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.

Birther GA Rep Introduces Bill Requiring Obama's Birth Certificate For 2012 Ballot

Tea Party-backed GOP state Rep. Mark Hatfield has introduced a bill stipulating that President Obama must provide his birth certificate in order have his name placed on Georgia's 2012 ballot.

The bill has the signatures of 94 members of the 180-member House, including that of one Democrat, Glenn Baker of Jonesboro. At minimum, the bill will suggest make for some interesting chatter when the national press comes down for Newt Gingrich’s announcement that he’s exploring a GOP run for president. Similar legislation has been attempted in other states, but Hatfield’s bill is slightly different. It requires certified copies of “the candidate’s first original long-form birth certificate.” Documentation as provided by Hawaii, which has insisted time and time again that Obama was born there, “would not suffice,” Hatfield said.

Hatfield's bill also makes it a "misdemeanor of a high and aggravated nature" for any member of Georgia's electoral college to vote for Obama if he has not complied.

Bishop Eddie Long-Stroke Announces Late Night "Men Only" Prayer Meetings

"If you're a man. Come. And join us. Bring your friends." (Also: "Make sure you bring an offering worthy of the Lord.")

(Via - Rod 2.0)

GEORGIA: Arson At Gay Man's House

Police are investigating an arson fire at the home of a Carroll County, Georgia gay man after the victim reported having a rock hurled through his window with an anti-gay death threat attached.

Chris Staples said someone threw a rock through his window with a piece of paper attached that was covered in anti-gay slurs. "I was watching TV and just finished smoking a cigarette and I heard this big thud. Boom!" Staples told Channel 2’s George Howell. The rock had a threatening note attached. "It said, ‘we know you're gay. And God hates gays. You won't be raping anybody in the county and God's going to make sure that you burn in hell.’ And something about my daddy... my daddy will make sure you burn in hell." Then hours later, he woke up to flames filling his bedroom.

Staples says he barely had time to escape before his home was destroyed. Investigators are treating the case as a possible hate crime.

Homeless Shelter Boots Suspected Gays

The House Of Mercy in Columbus, Georgia has booted out two homeless women because shelter managers suspect they are gay. Michael Jones reports at Change.org:

These were women who actually fled abusive homes, and as one of them told WRBL, she was expecting to be treated with compassion by the folks at House of Mercy. "I was hoping that just by the name ... I was hoping for security," one of the women said. Instead, the woman says the way she was treated at the House of Mercy was unholy. "It was not a place of God." The director of House of Mercy, Elder Bobby Harris, told WRBL that "practicing" gay people aren't welcome at his shelter, no matter how in need they might be. "[Homosexuality] is not tolerated here at all. Let me tell you one reason why: because of the Bible, of course. And then we have little children ... We believe that Christ can change all. But when they begin to practice their acts," Harris says, there's nothing he can do for gay people in need.

The two women say that they are not gay, but that the shelter should have taken them in even if they were.

From The Rome, Georgia News-Tribune

This, from a cartoonist who was arrested last year for beating his wife.

ATLANTA: City To Pay $1M Settlement Over Police Raid At Eagle Nightclub

The city of Atlanta has agreed to pay a $1M settlement over last year's outrageous police raid of the Eagle, a popular leather bar where employees and patrons were forced to lie on a filthy floor as cops reportedly shouted anti-gay slurs. The Georgia Voice reports:

The Atlanta City Council voted unanimously this afternoon to approve a $1.025 million settlement in a federal lawsuit over the Atlanta Police Department's 2009 raid on the Atlanta Eagle, a gay bar on Ponce de Leon Avenue. The settlement must now go back to the federal judge for final approval. All parties in the case are under a gag order until the settlement is finalized. Before the vote, the council met in closed executive session to discuss the proposed settlement, which was reached Friday between city attorneys and attorneys for patrons and employees of the Eagle. The settlement resolution includes $1.025 million to go into an escrow account with Lambda Legal, one of two nonprofit legal groups that joined attorney Dan Grossman in representing the Eagle plaintiffs. The Southern Center for Human Rights also joined the case.

Those arrested on the night of the raid either had their charges dismissed or were found not guilty.

ATLANTA: Eddie Long Files Court Papers Denying Sex With Young Men

Bishop Eddie Long yesterday filed court papers denying that he'd had sex with young men in his congregation. Long is being sued by four male parishioners who allege that he used his position as church leader to coerce them into sex.

