In the wake of yesterday’s bloody defeat of a marriage equality bill in the New York State Senate (and Maine, and California, and a likely defeat in New Jersey), there have been protests, apologies, and as the National Organization for Marriage gloats, many are questioning whether or not the state-by-state strategy for pursuing marriage rights is fundamentally flawed. The arguments are interesting on all sides – check out Joe.My.God’s open thread for more.

However, even the federally-focused strategy is running into problems. Dr. Jillian Weiss at the Bilerico Project thinks the Employment Non-Discrimination Act is dead until after Congress’ Christmas recess — it won’t be heard by the House Committee on Education and Labor this week, and even if they take it up next week, it won’t make it to the House floor for a vote before the Representatives go on vacation.

Elsewhere…

Georgia – Project Q Atlanta takes a look at the election data for the city’s hotly contested mayoral election, where both candidates vied for the LGBT vote as a way to break the deadlock, and concludes that race was probably a big factor. (Project Q Atlanta)

Mexico – Pam’s House Blend sees a Mexican Cardinal’s recent outburst declaring the LGBT community forever damned as more evidence of Pope Benedict XVI’s rollback of John Paul II’s theological reforms. (Pam’s House Blend)

California – A gay state representative from Los Angeles is poised to become the first openly queer Speaker of the California Assembly (San Francisco Chronicle)

California – Towleroad has video of Pink’s performance at the 2004 Billboard Awards where she ground a male dancer’s face into her crotch, without any repercussions from the FCC or TV networks televising the performance. (Towleroad)

D.C. – Rep. Alcee Hastings (D-FL) has introduced a bill that would grant immunity to any openly LGB servicemember who reveals their sexuality while testifying before congress on the military’s Don’t Ask Don’t Tell policy. The bill, which some see as a possible first dent in the discriminatory policy, is facing strong opposition from the Servicemembers’ Legal Defense Network, the largest anti-DADT lobby group, because it could make any testifiers “pariahs” in their units. (Associated Press)

Uganda – Reuters reports that Uganda’s so-called “Kill Gays” bill is likely to pass. Towleroad also passes on news that Sweden will pull development aid to Uganda if the bill passes. (Towleroad)