Liberation abroad, repression at home. Even as the liberation of Iraq continues, we're a long way from liberation in this country when it comes to gay men and lesbians.

Two pieces in today's New York Times illustrate that the silliness -- actually, it's quite a bit worse than silliness -- continues. Christopher Marquis reports on the secrecy that lesbian and gay couples in the military must engage in so that they can stay clear of the ridiculous "don't ask, don't tell" policy.

And Erica Goode finds that the government is making it increasingly difficult for scientists who study AIDS to win grants if their applications use "provocative" phrases such as "anal sex" and "sex workers." You really can't make this stuff up.

By the way, this week's Phoenix features an article by Kristen Lombardi on the legal struggle for same-sex marriage in Massachusetts -- a case before the Supreme Judicial Court that could be decided within the next few months.