HELENA, Mont. -- The Helena, Mont., City Commission on Monday voted unanimously to approve an ordinance to prohibit discrimination in housing, employment and many kinds of public accommodation based on sexual orientation or gender identity.

Hundreds of the city's residents and other concerned parties turned out to support or oppose the measure, which led the Commission to open two additional rooms to provide audio and video of the meeting.

How great is it when life imitates art, which imitates life, which imitates art … You get the idea.

Unless you’ve been on a media fast all of your life, or like Steven Colbert, you’re so evolved that you don’t see race or orientation, then you probably know that Neil Patrick Harris is gay.

There was a brief hubbub when the world was forced to accept the beloved Doogie Howser as one of the enchanted.

Blessedly it was a brief hubbub. The National Enquirer had bigger fish to fry.

Here in the United States of America we are supposed to have Freedom of Religion. But I ask you: How can we have freedom of religion without having freedom from religion? How can you have the freedom to practice your personal religious beliefs if you must adhere to governmental laws that are based on the beliefs of any one religion?

The whole Christmas, Virgin Mary, Baby Jesus, Three Wise Men, no room at the inn, manger in a stable, star in the East thing is all about the Christians. This is their tale, their “shining star,” so to speak.

Teresa Oyos won this year’s top honors at the Dr. A. Brad Truax Award ceremony held on World AIDS Day, Dec. 1. The annual reception honors local individuals and organizations working to improve the lives of those affected by HIV and AIDS.

Currently a senior staff member in the University of California, San Diego HIV Neurobehavioral Research Program (HNRP), Oyos has been working in HIV and AIDS service organizations for over 24 years.