Friday, March 30, 2012

Chow Down (at Chick-fil-A)



If drag queens endorse Christian-right owned Chick-fil-A, is it still an endorsement? NOPE. Chick-fil-A is still anti-gay.

Georgia School uses Slavery in Math Problems



"A Georgia school insisted there was no “maliciousness” intended when a third grade math quiz asked students to compute the number of beatings a slave got a week and to calculate how many baskets of cotton he picked."

“Curious Thing”



Based on a true account and featuring audio accounts of such pairings, Alan Hain and Jason Mill’s 2009 short “Curious Thing” delves into the complicated tension that sometimes exists between gay men and their straight friends—on both sides. “Where it can get confusing for a straight man and a gay man is when they connect on every other level,” Mills told The New York Times, “and then the gay man starts to question, ‘Well if there was just that one other thing, this could be perfect.’ ”

Monday, March 26, 2012

Student Council President Sues Georgia H.S. After He's Removed for Pro-Gay Prom Proposal



Reuben Lack, who was elected student council president at suburban Atlanta's Alpharetta High School this year, but removed from his position by the school because of a proposal he made to help gay students feel more accepted.

Lack has filed a lawsuit in federal court against the Fulton County School System, Alpharetta High principal Shannon Kersey, and faculty advisors Emily Reiser and Michelle Werre demanding Lack's reinstatement and damages.

Georgia's 11 Alive reports:

Earlier this year, Lack said he proposed changing the structure of the senior prom -- eliminating the prom king and prom queen for more gender-neutral titles. He said he pitched it to be more accommodating to gay students at Alpharetta High. But he says the student council never debated it because faculty advisers intervened.

"The teacher moderators were visibly agitated," Lack said. "They were very, very uncomfortable about it. To the point where they were almost angry."

Within a few days, Lack said the school administration removed him from his position as student council president.

Saturday, March 24, 2012

As Santorum Shoots Target, Woman Yells 'Pretend It's Obama'

Santorum
Rick Santorum was campaigning at a gun range in Monroe, Louisiana today. As he fired a .45 caliber semi-automatic Colt pistol at a silhouette target, a woman shouted out, "pretend it's Obama."

The Secret Service is investigating. The AP reports: "Santorum was wearing protective ear muffs. He said later that he didn't hear the remark but denounced it as 'absurd.'"

Friday, March 23, 2012

Anti-Gay NC Blogger Quits Over Racist, Homophobic Obama Image

Tara Servatius, the blogger behind the racist, homophobic image used for a post blasting the Obama campaign's opposition to North Carolina's Amendment One that would ban same-sex marriage, has resigned from the John Locke Foundation, the conservative N.C. think tank which published her post, the Charlotte, Observer reports:

ServatiusOn Thursday, Servatius told the Observer in a statement that she didn’t mean to offend with her portrayal of Obama, and that she considers fried chicken not a racial stereotype but a symbol of Southern cuisine.

“I was searching for a picture of the president in drag to illustrate his Southern political strategy of courting young voters, a majority of whom support gay marriage,” Servatius said. “Regrettably, I didn’t think about the racial implications of the picture when I posted it. I simply don’t think in those terms. Unfortunately some people do. To me, fried chicken is simply a Southern cuisine. So the picture seemed perfect to illustrate Obama’s Southern strategy.”

But others found her decision to use the image out-of-bounds – and cause for dismissal if she hadn’t taken the hint and resigned first.

John Hood, president of the John Locke Foundation, which publishes “Meck Deck” on its Charlotte site, called the illustration “utterly inappropriate.” He also assured one Facebook friend that Servatius “is no longer a contributor to our site … I would have made that decision for her, but she beat me to the punch by ending her role.”

Source Claims Obama Considering Marriage Equality Endorsement Before November

ObamaVerticalWith Democrats increasingly vocal about including marriage equality in their official party platform, it's looking more likely that President Obama may "evolve" toward full acceptance of same-sex nuptials before the election.

Well, that's what an insider told Chris Johnson at the Washington Blade:
The chances that Obama will make such an announcement before the election are looking better than in previous months as the issue receives growing media attention and voters in a handful of states face ballot initiatives this year.
An informed source, who agreed to speak on condition of anonymity, said “active conversations” are taking place between the White House and the campaign about whether Obama should complete his evolution on marriage and that the chances of him making an announcement are about 50-50.
According to the source, the administration would like to unveil another major pro-LGBT initiative before the November election, and an endorsement of marriage equality could fit the bill. But concerns persist on how an endorsement of same-sex marriage would play in four or five battleground states.
“We’re talking about the Michigans, the Ohios, the Illinois of the world; the real battleground states in which voters are already conflicted and may factor this into their judgment,” the source said.

Thursday, March 22, 2012

Two men on gay cruise arrested for having sex while docked in Dominica

Two men on an Atlantis gay cruise have been arrested on charges of sodomy and indecent exposure for allegedly having sex in Dominica, a Caribbean island country where sex between two men is illegal.

John Robert Hart and Dennis Jay Mayer, both California natives, were accused of openly having sex on the boat while docked in the Roseau port.


The men were reportedly taken off the ship by armed police, are being held in the country’s jail, and are set to appear before a magistrate for a court hearing on Thursday, reported the Dominican.net.

‘American for Marriage Equality’

Thomas Roberts Asks NOM's Brian Brown if He is 'Exhausted' by Constantly Opposing Equality

'Rick Can Pray for Me. I'll Gay for Him.'

Earlier this week, Rick Santorum was asked what he would say to Dan Savage if he ever ran into him.
"I would tell him that I'm praying for him. He obviously has some serious issues. You look at someone like that who can say and do the things that he's doing and you just pray for him and hopefully he can find peace."

Shale_santorumSavage has responded in a statement to Mother Jones:
"Rick Santorum thinks that women who have been raped should be compelled—by force of law—to carry the babies of their rapists to term, he thinks birth control should be illegal, he wants to prosecute pornographers, etc., etc., basically the guy wants to be president so that he can micromanage the sex lives of all Americans...and I'm the one with issues? Because I made a dirty joke at his expense eight or nine years ago and it stuck? I'm the one with issues?

"Okaaaaaaaaaaaaaay.

"Rick can pray for me. I'll gay for him. And we can call it even."

Wednesday, March 21, 2012

New Hampshire Bill That Would Have Killed Same-Sex Marriage Law Defeated

Today, the Republican-controlled House in New Hampshire failed to pass one of seven bill attempts that would have killed same-sex civil marriage equality. The vote to repeal marriage equality failed 116-211. Democratic Governor John Lynch, who signed the 2009 bill legalizing same-sex marriage into law, would have vetoed HB 437 — sponsored by Republican David Bates – an attempt to disenfranchise thousands of same-sex couples along with gay, lesbian, and bisexual citizens who in the future might wish to marry. It was unclear if the GOP would have been able to assemble enough votes to override the Governor’s veto.

