Nationally syndicated sex columnist Dan Savage is known for discussing all things X-rated, but I recently had the chance to interview him for “So What Do You Do?” to discuss the future of alternative weeklies, how he branched out into other media outlets and his new MTV show, Savage U.

On if alternative weeklies will fare any better in the digital era:

DS: I don’t! The print media is in trouble everywhere and is having to transition and transition fast to the new economic models.

If his other media ventures were deliberate moves or did other outlets approach him:

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As you may have heard, or googled, sex columnist Dan Savage has already redefined Rick Santorum‘s last name as “the frothy mix of lube and fecal matter that is sometimes the byproduct of anal sex.” Now Savage is threatening to redefine the name “Rick” if Santorum continues using homophobia as a campaign tool. Let’s just say it involves “milky froth” and “turkey jerky.”

Play nice, Rick. Because we know Savage won’t.

The Gay Men’s Chorus of Los Angeles has lent their voices to Dan Savage‘s online “It Gets Better” campaign to end bullying against LGBT youth–with a rendition of Cyndi Lauper‘s “True Colors.” The production team for the video packs some serious names, including Brian Graden, former President of Programming at MTV, VH1, CMT and the LGBT channel Logo; Emmy Award-winning producer/director Tim Atzinger; and John Lavin of Bloodrush Films.

Previously on FBLA:

President Obama has hopped on Dan Savage‘s “It Gets Better” campaign against gay bullying–even as his administration has decided to appeal a court’s ruling that Don’t Ask Don’t Tell is unconstitutional.

Savage spoke with CNN this morning about Obama’s video and said that while he was happy for Obama’s support, he wants to see policy change to accompany the rhetoric.

“Here you have the President of the United States saying that you didn’t choose it — to be gay — and you will get through this…that said, the President of the United States has the power to do more than assure LGBT kids that it will get better; the President of the United States has the power to make it better for LGBT adults and children.”

Video of Savage’s appearance after the jump:

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Fort Worth City Councilman Joel Burns adds to sex advice columnist Dan Savage‘s “It Gets Better Project” in the wake of a rash of tweens and teens committing suicide because they were gay…or at least bullied as “gay.”

Just try to watch the video with a dry eye. Go ahead. Go on and try you heartless jerks!

Here’s Savage’s project.

As you may have heard, spurred on by “Savage Love” columnist Dan Savage‘s “It Gets Better” campaign–an effort to stem the tide of bullying against gay teens–gossip blogger Perez Hilton has made a very public vow to be nicer. Yes, this the same Perez Hilton who makes a living by calling celebrities bitchy names like “Maniston” (Jennifer Aniston) and posting pictures of celebs he doesn’t like with semen photoshopped on their chin.

So…how’s that whole nice working out?

So far the results seem mixed. The site’s been pretty bland today. But Hilton just couldn’t resist taking a dig at one of his favorite targets: Miley Cyrus.

The headline above is in reference to a video Hilton posted of the singer Ke$ha, entitled “Ke$ha getting served a buffet of dicks,” which shows the starlet drunk and asking a bunch of cameramen to whip out their respective junk for her inspection. Hmmm, comparing 17-year-old Cyrus with a drunk 23-year-old adult trying to get a peak at some wiener…

Just a hint Perez. If you’re really looking to become less of a bully, 17-year-old girls are probably the ones you should lay off of first.

Sonoma County took an elderly man who had fallen down the stairs and put him in a nursing home separate from his partner of 20 years. That man, Clay Greene died alone in the home. The state then auctioned off the couple’s belongings and the surviving partner sued. Dan Savage picked up the story, as did we. Then according to the county who has no doubt heard from the outraged all over the country, relayed that the guy who ended up in the hospital was being physically abused by his partner of 20 years and the state intervened.

Here’s the letter from the Deputy County Counsel’s office.

Here’s a story of an over-reaching “gubment” you’ve yet to see on a Tea Party sign or in the LA Times.

Writer Dan Savage brings this to our attention:

Clay and his partner of 20 years, Harold, lived in California. Clay and Harold made diligent efforts to protect their legal rights, and had their legal paperwork in place-wills, powers of attorney, and medical directives, all naming each other. Harold was 88 years old and in frail medical condition, but still living at home with Clay, 77, who was in good health.

One evening, Harold fell down the front steps of their home and was taken to the hospital. Based on their medical directives alone, Clay should have been consulted in Harold’s care from the first moment. Tragically, county and health care workers instead refused to allow Clay to see Harold in the hospital. The county then ultimately went one step further by isolating the couple from each other, placing the men in separate nursing homes.

Ignoring Clay’s significant role in Harold’s life, the county continued to treat Harold like he had no family and went to court seeking the power to make financial decisions on his behalf. Outrageously, the county represented to the judge that Clay was merely Harold’s “roommate.” The court denied their efforts, but did grant the county limited access to one of Harold’s bank accounts to pay for his care.

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