighting President and Congress can now help turn us this around and that we have not seen so far. Enough.

Pastor Joel Osteen "Homosexuality is not God's Best"

Whoopi Goldberg asked Pastor Joel Osteen about his position on gays. His answer: "Homosexuality is not God's Best". Of course that answer opened up a series of questions: Whoopi followed-up by asking if God doesn't have a best? Joy Behar then asked if God made a mistake? Check it out.

WI Supreme Court rejects domestic partnership challenge

Wisconsin's Supreme Court has rejected a legal challenge to the state's domestic partnerships law. The law took effect on August 3rd, making Wisconsin the first mid-western state to pass such a law through legislation. Anti-gay group Wisconsin Family Action brought about the challenge, claiming it violates the state's 2005 constitutional amendment banning marriage and civil unions for gays and lesbians.

The court has not given any reason for rejecting the case, giving gay rights opponents the belief at a challange could be refiled again.

Separtation of Church and State - Dead

Separation of Church and State died last night and was buried this morning in Maine.

Check out these quotes published in today's The Bangor Daily News:

"We went up against tremendous odds," Marc Mutty, public affairs director for the Roman Catholic Diocese of Portland who has been on loan to the campaign, said from Portland. "We all know we were the little guy going up against the big guy, but we prevailed. We prevailed because the people of Maine - the silent majority - the folks back home spoke with their votes.
_____________________________________

Although the campaign is over, the Rev. Bob Emrich of Palmyra said that the work of traditional marriage supporters was not.

"God has given us this victory," Emrich continued, "and it is very important for us to recognize that he is the one who put the energy into this campaign. So let's not be so arrogant to forget this. It's very appropriate to pause for a moment of prayer."

Hopefully, it has nine lives like a cat and be revived by the IRS and the Department of Justice....not likely. However, please call your Senators, U.S. Representative, the Department of Justice and the IRS to tell them there used to be such a thing as Separation of Church and State. If politicians and/or churches can not adhere to it, they should remove themselves from office and/or loose their non-profit designation.

In the meantime, the gay community should pray for these people/organizations and hope they will see the light sometime soon.....God would want all his children to be loved and treated equally.

P.I.N.K. Vodka signs on for Philly's Pink Pub Crawl

Pink Vodka signed on as a major sponsor of Philadelphia's Pink Pub Crawl taking place on Thanksgiving Eve. The high octane vodka will provide an added boost to one of Philadelphia's largest growing gay events.

While the deal is not exclusive, (as some people can not drink caffeine) the event will be branded with Pink Vodka/Pink Pub Crawl t-shirts, banners, drinks - while pink novelties will given away at the event.

This year's crawl route:
9:00pm - 10:25pm @ Stir - 1705 Chancellor Street
10:30pm - 11:30pm @ Q Lounge - 13th & Locust Sts.
11:30pm - 12:30am @ Woody's - 13th & Walnut Sts.
12:30am - 1:30am @ Voyeur - 1221 St. James St.

Crawlers get:
1 call drink, beer or wine at Stir.
1 call drink, beer or wine at Q
1 call drink, beer or wine at Woody's with FREE admission to Woody's dance floor & Free admission to Voyeur.

Crawl Fee = $20 in Pink or $30 not (crawl valued over $40)
Tickets are only available at Stir & Q the night of the event at the door.

Phanatic takes NYC

LOVE IT!!!

Openly gay judge voted to court for 1st time

Philadelphia's Common Pleas Court candidate Dan Anders, the first openly gay judge appointed by Gov. Ed Rendell in 2007, was elected to the court for the first time last night. Since his appointment by Rendell, Anders has served on Philadelphia's Family Court.

Washington approves Referendum 71

Washington state's Referendum 71 was approved by the voters, confirming the right for gay couples to have civil unions. Referendum 71 was called the “everything but marriage” law because it basically gives gay couples the same rights as marriage under the name "civil unions"....of course, the same rights only apply in the state of Washington and not on a federal level.

Maine voters repeal gay rights

Maine voters rejected a law allowing same-sex couples to marry. The state legislature granted gay marriage rights in May, but last night Maine voters repealed those rights by 53 per cent, while 47 per cent voted for the measure. The outcome from Tuesday's vote made Maine the third US state where voters repealed their local government's move granting same-sex couples the right to marry, following California and Hawaii. Homosexual marriage has not yet won a popular vote in any US state.

Traveling - Check back soon!

GLAAD's President Jarrett Barrios on gay rights

GLAAD's President, Jarrett Barrios, was on CNN talking about gay rights and President Obama. Check it out.

Yankees beat Phillies and Glee

Damn Yankees! The Yankees beat our Phillies again last night. There is nothing worse than being away, as I am in Boston for a gay travel expo, and having to watch your team lose in the last inning.
As I mentioned, I am attending Community Marketing's 10th International Conference on Gay & Lesbian Tourism. I really appreciate some of the insights into the market like: "Gay Welcoming" and "LGBT" are increasing in popularity over "Gay Friendly" and "GLBT". However, the funniest thing I learned so far is that GLEE did not air on Fox because of the World Series....gays not from NYC or Philly are not so glee as a result...lol.

U.K. vigils against hate crimes

Thousands of people attended a candle-lit vigil in London's Trafalgar Square in London on Friday to stand up against anti-gay hate crime, including the Prime Minister's wife, Sarah Brown.

The vigil followed the death of Ian Baynham who died this month following a homophobic attack in the square.

Vigils also took place in Manchester, Brighton and Norwich this evening and there is one scheduled to happen in Liverpool on Sunday evening.

Sky West and its anti-gay ways

SkyWest Airlines employee, Gilbert Caldwell, is fighting the company to demand free travel for his partner. Gilbert married his partner of 35 years in California before the passage of Prop. 8 - therefore, Caldwell's marriage is legally recognized in the state of California.

In the airline business, it is common for employees and their spouses to receive free travel. On SkyWest, this perk extends only to heterosexual co-workers, but not to Gilbert Caldwell's husband.

Unless Sky West changes it tune, this case is on its way to becoming a lawsuit.

Dept. Justice battles gay marriage rights from Mass.

What is with this Obama administration? You can't have it both ways....so frustrating.

From the AP:
States that allow gay marriage can't force the federal government to provide benefits to those couples, the Obama administration argued Friday in court papers in a lawsuit by Massachusetts.

The Justice Department is at odds with Massachusetts — the first state to allow gay marriage — over a 1996 federal law defining marriage as a union between a man and a woman.

Massachusetts sued in July, saying that law is discriminatory and deprives gay couples in the state of some federal spousal benefits.

The Obama administration agrees the Defense of Marriage Act, or DOMA, is discriminatory and wants it repealed, but says it has an obligation to defend laws enacted by Congress while they are on the books and can be reasonably defended.

The law "does not prohibit gay and lesbian couples from marrying, nor does it prohibit the states from acknowledging same-sex marriages," according to the court filing by Assistant Attorney General Tony West.

Massachusetts, the filing continues, is trying to claim individuals have a right to federal benefits based on marital status.

"There is, however, no fundamental right to marriage-based federal benefits," according to the 36-page filing. (cont.)