The story of America's Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, and Transgender (LGBT) community is the story of our fathers and sons, our mothers and daughters, and our friends and neighbors who continue the task of making our country a more perfect Union. It is a story about the struggle to realize the great American promise that all people can live with dignity and fairness under the law. Each June, we commemorate the courageous individuals who have fought to achieve this promise for LGBT Americans, and we rededicate ourselves to the pursuit of equal rights for all, regardless of sexual orientation or gender identity.Read the proclamation in full (PDF).
Selasa, 31 Mei 2011
Obama Issues Pride Month Proclamation
The White House today issued a proclamation recognizing LGBT Pride Month. Metro Weekly notes that for the first time since Obama took office, the statement makes no mention of recognizing gay relationships. The proclamation begins:
Randall Sells Out
Shades of the Sassy Best Friend. Randall's YouTube fans are split on this development, of course.
HomoQuotable - Dan Savage
"The first adult authority figure that I came out to who wasn't a member of my family: my pediatrician. I'd been seeing him since I was a child and he was still my doctor. After my third or fourth visit about 'a small skin blemish,' he asked me what I was really worried about. I remember what I said to him: 'I'm gay and I don't want to have AIDS.' I don't remember what he said to me, but I'll never forget the look on his face. It was this combination of pity, panic, disappointment, and judgement. I never saw him again." - Dan Savage, in a post marking the first year of AIDS in the United States.
AFA's Poll Of The Day
The American Family Association has posted another of its classic "polls," this one about the Obama administration's denouncement of the GOP's attempt to derail the repeal of DADT.
Pat Robertson: Opposing Islam Is As Valid As Opposing The Nazis
"Why is it bigoted to speak against a force that is slowly but surely trying to exercise domination over the entire world?" - Pat Robertson, speaking without the slightest fucking trace of irony.
Perkins: America Needs Godly Leaders
"I believe that we will have to give an account [to God] as Christians in America for the leaders we have selected over time and the direction they have taken us."
FLORIDA: Transgender Student Named High School Prom Queen
Steve Rothaus reports at the Miami Herald: They’ve bullied and taunted her, calling her names and writing on her locker. And now, the seniors at McFatter Technical High School have elected Andrew Viveros their 2011 prom queen. “They called my name and I was in total shock,’’ said Andrew, a 17-year-old who was born male but has publicly presented herself as female for the last two years. With her long wavy brown hair, Andrew wore a royal blue dress and got a fresh manicure for the Friday night dance. Andrew, also known as Andii, plans to someday change her name to Andrea after she transitions. She wanted to run for prom queen in order to show other transgender teens “it gets better.” She ran against 14 others.
Swag Tuesday
Today's Swag Tuesday prize is two tickets to Zarkana, the new Cirque Du Soleil show opening in New York City at Radio City Music Hall on June 9th. Cirque du Soleil invites you to Zarkana, a beautifully bizarre journey premiering exclusively at Radio City Music Hall. This epic spectacle takes audiences into a fantastical and suspenseful world where highly-acrobatic feats are heightened by original live music and interactive multimedia elements. Zarkana transforms the grandest stage in the world into a world of unreality as only Cirque du Soleil could imagine. Directed by the internationally acclaimed François Girard (The Red Violin, Silk), this new production features 71 international artists and follows Zark, a magician on a quest to find his lost powers. He finds himself plunged into a world inhabited by surreal and mesmerizing creatures. The music of Zarkana is composed by Nick Littlemore, a protégé of Sir Elton John. Zarkana from Cirque du Soleil begins June 9 for a limited engagement.Advance tickets to Zarkana are on sale now. Enter to win two tickets by commenting on this post. Only enter once and please remember to leave your email address in the text of your entry. Entries close at midnight on Wednesday, west coast time. If you cannot be in NYC to attend the show, your winning entry is transferable to the person of your choice.
Germany To Shut All Nuclear Plants
Germany has announced plans to close all its nuclear power plants by 2022.German Chancellor Angela Merkel’s coalition endorsed a blueprint to shut its nuclear-power plants by 2022, repealing the law she pushed to extend the life of the reactors to become the biggest nation to exit atomic power. The decision in the early morning hours today by coalition leaders in Berlin underscored Merkel’s flip-flop from a 2009 re- election promise to extend the life of nuclear reactors. She did her about-face after the March meltdown in Japan as the anti- nuclear Green Party gained in polls. Her party lost control of Baden-Wuerttemberg state to the Greens in March and finished behind them in a state election for the first time on May 22.
Circumcision Ban Attempt Spreads
First San Francisco, now Santa Monica.
Performing a circumcision on a boy under age 18 — even for religious reasons — would be illegal under a measure that a San Diego group hopes to place on Santa Monica's November 2012 ballot. A similar initiative this month from the anti-circumcision group known as MGM Bill garnered enough signatures in San Francisco to place it on that city's November ballot. MGM stands for "male genital mutilation."
AUSTRALIA: Christianist Group Forces Removal Of Safer Sex Campaign
An anti-gay Christian group in Brisbane, Australia has forced an outdoor advertising company to yank a just-launched safer sex campaign. The ads featured a fully-clothed gay couple holding an unopened condom.Adshel, the company that provides advertising for Brisbane's bus shelters; Goa Billboards; and the Advertising Standards Bureau were targeted in an orchestrated campaign by the Australian Christian Lobby (ACL). Healthy Communities executive director Paul Martin said it was extremely disheartening that Adshel had buckled. "Those of us who have been around fighting HIV in Queensland for a while will remember this kind of reaction from days gone by," he told AAP. "We certainly don't expect it in 2011."
