From Gay Politics Report

Top Story

• Hagel nomination caught up in LGBT politics
  
  Sen. Tammy Baldwin, D-Wis., says she plans to speak with Chuck Hagel to determine if the Republican is sincere in his apology for anti-gay comments he made while serving in the Senate 14 years ago. Meanwhile, the Log Cabin Republicans bought a full-page ad in the Washington Post opposing Hagel's confirmation as secretary of Defense. OutServe-SLDN said it appreciated Hagel’s apology and called on him to explain during his confirmation process exactly how he would support LGBT military families as head of the Pentagon. Hagel also was endorsed by the Courage Campaign Chairman Rick Jacobs, a progressive LGBT activist who penned an op-ed supporting him.Politico (Washington, D.C.) (1/7), The Huffington Post (1/7), The New York Times (tiered subscription model) (1/7)

Politics and Policy

• Discharged gay U.S. troops win right to full separation pay
  
  Gay and lesbian troops kicked out of the U.S. military since November 2004 because of their homosexuality will be entitled to full separation pay under the terms of a settlement announced this week between the American Civil Liberties Union and the federal government. BuzzFeed (1/7)

• Ala. lawmaker wants to scrap anti-gay curriculum
  
  Openly lesbian Alabama state Rep. Patricia Todd, a Democrat, has introduced a bill that would remove a requirement that public schools in the state teach students that homosexuality is socially unacceptable and a criminal offense. "The Department of Education needs to be making those guidelines, not the Legislature,” said Todd, whose bill could also change Alabama’s abstinence-only sex education requirement. AL.com (Alabama) (1/4)

• Supreme Court to hear marriage cases in late March
  
  The Supreme Court will hear oral arguments March 26 and 27 in two cases involving the rights of same-sex couples to marry, a timetable that could produce a decision this summer. Reuters (1/7), CBS News/Political Eye blog (1/7)

• Ill. advocates say marriage vote possible in February
  
  A failed attempt to pass a marriage bill in Illinois during a lame duck session of the state Legislature was merely a temporary delay, say advocates working on the issue. Lawmakers who back the legislation are expected to tweak its language in coming weeks to gain votes, particularly from Republican colleagues. "I feel momentum is still behind us, and it's strong," said Jim Bennett, director of the Midwest office of Lambda Legal. National Public Radio/The Associated Press (1/5)

• Hearing held in Uganda group’s suit against U.S. pastor
  
  A federal judge considering whether to allow a lawsuit to go forward against anti-gay U.S. pastor Scott Lively expressed reservations about the suit unless the plaintiffs can show a direct connection to anti-gay violent acts in Uganda. The judge is considering a motion by Lively’s lawyers to dismiss the case ahead of a trial. The Republican (Springfield, Mass.) (1/7)

• Gallaudet reinstates diversity officer after marriage flap
  
  Angela McCaskill will return to her position as chief diversity officer at Gallaudet University in Washington, D.C., after being suspended for signing a petition favoring a statewide vote on marriage equality in Maryland. McCaskill said she is not anti-gay, but explained she signed the petition because she believed Maryland voters should be able to decide the issue. Her suspension was opposed by advocates for and against marriage rights for same-sex couples. ABC News/The Associated Press (1/8)

• R.I. bishop wades into marriage debate
  
  Roman Catholic Bishop Thomas J. Tobin of Providence, R.I., has called on the state Legislature to reject a bill that would give same-sex couples the right to marry. Tobin said allowing gays and lesbians to wed is "immoral and unnecessary," and argued lawmakers should wait until the Supreme Court rules on pending marriage cases. WPRI-TV (Providence, R.I.) (1/7)

• Other News

• Rush Limbaugh links pedophilia, marriage equality
  Politico (Washington, D.C.) (1/7)   

• Facebook deletes user page dedicated to outing Ugandans
  The Huffington Post (1/7)    

• Gay congressman slams GOP spending on DOMA defense
  RawStory.com (1/3)    

Opinion

• Which course of action would you recommend to binational, same-sex couples faced with separation due to deportation from the U.S.?
  

  Defy U.S. law and hope for the best.	50.42%
  Leave the U.S. as a couple and settle elsewhere.	26.78%
  I'm not sure.	19.06%
  Separate until the law allows gay and lesbian Americans to sponsor foreign spouses and partners.	3.74%

• Analysis: GOP coalition with LGBT groups a first
  
  Chris Geidner argues that the political calculations involved in using LGBT issues to oppose Sen. Chuck Hagel's nomination to head the Pentagon may mean that Republican operatives understand pro-equality views have become the default position necessary to succeed in politics. "Changed public opinion on LGBT issues is allowing the Republican party -- many of whose leaders oppose Hagel over his views on Iraq, Iran, or Israel -- to use others' criticism of Hagel's anti-gay comments to aid in their effort against him," Geidner writes. BuzzFeed (1/7)    

Beyond Politics

• Androgynous model lands cover of Elle magazine
  
  Australian Model Andrej Pejic has been featured in both menswear and women’s fashions on the runway, and now Pejic’s image graces the cover of Elle Serbia. "I know people want me to sort of defend myself, to sit here and be like, 'I’m a boy, but I wear makeup sometimes.' But, you know, to me, it doesn’t really matter. I don’t really have that sort of strong gender identity -- I identify as what I am,” Pejic said. Women's Wear Daily (free content) (1/7), ABC News (1/3)

• Other News

• Anglican Church turmoil resurfaces as moratorium on gay clergy lifted
  The Independent (London) (1/6)    

• "Kyle XY" actor comes out as gay
  The Huffington Post (1/7)    

Media Mix

• The Advocate returning to newsstands nationwide
  
  LGBT news magazine The Advocate, which two years ago began printing issues only for subscribers, will return to newsstands across the country, according to an announcement from Here Media. Towleroad (1/7)