Of these folks, I know the least about Rob Marshall … but I can absolutely understand why Glambert, Wanda, Cyndi and Lt. Choi made the cut as the top LGBT stars of the year. I’m very curious to see who else made the cut this year … besides the obvious names listed on the cover, do any of y’all have any guesses?

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NCIS’ Pauley Perrette and more of TV’s biggest stars are banding together for a one-time performance of The Laramie Project: 10 Years Later to benefit the Matthew Shepard Foundation and stand up for gay rights. The play is a sequel to The Laramie Project, which was based on the reactions of people in Laramie, Wyo., after Shepard, a 21-year-old gay college student, was murdered there in 1998. The new production revisits the townspeople a decade later and also portrays an interview with one of Shepard’s killers. The new play began performances across the country on Oct. 12. Perrette said she was approached by a member of her church, Hollywood United Methodist Church, about putting together a reading of the play there. Pretty soon, Perrette’s NCIS co-star Michael Weatherly, The Big Bang Theory’s Jim Parsons and Johnny Galecki, House’s Lisa Edelstein, Dexter’s Julie Benz, Heroes’ Zachary Quinto and Emmy winner Christian Clemenson were all on board. “We have so many people from so many different shows, which is fun,” Perrette toldTVGuide.com. “Everyone we called was like, ‘I’m in.’ It’s really incredible. We’re just extremely excited, and it’s really amazing to have that many people come together to do something that’s important.” The reading is planned to coincide with a book signing and speaking appearance by Shepard’s mother, Judy. All proceeds go to benefit the Matthew Shepard Foundation, which promotes antiviolence toward the gay and lesbian community. Perrette, who describes herself as an “outspoken civil rights activist who never shuts up,” says it’s important for people to stand up and be heard. “With so much going on with Prop. 8 and everything else right now, LGBT civil rights activism is what’s most necessary,” Perrette said. “In the women’s movement, women needed men to stand up and say this isn’t right. In the civil rights of the ’60s, it took people of all color to demand equal rights. And in this case, it takes straight chicks like me to demand equal rights for everybody.” Perrette also said it is incumbent on the government to make changes. “I believe that what is legislated bleeds down into everything,” she says. “So if the legislation continues to uphold anything that doesn’t support equal rights and civil rights, that bleeds down into Matthew Shepard being murdered.” Coincidentally, moments after we interviewed Perrette, news broke that the Senate passed a hate-crimes amendment that was partly inspired by Shepard’s murder.

The performance yesterday was … stunning. I was not fully prepared for the emotion that overwhelmed me as I heard the works spoken on that stage. It’s pretty incredible to know that it’s been 10 years since Matthew Shepard was brutally murdered for being gay and so much remains unchanged in that time. I cannot for the life of me imagine what it must feel like to endure that kind of loss … hearing the words spoken from the people of Laramie really hit me hard. Kudos goes out to the cast and crew of this extremely powerful performance. I urge all of you to read The Laramie Project and, if possible, see a performance of The Laramie Project: 10 Years Later, An Epilogue and be reminded that hate crimes are still as prevalent in this country today as they were 10 years ago … and earlier. I’m encouraged that the Senate finally passed a hate crimes amendment … it is a great step forward in policing the safety and protection of all US citizens.

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For me, the big prize has to be the chance to win a walk-on role on HBO’s True Blood:

All proceeds from the auction and ticket sales for the gala ball will go to the L.A. Gay & Lesbian Center which provides advocacy work, seniors programs, empowering youth programs, life-saving health services and personal development courses for GLBT members of the community … which is an endeavor that I fully and wholeheartedly support. This year’s Gala & Auction promises to be a complete blast!!!

Click HERE to see the (thus far) confirmed list of celeb attendees, click HERE to see what other items/experiences are up for auction and click HERE to purchase YOUR tickets to attend the event this year. My love and respect goes out to Darion and everyone involved with this year’s event. It is my sincere hope that they are able to generate LOTS of revenue for the L.A. Gay & Lesbian Center. Woot!!