ACL was trying to have gay people "erased from the public sphere", Mr Martin said. "It's an extreme minority of people who are very well organised and are able to launch this kind of action," he said. "The vast majority of Queenslanders support gay and lesbian rights." ACL Queensland director Wendy Francis said she objected to the sexual nature of the ads, not the fact the couple pictured were gay. Ms Francis was last year forced to apologise publicly after a Tweet likening gay marriage to legalising child abuse.
Old Navy Launches Gay Pride T-Shirts
Yesterday Old Navy began selling gay pride-themed t-shirts.The T-shirts, which are priced from $7 to $14, bear the rainbow flag, a symbol of gay pride, and different messages, including “Love Proudly” and “Pride 2011.” The retailer says the campaign honors Pride month and is part of its larger flag T-shirt collection. Old Navy is donating 10 percent of the proceeds to the “It Gets Better Project,” an organization dedicated to preventing suicide among gay and lesbian youth.
State Dept Condemns Moscow Arrests
The U.S. State Department has issued a letter condemning the arrests of gay activists in Moscow over the weekend.
STATEMENT BY MARK TONER, DEPUTY SPOKESPERSON
Concern about Freedom of Assembly in Russia
We note with concern that in Moscow on Saturday, May 28, a peaceable demonstration of Russians advocating for the rights of gays and lesbians, joined by international supporters, was forcefully disrupted by counter-protesters, and that Russian security forces then detained people from both groups, including American citizens. Some protestors were seriously injured according to media reports.
Freedom of assembly is a fundamental right all members of the OSCE committed to, including in the Moscow declaration and as recently as the Astana summit. As nationwide legislative elections approach, constraints on the ability of Russian citizens peacefully to gather and express their views will be closely watched in evaluating the integrity of the electoral process. We call on Russian authorities to work with municipal officials to find better ways to safeguard these fundamental freedoms.
Senin, 30 Mei 2011
Afternoon View
The water taxi from downtown Manhattan to Brooklyn provides a great view of the Statue of Liberty.
NEW YORK: Eight State Senators Still Undecided On Gay Marriage
With the legislative year fast drawing to an end, eight New York state senators say they have yet to make up their minds on same-sex marriage.
The measure would need 32 votes for adoption in the Senate, and 26 senators, all Democrats, indicated they would back the bill. Twenty-eight senators expressed opposition — possibly leaving the measure's fate in the hands of the eight undecided lawmakers, five Republicans and three Democrats. The senators who have not publicly declared their stance include Sens. Steve Saland, R-Poughkeepsie; Greg Ball, R-Carmel, Putnam County; and James Alesi, R-Perinton, Monroe County. Alesi and Saland voted against the bill in 2009 when it failed by eight votes. "I've heard from any number of people on both sides of the issue," Saland explained. "And certainly I'm trying to take into account, in a deliberative fashion, the issues that have been raised by the proponents, issues which hadn't necessarily been raised with me when I cast a vote previously."In 2009 same-sex marriage failed in the New York senate when eight Democrats voted against it.
Family Research Council Hate Reel
Our hard-working video clipper Dave Evans has compiled the below reel of the Family Research Council proving why they deserve their hate group designation.
Minggu, 29 Mei 2011
This Week In Holy Crimes
Over the last seven days...
Wisconsin: Pastor David E. Radtke charged with sexual assault on a 16 year-old student.
Georgia: Pastor David Pope charged with child molestation.
Wisconsin: Father Michael Nowak charged with making obscene phone calls to underage girls.
Kentucky: Pastor Jeremy Caraway charged with child rape.
Arizona: Two Mormon bishops will not be charged for failing to report a church member who confessed to child molestation.
Missouri: Father Shawn Ratigan pleads not guilty to taking pornographic photos of young girls.
Nevada: Pastor Raymond Mosely charged with compelling a four year-old to touch his genitals.
Michigan: Pastor Christopher Settlemoir sentenced to 15 years in prison for sexual assault on a minor.
Delaware: Father James O'Neill has confessed to molesting a pre-teen boy hundreds of times over several years. The victim, now 43, has settled a lawsuit with the Diocese of Wilmington.
West Virginia: Pastor Matthew Jarrell kills himself in jail after being charged with rape.
New York: The ultra-Orthodox Agudath Israel of America has ruled that rabbis must first be consulted before notifying police about child molestation.
Louisiana: Youth Pastor Angelo Golatt indicted on multiple counts of molesting children as young as nine years old.
This Week's Winner
Netherlands: A Dutch Catholic priest identified as Father Van B. has admitted to serving on the board of directors of a group lobbying for the legalization of pedophilia. The priest's superior says that he was aware of Father Van B's involvement with the group. The church is said to be investigating.
Wisconsin: Pastor David E. Radtke charged with sexual assault on a 16 year-old student.
Georgia: Pastor David Pope charged with child molestation.
Wisconsin: Father Michael Nowak charged with making obscene phone calls to underage girls.
Kentucky: Pastor Jeremy Caraway charged with child rape.
Arizona: Two Mormon bishops will not be charged for failing to report a church member who confessed to child molestation.
Missouri: Father Shawn Ratigan pleads not guilty to taking pornographic photos of young girls.
Nevada: Pastor Raymond Mosely charged with compelling a four year-old to touch his genitals.
Michigan: Pastor Christopher Settlemoir sentenced to 15 years in prison for sexual assault on a minor.