The new law if passed would have made same-sex marriage illegal, but preserved 1906 existing same-sex marriages — creating the exact same unconstitutional scenario as California did in 2008 with Proposition 8. A civil union amendment overwhelmingly failed, 82-266.

During debate, anti-repeal Republican Rep. Jennifer Coffey said, ”This body has set forth a ping-pong ball on people’s lives.” And Republican Steve Murphy asked, ”How can anyone support limited governance and then tell someone they can’t marry the person they love?”

While there were many Republicans who opposed taking away the right of same-sex couples to marry, others, like Rep. Warren Groen, merely dismissed polls and the vast majority of voters who want marriage equality in their state. Later, Groen was booed after asking, “What if a bisexual wants to marry two people? Or a Muslim who wants 5 wives?”

The majority of New Hampshire voters support marriage equality, but strong special interest groups like NOM, the National Organization For Marriage, had banded together to force lawmakers to take up the action.

Scott Brown Encourages People to 'Move On' from Same-Sex Marriage

Tuesday, March 20, 2012

Obama Isn’t Even Black.” Don’t Re-Nig Seller Says Sticker Cute Not Racistby

Thumbnail image for “Obama Isn’t Even Black.” Don’t Re-Nig Seller Says Sticker Cute Not RacistPaula Smith, the seller of a racist bumper sticker, says the racist bumper sticker she’s selling isn’t racist, it’s “cute,” and claims President Obama isn’t black.

Dame Edna Everage Hangs Up Her Glasses And Heels

Barry Humphries, the man behind beloved drag doyenne Dame Edna Everage, has revealed that Edna’s new stage show, Eat Pray Laugh!, will be her last.

Telling Australia’s Daily Telegraph that he’s feeling “a bit senior,” Humphries says performing is “the best aerobics you could do… but it’s grueling.”

He plans on working on another book, traveling and working on his paintings. “Edna will crop up on television, I guess, but not in a live show,” he added.

Though she’s won a Tony and sold out shows on in major U.S. cities, Dame Edna’s truly a national treasure both in England—where she recently attended the wedding of Prince William and Catherine Middleton—and in her Down Under homeland. A street in Melbourne has been named after the famous female impersonator (Dame Edna Place) and Humphries has been made an Officer of the Order of Australia

“Jesus Never Said Gay People Should Be Condemned”

In his new book, NIV Lessons From Life: Personal Reflections with Jimmy Carter, the former president discusses how to apply a faithful and thoughtful reading of the Bible into a modern worldview. The Huffington Post’s religion vertical chatted with Carter and brought up the gay question:

Homosexuality was well known in the ancient world, well before Christ was born and Jesus never said a word about homosexuality. In all of his teachings about multiple things—he never said that gay people should be condemned. I personally think it is very fine for gay people to be married in civil ceremonies.

I draw the line, maybe arbitrarily, in requiring by law that churches must marry people. I’m a Baptist, and I believe that each congregation is autonomous and can govern its own affairs. So if a local Baptist church wants to accept gay members on an equal basis, which my church does by the way, then that is fine. If a church decides not to, then government laws shouldn’t require them to.

Plaudits to Carter, married for 65 years himself, for reconciling his Biblical faith with the reality of the modern world.

Carter has also signed on to the inclusion of marriage-equality language in the 2012 Democratic National Platform, alongside fellow ex-prez Bill Clinto, almost-prez Al Gore, 22 Democratic Senators, and other leaders across the nation.

Supreme Court Denies Christian Challenge to School Anti-Discrimination Policy

The Supreme Court today said it would not hear an appeal brought by a Christian fraternity and sorority at San Diego State University denied official recognition by the school because they want to limit membership to those who affirm their religious beliefs.AlphadeltachiThe Chronicle of Higher Education reports:

In the case, Alpha Delta Chi-Delta Chapter et al. v. Charles Reed et al., No. 11-744, they argued that the university had violated their First Amendment rights by not officially recognizing them. The policy on student groups at San Diego State, part of the California State University system, prohibits such membership restrictions. The Supreme Court’s announcement today, issued as usual without comment, lets stand a ruling last August by the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Ninth Circuit, which upheld the university’s policy on recognizing student groups.

You may recall a similar case involving the UC Hastings Law School in San Francisco, in which SCOTUS ruled that the school could deny recognition to the Christian Legal Society because it denied entrance to days because of its core beliefs.

N.C. Governor Pledges to Fight Marriage Ban

BEV PERDUE X390 (GETTY) | ADVOCATE.COM
North Carolina Gov. Beverly Perdue said she believes the proposed ballot initiative to ban same-sex couples from marrying in her state is wrong.

Perdue, who is not seeking re-election this fall, took to Twitter to also congratulate President Barack Obama for publicly opposing Amendment 1.

"It's poorly written and will hurt children and families across [North Carolina]," she wrote on Friday.

At a dinner with 300 Democrats on Saturday, Perdue asked, "Would you ever have thought that North Carolina in 2012 would be focused on something as bad for our economy as the amendment?" According to the Charlotte Observer, she added, "I’ll do everything I can to defeat it."

Monday, March 19, 2012

After Gay Marriage Proposal at NHL Game, Crowd Goes Wild



A St. Patrick's Day gay marriage proposal took place at an NHL game up in Ottawa, Canada on Saturday night.

Yahoo Sports reports:

On Saturday night at Scotiabank Place, a Toronto Maple Leafs fan named Alicia stood on the ice during the second intermission wearing a blindfold. When it was removed, she looked up at the video scoreboard and read a message from her girlfriend, an Ottawa Senators fan named Christina.

Schmaltzy music played. Out walked Christina. They embraced and had a brief conversation, as the crowd began to wise up to what was about to happen.

Christina dropped to one knee while holding Alicia's hand. The fans roared. She slid the engagement ring on, they shared a kiss and the Senators mascot proudly raised a sign that read "SHE SAID YES."

The Close-Up SFW Video Of Jason Russell’s Super-Gay Naked Meltdown



TMZ has released a new close-up clip of Jason Russell’s naked freakout on the streets of San Diego last Thursday.

'Family Equality Council' Celebrates LGBT Families

"In 1982 a group of gay fathers founded what would eventually become the Family Equality Council. Now, 30 years later, we have grown into the nation's leading advocate for Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, and Transgender parents and their children."

Diners React to Distressed Transgender Teen



On last weekend's ABC News 'What Would You Do?', restaurant diners were faced with a transgender teen telling her mother that she identifies as a girl, and the mom demanding she dress and act like a boy.

Archbishop of Canterbury to Resign at Year's End

Archbishop of Canterbury (official) 390x | Advocate.comArchbishop of Canterbury Rowan Williams, the spiritual leader of the Anglican Communion, had criticized the election of gay bishops in the American Episcopal Church during his decade-long tenure.

Obama Condemns Proposed N.C. Marriage Ban

BARACK OBAMA 20120315 X390 (GETTY) | ADVOCATE.COMPresident Barack Obama has come out against North Carolina's Amendment 1, which would constitutionally ban marriage for same-sex couples.

