1. Never thought I would see director Roman Polanski in handcuffs.

2. What does it mean that Bill Clinton now supports gay marriage?

3. If any old head goes on some “the young these days” rant, tell her to put a sock in it. The kids are going to be all right.

4. Any Detroit Lions fans out there?  How ya feeling this morning?

5. Looks like the police from  New York City are dropping the ball when it comes to protecting and serving the gay community.

6. RIP Bill Safire.

7. Can’t lie. Shocked that Michael Steele is still the head of the RNC. Was convinced he would be gone by now.

8. October 11 is barreling down on us. Any ideas on how many show up?

9. Bronx’s favorite daughter, Supreme Court Justice, Sonia Sotomayor, threw the ceremonial pitch at Yankee Stadium on Saturday. This year could only get better for the associate justice if the Yankees, she’s a fan, win the World Series.

10. You know New York governor David Paterson is in trouble when he can’t get love from a sports columnist.

“I hated what happened,” Clinton said about DADT. “This policy should be changed.” But he said that gays and lesbians didn’t deliver the Congressional support his administration needed to allow gays and lesbians to openly serve. The compromise as first proposed, he said, would have allowed gays and lesbians to attend Pride Parades and political events without consequence.

As for DOMA, Clinton said it was necessary to head off the possibility of Congress passing a Constitutional Amendment to ban gay marriage.

The video is at Good As You.

At HuffPo, Lane Hudson explains in his own words.

Here’s the transcript, via Pam’s House Blend (who got it from Rex Wockner):

Lane Hudson (screaming from the audience): Mr. President, will you call for a repeal of DOMA and Don’t Ask Don’t Tell right now? Please.

Bill Clinton: … You want to talk about Don’t Ask Don’t Tell, I’ll tell you exactly what happened. You couldn’t deliver me any support in the Congress and they voted by a veto-proof majority in both houses against my attempt to let gays serve in the military, and the media supported them. They raised all kinds of devilment. And all most of you did was to attack me instead of getting me some support in the Congress. Now that’s the truth.

Secondly — it’s true! You know, you may have noticed that presidents aren’t dictators. They voted — they were about to vote for the old policy by margins exceeding 80 percent in the House and exceeding 70 percent in the Senate. The gave test votes out there to send me a message that they were going to reverse any attempt I made by executive order to force them to accept gays in the military. And let me remind you that the public opinion now is more strongly in our favor than it was 16 years ago, and I have continued supporting it. That John Shalikashvili, who was chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff under me, was against Don’t Ask — was against letting gays serve — is now in favor of it. This is a different world. That’s the point I’m trying to make.

Let me also say something that never got sufficient publicity at the time: When General Colin Powell came up with this Don’t Ask Don’t Tell, it was defined while he was chairman much differently than it was implemented. He said: ‘If you will accept this, here’s what we’ll do. We will not pursue anyone. Any military members out of uniform will be free to march in gay rights parades, go to gay bars, go to political meetings. Whatever mailings they get, whatever they do in their private lives, none of this will be a basis for dismissal.’ It all turned out to be a fraud because of the enormous reaction against it among the middle-level officers and down after it was promulgated and Colin was gone. So nobody regrets how this was implemented any more than I do. But the Congress also put that into law by a veto-proof majority, and many of your friends voted for that, believing the explanation about how it would be eliminated. So, I hated what happened. I regret it. But I didn’t have, I didn’t think at the time, any choice if I wanted any progress to be made at all. Look, I think it’s ridiculous. Can you believe they spent — whatever they spent — $150,000 to get rid of a valued Arabic speaker recently?

And, you know, the thing that changed me forever on Don’t Ask Don’t Tell was when I learned that 130 gay service people were allowed to serve and risk their lives in the first Gulf War, and all their commanders knew they were gay; they let them go out there and risk their lives because they needed them, and then as soon as the first Gulf War was over, they kicked them out. That’s all I needed to know, that’s all anybody needs to know, to know that this policy should be changed.

