National news in brief: October 7

Ann Coulter to appear on Logo’s ‘A-List’

WEST HOLLYWOOD, Calif. — Ann Coulter has confirmed that she joined GOProud Executive Director Jimmy LaSalvia in filming an episode of Logo’s “A List: Dallas” in West Hollywood.

The two were visiting “A List: Dallas” cast member and GOProud fundraiser, Taylor Garrett. Coulter is the honorary board chair of GOProud.

“We look forward to gay people everywhere getting a chance to hear about our organizations and hear from Ann Coulter – simply the smartest, funniest and most stylish woman in politics today,” LaSalvia remarked in a statement. “We thank Ann for agreeing to do this and for continuing her outspoken support for gay conservatives.”

Logo, an LGBT television network, released a statement saying, “while there are of course thousands of reasons to disagree with Coulter and her uber conservative politics, it is incredibly refreshing to see someone in her position, and of such noted stature for her far right opinions, willing to reaffirm her GLB (T might be going out on a limb) support.”

Deadline nears for opponents of Calif. history law

SACRAMENTO — StopSB48, the group challenging a California law mandating inclusion of LGBT history in the classroom, has collected 82 percent of the signatures needed to qualify their measure for the ballot.

The deadline for submitting the signatures to the state is Oct. 12, and most signature drives for ballot measures need to collect more than the minimum number of signatures needed to qualify, as many signatures are often unable to be verified. The campaign estimates it needs 750,000 signatures. So far the group has collected 415,000 of the 504,760 needed, according to gay journalist Rex Wockner.

In response to what it calls illegal signature gathering tactics, California LGBT advocates Courage Campaign have formally requested an investigation by the California attorney general’s office in Santa Ana and Oceanside City. According to the organization, signature gatherers are asking passersby if they would like to sign a petition to “protect children from child abduction.” California is one of only a few states that makes falsifying information while collecting petition signatures a misdemeanor.

Country star Toby Keith endorses marriage equality

OKLAHOMA CITY — Country singer Toby Keith, who has at times spoken out in favor of both Republican and Democratic causes, revealed that he supports marriage equality and last year’s repeal of “Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell.”

In the CMT Insider interview, Keith expressed opposition to denying marriage licenses to couples that want to marry, and said ballot measures “waste time and money.”

The star wrapped up his feelings about openly gay service members saying “Somebody’s sexual preference is, like, who cares?”

Chicago’s oldest LGBT publication folds

CHICAGO — Gay Chicago, which became Gay Chicago Magazine earlier this year after restructuring, ceased publication this week.

The publication has been in print since 1976, and was one of the oldest LGBT titles still in print in the country. The publication had been struggling for many years since the death of the long time publisher, Ralph Paul Gernhardt in 2006. Gernhardt’s children Craig and Christy had published the book since their father’s passing, according to the Windy City Times, the last remaining LGBT news publication in Chicago, after another LGBT publication, the Chicago Free Press, ceased publication last year.

Gay San Fran candidate features daughter in ad

SAN FRANCISCO — Gay city supervisor and candidate for San Francisco mayor, Bevan Dufty, cast his daughter Sidney in an ad touting the importance of the San Francisco public transit system.

The ad features the candidate and his daughter riding crowded trains, and dancing in the aisles of an empty MUNI car.

“Sidney thinks MUNI is magic,” Dufty narrates. “We go underground and come out someplace new. Just us. I want all of us to see it that way.”

Dufty is believed to be the first openly gay candidate in the country to feature his or her own children in a campaign ad, according to the Victory Fund.