Saturday, March 17, 2012

Real Housewives of South Boston, St. Patty-style

Man Who Co-Founded Group Behind 'KONY 2012' Campaign Detained for Masturbating in Public

The co-founder of Invisible Children, the group behing the KONY 2012 video and campaign, was detained today for masturbating, removing his underwear, and "acting very strange" in public, NBC San Diego reports:

Jason_russellJason Russell, 33, was allegedly found masturbating in public, vandalizing cars and possibly under the influence of something, according to Lt. Andra Brown. He was detained at the intersection of Ingraham Street and Riviera Road...
"Due to the nature of the detention, he was not arrested," she said at a press conference. "During the evaluation we learned we probably needed to take him to a medical facility because of statements he was saying."

Invisible Children's CEO released a statement:
“Jason Russell was unfortunately hospitalized yesterday suffering from exhaustion, dehydration, and malnutrition. He is now receiving medical care and is focused on getting better. The past two weeks have taken a severe emotional toll on all of us, Jason especially, and that toll manifested itself in an unfortunate incident yesterday. Jason’s passion and his work have done so much to help so many, and we are devastated to see him dealing with this personal health issue. We will always love and support Jason, and we ask that you give his entire family privacy during this difficult time.”

The group has been under close scrutiny since its KONY 2012 video went viral, including questions about its funding, some of which which was revealed to come from anti-gay Christian fundamentalist groups.

Friday, March 16, 2012

The Road We've Traveled

Ravi Guilty Of Hate Crime In Anti-Gay Rutgers Webcam Spying Case

Post image for Verdict: Ravi Guilty Of Hate Crime In Anti-Gay Rutgers Webcam Spying Case





Dharun Ravi was just found guilty of invasion of privacy and bias intimidation charges in the New Jersey Rutgers University webcam spying case, and guilty of some of the hate crimes charges. Ravi was acquitted of some of the more serious bias intimidation charges, including bias intimidation because of sexual intimidation against the man who had visited his gay roommate, Tyler Clementi in his room.
Ravi was accused of spying on his gay roommate, freshman Tyler Clementi, and sharing the video with others, after recording several intimate encounters of Clementi and another man, who was not identified publicly. In 2010, after learning of the spying, Clementi died by suicide, by jumping off the George Washington Bridge.

Ravi was charged not with the death of Clementi but with bias and invasion of privacy. Ravi faces up to ten years in prison.

Ravi faced a total of 15 charges, including four counts of hate crime bias intimidation, two counts of invasion of privacy, two counts of attempted invasion of privacy and six counts of witness tampering and hindering apprehension. He was found guilty of a majority of the charges.
Sentencing will be on May 21, 2012. Ravi is 20 years old, and faces 10 years in jail, and possible deportation as he is not a U.S. citizen. he will remain free on bail, having surrendered his passport.

U.S. Senate confirms gay nominee to California federal court

The Senate on Thursday confirmed to the bench a gay judicial nominee whom Republicans had held up for four months from receiving a floor vote along with other appointees.

Michael Fitzgerald, whom President Obama nominated for a seat on the U.S. District Court of Central California in July, was approved by a vote of 91-6. A simple majority was required for confirmation. Among the senators voting “no” were Sens. Mike Lee (R-Utah) and Jim DeMint (R-S.C.).

‘God Hates Fags’ Church Preparing Ad for Limbaugh Show

Guess who’s knocking on Rush Limbaugh’s door as his advertisers flee like rats from a sinking ship? It’s the people behind the infamous GodHatesFags website — the Westboro Baptist Church, the most notorious gay-bashing group in America — and they’re ready to step in to keep the embattled Limbaugh on the air.

“As a matter of fact, I can confirm that,” Westboro spokesman Steve Drain told Hatewatch today when asked if the church was seeking to advertise on “The Rush Limbaugh Show.” “We’re preparing our first ad at this very moment, and we’ll have a 30-second radio spot ready to go by Friday.”

Just 'Close Your Eyes'



During a discussion of a mandatory ultrasound bill, Pennsylvania Gov. Tom Corbett (R) on Wednesday dismissed off-handedly the insinuation that the measure goes too far, saying, "You just have to close your eyes."

Corbett reaffirmed his support for the "Women's Right to Know" Act, which would require doctors to perform an ultrasound on a patient, offer her two personalized copies of the image and play and describe fetal heartbeat in detail before she can have an abortion -- "as long as it's not obtrusive."

'Focus on the Family' Files Colorado Ballot Initative To Allow Anti-Gay Discrimination Based on Religious Beliefs

On March 7, the Christianist Alliance Defense Fund sent a proposed ballot initative to he Colorado Legislative Council that would protect the rights of religious organizations or individuals to discriminate based on their beliefs, the Denver Post reports:
Minnery
The draft language states that government may not directly or indirectly burden a person or organization by withholding benefits, assessing penalties or excluding a person or group from government programs or facilities.

...The amendment representative named is Tom Minnery (pictured), senior vice president of Focus on the Family.
Minnery...denies it's spurred by the national debate over religious freedom and conscience-based exemptions to national health care mandates, such as required coverage of birth control.

LGBT rights group One Colorado is alarmed:

Focus on the Family is attacking our families, filing a ballot initiative that would legalize discrimination against lesbian, gay, bisexual, and transgender Coloradans. If passed, this initiative would allow anyone with a religious conviction to deny employment, housing, or services to LGBT people.

The initiative’s language — which focuses on “religious liberty” — is incredibly deceptive. It doesn’t make clear the widespread implications of enacting this law. Implications that don’t just impact LGBT people — but all Coloradans.

Imagine a law that allows a pharmacist to refuse to fill a birth control prescription. A law that permits an employer to refuse to hire people on the basis of sexual orientation or gender identity and expression. A law that gives protection to teachers who refuse to teach sex education or evolution. All for the sake of so-called religious freedom.

The deadline for objection to the petition is Monday and One Colorado says they need help raising $5,000 to fight it.

'Kony 2012' Prompts Outrage In Uganda

Thursday, March 15, 2012

Pat Robertson Says Oral Sex Is Fine



I have a hard time believing this woman is so uncomfortable talking about oral sex.

Shocking Tweets From People Who Say They Will Murder Their Gay Child


Real tweets from real people who used Twitter to tell the world that if their child turned out to be gay or lesbian they would murder them. Yes, there actually is a hashtag, #ToMyUnbornChild, which, among other things, has been encouraging people to tweet they will kill their children if they are gay.

Jon Stewart Mocks Gingrich's Flailing Campaign

"To my unborn child, I'll put a bullet in your damn skull (if you turn out to be gay)..."

 

"These are tweets from @homophobes account on twitter, which tweets anti-gay hate to all of its followers.

 The Twitter account @Homophobes (which retweets public homophobic tweets to its 4,500 followers) created a post at Storify (a site where users can bundle tweets onto one page and add commentary to create a story) to document over 100 tweets of mostly young men and women saying they would murder their future child if he or she was gay."

