New York Governor Andrew Cuomo spoke optimistically about marriage equality efforts at a press conference today. Story, after the jump. 

Holla Hawaii! Upon the governor's signature, Hawaii will become the 13th state in the country to protect transgender workers. Get the details after the jump.

Same-sex couples still can’t get married in Washington, but the state will now recognize valid same-sex marriages from other jurisdictions as domestic partnerships. While this may not seem significant, state Senator Ed Murray (D-Seattle) believes it’s a necessary step. But why?

He might be streamlining the state for marriage equality in spring, but New York Governor Andrew Cuomo isn't ingratiating himself with all LGBT groups in the state. According to Carl Sicilliano, founder of the invaluable Ali Forney Center, Gov. Cuomo is set to cut all funding for homeless youth in the state. Unfortunately, New York City has the highest population of LGBT homeless youth in the country--unsettling data that makes the threat all the more serious. 

Follow the jump to find out what Sicilliano has to say and how you can help.

Earlier this week Human Rights Watch issued a plea that the governor of Tokyo, Shintaro Ishihara, retract dangerous homophobic statements he emitted on two separate occasions in December 2010.

From a press release:

Ishihara made his first comments on December 3, discussing a revision to the Tokyo Metropolitan Ordinance Regarding the Healthy Development of Youths that was aimed at regulating the manga and anime industries, which went on to pass on December 15.

“[The bill] is not just about the kids,” he said. “We have got homosexuals casually appearing even on television. Japan has become far too untamed.” Mainichi Shimbun, a major national daily, carried the governor's statement, including in its online edition.

On December 7,...

In a heated competition for today's D-Bag title, American Family Association's Bryan Fischer and Minnesota Governor Tim Pawlenty battle inflated-head to inflated-head over who's the biggest bigot. Despite the close call, Gov. Pawlenty became the clear winner of the crown the moment he promised to reinstate Don't Ask, Don't Tell should he be elected president (that's a stretch).

Fischer: One last question, got about forty five seconds left, put you on the hot seat one more time: we just saw the ban on homosexual service in the military repealed, overturned. Conservatives will be working over the next couple of years to see that that ban is reinstated. If you become president in 2012, will you work to reinstate the prohibition on open homosexual...

During a march led by New York Governor David Paterson to call attention to the recent coverage and climate of bullying against gay youth, Broadway-come-primetime star Cheyenne Jackson took the crowd on an emotional journey "Over The Rainbow." Our tiny hats are off to these guys.

(Via Joe)

Florida's Attorney General and current most-famous homophobe Bill McCollum has been shunned by the GOP in his bid to earn the Republican nomination for the state's governorship. The humiliation ends McCollum's 24 years of public service -- 24 years that have seen the man spend hundreds of thousands of tax payer dollars on "expert" testimony from George Rekers, and time and time again fight claw and fang to keep homeless children out of loving GLBT households.

Newcomer and Naples Businessman Rick Scott instead took the GOP nomination after an intensified focus on McCollum's connection to the Rekers scandal in the past few weeks.

Unfortunately, Scott is no friend to the community, either.

Here's what Ah-nold just issued via press release:

“Judge Walker had the great responsibility of deciding whether Proposition 8 violates the Constitution of the United States. He heard in-depth arguments from both sides on fundamental questions of due process, equal protection and freedom from discrimination. There are strong feelings on both sides of this issue, and I am glad that all viewpoints were respected throughout the proceedings. We should also recognize that there will continue to be different points of view in the wake of this decision. “For the hundreds of thousands of Californians in gay and lesbian households who are managing their day-to-day lives, this decision affirms the full legal protections and safeguards I believe...

To defend herself against her decision last week that hurt thousands (if not more) GLBT families and people in Hawaii, Governor Linda Lingle further embarrassed herself by resorting to the lazy, cliche bigoted repsonse that marriage equality for same-sex couples would be the end of society because incest would naturally follow.

To clarify her point, she mentioned that first cousins aren't allowed to marry in Hawaii, becuase, you know, society would crumble if so. A caller named Joe reminded Gov. Lingle that first cousins can marry in the state she governs, a pesky little fact that the governor brushes off and promises to research later before reminding listeners that she too has gay friends -- but allowing them to marry would impact society...

Florida's Charlie Crist, a recurring character in the state's GLBT issues, has inched closer to a more progressive platform on gay rights after expanding on his newly-surfaced support for ending the state's archaic law banning same sex couples from adopting kids.

“A better way and approach would be to let judges make that decision on a case-by-case basis,” Governor Crist told The St. Petersburg Times. Last month he told the Times that he considered with a “live and let live attitude.”

Still, Crist doesn't think he's the man to change the discriminatory, bigoted legislation. “I guess the best decision maker would be a judge,” Crist said. “Currently we have a law on the books in Florida that precludes that from happening...

Yesterday's last minute jab to Hawaiin GLBT families by Governor Lingle certainly made the bigoted "Christians" in the state praise the heavens -- you know, because hate, discrimination and intolerance are the key principles Jesus imparted to his followers. Makes sense.