Looks like LGBT Georgians can expect another turn as campaign cannon fodder, as Karen Handel has entered the race for U.S. Senate.

The seat, left open when Sen. Saxby Chambliss (R-Ga.) decided not to seek re-election, has already drawn a crowd of GOP big wigs, including U.S. Reps. Paul Broun, Phil Gingrey and Jack Kingston.

None of those congressmen could remotely be described as friends of the LGBT community, but Handel's entrance makes the race even more likely to go anti-gay.

Why? Because Handel was our friend before she wasn't.

Conservative groups are pissed. They have every reason to be pissed.

When it rains, it pours, apparently, for the IRS and its troubles.

The National Organization for Marriage this week announced plans to sue the IRS over claims that the tax agency stole and released its 2008 tax records, which were then leaked to the Human Rights Campaign, the nation’s largest gay political group.

He's done it again. For the second time in as many years, Ga. Gov. Nathan Deal has issued a proclamation requested by organizers of the International Day Against Homophobia — but only after sanitizing it into "Mistreatment Awareness Day" and removing any reference to LGBT rights.

"For the second year in a row, Governor Nathan Deal's office has issued a proclamation per … request to recognize the annual Atlanta and Georgia-wide events. Herein lies the problem — the Governor's office refuses to officially address a day against homophobia, instead issuing the vague recognition of 'Mistreatment Awareness Day,' as they did last year," organizers of Georgia's events complained in a Change.org petition today.

The renamed event is sadly ironic, Georgia organizer Betty Couvertier observed last year.

"They couldn't even use the word homophobia," Couvertier, who asked for the proclamation, said then. ""This [proclamation] is a documentation of homophobia."

International Day Against Homophobia (Georgia's committee adds transphobia to the title) is May 17.

State Rep. Karla Drenner, Georgia's first openly gay state legislator, needs your vote now — not to return to the Gold Dome, she already did that — but to win a chance to speak at the Next Generation of Government Training Summit.

Drenner (D-Avondale Estates) is one of 15 finalists, all seeking a chance to win to speak to more than 650 young people at the esteemed conference held July 25-26 in Washington, D.C.

Openly gay SNL star Kate McKinnon makes me laugh, even during the stupid skits.

Her impersonations of Ellen Degeneres are some of my favorites. And to see both of them — Ellen and McKinnon together on Ellen's show, with McKinnon being Ellen and Ellen dancing next to her — is genius. And fun. And meta.

Watch and enjoy.

Former President Bill Clinton was honored over the weekend with the Advocate for Change award at the annual GLAAD Media Awards in Los Angeles, Calif.

The former president signed the 1996 Defense of Marriage Act into law and oversaw the implementation of the military's discriminatory “Don't Ask, Don't Tell” ban on gays in the military but has become a proponent of LGBT rights since his time in office ended.

Clinton credited daughter Chelsea for his change of heart during his acceptance speech.

Researchers from Emory University and Children's Healthcare of Atlanta recently announced a major development in understanding how HIV spreads from cell to cell inside a human body.

“This helps us better understand not only HIV, but many other viruses, and how they take over the cell’s sorting and recycling machinery to build their own structures,” lead researcher Paul Spearman, MD, said in a prepared statement.

According to researchers, two key proteins, FIP1c and Rab14, are needed for a cell to be taken over by the virus. Without these proteins appearing on the surface of the viral particle, the disease cannot spread.

Brittney Griner made waves as a women's collegiate basketball star but this week, the three-time All-American center from Baylor is making waves for a completely different reason: coming out of the closet on the heels of her selection as the number one overall pick in the WNBA draft by the Phoenix Mercury.

Speaking Wednesday in an interview with Sports Illustrated's Maggie Gray, Griner commented on gay and lesbian athletes in professional sports and encouraged others to “be true to yourself.”

"Being one that's out, it's just being who you are,” Griner said. “Again, like I said, just be who you are. Don't worry about what other people are going to say, because they're always going to say something, but, if you're just true to yourself, let that shine through. Don't hide who you really are."

Yesterday, New Zealand became the latest country to legalize marriage for same-sex couples, making the small island nation the 13th country in the world and first in the Asian-Pacific rim to allow such unions.

The new rules, which will amend the country's marriage law, will go into effect mid-August of this year.

After the final vote had been counted, supporters of the bill, and some lawmakers, began to sing "Pokarekare Ana"  — a traditional New Zealand love song that is as well known as  "You Are My Sunshine" here -- while congratulating one another. Several lawmakers can be seen wiping away tears as those in the observation section above them continue to sing.

A national touring collective of queer femme writers, authors, performers and dancers will gather tonight at Charis Books and More in Little Five Points as part of the Body Heat Femme Porn Tour.

Originally founded in 2007 by writer Kathleen Delaney-Adams, the Body Heat Femme Porn Tour starts at 8 p.m. and is scheduled to run through 10 p.m. Tickets to the event are $10 and can be purchased at the door.

In addition to Delaney-Adams, the Body Heat lineup for Spring 2013 features Kiki DeLovely, Frances Varian, Gigi Frost, and Al Schlong/Asha Leong.