Don't Ask, Don't Tell

New York's Sen. Gillibrand Prepares to Introduce Military Sexual Assault Bill Next Week

If sexual assault in the military has persisted with a nauseating frequency of terror, shame, and muted protest, this week has amplified that signal to a roar. On Monday, the officer in charge of the Air Force's Sexual Prevention and Response unit was charged with sexual battery for assaulting a wom ... More >>

The Sequester Ruins...Fleet Week's Gay Nightlife?

If you tuned into this afternoon's dour White House press briefing, you would have heard a lot about...dun dun dun...the sequester. Several public goods are going to get mercilessly slashed as the cuts begin to take effect, and they go something like this: Head Start, Meals on Wheels, food facility ... More >>

Gay Republicans Sell Us Down the River With Lies!

Some thoughts on gay self-loathing as Republicans convene

Selling a Newly Out Armed Forces

The Pentagon makes sure the public supports 'Don't Ask, Don't Tell' repeal

White House Hosts First LGBT Pride Month Reception With Out Military, Married Same-Sex New Yorkers; Obama Gives GMHC Shout Out

After a contentious press announcement on immigration earlier in the day in the Rose Garden, President Obama hosted his third LGBT Month Pride Reception in the East Room of the White House. Even though it is not a very old tradition, there were a couple things historically different about this year ... More >>

Gay Inc Takes On Stop and Frisk, the NAACP Goes to the Stonewall Inn, and Other Signs of the "Black/Gay Divide"

So, the promised fallout between blacks and gays continues! Four weeks after President Obama came out for same-sex marriage, today will see one of the most significant signs of a new alliance between traditional race-based civil rights groups and the current wave of LGBT oriented civil rights group ... More >>

My "Year In Review": NYC Became Fun City Again!

In my breathlessly enchanting cover story looking back at 2011, I decide that New York became "Fun City" again thanks to the double-dipping economic crisis that had everyone taking the stick out of their asses and riding it to the streets for protest marches, bonding experiences, and general camarad ... More >>

21 Voice Stories from 2011 That Melted Even This Grizzled Journalist's Heart to Report

James Worrell​Looking back, 2011 has been quite a year, especially on the gay rights front, one of our major beats. Like the cardiac organ caught in a bear trap accompanying Jen Doll's "Plight of the Single Lady," there were times when, objective reporter or not, the stories we were reporting ... More >>

The Night I Met Diana Ross

It was a 1980s record-release party for the glittery superstar on the Intrepid (which they generously allowed me on, despite "don't ask, don't tell.") I was terrified to meet Miss Ross because she was my longtime idol, and, besides, I'd heard about what a weirdo she can be. You know, "Don't talk t ... More >>

Don't Ask, Don't Tell Bites the Dust Today (For Real This Time)

​It's had a long, zombie-like death, but Don't Ask, Don't Tell, the military's policy of barring homosexuals from serving openly, is finally over for real. If you're confused and thought that this happened already, you've got good reason to be. The judicial, legislative and executive branche ... More >>

Barack Obama Ends Don't Ask, Don't Tell... Again

​President Barack Obama formally certified the end of the military's Don't Ask, Don't Tell policy today, the Human Rights Campaign is reporting. The repeal will take place on September 20th. The President signed legislation ending the policy in December of last year, but it had to occur aft ... More >>

Barack Obama Tries to Reinstate Don't Ask, Don't Tell Yet Again Before Ending It

​Although the Ninth Circuit Court of Appeals ordered the United States government to immediately halt Don't Ask, Don't Tell, military recruiters across the nation seem to be dragging their feet, and Obama's Justice Department has asked the court for a stay on their order "by the close of busin ... More >>

Court Orders Immediate Halt to Don't Ask, Don't Tell

​ The military's "Don't Ask, Don't Tell" policy barring gay and lesbian soldiers from serving openly seems to have been dealt a mortal blow yet again. Legally, it was substantially wounded last year when U.S. Judge Virginia Philips issued an injunction and refused to grant a stay during its ap ... More >>

This Week in the Voice: The Queer Issue

​It's the Queer Issue! This week in the Voice, Steven Thrasher takes a look at the complicated relationship between members of Bronx Senator Reverend Rubén Díaz Sr.'s family when it comes to gay rights. Senior is staunchly anti-gay marriage; his son, Bronx Borough President Rubén Díaz Jr., ... More >>

Military Men Are Popping Up At Gay Bashes!

​I've noticed them all over the place, casually hanging out at various gay club events without the usual horror of getting caught. Some of them even pose for photos with amazed onlookers.

