Presumptive Republican Presidential Candidate Tim Pawlenty Wants Repeal Of Military Policy Prohibiting Openly Gay Service Personal Stopped And Is Prepared To De-Fund It, GOProud Chris Barron Points Out Pawlenty Prefers Fantasy Over Reality, Maryland Same Sex Marriage Debate, Harvard Law Review Elects First Openly Gay President, Cynthia Nixon And Christine Marinoni Welcome Baby Boy, Chris Pine Welcomes You, Shia LaBeouf Sighting

Monday in Iowa, former Minnesota Governor Tim Pawlenty (Republican), speaking to Igor Volsky of the of the ironically-named Center for American Progress, that he remains so against the repeal of the military policy prohibiting openly gay service personal, he would be prepared to de-fund it, the Washington Post reports. Pawlenty said “We have to pay great deference, I think, to those combat units, their sentiments and their leaders. That's one of the reasons why I said we shouldn't have repealed Don't Ask, Don't Tell and I would support reinstatement.” When asked about rescinding the funds for implementation of the repeal, Pawlenty answered “That would be a reasonable step as well.” Pawlenty, a presumptive Republican presidential candidate in 2012, is historically anti-gay, having founded the political action committee MN Forward, which received donations from Target in 2010, and then famously made campaign contributions to candidates who opposed equality measures.

Late Tuesday, AMERICAblog.com reported that Chris Barron, chair of one of the Republican gay groups, GOProud, who will be attending CPAC conservative conference this weekend in Washington (their appearance having set off a mock-boycott by conservative Christians) where Pawlenty will also be, released a statement regarding the DADT comments, Barron saying in part “I understand that Pawlenty is trying hard to get people to pay attention to his campaign. It’s certainly a challenge for someone with such little stature in the conservative movement to compete with high profile conservative leaders like Sarah Palin, Newt Gingrich, Herman Cain, etc. Unfortunately for Pawlenty, comments like this simply show how totally out-of-touch he is with the issues that rank and file conservatives care about. If he wants to show he is a committed social conservative he would be much better served talking about the need to defund Planned Parenthood, end federal funding for abortion, reign in an out of control judiciary and support for a parents rights amendment to protect home-schoolers.”

The Baltimore Sun reports on Tuesday’s Senate committee hearing in Annapolis, Maryland on a proposed bill, the Religious Freedom and Civil Marriage Protection Act, and on a renewed promise by Senate President Thomas V. Mike Miller to prevent the legislation from becoming mired in a filibuster, saying that although he opposes same sex marriage and civil unions, if the sponsors can collect 24 votes, he will find the 29 votes needed to veto infinite debate. Currently, it appears there are 18 votes in favour of the bill. The bill, which has the support of Senator Allan Kittlemen, a Republican breaking party ranks, is expected to be approved by the Senate Judicial Proceedings Committee; the panel voting in likely by Thursday after hearing testimony from same sex couples, religious leaders, and citizens at hearing Tuesday afternoon.

The Harvard Law Review has elected Mitch Reich, class of 2012, as its 125th president, the native of New York, graduated from Yale College with a B.A. in Classics and Political Science, and is the first openly gay editor elected to the head the Review. Outgoing President Zach Schauf, class of 2011, said “Mitch has proven himself as an outstanding editor — insightful, hardworking, and deeply committed to the Review and its community. He will make a superb president, and I look forward to seeing him guide the Review in the year ahead.”


People magazine reports that Cynthia Nixon and Christine Marinoni are the proud parents of a baby boy, Marinoni giving birth to the couple’s son, Max Ellington Nixon-Marinoni Monday, February 7th. The 44 year old Nixon and 43 year old Marinoni began dating in 2004, and announced their engagement in 2009, Nixon, an advocate for marriage equality, saying the couple will not wed until same sex marriage is legal in their home state of New York.

Monday, the always fine Chris Pine spotted on location in Los Angeles filming Welcome to People, tight-jeaned as always.

A freshly scrubbed and shaved Shia LaBeouf spotted Tuesday in Los Angeles, his bruised knuckles evidence of the odd, homophobic bar brawl Saturday.