A Bad Dream: What Just Happened In Maine?

Well this is a terrible way to wake up the day after Election Day. Did that really happen last night? Yes, yes it did. Maine's voters, by a 52.7-47.3% vote (with 87% of precincts reporting), continued the trend of the populous that, when given the chance to eliminate marriage rights for gays and lesbians, do so.

We thought, surely, Maine would be different. They're a more "live and let live" community than California's splintered voting block.

But rather than celebrating a new dawn in LGBT equality, we're dealt a major blow. Indeed, last night Washington State's voters enacted Referendum 71, granting domestic partnerships (to both straight and gay couples) in a state where same-sex marriage is illegal.

And while neither Stand for Marriage Maine nor the National Organization for Marriage have taken to their websites to gloat yet, the latter did update its homepage to say campaign manager Frank Schubert "claimed victory."

For the No On 1 side, Protect Maine Equality's Jesse Connolly says, "We're in this for the long haul. For next week, and next month, and next year until all Maine families are treated equally. Because in the end, this has always been about love and family and that will always be something worth fighting for." The group expects a statewide recount.

We'll have more on last night's results throughout the day.

Queerty

Will Three Gays Head Up Good Morning America?

With Diane Sawyer making her decade-long exit from Good Morning America, all of New York media wants to know: Who will take her place? Depending on who ABC picks, the network's morning show could become the gayest place on television.

By comparison, NBC's Today and CBS's The Early Show are pretty straight chat fests. (Okay, we've heard the gay rumors about Early's weatherman Dave Price, too. He's single and lives in NYC with his dog. Uh huh.) But on GMA, you've already got Robin Roberts and Sam Champion, both of whom are out among colleagues, but not viewing audiences (at least, they don't make it anyone's business).

That leaves Diane Sawyer and Chris Cuomo as the resident heteros, making GMA a refreshing half-gay. But what if ABC filled Diane's spot with another family member?

Already, financial lez Suze Orman has raised her hand to ABC brass letting them know she wants the job. But "insiders" says ABC wants a dude to replace Diane (who's leaving to take Charlie Gibson's evening anchor chair) and sit next to Robin, "restoring" the male-female duo main hosting construct. "A short list of candidates," says the Los Angeles Times' Matea Gold, "is widely believed to include This Week anchor George Stephanopoulos, World News Saturday anchor David Muir, GMA Weekend co-host Bill Weir and GMA news anchor Chris Cuomo." (NB: Moving Cuomo to a main slot would still leave open the junior "news anchor" slot.)

Funny, then, that Weir already has the gays speculating And so does Muir.

Not that adding another 'mo would really change GMA's formula of news, entertainment, and crossing and uncrossing legs. But it'd be nice to wake up every morning and see Chris Cuomo quivering among the Gs.

Queerty

Another Soft Ad From Maine's Marriage Equality Camp

Gay Man Beaten In Possible Hate Crime

President Obama to Gay Americans- I'm here with you to fight for equal rights

Comedian Matt Lucas Ex-Husband Leaves Facebook Suicide Note

The way we live now: Leaving suicide notes on Facebook. That's how British comedian Matt Lucas' ex-husband departed this world, posting this status update on his profile: "Kevin McGee thinks that death is much better than life." His body was found yesterday when police barged into his home, only to find him hanging.
Queerty

Why Pastor David Weekley Came Out to His Church as Transgender

After spending 27 years leading a ministry in Portland, Pastor David Weekley told his United Methodist Church congregation his big secret: he's transgender. Weekley, who had gender reassignment surgery, says his FTM status wasn't actually a secret, but just part of his private life. Well, it's no longer either.

Weekley's story is a remarkable one. Inside a church that's not exactly in love with LGBTs (they don't explicitly ban transgender folks from joining the clergy, but gays are prohibited, and gay weddings are a no no), Weekley explains to The Early Show why he still belongs: "I'm not happy with that part of the church, but I've chosen over the years to stay within it, hoping to work for positive change about those kinds of things."

But what we're most curious about is what's on the minds of the partners of transgender men and women. David's wife Deborah explains things this way: David is awesome, and that's all there is to it. Deborah? You sound pretty awesome too.

Queerty