Imagine being let go from your job, not for poor performance or lack of ability, but because you are LGBT. In far too many states blatant acts of discrimination are allowed under law.

That's why we need legislation like ENDA (Employment Non-Discrimination Act) to help deter employment discrimination and punish companies that discriminate.

Today, Gay Life joins The Bilerico Project and other LGBT blogs, activist and news sources in a blogswarm to ask readers to contact Speaker Nancy Pelosi and ask that she move the Employment Non-Discrimination Act (HR 3017) to a floor vote.

Dr. Jillian T. Weiss at Bilerico gives a run down of ENDA, why we need it, why it's stalled and what we can do about it. Take action after the jump.

Related: Track ENDA (HR 3017) through Congress.

For years the gays have asked to be included and rejected from participating in the long-running St. Patrick's Day parade here in New York City. The first official NYC St. Patrick's Day Parade was held in 1766 by Irish military men serving in the American colonies. Today, the parade along 5th Avenue is joined by more than 150,000 marchers.

The parade isn't the rousing green-fest you'd think a pageant of this size and drunkenness should be. According to blogger Cahir O'Doherty, the St. Paddy's festival needs the gays to liven up what he describes as an event "duller than an ode to Kim Jong-il." (more after the jump)

I always say, if you're not invited to the party, then start one of your own. So, this year, on behalf of the queer Irish, we honor St. Patrick with a commemorative still of Mr. Gay Ireland 2010, Marcus Wynne (pictured above). You're our parade, Marcus. March on!

What happened when you first met someone? One of the most popular trends on Twitter right now is #WhenIFirstMet, where people talk about their first encounters.

I wondered how this trend would read with a gay spin, so I thought it would be great to start it off here. I'll go first:

"When I first met him, I thought he was disgusting. We've been best friends ever since."

"When I first met him, I knew we were related."

"When I first met her, I wanted to take her home."

These are just a few of my first encounters with a few people and a pet that are important in my life. (Can you guess which one is about the dog?)

Share your first meeting with a lover, a teacher, a crush, an enemy or friend.

Ever thought about ditching your urbanhood for a more rural experience? That's exactly what Wade Rouse did.

Frustrated with the noise and hustle of the city, Rouse cut his cable and retreated to the a simpler life in rural Michigan.

In the rousing memoir At Least In The City Someone Would Hear Me Scream, Wade and his partner, Gary, discover life beyond pointy shoes, spin classes and half-caffs on their quest for happiness.