Why You Must Vote

Still off from the show, back live on Monday just in time for the election. In recent weeks I've heard some of you call in and say you're not voting, sitting this one out because you're unhappy with the White House or Congress. Others have said they'll vote for a lesser candidate, pretty much giving their vote to a Republican in a close election. But I have said on the show for quite a while now, no matter how angry you are at President Obama or disappointed with the Democratic leadership -- and I've been one of the biggest critics around -- it is imperative that you get out and vote for the Democrats and against the tea party-backed Republicans.

The Republican Party would like nothing better than to see the discontent in the Democratic base help them install truly the most extreme lot of candidates we have seen in many years. We've exposed the tea party as nothing more than a reconfiguration of all the religious zealots, moral crusaders, racists and bigots who've been around for years. Do not attempt to punish the President or the Democrats by punishing yourself. This country has been in a very precarious state for a long time, in which the political winds can usher in something radical and extreme very quickly. Bad economic times are always an opportunity for those who seek to do that. We have demanded and will demand full accountability by the Democrats and president -- who is not on the ballot until 2012 -- but don't do it by giving power to your enemies. As David Mixner says -- and please go read it -- vote as if your life depends on it, because it does. See you all on the show on Monday!

Lizz Winstead Guest Hosting

Am off for a few days but the show goes on! The one and only Lizz Winstead is guest-hosting today and tomorrow. I'll be back next week in time to deal with all the election news. Enjoy Lizz, as usual!

Barney Frank: Obama Should Drop DADT Appeal

Facing his hardest reelection effort next week, openly gay Congressman Barney Frank came on the show this afternoon (full audio below).

He said President Obama "hasn't handled this well," and that he's "been disappointed," referring to the "don't ask, don't tell" debacle. He said he urged the president at a campaign stop in Massachusetts last week not to appeal Judge Virginia Phillips' ruling and injunction ending DADT, arguing that this is a different case than most laws which the administration must defend. Frank believes the president should drop the appeal, especially if Obama does not get a vote in the Senate in the lame duck session of Congress.

On the Employment Non-Discrimination ACT (ENDA), which activists have been promised a vote on for over a year, Frank said the health care bill took up time, then DADT came up, and added also that "the transgender issue is a very difficult issue."

On his own reelection, he said it is the "toughest" challenge he's faced, largely because of the economy and the tea party surge (Scott Brown took his district in the Senate race) and "I need money to win."

On the gay Republican group GoProud, which has launched ads attacking him and backing his Republican opponent (who is opposed to repealing DADT and opposed to marriage equality), he said: "Exactly what is it they are proud of? These are Republicans who think being Republican is more important than LGBT equality...I think there's a truth in advertising problem when they say G-O-P proud. People think that that means they have pride in being gay or lesbian and obviously they don't."

Today on the Signorile Show

The New York Times says that the GOP is poised to take the House, and whether or not these reports are overblown it's true that the tea party is surging while many constituencies are demoralized. The Associated press claims that angry gay voters could turn the election against the Democrats. This sounds like a "blame the gays" scenario a bit, but we'll put the question to you: Are you going to vote for Democrats next week? Won't you be helping the tea party if you don't?

Should a New Hampshire newspaper be required to print same-sex marriage announcements in a state where marriage is legal for gays and lesbians? The New Hampshire Union Leader says no. We'll take your calls.

Guest / 2:30pm EST - Openly Gay, Democratic Massachusetts Congressman Barney Frank joins us this afternoon to talk about what we can expect to see in the repeal process of the "Don't Ask, Don't Tell" policy and the recent comments made by his opponent, Sean Bielat, saying that gays don't have a right to serve, just like short people.

Guest / 3:30pm EST - How has society and religion changed over the past 50 years? How does religion divide us and how does it unite us? Robert Putnam, co-author of American Grace: How Religion Divides and Unites Us, joins us today to talk about it.

Guest / 4:30pm EST - Dr. Alan Downs, author of The Velvet Rage: Overcoming The Pain of Growing Up Gay In A Straight Man's World, joins us today to talk about the developmental issues gay men face and how they can overcome emotions of shame.

Another major release by Wikileaks of documents shows the brutality of the war, including many more civilian deaths than believed, and the press in the U.S. once again

"Heroes" and Star Trek star Zachary Quinto won't say if he's gay, even though he supports gay causes and is now putting his efforts toward anti-bullying and suicide prevention. But wouldn't the best thing be for him to simply say what he is? Now he's playing a gay man in Angels in America off-Broadway. Does that make it more relevant? Well take calls.

These stories and so much more, today on The Michelangelo Signorile Show!