In his responses, Long acknowledged he took the young men on trips and that he showed them affection, as in hugs, but denied any sexual contact occurred, the AJC reported. The men called Long "Daddy," "Bishop" and "Granddaddy," but Long said many members of his congregation called those names as well, the AJC reported. "Bishop Long admits that he mentors many young men from challenged backgrounds who have often been without the benefit of a male role model," according to his filings as reported by the AJC. The court documents describe Long as as a "bold revolutionary spiritual leader" who puts "special emphasis on outreach to men, reinforcing to men the importance of partnering with a ministry that will grow them spiritually." The accusations against Long were somewhat shocking to many because of Long's strong anti-gay views, including a ministry as part of his church that works to "convert" gay people. Long also led a march through the streets of Atlanta against gay marriage as well as other for other issues, including health care.

GEORGIA: Megachurch Pastor Comes Out

The pastor of a massive Georgia church has come out, saying the recent rash of gay teen suicides made it impossible to continue living a lie.

Jim Swilley, 52, founded Rockdale County’s Church in the Now 25 years ago. His wife, Debye, was the associate pastor, and together they had four children. Swilley says he’s known that he’s gay since he was a boy, and his wife knew when they got married. Jim and Debye are now divorced, but they kept his secret for more than 21 years. Earlier this year, Swilley says, Debye told him she thought it was time he stop living a lie. Swilley says he decided she was right after reading stories about kids being harassed by antigay bullies and committing suicide.

The below news story notes that some Christian websites and blogs are condemning Swilley, calling him "sick, twisted, and a tool of Satan."

GEORGIA: Ku Klux Klan To Rally In Support Of Anti-Gay College Student

You may recall Jennifer Keeton, the counseling graduate student who refused to treat gays because "homosexuality is immoral and changeable." Keeton became the darling of the Peter LaBarberas of the haterverse when she sued Augusta State University for requiring that she undergo a remediation course on accepting gays in order to continue her education. Keeton lost that case, but while she and her attorneys at the anti-gay Alliance Defense Fund attempt an appeal, the KKK has their backs.

The Ku Klux Klan will hold a rally in support of an Augusta State University counseling student who claims her First Amendment rights were violated when the school ordered her to learn more about the homosexual community. Bobby Spurlock, Imperial Wizard Knighthawk and Grand Dragon of South Carolina and North Carolina, said today they have met with school officials and plan to protest the school’s treatment of 24-year-old Jennifer Keeton on Oct. 23 from 1 to 4 p.m. They will be in full dress and located across from the school’s main Walton Way entrance in the median at Fleming Avenue. Spurlock said they believe Keeton’s First Amendment rights were violated when the school required her to participate in a remediation program after she objected to counseling homosexuals. “It's your constitutional right so how could you tell someone you have to do something completely different?,” Spurlock said.

Peter LaBarbera and the KKK, both on the same side of hate. Feels like a perfect match.

CORRECTION: I mistakenly placed this story in South Carolina at first. My apologies!

Another Accuser Of Bishop Eddie "Down Low" Long Speaks To The Press

GEORGIA: Accuser Of Bishop Eddie "Down Low" Long Speaks Out About Abuse

GEORGIA: Activists To Protest At Atlanta Office Of Sen. Saxby Chambliss

Angry about his inaction about an anti-gay death threat left on this blog, Georgia activists plan to protest at the Atlanta office of Sen. Saxby Chambliss this afternoon.

The Queer Justice League of Atlanta has called on Senator Saxby Chambliss to immediately respond to allegations that a member of his staff posted a defamatory remark on a popular LGBT-oriented blog. [Snip] Members of the Queer Justice League have called on the Senator to respond. Art Izzard, also with the organization stated: “We want an official, contrite apology for Senator Chambliss, to the LGBT community and to all Georgians. We also want Senator Chambliss to commit to engaging his employees in sensitivity training, to equip them to better handle the concerns of his constituents.” The group has requested an in-person meeting with Senator Chambliss on Wednesday, September 29, 2010 at 4:00pm to respond to their requests. They invite members of the LGBT community and their allies to join them in front of the Senator's Atlanta offices, located at 100 Galleria Parkway, Atlanta, GA 30339. A press conference will follow.

Queer Justice League spokesman Jeff Schade: "Senator Chambliss was elected to represent all Georgians, not simply those that represent his ideological or other views. The fact that he has chosen to try to ignore this very serious action by a member of his staff speaks volumes on his character and ability to be an effective leader for the state of Georgia."

"All Faggots Must Die"

The above comment was left today by "Jimmy" on my post about the DADT cloture vote. The IP address *appears* to resolve to the neighborhood of GOP U.S. Sen. Saxby Chambliss' Atlanta office. The ISP is "United States Senate." I'm confident that the JMG internet sleuths can get to the source.

Here's the IP: 156.33.20.72. Get busy, geeks!

