Log Cabin Republicans gave these out at Twin Cites Pride, telling the Advocate: "This one was such a no-brainer. With all the national attention with BP and the Gulf of Mexico and the suspension of any deep-water drilling, and Sarah Palin saying those words, it was like the planets coming into conjunction. What a great way to be in the spirit of pride."
Rabu, 30 Juni 2010
Log Cabin Condoms
Log Cabin Republicans gave these out at Twin Cites Pride, telling the Advocate: "This one was such a no-brainer. With all the national attention with BP and the Gulf of Mexico and the suspension of any deep-water drilling, and Sarah Palin saying those words, it was like the planets coming into conjunction. What a great way to be in the spirit of pride."
Suspect Cleared In Castro Shooting
San Francisco police have cleared the man they had in custody after a fatal shooting at the annual Pink Saturday pride party in the Castro.
Authorities say the .357 revolver found on 20-year-old Ed Perkins was not the weapon used to kill 19-year-old Stephen Powell in San Francisco's Castro district late Saturday. Witnesses did not place Perkins at the scene of the shooting. Perkins initially was arrested on suspicion of murder, but is now only facing charges of possessing a concealed weapon and possessing a loaded weapon. He's scheduled for arraignment Wednesday morning.Police vowed to continue the investigation: "The San Francisco Police Department is working to apprehend the individual who marred one of our most proud celebrations by bringing deadly mayhem to our streets."
HomoQuotable - Jimmy LaSalvia
"The decision by the leadership of the gay left to support the Arizona boycott over an issue totally unrelated to gay rights shows just how beholden they are to the union bosses. The Arizona boycott is being spear-headed by the Service Employees International Union, and the law at the center of the boycott has nothing even tangentially to do with the rights of gay and lesbian Americans lawfully in this country."The decision to participate in this boycott, over the objections of local groups like the Greater Phoenix Gay and Lesbian Chamber of Commerce, puts the interests of organized labor over those of the gay and lesbian Arizonans hurt by this protest. Whether it’s current boycotts, like the Arizona boycott or the boycott of the Manchester Hyatt in San Diego, or previous boycotts, like the boycott of Coor’s Brewing – Gay, Inc. is always willing to do the bidding of the big union bosses, regardless of its impact on gays and lesbians." - GOProud executive director Jimmy LaSalvia, via press release.
Both the Human Rights Campaign and the National Gay & Lesbian Task Force have endorsed a boycott of Arizona.
TORONTO: Chief Of Police Heckled By Gay G20 Protesters At Pride Party
Angry about their treatment by city police at last weekend's G20 Summit, a group of gay anti-globalists heckled the Toronto chief of police yesterday as he attempted to enter a cocktail party at the headquarters of Pride Toronto. Demonstrators denounced Pride Toronto as a "disgrace and a sellout" for hosting the police at their party. If it's not one thing, it's another for beleaguered Pride Toronto. Things get really heated at times in the below clip.
Kagan Asked About Gay Marriage
Considering that she will likely be hearing the Proposition 8 case in the next couple of years, Elena Kagan had to pull her punches when asked about states' rights and same-sex marriage.
Tweet Of The Day - Maggie Gallagher
Slaggie blogs: A new study by a Spanish gay rights group reports that about 10,000 gay marriages have taken place since Spain legalized gay marriage in 2007. Spain has about 30 million people in 2008 over the age of 15. If 3 percent of the population is homosexual, that would be about 900,000 gay and lesbian adults. So 20,000 gay people have chosen to marry so far -- about 2 percent of gay adults. Why so few?Theories abound regarding the low rate of gay marriages in places where it's legal. A populace not emotionally trained to expect the possibility of marriage, a distaste for the heteronormative institution itself, etc etc.
Republicans Renew Attempt To Repeal Health Care Reform
Today the top two GOP members of the House will announce their plan to attempt to force a vote on a bill to repeal health care reform. House Minority Leader John Boehner of Ohio and Minority Whip Eric Cantor of Virginia plan to announce Wednesday that they’ll support two discharge petitions — one from Rep. Steve King (R-Iowa) to repeal a portion of the law and a forthcoming petition from Rep. Wally Herger (R-Calif.) to repeal the entire law — and encourage other Republicans to follow suit. “Either course of action would begin to implement the will of the people with respect to Obamacare,” Boehner and Cantor said in a joint statement. “Accordingly, we will be signing both discharge petitions and encouraging our colleagues to do the same.”Nobody expects the bill to pass, of course, but election year grandstanding is what the GOP does best.
Jeb Bush To Obama: It's Not Dubya's Fault
"It’s kind of like a kid coming to school saying, 'The dog ate my homework.' It’s childish. This is what children do until they mature. They don’t accept responsibility. This would break his heart, to get advice that applies some of the lessons of leadership my brother learned, because he apparently likes to act like he’s still campaigning, and he likes to blame George’s administration for everything."But he really seems like he’s getting caught up in what people are writing about him. I mean, good God, man, read a book! Go watch ESPN! The issue to me is what we do now. Who cares who’s to blame?" - Former Florida Gov. Jeb Bush, speaking to the New York Times.