And, don't forget, you can follow me on Twitter and Facebook!

Listen to The Michelangelo Signorile Show weekdays live from 2-6 pm ET on Sirius XM's OutQ: Sirius 109, XM 98 and on the Sirius XM iPhone app. Not a subscriber? Not a problem! Listen online any time with a free seven-day pass or, if you have an iPhone or Blackberry, go to the app store and download Sirius XM for free, for a 7-day trial, and listen on your phone.

A Gay Paladino Supporter Calls In

My producer David Guggenheim and I were wondering out loud just who are these 26% (according to the Sienna Poll) of New Yorkers who are voting for tea party-backed Republican gubanatorial candidate Carl Paladino. Sure enough, a gay (yes!) Paladino supporter from Buffalo called in.

Saturday Back Talk

These are a bunch of the listener survey comments I read over the past few weeks on the show, some of which we had some interesting or funny discussions about. If you're a listener to the show and haven't taken the survey please do so by scrolling down clicking through on the right, or just go right here. Thanks!


West Babylon, NY (XM)
I thought I’d finally take the survey and comment. Especially considering how important today is. My youngest brother recently came out. We actually had to ask him. A family friend had asked us if “he was gay?” We had no idea, totally clueless. It turns out that he struggled with his sexuality for most of his life; he kept it from the family for fear of rejection. He told us that he knew that he was gay since he was 12, he is now 30. He was always angry and depressed. We tried to talk or get him to talk with someone. He would have no part of it. We were always fearful that he would do something (suicide). When he told us it was almost a relief. Since he has come out, he is such a different person. He is happy and in love with a wonderful man. We are so happy for him and his partner. We love them both unconditionally. Thanks for letting me share. I love your show, keep fighting the good fight.

Macomb, IL (Sirius)
Idea! When you have a guest in the first hour include it in the replay instead of the fourth hour. As for those always wanting less serious topics, they can listen to the rest of the schedule. Thanks. Listener from end of November 2003.

Las Vegas, NV (Sirius)
Great show, and a I listen every day! I especially like listening to your guest hosts when you are away. Keep up the good work.

Durango, CO (XM)
I find that I will turn your program off because of the tone you take with the callers. There was an occasion when you read a listener comment and accented certain words ( in a condescending tone, when the opinion seems to be across the board.) Treat people as you would like to be treated, even if you disagree with there position. It's the golden rule. Thank you for your time.

Spokane, WA (Sirius)
Great show. I try to listen as often as possible during the day at my office. I especially enjoy Friday's show and the awards of the week. Keep up the great work!

Marietta, GA (XM)
I have been an avid listener for several years now, and I have really respected your opinion on "gay groups" such as GLAAD and HRC. I have come to see them as more just "fund raiser" type groups than actually getting anything done politically. Can you recommend another group that you support that someone like myself could support either through volunteering and/or financial?

Las Vegas, NV (XM)
I called in Friday night to discuss the topic of the word "gay" being used in a movie from Vince Vaughn. While waiting on hold to discuss this with you i was met with a VERY rude individual who apparently wouldn't let me speak my mind unless I agreed with you.Which I find weird because even though you cut everyone off when they don't agree with you, the majority of people who call in tend to NOT agree with you. Maybe you had filled your quota of the day that day, but to have your phone answerer argue against me, even though I still believe in my point, and then HANG UP on me, is ludicrous.

Boyertown, PA (Sirius)
Hey Mike. Right on with your chastisement of James in Louisiana. You were dead-on when you said that he called because he felt guilty and wanted you to convince him that he wasn't "one of them". You did what needed to be done and perhaps now he will think about where his own beliefs are and what they might be doing to others around them. Mike, so many Christians are blissfully unaware of the pain their beliefs cause to those around them. Most of their anti-gay sentiment is passive-aggressive, but that is exactly what fosters anti-gay violence and bullying and harassment, which in turn leads to depression, substance abuse, and suicide among LGBT youth. I really hope that you shook this caller to his very foundations, Mike.

San Francisco, CA (Sirius)
Michelangelo, when I hear people like James in Louisiana I want to rip my hair from my head, but then you are there to provide the voice of sanity, reason and logic all in a very soothing voice. Please never change. Please continue to get in people's face when they are wrong. We need more of that and you are one of the few talk show hosts willing to do that. Keep up the fight. Keep up the good work.

Chillicothe, OH (XM)
I love to listen to your show. Your direct, no-nonsense style is something that I enjoy. I especially appreciate that yours is not the only opinion that matters which is very different from most commentators. Love your show!