Gay Men’s Chorus of Los Angeles Joins with the It Gets Better Project for a Nationwide Tour



For several years, the Gay Men’s Chorus of Los Angeles has used music to share with high school students the importance of fairness and equality through their educational anti-bullying Alive Music Project. Now Executive Director Thom Lynch has announced a new collaboration with the It Gets Better Project and Speak Theater Arts to create a nationwide tour of a musical theater piece called “It Gets Better.” “We’re proud to be continuing in the mission to make our children safe,” says Lynch.

A six-member core group will collaborate with local performers and educational and governmental institutions to focus on bullying in local schools. “This show isn’t about going to towns and telling everybody it gets better,” says director Liesel Reinhart. “It’s about looking people in the eye, in each local community, and saying why isn’t it better now? What can we do to make it better right now?”

Fight Homophobia in Schools with 'OK 4 U 2 Be Gay'

Wednesday, March 14, 2012

Denmark Poised to Become the 11th Country to Legalize Gay Marriage

Denmark, the world’s first nation to legalize same-sex unions in 1989, will introduce legislation tomorrow that will likely in June make it the eleventh country to officially allow gay marriage.

The draft legislation was announced today by Danish Prime Minister Helle Thorning-Schmidt, who said that Church of Denmark priests will individually be allowed to decide whether or not they want to perform same-sex ceremonies. The church has thus far been the stumbling block to the approval of gay marriage, despite a progressive Danish society that is largely in favor of gay rights.

“It will be up to each priest whether he or she will perform gay marriages,” said Thorning-Schmidt in her weekly press conference today. “But the government gives all members of the church the right to get married in church, whether they want to marry a person of the opposite or same sex.”

Though several same-sex marriage bills have been previously defeated in the Danish parliament, this new compromise bill is widely expected to pass, and should therefore take effect on June 15.

Gay Wedding... Jason and Paul

Jason and Paul's Slideshow from Isis Photography on Vimeo.


My husband and I had quite an original wedding as we got married on the stage of the Winter Garden Theatre in Toronto. This theatre looks like it's right out of a Midsummer Night's Dream, with leaves and lanterns hanging from the ceiling and tree trunk pillars. We each walked down the aisle with our mother's to 'Somebody to Love' by Queen and then met up on the stage for the ceremony.

Revisiting the Black Cat

In 1967 the world forever changed for LGBTs, whether they knew it then or not, with a momentous night at an unassuming gay bar in Los Angeles.

BLACK CAT ORIGINAL X560 | ADVOCATE.COM
The original photo of the protests (participants' names and photographer unknown.)
For the gay patrons of the Black Cat tavern in the Silver Lake neighborhood of Los Angeles, it was a disheartening start to 1967. As balloons dropped from the ceiling to mark the New Year, undercover cops ripped Christmas decorations from the walls, brandished guns, then beat and cuffed 14 people. Two men arrested for kissing were later forced to register as sex offenders; one bartender suffered a ruptured spleen. Violent police raids on queer bars weren't uncommon in the '60s, but this time the gays didn't let it slide. Weeks after the arrests, protesters stood for days in front of the Black Cat, demanding an end to LAPD intimidation, humiliation, and brutality. The actions at the Black Cat, now a Los Angeles historic-cultural monument, galvanized Richard Mitch and partner Bill Rau. They took over the newsletter of a local gay rights organization called PRIDE (Personal Rights in Defense and Education) and turned it into a small newsmagazine, which they renamed The Los Angeles Advocate. The first issue was dated September 1967. Two years later The Advocate reported on the Stonewall riots in New York City.

Tuesday, March 13, 2012

Health Care Costs Will Be Higher Than Half Of Country's Income By 2037

Health insurance will cost more than the median income of an American household by 2037 -- and that's the best-case scenario, two doctors contend in a new study.

The reason: Wages for U.S. workers are stagnating and health care costs are rising so quickly that even if the health reform law enacted two years ago by President Obama works as advertised, health insurance premiums will surpass income for many Americans in the coming decades, according to an article published in the journal, Annals of Family Medicine (h/t U.S. News and World Report).

Under a less rosy scenario, insurance costs will reach the tipping point in 2033, Richard Young of John Peter Smith Hospital in Forth Worth, Texas, and Jennifer DeVoe of Oregon Health Sciences University in Portland, who conducted the study, found.

Things are going to get worse without more aggressive efforts to rein in health care spending, they say:

If health insurance premiums and national wages continue to grow at recent rates and the U.S. health system makes no major structural changes, the average cost of a family health insurance premium will equal 50% of the household income by the year 2021, and surpass the average household income by the year 2033. If out-of-pocket costs are added to the premium costs, the 50% threshold is crossed by 2018 and exceeds household income by 2030.

Many South Republican Voters Believe Interracial Marriage Should Be Illegal

Despite the fact that the number of interracial marriages in the U.S. reached an all-time high this year, there are many who still believe that mixed-race marriage is unacceptable and should be made illegal, according to a new report.

On Monday, polling firm Public Policy Polling (PPP) revealed that 29 percent of likely GOP voters surveyed in Mississippi believe that interracial marriage should be illegal. Fifty-four percent said intermarriage should remain legal, and the rest responded that they weren't sure. The survey also found that 21 percent of likely GOP voters polled in Alabama believe that interracial marriage should be illegal.

Although the last U.S. anti-miscegenation laws were lifted more than four decades ago in 1967, many mixed-race couples in the Deep South are still struggling to feel safe and be accepted in their communities.

In November 2011, Stella Harville and her fiance, Ticha Chikuni, a native of Zimbabwe, were banned from a Kentucky church for being an interracial couple. The church also ruled that married interracial couples could be prohibited from becoming members. A month later, the congregation overturned their decision, deeming their earlier ruling "discriminatory."

Monday, March 12, 2012

Boehner may intervene soon against gay troops’ DOMA lawsuit

A Republican-led House panel may intervene as soon as next week against litigation that aims to overturn the Defense of Marriage Act on the grounds that it unfairly prohibits gay troops from obtaining benefits for their same-sex spouses.

The litigation, known as McLaughlin v. Panetta, was filed on behalf of gay troops and veterans by Servicemembers Legal Defense Network and Chadbourne & Parke LLC. It’s pending before the District Court of Massachusetts.

Christopher Man, counsel at Chadbourne & Parke LLC, told the Blade via email on Saturday he believes the Bipartisan Legal Advisory Group, led by House Speaker John Boehner, is “likely to intervene soon, possibly as soon as next week” and plaintiffs will oppose the intervention.

The Justice Department sent notification to Congress last month that it wouldn’t defend DOMA in the McLaughlin case — keeping in line with President Obama’s determination last year that the anti-gay law was unconstitutional — as well as provisions in Title 10, Title 32, and Title 38 of the U.S. Code prohibiting gay troops from receiving benefits.

