The 455th season of American Idol debuts next week so of course its time to pimp out the catfight (however authentic or marketing-department orchestrated it is) between Mariah Carey and Nicki Minaj. The elder diva, Mimi, sat down with Barbara Walters on Nightline this week to discuss the feud and immediately won the entire fiasco, hands down, ankles up, with a simple eye-roll and sassy line delivered with perfection. 

Hand over all the awards and meet us after the break to watch as Mariah throws down the SHADE OF IT ALL.

Grab something sturdy because there's tremendous ground-breaking on going on in the Elle empire! The fashion mag has unleashed the January 2013 cover of its Serbian edition starring none other than Andrej Pejic on the cover marking the first time a trans model has held such esteem at the publication. 

America, you have your first openly gay senator! That's right, it's official: the history books will remember today as the day that Tammy Baldwin was sworn in as our country's first LGBT senator.

Times they are a'changin'! 

(Image: SenateDems)

Just how do bad bitches do it? How about catching the eye of the entire world and fashion industry after taking over New York's underground music scene? That's how our obsession Azealia Banks, who will finally release her debut album this year, does it. Check out other ways our favorite mermaid rapunzel BBD's it in her new track after the jump!

Illinois could become the tenth state to provide its same-sex couples equal access to marriage rights as soon as this month. But not if Cardinal Francis George has anything to do with it. 

As expected (and hoped), folks on the right side of history will push to extend marriage rights to same sex couples in Minnesota in 2013. The move comes after the landmark defeat of a constitutional ban on marriage equality at the November polls. Details on what to expect next after the jump!

Much momentum has been gained for the marriage equality movement in Illinois this month, momentum that's taken even further by the formation of a new unified group of LGBT advocates and allies, Illinois Unites. The new group will play a key role in gaining support for marriage equality (likely to come up in a matter of weeks in the state legislature) and securing the passage of rights for same-sex couples in Illinois. Details follow.

Illinois could join 10 other marriage equality jurisdictions sooner than expected as news breaks that a vote on equal marriage rights has been moved to January. Though earlier defined as an unlikely scenario due to a hostile environment, odds for a successful marriage equality vote next month have apparently fallen in our favor. 

With RuPaul's Drag Race All Stars and the show's decision to turn the girls into teams finally winding down, we can all look forward to the fresh faces of season five. Over the weekend Logo and RPDR slowly unveiled the international drag queens who will compete for infamy beginning in January, with the final gurrrls revealed this morning. Check out all the 'Meet the Queens' videos after the jump and place your early bets on weinners (not a typo and it stays) in the comments!

All right, we've given you five extra days, but alas, it is time to start getting to those resolutions! (Because starting on Jan. 1 is so cliche.) Need help? Of course! Who has your back? Instinct, natch.

Head over to our Web Exclusives page and check out our five tips, tricks and products to help keep you motivated all 2012 long. Our "Get In The Resolution" feature is live and online here!

We're not sure if we should deliver congratulations to David Burtka or to viewers like us who will be treated to his handsome mug regularly on TV! Details of the huge just-announced talent deal signed by Neil Patrick Harris's long-time partner, after the jump.

Can't get enough of our December/January cover-hottie, Richard Caswell? We can't either! Whet your whistles with more of the military stud in this week's Gay Sunday Brunch podcast, featuring a call-in interview with our gorgeous cover-guy. Follow the jump to listen.