UPDATE: According to a friend of JMG reader Sean Chapin, the comment appears to have actually come from the Atlanta office of Sen. Johnny Isakson, the OTHER Republican Senator in Georgia, whose offices are not far from Sen. Chambliss'. Dennis writes:

"First I did a WHOIS lookup on the address and found out that it belonged to the US Senate. Then I did a trace on the IP and got the latitude, longitude and city location for the IP. Once I had the city, I did a search on senate offices and started with the one that came out on top which was Isakson’s. Once I had the address of his office, I pulled up the latitude and longitude info for it and found that it matched those of the IP."

Examine Dennis' screenshots below and tell us if you think he's got this nailed.

UPDATE II: OK, this is getting really interesting. According to the Atlanta-Journal Constitution, the offices Chambliss and Ikason are in the same building in Atlanta. The paper has called both offices looking for comment.

ATLANTA: Atheist Group Posts Fifty Billboards, Christians Outraged

(Tipped by JMG reader Andy)

ATLANTA: Citizen Review Board Rules Cops Falsely Imprisoned Eagle Bar Patrons

Atlanta's Citizen Review Board has ruled that 24 city cops falsely imprisoned patrons of the Atlanta Eagle during a raid that occurred one year ago today. The board is delaying deciding on a punishment for the officers pending a review of what role their supervisors had in the raid.

The CRB, a citizens oversight board created by the Atlanta City Council, is limited in the kinds of complaints it can investigate, and the actions of police supervisors is among them. But the board has a great deal of latitude in conducting studies, according to the city ordinance. Some patrons said they were not allowed to move for more than an hour while officers confiscated their driver's licenses and checked for criminal records. Customers also said they had to endure anti-gay slurs from some of the officers. The CRB staff said Thursday it could not identify the officers who allegedly made those comments because the patrons were face-down on the floor and could not see who was speaking. The officers involved in the raid denied making or hearing slurs.

All charges against the patrons and employees were eventually dismissed.

GOP Rep Pledges "Blood Covenant With America" Not To Raise Taxes On The Rich

GOP Rep. Phil Gingrey thinks the phrase "contract with America" is played out, so he suggests the GOP call their pledge not to raises taxes on the rich a "covenant with America, just as God's covenant with Moses." He goes on the say he'd sign such a promise in blood. Eat the poor, y'all.

GEORGIA: No Hates Crime Charges For Marines That Beat Gay Man

In June two U.S. Marines were arrested in Savannah, Georgia after viciously beating a gay man they claimed had winked at them. The victim was hospitalized after suffering two seizures at the site of the attack. The case prompted national outrage and a local protest vigil after the men were only charged with misdemeanor assault. On Friday a joint investigation by the FBI and local police concluded that the case did not merit any hate crimes charges.

Johnson said after the FBI, the Savannah-Chatham Metropolitan Police Department and the DA’s office reviewed Daly's medical records and conducted further investigation, they determined this case had “no merit” to be considered a hate crime. “I can’t speak on the specifics because this is pending litigation, but for a crime to be considered a felony [which a hate crime is considered to be] there has to be proof of a sustained injury,” Johnson said. “It’s my understanding Daly suffered only a punch. Based on his medical records we could not upgrade the charge from a misdemeanor to a felony.” If convicted of a misdemeanor, the Marines could face less than a year in jail and a fine of no more than $1,200, she added.

Unbelievable.

Georgia Gov Candidate Nathan Deal: I Hate Gays WAY More Than My Opponent Does!

That fact is that Karen Handel is actually a vile anti-gay bigot, as I pointed out here last month. But the GOP never lets truth get in the way in their relentless game of "Who hates the gays more?"

(Via - Queerty)

GEORGIA: Gay Teen Launches Group To Help LGBT Youth In Crisis

Georgia teen Derrick Martin has partnered with the Trevor Project and other groups to create Project Life Vest, an organization meant to assist LGBT youth facing discrimination after they come out. You may recall that Martin was kicked out of his home in March after attending his high school prom with his boyfriend.

“My situation and the attention it has drawn have provided me a unique perspective and opportunity that I feel I cannot pass up”, Martin noted. “Young people who, like myself, have been disadvantaged because of discrimination, hate, or ignorance need somewhere to turn for help. GLAAD was my life vest, and I plan to be a life vest to as many others as I can. I only want those who face obstacles like mine to know that they are not alone, for everyone has the right to love regardless of sexual orientation.” Project LifeVest’s mission is simple: “To be a helping hand, a life vest, to as many LGBT teens and adults as possible. We will carry out this mission through the establishment of safe places in as many cities as possible; through a call center with a qualified team of counselors who can give advice where needed; through screening a network of families who can, when need arises, host rejected teens while they finish schooling or find a new home.”

Project Life Vest is accepting donations.