Delaware: Father James O'Neill has confessed to molesting a pre-teen boy hundreds of times over several years. The victim, now 43, has settled a lawsuit with the Diocese of Wilmington.
West Virginia: Pastor Matthew Jarrell kills himself in jail after being charged with rape.
New York: The ultra-Orthodox Agudath Israel of America has ruled that rabbis must first be consulted before notifying police about child molestation.
Louisiana: Youth Pastor Angelo Golatt indicted on multiple counts of molesting children as young as nine years old.
This Week's Winner
Netherlands: A Dutch Catholic priest identified as Father Van B. has admitted to serving on the board of directors of a group lobbying for the legalization of pedophilia. The priest's superior says that he was aware of Father Van B's involvement with the group. The church is said to be investigating.
Grand Rapids Lip-Dub
Residents of Grand Rapids, Michigan responded with this video after being named one of America's "dying cities." I hate hate hate the song with a blinding white super-hate, but I have to admit the production is stunning.
Morning View - The Gaga Train
Every square inch of the S train is covered with Lady Gaga. And there are four small TV screens in each car playing Born This Way on a loop.
Sabtu, 28 Mei 2011
HomoQuotable - Peter Tatchell
"We witnessed a high level of fraternisation and collusion between neo-Nazis and the Moscow police. I saw neo-Nazis leave and re-enter police buses parked on Tverskaya Street by City Hall. Our suspicion is that many of the neo-Nazis were actually plainclothes police officers, who did to us what their uniformed colleagues dared not do in front of the world’s media. Either that, or the police were actively facilitating the right-wing extremists with transport to the protest. "During the Second World War, Mucovites stood against the Nazis. Now the Mayor of Moscow is colluding with neo-Nazis. He gave the neo-Nazi groups permission to stage a protest calling for violence against gay people, while denying Moscow Gay Pride a permit to rally for gay equality." - Famed British activist Peter Tatchell, reporting from yesterday's demonstration in Moscow.
ILLINOIS: Porno Pete Stages Anti-Gay Marriage Rally In Downtown Chicago
Porno Pete LaBarbera and his merry band of KKKloset Kases staged an anti-gay marriage rally in downtown Chicago yesterday.Opponents of the new law that will allow same-sex civil unions rallied at the Thompson Center today demanding that Illinois voters be allowed to decide the fate of the issue through referendum. Days before a measure that will give gay couples the same state rights as a married man and wife is set to take effect, opponents and supporters faced off. As busloads of protesters crowded in front of St. Peter’s Church in downtown Chicago, a counter demonstration took form on the other side of the 100 block of West Madison Street. “There’s a battle between gay rights and religious freedom,” said Peter LaBarbera, president of the group Americans for Truth, as he coached people on how to correctly complete the signature sheets on which opponents hope to collect the required 300,000 signatures. “We want to give Illinois votes the same opportunity other states have had.”More photos can be found at the Flickr account of Chicago Man.
Tweet Of The Day - Miley Cyrus
Pop singer Miley Cyrus has been telling her one million Twitter followers to boycott Urban Outfitters because its CEO is a raving teabagger who contributed to Frothy Mix. Go Miley!
RUSSIA: Dan Choi Among Activists Arrested At Moscow Pride Protest
UK Gay News is running a live blog from the pride protest in Moscow. Here are the latest entries at this writing:14:00. Andy Thayer is confirmed as having been arrested, along with Dan Choi and Louis-Georges Tin, Anna and three other Russian gay activists.
13:40. Report just in that four Russians participats in Pride have been arrested outside Moscow City Hall.
13:31. Dan Choi and Louis-Georges Tin both confirmed as having been arrested.
13:29. "All participants of Moscow Pride at Alexandrovski Gardens was been "brutally arrested", Chad Meacham has just reported. The arrest were made as participants arrived at the Gardens. One person, Louis-Geroges Tin was allowed to give an iterview with the world's TV and press. No names of those arrested are not known, apart from Anna.
Jumat, 27 Mei 2011
New From SarahPAC 2012
A dozen or so unrelated patriotic slogans makes for a campaign ad these days, apparently.
Actor Jeff Conaway Dies At Age 60
The New York Times reports: Jeff Conaway, the personable actor who won television fame on the sitcom “Taxi” and movie success in the musical “Grease” three decades ago and who later publicly struggled with drug and alcohol abuse, died on Friday in Los Angeles. He was 60. He died of complications of pneumonia at Encino Tarzana Medical Center after being taken off life support on Thursday, a talent representative, Phil Brock, said.Conaway had been in a coma since May 11th.
Oh Noes! The Revenge Of GOProud!
GOProud has planted an anti-JMG story on the wingnut site Daily Caller, whose dumb bunny writer manages to spell my name two different ways in consecutive sentences. I'll totally cop to calling GOProud "kapos and Quislings," cuz ya know, they totally are. But Daily Caller also quotes Chris Barron as saying that I regularly post misogynistic comments. (No citation of that bullshit is offered in the article, of course.) This, from the guy who regularly tweets fat jokes about Meghan McCain and who only yesterday said that Rachel Maddow "looks like a dude."
MSNBC On Palin's Bus Tour
Palin is crashing a veterans event this weekend and a spokesman for the group says that not only was she not invited, she's going to be a "big distraction."
Ken Mehlman: Why Republicans Should Support Same-Sex Marriage
Yeah, that's nice now. But don't ever for one minute forget Mehlman's leadership role in the many anti-gay marriage referendums that swept the nation during his tenure as head of the Republican National Committee.
Gallup: How Many Gays Are There?