Georgetown, KY (Sirius)
I am grateful for the thoughtful, professional approach of Mr. Signorile in all aspects of his program and I'd Love to be a guest on his show anytime.

Marietta, OH (XM)
I also listen to the OutQ show on Saturday--Focus Group. (Did not see on your list.) Really like the channel and you should be on in drive time for the east coast. People need to hear what you have to say. I think there should split the channel into 2. One with serious smart shows and one just for entertaining dirty talk. I understand there is room for everything, it just seems to weird to go from Frank and Doria to you and then Derek and Romaine.

Loylsville, PA (Sirius)
You will stand befor a holy God who sent his son JESUS CHRIST to die for our sins you are deceived and will pearish in your sin if you dont repent you may not give a dam about the BIBLE now but beleave me one day very soon you will and you will meet the one you so dont beleave his word your an advocate for the devil and i pray your eyes get opened befor its to late the antichrist is about to apear on the world secene.

San Francisco, (Sirius)
If anyone says something is "Wicked" and they're not talking about the musical please hang up on them. You don't have to do a Derek Hartley hangup (Click dialtone) but you can do your ever polite "Thank you for your call" Thanks for being out there for those of us stuck at a desk all day.

Boston, MA (Sirius)
I love your show, it is always so current with our times and your voice is SO important. I listen to you every day on my way home from work and I respect and admire how wonderful your thoughts and ideas are. Please keep at it and never let anyone tell you that your thoughts and ideas are not important!! One thing I am big on is the relevance of TG issues as well, many of my friends are also trans and having a voice is always important!

Escondido, CA XM
Thank you for doing what you do. I lost my political apathy during the 2000 presidential campaign. Now I participate and you are my anchor. Because of you and Derek, I can't keep my mouth shut when I see injustice.

Houston, TX (Sirius)
Like most talk/interview shows, when a discussion gets heated, both "sides" tend to talk over each other to the point you can't understand either. I usually "tune out" when this occurs, as do most of my friends who try to listen. Other than that annoying issue, I love your show. Just remember, not all Texans are uneducated rednecks.

Listen to The Michelangelo Signorile Show weekdays live from 2-6 pm ET on Sirius XM's OutQ: Sirius 109, XM 98 and on the Sirius XM iPhone, Blackberry or Android apps. Not a subscriber? Not a problem! Listen online any time with a free seven-day pass or, if you have an iPhone or Blackberry, go to the app store and download Sirius XM for free, for a 7-day trial, and listen on your phone.

Valerie Jarrett's Lies

Yesterday on CNN the Obama administration's p.r. disaster was in full view, as the White House sent Valerie Jarrett out to battle Dan Choi on "don't ask, don't tell." Not a good move. Dan forcefully and eloquently pointed to the administration's hypocrisy and to Jarrett's earlier CNN hit where she arrogantly claimed that the critics in the gay community don't understand the process. Wolf Blitzer actually made Jarrett sit through Dan's take-down, in which he rightly stated, "We don't need a lecture from Valerie Jarrett." How dare she try to divide us and claim she knows the smarter gays who back the president's plan, particularly after her "lifestyle choice" comment? Are those smarter gays the ones who told her that phrase was ok? Sorry, if that's the case she's not hanging with the right gays.

Listening to Dan Choi, Jarrett was squirming in her seat, and then completely running from Blizter's questions, including not giving any answer to whether the president will push for a vote in the lame duck session or not. Same old bullshit.

Valerie Jarrett, who I met back at Netroots Nation in Pittsburgh, is someone I thought was a voice on our side in the White House, but I'm really coming to dislike her and realize she's another smug hack, a complete phony. She outright lied several times on CNN yesterday, claiming the president has called DADT unconstitutional -- he has not -- and also claiming the administration must appeal Judge Virgina Phillips' injunction. The emerging consensus of constitutional and military legal experts -- including former Bush Solicitor General Ted Olson -- is in fact that Obama does not, and should not appeal the ruling and injunction if he wants to end DADT. It just means having some guts and doing the right thing rather than continuing to pass the buck.

One of those respected constitutional military legal experts who's been quoted in the press in recent days is Diane Mazur, a former Air Force officer who is a law professor at the University of Florida Levin College of Law. In an interview on the show on Wednesday, Mazur told me that President Obama is on much more solid ground in not appealing this decision than even Bill Clinton was when he decided that the ban on people with HIV in the military was unconstitutional and refused to defend it. In Mazur's legal analysis, not appealing is neither risky nor out of the ordinary. As Ted Olson said, it's actually "appropriate." We also talked about how the president could end the discharges now and the options he has had all along. Listen in to the audio clip, and also watch Dan Choi and Valerie Jarrett on CNN.

