In the African American community being gay is one of the worst stigmas possible.  That is why it is quite remarkable Ebony is featuring a lesbian couple in this month’s Black Love issue.  The magazine is featuring the love story of Yanette L. Freeman and Willa Walker.  In a culture where fighting for equal marriage rights is tough on the political scene it is refreshing to see the media and other entertainment platforms helping the gay community be truly equal with the rest of society on every front.  I look forward to when Dr. Martin Luther King Jr.’s dream of everyone being truly equal and judged based upon the content of their character and not the color of their skin and sexual orientation is a reality.  Until then we will continue to fight the good fight and take the victories where we can get them.

The New York Times is reporting that Google will begin covering the cost that gay and lesbian employees must pay when their partners receive domestic partner health benefits, according to a report in the New York Times.

The increased pay is largely to compensate these workers for an extra tax that heterosexual married couples do not pay. The increase will be retroactive to the beginning of the year, the newspaper said.

Google is not the first large company to make up for the extra tax, the Times reported, adding that Google’s move could inspire its Silicon Valley competitors to follow suit, as they compete for the same talent.

Right now Google offers benefits to the spouses or partners of both straight and gay employees.

Under federal law, employer-provided health benefits for domestic partners are counted as taxable income, if the partner is not considered a dependent, the newspaper said, noting that the tax owed is based on the value of the partner’s coverage paid by the employer.

Citing a study, the Times said employees with domestic partners will pay about $1,069 more a year in taxes than a married employee with the same coverage. Google will essentially cover those costs, the newspaper said, putting same-sex couples on an even footing with heterosexual employees whose spouses and families receive health benefits.

Secretary of State Hillary Clinton pledged that the United States will “advance a comprehensive human rights agenda that includes the elimination of violence and discrimination based on sexual orientation and gender identity,” in a speech commemorating Pride month, on Wednesday.

Echoing her famous remarks 15 years ago before the U.N.’s Fourth World Conference on Women in Beijing, Clinton said that hatred and discrimination against LGBT citizens “are not ‘gay’ issues” but human rights issues at their core.

“I know that when you’re in the midst of a great movement of change it seems like it is glacial,” Clinton said. “But any fair assessment, from my perspective, having lived longer than at least more than 75% of you that I see in this room, is that it is extraordinary what has happened in such a short period of time.”

Clinton was joined at the State Department ceremony by human rights activists from Africa, where draconian antigay legislation in Uganda, prison sentences for a gay couple in Malawi, and virulent homophobic rhetoric in Zimbabwe have all grabbed international attention in recent weeks and months.  

On the domestic agenda Clinton also spoke about three LGBT rights bills she cosponsored in the U.S. Senate – one that has since passed (the Matthew Shepard Local Law Enforcement Hate Crimes Prevention Act, signed into law by President Barack Obama in October) and two that have yet to receive a vote in either the House or the Senate (the Employment Non-Discrimination Act and the Domestic Partnership Benefits and Obligations Act).

Aside from the purely political point of her remarks Clinton added, “I was the first First Lady to march in a gay pride parade — and it was so much fun!”

Eminem has changed his tune. Historically one of the world’s best known homophobes, Em, 37, now says he supports gay marriage.

“I think if two people love each other, then what the hell? I think that everyone should have the chance to be equally miserable, if they want,” the Slim Shady star confesses in a chat with The New York Times. “It’s the new tolerant me!”

Eminem is close friends with openly-gay rock icon Elton John and credits the musician with helping him overcome an addiction to painkillers.

Eminem’s Recovery debuts everywhere music is sold on June 22.

Having made the surprising announcement that she’s bisexual earlier this year, Anna Paquin has since spoken as to the reason for publicizing her preferences.

Professing her love of both genders as part of a PSA called “Give a Damn” back in April, Miss Paquin now tells, “I’m not someone who endlessly talks about her personal life for no reason, but obviously, as someone who identifies as bisexual, those are issues I really care about — and frankly, I don’t see why everyone doesn’t care about them.”

Continuing to dish during an interview with Zap2It, the “True Blood” beauty explains, “It wasn’t like it was a big secret. It was just a cause I cared about and privately supported, but not one that I had ever had an opportunity to speak out about in a way that would be useful.”