Gallup says: "U.S. adults, on average, estimate that 25% of Americans are gay or lesbian. More specifically, over half of Americans (52%) estimate that at least one in five Americans are gay or lesbian, including 35% who estimate that more than one in four are. Thirty percent put the figure at less than 15%."
PhoboQuotable - NY Sen. Ruben Diaz
"There is no just comparison between America’s struggle to overcome the evils of slavery and the promotion of the lifestyle of homosexuality. It is preposterous for Mayor Bloomberg to degrade and minimize the plight of African-Americans in this civil rights struggle by equating it with the effort to push to legalize homosexual marriage. Black Americans should not sit back and let Mayor Bloomberg compare the long struggle of their ancestors against American slavery to the current fight for a lifestyle choice."The effort to redefine marriage to include a man and a man or a woman and a woman can never be compared to the struggle against slavery. Before Mayor Bloomberg attempts to borrow from history for comparisons, he should take a look at the uncivil discourse that is taking place by those whose goals he has embraced. Black leaders should not allow Mayor Bloomberg or anyone else trivialize their suffering and their history!" - New York state Sen. Ruben "Reverend" Diaz, writing on his official state website.
Lady Gaga In Central Park
After landing on the Good Morning America stage via an overhead zipline, Gaga played a piano inside a hollowed-out unicorn.
UPDATE: Sorry, folks. Video yanked.
UPDATE: Sorry, folks. Video yanked.
Tweet Of The Day - GOProud
GOProud's Jimmy LaSalvia today: "LGBT people who are interested in putting policy before partisanship now know that HRC is little more than a puppet of the Democratic National Committee and an organization that has one goal – to elect more Democrats."GOProud's Jimmy LaSalvia last month: “Defeating Barack Obama and putting a conservative in the White House should be the number one goal of every single person in the conservative movement. It is certainly the number one goal of this organization.”
Karl Rove On Palin 2012
"I don't think she thinks the rules apply to her. She doesn't need to have the traditional trappings of a presidential campaign, no finance committee, she can raise the money, she doesn't need to go shake a lot of hands in Iowa, New Hampshire, South Carolina. She gets to decide what the rules are that govern her campaign and go accordingly and politics is changing. Some people have done things that have been outside the norm of custom and have won." - Karl Rove on Sarah Palin's 2012 candidacy.
Liberty Counsel: Conservative Is New Cool
Matt Barber: "Kids today are standing up and saying, 'Take your moral relativist and redistributionist pig swill and put in your pipe and smoke it.'"
Sarah Palin Launches Bus Tour
From SarahPAC.com: Our nation is at a critical turning point. As we look to the future, we are propelled by America's past. It's imperative that we connect with our founders, our patriots, our challenges and victories to clearly see our way forward. A good way to do this is to appreciate the significance of our nation's historic sites, patriotic events and diverse cultures, which we'll do in the coming weeks on our "One Nation" tour. We'll celebrate the good things that bring Americans together; those things that will give us the needed strength to meet the heady challenges ahead. I’ve said many times that America doesn’t need a "fundamental transformation," instead we need a restoration of all that is good and strong and free in America!
RUSSIA: Gay Activist Storms Off TV Show
During a nationally televised debate on the rights of gay people to assemble and protest, noted activist Nikolai Alekseev ripped off his microphone and stormed off the set. Feast Of Fun reports:
GayRussia leader Nikolai Alekseev walked off the set of a national TV debate show this afternoon after accusing the moderator, Vladimir Solovyev, of slanting the show towards homophobes. The show has been described to me as sort of like “Meet the Press,” except that millions of people actually watch it. Alekseev was debating Alexander Hinstein, a deputy in the State Duma (parliament) and member of Vladir Putin’s United Russia Party. The last straw was when Solovyev, host of the nationally broadcast show, Poednivo (roughly “The Dual” in English), called on an audience member who accused gays of physically threatening her young daughter. Alekseev tore off his microphone and walked off as the cameras rolled. Shortly thereafter, the LGBT members of the audience also walked out.
Porno Pete Launches New Hate Group
The first action from Porno Pete's latest hate group will be an anti-civil unions protest today in downtown Chicago. LaBarbera is once again trying to place a constitutional ban on same-sex marriage on the Illinois ballot, something he laughably failed at in 2006 due to "questionable" petition signatures.IDMI is a statewide effort to preservee the historic, traditional definition of marriaeg in the Land of Lincoln. IDMI needs to gather almost 300,000 signatures of registered Illinois voters by next April 2012 – to put an Advisory Question on the 2012 ballot asking the Illinois General Assembly to pass a Constitutional Amendment stating: “To secure and preserve the benefits of marriage for our society and for future generations of children, the union of one man and one woman in marriage shall be the only agreement recognized as a marriage or similar union for any purpose.”
To accomplish this goal – and have Illinois join the 31 other states whose citizens have stood up for real marriage at the ballot box – we aim to gather 600,000 signatures by next year. This could help us avoid an expensive legal challenge by homosexual activists and the ACLU – who will go to any extreme to deny Illinois voters an opportunity to have their voices heard on traditional marriage.
Bloomberg's Speech On Marriage
Here's the full video of yesterday's pro-gay marriage speech by NYC Mayor Michael Bloomberg. As noted by Andy Humm, we've got some major issues with Bloomberg, but it IS a damn good speech.
ILLINOIS: Catholic Charities To End Adoption Services Due To Civil Unions
Catholic Charities of Rockford, Illinois announced yesterday that they will suspend all foster care and adoption services rather than comply with the state's new civil unions law.