Today on the Signorile Show

"Don't ask, don't tell" has been brought back from the dead, thanks to the Obama administration expected appeal to the Ninth Circuit Court of Appeals for a stay of federal Judge Virginia Phillips' ruling. But the stay, interestingly, is temporary, pending the court's decision on whether or not it should be extended throughout the appeals process, into next year. We'll go through the details.

Olson vs. Jarrett: White House adviser Valerie Jarrett, meanwhile, claims people "don't understand" the process and that the administration must appeal the DADT ruling, but Ted Olson, former Bush solicitor general begs to differ, saying it "would be appropriate" for Obama to decline to appeal.

Efforts to prosecute Blackwater are collapsing.

Guest / 3:30pm EST - Last week, we were introduced to Joel Burns, councilman from Fort Worth, Texas, who shared his story of growing up and coming out during a public meeting in the wake of the teen suicides that had happened across the country. He joins us this afternoon to talk about the reaction he's received from his version of an "It's Get Better" video.

Guest / 4:30pm EST - Gideon Rose, author of How Wars End: Why We Always Fight The Last Battle, A History of American Intervention From WWI to Afghanistan, that when a president and his generals plan for a war, they never plan for a stable postwar environment, which then ends up costing more in lives and funding. He joins us this afternoon to talk about his new book.

NPR has fired Juan Williams because of bigoted remarks he made about Muslims while on Fox News. We'll take your calls. Should he have been given the boot?

Yet another ugly cave-in to the right: The White House has rejected an openly gay judicial nominee because he preferred "Happy Holidays" over "Merry Christmas!"

Fivethirtyeight's Nate Silver is giving the Republicans a chilling 75% chance of taking the house this fall, as we discuss the realities of a House controlled by the GOP and warn you that you'd better get out and vote.

All these stories and so much more, today on The Michelangelo Signorile Show.

And, don't forget, you can follow me on Twitter and Facebook!

Listen to The Michelangelo Signorile Show weekdays live from 2-6 pm ET on Sirius XM's OutQ: Sirius 109, XM 98 and on the Sirius XM iPhone app. Not a subscriber? Not a problem! Listen online any time with a free seven-day pass or, if you have an iPhone or Blackberry, go to the app store and download Sirius XM for free, for a 7-day trial, and listen on your phone.

HRC's Solmonese: DADT "in President's Hands"

Joe Solmonese of the Human Rights Campaign came on the program yesterday to talk about "don't ask, don't tell" repeal, the injunction and the DOJ appeal. He said that if there is not a vote in lame duck session on DADT, and the appeal to Judge Phillips rulng is the final action, then ending DADT is "in the president's hands." Of course, it's always been in the president's hands, and if you're a listener to the show you heard me giving my reaction and perspective after the interview to that and other points made by Solmonese. We also talked about some other issues as well as we head into the mid-term elections, and whether or not this year will be deemed a complete failure on LGBT issues. Listen in.

Today on the Signorile Show

Yet another tea party candidate has gone on an antigay tirade, defining what the tea party really is, and how the religious zealots are very much a part of it. We'll go through the latest comments from Republican Colorado Senate candidate Ken Buck.

Meanwhile, the gay-bashing doesn't seem to be working for another tea-party-backed candidate, GOPer Carl Paladino running for governor in New York, who now has an 11% approval rating.

And, the tea party madness continues with Alaska's Joe Miller now accused of having his henchmen handcuff a reporter because he was asking questions Miller didn't like.

An article on Politico backs up what many of us have been saying for a while: Obama's plan on "don't ask, don't tell" has pretty much backfired because they went too slow.

Guest/2:30 EST Joe Solmonese, president of the Human Rights Campaign, joins us to talk about President Obama's decision to appeal the injunction on "don't ask, don't tell" as a federal judge decides on the administration stay request, and how likely a vote on repeal in the Senate after the elections reall is.

Guest / 4:30pm EST - Did you know that the average American throws away roughly 200 pounds of food a year? That means that collectively, we throw away enough food each year to feed 1.7 billion starving people. Jonathan Bloom, author of American Wasteland: How America Throws Away Nearly Half Of Its Food (And What We Can Do About It) joins us this afternoon to talk about the relationship American's have with food from the grocery store to garbage.

These stories and so much more, today on The Michelangelo Signorile Show!

And, don't forget, you can follow me on Twitter and Facebook!

Listen to The Michelangelo Signorile Show weekdays live from 2-6 pm ET on Sirius XM's OutQ: Sirius 109, XM 98 and on the Sirius XM iPhone app. Not a subscriber? Not a problem! Listen online any time with a free seven-day pass or, if you have an iPhone or Blackberry, go to the app store and download Sirius XM for free, for a 7-day trial, and listen on your phone.