Boehner’s panel, which took on defense of DOMA last year following a 3-2 party-line vote in the administration’s stead, is already defending the statute in other cases challenging its constitutionality.

KONY 2012

Nutty, Homophobic 'Christianist' Testimony on the Omaha LGBT Non-Discrimination Bill



From the hearing on an LGBT anti-discrimination ordinance being considered in Omaha.

Sunday, March 11, 2012

'Evil' Lesbian Sister's Wedding



On the 700 Club, Pat Robertson told a woman to reject her lesbian sister's invitation to be a bridesmaid in her wedding, Right Wing Watch's Brian Tashman reports.

Said Robertson:

"....if you go what you’re doing is saying ‘I bless this union and I agree that what you’re doing is right.’ You know the Bible is so clear about homosexuality and when you read in what Paul said, he said, ‘Wherefore God gave them up,’ and having given them up they did evil things with their own bodies, men for men and women with women, defaming their bodies. Read Romans, read the Book of Romans, this isn’t something I came up with, read it in Romans. You say, ‘should I go to my sister’s wedding, should I participate,’ the answer is to tell your sister, ‘I love you but I cannot participate a ceremony that is contrary to God’s word, period.’"

Added Robertson: "If she doesn’t like it, if that breaks the union between you, that’s tough luck."

Pope Condemns Marriage Equality in Speech to U.S. Bishops

POPE BENEDICT 201004 X390 (GETTY) | ADVOCATE.COM
In a Friday Vatican address to visiting American bishops, Pope Benedict XVI condemned the growing push for marriage equality in the United States, AFP reports.

“Sexual differences cannot be dismissed as irrelevant to the definition of marriage," said Pope Benedict, who warned of "the powerful political and cultural currents seeking to alter the legal definition of marriage.”

Friday, March 9, 2012

50! Rush Limbaugh Quitting Advertisers List Hits Milestone

As of this afternoon, 50 advertisers have quit sponsoring the Rush Limbaugh show, and the show in various markets is airing mostly non-paying public service announcements, along with several minutes of dead air during commercial breaks.

Media Matters also reported today, “Rush Limbaugh closed the first hour of his radio show on his flagship station, WABC, with 1:03 of dead air Monday,” and later added, “Similarly, during the commercial break that led into the show, there was 2:38 of dead air.”

Dustin Lance Black talks Prop 8

Obama A “Health Care Dictator” Who May Mandate 1 Child Families



Michele Bachmann said that President Obama under “Obamacare” could mandate the number of children a family is allowed to have, or that the government would pay for. Bachmann suggested President Obama is a “health care dictator” and said he now has the power to demand insurance companies offer “sterilizations” in addition to contraceptive care under the Affordable Care Act.

Hunger Games' Josh Hutcherson Speaks Against Homophobia At L.A. High School

 

Josh HutchersonHGX390
Josh Hutcherson, star of The Hunger Games, took a break from his promotional duties to speak with the Gay Straight Alliance at a Los Angeles high school, reports Celebuzz.

The 19-year-old actor, who plays Peeta in the highly anticipated movie franchise, is reported to have made a surprise appearance at a high school in South Central Los Angeles. Hutcherson, who is closely associated the the anitbullying organization Straight But Not Narrow, spoke with the Gay Straight Alliance about the importance of straight allies for gay youth.


 

Catholic Diocese Defunds Homeless Group Over Director’s Gay Marriage Views

 

Homelessx390 | Advocate.com
The Catholic Diocese of Sacramento has decided to stop funding a nonprofit agency that serves homeless people because its director made statements in support of same-sex marriage and abortion rights.
The Sacramento Bee reports that the diocese’s head of social services sent a letter last month to the Rev. Faith Whitmore, the director of Francis House, to say that her public statements clashed with Church teaching. The letter said it would be “impossible for the diocese to continue funding Francis House" in its annual Catholic Appeal specifically because of Whitmore’s involvement.

Whitmore, a United Methodist minister, took over the directorship of Francis House last April. She married same-sex couples in defiance of her denomination in 2008, during the time such marriages could legally be performed under California law, and she has publicly expressed support for abortion. However, she maintains that she held those positions as an individual, and never as a representative of Francis House. The nonprofit’s board of directors backs Whitmore.

Complicating matters somewhat, Francis House is nondenominational and no longer part of the Church in which it was founded. A spokesman for the diocese said there was a concern that some parishioners still perceive Francis House as a Catholic charity, which could lead to complaints about the fundraising, although he was unaware of any concerns raised by parishioners at this time.

According to the Bee, Francis House is one of the largest agencies serving the homeless in the Sacramento region, with upwards of 25,000 clients and an annual budget of around $500,000. The diocese has contributed between $7,5000 to $10,000 to the agency every year for at least two decades, a significant amount in a struggling economy.

Wednesday, March 7, 2012

Fox News On Gas Prices In 2008



Following GOP strategy, Fox News is again blaming the Obama Administration for rising gas prices -- a claim that has been repeatedly debunked by energy analysts. But back in the summer of 2008 when the average U.S. gasoline price hit a record high of $4.11, Fox said that "no President has the power to increase or to lower gas prices" and the only way to reduce our vulnerability to gas price spikes is to use less oil.

What People Are Saying About HRC’s Incoming President, Chad Griffin

HRC has chosen Chad Griffin as its new president, the talking heads have been weighing in with their opinions. And they’re almost universally positive, with Griffin being praised as a fresh face and a strong choice for the job.

HuffPo Gay Voices editor Michelangelo Signorile is a strong contender for the “Most Glowing Praise” prize:
The choice of Griffin was an inspired, bold, and ultimately necessary move for a group that was becoming increasingly irrelevant and even counterproductive in the eyes of many in the broader LGBT activist community. It’s not inaccurate to say that while HRC certainly has its many supporters and has done critical work, many have viewed the group for years, rightly or wrong, as a lackey to the Democratic establishment and the Obama administration.
GLAAD’s acting president, Mike Thompson, took a break from blasting Kirk Cameron to chime in:
Chad has led LGBT families to new levels of visibility through his work at the American Foundation for Equal Rights. His commitment to all members of our community and proven track record of advancing LGBT issues are instrumental assets to our movement. We look forward to continue working with HRC and with Chad as partners in the march to equality.
David Boies, who helped defeat Prop 8 in Perry vs. Schwarzenegger:
Time after time over the past several years, Chad has proven that he is easily one of the most skilled strategists and tacticians in American politics today. That is a rare combination of skill sets for one person to have. His diplomacy, his intellect and his passion for issues of equality are second to none. I cannot think of a better person to lead HRC into the future.
Meanwhile activist Michael Petrelis gave Griffin something of a backhanded compliment:
Chad is cool and a damn fine strategist; however, the Human Rights Campaign still sucks. It will take more than a new executive director with great qualifications to undo the decades of waste, political laziness and hardcore elitism.”

