In this first episode of Speak Up With Jimmy, I talk with Ji Wallace, the 2000 Olympic silver medalist in trampoline from Australia. After coming out publicly as gay in 2005, Ji came out again last year as HIV-positive when he saw a TV interview with diver Greg Louganis during the 2012 London Olympics. In this episode Ji talks about running the L.A. marathon, online dating sites and speaking up for people who live with HIV/AIDS.

Last week in Iowa City I realized the LGBT movement spends too much effort preaching to gay urban audiences. We need to invest more time gathering support from straight neighbors, especially in suburban and rural areas, so that LGBT acceptance becomes a full community affair.

Although I was cold from the rain during my few days in Iowa City, my heart was warm from seeing firsthand a local community energized to advance LGBT acceptance.

Count me among the many surprised people last week when the U.S. Supreme Court’s Chief Justice, John Roberts, proved his belief in judicial independence. Though nominated by a Republican president, he delivered votes in favor of Democratic positions in two major cases – striking down key components of Arizona’s oppressive immigration enforcement law and upholding President Obama’s health care reform act. With those two decisions in a single week, the Chief Justice demonstrated that judges can in fact set aside politics when ruling on ideologically-charged issues.

LGBT groups are gaining political influence. And they exert hard-won political muscle to fight for full equality and support LGBT and LGBT-friendly elected officials. But given so much work left to accomplish on equal rights and limited resources, gay groups should not be so quick to enter debates on non-LGBT issues.