Check out this MTV News clip, in which comedienne Sarah Silverman — a gal who’s never been known for being shy — tells it like it is regarding the fight for marriage equality.

The Oregon Safe Schools and Communities Coalition is seeking nominations for the newly established Richard E. Walker Award. Per a press release distributed by Jenn Burleton at TransActive, the honor will recognize “an individual or organization that has made a significant contribution to furthering the mission of OSSCC, which seeks to create safe schools and communities where every family can belong, every educator can teach, and every child can learn regardless of actual or perceived sexual orientation or gender identity.”

The award’s namesake, Richard E. “Dick” Walker, was a founding member of OSSCC and worked tirelessly for the benefit of all students, especially for the rights of lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender students.

The completed nomination form is due by April 1. Presentation of the award will take place during OSSCC’s Annual Meeting on May 8.

Science fiction TV series Caprica may be one of the best portrayals of a married gay couple on television.

The Battlestar Galactica prequel features a character named Sam Adama (played by Sasha Roiz) who belongs to an organized crime unit. Last Friday’s episode revealed that Adama is also married and gay. The show revealed this facet of Adama’s life quite casually – highlighting the normalcy of the relationship, rather than approaching it as the central identity of the character or the crux of the storyline.

Check out a clip of the couple at home, courtesy of SyFy. Puts a smile on your face, doesn’t it?

Interested in helping out Portland Gay Volleyball but not sure how? Does relaxing with a bottle of Pinot and schlurping Coconut Prawns sound like a delicious way to make that happen?

If you answered “yes,” then you’re probably going to be pretty excited that on February 25th, from 7:00 – 10:00 p.m., Portland Gay Volleyball will be tickling your charity and yummy fancies at the same time with “Indulge.” This event fundraiser will feature an evening of appetizers and unlimited wine in support of the 2010 NAGVA Championships (held this year in Portland May 28th – 30th), courtesy of Barefoot Wine and Hobo’s Bar and Restaurant.

Tickets to the fundraiser are $25 and can be obtained by contacting indulge@portlandgayvolleyball.org.

Just a reminder: Salon Q holds its monthly get-together tomorrow, Tuesday evening, February 9 at the Original (300 SW Sixth Ave.) from 7 to 11 p.m. Held every second Tuesday, Salon Q is a welcoming social environment for the queer community. “Our goal, simply, is to bring people together. New in town? Wanting to meet great friends—or maybe find a date? Salon Q is what you make it.”

There’s no cover, but you’re requested to bring cash to help ease the lines.

Follow them on Twitter (and while you’re at it, follow Just Out on Twitter for the news and happenings you need to know.)

At a special January 16 celebration, the PFLAG Portland Black Chapter met to discuss plans for the coming year and officially launch the organization under its new name. The local branch was created in January 2009 as African-American/Black PFLAG. Per a press release, “Leaders of the local African American community; ‘We Are Family’ celebrate the name change to be all encumbrance of the black faces of Oregon!”

PFLAG, Parents, Families and Friends of Lesbians and Gays, is a national nonprofit with over 200,000 members and supporters. 

PFLAG Portland Black Chapter meetings are open to all gays and lesbians, and friends and family. The next meeting is Saturday, February 20 at the Metropolitan Community Church (2400 NE Broadway).

For more information, call Community Organizer Geri Washington at 503-421-3343 or email washington.geri@yahoo.com.      

The Palm Center – a UC Santa Barbara think tank and leader in commissioning and disseminating research in the areas of gender, sexuality, and the military – has announced a Washington, D.C. summit for officials and experts from military forces that have allowed gays to serve openly in their military, including the Israeli Defense Force and NATO member militaries.

The summit is expected to take place in early spring, and will focus on the impact or lack thereof concerning the implementation of personnel policies for openly gay troops. British and Israeli experts have already confirmed their participation.

The summit is being announced less than a week after the Senate Armed Services Committee heard testimony from Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff Mike Mullen, and U.S. Defense Secretary Robert Gates, wherein they supported a repeal of Don’t Ask Don’t Tell pending a comprehensive review of the policy.

Read the full press release after the jump.

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Last week’s “Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell” headlines proved a bit of fodder for the Not-Ready-For-Primetime Players this weekend. Below, Saturday Night Live’s opening sketch — a Fox News spoof roundtable discussion.

Also, click here to check out the ladies from The View talking up DADT in their “Hot Topics” segment.

Interesting how it was never brought up during perhaps one of the most high-profile gay rights/gay marriage legal cases ever that the Judge presiding over the case was himself gay. But, many San Francisco politicians and gay rights activists aren’t exactly relieved – or surprised – by Walker’s orientation.

“There is nothing about Walker as a judge to indicate that his sexual orientation, other than being an interesting factor, will in any way bias his view,” said Kate Kendell, head of the National Center for Lesbian Rights, which is supporting the lawsuit to overturn Prop. 8.

As evidence, she cites the judge’s conservative – albeit libertarian – reputation, and says, “There wasn’t anyone who thought (overturning Prop. was a cakewalk given his sexual orientation.”

Walker has declined comment about his orientation or the Prop 8 case outside court, but reportedly Walker did pipe up when the circumstances were mentioned of a case he took when he was a private attorney, when he represented the U.S. Olympic Committee in a successful bid to keep San Francisco’s Gay Olympics from infringing on its name.

“Life is full of irony.”

Walker’s assignment to the Proposition 8 trial was decided at random.

GayCities.com readers have voted Southeast Portland’s own triple-threat E-Room as the Best Lesbian Bar in the country.

The ivy-clad den will turn dance party tonight at 9:00 p.m. with DJ No-No (pictured at right) on the wheels of steel. If you can’t seem to cut a rug correctly, take it to the mic with some karaoke, also starting at 9:00 p.m.