Transvaginal Ultrasound Margaritas & Republican Salsa

Kirk Cameron Responds to Criticism, Says Gay Friends Support Him

KIRK CAMERON GRAB X390 (FIAR) | ADVOCATE.COM
Kirk Cameron has responded to critics of his antigay remarks, saying he spoke honestly and has been encouraged by the support he's received from friends, including gay people.

Last week Cameron told talk show host Piers Morgan that he thinks homosexuality is "unnatural. I think that it's detrimental and ultimately destructive to so many of the foundations of civilization." The remarks created an immediate uproar among equality advocates, and the Gay and Lesbian Alliance Against Defamation quickly took action, creating a page for people to express their disapproval.

The sometime actor sent an exclusive statement to ABCNews.com today, to reply to his critics. “I spoke as honestly as I could, but some people believe my responses were not loving toward those in the gay community," Cameron says. "That is not true. I can assuredly say that it’s my life’s mission to love all people. I should be able to express moral views on social issues, especially those that have been the underpinning of Western civilization for 2,000 years — without being slandered, accused of hate speech, and told from those who preach ‘tolerance’ that I need to either bend my beliefs to their moral standards or be silent when I’m in the public square.”

Cameron adds, “I believe we need to learn how to debate these things with greater love and respect. I’ve been encouraged by the support of many friends (including gay friends, incidentally).”

LGBT advocate Randy Roberts Potts, who is grandson of the late televangelist, Oral Roberts, has released a statement to Cameron’s response, saying, “Increasingly, Christians understand that loving their gay and lesbian family and friends means supporting them and advocating for protections for their families. Kirk may feel that he is defending the ‘underpinning of Western civilization’ through his words, but in reality they are harming those whom he claims to love. I hope that he will continue to study and pray on how he can demonstrate true Christian love toward gay and lesbian people.”
Piers Morgan was interviewed by website TMZ and asked if he considers Cameron's opinions outdated."I think he was pretty brave to say what he said," Morgan replied. "Many would argue [it's] an antiquated view."

Gold, who played Cameron's sister in the hit sitcom Growing Pains, immediately distanced herself from her former costar's derogatory comments, tweeting, "I am a strong supporter of the #LGBT Community, and I believe in equal rights for all. #NOH8 #LOVE"

Actor Baldwin, who describes himself as a "Jesus freak" in his Twitter profile, appears to be the only celebrity who is publicly defending Cameron. Baldwin tweeted, "GREAT JOB Kirk !!! Let's pray one day Piers Morgan finds true Salvation, God Bless!"

GCB star Kristin Chenoweth, a 2011 GLAAD Media Award winner, gave an interview to ABC in which she discussed being a Christian who supports LGBT equality. "The Bible tells us that we're not supposed to judge, and people shouldn't judge before seeing the show," Chenoweth says. "Even as a young child, I thought, 'Why is being gay bad?’ I didn't understand it. So I asked my grandma, who is the best Christian I ever knew. I'd say, 'What about my friend Denny, he's gay, is he going to hell?' She told me, 'I read the Bible like I eat fish. I take the meat that serves me well, but I don't choke on the bone.'"

Statements released by other celebrities in response to Cameron's remarks:

Jesse Tyler Ferguson, actor
"The only unnatural thing about me being gay is that I had a crush on Kirk Cameron until about 24 hours ago."

Alan Thicke, actor
"I'm getting him some new books. The Old Testament simply can't be expected to explain everything."

Sarah Colonna, comedian
"Wish I could go to the 80s & un-buy that Kirk Cameron poster. Loving God but spreading hate has never made sense to me."

Jordan Knight, musician
"Ted Haggard vehemently opposed gays as well. Wonder why? He couldn’t accept himself ... in my opinion. #justsayin"

Debra Messing
"I want to thank Piers Morgan for his response to what he wud say to HIS child if (s)he came out: "Great, as long as you’re happy."

Nick Stadler, comedian
"Amazing how many idiots feel empowered by Kirk Cameron. It'll be even better after he's caught sucking [expletive] in a public toilet."

Zach Braff, actor
"If Kirk Cameron hates gay people, why was he best friends with Boner?"

Tony Tripoli, comedian
"I now blame Kirk Cameron for poor Tracy Gold's eating issues. He's made ME want to puke all day, too."

Matt Doyle, actor
"Sad shame about Kirk Cameron. Takes some serious fear and insecurity to make hateful comments about things that have nothing to do with you."

Billy Eichner, comedian
"So great to hear what Kirk Cameron thinks about gay people. Anybody know where Tina Yothers stands on the death penalty?"

Josh Charles, actor
"I know Growing Pains was only a TV show, but I have to think both Alan Thicke & Joanna Kerns must feel they failed as parents tonight."

Christopher Rice, novelist
"Kirk Cameron says marriage was defined by God in the Garden of Eden. No response from Cameron on why the world isn't full of talking snakes."

Roseanne Barr, actress-comedian
"Kirk or Kurt or whatever Cameron is an accomplice to murder with his hate speech. so is Rick Warren. Their peers r killing gays in Uganda."

Craig Ferguson, talk show host
"Rush makes me ashamed to be a middleaged white man and Kirk Cameron makes me ashamed to be a failed actor. We don't all think like that NoH8."

Kirk Cameron's Remarks Might Impact LGBT Teen Suicide Rate

SARA GILBERT THE TALK X390 (GRAB) | ADVOCATE.COM
During today's episode of CBS's The Talk, Sara Gilbert suggests that the antigay remarks made by Kirk Cameron could have a negative effect on kids who are confused about their sexual orientation, while La Toya Jackson says people who love each other should be respected.

Gilbert, herself a teen actress on the sitcom Roseanne, first jokes that "the tragedy of this is that Growing Pains will never be the same to me."

The actress then drives home the potentially serious consequences of Cameron's antigay rhetoric. “You really have to think about who you are hurting ... the kids out there who aren’t OK with who they are," Gilbert says. "In lesbian, gay, and transgender youth, the suicide attempt rate is 30 to 40 percent, and those kids hearing that message. ... He just needs to think about that. And when he’s saying we’re taking apart foundations in society, I would argue that there is no one who fights for marriage more than gay people.”

La Toya Jackson says that, although she was raised as a Jehovah's Witness, her eyes were opened when she left the religion, which disapproves of homosexuality, in her late 20s. "[Cameron] is sending the wrong message to children," Jackson says. "We need to try to get along as much as possible."

Tuesday, March 6, 2012

22 Senate Democrats back marriage equality in party platform

A campaign to add support for marriage equality to the Democratic Party platform has gainedthe support of 22 members of the U.S. Senate, according to the Washington Blade. “Two people who want to enter into a lovingcommitted relationship should be afforded the same legally recognized rights and benefits Ienjoy with my wife,” Sen. Michael Bennet, D-Colo., said in a statement. While the campaignhas gained other high-profile supporters, it’s unclear whether the issue will make it into the partyplatform, which has traditionally opposed anti-LGBT initiatives while stopping short of offering outright support for LGBT causes such as marriage equality

'He Is A Terrible Person'



U.S. Fired 5,000 Gays in 1953 'Witch Hunt'

Joan Cassidy, 84, has the U.S. Navy in her blood. Her father and mother, a proud Yeomanette, served active duty in World War I. Her brother and sister were in World War II.

