Obama: Equal benefits for gay military families; You can get ahead 'no matter ... who you love'

Two highlights from President Barack Obama's 2013 State of the Union address:

"It is our unfinished task to restore the basic bargain that built this country -- the idea that if you work hard and meet your responsibilities, you can get ahead, no matter where you come from, no matter what you look like, or who you love."

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"In many places, people live on little more than a dollar a day.  So the United States will join with our allies to eradicate such extreme poverty in the next two decades by connecting more people to the global economy; by empowering women; by giving our young and brightest minds new opportunities to serve, and helping communities to feed, and power, and educate themselves; by saving the world’s children from preventable deaths; and by realizing the promise of an AIDS-free generation, which is within our reach."

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"We'll invest in new capabilities, even as we reduce waste and wartime spending.  We will ensure equal treatment for all servicemembers, and equal benefits for their families -- gay and straight."

Senate approves Violence Against Women Act inclusive of gays and lesbians

BY JIM ABRAMS, ASSOCIATED PRESS

WASHINGTON -- By a robust bipartisan majority, the Senate voted Tuesday to renew the Violence Against Women Act with new assurances that gays and lesbians, immigrants and Native American women will have equal access to the act's anti-domestic violence programs.

The 78-22 Senate vote to reauthorize the two-decade-old act that has shielded millions of women from abuse and helped reduce national rates of domestic violence turns the focus to the House, where Republican leaders are working to come up with their own version.

"Over 160 million women across the country are watching and waiting to see if the House will act on this bill and finally provide them the protections from violence they deserve," said Sen. Patty Murray, D-Wash.

Click here to read more.

Coyne Steven Sanders, who wrote Judy Garland, Lucille Ball biographies, dies at 56

Entertainment journalist Coyne Steven Sanders, who wrote the books Rainbow's End: The Judy Garland Show and Desilu: The Story of Lucille Ball and Desi Arnaz, has died at age 56.

From Sanders' Facebook page:

Happily living in Chicago after being in L.A. for many years...writing, blogging, house rehabbing, rediscovering this great city, meeting new friends, connecting with old pals, visits to local theater, museums, and, egad, the occasional date...Author: "Rainbow's End" and "Desilu," etc.

Sanders also answered questions about The Judy Garland Show for the website Judy Garland: The Live Performances.

Click here to read Sanders' obituary in Variety.

Outsports.com reveals male swimsuit issue

Outsports.com's Jim Buzinski has posted a male swimsuit issue that probably won't compete with Sports Illustrated's:

Sports Illustrated has published its annual swimsuit issue, aka the most boring issue of the year. For those into hot women in bikinis, it’s always been a nice antidote in the middle of winter.

But why should straight guys and lesbians have all the fun? Gay males also suffer through winter and could use a nice diversion from shoveling snow. So I have compiled our swimsuit issue, limiting it to sports where one competes wearing only a swimsuit or something tight — swimming, diving, water polo and mixed martial arts.

Click here to view Outsports' swimsuit issue

Winter Party kick-off party, Moskow Disko, Wednesday night at The Dome in Coral Gables

From DJ/Producer Maximus 3000:

CORAL GABLES, FL (February 1, 2013) – The Dome Restaurant, Bar & Lounge, an environmentally conscious, farm-to-table eatery and caviar bar on Miracle Mile, is thrilled to announce that Moskow Disko the weekly party celebrating food, music, and the arts, in the heart of Coral Gables has been designated an officially-sanctioned kickoff party for Winter Party 2013.

Moskow Disko has become the go-to destination on Wednesday nights. The Official Launch Party held January 9, 2013, was attended by over 150 VIP guests and received press coverage from The Miami Herald, HotSpots Magazine, Mark’s List, and Yahoo! News, as well as countless other media outlets.

Hosted by local author, Ily Goyanes (Miami New Times, Miami International Book Fair, Girls Who Score: Hot Lesbian Erotica) and musically curated by Billboard DJ and Producer, Maximus 3000 (Miami Beach Pride, White Party, Winter Music Conference), Moskow Disko guarantees a memorable evening for sassy socialites and blithe bohemians alike. Expect The Dome’s exquisite edibles on hand, plus a reverse happy hour, $4 beers, $6 cocktails, $9 martinis and a complimentary champagne toast. The

Selected works from Barbara M de Varona’s “Love; Actually” series will be on display for Moskow Disko’s Valentine’s Day/Winter Party celebration on February 13. A popular Wynwood artist, de Varona says, “Love; Actually” is a series of small works exploring the raw nature of emotion as it pertains to relationships. The images are small, intimate, with the intention of drawing the viewer in, closer; inviting them to dare and feel the sentiments invoked in each piece. Love, actually, isn't always sweet or blissful... Love, actually, is often painful, draining, a blood-letting of the soul. Love, actually, is beautiful as both.” The artist will be on hand to speak about her work and of course, to socialize! Guests will also have the opportunity to purchase selected works.