Although Jeb keeps saying he isn't interested in running for president in 2012, some GOP strategists say he might.
Florida Gov. Charlie Crist: Dive Right In, The Oil Is Only A Nuisance
Concerned about his state's plummeting tourism, Florida Gov. Charlie Crist says that there's no need to be concerned about "the toxic nature" of swimming in the Gulf waters. "It's not detrimental to anybody. It's much more of a nuisance than anything else at this point. It is safe." Anybody buying that?
(Tipped by JMG reader David)
(Tipped by JMG reader David)
Must See TV
"I've got a very, very graphic scene coming up that I shot with a man. I'm not a prude. I'm from Sweden, and it's different there. If it makes sense, I'll do nudity, and it's made sense every single time I'm naked on the show. And I love to be naked. It's kind of liberating." - True Blood star Alexander Skarsgard.
Lt. Dan Choi & Capt. James Pietrangelo Subpoena Obama Over White House Arrest
Ben Smith reports at Politico:The gay soldiers arrested outside the White House protesting "Don't Ask, Don't Tell" will announce today that they're demanding that President Obama testify in their trial on minor civil disobedience charges. Their novel argument: Obama himself called on gay rights advocates to pressure him, so they were just following orders. "Don't Ask" has energized gay rights activists frustrated with the White House's deliberate pace, even as Democratic leaders are frustrated with continued protests, as repeal is on track for next year.Read a statement from their lawyers here. An excerpt:
The subpoena of the President is necessary for the defense to prove that Defendants were following and obeying lawful orders or directives by their President and Commander in Chief, and were therefore under an obligation and authority to act as they did in order to pressure him - in a non-violent, visible way - on this important public issue. In addition, these statements support the contention that Defendants were acting out of necessity, in order to prevent discrimination and greater harm to gay servicemembers now serving.
BROOKLYN: Hasidic Jews Get Vodka Ads Yanked From City Buses
The MTA has caved to pressure from Brooklyn's Hasidic Jews and yanked the ad campaign from a vodka company that features a woman's butt in a bikini. An MTA rep tells Gothamist:"At the request of community leaders, the Georgi vodka ads were removed from buses that are likely to serve Brooklyn's Hasidic neighborhoods. It has been our longstanding practice, when and where possible, to be sensitive to neighborhood concerns about potentially suggestive advertising. Although it is not always practicable, we try to limit more suggestive ads upon neighborhood request."Last year Brooklyn's Hasidics protested the creation of new bike lanes because "provocatively dressed female bikers" might ride through their neighborhood.
PhoboQuotable - Rev. Lou Engle
"If we’re struggling with a homosexual, same-sex desire, LET THE BIBLE KILL YOU, rather than make it easier for you, and say well, there must be a better scriptural answer to this … Brothers and sisters, let the Bible kill you rather than you twist the scriptures! And in that killing, it will break you so that you can find a redeemer and a savior! Oh, I believe there are those struggling with same-sex desires who will stand, having done everything to stand, and maybe they won’t find the deliverance they’ve been looking for, but they refuse to let the world dictate their theology; they’re gonna stand on the Bible. And they may go for thirty years in an agonizing struggle, but they go into heaven because they stood with God rather than standing with the ideologies of this world." - Dominionist preacher Lou Engle, in a speech recorded by Evan Hurst at Truth Wins Out.Engle, who has supported Uganga's "kill gays" bill, is traveling the country with his ministry TheCall, exhorting young people to help his campaign to overturn democracy in the United States and institute a government based on "Biblical truth." Read Evan Hurst's report.
DOERS TV: 21-Channel Online Christian Television Network Launches
A 21-channel online Christian television network called DoersTV has launched. Interestingly, the network says it will never ask for donations, charge for subscribing, or air any fundraising telethons. "I truly believe, as disciples of Jesus Christ, all Christians (especially those in the media) have a responsibility to present the Gospel without cost," Pastor David Wright, CEO of DoersTV.com, said recently. "When Jesus laid the principle of freely you have received, freely you give; I believe He meant it. Everyone should be able to receive the Gospel free of charge. I do realize that there are major expenses involved in running a television network and bills must be paid, however, we must find creative ways to raise these funds without selling the Gospel."That "creative way" they will raise funds is via the Christian Shopping Channel, which is already running on DoersTV channel 9. A casting call for CSC posted last month in Orlando notes that the hosts will receive "no pay." BTW, I've clicked around on DoersTV via their remote control function and the interface is pretty slick. Instant start, slick menus. The major networks could take a clue from them. Here's a clip from CSC.
Quote Of The Day - Sarah Palin
"This is Reagan country, and perhaps it was destiny that the man who went to California's Eureka College would become so woven within and interlinked to the Golden State." - Sarah Palin, speaking to a graduating class at California State University. Slight problem. Reagan did attend Eureka College. In Illinois. There is no Eureka College in California.
