"I was feeling badly about talking excessively with my straight best friend about mostly gay subjects most of the time, and when I spoke to him about it, he earnestly said 'Hey, don't worry about it dude... Just be gay.' That is the type of attitude that has cemented our 24year friendship."

-Pewsin on Positively Nice

San Diego gay pride is one of the largest pride events on the West Coast. Over 100,000 people (both gay and straight) attended the event. I couldn't make the event this year, so I'm excited to feature a visual recap of San Diego pride from photog Adriene Hughes. My appetite has definitely been whetted for the next parade.

More Gay Pride Pic Galleries:
New York City
San Francisco Pride

_{Image © Adriene Hughes}

Alright, so I was a little nervous when I first started watching the VH1 reality competition, I Want To Work For Diddy. I knew Diddy would represent (he always does), but I wasn't quite sure how the show was going to handle transgender contestant, Laverne Cox. Viacom, VH1 parents co, is no stranger to LGBT characters, talent and plot lines, but a transgender contestant vying for a spot within the homo-nervous hip-hop industry? Would the producers make her the show joke or see her gender expression as a ratings inducing circus act?

Not that I confess to know Diddy, but he seems like the type of guy that doesn't care how you identify, as long as you get the job done. Strangely enough that comforted me. Hey, I get protective over our transgender sisters and brothers who get little respect from those that see them only for their makeup.

Now, weeks into the show, I see that I need not be protective of Ms. Cox. Girl can hold her own and has already made it obvious that she would make a great assistant for Diddy. Are the other characters the most trans-educated? Not at all, but Ms. Cox has her eye on the prize.

Contestants on I Want To Work For Diddy are divided up into two teams, Uptown and Downtown. They compete weekly in competitions that represent the expectations Diddy has for his assistants—fly to Paris and find an unnamed model, create a viral video, come up with an Sean John eyewear ad...mogul stuff, mogul stuff, mogul stuff. Contestants are picked off one by one with dramatic reality TV flair by Sean John marketing guru and former Diddy assistant Capricorn Clark, Island Def Jam Chief of Staff and former Diddy manager Phil Robinson and Warner Music Group Executive Vice President Kevin Liles.

So far, Laverne Cox has kept herself out of the hot seat. Diddy has his hands in everything with his name on it, so I'd be foolish to think he doesn't have a say in the final pick, but I think America should vote for the winner like on other reality shows. I'll start the petition. Here's my vote for Laverne Cox, because I want her to work for Diddy.

Transgender TV Takedown:
Isis, America's Next Top Model?

_{Image © Laverne Cox.}

I'm not shocked that John McCain chose a conservative running mate, but I am surprised that he tapped inexperienced Alaska Governor Sarah Palin. Not much is known about Governor Palin's stance on individual gay rights issues like don't ask, don't tell and same-sex adoption yet, but what we do know that she strongly opposes same-sex marriage. Her support of teaching creationism in schools and her ties to conservative anti-gay groups like Family Research Council make it unlikely that she will support any other pro-gay legislation.

Palin has stated that she "has gay friends" and conservative media outlets are already using her taunt as an litmus test of fair policy-making. That political smokescreen may work in some closed circles, but I doubt she is very close to her "gay friends," since she has actively denied them equal rights. Her acrid "gay friend" remark is no different than that of the one racist we all know that claims she isn't racist because she has black friends.

Regardless, McCain's strategy has always been to wow ultra-conservatives, who are celebrating his choice, and not appease "the liberals." We know that together, McCain and Palin will not support pro-gay legislation, but are we willing to take a chance on any possible future attempts to strip us of the rights we already have?

The Showdown—Gay Rights Style:
Barack Obama and Joe Biden
vs.
John McCain and Sarah Palin

_{Image © Win McNamee/Getty Images.}