Dan Savage and Dan Choi Hunt for Gay Men at CPAC Using Grindr

​Lt. Dan Choi created a stir when he announced on Twitter that he was going to attend CPAC, the Conservative Political Action Conference. Turns out he wasn't the only gay activist named Dan at the annual conservapalooza. Here's great video of Choi meeting up with Dan Savage. The two take to C ... More >>

Lt. Dan Choi: Government Billed Me After Kicking Me Out Under "Don't Ask, Don't Tell"

​Do tell, do pay? Lt. Dan Choi, the feature of our October cover story, released an open letter to President Obama this morning. In it, he's rather upset about being charged money for being kicked out of the military under "Don't Ask, Don't Tell." "Today I received a $2,500 bill from your De ... More >>

Obama Mentioned Gays Once in His State of the Union Address

​Said he about our troops: "Starting this year, no American will be forbidden from serving the country they love because of who they love. And with that change, I call on all our college campuses to open their doors to our military recruiters and ROTC. It is time to leave behind the divisiv ... More >>

Don't Ask Don't Tell's Cost: $53,000 Per Dismissal

​Stars and Stripes is reporting that the military's Don't Ask, Don't Tell policy cost $53,000 per dismissal. According to the Government Accounting Office, the military newspaper reports, the Department of Defense spent "$200 million in administrative, recruiting and retraining costs over six ... More >>

The 10 Gayest Political Stories of 2010

Ring ceremony: Reid and Choi2010 was one of the gayest political years ever. Here's our take on the 10 gayest stories we reported on — throughout the five boroughs, the nation, and the world.

Michael Musto's Year in Review

Social and economic turmoil? Don't ask. At least we had Lady Gaga to tell us what to do.

Barack Obama Kicks Don't Ask, Don't Tell to the Curb

​We've been following Don't Ask, Don't Tell since Senator Barack Obama was campaigning on its repeal. After all these years, watching the ceremony in which he kicked it to the curb, in person, was a special kind of early Christmas gift. The event was not held at the White House, but in an aud ... More >>

Rightbloggers on DADT: A Slow March Toward Tolerance, With Side Trips to Insanity

This weekend the Senate repealed Don't Ask Don't Tell -- the 17-year-old policy that allowed gays to serve in the U.S. military only if they could conceal their sexual orientation. The bill awaits Obama's signature. You might expect rightbloggers to be angry about it, and some of them are -- hila ... More >>

Daniel Choi, Driven Crazy By "Don't Ask, Don't Tell," Hopes to Rejoin the Military

​Lt. Daniel Choi, who became the face of the movement to repeal the "Don't Ask, Don't Tell" ban on gays on the military, says he plans to rejoin the Army now that he can serve openly. Choi was discharged after two tours of duty in Iraq because he outed himself on national television. (You can ... More >>

"Don't Ask, Don't Tell" Repeal Moves Through Senate With 63-33 Vote

​A 63-33 bipartisan vote early on Saturday afternoon allows the repeal of "Don't Ask, Don't Tell," which would allow openly gay men and lesbians to serve openly in the United States military, to advance to a final vote. The vote comes after a Pentagon report ruled that the military faces littl ... More >>

"Don't Ask, Don't Tell" is Dead After 65-31 Vote to Repeal Policy

via​As expected, the repeal of the Clinton-era "Don't Ask, Don't Tell" policy banning gays in the military has passed the Senate by a vote of 65-31. President Obama must now sign the bill into law, which he is expected to do. On Wednesday, the House of Representatives voted to overturn the ban ... More >>

Jenn Sterger Really Doesn't Want to Sue Brett Favre; Royals Attacked!; Jim Morrison Gets Posthumous Pardon

​• Jenn Sterger, who allegedly received photos of Brett Favre's penis by text, would simply like him to be punished, and won't sue if the NFL will "implement a program" to prevent such unwanted advances as those she faced by cell phone. Oh, honey. These are professional athletes we're talkin ... More >>

Don't Ask Don't Tell Opponents Pick Up Some Unlikely Support

While John McCain gets crankier and crankier about repealing Don't Ask, Don't tell, opponents of the policy have picked up a couple of unlikely allies on the right. After much lobbying, Sen. Scott Brown has finally come around and said he will consider voting to end Don't Ask (along with the usua ... More >>

Justin Crockett Elzie, Fresh Off Being Arrested at the White House

​New Yorker Justin Crockett Elzie was a U.S. Marine who served around the globe. In 1993, he came out on the ABC Evening News shortly before "Don't Ask, Don't Tell" was enacted. He'd eventually become the first Marine discharged under that law. Runnin' Scared spoke to him a week after he lock ... More >>

Dan Choi Off To The White House at 2PM: Handcuffs Needed? [UPDATED]

​Judging by a recent tweet, it would appear that Dan Choi is speaking to Harry Reid's office again, despite the fallout they may have had over certain comments he made about the Majority Leader in certain publications. As the 111th Congress convenes today for possibly the last time, Choi twee ... More >>

DO ASK

Cianni did, and they told

Bad Lieutenant, Dan Choi

What the networks don't ask the poster boy of the movement against "Don't Ask, Don't Tell," he's happy to tell.