Today on the Signorile Show

President Obama told the MTV audience that "don't ask, don't tell" will end "on my watch." But the truth is, it already did: A judge issued an injunction and the discharges stopped. Now the president is actually bringing it back by appealing. We'll get into the politics around it and the refusal of this president to take any bold steps in standing up for civil rights.

Sharon Angle and Harry Reid faced off as the polls are still neck and neck. She wasn't as nutty as she often appears, and he was as droll as he often appears. That meant a win for her, or at least not anything that will change the polls for Reid. We'll go through the debate.

Fort Worth, Texas openly gay City Councilman Joel Burns gave an emotional speech to the city council on bullying of LGBT teens, telling his own personal story. We'll play the speech that is getting a lot of online and TV attention.

Guest / 3:30pm EST - We've rescheduled Will Bunch, author of The Backlash: Right-Wing Radicals, High-Def Hucksters, and Paranoid Politics In The Age Of Obama, joins us this afternoon to reveal the secrets behind these movements and paranoid politics in a new generation.

Vince Vaughn has now spoken out on gay joke in The Dilemma and he's defending it as lots of others are condemning it in this current atmosphere of hate and bullying.

And it's Friday, who will get the "Angel, Turkey, Gassie and Climax of the Week" Award!?

These stories and so much more, today on The Michelangelo Signorile Show!

And, don't forget, you can follow me on Twitter and Facebook!

Listen to The Michelangelo Signorile Show weekdays live from 2-6 pm ET on Sirius XM's OutQ: Sirius 109, XM 98 and on the Sirius XM iPhone app. Not a subscriber? Not a problem! Listen online any time with a free seven-day pass or, if you have an iPhone or Blackberry, go to the app store and download Sirius XM for free, for a 7-day trial, and listen on your phone.

Today on the Signorile Show

What will President Obama do on "Don't Ask, don't Tell?" The New York Times weighs in, dismayed at even the thought that the president would appeal Judge Phillips ruling and injunction against further discharges. Meanwhile, he is breaking the law by not enforcing her ruling while still having not asked for a stay. And there is precedent for a president not appealing a ruling because of a belief a law is unconstitutional. We'll get into it all.


The Christine O'Donnell/Chris Coons debate was a wacky as we thought it would be -- thanks for the tea party-backed candidate -- and we'll entertain you with some clips.

The saga continues: Carl Paladino has now lost support of the Orthodox Jewish leader who he pander too with his homophobic rant.

Guest / 3:30pm EST - You've seen American Gothic, the portrait of the couple on their farm, with the husband holding the pitchfork. But are you familiar with who painted it? R. Tripp Evan's joins us this afternoon to talk about his new book, Grant Wood: A Life, which looks intothe artists closeted life and how it influenced his work.

Guest / 4:30pm EST - California is scheduled to vote on a referendum to legalize marijuana, but there is a lot of fear mongering and misinformation floating around in trying to get people to vote against the measure. Glenn Greenwald joins us this afternoon to talk about combating this misinformation and what Portugal can teach us about decriminalizing and legalizing marijuana.

These stories and so much more, today on The Michelangelo Signorile Show!

And, don't forget, you can follow me on Twitter and Facebook!

Listen to The Michelangelo Signorile Show weekdays live from 2-6 pm ET on Sirius XM's OutQ: Sirius 109, XM 98 and on the Sirius XM iPhone app. Not a subscriber? Not a problem! Listen online any time with a free seven-day pass or, if you have an iPhone or Blackberry, go to the app store and download Sirius XM for free, for a 7-day trial, and listen on your phone.

Today on the Signorile Show

New York Republican candidate for governor Carl Paladino let out some pretty virulent and noxious gas over the weekend, dubbing homosexuality "not a successful option" and something that shouldn't be exposed to children. This coming after a series of gay-bashing in New York City and suicides by gay youths around the country. What exactly is up with Paladino and how is this playing out? We'll go through it today.

White House adviser Valerie Jarrett spoke to the Human Rights Campaign at the groups annual dinner in Washington. We'll go through the speech and lots of the criticism of it and also, the controversy that erupted when HRC's Fred Sainz strongly attacked the leader of a gay veterans group, Alex Nicholson of Servicemembers United, for his criticism of the appearance and his asking Jarrett to meet with gay vets.

The direct action group Get Equal has responded to the DNC official who compared them to Karl Rove for criticizing Obama and telling people not to contribute to the DNC.

