Your weekday morning blend from Instant Tea:
1. Eighteen months before the 2012 vote, the Human Rights Campaign on Thursday endorsed President Barack Obama for re-election, citing his accomplishments for the LGBT community during his first 2 ½ years in office, the Washington Blade reports. Critics say the endorsement is premature because HRC should be pushing Obama to do more and because it sends the wrong message to potential GOP candidates who may want to reach out to the LGBT community.
2. Activists are moving forward with a peaceful demonstration that’s unlikely to be peaceful to mark Moscow Pride on Saturday after being denied a permit for the celebration by city officials, who cited a risk of public disorder. Similar “illegal” demonstrations to mark Moscow Pride have turned bloody in the past. Anti-gay groups reportedly have vowed to attack activists again this year, and police say they’ll break up the demonstration. Dozens of activists from the U.S. and Europe, including Lt. Dan Choi, have traveled to Moscow for the event to show their solidarity with the Russian LGBT community.
3. Lady Gaga performed on Good Morning America this morning, but according to multiple sources on Twitter, she left out the LGBT reference in “Born This Way.” The LGBT verse of the song also was cut from a version performed by the top 13 the other night on American Idol. What’s up with that? Anyhow, below is video of Gaga riding a zipline in to this morning’s GMA performance.
