Newt Gingrich — an opponent of marriage equality — praised Washington state’s process of enacting same-sex marriage legislation. During a vist to the capital this morning, Gingrich explained that while “he disagrees personally with same-sex marriage,” states that have extended marriage rights legislatively — and will likely put the question on the ballot as a referendum — are “doing it the right way”:

“I think at least they’re doing it the right way, which is going through voters, giving them a chance to vote and not having a handful of judges arbitrarily impose their will,” Gingrich said when asked about the votes in Washington state and Maryland. “I don’t agree with it. I would vote no if it were on a referendum where I was, but at least they’re doing it the right way.”

The answer may concern some Republicans, who previously lashed out at Texas Gov. Rick Perry (R) for similarly suggesting that New York had the right to pass marriage equality under the 10th amendment. Virginia Gov. Bob McDonnell (R) — a potential Vice Presidential pick — has expressed a similar sentiment. Marriage equality advocates strongly oppose putting a minority’s civil right up to a popular vote, however.

Gingrich is a strong opponent of LGBT rights and has previously described same-sex marriage as “a temporary aberration that will dissipate,” and an example of “pagan” behaviors.

Anoka-Hennepin Superintendent Dennis Carlson (AP Photo/Dawn Villella)

As recently as three weeks ago, the superintendent of Anoka-Hennepin School District, Dennis Carlson, was still denying that bullying or the school’s anti-LGBT environment had anything to do with the multiple student suicides that took place over the past few years. Now that the district has finally implemented a policy that will  allow teachers to respect and affirm LGBT students, he seems to be singing a different tune. In a letter just published on the district’s webpage, Carlson reverses statements made in a 2010 voicemail, admitting that bullying is a serious problem that has had an impact on Anoka-Hennepin:

Although no one can ever be absolutely certain of the specific event that leads to a student’s suicide, there can be no doubt that in many situations bullying is one of the contributing factors. Gay students are especially vulnerable to anti-gay bullying and so are other students that are unique in some way that leads to verbal attacks by students.[...]

My daily commitment is always to protect and ensure the safety of each of our students, especially those who have felt marginalized in the past. It is a fundamental understanding of educators that students cannot learn if they do not feel safe, welcomed and affirmed in their school. Every Anoka-Hennepin school must provide that kind of safe environment for ALL students who walk through our doors – each and every day.

The concession is refreshing, but perhaps too little too late. Though a better policy is now in place, the district still faces a lawsuit filed by students claiming officials did not appropriately intervene with bullying as well as a federal civil rights investigation. And the new policy isn’t going to instantly transform the district into a welcoming environment for LGBT students. Carlson seems to have figured out how to talk the talk, so now it is time for his leadership as superintendent to walk the walk.

The St. Petersburg parliament in Russia held public hearings about the so-called anti-gay propaganda bill today, that supporters claim would ban “propaganda of sodomy, lesbianism, bisexualism and transgenderism” to minors. The measure has already passed two readings and is expected to received a third and final vote on February 29th. Governor Georgiy Poltavchenko will have 10 days to sign the bill.

Anti-gay proponents packed the hearing in their favor, Russian LGBT groups report, as organizers publicized the event only yesterday, and filled the audience with clerical and Russian nationalist organizations. The groups distributed flyers on the “Statistics on homosexuality,” which said that “homosexuals spread infections”, “homosexuals lead perverted lives,” and “homosexuals commit many crimes.” Experts also testified to the “perverse and sinful nature of homosexuality, calling for forced treatment or isolation of gays” and the audience responded with “insults and calling gay people perverts, faggots, and subhuman.”

Watch the full hearing (in Russian) here:

The measure would fine groups or individuals who promote homosexuality, pedophilia, or transgenderism to minors. The updated version includes fines that are 10 times higher than when the bill was first brought before the city’s legislature in November.

The anti-gay legislation has been condemned by the international community and is in violation of the UN Universal Declaration of Human Rights, the European Convention for Human Rights, the Council of Europe Recommendations and other decrees. Lawmakers in Moscow are said to be considering similar bans.

Former Pennsylvania Sen. Arlen Specter said he would not support his former colleague Rick Santorum in his bid for the presidency, claiming that Santorum’s view on gay people and women are too extreme to “represent America.” “When you have Senator Santorum’s views, so far to the right, with his attitude on women in the workplace and gays and the bestiality comments and birth control, I do not think it is realistic for Rick Santorum to represent America,” Specter explained Friday morning during an appearance on MSNBC’s The Daily Rundown. Watch it:

Asked about the snub this morning on the Laura Ingraham radio show, Santorum claimed,”I’m happy that Arlen Specter is opposing me, I think that shows how strong a conservative I am and I was able to go out and fight for the conservative cause and have victories for the conservative cause.”

