My boyfriend's hometown, the great city of Lincoln, Nebraska, has given the initial thumbs up to a comprehensive LGBT non-discrimination ordinance. Details follow. 

Unfortunately the hangover we woke up with after last night's Amendment One madness won't go away by taking four Advil downed with a Bloody Mary back. Thanks to the Amendment One campaign congratulating god on contributing to the amendment's passage, our eyes have rolled so far back in our head we can count just how many precious hair follicles we've lost to the demonization. Fortunately, we remain calm and resolved knowing that the tide of equality is slowly washing over the country.

Until then, we have a wrap up of the morning after North Carolina enshrined anti-gay discrimination in its Constitution. 

Our Speedo-ready bods may still be a few weeks away from the their big reveal, but the summer movie season has officially kicked, stretched and kicked into full gear. What better way to take a break from all the explosions, girl pecs and more designed explicitly for our straight male friends in the typical summer fare for a tart-tongued Texas true-crime comedy Bernie, starring Shirley MacLaine, Jack Black and Matthew McConaughey?

Want to get the summer movie season started off with Bernie's help? Enter to win passes to see the flick during its run of engagement in this week's Swag Suite! (Follow the jump for more details.)

On Thursday, the Senate voted to re-authorize the Violence Against Women Act. The legislation, which aims to strengthen domestic violence programs, extended its coverage to members of the LGBT community for the first time.

More after the jump.

The LGBT community in Tennessee is about to have a veil pulled over it as homophobic state Rep. Stacey Campfield's notorious "Don't Say Gay" legislation gains some movement. Details follow. 

In a footrace with Tennessee to see which state can be the first to fuck up its kids, Utah has taken an early lead. Late Tuesday afternoon, the Utah Senate quietly approved a bill that severs sex education while also provides a "Don't Say Gay"-type clause. Details follow. 

Well, you can't say lawmakers in St. Petersburg, Russia don't make good on their horrific promises/threats. After months of controversial debate and international attention the Russian city has officially banned the "promotion" of homosexuality, including Gay Pride. Details after the jump. 

By a vote of 41-33, the New Jersey state Assembly has approved marriage equality legislation. Gov. Chris Christie insists on vetoing the measure, which will now head to his desk. 

Civil Unions legislation has already made it further than it ever has in Colorado. Late last night, proposed civil union legislation passed 5-2 in the state Senate Judiciary Committee. Details follow. 

Updated 3:30 p.m. EST

If anything can get through that thick head of New Jersey Gov. Chris Christie, it might be the magic of WA Gov. Chris Gregoire, who signed marriage equality into law earlier this week. Read the full letter, after the jump. 

As expected, the New Jersey Senate has given the thumbs up to marriage equality legislation. A vote of 24 - 16 in support of equality for same-sex couples now sends the bill to the state's General Assembly, where it is also expected to pass. Gov. Chris Christie has said he will veto marriage equality, a move that will give Democrats in the state until January 14, 2014 to gain 27 Senate votes (three more than the current count) and 54 Assembly votes to overturn his homophobic signature.

A representative of Whitney Houston has confirmed to the AP that iconic singer Whitney Houston has died at age 48. The cause of death remains undisclosed at this time. 

From the AP:

Beverly Hills police Lt. Mark Rosen told reporters outside the Beverly Hilton that Houston was pronounced dead at 3:55 p.m. in her room on the fourth floor of the hotel. Her body remained there and Beverly Hills detectives were investigating.

"There were no obvious signs of any criminal intent," Rosen said.

Houston's publicist, Kristen Foster, said the cause of death was unknown.

Rosen said police received a 911 call from hotel security about Houston at 3:43 p.m. Saturday. Paramedics who were already at the hotel because of a Grammy party unsuccessfully...