Ryan Andresen, the Boy Scout who was denied his Eagle Scout award and dismissed from the Boy Scouts of America after coming out as gay, is getting some high profile support. 

Senator Barbara Boxer, Lt. Gov. Gavin Newsom, and 32 California state legislators are all imploring the BSA to give Andresen the award that he's earned and end their discriminatory stance against gays. 

See what they have to say after the jump!

In case you somehow missed the memo, we’re celebrating a pretty big milestone here at Instinct this November—our 15th anniversary!! Yes, 15 years of gorgeous—and gay!!—cover guys, countless blind dates and some outrageous Soapbox speakers! Since it began in May 2004, the Soapbox feature quickly became a favorite for readers, and we continue to strive and bring you interesting and expressive celebs and public figures today to keep our back page fresh, fierce and often pretty funny. So to celebrate Instinct’s big 1-5, we’re republishing some of the Soapboxes you’ve told us you love best, all throughout November!

First up: we have to start with the original, of course! Here’s Margaret Cho, back from our May 2004 Issue, where...

It’s turning out to be a pretty political day on the blog! And in a brand-new interview with Instinct, California Lt. Governor Gavin Newsom is sharing his fears over the prospects of a Romney/Ryan win, as well as his thoughts on gay Americans throwing their support behind the Republican ticket.

Read what the LGBT ally has to say, after the jump.

Well this is appointment television! Or at the very least it deserves a series recording on our DVR (and repeat viewings).

California’s Lieutenant Governor Gavin Newsom, will launch The Gavin Newsom Show, a weekly program for Current TV, beginning in May.

Details after the jump!

The Rainbow World Fund (RWF), the only international humanitarian aid organization that is based in the gay community, is getting ready to launch 20 feet of hope and holiday wishes—and you can get in on the action.

Everyone’s favorite mayor, San Francisco’s Gavin Newsom, is once again asking you to contribute your wish to the the World Tree of Hope, to be featured in San Francisco City Hall’s Grand Rotunda. Since 2006, the tree, regarded as a gift from the LGBT community to the world, has evolved into a global symbol of unity and hope for a better world.

The World Tree of Hope will feature more than 5,000 white origami cranes and silver stars, each containing written wishes from individuals around the world. Some noteable (and community...

San Francisco Mayor and GLBT ally Gavin Newsom is expected to announce his latest political ambition this afternoon.

According to the NY Times:

The on-again, off-again political ambitions of Mayor Gavin Newsom of San Francisco are expected to take another turn on Friday with an announcement of his candidacy for lieutenant governor of California.

For the less glamorous No. 2 position, Mr. Newsom’s chief opponent in the primary in June would be Los Angeles City Councilwoman Janice Hahn, who has been attacking Mr. Newsom as indecisive. On Wednesday, Los Angeles Mayor Antonio Villaraigosa— who was once considered a potential gubernatorial candidate and has had a friendly working relationship with Mr. Newsom — endorsed Ms. Hahn, illustrating...

Change.org's gay page poses a question so thought-provoking, we just had to bring it to you, intelligent Instincters: did Gavin Newsom sacrifice his career for gay rights?

In 2004, after Newsom bravely and briefly legalized marriage equality in San Francisco, fellow Democrats in the party began to distance themselves from the politician, once a rising-star. Even President Obama (before he was able to add that swanky title to his name with a little voting help from the GLBT) refused to take pictures with Newsom.

After abruptly dropping out of the California gubernatorial race, some speculate that Newsom's poster-boy status as a straight-ally for the gays has cost him his political career, while others maintain he is still the future...

After our editorial on the identity crisis afflicting the two major American political parties, perhaps a bit of redemption for Democrats can be found in Mayor Gavin Newsom, who earlier today publicly criticized President Obama's civil rights inaction.

Speaking with Maureen Dowd for the New York Times, Newsom called the president's glacial pace on GLBT equality “fundamentally inexcusable.”

"Oh, I can't get in trouble here," Newsom laughed with Maureen. “I want him to succeed. But I am very upset by what he's not done in terms of rights of gays and lesbians. I understand it tactically in a campaign, but at this point I don't know. There is some belief that he actually doesn't believe in same-sex marriage. But it's fundamentally...

Say it ain't so! We're saddened over here in the Instinct offices. Was our guy Gavin hoping we'd be all distracted by the glitter and gore of Halloween weekend to notice?

According to the L.A. Times, Newsom officially ended his bid to become troubled California's next governor. Read their full story here.

Former President Bill Clinton's endorsement of SF Mayor Gavin Newsom in the Democratic gubernatorial race for California has been called a "game-changer."

To gain the Democratic nomination, Newsom has to beat California Attorney General Jerry Brown, whose campaign has raised twice as much money. Clinton's endorsement packs extra punch as he beat out Brown in the 1992 race for the Democratic nomination to face off against Bush Sr. (though we're too young to remember that).

(Photo credit: Justin Sullivan, from a 2003 rally)