Following rumors he was planning a run, gay singer and “American Idol” runner up Clay Aiken on Wednesday officially announced his decision to run for Congress.

Aiken, a 35-year-old Raleigh native, declared in a video announcement his intent to run for North Carolina’s 2nd congressional district, which is currently occupied by Rep. Renee Ellmers (R-N.C.).

In the video, Aiken invokes his childhood, saying his mother had to flee from his abusive father and work long hours to support him growing up.

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The lesbian tennis legend whom President Obama tapped to represent the United States as part of the delegation at the upcoming Olympics won’t make the journey to Russia.

Billie Jean King announced in a statement provided to the Washington Blade that she’s unable to attend because her mother’s health is failing.

“With my mother in failing health, I will not be able to join the U.S. Presidential Delegation at this week’s opening ceremonies of the Sochi Olympics,” King said. “It is important for me to be with my mother and my brother at this difficult time. I want to thank President Obama for including me in this historic mission and I look forward to supporting our athletes as they compete in Sochi.”

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MSNBC on Friday suspended Alec Baldwin’s new weekly talk show for two weeks after he used an anti-gay slur against a New York photographer.

A video that TMZ posted on its website shows Baldwin calling a paparazzo who tried to take a picture of his wife and infant daughter as they sat in a car parked outside their Manhattan apartment as a “cocksucking fag.” The confrontation took place hours after Manhattan Criminal Court Judge Robert Mandelbaum sentenced a Canadian woman who prosecutors accused of stalking the actor to six months in jail.

Baldwin initially claimed he called the photographer “fathead,” but he subsequently apologized for the incident.

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NASCAR driver Nelson Piquet, Jr.

BY Washington Blade

A professional race car driver on Tuesday received a $10,000 fine for using an anti-gay slur to describe a fellow driver.

NASCAR levied the penalty against Nelson Piquet, Jr., in connection with his use of a homophobic epithet to describe Parker Kligerman on a picture of himself he posted on Instagram on Sept. 25. The Associated Press reported that Piquet, who subsequently deleted the comment, must also attend sensitivity training.

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There is an abundance of artifacts that represent the history and culture of the LGBT communities. Items like the walking stick that once belonged to gay civil rights pioneer Bayard Rustin, or foundational documents that established the first gay rights organization, the Mattachine Society, are scattered throughout the country.

Many of these artifacts have already been discarded, lost or destroyed. But the National LGBT Museum, which is making strides toward acquiring a building to house the first national historical institution for the community, was created to redress this problem — and also to celebrate, showcase and share our history through these artifacts. The museum has reached a milestone by completing the preliminary work of establishing a business model, creating a fundraising/development plan, collecting market research, and assembling a team of experts who comprise the board and leadership councils.

So far, the museum has collected nearly 5,000 artifacts from figures such as Greg Louganis, Bayard Rustin, Tyler Clementi, and Frank Kameny. These objects (many of which were destined for the landfill) will have the platform afforded by a cultural institution in our nation’s capital, because they document episodic moments in LGBT history. For example, when Greg Louganis’ head collided with the diving platform during the 1988 Seoul Olympics, misinformation about HIV led to concern over whether other divers risked infection by the virus. This story, told through artifacts donated by the diver, is an integral part of LGBT history, and Louganis’ two gold medal-winning dives were a momentous Olympic victory for the United States.

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Defense Secretary Chuck Hagel is confirmed to make an appearance at an upcoming Pentagon event observing June as the month for Pride, which has been set for June 25, alongside Senior Adviser to President Valerie Jarrett.

Pentagon Press Secretary George Little confirmed in a statement provided via email to the Washington Blade that Hagel would participate in the event, making him the first defense secretary to take part in a Pentagon Pride celebration. A defense official said Hagel would provide opening remarks to the group in person.

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Retired Army Col. Grethe Cammermeyer, left, kisses Diane Divelbess, her partner of 24 years, as they pose for photos after the two received their marriage license Thursday.
Photo courtesy of Roger Wood/AP

BY CHRIS JOHNSON
Washington Blade

A number of those who will be among the first to enter into same-sex marriages in Washington State are high-profile gay service members discharged for their sexual orientation who say the legalization of same-sex marriage represents the next step forward for LGBT rights.

In Washington, where voters legalized marriage equality on Election Day by a 54 percent majority via a measure known as Referendum 74, same-sex couples were set to be able to obtain marriage licenses on Thursday. The three-day waiting period in the state means gay couples that obtain licenses on that day will be able to legally marry beginning Sunday.

Washington is the first of three states — which includes Maine and Maryland — where voters legalized same-sex marriage at the ballot on Election Day to allow same-sex couples to obtain marriage licenses and legally wed.

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A new poll commissioned by Logo TV found that the economy ranks as the top issue among LGBT voters going into the presidential election.

Eighteen percent of the 1,190 self-identified LGBT voters whom Harris Interactive polled on behalf of the network between Aug. 10-15 listed the economy as their primary concern. Fourteen percent of respondents indicated unemployment and jobs as their top priority going into November, while health care ranked third with 12 percent. Nine percent of respondents listed “gay rights in general” as their top priority, while only six percent said marriage rights for same-sex couples is the most important issue.

The poll found that the economy, unemployment and jobs and health care are also the top three issues among 1,367 “general population voters.” Eleven percent of these respondents listed the federal budget deficit as the most important issue. Only one percent said gay rights and nuptials for same-sex couples were their top priorities going into November.

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