Quote Of The Day - Akie Abe

"There is no difference to importance of love from sexual orientation. There should not be any discrimination because who you love. I am going to raise my voice. If my raised voice could contribute to the pride of LGBT people, there is no greater joy." - Akie Abe, the First Lady of Japan, speaking today at a gay pride event sponsored by the US embassy in Tokyo.

Also in attendance was George Takei, who predicted that Japan will soon make advances in LGBT rights.

The "Star Trek" actor also known for his gay and civil rights activism, said he was encouraged to have met with Japanese activists for lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender rights, and even some of their parents fighting for their children. "They have to have courage to come out and share their lives honestly," Takei said. Once they get a ball rolling, more movement would follow, like "a ripple effect" that spreads, he added. "So I'm optimistic. I do think that Japan will be one of the nations that have equality and that too will serve as an example for other Asian nations."

The event was hosted by Ambassador Caroline Kennedy. From her opening speech:

"African-Americans, women, people with disabilities, and gay men and lesbian have reminded all Americans that we are each entitled to the same rights, liberties, responsibilities and opportunities. Those struggle to transform our society, here tonight we celebrate the countless acts of courage and commitment and reaffirm that LGBT rights are human rights."

RELATED: In April, Akie Abe rode in Tokyo's pride parade.

President Obama Nominates Caroline Kennedy To Be Ambassador To Japan

Yesterday afternoon President Obama formally nominated Caroline Kennedy to be the US ambassador to Japan.

In naming Ms. Kennedy, whose nomination has been rumored for months, Mr. Obama is keeping with a well-established tradition of rewarding important campaign supporters with plum embassies. He recently put forward big-dollar fund-raisers to be envoys in London, Berlin, Copenhagen and Madrid. But Ms. Kennedy’s value to Mr. Obama has been less about money than mystique. As the daughter of President John F. Kennedy, her imprimatur on his candidacy in 2008 — along with that of her uncle, Senator Edward M. Kennedy of Massachusetts — elevated Mr. Obama at a crucial moment against his better-known rival, Hillary Rodham Clinton.

RELATED: In late 2008 Kennedy was considered to be a top prospect to be appointed by then-New York Gov. David Paterson to replace Hillary Clinton in the Senate when Obama named Clinton as Secretary of State. Kennedy withdrew from consideration in early 2009, citing the failing health of her uncle, the late Sen. Ted Kennedy.

IOWA: Ousted Pro-Gay Judges To Receive Kennedy Profile In Courage Award

Just in from Freedom To Marry...

Three years after the unanimous Iowa Supreme Court decision affirming the freedom to marry, three former justices ousted in a retention election following the ruling will receive the prestigious 2012 John F. Kennedy Profile in Courage Award on Monday, May 7. Caroline Kennedy will present the award to former Iowa Chief Justice Marsha Ternus and Justices David Baker and Michael Streit at the John F. Kennedy Presidential Library and Museum in Boston. “Former justices David Baker, Michael Streit, and Chief Justice Marsha Ternus showed tremendous courage when they joined a unanimous court in upholding the freedom to marry for all loving, committed couples in Iowa, and, again, when they honored the bedrock American value of an independent judiciary by refraining from political campaigning even as they faced an unprecedented moneyed campaign mounted against the court by anti-marriage shell-groups,” said Evan Wolfson, founder and President of Freedom to Marry.

Amazing.

Caroline Kennedy Withdraws From Clinton Seat Consideration

UPDATE: Although this is the top story on the NYT site at this writing, other news outlets are saying Kennedy may still be a candidate.

Citing health concerns for her uncle Sen. Ted Kennedy, who collapsed yesterday during the inauguration, Caroline Kennedy is withdrawing her bid for Hillary Clinton's seat.

On Wednesday she called Gov. David A. Paterson, who will choose a successor to Senator Hillary Rodham Clinton. Her concerns about Senator Edward M. Kennedy’s deteriorating health (he was hospitalized after suffering a seizure during President Obama’s inaugural lunch on Tuesday ) prompted her decision to withdraw, this person said. Coping with her uncle’s condition was her most important priority, a situation not conducive to starting a high profile public job.

Ms. Kennedy believed that the job was hers if she would accept it, the person said. A spokeswoman for Mr. Paterson had no immediate comment. Ms. Kennedy was planning to issue a statement on Wednesday evening. Ms. Kennedy’s decision comes nearly two months after she, along with several members of Congress and leading political officials, began auditioning to replace Mrs. Clinton in the coveted position. Her decision to withdraw is certain to startle the political world. Ms. Kennedy had gained the support of some powerful backers in the state, including several labor officials and a top aide to Mayor Michael R. Bloomberg, Kevin Sheekey.