By 1953, Lt. j.g. Cassidy, then 26, was head of a Navy intelligence division with highest-level security clearances.

But while serving in Pearl Harbor, she resigned from a promising career and joined the Navy Reserve, forced to throw away her dreams because she was a lesbian.

President Dwight D. Eisenhower that year declared homosexuals a threat to national security and ordered the immediate firing of every gay man and lesbian working for the U.S. government.

Prop 8 Engaged New Generation of Activists

In the hours after the passage of California’s voter-approved ban on marriage for same-sex couples, thousands of people marched down Santa Monica and Sunset Boulevards in West Hollywood to express their outrage. Others in neighboring Los Angeles, New York City and other cities across the country took part in similar protests.

Did Proposition 8 inspire a new generation of LGBT activists to fight for LGBT rights?

"When Prop 8 passed, at least here in California, a whole new group of activists were born because they felt the sting of discrimination and that’s often what it takes," said West Hollywood Mayor John Duran during a Feb. 27 interview at a Starbucks along Santa Monica Boulevard.

Archbishop of Canterbury Rowan Williams faces defeat on gay deal

The Church of England is facing a damaging rift over the appointment of gay bishops.
Archbishop of Canterbury Rowan William set to quit next year
 

The Archbishop of Canterbury, Dr Rowan Williams, has given his backing to a deal intended to prevent a split between the Church’s traditionalist and liberal wings, by effectively preventing openly gay clergy from becoming bishops.
 
However, last night the proposed Anglican Covenant stood on the brink of failure, after worshippers and clergy rejected it in votes up and down England. Two bishops voted against it.
Supporters of Dr Williams said that a defeat would be a “devastating” blow to him after he staked so much of his authority on the Covenant.
When Dr Williams unveiled the document in 2010, he urged the church to endorse it or risk seeing the “piece-by-piece dissolution” of the Anglican Communion.
The Bishop of Sherborne, the Rt Rev Dr Graham Kings, warned that rejection of the Covenant would cause the worldwide church to “disintegrate”, and added: “Rowan Williams has put his whole weight behind this ... For anyone in his position it would be devastating [if it failed].”
In 2003, a split in the church emerged when Gene Robinson was appointed as the first openly gay Anglican bishop, elected by the liberal-leaning Episcopal Church in the US.

Conservative clergy, including Anglican leaders in Africa, protested against the move, leading Dr Williams to set up a commission to find ways to heal the divisions.

The 2004 Windsor Report recommended that ties between Anglican churches around the world should be made “explicit and forceful”.

The Covenant, drafted in 2009, does not deal explicitly with the question of gay bishops, but says branches should take into account the views of the wider Anglican church when doing anything that “may provoke controversy”.

Under the proposed regime, a branch of the church that breached the rules could suffer sanctions, including suspension from Church bodies.

Branches of the Anglican church around the world are considering whether the Covenant should be adopted.

In the Church of England it requires the approval of a majority of the 44 dioceses in order to proceed to a final vote at the General Synod.

However, by last night, 13 dioceses had voted against it, with only eight in favour. More votes will be held in coming weeks. Opposition is being led by figures on the Church’s liberal wing. They say the Covenant would penalise branches of the Church which have adopted liberal positions.

Dr Kings said: “If we don’t pass the Covenant we will disintegrate into a vortex of more splits and more fragmentation. It’s between increasing fragmentation or intensifying our relationships - that’s the choice.

“The ridiculous situation we could be in if it doesn’t go through the dioceses is that the Communion could agree to the Covenant while the Church of England doesn’t.”

Another supporter, the Rt Rev Robert Paterson, Bishop of Sodor and Man, said a defeat of the Covenant should not be seen as a personal rebuke to Dr Williams, who has been “thrust” into an “impossible” position.

Opponents argue that the Covenant would penalise branches of the church which have adopted liberal positions on sexuality.

The Bishop of Salisbury, the Right Rev Nicholas Holtam, who last month became the first senior cleric to publicly support gay marriage, said of the Covenant: “I have thought long and hard about my own position which, as a matter of public record prior to my appointment as bishop, is against.”
He told his diocesan synod: “It seems to me that the Covenant will indeed create a different set of relationships in the Communion but that this will on balance be unhelpful and un-Anglican, like a piece of unshrunk cloth sewn on to an old cloak.”

Sir Diarmaid MacCulloch, professor of the history of the Church at Oxford University, described the Covenant as a “witch hunt” against the US and Canadian Churches.

Gay Virginia High School Student Suspended for High Heels

Asante Cotman, a 17-year-old student who wore high heels to class and was suspended for three days after being ordered to remove them for disrupting the school, says the real reason he was suspended is because he's gay, NBC12 reports:

Students Protest and Gather 10,000 signatures to Remove Chick-Fil-A from New York University

Chicken Sandwich Chickfila
Hillary Dworkoski thinks it's ridiculous that there's a Chick-fil-A located on New York University's campus.

Dworkoski, a freshman at NYU, launched a petition to get rid of the Chick-fil-A on campus -- the only Chick-fil-A location in Manhattan -- because of the restaurant chain's financial support of anti-gay groups.

"NYU prides itself on being a diverse, open and inclusive campus community," Dworski writes in her petition. "That's one of the major reasons why I enrolled at NYU as a freshman last fall. Unfortunately, maintaining a contract with an anti-gay vendor like Chick-fil-A undermines what makes this university so great."

Dworkoski said she got upset after reading several articles about donations from Chick-fil-A's charitable arm, WinShape, to anti-gay groups. In 2009, WinShape donated $1.7 million to conservative groups that actively work against LGBT rights and marriage equality laws. WinShape gave more than $3 million since 2003 to groups and campaigns with anti-gay agendas.

WinShape has also explicitly stated they do not allow "homosexual couples" at a retreat center they run.

Dworkoski says all this seemed to contradict NYU's ranking as one of the most LGBT friendly campuses in the nation, and she decided to take action.

So far, Dworkoski's online petition has gained more than 10,000 signatures. This is the first time she's gotten involved in any kind of activism, but she says she has found a welcomed reception by students and Change.org, where she is hosting her petition.

Monday, March 5, 2012

Kirk Cameron: Homosexuality is unnatural and destructive

Former “Growing Pains” actor and self-proclaimed born again Christian Kirk Cameron, appearing Friday on CNN’s “Piers Morgan Tonight,” and said marriage was “defined by God,” and that homosexuality is “unnatural” and “destructive” to the foundations of civilization.



Cameron, 41, best known for his role as Mike Seaver on the ABC television series from 1985 to 1992, is an active Christian evangelist in the ministry he founded, The Way of the Master, and also co-founded The Firefly Foundation with his wife, actress Chelsea Noble.

