In the news: What'd we miss?

*People want James Franco (our hero) to care either way about playing gay characters, so they're asking him what it's like to play gay characters. Says Franco, "It's kinda gay." (not really) [mercury news]

*Anybody who has ever used Eharmony knows that you have to like god's version of sex in order to find a match there, but the company just had to, like, pay New Jersey a bunch of money because that is in direct violation of the gay constitution, and now they have to help closet-cases find hook-ups too or something. I don't know, I can't read, and it's Friday. [wsj]

*Gay people text-messaged Barack Obama "wat's up wit gay marage?" and he hasn't texted them back yet, so they're going to focus on some other issues for the time being. He's got til 2010, or they're going to start spamming his Facebook page and talking shit about him to their mutual friends. [usa today]

*Since Cali dropped the ball, Vermont wants to be the "cool" state by letting people marry each other there. [ap]

*Barry O also says to wait up on that rescinding of Don't Ask Don't Tell. He'll call you back when he knows something. [upi]

In the news: Because news is less boring when you're just looking at the pictures

* "In a spirit of inclusion and transparency in government, President-Elect Barack Obama has chosen seven openly gay transition officials to assist in preparing for the new administration, with details about the transition team appearing online for public inspection." [edge boston]

*Remember when some peoples were gonna make an all-gay high school? No, no, not a Mormon high school. And no, not East High School in Salt Lake. Whatever, we don't really remember it either, our point is, their scrapping it, and we can't help but be kind of happy about that. Dunno... [Chitown daily]

* "Vermont lawmakers will once again be looking at the idea of allowing gay couples to marry. Senator John Campbell says he plans to introduce a bill in January that legalizes same-sex marriage." [wcax]

*Chuck Norris says some stuff you would expect from a chuck norris-type o guy. [defamer]

In the news: Headway in repealing 'Don't ask, Don't Tell'

Sometimes I feel we dwell too often on the fact that everybody hates gay people, and don't shed light on the fact that not everybody actually hates gay people, because they like themselves, so are willing to like others as well. even if they're different (they might actually like them more because of this). For those thinking recent events are a signal of a dismal future (socially we mean, economically this is for sher), the AP tries to subdue your pot-heightened paranoia with some collection of facts, strung together in a kind of inormo-narrative, also known as a news article:

More than 100 retired generals and admirals called Monday for repeal of the
military's "don't ask, don't tell" policy on gays so they can serve openly,
according to a statement obtained by The Associated Press.
The move by the military veterans confronts the incoming administration of President-elect Barack Obama with a thorny political and cultural issue that dogged former President Bill Clinton early in his administration.

"As is the case with Great Britain, Israel, and other nations that
allow gays and lesbians to serve openly, our service members are professionals
who are able to work together effectively despite differences in race, gender,
religion, and sexuality," the officers wrote.

While Obama has expressed support for repeal, he said during the
presidential campaign that he would not do so on his own — an indication that he
would tread carefully to prevent the issue from becoming a drag on his agenda.
Obama said he would instead work with military leaders to build consensus on
removing the ban on openly gay service members.

"Although I have consistently said I would repeal 'don't ask, don't tell,' I believe that the way to do it is make sure that we are working through a process, getting the Joint Chiefs of Staff clear in terms of what our priorities are going to be," Obama said in a
September interview with the Philadelphia Gay News. [ap]

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C'est la vie? And, also big ups to Isreal!