Now, while we’re at it, let me just say one thing about DOMA, since you — the reason I signed DOMA was — and I said when I signed it — that I thought the question of whether gays should marry should be left up to states and to religious organizations, and if any church or other religious body wanted to recognize gay marriage, they ought to. We were attempting at the time, in a very reactionary Congress, to head off an attempt to send a constitutional amendment banning gay marriage to the states. And if you look at the 11 referenda much later — in 2004, in the election — which the Republicans put on the ballot to try to get the base vote for President Bush up, I think it’s obvious that something had to be done to try to keep the Republican Congress from presenting that. The President doesn’t even get to veto that. The Congress can refer constitutional amendments to the states. I didn’t like signing DOMA and I certainly didn’t like the constraints that were put on benefits, and I’ve done everything I could — and I am proud to say that the State Department was the first federal department to restore benefits to gay partners in the Obama administration, and I think we are going forward in the right direction now for federal employees. …

But, actually, all these things illustrate the point I’m trying to make. America has rapidly moved to a different place on a lot of these issues, and so what we have to decide is what we are going to do about it. Right now, the Republicans are sitting around rooting for the president to fail, as nearly as I can see.

This is a good story to end the work week on. Yeah I know it’s not gay news related, but if you get prissy your heart is colder than those yahoos at Westboro Baptist “Church.” Please go get some help. Like today. Remember Damon Weaver? The precocious kid reporter from Florida who was looking for an interview with President Obama? Well he got it last night.

Weaver, Pahokee’s favorite son, sat down for 10 minutes  with Obama in the White House Diplomatic Room. The interview ranged from the serious (give Weaver props for asking about bullying and violence in our schools) to the silly. Damon would like french fries served at every school lunch (not too outlandish really).

This morning the 11 year old boy will be hitting the morning shows on CNN and MSNBC. And I hear talk of him holding a press conference on the South Lawn.

Don’t want to be too cynical (yeah I do) but this feel good story comes at a perfect time for the White House. Obama will be in Montana today  for a town hall meeting on health insurance and if it gets hot, the White House can just point to Damon and the press will lose its mind. This kid is catnip. Remember during the inauguration festivities when  ABC News’ Diane Sawyer almost adopted him?

For the prissy ones already banging at the keyboard about how their grand  gay day has been ruined forevah, here is something you’ll like. While Damon was all respectful to his interviewee, a former president was taken to the woodshed for DADT and DOMA. Blogger Lane Hudson, who exposed Mark Foley for the creep he is, was listening to Bill Clinton at the Netroots Nation conference and had enough. Hudson  stood up and interrupted the Big Dog, and gave him grief for DADT and DOMA.

Two things stand out: apparently some in the audience booed Hudson and some old lady told him to leave. Progressives really hate it when you bring up stuff they don’t want to deal with. Second, part of Clinton’s response is instructive.

“You wanna talk about ‘Don’t Ask Don’t Tell’, I’ll tell you exactly what happened. You couldn’t deliver me any support in the Congress and they voted by a veto-proof majority in both houses against my attempt to let gays serve in the military and the media supported them. They raised all kinds of devilment. And all most of you did was to attack me instead of getting some support in the congress. Now, that’s the truth.”

For six months I’ve been reading how President Obama hasn’t done squat for the gay community. Heck I’ve written some the stuff myself. All fair. All fair. Yet presidential leadership does not operate in a vacuum. It would be nice if politicians did the right thing, but it’s naive to think a president is going to put his/her toe in something without cover. Even Damon knows that! What did Franklin D.  Roosevelt say?

“I agree with you, I want to do it; now make me do it.”

RIP Les Paul.

The move to release of Laura Ling and Euna Lee, sentenced in June to 12 years of hard labor, reflected North Korea’s “humanitarian and peaceloving policy,” the Korean Central News Agency said in a dispatch from Pyongyang early Wednesday.

Clinton landed in the North Korean capital on Tuesday on a quiet mission to negotiate the freedom of the two women working for former Vice President Al Gore’s Current TV media venture. During his visit, he held rare talks with Kim – the reclusive North Korean leader’s first meeting with a prominent Western figure since reportedly suffering a stroke a year ago.

The KNCA report said Clinton visit was ending Wednesday but left unclear if he had yet left.

Lee, 36, and Ling, 32, were arrested in March after crossing into North Korea from China, where they had been reporting on North Korean defectors. They were sentenced to 12 years of hard labor for illegal entry and engaging in “hostile acts.”