Morning Links: White House Christmas Ornaments in Peril; Time Warner Visitors Getting Handsy With Nude Statue

The 2009 tree, with ornaments.​• Wyoming is having trouble finishing their ornaments for the White House Christmas tree this year. They have only 1,600 of the 5,000 they're responsible for. Apparently these ornaments have to be handmade, weatherproof, a foot tall, and in a Western theme. And ... More >>

The Voice's Steven Thrasher Discusses DADT and 'Being Gay in 2010' with WNYC's Brian Lehrer

Voice staff writer Steven Thrasher appeared on WNYC's Brian Lehrer Show yesterday to discuss Don't Ask, Don't Tell and being gay in 2010. Listen to him discuss and answer callers' questions below: (function(){var s=function(){__flash__removeCallback=function(i,n){if(i)i[n]=null;};window.setTimeout( ... More >>

Barack Obama: Twisting Words in the Wind on 'Don't Ask, Don't Tell'

President Obama covered a lot of ground on gay and lesbian rights in the middle of the four o'clock hour on Thursday. In the end, he wound up saying one thing and doing another. In a cleverly worded statement, he vowed that "don't ask, don't tell" will end on his watch. He did not mean that he wil ... More >>

OKCupid Analyzes Gay Sex Trends; Finds Straight Users Far More Sexually Interested in Gays Than Vice Versa

​OKTrends, the dating research branch of OKCupid, is a font of fascinating information, from what white people like (at least for online dating purposes) to why men might want to consider dating older women. Today they pull out a range of data about their gay and straight users and found the f ... More >>

Judge to Military on 'Don't Ask, Don't Tell': Halt!

For all their dithering around "Don't Ask, Don't Tell" over the past two years, President Obama and Congress have been let off the hook. No need to finish off that survey to see how the troops feel about serving with the gays, because federal judge Virginia Phillips has halted all discharges under ... More >>

'Don't Ask Don't Tell, DREAM Act in the Senate

It's a big day in the U.S. Senate for two issues we watch, but it's kind of a win-win for conservatives on both of them, regardless of how the pending votes on 'Don't Ask, Don't Tell' and the 'Dream Act' go down. The bigger of the day is a cloture vote on the military spending bill, which has a kin ... More >>

"A Republican Gay Group Sues to Repeal 'Don't Ask, Don't Tell' in Federal Court and Wins!

​"And the administration of our 'fierce advocate' Barack Obama defends the law and loses. "Is anyone noticing a pattern here? "It is an echo of when, in 2009, the Obama administration in court defended the Defense of Marriage Act, signed by President Clinton, as a protection against incest. ... More >>

Lady Gaga, Lobbyist

Apparently, Lady Gaga doesn't just have the power to get major legislation moved onto the floor of the U.S. Senate, but she's got U.S. senators clamoring to reach her on Twitter. After turning up to the VMAs on Sunday with four service members discharged because of "Don't Ask, Don't Tell" and calli ... More >>

'Don't Ask Don't Tell' Ruled Unconstitutional -- the Takeaway

It's been quite a summer for the Federal Courts as they've stepped in yet again on behalf of equal rights for gay Americans. After a Federal District Court in San Francisco ruled Proposition 8 was unconstitutional last month, a Federal District Court in Riverside, CA ruled last night that the U.S. m ... More >>

Gay Pride's Here! And I'm So Ashamed!

We're asking, so tell us: What about our civil rights?

"Don't Ask, Don't Tell" Scrapped By the End of the Week?

It's a little early to get too excited, but The Advocate's Kerry Eleved is reporting that a deal may be coming together to end "Don't Ask, Don't Tell" by the end of this week. Eleved reports that simultaneous meetings are occurring today on Capitol Hill and at the White House, to negotiate adding a ... More >>

Eric Massa Proves We Need DADT, According to Someone Who Really Likes DADT

pandagon.net​The News has some of the further adventures of former Representative Eric Massa in the Navy (briefly: if the stories are true, he's sexually harassed subordinates and has serious boundary issues), and they invited an expert to tell us what it all means: "It's a cautionary tale" of ... More >>

Nathaniel Frank

To Gays: Don't Mourn, Organize!

8 to 0 Supreme Court decision doesn't end the fight against 'Don't Ask, Don't Tell'

The Moving Camera Writes

A New Book Covers Dance on Film From Every Angle

Out of the White House Closet

Gay Rights Steps Out As Presidential Politics Comes to New York

Confronting the Pride Divide

Blood, Sweat, and Fed Up Queers at the Log Cabin Republican Conference

The Enemy Within

'Don't Ask, Don't Tell?'— Or Seek And Destroy? The Military's New Gay Purge