Another suicide has occurred by a gay teen: Zack Harrington, 19, in Normon Oklahoma, took his life after a town council meeting in which homophobia was spewed by various speakers. We'll go through it.

Guest / 3:30pm EST - We've now been in Afghanistan for 9 years fighting a war that has many wondering when will we get out. Matthew Hoh, Director with the Afghanistan Study Group, joins us this afternoon to talk about A New Way Forward, a report recently released by the group on rethinking strategy in the war torn country.

Guest / 4:30pm EST - High Pitch Mike of Howard 100 news joins us this afternoon to talk about Closet Cases, his new special airing tonight on Howard 101 at 7pm EST, which he will talks about life in the closet with Rosie O'Donnell, NJ Governor Jim McGreevy and George Takei.

These stories and so much more, today on The Michelangelo Signorile Show!

And, don't forget, you can follow me on Twitter and Facebook!

Listen to The Michelangelo Signorile Show weekdays live from 2-6 pm ET on Sirius XM's OutQ: Sirius 109, XM 98 and on the Sirius XM iPhone app. Not a subscriber? Not a problem! Listen online any time with a free seven-day pass or, if you have an iPhone or Blackberry, go to the app store and download Sirius XM for free, for a 7-day trial, and listen on your phone.

Today on the Signorile Show

A fascinating story on not only the dangers in trying to rescue the trapped miners in Chile, but how their relatives have been selling their stories -- and cell phone videos -- in what has become an international reality show. Lots to talk about.

Utah LGBT activists -- 4,500 by their count -- surrounded the Mormon Temple in Salt Lake City following the ugly antigay remarks of the Mormon Apostle Boyd K. Packer.

Guest / 3:30pm EST - Shane Windmeyer, Executive Director of Campus Pride, joins us today to discuss what needs to happen on college campuses to prevent another tragic story like the death of Tyler Clementi from happening again.

Guest / 4:30pm EST - Fifty years ago, Chester Burge, a wealthy slumlord and bootlegger was acquitted of murdering his wife, but was found guilty of sodomy when his chauffeur came forward and testified of their relationship and Burges secret gay life. Richard Hutto, author of A Peculiar Tribe of People: Murder and Madness in the Heart of Georgia, joins us this afternoon to talk about this tale of murder, sex and scandal.

The deadline is approaching for the Obama administration to appeal the court decision ruling the main part of the Defense of Marriage Act unconstitutional. What will the President do? We'll get into it.

It's Friday, that means we'll be giving out our "Angel, Turkey, Gassie and Climax of the Week" Awards!

These stories and so much more, today on The Michelangelo Signorile Show!

And, don't forget, you can follow me on Twitter and Facebook!

Listen to The Michelangelo Signorile Show weekdays live from 2-6 pm ET on Sirius XM's OutQ: Sirius 109, XM 98 and on the Sirius XM iPhone app. Not a subscriber? Not a problem! Listen online any time with a free seven-day pass or, if you have an iPhone or Blackberry, go to the app store and download Sirius XM for free, for a 7-day trial, and listen on your phone.

Today on the Signorile Show

IN the wake of a North Carolina politician's rant against "queers" and "fruit loops", an activist group will send a box of Fruit Loops cereal to the guy for every donation of more than five bucks it receives. And if he doesn't take it, the cereal goes to a shelter. We'll tell you how you can send a message and feed a homeless person at the same time!

The state of New York, led by New York City Mayor Bloomberg, is asking the federal government to allow the state to ban sugary soft drinks from being bought with federal food stamps, arguing that it is an important way to take on obesity. Should the state be dictating what people eat, even if it is to their own good? And what about Fruit Loops? We'll take your calls.

Looks like the Democrats are getting a clue that the tea party is really the religious right dressed up in a different outfit, and they're finally taking this to the voters. We'll get into it.

The Westboro Baptist Church had its day before the Supreme Court, arguing that its antigay offenses outside funerals is free speech, and Shirley Phelps-Roper has given her thoughts on the court -- loved the women, but not the men. We'll go through it.

Guest / 3:30pm EST - Will Bunch, author of The Backlash: Right-Wing Radicals, High-Def Hucksters, and Paranoid Politics In The Age Of Obama, joins us this afternoon to reveal the secrets behind these movements and paranoid politics in a new generation.

Guest / 4:30pm EST - We're less than a month away from the mid-term elections and there are reports that the Republicans could potentially take more seats in the House and Senate than expected. We're joined by Florida's Democratic Senate Candidate Kendrick Meek to talk about his campaign and how the Democrats can keep control on Capitol Hill.

