MSNBC’s Rachel Maddow Show has been following Uganda’s “kill the gays” bill for weeks and was happy to confirm reports from the U.S. State Department that the Ugandan President Yoweri Museveni is committed to vetoing the dangerous bill.  The story has resonated amongst LGBT groups in the U.S. as investigations have led to many ties between the bill and social conservative legislators and religious leaders in the U.S.

Following reports that the Ugandan President plans to kill the bill, five GOP congressman have spoken out against the bill.

Joe.My.God. featured Maddow’s update this morning.  Here’s the clip:

In a 39-20 vote, Mexico City legislators have passed a landmark bill making Mexico’s capital city, one of the largest cities in the world, the first in Latin America to recognize marriage equality.

According to the Associated Press, the city civil code defines marriage as between a man and a woman, but the bill modifies the definition as “the free uniting of two people.”

Mexico City’s progressive-leaning mayor, Marcelo Ebrard, is expected to sign the bill in to law.

The Los Angeles Times ran an interview with the California State Assembly’s out Speaker-elect John Perez, highlighting what his new job entails and what his election means for the various communities he is a part of.  Here is an excerpt from the article:

John Pérez is easy to like: pleasant, articulate and thoughtful, exuding calm and candor.

And self-confidence. Why not? The Los Angeles native was just chosen by fellow Democrats to be the next state Assembly speaker after only one year in elective office. Quite a political feat, even with term-limit turnover.

Being likable doesn’t make one a leader, but it’s a start.

Pérez will be California’s first openly gay legislative leader.

“This means there’s one less barrier for people,” says the 40-year-old. “When I grew up, there were only a handful of Latino state elected officials and there weren’t any openly gay ones. So I never thought I would be in office. . . .

“It speaks to the fact that California has a sophisticated electorate that struggles with issues of gay rights but really is driven by an overwhelming sense of fairness.”

The Empire State Pride Agenda has released a video regrouping support for marriage equality advocates in New York.  The video features several compelling speakers for marriage equality, including openly lesbian New York City Council Speaker Christine Quinn, who tells a crowd: “The only way we’ve really lost is if we decide the fight is over.  And the fight isn’t over.”

The New York Senate defeated an equal marriage bill earlier this month, despite the bill’s approval in the state house and the support of a governor who vowed to sign it into law.

Here’s the clip, as seen on the Advocate.com:

District of Columbia Mayor Adrian Fenty today signed into law a bill legalizing marriage for same-sex couples in the nation’s capital.  Michael Crawford (pictured), co-chair of D.C. for Marriage, hailed the enactment of the Religious Freedom and Civil Marriage Equality Amendment Act of 2009, which was sponsored by openly gay City Council Member David Catania:

“Having the right to legally marry will have an invaluable impact on gay and lesbian people and our families. Our work has always been about ensuring that every child and every parent in the District has the protection of full equality, so we can strengthen both our families and our community.  We are excitedly looking forward to seeing the first couples and their joy as they are finally able to marry, here in the District.

With today’s bill signing, the District has once again proven its long-time commitment to social justice and equality. We have boldly blazed a trail for the rest of the country by creating a coalition of support among clergy representing many different faiths, and residents of every race, ethnicity and origin in this majority African-American city.  Together, we have ensured that the first jurisdiction in the South to make marriage equality law is our nation’s capital.”

Photo:  MetroWeekly