FLORIDA: Doctor Treats Pregnant Women With Drug To Prevent Gay Babies
Last night Dan Savage emailed us with the tip that a doctor in Florida is treating pregnant women with a drug she hopes will prevent babies from being born lesbian. Savage: Pediatric endocrinologist Maria New—of the Mount Sinai School of Medicine and Florida International University—isn't just trying to prevent lesbianism by treating pregnant women with an experimental hormone. She's also trying to prevent the births of girls who display an "abnormal" disinterest in babies, don't want to play with girls' toys or become mothers, and whose "career preferences" are deemed to "masculine." Unbelievable.From the Bioethics Forum:
“Gender-related behaviors, namely childhood play, peer association, career and leisure time preferences in adolescence and adulthood, maternalism, aggression, and sexual orientation become masculinized in 46,XX girls and women with 21OHD deficiency [CAH]. These abnormalities have been attributed to the effects of excessive prenatal androgen levels on the sexual differentiation of the brain and later on behavior.” Nimkarn and New continue: “We anticipate that prenatal dexamethasone therapy will reduce the well-documented behavioral masculinization...” It seems more than a little ironic to have New, one of the first women pediatric endocrinologists and a member of the National Academy of Sciences, constructing women who go into “men’s” fields as “abnormal.” And yet it appears that New is suggesting that the “prevention” of “behavioral masculinization” is a benefit of treatment to parents with whom she speaks about prenatal dex. In a 2001 presentation to the CARES Foundation (a videotape of which we have), New seemed to suggest to parents that one of the goals of treatment of girls with CAH is to turn them into wives and mothers.Dan Savage:
Two things: Gay people have been stressing out about a day arriving when scientists developed treatments to prevent homosexuality. You can read about the preventing gay sheep freak out here, you can read about Twilight of the Golds here, and I recall—but can't quickly find a link for—a "fellow" at the Family Research Council or the American Family Association who backed in-utero hormone treatments to prevent homosexuality. Well, here we are—the day appears to have arrived. Now what are we going to do about it?
And will the Republicans on the Judiciary Committee invite Maria New to testify at Elana Kagan's confirmation hearings? New could argue that Kagan—childless, unmarried Kagan—is unfit to serve on our highest court because her "low maternal interest" pegs her as abnormal, well outside the "maternal mainstream." Maybe GOP senators would be mollified if Kagan knocked back a few bottles of dex during her confirmation hearings?
Larry King Stepping Down At CNN
Last night CNN host Larry King announced via Twitter that he will be ending his nightly CNN show this fall after 25 years. King, 76, said that despite falling ratings, he was not pressured into this move. He also said that he plans to continue at CNN with occasional specials.
The Teabagger Cruise
Wingnut site World Net Daily will be taking the teabaggers to sea.The itinerary notes that one port of call is "Labadee, Hispaniola." That's Haiti to the rest of the world.CALLING ALL PATRIOTS!Join your faithful like-minded partners at The WND Tea Party at Sea this September 19th - 26th as we sharpen and edify one another during 7 incredible days in the Eastern Caribbean. Joining your host Joseph and Elizabeth of WorldNetDaily, will be Alan Keyes, best selling author of Obama Nation, America for Sale, and The Late Great USA, Dr. Jerome Corsi, as well as David Kupelian, author of The Marketing of Evil and his latest, How Evil Works, and also the author of Schmoozing With Terrorists and The Late Great State of Israel, Aaron Klein. More announcements to come soon!
BRYAN FISCHER: We Need To Breed The Liberals Out Of Existence
"Apparently the more educated they [liberals] are, the fewer kids they have. Colleges and universities, dominated by secular fundamentalists and anti-marriage and anti-family feminists, are apparently leeching the maternal instincts right out of the female lemmings entrusted to their care. What this means quite simply is that liberals are breeding themselves out of existence."All this represents a marvelous opportunity for conservatives. We can regain political control of this country by simply following the biblical mandate to 'be fruitful and multiply and fill the earth.' This cultural mandate from God, as recorded in Genesis 1:28, has never been rescinded. It is as much in effect today as the moment it was first uttered. If secular fundamentalists don’t want to pay any attention to this directive, fine. To paraphrase Yogi Berra, if they’re not going to have kids, who’s gonna stop ‘em?" - American Family Association radio host Bryan Fischer.
WISCONSIN: State Supreme Court Unanimously Upholds Marriage Ban
Moments ago the Wisconsin state Supreme Court ruled unanimously to uphold the state's ban on same-sex marriage. In a 7-0 ruling, the court on Wednesday ruled that the 2006 constitutional amendment was properly put to voters in a statewide referendum. The court rejected a lawsuit that claimed the amendment violated a rule that limits referendum questions to a single subject. The lawsuit, filed by a voter opposed to the amendment, argued that gay marriage and civil unions were two different subjects. Justice Michael Gableman says both sentences "carry out the same general purpose of preserving the legal status of marriage in Wisconsin as between only one man and one woman."
RHODE ISLAND: Gov. Don Carcieri Vetoes Transgender Hate Crimes Bill
Rhode Island's notoriously anti-gay Gov. Don Carcieri has vetoed a measure that would have added transgender protections to the state's hate crimes law. The Family Research Council is thrilled. "Given the challenges facing America, it’s troubling that any legislature would invest time and taxpayer monies to consider such a superfluous agenda-driven maneuver, much less pass it through both Houses," said FRC president Tony Perkins. "In vetoing the measures, Gov. Carcieri rightly chose to tend to the serious business of governing Rhode Island and rejected those who seek to use government resources against anyone who would oppose their radical agenda."Last November Carcieri vetoed a bill that would have granted burial rights to the same-sex couples. The legislature later overrode his veto. Such an action is unlikely this time as the official legislative session has already expired for the year.