Officials cited a lack of clarity in the Illinois Religious Freedom Protection and Civil Unions Act, which does not specify whether religious child welfare agencies must place children with couples in civil unions. Without a specific provision protecting religious agencies, church officials said, the agency can't risk losing state contracts or facing lawsuits if it turns away gay couples or others in civil unions. State funds make up about half of Catholic Charities of Rockford's $7.5 million operating budget.Catholic adoption agencies in other Illinois cities say they have not yet decided whether to stay open.
"While we understand leaving this work will be very painful for our client families, employees, volunteers, donors and prayerful supporters, we can no longer contract with the state of Illinois whose laws would force us to participate in activity offensive to the moral teachings of the church — teachings which compel us to do this work in the first place," said Frank Vonch, director of social services for the Diocese of Rockford, which includes Kane and McHenry counties.
HRC Endorses Obama 2012
The Human Rights Campaign has already endorsed Barack Obama's reelection bid.
Running in 2008, Barack Obama promised change from the George W. Bush administration and on so many issues, change is certainly what we got. From signature achievements like passage of the law to end "Don't Ask, Don't Tell" to administrative changes throughout government, President Obama has done more to improve the lives of LGBT people than any President in history.Hit the link for HRC's exhaustive list of Obama's pro-gay accomplishments.
Jim Robinson Warns Freepers
"NOTICE: FR DOES NOT AND WILL NOT SUPPORT ABORTIONIST, GAY RIGHTS PUSHING BIG GOVERNMENT STATISTS FOR PRESIDENT!! This message is intended for those posters on FR who seem to have missed my prior statements in this regard and insist on advocating for these bastards. I'd rather shut the place down than be involved in any effort to install abortionist/gay rights pushing RINOS like Romney or Giuliani into the White House!! Do NOT push this crap on FR. Take your business elsewhere!! And I don't care how long you've been here!!" - Free Republic founder Jim Robinson.
Kamis, 26 Mei 2011
HomoQuotable - Andy Humm
"Bloomberg's speech today amounted to hollow words. He is the sole reason that Republicans are in the majority in the NYS Senate as he has propped them up literally with MILLIONS of dollars in just the last several years. And he has repeatedly said that he will NOT stop donating to Senators who oppose marriage equality--who also happen to be the ones who oppose GENDA, the AIDS bills we need, and virtually everything else of a progressive nature. Let Bloomberg put his money where his mouth is: Stop funding bigots. It is sickening to watch the gay establishment and average gay people fawn over him like some kind of hero when he is in fact the main reason we don't have marriage equality in New York." - Gay City News reporter Andy Humm, via email.
Tony Perkins: Anti-Bullying Programs Are Indocrinating Kids Into Homosexuality
Blah, blah, blah. Same old, same old.
ATLANTA: Bishop Eddie Long Settles Sexual Coercion Suit With Four Young Men
It appears that Atlanta's Bishop Eddie Long has paid off the four young men who last year accused him of coercing them into totally gay homosexual sex. Long had regularly and viciously railed against LGBT people from his megachurch pulpit.Barbara Marschalk, who represents New Birth Missionary Baptist Church and Long Fellows Youth Academy, said she anticipates " the lawsuits will be dismissed, with prejudice, by close of business tomorrow." B.J. Bernstein, who represents the four men who sued Long, New Birth and LongFellows, also confirmed the lawsuits had been settled. Neither side would comment further and settlement terms were unknown. According to Bernstein's office, neither she nor the plaintiffs -- Maurice Robinson, Jamal Parris, Anthony Flagg and Spencer LeGrande -- would be available for an interview "on this matter, now or in the future. "VIDEO: Once again, here's Cadillac Kimberly's now-classic rant upon hearing the news last fall. Totally NSFW and totally hilarious.
Fox News Chairman Installed Bullet-Proof Glass Because He Feared Gay Activists
According to a former managing editor at Fox News, chairman Roger Ailes installed bullet-proof glass on his midtown Manhattan office windows because he feared assassination by gay activists. "They'll be down there protesting. Those gays!" Ailes reportedly said. Hit the link to read Rolling Stone's lengthy expose on Ailes and Fox.(Tipped by JMG reader Enzo)
Today In Christian Love™
It almost feels like performance art. "We are the Gibsons, God's all-original Southern rock band. The lyrics, we get straight from the word of God."
Quote Of The Day - Michael Bloomberg
"In talking to state legislators who do not yet support marriage equality, I can sense that many of them are searching their souls for answers – and they are torn. Like all of us, they have friends and family and colleagues who are gay and lesbian. They know gay and lesbian couples who are deeply in love with each other – many of whom are loving and devoted parents, too. They know those couples yearn to be seen and treated as equal to all other couples. And they often hear from their own families – especially their children – that this is a civil rights issue. I hope they listen to their kids carefully and make them proud with their foresight and courage." - NYC Mayor Michael Bloomberg, speaking today at Manhattan's Cooper Union.(Via - Freedom To Marry)
Conde Nast Inks WTC Deal
Aspirational magazine publisher Conde Nast has signed the long-awaited deal to assume over one million square feet of office space in One World Trade Center, which when completed will be the tallest skyscraper in the nation.
The lease marked the largest single tenant to be brought into Lower Manhattan in years. The project is being developed by the Port Authority of New York and New Jersey, which sold an ownership stake to the Durst Organization. “We hope Condé Nast, at long last united into a single building, will be the catalyst for the rebirth of the downtown area,” Newhouse told a crowd of reporters and elected officials standing in the bare concrete, window-clad floor of the tower — one of the floors being leased by his company.Thousands of clackers are surely sobbing in their Times Square cubes. Quick, somebody get three thousand feet of velvet rope to Ground Zero, stat!
