Page 1 Consider (07/23)

Kids Play: A panel of five notable social commentators including Dan Savage and Lynn Spigel weigh in on the success of "The Kids Are All Right," and why it was television -- not film -- that seems to have paved the way for social acceptance of nontraditional families. Spigel writes: Media popularity doesn’t always translate into real-world popularity. But perhaps more than any other medium, television has made people feel a little more at home with gay culture. At the least, television has opened up public discussions about gay sexuality and politics, and what it means to be a family. Television also puts viewers into cultural contact with ideas and people they might never encounter in their own towns (or cities for that matter). Even if this visibility is market-driven, the current popularity of gay themes may have a lasting social value. (NYT)

Late to the Party: Now that he's been doing it for all of five minutes, disgraced California state senator Roy Ashburn thinks it's time for Republicans to start fighting for gay rights. (SFGate)

Super Curious? A (sketchy) new book claims "Superman" stud Christopher Reeve had a steamy two-month affair with gay porn star Casey Donovan. (Boy Culture)

I Want My LGBTv: The Gay & Lesbian Alliance Against Defamation (GLAAD) released its 4th annual Network Responsibility Index (NRI), a report that maps the quantity, quality and diversity of images of lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender (LGBT) people on television, and MTV came out on top this year -- while the land's No. 1 network, CBS, received another “Failing” rating for its lack of inclusion of the LGBT community. (ABC)

Gracious Kid: Didn't realize the young Welsh guy Chrissie Hynde has been making beautiful music with in the studio is someone she's also, um, making sweet music with ... in the boudoir. (Pop & Hiss)

Milestones: Chief Justice Margaret Marshall of the Massachusetts Supreme Court, who wrote the decision that made us confront the issue of marriage equality, stunned the state this week by saying she would hang up her robes in the fall. (Boston)

She's Got His Back: “Bachelorette” star Ali Fedowtowsky wants the world to know that despite outfits like this one above, Jake Pavelka is "definitely" not gay. (Marquee)

Ain't That America: Dan Choi, one of the most vocal critics of the military's "don't ask, don't tell" policy, has been honorably discharged for being in violation of it. Choi, a West Point graduate and Army National Guard first lieutenant, said he learned of the decision on Thursday. "It's painful, mostly -- not that my career is coming to an end, but really that it's been a very difficult year," he said in an interview. (WaPo)