Australia's New PM: No Marriage For Gays
Australia's new prime minister Julia Gillard says she's against same-sex marriage. Labor policy on gay marriage will remain the same under her prime ministership, Ms Gillard told Austereo show today. "We believe the marriage act is appropriate in its current form, that is recognising that marriage is between a man and a woman, but we have as a government taken steps to equalise treatment for gay couples," Ms Gillard said. Asked if that was also her personal view, Ms Gillard said it was.Gillard, 49, has never married.
Selasa, 29 Juni 2010
WHO SUCKS? Sen. Lindsay Graham Asks Elena Kagan About The Hearing So Far
Definitely the oddest moment of the day.
Harry Reid Astroturfs Sharron Angle
Nevada local television covered a group of senior citizens calling themselves the Alliance For Retired Americans as they protested outside the campaign headquarters of teabagger loon Sharron Angle. But the group's "spokesman" is actually Richard Miller, the head of Reid's Southern Nevada Steering Committee. I guess they thought those terrible handmade signs made them look all for realz and shit.
SAN FRANCISCO: Two Shot During Pink Saturday Shooting Vigil
Two people were shot last night at a memorial vigil for the young man shot to death at San Francisco's Pink Saturday street party in the Castro.
The shooting was reported at about 8 p.m. near the intersection of Third Street and Quesada Avenue during a neighborhood vigil being held for 19-year-old Stephen Powell, who was shot and killed Saturday during Gay Pride in the city's Castro District, Officer Samson Chan said. One victim, a 21-year-old man, was shot through the cheek, Chan said, and the other victim, a 20-year-old man, was shot in the leg. Both victims were taken to the hospital. Their injuries were not expected to be life threatening. Witnesses were not forthcoming with information, Chan said, and police did not release any details regarding possible suspects early this morning.The young man accused of Saturday's shooting remains in custody on a murder charge.
Gay Marriage Is Worse Than The Oil Spill
So says the Maine Family Policy Council.
The shining whiteness of the bridal gown, symbolizing purity and the power that purity conveys, has been stained — or smudged, if you will — by pornography, sex before marriage, marital infidelity, divorce, abortion and, now, so-called marriages between people of the same sex. Like the dirty oil that pours uncontrollably into the waters of the Gulf, this withering tide of immorality at times seems impossible to control. No one has been successful in stopping the onslaught, since many parts of our society share a mistaken view of human freedom. When used properly, freedom is good and life-enhancing, but when misapplied, freedom works against life.(Via - Good As You)
Not all free actions are moral; and not all actions that are legal are good. In the case of slavery, free and legal actions were profoundly cruel and hateful. The same is true of abortion, the worst moral evil of our time. Those who justify immoral actions in the name of freedom, while failing to discuss the ethical dimension of those actions, keep society in moral obscurity and darkness. They may appeal to free enterprise, as BP did, or they may appeal to the First Amendment, as did the people who paraded half-naked through Farmington. But the actions, viewed from the aspect of the purpose of the participants, were clearly motivated by greed in one case and perhaps confused rebellion on the other. The proper symbol for such behavior is not a sunflower, as in the case of the BP logo, but a killing tide of black oil.
NOM Launches 23-City Hate Tour
The National Organization for Marriage is launching a 23-city bus tour to bring their message of bigotry and civil inequality throughout the country. Over 33 days, we’ll travel more than 6000 miles, holding rallies in 23 cities from Maine to Minnesota to Atlanta and Tampa before heading back to Washington, DC for the tour finale on August 15th. Many of the states we’ll be visiting are key battlegrounds in this critical debate, as we work to organize grassroots support for marriage as the union of a husband and wife at both the state federal levels, building support for state marriage amendments and opposing the repeal of DOMA. Please visit www.marriagetour2010.com for the latest tour information, including the bus schedule, a chance to register for email alerts from the tour, and video footage of each tour stop. We need your help to make this summer’s tour a success! Please click here to make your online contribution today. $60 would cover a penny per mile! $115 would be $5 toward the costs of each rally. Whatever you can give will go far as we work together to organize support for marriage all across the nation!The first stop on the tour is July 14th in Maine, where NOM has consistently and without shame flouted the state's campaign finance rules, flipping the citizens of Maine a giant middle finger when it comes to respecting local laws.