Such an act takes a major load off the back of the Port Authority, which is seeking to lease up a building that comes with a long list of challenges. One World Trade Center is surely worth far less that it costs to build (the tower was valued last year at $2 billion, while its construction price tag is over $3 billion). It undeniably causes anxiety over future terrorism among potential tenants. At present, there is just one other private tenant, for 190,000 square feet, signed on to the 2.6 million-square-foot building.
Priest In Diocese Of Pope's Advisor On Pedophilia Scandal Arrested For Pedophilia
Time Magazine reports:
The latest sex-abuse case to rock the Catholic Church is unfolding in the archdiocese of an influential Italian Cardinal who has been working with Pope Benedict XVI on reforms to respond to prior scandals of pedophile priests. Father Riccardo Seppia, a 51-year-old parish priest in the village of Sastri Ponente, near Genoa, was arrested last Friday, May 13, on pedophilia and drug charges. Investigators say that in tapped mobile-phone conversations, Seppia asked a Moroccan drug dealer to arrange sexual encounters with young and vulnerable boys. "I do not want 16-year-old boys but younger. Fourteen-year-olds are O.K. Look for needy boys who have family issues," he allegedly said. Genoa Archbishop Angelo Bagnasco, who is the head of the Italian Bishops Conference, had been working with Benedict to establish a tough new worldwide policy, released this week, on how bishops should handle accusations of priestly sex abuse.As always, you can't make it up.
CALIFORNIA: Mom Attempted To Murder Kids In Advance Of "Rapture"
End times proponent Harold Camping says he bears no responsibility for this.
Lyn Benedetto of Antelope Valley, Calif. slit the wrist and throat of her two daughters and then slit her own, claiming to prevent them from going through the “Tribulation” on May 21, 2011. However, her neighbor discovered the attempted murder and suicide early enough for ambulance to take them to a nearby hospital to be treated. At the Open Forum of Family Radio in Oakland, Calif. on Monday, Camping said he was not responsible for the acts committed by his followers. And he was also not prepared to tender any public apology or admit that he had made a mistake about his Doomsday prediction.Camping: "Murdering is terrible. It is contrary to everything the Bible teaches. That would have been a horrible thing if she has done that. That will make me weep. That will fill me with sorrow that she would do that. The Bible teaches that we are to save life, not kill. If it is going to be death, leave it to God. God knows who He wants to kill and make alive. That is His business, not our business."
U.S. House Votes To Defund Medical Schools That Teach Abortion
The U.S. House has approved an amendment defunding medical schools that teach doctors how to perform abortions. The measure was sponsored by GOP Rep. Virginia Foxx (NC), whom you may recall for claiming that the murder of Matthew Shepard was a hoax. The North Carolina Republican’s proposal was offered as an amendment to a bill that puts funding restrictions on a teaching program in President Barack Obama’s health care act. The amendment passed 234-182, over the objections of some Democrats who said it would prevent medical residents from learning a basic procedure in women’s health care. The bill must still be considered by the Senate.
MINNESOTA: Anti-Gay Preacher Told To Stop Raising Money At Walmart
Anti-gay Minnesota preacher Bradlee Dean, who last week came to national prominence for his prayer before the state legislature, has been told by Walmart that his ministry may no longer solicit donations in their parking lots. Also, Dean has lost one of the Christian radio networks that ran his show.
(Tipped by JMG reader Chris)
Wal-Mart and Salem Communications have severed ties with two entities run by pastor Bradlee Dean, who made headlines last week for a controversial prayer before the Minnesota House of Representatives. David Brauer reports that AM 1280 The Patriot, owned by Christian broadcaster Salem Communications, dropped Dean’s “Sons of Liberty” radio show, and Nick Pinto writes that Wal-Mart has told Dean’s ministry, You Can Run But You Cannot Hide, that it can no longer fundraise in the parking lots of its Minnesota locations. MinnPost’s Brauer notes that Dean was fired from AM 1280 before he gave his controversial speech before the House. The station pulled Dean after he engaged in a six-minute song mocking African Americans and then likened President Obama to Osama bin Laden. “For a minister to do that made no sense,” station manager Ron Stone told MinnPost. Dean is in talks to move to Clear Channel owned KTLK, but that station says that Dean would have to make changes to his show.According to a Walmart spokesperson, Dean had registered to solicit funds under a false name.
(Tipped by JMG reader Chris)
NOM Defector To Launch Marriage Tour
From the blog of NOM defector Louis Marinelli, who organized his former employer's bus tour last summer. Last year, I helped organize the 2010 Summer for Marriage Tour with the National Organization for Marriage. Over the course of 30 days, we traveled more than 10,000 miles to spread a discriminatory message I once believed in to oppose same-sex marriage. Ironically, it was that very summer tour that led me to change my mind and come to support marriage equality. This new tour will serve as a testimony to that change and will seek to spread two messages.Marinelli is raising money for the tour at the above link.
Firstly, that marriage equality is not an ideological issue. Too many see support for gay rights as strictly a liberal issue. That’s a mistake. Supporting the constitutional rights of all citizens is a conservative issue, too. Secondly, the tour will seek to demonstrate to conservative legislators across the country that more and more people are coming to support marriage equality. Eventually, that truth will start reflecting changes among conservatives, too. If I, an opinionated conservative can change my mind, it won’t be long before many other conservatives do, too. Not to mention independents.
