Highlights from top talk: Jan. 9

Starting this week, the Washington Blade will be bringing you highlights from some of the week’s best LGBT news analysis and opinion on the web, including the work of some of our favorites in LGBT media and the ‘blogosphere.’ Think of us as your curator for the best of this week’s queer talk.

“Interviews with administration officials, however, suggest that the president believes he can stand pat and still win a large majority of gay votes, based on his track record, which includes his decision not to defend a 1996 law that defines marriage as a legal union between a man and a woman.” – Mark Landler writing in the New York Times: On Gay Rights, Obama Lets Surrogates Take the Lead

“Hitch said and wrote often that ‘I say that homosexuality is not just a form of sex, it’s a form of love — and it commands our respect for that reason.’” – Doug Ireland writing in Gay City News: My Queer Friend Christopher Hitchens

“These 2012 GOP Primary debates are filled with both humor and horror when it comes to LGBT issues. The fact that these straight white guys are up there talking about how to ‘preserve marriage’ from LGBT Americans as well as basic civil rights is embarrassing.” – Pam Spaulding writing on FireDogLake.com: GOP Clown Car runs off of the road, accelerating on its gay and womb-control obsession

“Flippy floppy flippy floppy. Never forget that when he was running for Senate against Ted Kennedy, Mitt Romney said he’d be better on gay rights than Kennedy. The man claimed to be more pro-gay than Ted freaking Kennedy. So what are we to believe? That a man with a history of being super duper pro-gay and a flip-flopper is flip-flopping about being super duper pro-gay, or that somehow someone made a fake flyer with paid for by the Romney campaign on it? Keep lying, Mitt.” – John Aravosis at Americablog.com: Romney now disavowing 2002 pro-gay campaign flyer

“I’ll admit that I’m terrified of motorcycles. One look at Huff tho and I’d climb up behind him and wrap my arms around his waist. I’d just ask him if we could keep the ignition off and sit like that for a while…” – Bil Browning at Bilerico.com: Luke Huff: Gay Pro Biker