Daily Kos Denounces Polling Partner
Markos Moulitsas, founder of the progressive blogging powerhouse Daily Kos, has issued a quite scathing denouncement of his site's longtime polling partner Research 2000, alleging unspecified skullduggery in their methods. Research 2000 polling results were heavily cited across the blogosphere (including here) during the 2008 elections and beyond. We contracted with Research 2000 to conduct polling and to provide us with the results of their surveys. Based on the report of the statisticians, it's clear that we did not get what we paid for. We were defrauded by Research 2000, and while we don't know if some or all of the data was fabricated or manipulated beyond recognition, we know we can't trust it. Meanwhile, Research 2000 has refused to offer any explanation. Early in this process, I asked for and they offered to provide us with their raw data for independent analysis -- which could potentially exculpate them. That was two weeks ago, and despite repeated promises to provide us that data, Research 2000 ultimately refused to do so. At one point, they claimed they couldn't deliver them because their computers were down and they had to work out of a Kinkos office. Research 2000 was delivered a copy of the report early Monday morning, and though they quickly responded and promised a full response, once again the authors of the report heard nothing more. While the investigation didn't look at all of Research 2000 polling conducted for us, fact is I no longer have any confidence in any of it, and neither should anyone else. I ask that all poll tracking sites remove any Research 2000 polls commissioned by us from their databases. I hereby renounce any post we've written based exclusively on Research 2000 polling.Moulitsas says that he expects the right-wing to have a field day with this embarrassment and even allows that they probably should. Lawyers for Daily Kos are expected to file suit against Research 2000 shortly. The implications of this revelation are, to say the least, fascinating. Who was really pulling the strings at Research 2000?
NEW YORK: Sen. Ruben Diaz Kills Attempt To Allow Same-Sex Tax Filings
Two weeks ago openly gay New York state Assemblyman Daniel O'Donnell sponsored an addendum to the state budget that would allow legally married same-sex couples to jointly file their state income tax returns. Senate Democrats need their full one-vote majority to approve the budget, but arch homophobe Sen. Ruben Diaz threatened to derail the entire mega-billions funding package unless O'Donnell's amendment was removed. Today Senate Democrats caved to Diaz' demand and excised the amendment. Yet another win for Rev. Diaz.RELATED: Please consider throwing a few dollars to Diaz' 2010 reelection opponent Charlie Ramos. Diaz has strong support in his Bronx district, but November is still a long way away and as we know, ANYTHING can happen in New York Senate politics.
Kagan: I Oppose Don't Ask, Don't Tell
At her Supreme Court confirmation hearing, today nominee Elena Kagan strongly stated her continuing opposition to DADT, much to the annoyance of Sen. Jeff Sessions (R-AL). Later Kagan told Sessions that "One thing I do know is that my politics would be, must be, have to be completely separate from my judging."
One-Man Pokemon Acappella Band
Danny Fong, a 21 year-old from Saskatchewan, makes acappella tracks using his voice to create the instruments as well. Very cool stuff.
Anti-Gay Hate Groups Collaborate To Oppose Elena Kagan
The wackos at the poorly punctuated Pray In Jesus Name Project have launched a fax campaign to oppose the Supreme Court confirmation of Elena Kagan. And look who they've hired. Chaplain Klingenschmitt has contracted with a team of investigative journalists including Brian Camenker, Amy Contrada and Peter LaBarbera to investigate and report breaking news about Supreme Court nominee Elena Kagan. While serving as Dean of Harvard Law School, Kagan's administration demanded and forced Blue-Cross, Blue-Shield to cover sex-change operations as an "equal right" paid benefit, harming gender-confused students, as confirmed in 2006 and 2008 by Harvard Crimson newspaper articles.Brian Camenker and Amy Contrada are the co-founders of the SPLC-certified hate group MassResistance. Contrada has an openly lesbian daughter, making her anti-gay bleatings even more repulsive. And of course you already know about Porno Pete.Kagan also offered sympathetic ear to lesbian group Lambda's Transgender Task Force demand to force all women to share public bathrooms and locker-rooms with cross-dressing men, which is now part of Harvard's dormitory policy, according to the report. "This is further proof Elena Kagan cannot be trusted to impartially rule on Obamacare or bathroom bills like ENDA, since she believes sin is a Constitutional right," said Chaplain Klingenschmitt, "but rights come from God, who never grants the right to sin."
CALIFORNIA: Judge Agrees To Hear Log Cabin Republicans' DADT Challenge
A district court judge in California has agreed to hear the Log Cabin Republican's challenge to DADT.
Lawyer Dan Woods says U.S. District Court Judge Virginia A. Phillips in Riverside, Calif. agreed Monday to send the case to trial July 13. Woods is representing the Log Cabin Republicans, a group rights group. He says the group hopes to end the 1993 policy by having it declared unconstitutional. If the group wins, Woods says it could set a precedent for the entire nation. The Obama administration supports the drive to repeal the ban but faces a tough road ahead in the full Senate, where Republicans are likely to filibuster it.The big question now is how vigorously the Obama administration will defend itself against the suit.
Because the suit is a "facial challenge" against the entire policy, rather than against its application to anyone in particular, the only evidence that matters, the Justice Department says, is the evidence before Congress when it passed the law in 1993. And because Congress "could have rationally determined" that a ban on openly gay or lesbian soldiers would maintain military effectiveness by protecting privacy and reducing sexual tension, the department says, there's no need for testimony from witnesses about whether lawmakers acted wisely.(Via - The Advocate)
But that argument might not fly because Judge Phillips has already said she's inclined to hold the government to a higher standard, an issue she also plans to address at Monday's hearing. That standard would require the Justice Department to prove that don't ask, don't tell serves some legitimate public purpose in today's military. It might be an uncomfortable task for an administration whose leader has publicly called the policy unfair and discriminatory and wants it repealed.