Gay Cousin Writes NY Senator
From an open letter to NY Sen. Tom Libious:
Dear Cousin Tom…(Tipped by JMG reader Bill)
I read online the other day that you’re co-sponsoring a bill to declare null and void (according to NY State Law) gay marriages that are performed in other states. I can only assume that some of your constituents may have persuaded you to vote against gay marriage previously. But I am perplexed as to why you would LEAD the charge with a bill to suffocate the civil rights of many of your constituents and family members (me) while so many other states are embracing equality. WOW! [snip]
I guess the truth is that I could stomp my feet, wave my hands and yell from the rooftops about equality, but it might not do any good. What I really wish is that everybody reading this right now—all you heterosexuals—would take a moment to remember your cousin… your brother… your sister… your neighbor… your friend… your CHILD—or a friend of a friend—who’s homosexual. Call my Cousin Tom Libous right now. Here’s the number: (518) 455-2677. (It literally takes 2 minutes to leave a message with his staff.) Ask him to lead us down a new path—a strong path—a reasonable path—toward equality—and to lead us away from the prejudices of yesteryear.
That’s what’s on my mind Tom. Hello to Fran and the kids. Thanks for your time.
Cousin Michael
Rabu, 25 Mei 2011
Rep. Paul Ryan: Democrats Are Demagoguing The Medicare Issue
Demagoguing: "Obtaining power by means of impassioned appeals to the emotions and prejudices of the populace." Uh, yeah. Who does that actually sound like?
Tucson Shooter Found Incompetent
Not very surprising.
Jared Loughner is incompetent to stand trial, a federal judge decided today. A psychologist and psychiatrist both found Loughner unable to help in his own defense or understand the proceedings. Doctors say he is schizophrenic. U.S. District Judge Larry A. Burns said doctors report Loughner is unable to help with his defense because of his irrational distrust of lawyers. He doesn't understand the system and the role played by everyone, doctors said in their reports. Loughner doesn't think he can get a fair trial because of conspiracy, the judge was told by doctors.Stand by for calls for Loughner's execution anyway.
HomoQuotable - MN Sen. Scott Dibble
"We are about to do the hardest thing that many of us have ever done in our lives.But we're up to it. We are a strong, resilient, loving people. We will replace the scorched-earth campaign tactics of our opponents with stories of the love, commitment and responsibility at the core of our families. The only thing this whole debate is about is whether people are able to have access to the things that keep all families strong ± economic, legal and civil protections. We will build an incredible coalition of allies from across the political spectrum and from every sector of Minnesota life to help us reach the hearts and minds of every Minnesota of every belief and political persuasion, across the countryside, in every hamlet, town and city." - Openly gay Minnesota state Sen. Scott Dibble, vowing to defeat the 2012 ballot measure to ban same-sex marriage.
Quote Of The Day - Tim Winter
"I cannot imagine what would possibly lead the ABC television network to air a profanity-laced, S&M sex show on primetime broadcast television. The overtly sexualized performance by Rihanna and Britney Spears was no accident or mishap, but a deliberate effort to target teens with images and lyrics that that glamorize whips, chains and other sexual fetishes." - Parents Television Council head Tim Winter, who's really upset that Britney and Rihanna kissed during their performance on the Billboard Awards. Lesbianism, the OTHER sexual fetish!
Ostrich Pillow Thingy
For napping at the office. And suffocating, apparently. OSTRICH offers a micro environment in which to take a warm and comfortable power nap at ease. It is neither a pillow nor a cushion, nor a bed, nor a garment, but a bit of each at the same time. Its soothing cave-like interior shelters and isolates our head and hands (mind, senses and body) for a few minutes, without needing to leave our desk.
Minnesota Gov. Mark Dayton Symbolically Vetoes Anti-Gay Marriage Bill
Even though he has no power to stop Minnesota's anti-gay marriage amendment from going on the 2012 ballot, Gov. Mark Dayton has symbolically vetoed the bill. "I do not have the power to prevent this divisive and destructive constitutional amendment from appearing on the ballot, in November 2012, the Legislature sent it to me in the form of a bill," he wrote in a letter to legislative leaders. "Thus, symbolic as it my be, I am exercising my legal responsibility to either sign or veto it." He predicted the amendment will fail when it comes before Minnesotans. If that happens, Minnesota voters would be the first voters of dozens of states to reject a gay marriage ban. "The path of social progress, of human compassion and understanding, would be tragically reversed by this amendment. Minnesotans are better than this. I urge Minnesotans to reject this amendment," he wrote.Hit the above link for a copy of Dayton's letter announcing the veto.
VH1 Revives Pop Up Video
I'm unreasonably pleased by this.
After a 10-year hiatus, VH1 is resurrecting Pop Up Video with co-creator Woody Thompson on board as executive producer. The network has ordered 60 half-hour episodes set to bow as a strip in the fall. The reboot will remain faithful to the original concept of bubbles of true “info nuggets” strategically deployed over music videos for maximum irony. But this time Thompson and his team will also pop-up rap and hip-hop, a genre that was off limits for the original because it was the domain of sister network MTV.
CONNECTICUT: Gender Identity Bill Scheduled For Senate Vote Today
Following its approval by the Connecticut House, today the state Senate will consider a bill granting anti-discrimination protections on the basis of gender identity. The measure has been been characterized as the "Bathroom Bill" by anti-gay groups, who are today flooding right wing sites with pleas to call Connecticut's legislators. Cited in the Christianist materials are numerous cases of men arrested for peeping or videotaping in women's restrooms. That has nothing to do with Connecticut's bill, of course, but outrageous lying scare tactics have long been the calling card of God's Gentle People.