Anna adds, “Obviously I know that one person’s voice doesn’t necessarily do that much, but I just wanted to do my bit.”

Miley Cyrus came under fire earlier this week for reportedly simulating a lesbian kiss during her “Can’t Be Tamed” performance on UK’s Britain’s Got Talent.

The kiss never happened, says the 17-year-old pop princess.

Miley writes on her official site, “To all my fans, Thank you for all the support you all show me. Sometimes you’re the only thing keepin’ me goin’ strong! There are so many people out there that are so negative and always causing new issues. I feel like the entertainment industry has become nothing but a disgusting tabloid.”

“I performed ‘Can’t Be Tamed’ this week on one of my favorite shows here in the UK Britian’s Got Talent. Which is totally true, there were some amazinnnggg acts (but of course no one could focus on that.) I had such a blast and was so honored to be on that stage. That being said during my performance I supposedly ‘KISSED A GIRL’ and this is the newest thing to cause controversy.

“I promise you I did not kiss her and it is ridiculous that two entertainers cant even rock out with each other without the media making it some type of story. I really hope my fans are not disappointed in me because the truth is I did nothing wrong. I got up there and did my job which is to perform to the best of my ability. I just want to put an end to this right now and just say one thing to everyone out there making this performance such a big deal.

“GET OVER IT! NOTHING HAPPENED. THERE ARE WAYYYYYYY MORE IMPORTANT THINGS IN THE WORLD. Let’s start focusing a little less on making up ignorant rumors and focus a little more on world peace! We gotta a lot of work to do if we wan this earth to be here much longer. Let’s make a change! It wouldn’t hurt the world to show a little more love. X M”

Causing quite the hilarious scene, Dustin Hoffman was spotted laying one on Jason Bateman at the Lakers vs Celtics basketball game on Friday night (June 3).

The “Rain Man” actor decided to join in on the Kiss Cam fun – a segment where couples are shown on the JumboTron and prompted to share a kiss – when the camera zoomed in on him.

According to People magazine, Hoffman first leaned towards his wife, turned to plant a smacker instead on an unsuspecting Jason Bateman to the delight of the crowd.

As the “Mr Magorium’s Wonder Emporium” co-stars shared a smooch, the crowd went wild, along with their wives who lit up with laughter.

Last week, McDonald’s began airing a French-language, gay-friendly ad featuring a closeted teen and his dad shooting the breeze over Big Macs. The purpose of the campaign is to encoruage European fast foodies, both gay and straight, to “Come As You.

To the surprise of absolutely no one, political pundit Bill O’Reilly isn’t feeling the love.

Watch as the conservatard and FOX anchor Jane Skinner rip the campaign while comparing homosexuals to members of Al-Qaeda.

‘Glee’ scene-stealer Jane Lynch married girlfriend, Lara Embry, at the Blue Heron Restaurant in Sunderland, Massachusetts on Monday, Star Magazine is reporting. Though the couple lives in California, they held the ceremony in Massachusetts where same-sex marriage is permitted.

Star reveals the intimate ceremony for 21 guests began at 5:30pm and was held on the restaurant’s outdoor porch overlooking Sugarloaf Mountain. The ‘Glee’ star and Embry both wore suits to the wedding.

After the ceremony, the guests and happy couple moved inside for dinner and the reception. For the fete, guests could choose between duck or grilled sea bass and for dessert, the party indulged on white chocolate mousse layer cake. After the feast, a band played and guests danced until 10 pm.
Restaurant employee Scott Mercure tells Star, “They’ve been planning the event for the past few months. We were all so excited. They’re really great people.” The couple chose a neutral beige color scheme and sprinkled in seasonal flowers. Mercure reveals, “It was a really beautiful event.”

The rehearsal dinner took place the night before at Bistro Les Gras in Northhampton, Massachusetts.

If you thought tonight’s ‘American Idol’ finale was going to be drama free, think again! Inside sources tell me that after after Adam Lambert did not show up for ‘Idol’ rehersals for the big finale and sendoff to Simon Cowell, the controversial alum’s appearance has been canceled, sending the show’s production into bedlam.

Sources tell Popeater.com that Adam did not show up for rehearsals, sending producers scrambling because they weren’t sure “if Adam is sick, being a diva, or worse, planning something that he does not want people to see.”

Go to Popeater.com to get the entire scoop!