Rugby Club Fined After Fans Taunt Gareth Thomas With Homophobic Chants
A British rugby team has been fined £40,000 after its fans taunted openly gay star Gareth Thomas with homophobic chants. The Yorkshire club was punished by the Rugby Football League (RFL) for the abuse Thomas received from its supporters at a March 26th match against the Crusaders. A statement from the RFL said: "Castleford were found guilty of unacceptable behaviour, of breaching the RFL's respect policy, of misconduct by their supporters and of conduct prejudicial to the interests of the sport. "The tribunal was chaired by his Honour Judge Rodney Grant, who criticised the club for failing to take steps to stop the homophobic chanting, for failing to identify the perpetrators, for failing to challenge the chanting and for their failure to undertake a meaningful inquiry afterwards." The March game was Thomas' second for the Crusaders after he switched from rugby union to rugby league.The team is expected to appeal the fine.
PhoboQuotable - Tony Perkins
"The Supreme Court, by a 5-4 ruling, now says that no university can give its imprimatur to discriminatory organizations if that university has an 'all-comers' policy of requiring every group to accept every membership applicant. In this case, the Court is suggesting that orthodox Judeo-Christian teaching against homosexual conduct is untenable on America 's university campuses. This is a grave breach of both freedom of religious speech and freedom of association, and a troubling day for America's long history of protection from religious discrimination."This decision came on the same day that Senate hearings on Elena Kagan's Supreme Court nomination began. It is just another reason why the United States needs justices who will uphold the Constitution and not undermine its guaranteed religious liberty to push a social agenda." - Family Research Council head Tony Perkins, riding the waambulance.
Loser horn for Miss Perkins!
TORONTO: City May Pull Pride Funding Over Reversal On Anti-Israel Group
Last week Pride Toronto announced that they were reversing their ban on Queers Against Israel Apartheid after weeks of protests and threats of a boycott. On Friday Toronto City Councilman Giorgio Mammoliti co-hosted a press conference with a collection of Jewish activists to announce that he would seek to retroactively pull this year's funding of Pride Toronto and would seek to end any future funding as well. Via Xtra: Xtra asked Mammoliti if he was prepared to move that the city finally determine clearly whether or not QuAIA's presence in the Pride parade violates the city's anti-discrimination policy. But he dodged the question twice, saying at one point that city staff told council that QuAIA's presence is a violation of the policy. Ceta Ramkhalawansingh, manager of diversity management for the City of Toronto, told Xtra subsequently that the city has made no determination about whether QuAIA violates the policy. “It’s up to Pride to have policies and procedures in place,” says Ramkhalawansingh. “Whether QuAIA participates or not is a Pride decision, not a city decision.” Mammoliti made the announcement at a press conference earlier today. Among those also on hand were Moshe Ronen of the Canada-Israel Committee, Bernie Farber of the Canadian Jewish Congress, gay lawyer Martin Gladstone, Avi Benlolo of the Friends of the Simon Wiesenthal Center, Rossi, Mammoliti and Ford. Gladstone urged people to press Pride Toronto's sponsors in an effort to get Queers Against Israeli Apartheid pulled out of the parade.Pride Toronto's main events are this weekend.
Retail Therapy
As G20 Summit rioters nearby were smashing storefronts and burning police cars, on Sunday Toronto's landmark Eaton Center Mall quickly locked their doors, trapping at least a few patrons inside. But this guy wanted IN, he wanted to SHOP, bitches. This clip has already gone viral, so expect an auto-tuned remix any minute.
(Via - Durban Bud)
(Via - Durban Bud)
Senin, 28 Juni 2010
BROOKLYN: Jury Convicts Keith Phoenix In Hate Crime Murder Retrial
Justice was at last served yesterday in the hate crime murder retrial of Keith Phoenix (left), who in 2008 beat Ecuadorean immigrant Jose Sucuzhanay to death with a metal baseball bat as he screamed anti-gay and anti-Hispanic epithets. Last month a mistrial was declared when jurors could not agree on convicting Phoenix of murder or manslaughter. The second trial's jury saw things more clearly and deliberated for less than a day. Gay City News editor Paul Schindler reports: The Brooklyn jury hearing the second trial of Keith Phoenix, the killer of José Sucuzhanay, convicted him of second-degree murder as a hate crime as well as attempted assault as a hate crime in the attack on Romel Sucuzhanay, José’s brother. “This verdict sent the right message,” said Diego Sucuzhanay, another of José’s brothers, after the jury announced its verdict at roughly 9:30 p.m. on June 28. “We believe that justice has been done for our brother.” Phoenix, 30, and Hakim Scott, 27, assaulted the brothers after mistaking them for a gay couple as they were walking home early in the morning on December 7, 2008 in Brooklyn’s Bushwick section. The two Ecuadorian immigrants were huddled close together to stay warm. Romel said an anti-Latino slur was used. Two other witnesses heard an anti-gay slur. Phoenix was convicted on the top counts he faced and could get as much as 40 years in prison for the killing when he is sentenced on August 5. His first trial ended in a mistrial after one juror held out for a manslaughter conviction while the other 11 wanted to convict on second-degree murder. The first jury did not believe the attack was a hate crime.Last month Phoenix' accomplice in the attack, Hakim Scott, was convicted of manslaughter only and unbelievably, that jury dismissed hate crime charges. Both men will be sentenced next month.
