americans voting

African Americans have worked hard to get the vote and to get a man of African descent in the White House. In 2008 we came out in unprecedented numbers with Obama taking 95% of the black vote, thanks to the help of his biggest support base - African American ministers and their parishioners.

Adam Lambert sparks fear in "American Idol" producers. On Tuesday night, the nine remaining "American Idol" contestants sang Elvis Presley hits. On Wednesday night, Adam Lambert performs on "American Idol." There is high tension leading up to Lambert's upcoming performance of "Whataya Want From Me" Wednesday night. The "Idol" big wigs were afraid of a repeat performance of what Lambert did at last year at the American Music Awards. Who was voted off "American Idol" Wednesday?

Tom Hanks has issued an apology after calling Mormons who voted for Prop. 8 "un-American" at a Big Love premiere party last week.

Has anyone else missed The Voice’s one out lesbian contestant De’Borah since the clearly tasteless American public voted off the adorable belter with the church choir background during the show’s first live rounds earlier this season? And let’s not even get started on America voting off the season’s other real showmen --Cody Belew and Amanda Brown—well before their time.

"American Idol" voted off the first four contestants of season nine, eliminating Janell Wheeler, Joe Munoz, Ashley Rodriguez and Tyler Grady. 20 contestants remain: Katelyn Epperly, Lilly Scott, Lacey Brown, Haeley Vaughn, Didi Benami, Michelle Delamor, Katie Stevens, Crystal Bowersox, Paige Miles and Soibhan Magnus, Andrew Garcia, Todrick Hall, Lee Dewyze, Michael Lynche, Aaron Kelly, Jermaine Sellers, Tim Urban, John Park and Alex Lambert.

The House passed a historic health care bill Sunday evening, but specific provisions for LGBT Americans were not included. The final vote for the health care bill was 219-212. Rep. Tammy Baldwin (D-Wisc.) said that not included in the bill were her additions banning discrimination against LGBT people, the Early Treatment for HIV Act, ending taxes for gay workers whose partners are covered under their work health insurance and launching a program to study LGBT health and discrimination.

Chicago mayoral hopeful Carol Moseley Braun was scheduled to appear at an LGBT event Tuesday night, but she ended up being present only by telephone. She addressed the crowd through a phone held up to a microphone, but Braun’s remarks remained inaudible to most of the crowd as she expressed a desire for an inclusive Chicago “where everyone would have equality and opportunity and a chance to participate.” Braun, a gay-supportive former U.S. senator, is the leading African-American candidate in a city where voting sometimes falls along racial lines. She will face former White House chief of staff Rahm Emanuel and others in next month's election to succeed Mayor Richard M. Daley, who is retiring.

In the latest surprising twist along the long and winding path of the Maryland marriage equality bill, the house of delegates voted Friday afternoon to recommit the bill to committee, effectively ensuring there would be no further action on the bill until next year.  Following three hours of impassioned debate, house chairman Joseph Vallario proposed the motion to recommit, which delegates approved in a voice vote. The procedural maneuver sends the bill back to the judiciary committee, where it can be taken up again in 2012. The committee advanced the bill by a 12-10 vote last week.

The Saturday Night Live funnywoman could be crowned Best Supporting Comedy Actress on TV.

It was a great night for lesbians on NBC’s juggernaut reality show The Voice Tuesday with America voting to keep Beverly McClellan of “Team Christina (Aguilera),” thereby declaring her the de facto favorite of that team, and the amazing Vicci Martinez of “Team Cee Lo (Green)” delivering a smoldering rendition of Dolly Parton’s “Jolene.”

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Maryland governor Martin O’Malley signed the marriage equality bill Thursday as opponents of the law prepared their push for a referendum this fall. O’Malley, who made the bill a priority this session, held a signing ceremony in Annapolis one week after the Senate passed the bill in a 25-22 vote. Lawmakers and advocates attended the event, which marked the culmination of a two-year campaign that included the decision to pull the bill from a vote in the House of Delegates last year due to lack of support.