Jama Shelton

Director, Forty to None Project, True Colors Fund

Most solutions to the problem of youth homelessness center around increased shelter services, but we have established a three-tiered approach that is multidimensional and holistic; each part is important in its own right but ineffective without the others.

Chuck Gomez

Playwright and former Emmy Award-winning television news journalist

Could it be that with all this gay visibility, anti-gay sentiments are being stirred? Is homophobia a troubling sign of our times? Will it pass? Should gay leaders be scared, or will threats of violence only strengthen our community's resolve? If so, such resolve could be our rallying cry.

Jafari S. Allen

Associate Professor, African-American Studies and Anthropology, Yale University

For me, having taught "Genealogies of Black LGBTQ/SGL Culture and Politics," the first LGTBQ studies course at Morehouse and only the second at a historically black college, this semester, President Obama's small utterance in his commencement address is groundbreaking.

Tyler Curry

Freelance columnist and fiction writer; creator, The Needle Prick Project

Has the culture of stats, nudies and decapitated men begun to spill over into the rest our dating lives and making everything else look a little... cheap?

Joanne Spataro

Independent Writer and Journalist

Fortune Feimster and I sit in the Green Room at The Comedy Zone in Charlotte before her standup show. As she sips a Jack and Ginger in a tall glass, I feel compelled to ask about a certain seven-year-old pageant queen: Honey Boo Boo.

Dana Beyer

Executive Director, Gender Rights Maryland

The point of coming out and living free and equal is to allow all to not have to create memories based on shame and fear, to allow a life and its remembrance to be based on the emotions that we all have as human beings but which are grossly distorted by the closet.

Rev. Vicki Flippin

Pastor, The Church of the Village

I find it hard to say the word "safe" this week without thinking about the anti-gay hate crimes that have been occurring in our community this year. I have reacted strongly to these acts, but I know that, in this case, I am like the New Yorkers who have never been directly affected by tornadoes.

Rob Watson

Dad, LGBT activist and businessman

Your daughter was not molested by a predator. She was involved in an overly adult-like relationship with another teen. She was not targeted by someone wanting to do her harm. She was embraced by someone who loved her and wanted good for her.

Patrick Flanary

Writer on music, politics and equality

This week the National Council of the Boy Scouts of America will vote to recommend including gay scouts while excluding gay adult leaders. That the BSA is even considering a reversal of its ban on gay scouts reflects our country's evolution on LGBT equality over the last 12 months.

Charlotte Robinson

Broadcast journalist and host, 'OUTTAKE VOICES'

Somer's gutsy performance style and authenticity led to her being cast on The Real L Word, where the lesbian community got to know her as relatable and uncompromising. Now she's started a new music project, Clinical Trials, inspired by Nirvana and Patti Smith.

Jeffery Self

Actor, writer and vlogger

You'd be surprised by the number of ways you can spot a straight person. As an example, I'm sharing this excerpt from the book, a list of some of the most popular movies amongst Heterosexuals. Non-Heterosexuals might like these movies as well, but I'm here to generalize.

Tim Paul

Actor/writer/director, Annoyance Theatre; staff writer, Second City Network

At this rate, if I want to remain comfortably single without the pressures of a looming marriage proposal, I'll have to move to one of those states. Next time I'm on Craigslist, I'm going have to forego the "Men Seeking Men" section so that I can peruse apartments in Biloxi.

Fr. Gary M. Meier

Author, 'Hidden Voices, Reflections of a Gay, Catholic Priest'

At the heart of every authentic call to ministry is the desire to live a life of integrity. It was my desire to live a life of integrity that led me to the priesthood and it is that same desire that has led me to where I am today.

Andrew Nackerud

Writer, comedian and doer of monotonous acts for meager returns

If there were gay rights trading cards, my character would have high tolerance, 9 acceptance, 10 respect and telekinesis. But in spite of all this power, the moment I stepped foot in The Abbey in West Hollywood and a man caressed the chest hair protruding from my V-neck, I flipped out.

Fred Karger

President, Rights Equal Rights

In 2007 and 2008, its first two years of existence, NOM never bothered to file any tax returns with the IRS. Each subsequent year, NOM has either been late or filed at least two extensions on its tax returns. This is illegal if you are a 501(c)(3) or a 501(c)(4) tax-exempt organization like NOM.

James Owens

President, Log Cabin Republicans of Oregon; Leadership Committee member, Young Conservatives for the Freedom to Marry

Chris Busby is the vice president of the Log Cabin Republicans of Houston. Recently he made the decision to run for a Precinct Committee Person (PCP) vacancy in the Harris County Republican Party. He was confident that he would be given the position, but that's not what happened.

Win Bassett

Writer, lawyer and entering student, Yale Divinity School

Most of the conversation has focused on the double standard of refusing membership to openly homosexual adults as leaders. However, there hasn't been any discussion about another qualifier in the proposed language -- "alone."