Top Mitt Romney strategist Stuart Stevens has made it clear that the policies espoused by the Republican party and the Romney campaign were ultimately what cost them the election. 

While some within the party are attributing the GOP's loss to the "technological gap" (i.e. the Republicans weren't Tweeting enough), Stevens thinks its much simpler. 

You can't win young people when you're fighing against issues that matter to them, like marriage equality and contraception.

More after the jump.

The Log Cabin Republicans surprised many when they took out a full page ad in The New York Times condemning Secretary of Defense appointee Chuck Hagel for his homophobia. (Hagel made negative remarks towards openly gay U.S. ambassador, James Hormel)

The group's virulent opposition to Hagel was surprising primarily because they'd previously thrown their support behind Republican candidates that presented decidedly anti-gay views. (We're looking at you, Newt Gingrich and Mittens.)

The LCR explains itself after the jump. 

We may still be a bit fuzzy in the head from the final night of 2012, but we have no trouble remembering those who made last year one for the LGBT record books. Who will be on the right side of history and who will be in the wrong when texts recall the year that was 2012? Instinct's editorial team (Editor in Chief Mike Wood, Senior Editor Jeff Katz, Associate Web Editor Jonathan Higbee and Web Superstar Nigel Campbell) countdown the folks (and companies) that set the bar high for 2013. 

Even saints experience family drama over the holidays as apparent in a new report from Star Magazine about Brad and Angelina's Christmastime plans. 

We can't decide if the level of schadenfreude we're enjoying is bordering on unhealthy as the conservative right wing scrambles to find reasons why the pro-marriage equality movement has gained so much momentum in the U.S. 

(Because, ya know, it couldn't be that Americans are simply becoming more openminded and times are changing.)

Right wingnut Mat Staver apparently believes that marriage equality triumphed across the board this election cycle because Mitt Romney wasn't vocal enough in his denouncement of it. He takes Fox News to task as well.

Watch his bizarro Twilight Zone rant on the "Faith and Freedom" radio program after the jump!

Kid Rock (we know, we kinda forgot he existed too!) has been a pretty ardent supporter of Mitt Romney during the campaign season (and has performed in support of him at campaign stops across the country), but he seems to veer a little left of the Republican Presidential candidate when it comes to social issues.

See what he has to say about the gays, among other things, after the jump.

With Election Day looming, one of our 2012 Instinct Leading Men, Ryan James Yezak, has an important message for you if you're "Gay and Voting For Mitt Romney."

Check out what the filmmaker behind the "The Gay Rights Movement" and the upcoming feature documentary Second Class Citizens has to say after the jump!

Two of our favorite ladies, Cher and Kathy Griffin have an important message for women (and the gays who love them)!

It's pretty simple (and funny): "Don't Let Mitt Turn Back Time On Women."

Watch after the jump!

Following Bloomberg's lead, Mr. Burns has decided to issue his own presidential endorsement. Only this one doesn't catch us by surprise. Watch after the jump. 

Amazing gay dads, with help from TLC Child & Family Services, have released a video response to Mitt Romney's career of homophobia at the expense of same-sex parents to kick off National Adoption Month. Watch it after the jump.

It looks like not all members of the Log Cabin Republicans are willing to fall in line behind the group's endorsement of a vehemently anti-gay candidate. 

California couple and longtime LCR members Kevin and Don Norte have resigned from the organization following the group's endorsement of Mitt Romney. 

More after the jump.

Updated Monday, 2:00 p.m. PST

The Romney campaign has responded to reports that two gay independent voters, Adam Peters and Chase Gunderson, were escorted from a Romney campaign event in Iowa because they were perceived to be gay.

See what the campaign had to say after the jump!