Santorum had endorsed Specter in his 2004 re-election bid and Specter returned the favor and backed Santorum in 2006. The support has become a political liability for Santorum after Mitt Romney questioned why he supported Specter over his more conservative challenger and claimed that Specter provided the deciding vote for Obamacare.

Former Republican National Committee Chairman Michael Steele recently debated MSNBC’s John Heilemann about comparisons between same-sex and interracial marriage, arguing that people who are black have a significantly different experience from those who are gay because of the visibility of their identities. Mediaite’s Tommy Christopher followed up with Steele about this interview, and Steele explained that though he still opposes marriage equality, he supports “full privileges and benefits” for the LGBT community:

STEELE: I’ve been very supportive of gay rights activists… I do not support gay marriage because of my own religious tenets and my faith tradition, but at the same time I do believe in making sure that gay individuals have full privileges and benefits, whether it’s insurance and health and all the other things that couples would have in a relationship, and I would argue the same for heterosexual couples. I don’t understand why you have a man and a woman who live together for 7, 8, 10 years, whatever, why they can’t enjoy the same type of benefits.

Despite this concession, Steele did not back down from his point that many African Americans object to their own oppression being compared to the plight of the LGBT community. Listen to an excerpt from the interview:

In his discussion with New Jersey Gov. Chris Christie (R) on MSNBC yesterday, The Washington Post’s Jonathan Capehart argued that African Americans might not fully understand the LGBT community’s struggles: “It’s an issue of whether — if I were to get married to my partner and we were to have children, that my children would have the same protections that your children have because you’re able to legally marry… In that regard, we’re talking overall [about] a civil rights issue and what African Americans continue to struggle with is exactly what lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender people are struggling with today.”

Virginia Gov. Bob McDonnell (R) said that he respected Maryland’s right to decide the issue of marriage equality, just one day after that state passed legislation same-sex marriage. “The beauty of our regulators under the 10th amendment…is that states are the laboratories are democracy and innovation and they have the freedom to make different choices,” he said during a Politico forum this morning with Maryland Gov. Martin O’Malley (D). “Martin and I have different views on this issue, on others, but that’s what’s great about having 50 states.”

But when O’Malley responded by suggesting that the well-being of children informed his own evolution towards marriage equality — “we concluded that it was not right and not just that the children of gay parents should homes that are protected in a lesser way under the law than other children,” he said — McDonnell remained unconvinced, insisting that gays and lesbians make worse parents than heterosexual couples and should thus be the last to adopt children:

MCDONNELL: Most of the data that I’ve read that the best environment for a child to grow up to be fully capable of achieving the American dream and having the best start at life in an intact two-parent family made up of a man and a woman. I would say that that’s what all the data would suggest…An intact two-parent family is in fact the best for our country. Should be the model, but when it doesn’t work we have safety nets.

Watch it:

Indeed, it’s because an “intact two-parent family” is “the best for our country” that gay and lesbian families are seeking recognition under the law. A range of studies, including the the American Psychological Association, have concluded that “beliefs that lesbian and gay adults are not fit parents have no empirical foundation.” In fact, a recent analysis found that the 2 million children who are currently living with LGBT parents are hurt not by the sexual orientation of mom or dad, but the social stigma and legal inequality that people like McDonnell perpetuate.

Recently, Virginia passed legislation “allowing private adoption agencies to discriminate against gay prospective parents” and the governor has pledged to sign the measure, which will take effect July 1. Meanwhile, O’Malley said that he will sign his state’s marriage equality measure next week.

Former New York City Mayor Rudy Giuliani (R) criticized the Republican party for opposing equality for gays and lesbians during an interview on CNN, saying, “I think beyond all the religious and social part of it, it makes the party look like it isn’t a modern party. It doesn’t understand the modern world”:

Giuliani, who has supported civil unions, says he still believes marriage should be between one man and one woman, but can “live with” the legalization of same-sex marriage in New York. He has called on Republicans to “get the heck out of people’s bedrooms” and “ease up a little bit” on social issues.

Polls have overwhelmingly shown an age divide on gay and lesbian rights, with an overwhelming percentage of younger voters supporting full equality for the LGBT community. (HT: Towleroad)