Appreciate the artsy, upscale vibe while enjoying the classic beats presented by Maximus 3000. The noted DJ and Producer plays all your favorite electronic hits from the early eighties, from artists such as Freeez, Lime, Kraftwerk, Telex, Yaz, Giorgio Moroder, Berlin, and Patrick Cowley. For those lit lovers out there, a limited number of Goyanes’ latest book, Girls Who Score: Hot Lesbian Erotica, will be available for purchase. If you already own a copy of Girls Who Score, bring it with you for the author to sign. Don’t miss the opportunity for Winter Party giveaways, including two Gold Passes for Winter Party 2013, valued at $250 each.

When: Wednesday, February 13 from 9 p.m. until 2 a.m.

What: Moskow Disko’s Official Winter Party Kickoff Party

Where: The Dome @ 271 Miracle Mile, Coral Gables, FL 33134

The Dome is the first LEED® Silver certified restaurant in Coral Gables (only the 2nd in South Florida and the first independently owned). Utilizing the application of recycled materials, local farm vendors, an induction kitchen, LED lighting, green operation methods and digital menus on iPads, to name only a few, The Dome brings a modern and sustainable restaurant to Coral Gables.

For advance reservations, please call 305.648.4999. Follow The Dome on Twitter @TheDomeMiami and on Facebook at facebook.com/TheDomeMiami. Visit domemiami.com to peruse the complete menu, the full wine list, and The Dome Restaurant, Bar & Lounge’s signature cocktails.

Uganda deports 'undesirable' British producer of gay-themed play 'The River and the Mountain'

ASSOCIATED PRESS

KAMPALA, Uganda -- A Ugandan government official says the country has deported a British producer who staged a gay-themed play because he "defied the directives" of Ugandan authorities.

Ethics Minister Simon Lokodo said Tuesday that David Cecil, who faced charges in a Ugandan court of "disobeying lawful orders," was an "undesirable" foreigner whose goal was to promote gay rights. Cecil was cleared of this charge last month. He was deported Monday night.

Cecil's play, "The River and the Mountain," explored the condition of Uganda's gays at a time when the country's lawmakers are considering a new law that would raise penalties against homosexuals. Homosexuality is illegal in Uganda.

Cecil, whose girlfriend is Ugandan, denied he was a gay activist, insisting he only wanted to highlight the ways in which sexuality and politics intersect.

AP rewrites and reissues staff memo after website reveals advisory on same-sex married couples

Romenesko.com has posted an update from AP spokesman Paul Colford regarding an "internal memo" posted on the media website:

UPDATE: AP spokesman Paul Colford writes: “The Monday internal memo you’ve posted [at the bottom of this post] was soon after rewritten and reissued to staff on Monday for greater clarity. You might add the revision, as follows:”

SAME-SEX COUPLES: We were asked how to report about same-sex couples who call themselves “husband” and “wife.” Our view is that such terms may be used in AP content if those involved have regularly used those terms (“Smith is survived by his husband, John Jones”) or in quotes attributed to them. Generally AP uses couples or partners to describe people in civil unions or same-sex marriages.

Click here to read the Romenesko original post.

Michael Góngora running for Miami Beach mayor

BY CHRISTINA VEIGA, CVEIGA@MIAMIHERALD.COM

Miami Beach Vice Mayor Michael Góngora on Tuesday announced his long-expected candidacy for mayor.

He made the announcement to a standing-room only crowd at a joint meeting of the Miami Beach Taxpayers Association and the Tuesday Morning Breakfast Club, which met at the Shelborne Resort.

“If you don’t think we can do better, vote for someone else,” Góngora told the crowd.

He will face Commissioner Jerry Libbin, who filed paperwork to run for mayor in December. Libbin, who is president of the Miami Beach Chamber of Commerce, faces term limits unless he runs for mayor.

The mayor’s seat is wide open this election season because current Mayor Matti Herrera Bower is also term-limited out.

On Tuesday, Góngora laid out a platform of rooting out corruption, tackling the city’s unfunded pension liability, making the city more environmentally-friendly and encouraging more civility on the dais.

“My campaign is going to be about positive messages and how we can move the city forward,” Góngora said.

Qualifying for the November election doesn’t start till September.

French Assembly passes gay marriage, adoption bill; now moves to the Senate

ASSOCIATED PRESS

PARIS -- France's lower house of parliament has approved a sweeping bill to legalize gay marriage and allow same-sex couples to adopt children.

President Francois Hollande's Socialists have pushed the measure through the National Assembly and put France on track to join about a dozen, mostly European nations that grant marriage and adoption rights to homosexuals.

The measure, approved in a 329-to-229 vote Tuesday, comes despite an array of demonstrations in recent weeks by opponents of the "marriage for all" bill. Polls show most French support legalizing gay marriage, though that backing softens when children come into play.

The Assembly has been debating the bill and voting on its individual articles in recent weeks. The overall bill now goes to the Senate, which is also controlled by the Socialists and their allies.

AP advises journalists to call gay married couples 'partners,' 'couples' -- not 'husbands' and 'wives'

From the media-journalism website, jimromenesko.com:

From: AP Standards
Sent: Mon 2/11/2013 2:45 PM

STYLE WATCH

SAME-SEX COUPLES: We were asked how to report about same-sex couples who call themselves “husband” and “wife.” Our view is that such terms may be used in AP stories with attribution. Generally AP uses couples or partners to describe people in civil unions or same-sex marriages.

Tom Kent
Dave Minthorn

What do you think about having different terms for same-sex vs. opposite-sex married couples?

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