In just six years, the U.S. Census Bureau predicts that the number of people aged 60 and older in Alabama will jump past the 1 million mark, and the state Department of Senior Services wants Alabamians to help the state get ready for it.

The department will have its annual public hearing today to gather information about what people, particularly seniors, will need in the next few years to maintain their quality of life as they get older.

The hearing will start at 10 a.m. and will be held in the state Capitol Auditorium.

"The public has been invited to discuss long-term care needs and to propose changes to programs currently provided through (the department)," said Kaleigh Flatt, spokeswoman for the department.

The Department of Senior Services is responsible for coordinating state and federal programs that serve people who are 55 and older. For more, see the article in the Montgomery Advertiser, State agency prepares for boomers' rise.

Tatum on cover of upcoming GQ Magazine

From Popeater,

In a recent interview with GQ, the actor (Channin Tatum) brought a writer along for a visit to his Uncle Bruce's ranch in rural Alabama and introduced her to his refreshingly genuine family, his thickening Southern accent, and a four-wheel ride that ends up stuck in a muddy ditch. See highlights below, and read the entire interview in GQ.

Tatum explains the Alabama locale: "You'll see a totally different side of me. I talk different, I walk different, everything. I don't have one single bad memory to where I'm gonna take you. Not one. It was my sanctuary. I hated school, wasn't good in school, and me and my dad butted heads about that. But nothing mattered when I went home to Alabama."

From JoeMyGod,

The National LGBT Cancer Network wants to do something about the increasing prevalence of anal cancer in our community. First, we need to find out what people know about anal cancer. We are asking gay and bisexual men to complete a brief (5-minute) anonymous online survey to assess their knowledge of anal cancer. We are particularly interested in hearing from and hope that you will publicize this request through your blog, listserves, website, mailing lists. The more respondents we have, the more we learn.

In the general population, anal cancer is a rare disease, but among men who have sex with men (MSM), the incidence of anal cancer is 40% higher and increasing annually. However, the majority of gay men know little about the disease, have ever been tested for it, or even know that screening tests exist. Health care professionals, too, remain divided on how and whether to screen for it. In fact, a standardized screening protocol for anal cancer does not yet exist.

To participate, click here.

Clinton opposed same-sex marriage during his presidency, and in 1996, he signed the Defense of Marriage Act, which limited federal recognition of marriage to one man and one woman. In May of this year, Clinton told a crowd at Toronto's Convention Centre that his position on same-sex marriage was "evolving."

Asked if he personally supported same-sex marriage, Clinton replied, "Yeah." "I personally support people doing what they want to do," Clinton said. "I think it's wrong for someone to stop someone else from doing that [same-sex marriage]."

The vote could lead to more openly gay bishops like Gene Robinson

Bishops of the Anglican Church in the United States have voted to overturn a three-year moratorium on the election of gay bishops.

The decision seems likely to lead to the Episcopal Church's eventual exit from the worldwide Anglican Communion.

The Communion has been fighting to avoid disintegration since the Episcopal Church consecrated the openly gay bishop Gene Robinson in 2003.

The decision is expected to be confirmed in the next few days.

For more, see Episcopal Church Moves to End Ban on Gay Bishops.

"For all the tremendous obstacles that she has overcome, Regina Benjamin also represents what's best about health care in America, doctors and nurses who give and care and sacrifice for the sake of their patients," Obama said Monday in introducing his choice for a job known as America's doctor.

He said Benjamin will bring insight as his administration struggles to revamp the health care system:

Saying she "has seen in a very personal way what is broken about our health care system," Obama said Benjamin will bring important insight as his administration tries to revamp that system. For more, read Next Surgeon General Picked.

New York, NY, July 10, 2009 - The Gay & Lesbian Alliance Against Defamation (GLAAD) today issued the following statement from incoming President Jarrett Barrios in response to the film "Brüno," which opens in movie theatres nationwide today.

"In many parts of the United States, lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender (LGBT) people live life in harm's way. We are among the most frequently targeted for hate crimes-including physical attacks, verbal assaults and destruction of our property. In particular, LGBT youth experience bullying and violence in school and social settings--harassment that contributes to lower self-respect, depression and increased incidence of suicide.

Into this context steps the movie "Brüno," an 80-some-minute series of sketches apparently intended to skewer these homophobic attitudes-and get some laughs along the way. Clearly, the filmmakers wanted to use satire to highlight and challenge homophobia. But their film also reinforces troubling attitudes about gay people in ways that run counter to the intentions of the filmmakers.

The movie repeatedly builds entire scenes around stock stereotypes and situations that make gay people and families the butt of crude jokes. I can't help but think of all the teenage kids already getting bullied, beat up and ridiculed for being--or for being thought to be--gay.. For these kids, this movie will give their tormentors one more word in the anti-gay lexicon of slurs: Bruno.

Instead of challenging stereotypes, it reinforces them for many of the those who voted to take away the freedom to marry from loving, committed gay and lesbian couples in California. Many states have gone even further-Arkansans went to the polls and effectively eliminated the ability of gay people to adopt or foster children in that state. In a cruel twist, "Brüno," some of which was actually shot in Arkansas, includes a scene where the title character shows a talk-show audience photos of sexual activity occurring in the presence of an infant child. Can this help the gay families across the country who continue to be reduced to political punching bags at the ballot box?

It's unfortunate that "Brüno" ultimately misses the mark, particularly when there are still far too few positive images of gay people in major studio films. Some members of our community will not be offended by this film. Others, like those of us at GLAAD, find it frustrating and discouraging to be confronted with a movie that wants to increase America's discomfort with homophobia, but which for much of America, seems likely to decrease its comfort with gay people."

Television's weight-loss reality show, "The Biggest Loser," is coming to Mobile tomorrow, looking for contestants eager to shed pounds in pursuit of a $250,000 prize.

The Mobile auditions are scheduled from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. Saturday at Veets Barand Grill, located at 66 S. Royal St. in downtown.

The casting representatives are looking for family teams of two, but individual auditions are welcome. Candidates must be 18 or over, and bring a non-returnable photo. For the full article in the Press Register see NBC's 'Biggest Loser' will hold auditions in Mobile - Press ...

The National Center for Lesbian Rights (NCLR) has published a manual to help lesbian, gay, bisexual, and transgender (LGBT) elders and their families and caregivers navigate legal issues.

The Center estimates that there are between 3.5 and 4 million LGBT persons age 65 and older in the U.S. Many of these individuals confront institutions and public policies that do not recognize their needs or acknowledge their families, or that discriminate against them based on their sexual orientation or gender identity or expression. For full details, see New Guide Helps Gay and Lesbian Elders Safeguard Rights.