Washington had pushed for their release, with Clinton’s wife, Secretary of State Hillary Rodham Clinton, requesting they be granted amnesty.

State media said Clinton apologized on behalf of the women and relayed President Barack Obama’s gratitude. The report said the visit would “contribute to deepening the understanding” between North Korea and the U.S.

Earlier, White House spokesman Robert Gibbs denied Clinton went with a message from Obama.

The two nations fought against one another during the 1950-53 Korean War, and do not have diplomatic relations.

Back in May at Toronto’s Convention Centre, Clinton said his position on same sex marriage was “evolving.” During his presidency, Clinton passed the Defense of Marriage Act which defines marriage as between one man and one woman.

“I personally support people doing what they want to do,” Clinton said on July 8. “I think it’s wrong for someone to stop someone else from doing that [same-sex marriage].”

Clinton has said that he doesn’t view the issue as a federal one. When asked about the five states that have passed same sex marriage this past spring, Clinton said, “I think all these states that do it should do it.” He added again that it was not a “federal question.”

Other Democrats who have changed their positions recently about marriage equality include former Democratic National Committee chair Howard Dean, New York Senator Charles E. Schumer, New Jersey Governor Jon Corzine and Connecticut Senator Christopher Dodd.

“Bill Clinton joins other important public figures in stepping solidly into the twenty-first century in support of same-sex marriage equality,” said the National Gay and Lesbian Task Force’s executive director Rea Carey. “We certainly hope other elected officials, including President Obama, join him in clearly stating their support for equality in this country. Same-sex couples should not have to experience second-class citizenship.”

Read the full article at the Nation.

During a joint appearance with fellow former President George W. Bush at a Toronto forum this weekend, Clinton was asked about gay marriage and Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell. About the latter, he said that he assumes it will be overturned. About the former, Clinton said that as he gets to know more gay people, his opinion is “evolving” and he thinks relationships should be “up to them [gay people.]“

I’m so glad that such a paragon of marital virtue is coming around on equal rights.

An alto sax signed and donated by the former U.S. president was one of the star lots at the Cinema Against AIDS benefit on the sidelines of the Cannes Film Festival, selling for euro130,000 ($180,000). There was also keen bidding on two kisses from “Twilight” star Pattinson, which raised euro20,000 ($28,000) each.

Sharon Stone hosted the 16th annual event late Thursday at the exclusive Hotel du Cap on the French Riviera. Annie Lennox entertained about 800 guests who included Paris Hilton, model Claudia Schiffer, director Terry Gilliam, rapper 50 Cent and scientist James Watson, one of the discoverers of DNA.

Stone urged people to give generously despite the global economic slump.

“Looking down at the price of my own shoes, we in this room cannot pretend that we have nothing to give,” she said.

Proceeds from the event go to the American Foundation for AIDS Research (amfAR), a nonprofit organization that supports HIV/AIDS research.

Like the Cannes Film Festival itself, the event was more muted than in recent years, with just a smattering of A-list stars. Last year’s auction raised a record $10 million. There was no immediate total for Thursday’s event.

Guests had to pass through police checkpoints to get to the event, where they drank champagne in the hotel grounds overlooking the Mediterranean before dining on smoked salmon and roasted sea bass.

“Everybody knows there is a global economic slowdown of epic proportions,” said Clinton, who supports AIDS research and treatment through his William J. Clinton Foundation.

He noted that $30 trillion in wealth had disappeared around the world between September and March, “and a lot of it came out of some of your bank accounts.”

“I’m here with people who tell stories for a living,” Clinton said.

“You don’t need to read many novels or make many movies to realize that everybody has a story. … Every time a child dies of AIDS somewhere in the world, the light goes out of a story.”

Items on the auction blocks included a Fiat 500 car customized by Diesel, which sold for euro80,000 ($110,000); tennis lessons from pros Monica Seles and Jelena Jankovic, which raised euro30,000 ($42,000); and a handmade Karl Lagerfeld guitar case filled with Dom Perignon champagne, sold for euro50,000 ($70,000).

The offer of a special screening of Quentin Tarantino’s World War II revenge caper “Inglourious Basterds” raised euro60,000 ($84,000).