Scissor Sisters News Television
"This is Lester Zizmore, filling in for Frieda Blackburn, who's in a K-hole." Watch for the cameo by Jeff Stryker.
PhoboQuotable - James Bopp
"We will now ask the district court to rule on whether we are entitled to a special exemption, if we can prove traditional marriage supporters were targeted for harassment and intimidation. We believe there is more than ample evidence. "What we have, since the adoption of Proposition 8, is a very transparent nationwide strategy by the gay activists to harass and intimidate, as a means to win their political agenda. There were literally hundreds of people who were subject to death threats, destruction of their property, theft, threat to their families or even fired from their jobs." - Protect Marriage Washington douchenozzle attorney James Bopp, reacting to last week's Supreme Court ruling that the signers of Referendum 71 petitions cannot remain secret.
Bopp is, of course, an Outrageous Christianist Liar™ . Not one single person was ever fired from their job due to Proposition 8 support. Not one. There were some petty property destruction incidents on both sides, largely limited to the theft of yard signs. And as for Bopp's claim of "literally hundreds" of death threats? More repulsive lies. Not one incident of a Prop 8-related death threat was ever cited by, as Good As You blogger Jeremy Hooper calls it, "credible news reporting." But the lies of James Bopp are quoted without question by Focus On The Family. This so-called "ample evidence" of his will be fascinating to see.
Quote Of The Day II - Joan Rivers
"If you’re going to be a romantic idol and try to get every teenage girl to love you, then you’d be an ass to come out and say you’re gay. That’s why Ricky Martin was so smart — he did what he did, he made his millions, and then he said, 'Guess what, everybody? I’m gay, I’m having this life, and here are my children.' It didn’t matter anymore because he didn’t have to bring in 16-year-old girls." - Joan Rivers, in the Advocate.Pensacola Beach
If you can stand it, click over for more depressing photos. And it's not just the surface of the beach that is ruined: "A trench dug by a group of USF geologists shows a continuous layer of oil approximately six inches beneath."
SUPREME COURT: The Vatican Is Not Immune To U.S. Pedophilia Lawsuits
Wow. The Supreme Court has rejected an appeal from the Vatican, which was attempting to shield itself from child molestation lawsuits in the United States. The U.S. Supreme Court refused on Monday to consider whether the Vatican has legal immunity over the sexual abuse of minors by priests in the United States, allowing a lawsuit filed in 2002 to go forward. The nation's highest court, asked to rule on a U.S. appeals court decision that cleared the way for the lawsuit to proceed, rejected the Vatican's immunity appeal without comment. The lawsuit, filed by a plaintiff identified only as John Doe, claimed he was sexually abused on several occasions in the mid-1960s when he was 15 or 16 by a Roman Catholic priest named Father Andrew Ronan. According to court documents, Ronan molested boys in the mid-1950s as a priest in Ireland and then in Chicago before his transfer to a church in Portland, Oregon, where he allegedly abused the victim who filed the lawsuit. Ronan died in 1992. The Vatican claimed immunity under a U.S. law, the Foreign Sovereign Immunities Act of 1976, that allows foreign states to avoid being sued in court. But the law contains exceptions. The appeals court cited one of those, ruling the lawsuit has sufficiently alleged that Ronan was an employee of the Vatican acting within the scope of his employment under Oregon law.The lawyer for the above-cited Oregon case says he plans to depose Pope Benedict. "I won't start with him; I'm going to work my way up. But this ruling gives me the ability to depose anybody within the organization who has knowledge about the events."
Survivors Network of those Abused by Priests (SNAP) reacts: "The Supreme Court's decision gives hope to hundreds of thousands of clergy sex abuse victims across the globe who know lies remain under wraps at the Vatican and will only be unearthed through persistent action by secular justice officials and systems."
Quote Of The Day - Camille Paglia
"In the discreet white-collar realm, men and women are interchangeable, doing the same, mind-based work. Physicality is suppressed; voices are lowered and gestures curtailed in sanitized office space. Men must neuter themselves, while ambitious women postpone procreation. Androgyny is bewitching in art, but in real life it can lead to stagnation and boredom, which no pill can cure. "Meanwhile, family life has put middle-class men in a bind; they are simply cogs in a domestic machine commanded by women. Contemporary moms have become virtuoso super-managers of a complex operation focused on the care and transport of children. But it’s not so easy to snap over from Apollonian control to Dionysian delirium.
Nor are husbands offering much stimulation in the male display department: visually, American men remain perpetual boys, as shown by the bulky T-shirts, loose shorts and sneakers they wear from preschool through midlife. The sexes, which used to occupy intriguingly separate worlds, are suffering from over-familiarity, a curse of the mundane. There’s no mystery left." - Camille Paglia, in a New York Times essay about the search for a female version of Viagra.