Another "family values" right-wing hypocrite is exposed: This time it's an appointee of Republican Indiana governor and moral crusader Mitche Daniels. The guy told an undercover cop in a public restroom to..."touch it." Not kidding.

These stories and so much more, today on The Michelangelo Signorile Show!

And, don't forget, you can follow me on Twitter and Facebook!

Listen to The Michelangelo Signorile Show weekdays live from 2-6 pm ET on Sirius XM's OutQ: Sirius 109, XM 98 and on the Sirius XM iPhone app. Not a subscriber? Not a problem! Listen online any time with a free seven-day pass or, if you have an iPhone or Blackberry, go to the app store and download Sirius XM for free, for a 7-day trial, and listen on your phone.

Stopping Bullying and Teen Suicides

Many listeners have asked how they can help out amid these stories of LGBT suicides, including offering financial support for groups battling this issue. There are many great, hard-working groups, some of them high-profile, to which you can send contributions, but I want to tell about an important effort that needs support.

The Queering Education Research Institute and its Reduction of Stigma in Schools Program does important work at getting to underlying causes of bullying and how to create positive, nurturing environments in school for LGBTQ students. QuERI is out of the the School of Eduction at Syracuse University, where I attended journalism school (the S.I. Newhouse School of Public Communications). I will be holding an event for QuERI for SU alums in New York in November to bring attention to the research QuERI is conducting on bullying of LGBT teens in schools. Dr. Elizabethe Payne and her colleagues are doing work that is not being done elsewhere. They're bringing together the qualitative data -- why bullying happens, and how the structure and culture of schools contribute. They're also training teachers and have already trained hundreds on how to change that culture in schools and take on bullying.

You can read about QuERI here and contribute a tax-deductible donation here with a credit card, but be sure to write "For QuERI" in the "other, please specify" space. You can also send QuERI a check to the address below. Write the check to the SU School of Education and put "for QuERI" in the comments:

QuERI @ SU
Syracuse University School of Education
Attn: Victoria Kohl
230 Huntington Hall
Syracuse, New York 13244

Today on the Signorile Show

Both the Republican Party and Tea Party in Nevada are in chaos after the leaking of a tape in which Sharon Angle trashes the GOP and tries to talk the tea party candidate into dropping out. Now the Tea Party of Nevada chairman has resigned. We'll get into it.

A North Carolina Republican legislator sent out an email referring to gays as "queers" and "fruit loops." And apparently that's just fine with the local party.

Mitt Romney, presidential aspirant and Big Mormon, is tongue-tied on the issue of homosexuality and whether or not one is born gay, asked to respond to Mormon leader Boyd K. Packer's recent antigay tirade. It's kind of odd and interesting, as Towleroad points out, because Romney has always been outspoken on the issue, towing the religious right line. Romney is also having to answer to "Romneycare." My how the tea party has changed the debate.

President Obama continues to try to get the base of the Democratic Party out to vote. Are activists ready to put aside anger and disappointment until after Nov. 3. We'll get into it.

Guest / 3:30pm EST - We have spent a lot of time over the past few weeks talking about some heartbreaking, tragic news stories. We've decided that we need to brighten up the news cycle. Political satirist Lizz Winstead joins us this afternoon to laugh at some of the crazier stories in the news this week. Are the Democrats going to lose as many seats as some pundits have projected? Does she think Delaware Senate Candidate Christine O'Donnell is a witch? We'll discuss these stories with her today.

Have LGBT activist, the media and celebrities "exploited" the suicide of Rutgers student Tyler Clementi in a detrimental way, as charged by the Rutgers Daily Targum? Shouldn't activists use such events to drive the message about antigay hate home? We'll take your calls.

These stories and so much more, today on The Michelangelo Signorile Show!

And, don't forget, you can follow me on Twitter and Facebook!

Listen to The Michelangelo Signorile Show weekdays live from 2-6 pm ET on Sirius XM's OutQ: Sirius 109, XM 98 and on the Sirius XM iPhone app. Not a subscriber? Not a problem! Listen online any time with a free seven-day pass or, if you have an iPhone or Blackberry, go to the app store and download Sirius XM for free, for a 7-day trial, and listen on your phone.

At "One Nation Working Together"

Over the weekend, we were LIVE from Washington DC to bring you coverage of the One Nation Working Together march, an event focused on "Job's, Justice, Education and Peace." We were really lucky to have a nice day as we broadcasted from the Lincoln Memorial!



Here are photo's I took of Mike speaking with some of the guest speakers at the event:

















Mike and Rev. Jesse Jackson.

















Mike and Benjamin Jealous, President of the NAACP.

















Mike and Darlene Nippers, Deputy Executive Director of NGLTF.






