Tens of thousands of gay-rights activists marched Sunday in Washington to show President Obama and Congress that they are impatient with what they consider piecemeal progress and are ready to fight at the federal level for across-the-board equality, including for the right to marry and the right to serve in the military. Key votes on same-sex marriage are coming up in the District and Maine, and Obama reiterated his campaign promise Saturday to end the “don’t ask, don’t tell” policy that forces gay and lesbian members of the armed forces to keep their sexual orientation a secret. But organizers of the National Equality March and its participants said they want to shift the political effort toward seeking equality in all states, rather than accepting just local and state-level victories. “We’re not settling,” said Cleve Jones, co-chairman of the march and founder of the Names Project, the AIDS memorial quilt that recognizes Americans who have died from HIV- or AIDS-related causes. “There’s no such thing as a fraction of equality. We want equal protection under the law.” The march was coordinated by Equality Across America, a group formed this year. Organizers said they represent those who want immediate fundamental change in the legal status of gays, as opposed to those who think patience is needed as legal obstacles are overcome. Some in the latter group are political veterans, such as Rep. Barney Frank (D-Mass.), the highest-ranking openly gay political figure in the United States. Last week, Frank said he thought the march was “useless,” a remark that was attacked at the rally. “How many more tears should be shed before some politicians in a backroom can decide it is convenient to join us and fight for our freedom?” asked David Mixner, a longtime activist who spoke at the rally. Attendees expressed complicated feelings about Obama. Nearly every person interviewed said he or she had voted for him, but many people said they were disappointed by what they see as a lack of action on key gay-rights issues, such as letting gays serve openly in the military. Thousands of people marched from McPherson Square, a few blocks from the White House, down Pennsylvania Avenue, chanting “President Obama: Let mama marry mama!” and “L, G, B, T — We demand equality!” Marchers carried signs reading “We Won’t Wait for Full Equality” and “Mind Your Own Marriage.” Spectators watched from the street and the roof of the Newseum, many cheering the participants. As the march ended about 2:30 p.m., people gathered on Capitol Hill for a rally. Many supporters identified themselves as heterosexual, carrying signs with such slogans as “I’m Not Queer But I’m Here.” Organizers seemed surprised by the turnout.

It was a pretty fantastic day … being a part of it all … there are no words. As anyone who even remotely knows me, I’m not the kind of person who likes to get up at 5AM in order to walk around all day long — so it must’ve been a pretty important cause to get me active. But in all seriousness, I am so thankful that David pushed and planned for us to be at yesterday’s march. Walking the streets of Washington DC with so many other people united in the single push to demand equal treatment from our government was really an event I’ll remember for the rest of my life. After the jump, check out some of my personal photos and watch video of speakers Lady Gaga, Cynthia Nixon and Dustin Lance Black at the National Equality March yesterday …

David and I, in that massive sea of people, randomly ran into Pink readers Tamar and Jaryn who were carrying an amazing Pink is the new Equality sign … and we also ran into our friends Diana and Allen … here are some of our photos:

It was really an honor to be there … when the day comes that our US government does its duty and affords equal rights for ALL citizens, I will look back on yesterday and know that I was a part of their call of duty. Here are a few videos of some of the speeches that were given yesterday. While I may not be the biggest Lady Gaga fan musically, I couldn’t help but be impressed by her commitment to speaking out for GLBT rights. The woman has earned much respect in my book. Sex and the City’s Cynthia Nixon and Academy Award-winning screenwriter Dustin Lance Black were also among the celebs who I admire and spoke at yesterday’s march:

The National Equality March describes its aim as:

Equal protection in all matters governed by civil law in all 50 states. We will accept no less and will work until it is achieved. Equality Across America exists to support grassroots organizing in all 435 Congressional Districts to achieve full equality.

Many bills currently exist to address some of these issues, but we do not support a piecemeal strategy. We seek one federal solution to full equality.

David and I feel compelled to lend our presence and our voices to this call to action and will be marching proudly with our compatriots today. I will be tweeting all day long from the National Equality March (#NEM) which you can follow along with right here on the blog. After the jump, watch a live stream from C-SPAN from the National Equality March in Washington DC and check out an interactive widget that will allow you to log in with your Twitter account and follow the #NEM tweets that will becoming out of Washington DC all day today …

Aren’t the superhero capes fun? I was so glad they had a purple Batgirl cape to match my Lakers ensemble ;) Our first ride of the night was X2 and HOLY SHIZZ is that ride awesome. It had to be my fave of the night but Tatsu, Batman, Riddler’s Revenge and Viper were really fun too. I can’t wait to go back … David has to enjoy these rides the next time we go.

No plans for today … have to pack for my trip to SF tomorrow … no rest for the weary ;)

After 17 years together, Bill Slimback and Bob Sullivan couldn’t wait another minute to get married. So they didn’t. With Vermont’s new law allowing same-sex marriage only a minute old, they tied the knot in a midnight ceremony at a rustic lodge, becoming one of the first couples to legally wed under a law that took effect at midnight Monday. The start of gay weddings, which came nine years after Vermont’s first-in-the-nation civil unions law, prompted demonstrations Tuesday in Montpelier and Burlington. Five members of the anti-gay Westboro Baptist Church, based in Topeka, Kan., carried signs and sang songs but were outnumbered by counterdemonstrators preaching love and tolerance. The state’s gay marriage era dawned even before dawn Tuesday, with a pair of midnight weddings. At the Moose Meadow Lodge in Duxbury, Slimback and Sullivan tied the knot at 12:01 a.m. The two Whitehall, N.Y., men said their vows under a large wall-mounted moose head, promised their love, exchanged rings and held hands during a modest 17-minute ceremony. Moose Meadow Lodge co-owner Greg Trulson, who’s also a Justice of the Peace, presided. “It feels wonderful,” said Slimback, 38, an out-of-work Teamster who is taking Sullivan’s last name as his own. “It’s a day I’ve been long waiting for, and a day I truly honestly thought would never come.” Slimback said he and Sullivan, 41, have long wanted to cement their relationship with a wedding, but since they couldn’t legally marry in New York they chose Vermont. Vermont is one of four states that now allow same-sex couples to marry. Massachusetts, Connecticut and Iowa are the others. New Hampshire’s law takes effect Jan. 1, 2010. Vermont, which invented civil unions in 2000 after a same-sex couple challenged the inequality of state marriage statutes, was a mecca for gay couples who to that point had no way to officially recognize their relationships. Since then, other states have allowed gay marriage, as did Vermont, which in April became the first state to legalize gay marriage through a legislative decree and not a court case. In another midnight ceremony, Claire Williams, 34, and Cori Giroux, 27, were married in their South Burlington home, with about 20 people attending. They were wed by attorney Beth Robinson, a founder of Vermont Freedom to Marry.

