Marriage equality is on the ballot tomorrow in four states; Catholics for Marriage Equality in Washington State; presidential election; and other recent LGBTQ news selected by Sara Boesser in Juneau, Alaska, with additional info from Bent Alaska.

Marriage equality

Marriage equality is on the ballot tomorrow in four states: Maine, Maryland, Minnesota, and Washington State.  Things are looking tight in Maryland and Minnesota right now, but are looking very good in Maine in Washington. Marriage equality-related election results will be online starting tomorrow night at Marriage Equality USA.

The Final Stretch: A Round-Up Of Ads For And Against Marriage Equality
ThinkProgress LGBT, November 5, 2012

Tomorrow, four states will have the opportunity to weigh in on the question of marriage equality, three of which will have the opportunity to embrace the freedom for the very first time. All four campaigns have had fierce efforts both for and against, with millions of dollars spent on ads. As election day approaches, here is a final look at what the campaigns have been saying to the public in Maine, Maryland, Minnesota, and Washington.

Catholics defy bishops to pray for gay marriage
Seattle, Seattle PI, October 28, 2012

The folk mass hymns and gospels were familiar, the response “And with your spirit” recited Sundays in church by millions of Catholics, but the 120 faithful gathered outside Seattle’s St. James Cathedral on Sunday afternoon were praying for a cause their bishops are campaigning against.

Mobilized by Catholics for Marriage Equality, they celebrated a “Liturgy of Love,” praying for the recognition of same-sex unions and the passage of Referendum 74, which would legalize marriage between persons of the same gender.

WATCH: Lady Gaga Gets Out the Vote for Marriage Equality
Advocate, November 2, 2012

Gaga reminds voters in Maine, Maryland, Minnesota, and Washington that they can weigh in on marriage equality-related measures Tuesday.

WATCH: Maryland Marriage Ad Features Presidents Obama and Clinton
Advocate, November 2, 2012

Marylanders for Marriage Equality, the coalition working to pass the measure known as Question 6, released its final TV ad Friday featuring Presidents Barack Obama and Bill Clinton with the message that “it’s time” for same-sex couples to be able to legally marry in the state.

Final Poll Shows Marriage Equality Ahead 52%-45% in Maine
Maine, Gayapolis, November 3, 2012

Maine’s referendum to legalize gay marriage is leading for passage by a 52/45 margin, numbers virtually unchanged from 52/44 in our last survey. What we’ve found historically with these gay marriage ballot measures though is that undecided voters tend to end up voting anti-gay so if I had to guess this is something more like a 52/48 advantage and at that point it can go either way- this is likely to be a pretty close vote.

THR Poll: ‘Glee’ and ‘Modern Family’ Drive Voters to Favor Gay Marriage — Even Many Romney Voters
Hollywood Reporter, November 3, 2012

Shows with gay characters, like Glee, Modern Family, and The New Normal, are helping drive voters to historically unprecedented support of gay marriage….

LGBTQ voters

New Logo TV Presidential Election Poll: LGBT Voters May Make the Difference In Close Election
NewNowNext, November 2, 2012

A second Logo poll, again conducted by Harris Interactive, reveals that the relatively small but increasingly energized LGBT voting population could be pivotal in this extremely close presidential election next week.

Religion

Group Petitions Christian Magazine to Accept Pro-Equality Ad
Advocate, November 2, 2012

Faith in America, a pro-LGBT religious organization, is petitioning Christianity Today magazine to accept its ad encouraging parents to accept their LGBT children.

Post-DADT military

Transgender Army vet to lead gay rights group
Navy Times, October 25, 2012

A transgender veteran has been named to head a newly combined organization advocating for the interests of gay, bisexual and transgender service members.

Army veteran Allyson Robinson said one of her priorities will be to garner support for getting full military benefits for same-sex military couples.

Transgender

Joe Biden: Transgender Discrimination Is ‘The Civil Rights Issue Of Our Time’
Washington, Huffington Post, October 10, 2012

Vice President Joe Biden said transgender discrimination is “the civil rights issue of our time” during a visit to a Florida field office on Tuesday, according to pool reports.

Coming out

I’m Gay Or Bisexual And Proud Of It! 48 Stars Who Have Come Out Of The Closet
Radar.com, October 29, 2012

From big screen bombshells and television’s most beloved actors to sexy singers and talk show hosts, a bevy of celebrities have come out of the closet and admitted to being gay or bisexual.