The Bilerico Project | Daily experiments in LGBTQ

I've never really understood what was so darn scary about the Phantom of the Opera. Apparently neither do other troubled villains... (Hat tip to Savage Chickens for today's great Friday the 13th toon.)

I wasn't around much yesterday to do a proper "What You Need to Know" post since I was recuperating from a visit by Jerame's family. Do you know how exhausting it is to do all that tourist walking? I'm back in action today, so let's do a thorough roundup of everything you'll need to be an informed queer for the weekend...

• Not a News Flash: Judy Garland is no longer a gay idol.
• Newark, New Jersey mayor (and LGBT advocate) Cory Booker saved a woman from a burning building last night. The mayor suffered second degree burns to his hands and was sent to the hospital for smoke inhalation.
• Openly gay Brazilian legislator Jean Wyliis explains why he introduced a constitutional amendment to "guarantee civil marriage equality rights to all people, regardless of their sexual orientation."
• Gay GOP presidential wanna-be and NOM nemesis has challenged Maggie Gallagher to produce her marriage certificate or husband since she's never been seen with him and doesn't wear a wedding ring. Gallagher has responded saying her hubby is "a very private person." I wouldn't want to be seen in public with the hate-monger either.
• Hugo Chavez's foreign minister condemned the president's opposition party yesterday, calling them "little faggots."
• An ad on DC's Metro line for the straight-to-DVD movie "Sick & Sicker" includes the tagline "Go to hell Barack." The transit authority says there's nothing they can do about it after a court ruling in the 80's said that political ads are protected speech under the Fourth Amendment.
• Former "ex-gay" Gabriel Arana describes his experiences with reperative therapy. Shocker! It didn't work.
• Has Ohio become a hotbed of hate crimes?
• Chrishaun "CeCe" McDonald is a young African American transgender woman who is charged with two counts of "second degree murder" after she was violently assaulted because of her gender and race. Her next court date is April 24 and activists are seeking help to get her freed from jail.