The Marine Corps Times is speculating that President Obama will announce he’s found his courage in between the couch cushions, next to the TV remote, and will use it to guarantee senior Pentagon brass support a repeal of Don’t Ask Don’t Tell. It’s not exactly clear who they got their info from, since none of their quotes from Senator Carl Levin actually support their claim, casting doubt on just how true it is, given senior military officials’ repeated opposition to a repeal, and the leak of a report from the chief legal counsel to the Chairman of the Joint Chiefs that opposed a repeal. Perhaps Mullen and Obama have finally achieved the “consensus” among senior leaders they’ve been seeking?

Mullen and other Pentagon leaders have quietly begun a new push to build consensus for the timing of a repeal that Mullen and others assume will come eventually. Strong opposition to swift repeal remains among top uniformed military leaders.

(Navy Times)

A repeal would be groundbreaking for the newly-estimated 65,752 LGB servicemembers on active duty, or in the National Guard or the Reserves. If Obama does announce a concrete repeal proposal, though there will be only one (token) LGBT presidential guest to witness the speech – a rather clean-looking gay businessman from Indiana who’s a member of the National Gay & Lesbian Chamber of Commerce, not a part of the Human Rights Commission. Are these readable tea leaves?

Elsewhere…

California – Prop 8 trial coverage as blood sport, or hard analysis? Admittedly David Boies demolished both of the defendants’ expert witnesses, one of whom ended up torpedoing his own career, so it’s not like the carnage is manufactured. (Prop8TrialTracker.com, Box Turtle Bulletin)

California – eHarmony bites the bullet and lets the filthy, hedonistic LGBT people seeking lasting, committed same-gender relationships look on its site, instead of redirecting them to a companion site. (The San Francisco Chronicle)

Hawaii – The Hawaii state senate passes civil unions with a veto-proof majority. (The Honolulu Advertiser)

Florida – Florida’s ban on adoptions by same-sex couples keeps getting struck down by lower courts. (Towleroad)

Iowa – Governor Chet Culver has declared today “Iowa Gay-Straight Alliance Day,” to “Honor and Celebrate Student Groups that Work to End Violence and Harassment in Schools and Colleges.” I hate to say it, but Iowa’s winning, folks. All we’ve got is Margaret Anderson Kelliher. (Iowa Pride Network, The Shower Curtain Chronicles)

Haiti –A group of doctors who give free HIV/AIDS treatment (plus food, water, and shelter) to Haitians is in need of support. (The Advocate)