It's 2013. Though federal civil marriage rights for same-sex couples hasn't yet been achieved, we still hoped that we wouldn't have to write a story like this once, let alone twice in a span of a month. 

Lon Watts and his partner of 34 years, Jim, have been torn apart and banned from seeing each other again by Jim's sister. In addition to splitting them up, the sister took their house, sold it, and took control of Jim's health care and finances. 

The sickening story we wouldn't be writing about if marriage equality was the law of the land, after the break. 

A group of researchers from Denmark are bracing the world for big news as they announce that they're on the brink of curing HIV/AIDS. 

No, we're not talking about the kind of beards you cultivate in a negotiation deal in a Hollywood publicity firm's office; we're talking scruffy, scratchy, sexy and oh-so-of-the-moment beards—the kind Tom Cruise and John Travolta don't have!

A study conducted at the University of Southern Queensland and published in the medical journal Radiation Protection Dosimetry has found that growing a beard can provide a natural boost to a man's overall health that baby-faces simply can't attain.

Chaz Bono is gearing up for Speedo season, it seems! The LGBT celebrity, who appeared over the weekend at the GLAAD Media Awards, has lost 60 lbs. since late 2012!

Research Medical Center in Kansas City has expanded upon its initial statement to put blame of the controversial arrest of Roger Gorley on his "belligerent behavior" in the hospital room of his ill partner. 

It's been denied for years alongside accusations of sexism or sound bytes like "it's not the size of the boat, it's the motion in the ocean." But once and for all, science has tackled big penises.

Let us rephrase that.

Though there are, of course, individualized preferences, a recent study has proven that men with bigger penises are found more attractive than their counterparts.

Health officials in New York have expanded the meningitis vaccination advisory to include sexually active gay men living in New York state. The vaccination was previously recommended only for gay men in NYC burroughs. Details follow.

It goes without saying that the latex/lambskin prophylactic male condom that's been in existence for centuries has a lot of room for improvement. Gazillionaire Bill Gates understands the effect a "better" condom might have on the world and has offered a $100,000 grant to anyone who can reinvent the life-saving device with a modern appeal.

You might want to grab onto a stress ball or a friend's arm and open a new browser tab to shop for button-fly jeans on Amazon while you're reading this.

According to a new study on genital injuries, men getting their penises stuck in zippers is the No. 1 issue affecting our favorite little friends.

They say blondes have more fun, but we're starting to think it might be the bears!

AccidentalBear.com has announced their 2013 Queer Music Summer Tour  kicking off this July in support of LGBTQ mental health services at The Stonewall Project (SF), Q Center (Portland), the Ali Forney Center (NYC), and our good friends over at the Los Angeles Gay & Lesbian Center (LA).

Details after the jump!

Due to a deteriorating health situation, officials in New York have increased their warnings to gay and bisexual men living or visiting the city. Late last year, the city suggested that HIV positive men in Brooklyn obtain meningitis vaccinations to protect themselves from an increase in cases (as well as fatalities) of the disease. Today, city officials are elevating the request to include all gay and bisexual men, regardless of HIV status, living anywhere in the city. 

A study published in the March issue of the Journal of Health and Social Behavior puts unfortunately unsurprising statistics behind what we've come to expect: that cohabiting same-sex couples are less healthy than straight partners who have marriage options available.