First and foremost, much love and congrats to the happy couples who were married yesterday … and much love and congrats goes out to all those making their way to Vermont to make their marriage dreams come true. Marriage equality in Vermont seems extra special to me because Vermont is the first State in our country to legalize same-sex marriage by legislation … active and public work took place among the State’s lawmakers and a conscious effort to afford marriage equality to all it’s State’s citizens won out. It is a glorious day for marriage equality in our country. The US still has a very long way to go but by following the lead of Vermont, Massachusetts, Connecticut and Iowa our country will truly be the Land of the Free one day. Again … love and congrats! Well done, Vermont!!!

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Spotted: Chuck Bass sucking face with a dude! It’s true! Multiple Gossip Girl insiders confirm to me exclusively that the CW phenom is currently shooting an episode for its upcoming third season in which Ed Westwick’s legendary lothario kisses another man … First things first: Sorry to disappoint, but no, it’s not Chace Crawford. Westwick’s “romantic” interest is up-and-comer Neal Bledsoe (CSI: NY, Guiding Light), who’s guest-starring in episode 6 as Josh Ellis, NYU’s head of freshman affairs. Since Josh is tasked with selecting an incoming student for the honor of delivering the freshman speech, he’s, shall we say, a person of interest to Blair. In fact, she’s so determined to snag the slot that she goes so far as to pimp out her boyfriend to the gay guy in charge. The catch? All you need to know is there is one. Oh, and wait until you hear what Chuck says to Blair following the lip-lock. (Must. Resist. Temptation. To. Spoil.) It was only a matter of time before GG played the maybe-gay card with Chuck, who swung both ways in Cecily von Ziegesar’s Gossip Girl books.

Well, it’s about time. Not for nothing but a show as fun as Gossip Girl really needs to up its gay factor … and, sorry, Serena’s gay little brother ain’t really gettin’ the job done. Now, I have not read the GG books but I’ve been well informed of Chuck Bass’s proclivities for the man-on-man action. Sure he dabbles but dabbling can be fun … which, I’m sure, we’ll see acted out this coming season on the TV show. Perhaps once the other GG guys see how much fun Chuck is having they’ll wanna join in, too (I’m talking to you Nate Archibald)! This new development deffo makes Gossip Girl must see TV … at least for me.

[Photo credit: Splash News; Source]

Will Sherlock Holmes and Dr. Watson be the latest bromance to hit Hollywood? Robert Downey Jr., who plays Sir Arthur Conan Doyle’s classic fictional character opposite Jude Law’s Watson in Guy Ritchie’s remake of Sherlock Holmes thinks he and Law have some sexy chemistry together. “It’s called circumstantial homosexuality,” he jokingly told the press at Comic-Con Friday, after leading lady Rachel McAdams suggested the film’s central love story is really between the sleuth and his sidekick. The two actors took to each other even before Law signed on to the part. Downey was sent to meet his future costar and “sell” him on the role and “Jude walks down the hall and my assistant – who never cares about anything – is standing in the hall and she’s like, ‘Oh my God, there he is!’ He was dressed in that kind of fabulous, super expensive, under-dressed way. “I said, ‘Dude’ – and literally before he said he was going to do the movie, before he said that he was available, before he said that he either did or didn’t want to be courted, we just started talking like two serious actors about what would need to happen to make this work as a piece of straight drama. We just became really close really quickly, because we just rolled up our sleeves and started working from jump.” Downey said Law, who is currently performing Hamlet on stage in London, “is so the right arm of this movie.” But good thing for the ladies, the film isn’t just about male bonding. Downey shares some romantic moments with McAdams – but “not enough for my taste,” he said.

Oh man … how awesome is this. You gotta love actors that are secure enough in their manhood that they can willingly and believingly play male characters that show love and affection for one another without it necessarily being a gay lovestory. While I would have no problem with Sherlock Holmes and Dr. Watson being lovers, that development doesn’t really jibe with the lore that we all know and love. That said, the men are very close and I’m happy to know that that closeness will be respected in the film version of the book series. I have full confidence that RDJ and Jude will do great justice to the beloved characters that they portray … and if they want to take the relationship to a bromantic level, who are we to argue?

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