Mike and Dennis Van Roekle, President of the NEA.

A "Christian" Calls in on LGBT Suicides

In discussing the tragedy of the recent suicides by gay teens who were brutally bullied in school and online, I played a clip of Mormon leader Boyd Packer railing against homosexuality in recent days. The hate coming from the pulpits of most faiths cannot be denied as a factor in these suicides, and in gay-bashings. But many Christians don't want to believe that, even as they condemn homosexuality. One of them, James from Louisiana, called in yesterday. I was definitely not in the mood to put up with any crap!

Today on the Signorile Show

Gun Madness: More states are allowing guns to be brought into restaurants and bars, and the Governor of Texas recently called for allowing guns on college campuses so that when school shootings occur there can be an all out battle -- or some such other scary nonsense. We'll get into it and take your calls.

There's been a great deal of converage of the recent suicides of gay teens and Towleroad does a great job in this round-up. Vigils were held in New York and at the Rutgers campus over the weekend, where Tyler Clementi was a student before he took his own life leaping off the George Washington Bridge. For much of last week on the show we discussed these stories and tried to make sense of it all and how we could change it. We'll get into it again and take your calls and observations.

Condom use is highest among the young, breaking some long held stereotypes, at least according to the latest study, which also shows 7% of people identifying as "other than heterosexual." Much to discuss.

Guest / 4:30pm EST - We've talked a lot about Michigan Assistant Attorney General Andrew Shirvell and his blog against University of Michigan student body president Chris Armstrong and Mike Cox, the Michigan Attorney General standing up for Shirvell, saying it's his First Amendment Right. Even the Michigan ACLU agrees that this Shirvell's First Amendment right, even though Shirvell is a public figure. We'll speak with Jay Kaplan, LGBT Legal Project Staff Attorney with the Michigan ACLU, who will explain the ACLU's stance on this.

We are back from covering One Nation Working Together, the march on the mall that turned out thousands of people. We'll re-cap and replay some of my interviews, including with NAACP president Ben Jealous and Rev. Jesse Jackson.

These stories and so much more, today on The Michelangelo Signorile Show!

And don't forget to follow me on Twitter and Facebook!

Listen to The Michelangelo Signorile Show weekdays live from 2-6 pm ET on Sirius XM's OutQ: Sirius 109, XM 98 and on the Sirius XM iPhone app. Not a subscriber? Not a problem! Listen online any time with a free seven-day passor, if you have an iPhone or Blackberry, go to the app store and download Sirius XM for free, for a 7-day trial, and listen on your phone.

Today on Signorile Show

Yes! Rabid and disturbed homophobe and assistant attorney general of Michigan, Andrew Shirvell, has been suspended by attorney general Mike Cox, who did a complete turn around after the story got national attention and after the governor came out full force against Shirvell. This is a story we've talked about for several weeks, a quite a bit this week, with many listeners calling the AG's office. The pressure and the national attention has worked. We'll get into it today.

How crazy is too crazy? Teabagger Republican candidate Carl Paladino's angry outburst -- including telling a NY Post reporter, "I'm going to take you out" -- is getting Republicans watching New York's governor's race very nervous. And it should. We'll get into it.

The bank bailouts turn out to have cost a fraction of what was believed and may even earn taxpayers a profit. “It was probably the only effective method available to us to keep from having a financial meltdown much worse than we actually had. Had that happened, unemployment would be substantially higher than it is now, the deficit would have gone up even more than it has,” says Douglas Elliot, former investment banker now with the Brookings Instituion. What will the tea party run on now? There's always Obama's birth certificate.

More on the suicide of Rutgers University student Tyler Clementi has emerged, amid what seems an epidemic of LGBT teen suicides.We'll update you and continue the discussion from yesterday.

Guest / 4:30pm EST - Ann Jones, journalist and author of War Is Not Over When It's Over:Women Speak Out From The Ruins of War, joins us to talk about her book about the time she spent with the International Rescue Committee handing out camera's to the women of war torn countries to document the abuse they endured on a daily basis.

It's Friday, that means well be handing out our "Angel, Turkey, Gassie and Climax of the Week!"

All these stories and so much more, today on The Michelangelo Signorile Show!

And, don't forget, you can follow me on Twitter and Facebook!

Listen to The Michelangelo Signorile Show weekdays live from 2-6 pm ET on Sirius XM's OutQ: Sirius 109, XM 98 and on the Sirius XM iPhone app. Not a subscriber? Not a problem! Listen online any time with a free seven-day pass or, if you have an iPhone or Blackberry, go to the app store and download Sirius XM for free, for a 7-day trial, and listen on your phone.