From Cameron:

“Marriage is almost as old as dirt, and it was defined in the garden between Adam and Eve. One man, one woman for life till death do you part. So I would never attempt to try to redefine marriage. And I don’t think anyone else should either,” explains Cameron. “So do I support the idea of gay marriage? No, I don’t.”

And on homosexuality, Cameron added:

“I think that it’s – it’s – it’s unnatural. I think that it’s – it’s detrimental, and ultimately destructive to so many of the foundations of civilization.”

Piers Morgan: Kirk Cameron Was "Brave" to Make Antigay Remarks

video platformvideo managementvideo solutionsvideo player

Kirk Cameron was "pretty brave" to stick to his beliefs and make antigay remarks, CNN talk show host Piers Morgan tells TMZ.



Kirk Cameron's Growing Pains co-star Tracey Gold tweeted her response to Cameron's homophobic remarks to Piers Morgan this weekend:
Traceygold

Colorado Springs First Presbyterian Church May Leave Denomination Over Gay Marriage Tension

Gay Marriage

The 4,000-member First Presbyterian Church in Colorado church plans to ask members Sunday whether to proceed with efforts to leave their denomination.

The Gazette reports ( http://bit.ly/zqXpnm ) the Colorado Springs church is considering leaving the Presbyterian Church (U.S.A.), possibly for the conservative Evangelical Covenant Order of Presbyterians. The congregation plans a "non-technical" vote Sunday, which could be followed by an official vote.

The Colorado Springs church says the Presbyterian Church (U.S.A.) is moving to a more liberal interpretation of the Bible, causing tension around topics including the definition of marriage.

Regional bodies of the Presbyterian Church (U.S.A.) last year agreed to allow the ordination of gay and lesbian clergy in committed relationships. Church leaders are expected to vote this summer on whether to allow ministers to officiate at same-sex weddings.

"8": A Play about the Fight for Marriage Equality



Featuring an all-star cast including George Clooney, Brad Pitt, Martin Sheen, Jamie Lee Curtis, Jane Lynch, Kevin Bacon and others, "8" is a play written by Academy Award winning screenwriter Dustin Lance Black and directed by acclaimed actor and director Rob Reiner. It is a powerful account of the case filed by the American Federation for Equal Rights (AFER ) in the U.S. District Court in 2010 to overturn Proposition 8 [LINK], a constitutional amendment that eliminated the rights of same-sex couples to marry in the state of California. Framed around the trial's historic closing arguments in June 2010, 8 provides an intimate look what unfolded when the issue of same-sex marriage was on trial.

Marriage Equality Is Not About ‘Gay Rights’

New Jersey Gov. Chris Christie (R) told a student at a Fort Lee high school this morning that “gay marriage” is not about extending rights to gay and lesbian Americans and insisted that it would “change the way we’ve governed our society”:



Q: Hi, Chris Christie, it’s a pleasure to meet you. Recently you passed an anti-bullying law, which I really am appreciative for, because bullying should not be allowed in the state of New Jersey, so i really thank you for that. However, one of the main reasons why kids even do get bullied in school is whether or not they’re homosexual. And recently there has been a bill to allow gay rights in the state of New Jersey. Can you tell me what was your decision to veto the bill, because I heard that you had vetoed the bill.

CHRISTIE: I did veto a bill on gay marriage, not on gay rights. And gay rights are protected and protected aggressively in New Jersey. But listen, this is something I feel strongly about. I think marriage is between one man and one woman, but I also know that people have very different opinions about that in our state. So what I’ve said to folks after vetoing the bill, let’s put it on the ballot. If a majority of people in New Jersey want to have same-sex marriage, then vote for it and I’ll be governed by it. But I don’t think that’s a decision that should be made by 121 people in Trenton alone. It’s a major change in the way we’ve governed our society.

Sunday, March 4, 2012

Congressman Challenges Anti-Gay Group For Girl Scouts Cookies During Committee Hearing


Watch Girl Scouts in Activism & Non-Profit  |  View More Free Videos Online at Veoh.com

Rep. Hank Johnson (D-GA) sought to challenge the Family Research Council’s campaign to link the Girl Scouts to abortion and the “homosexual” agenda, during Tuesday’s House Judiciary Committee hearing on contraception, but was repeatedly rebuffed by Republicans on the panel. “I love thin mints, Girl Scout cookies, what’s your gripe about Girl Scout cookies,” Johnson asked Jeanne Monahan of Family Research Council — who was testifying on behalf of the organization — in the middle of a discussion about religious conscience and birth control. Monahan tried to dismiss the question, but Johnson persisted: “Your organization has sponsored a prayer vigil to stop people from buying Girl Scout cookies, because you allege Girl Scout cookies is affiliated with Planned Parenthood, isn’t that correct?” The GOP objected to the line of questioning and Monahan never fully addressed the issue.

I Want to Know What It's Like

Saturday, March 3, 2012

Gay Marriage Is 'Inevitable' In Delaware

Gay Marriage Delaware Jack MarkellGay marriage in Delaware is inevitable, the state's Governor Jack Markell said on Friday, a day after neighboring Maryland became the eighth state to legalize marriage for same-sex couples.
In an interview with Reuters Insider TV, Markell, a Democrat, said he expects that Delaware will take up same-sex marriage legislation "probably within the next few years."

Delaware began allowing civil unions -- an institution set up to give the same rights as civil marriage, while reserving marriage for heterosexual couples -- last year.

Markell noted that until three years ago it was legal in Delaware "to discriminate on the basis of sexual orientation," and said the state was moving towards greater acceptance of homosexuality.
"I think it's inevitable," he said of gay marriage.

Friday, March 2, 2012

'Cut Rich People's Taxes Completely'

Google Wipes 'Spreading Santorum' from Top Search Results

After eight years, Rick Santorum may be getting rid of the 'Google problem' started as a prank by Dan Savage in 2003 which linked Santorum's name to a website offering a definition:

Splat_santorum"the frothy mix of lube and fecal matter that is sometimes the byproduct of anal sex."

The webpage, which appeared as the top search result when one Googled "Santorum", no longer appears in the top search results (although the blog, connected to the site currently ranks sixth), according to Savage.

This, of course, is what Rick Santorum asked Google to do months ago. Google told Santorum they couldn't, they told Santorum they wouldn't, because www.spreadingsantorum.com was the legit #1 search result when you Googled his last name. It wasn't a Google bomb, we weren't gaming Google's algoribbons or whatever. We were legit.

But tonight we're gone. I'm not too sad about it—hey, we had a good run!—but I am a little mystified. Why now? Was it intentional? Did Google cave to the pressure?

Unfortunately for Rick, the new top-ranking result is the Urban Dictionary's definition of the term, which Savage notes is even cruder. Savage launched the site after Santorum made remarks comparing homosexuality to "man on dog" sex.

It's unclear why the ranking has changed, and could be because of recent changes to Google's search algorithms. 'Spreading Santorum' still ranks in the top spots on Bing and Yahoo!