SUPREME COURT: Christian Legal Group Cannot Ban Gay Students
In a 5-4 decision the Supreme Court has ruled that California's public universities can deny recognition and funding to a Christian legal club that denied membership to gay students. The court turned away an appeal from the Christian Legal Society, which sued to get funding and recognition from the University of California's Hastings College of the Law. The CLS requires that voting members sign a statement of faith and regards "unrepentant participation in or advocacy of a sexually immoral lifestyle" as being inconsistent with that faith. But Hastings, which is in San Francisco, said no recognized campus groups may exclude people due to religious belief or sexual orientation. The court on a 5-4 judgment upheld the lower court rulings saying the Christian group's First Amendment rights of association, free speech and free exercise were not violated by the college's nondiscrimination policy.In his dissent, Justice Alito called the decision a "serious setback for freedom of expression."
Lambda Legal: "CLS was attempting to draw a distinction between status and conduct. But when an organization has a membership requirement that one must believe conduct central to one's identity is immoral, that's the same thing as excluding people for who they are. It's wrong of CLS to expect students to fund a group that wouldn't have them as a member. The Court wisely rejected CLS's attempt to obtain what the Court recognized as 'preferential, not equal treatment' under the school's rules applicable to all other recognized clubs."
NGLTF: “The Supreme Court ruled correctly in rejecting the challenge from the Christian Legal Society, which sought school funding and recognition despite being in clear violation of the college’s nondiscrimination policy. The court rightly found that the First Amendment rights of association, free speech and free exercise were not violated by Hastings’ decision. It simply said the college did not have to fund a group that violated the school policy requiring all recognized student groups to be open to every student. Schools all across the country are working to create welcoming environments for all students. This ruling supports that important effort. No school group or organization should be given public money to discriminate against other students."
Kylie + Scissor Sisters In Glastonbury
Rumors flew at yesterday's Pier Dance that Kylie Minogue would be this year's surprise performer (it was Ultra Nate), but Kylie was in the UK to guest at the Scissor Sisters concert in Glastonbury. It seems like Jake gets more buff every day.
(Via - Towleroad)
(Via - Towleroad)
SINGAPORE: World's Most Expensive Hotel Opens With World's Largest Outdoor Pool
The $6B Marina Sands Hotel opened in Singapore this weekend with a 650-foot infinity pool on the 55th floor. More cool/scary photos here. What global recession?
HomoQuotable - Christopher Neff
"Big things are changing for gay Americans. The President signed federal Hates Crimes legislation, directed new hospital visitation rights; spoke out during the State of the Union and the fought for an end to the ban on gays in the military. In addition, federal agencies are working hard behind the scenes and making huge differences for elder care and queer youth. These are historic firsts. [snip]"For President Obama, the gay community is not simply a group to be won or table-captains to be counted on. He is fighting for equality because it is the right thing to do and I think he would act little different if he didn't have our support. Empirical evidence over the past months would seem to support this, as hecklers yelled at him at events; chained themselves to the White House and trashed him on the blogs. Through all this, the President stuck with us, while we will continued asking more of him. So I have a suggestion for our next direct-action. If anyone goes to a fundraiser to interrupt the President, I have a suggested shout. It goes like this, 'President Obama, Thank you. It's Pride season and we are very proud of you too!'" - Palm Center deputy executive director Christopher Neff, writing for Pam's House Blend.
Read Neff's complete essay.
NYC Gay Bloggers At Pride 2010
Oh what a difference Section Two makes, as yesterday we crossed the finish line at 2:30pm, four hours earlier than last year. At times we moved so quickly it felt like a Pride run, so kudos to the volunteers and organizers at Heritage of Pride. As is our tradition, near the end of the route we posed for the above shot in front of the historic Stonewall. Visit Queer New York Bloggers for the names and blog URLs of some of this year's participants. Thanks to everybody for your cheers and waves, we felt the love. And feel free to embed any photos in the comments of this post.[Photo credit - Baad Lamb]
TENNESSEE: Married Gay Woman Refused New Driver's License, Cops Called
The Tennessee Highway Patrol had to be called to a DMV office after a newly-married lesbian refused to return her just-issued driver's license when employees told her they had mistakenly granted her name change request. Traci Turpin of Knoxville married her female partner in Washington DC on Tuesday. Gay marriage is legal in the District of Columbia. "We had a nice ceremony. Shed some tears and walked away feeling confident and happy," said Turpin. When they returned back to Knoxville, Turpin visited the Social Security office to have her last name legally changed to that of her partner's. She then traveled to the Department of Motor Vehicles in West Knoxville to do the same on her driver's license. There were no questions asked and Turpin walked out of the office with her new license in hand. But before she drove away, an employee of the Department of Motor Vehicles approached her car and asked for the new license back. "How dare her employee run out to my car, in front of everybody and say, 'You've got to give me the license back, we don't recognize same sex marriage,' out loud," questioned Turpin. When Turpin refused to return her new license, highway patrolmen were called. Turpin eventually returned the new license and received another with her old last name.Turpin said that if she had not mentioned that she had married a woman, the Tennessee DMV would have issued her license without question.
(Via - Queerty)
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