Amid the auctioneering, Lennox entertained guests with songs including “Sisters Are Doing It For Themselves.” The singer dedicated “There Must be an Angel” to amfAR supporter Natasha Richardson, who died after a skiing accident in March.

Stone said amfAR was setting up a fund in Richardson’s memory for research on a cure for AIDS and donated $50,000 to help it along.

“Natasha said that she would go on until a cure was found for AIDS,” Stone said. “I believe that she will.”

©365Gay.com 2009

LGBT rights activists have been urging a boycott of the Manchester Grand Hyatt over its owner, Douglas Manchester’s contribution of $125,000 to the Proposition 8 campaign.

Rights groups, San Diego City Councilman Todd Gloria, labor leader Lorena Gonzalez and six others sent Clinton a letter, urging him to cancel his appearance at the annual convention of the International Franchise Association on Sunday.

A spokesperson for the former President said prior to the demonstration that  Clinton planned to honor his commitment to give the speech.

Several groups have canceled conventions at the hotel – costing Manchester’s facility an estimated $2 million.

Among those who bailed out of meeting at the hotel are conventions for the International Foundation of Employee Benefits, the San Diego Board of Realtors, the American Assn. of Law Schools and the California Nurses Association.

The California State Bar Association is under pressure to cancel its annual convention at the hotel.

Clinton has a mixed record on LGBT issues.  He signed the federal Defense of Marriage Act which bars the US government from recognizing same-sex couples, saying at the time he saw it as a way of stopped a proposed amendment to the US Constitution to ban same-sex marriage.

Clinton also signed “Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell,” which bans gays from serving openly in the military.  He said that the bill was a compromise to an all-out ban on gays that would result in a witch hunt of homosexuals in the armed forces.

Protesters marched in front of the hotel shouting for equality.  About a dozen San Diego police officers were on the scene, but reported no incidents.

The California Supreme Court will hear arguments next month that the vote for Prop 8 was unconstitutional.

Clinton is scheduled to address the annual convention of the International Franchise Association at the Manchester Grand Hyatt in San Diego on Sunday.

The hotel’s owner, Douglas Manchester, contributed $125,000 to the Proposition 8 campaign.

Following passage of Prop 8, gay activists mounted a campaign to boycott the hotel. Several groups already have canceled conventions at the hotel – costing Manchester’s facility an estimated $2 million.

Among those who bailed out of meeting at the hotel are conventions for the International Foundation of Employee Benefits, the San Diego Board of Realtors, the American Assn. of Law Schools and the California Nurses Association.

The California State Bar Association is under pressure to cancel its annual convention at the hotel.

Gay rights advocates will protest Clinton’s speech Sunday outside the hotel.

“Public officials must lead by example,” San Diego Councilman Todd Gloria told The Los Angeles Times. “I hope President Clinton respects the importance of this issue and moves his speech.”

A spokesperson for the former President told the Associated Press that while the former president sticks by his views about gay rights, he plans to honor his commitment to give the speech.

Clinton has a mixed record on LGBT issues.  He signed the federal Defense of Marriage Act which bars the US government from recognizing same-sex couples, saying at the time he saw it as a way of stopped a proposed amendment to the US Constitution to ban same-sex marriage.

Clinton also signed “Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell” which bars gays from serving openly in the military.  He said that the bill was a compromise to an all out bar on gays that would result in a witch hunt of homosexuals in the armed forces.

Colin Powell, former Secretary of State and Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, thinks it is time to reconsider “Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell.”

“We definitely should reevaluate it,” Powell said in an CNN interview. “It’s been fifteen years since we put in ‘Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell’ which was a policy that became a law. I didn’t want it to become a law but it became a law. Congress felt that strongly about it. But it’s been fifteen years and attitudes have changed and so I think it is time for the Congress, since it is their law, to have a full review of it, and I’m quite sure that’s what President-elect Obama will want to do.”

Can’t say I expected this from Powell. For those who remember when the topic was debated in the early 1990’s, Powell firmly barred the door to keep gay soldiers and sailors from serving their country.

As for Obama addressing DADT, I don’t see that happening as quickly as some here would like. Unlike Bill Clinton Obama is not going to enter into the hornet’s nest minus any military support.  When he’s certain he has the respect of military personnel (and that looks promising), then DADT will be changed.