If Barack Obama is the “first gay President,” as the Family Research Council would have it, he’s doing a pretty awful job of pushing the homosexual agenda. Yesterday, the Department of Justice asked a judge to throw out a lawsuit originally filed by the Log Cabin Republicans in 2004 that seeks to overturn Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell, not only arguing for the constitutionality of the law, but invoking many right-wing talking points in arguing that the lawsuit be dismissed. As AmericaBlog points out, the administration could have argued the plaintiffs had no standing to bring the case or otherwise done less to defend the law as previous administrations have done, instead of strenuously defending DADT with legal arguments completely at odds with the direction Obama set out in his State of the Union speech. This looks like another situation where the administration’s defensive crouch – to fend off right-wing attacks – is keeping them from developing an effective strategy to make DADT repeal a reality.

The DOJ’s brief (and recent protests?) seems to have brought the Human Rights Campaign to its senses, though: in response, they issued a statement calling on Obama to fulfill his State of the Union promise by leading the charge on DADT repeal, marking a departure from their usual habit of making excuses for the Administration. But, as Towleroad asks, is this pressure too little, too late?

Elsewhere…

D.C. – A second LGBT legislator has come forward saying the Employment Non-Discrimination Act will pass very soon. Rep. Jared Polis (D-CO) told Karen Ocamb that it’s only a matter of scheduling a vote. (LGBTPOV, via Joe.My.God)

D.C. – A happless RNC staffer is axed for expensing the $2,000 night at West Hollywood’s “lesbian” bondage nightclub Voyeur. The event was part of an effort to entertain younger donors. So far, there are no indications that Liz Cheney was in attendance. Bonus: according to the Daily Beast, both Dems and GOPers have about the same amount of sex scandals, but while Dems like the young women, Republican politicians seem to have problems around young men. (The Advocate, the Daily Beast)

Iowa – Today marks the one-year anniversary of Iowa’s heretofore most successful attempt to be better than Minnesota. (The Advocate)

New York – Did Ricky Martin’s boyfriend threaten to out him? (Towleroad)

New York – Super-Catholic Bill Donahue takes out a quarter-page ad in the New York Times claiming 80% of the priests who sexually abuse children are gay, then goes on Larry King Live to debate Sinead O’Connor on the latest round of pedophilia scandals facing the Catholic Church. (Towleroad)

Michigan – Gay campground near Saugatuk hit with “fags don’t belong” graffiti. (Towleroad)