Equality Maryland Faces Shutdown
Shortly after the failure of Maryland's marriage equality bill and a gender identity measure, Equality Maryland is facing shutdown over financial problems. Chris Geidner reports at Metro Weekly: Equality Maryland could shut down operations at the end of June if it does not collect $20,000 to $25,000 in donations to cover operating expenses, according to members of the statewide LGBT-advocacy organization's board. Those expenses include rent for its Baltimore office headquarters, as well as salary for current staff. Equality Maryland has two full-time staff members, while interim Executive Director Lynne Bowman earns roughly $7,000 per month, employed as an independent contractor. Charles Butler, board president of Equality Maryland Inc., the lobbying arm of Equality Maryland, says the organization had ''gotten away from engaging the community as far as fundraising goes to cover operating costs'' under past leadership.Yesterday Equality Maryland issued a plea for donations.
TEXAS: Judge Rules No Death Benefits For Trans Widow Of Firefighter
A Texas judge has ruled that the trans widow of a firefighter killed in the line of duty is not eligible for his death benefits.
Ever since Thomas Araguz died fighting a fire at an egg farm last year, his family has been battling his widow, Nikki Araguz, over $600,000 in death benefits. The firefighter’s family argued that, since Nikki Araguz was born a man, her marriage to Thomas Araguz –under Texas law – was not valid. The family said the death benefits should go to Thomas Araguz’s two children with his first wife. But Nikki Araguz has maintained that Thomas Araguz knew about her past as a man, and that their marriage was legal. Nikki Araguz had sexual reassignment surgery after the marriage. The couple was estranged at the time of Thomas Araguz’s death. On Tuesday, Judge Randy Clapp said that because Nikki Araguz was born a man, Thomas Araguz was not married on the day he died, and any marriage – formal or informal – is void.The decision is expected to be appealed.
Giuliani To Run For President?
According to wingnut Rep. Steve King (R-NY), former NYC Mayor Rudy "9/11" Giuliani is set to announce a run for the GOP 2012 presidential nomination."If he were to make the decision today, he would run," says King. Speaking at a dinner with reporters in Washington, King, who was an enthusiastic Giuliani supporter in 2008, said the former mayor has been quietly lining up support and exploring strategy. Giuliani has also examined the mistakes his campaign made in '08, when he did not seriously compete in a contest until the Florida primary, by which time he was hopelessly behind in the race. It's unclear what effect a Giuliani candidacy would have on the primary campaign. There is an ongoing conversation among Republican political insiders about supposed voter unhappiness with the GOP field, and after Indiana governor Mitch Daniels' decision not to run, pundits and strategists have focused on hopes that New Jersey governor Chris Christie or House Budget Committee chairman Paul Ryan might be coaxed into running. Others have mentioned the name of former Florida governor Jeb Bush. Few observers have looked to Giuliani as a possible savior of the Republican Party.In a poll of New Hampshire Republicans released two days ago, Giuliani tied for third in the field of potential GOP candidates.
Crazy Eyes On 2012 Campaign
Bachmann says she won't officially announce her intent to run for president (or not) until June, but judging by this interview, the decision has been made.
OREGON: Two Gay Portland Men Beaten For Holding Hands
Portland, Oregon police are investigating a possible hate crime after two gay men were beaten after being seen walking hand-in-hand. One of the victims reports: "I left [the ER] with 9 stitches in my lips, two black eyes, a dislodged jaw, some loose teeth, severe swelling where they hit me on my cheek, and scrapes and bruises on my head."Detectives say Brad Forkner and Christopher Rosevear were walking hand-in-hand Sunday evening in Waterfront Park and then headed over the Hawthorne Bridge. As the pair walked, police say, they noticed several men behind them who were talking, laughing and pointing, but they weren’t sure if it was directed at them. Police say the attack happened as Forkner and Rosevear walked from the bridge to the trail toward the East Bank Esplanade. The pair told officers the men pushed and punched Forkner before he managed to break away and call 911. Police say the attackers hit Rosevear in the head, face, back and ribs before running off. ”It’s too bad that people are still walking around a city like Portland feeling, well, actually unsafe,” says Paul Fukui, the operations manager of the Q-Center, which advocates for the gay, lesbian, bisexual and transgendered community.According to the above-linked news story, several witnesses observed the attack but did nothing to help. The three assailants are described as white men in their 20s.
(Tipped by JMG reader Megan)
NEW YORK: Pro-Gay Democrat To Replace U.S. Rep. Chris "Craigslist" Lee
Erie County Clerk Kathy Hochul, who supports same-sex marriage and the repeal of DADT, last night won the special election to replace Rep. Chris Lee (R), who resigned earlier this year after being exposed for cruising Craigslist for women other than his wife. The election largely turned on the GOP's campaign to dismantle Medicare. “Today, the Republican plan to end Medicare cost Republicans $3.4 million and a seat in Congress,” said Rep. Steve Israel (N.Y.), the chairman of the Democratic Congressional Campaign Committee. “And this is only the first seat.” Even before voters went to the polls Tuesday, Republicans played down the significance of the race and particularly its relevance to the debate about Medicare’s future. “I know this town loves to take signals from individual races. I think the best signal you can take is the 63 seats that we picked up in November,” House Majority Leader Eric Cantor (Va.) told reporters Monday.The GOP loser, Jane Corwin, had been supported by NOM.
Langganan:
Postingan (Atom)