NY Gov. Paterson had said earlier today that he would announce his pick by Saturday, but it's not clear if he knew of Kennedy's withdrawal at that time.

Sen. Kennedy?

The New York Post claims that Gov. Paterson has made the decision to name Caroline Kennedy to replace Hillary Clinton in the Senate.

Despite claims that he's still undecided, Gov. Paterson is "certain" to pick Caroline Kennedy to replace Hillary Rodham Clinton in the US Senate, several unhappy contenders for the job have told friends and associates in recent days. The contenders based their conclusion on the view that Paterson, after nearly two months of indecision, would "greatly embarrass" and "entirely humiliate" Kennedy, anger her prominent political family and even offend President-elect Barack Obama by picking someone other than President John F. Kennedy's daughter. As for the governor's claim to be weighing a last-minute finalist, the contenders agree with a close Paterson friend who said, "It's clear David is just trying to play mind games with the press."

I watched Paterson on Larry King last night and he was indeed coy, telling King, "My pick to be the new junior Senator from New York is.......going to be announced in a few days."

Paterson: Kennedy Is Not A Shoo-In

Noting her lack of elected office experience, NY Gov. David Paterson is telling the press that Caroline Kennedy is not guaranteed to be his choice to fill Hillary Clinton's senate seat.

“The notion that I have to take Caroline is not coming from me,” Paterson said in an interview in his Capitol office. He said “gossip” has become a “greater force right now than my decision” and suggested the media have become too consumed with just one big-named candidate. “What I would say is that, to the media it’s Caroline and the others. To me, there are 10 to 15 good candidates,” said the governor, who will appoint the successor to Sen. Hillary Rodham Clinton after she is confirmed later this month as U. S. secretary of state.

Much as with Obama's appointments, all candidates have had to complete exhaustive questionnaires about their personal lives, including whether they write blogs or use Facebook. Candidates have also had to supply the web addresses of relatives who may have MySpace pages or other personal sites. They've also had to say if they've had any dealings with Bernie Madoff.

Caroline Kennedy: Yes To Gay Marriage

Caroline Kennedy began actively campaigning to replace Hillary Clinton last week. On Saturday her spokesperson told the NY Times that Kennedy supports same-sex marriage.

In most respects, Ms. Kennedy’s answers described views similar to those of other New York Democrats, including New York’s senior senator, Charles E. Schumer, and Mrs. Clinton. But she appears to support same-sex marriage, a significant difference between herself and Mrs. Clinton as well as president-elect Barack Obama, whose endorsement by Ms. Kennedy was a watershed event in the presidential race. “Caroline supports full equality and marriage rights for gay and lesbian couples,” the statement said.

Kennedy's voting record raised eyebrows on Friday when it was revealed that she had not voted in about half of the elections held since she registered to vote on Manhattan's Upper East Side in 1988.

Caroline Kennedy, who is seeking to succeed Senator Hillary Clinton, has not voted in a number of elections, including at least one race for the job she's seeking. The Democrat registered at her current address on Manhattan's Upper East Side in 1988. According to city Board of Elections records, she missed Democratic mayoral primaries in 1989, 1993, 1997, and 2005. She also missed the 2002 gubernatorial primary and general election, when Democrat H. Carl McCall lost to Republican incumbent George Pataki. She skipped the 1994 general election, when Senator Daniel Patrick Moynihan was running for reelection for the same seat she hopes to take over if Clinton is confirmed as secretary of state.

Sen. Caroline Kennedy?

According to ABC News, NY Gov. David Paterson is talking to Caroline Kennedy about filling Hillary Clinton's seat in the Senate.

Another Senator Kennedy? The crazy speculation about Hillary Clinton's Senate seat may not be so crazy after all. A Democrat who would know tells ABC News that New York governor David Paterson has talked to Caroline Kennedy about taking the seat, which was once held by her uncle, Robert F. Kennedy. It’s not exactly shocking that Paterson would reach out to one of the most highly respected public figures in New York, but this is: Sources say Kennedy is considering it, and has not ruled out coming to Washington to replace Hillary Clinton in the Senate.

A few years ago, the famously private Caroline Kennedy would be the last Kennedy expected to serve in Congress, but of course, she took on a much more high-profile role during the presidential campaign and, if she does it, would be more than New York’s junior Senator; she’d have closer ties to the Obama White House than any of her colleagues, a direct line to the East Wing. When Robert Kennedy, Jr. took himself out of the running for the seat earlier this week, he told Jonathan Hicks of the New York Times, “Caroline Kennedy would be the perfect choice if she would agree to it.” And one more thing: We hear that President-elect Obama has made it clear that he thinks Caroline Kennedy would be a great choice.

For non-American readers: Caroline is the only surviving child of JFK and Jackie O.