Pedophilia Was “Fully In Conformity With Man And Even With Children”

In an end-of-year, shocking Christmas statement to Cardinals and other Vatican officials, Pope Benedict XVI said, “In the 1970s, paedophilia was theorised as something fully in conformity with man and even with children,” and added that paedophilia wasn’t even considered an “absolute evil,” according to a report in the Belfast Telegraph.

“Pope Benedict XVI also claimed that child pornography was increasingly considered “normal” by society.

“In the 1970s, paedophilia was theorised as something fully in conformity with man and even with children,” the Pope said.

“It was maintained — even within the realm of Catholic theology — that there is no such thing as evil in itself or good in itself. There is only a ‘better than’ and a ‘worse than’. Nothing is good or bad in itself.”

“We cannot remain silent about the context of these times in which these events have come to light,” he said, citing the growth of child pornography “that seems in some way to be considered more and more normal by society” he said.

“But outraged Dublin victim Andrew Madden last night insisted that child abuse was not considered normal in the company he kept.

“Mr Madden accused the Pope of not knowing that child pornography was the viewing of images of children being sexually abused, and should be named as such.

“He said: “That is not normal. I don’t know what company the Pope has been keeping for the past 50 years.”

It’s important to remember that this is the Pope who has declared that laws which legalize same-sex marriage “contribute to the weakening of the principles of natural law,” and to “confusion about society’s values,” and claimed that same-sex marriage “attacks” the “endangered species” that is mankind. Even before he was elected Pope, knew of the pedophile priest sex abuse scandal, yet did not act.

This is also the same pope presiding over a Vatican that has said the Vatican was being treated like Holocaust victims, and blamed homosexuality and Jews on the Catholic Church’s international pedophilia scandal.

FRC's Top 10 Myths On Homosexuality Delightfully Debunked

This spirited Brit, YouTube user Coughlan616, looks at the Family Research Council's 10 "myths" about homosexuality and refutes them one by one to produce a very worthwhile argument against Peter Sprigg and his hateful organization.

6 Political Hot Messes of 2010

Gay People Are “Sexual Predators”

An antigay commissioner in North Carolina’s Mecklenberg County called gay people “sexual predators” in an email response to a letter from a fellow commissioner asking her colleagues to sign a “thank you” note to the state’s officials who voted to repeal “don’t ask, don’t tell.”

Darren Criss: 'Somewhere Over the Rainbow'

Softball Coaches Out High School Lesbian, Toss Her Off Team

Two high school softball coaches in East Texas allegedly confronted a student athlete, harangued her about dating another girl, informed her mother, and threw her off the team. Now the coaches, and the school district, are facing a federal lawsuit from the young woman and her mother--and the school district is claiming that the coaches were compelled by law to out the girl to her mother, reported the Dallas Voice on Dec. 23.

Elton John & David Furnish Become Parents

The baby boy named Zachary, who was born Dec. 25 in California via a surrogate, weighed 7 pounds, 15 ounces. "We are overwhelmed with happiness and joy at this very special moment," John and Furnish tell Us in a joint statement. "Zachary is healthy and doing really well, and we are very proud and happy parents." This is the first child for John, 62, and Furnish, 48. The couple became civil unionized in 2005 after 12 years together.

Target continued to fund anti-gay candidates even after CEO apology

Earlier this year, Target Corporation came under fire from LGBT activist groups when it was revealed they had donated money to a political action group that supported Tom Emmer’s bid for Minnesota governor, prompting an apology from Target CEO Gregg Steinhafel.

Emmer, you might recall, is a staunch opponent of LGBT rights and same-sex marriage, and Target’s donation led to nationwide boycotts of the retailer among LGBT consumers and allies. (Emmer lost his bid for Governor to pro-LGBT equality candidate Mark Dayton.)

But a new report today by The Awl reveals that, according to documents filed with the Federal Election Commission in October 2010, Target continued donating to anti-gay politicians even after Steinhafel reaffirmed the company’s long-standing support for gay rights and committed to reforming the review process for future political donations.
The Awl reports:

After Steinhafel’s August 5 letter, Target’s Political Action Committee, helmed by the former right hand of Senator Thune, Matt Zabel, recorded $41,200 in federal election activity. Of that total, $31,200 went to anti-gay rights politicians or PACs supporting those candidates.

Among the donations:

On Sept. 22, Target PAC to Spencer Bachus, who voted to ban same-sex adoption.
That same day, Target PAC donated $1000 to recently elected Senator Kelly Ayotte of New Hampshire. Ayotte previously resigned her post as New Hampshire’s Attorney General shortly after Governor John Lynch signed a set of three same-sex marriage bills into law to which she was opposed.
Michigan’s David Camp, who, in addition to supporting a Constitutional Amendment banning same-sex marriage, voted against protecting gays from job discrimination based on sexual orientation, also reported money from Target PAC.
Through October, Target PAC recorded thousands of dollars in donations to Michael Crapo and Dave Reichert, both supporters of anti-gay Constitutional amendments, and Rob Portman, a supporter of banning gays from adopting.
After the Steinhafel statement, Target PAC’s money also flowed to other PACs, including $8,500 to Every Republican is Crucial PAC, Freedom and Security PAC and the Majority Committee PAC, all three supporters of both Michelle Bachmann and Roy Blunt.

Most surprising though are Target’s post-apology donations to John Kline and Erik Paulsen, two vehement anti-gay equality candidates. Part of the July outrage over Target’s political giving included these same two candidates.

Target did not offer any explanation for the continued funding of anti-gay candidates.

In October, Target was stripped of its perfect score in the Human Rights Campaign’s 2011 Corporate Equality Index, and dropped from HRC’s annual buyer’s guide as a result of the donations.

Barney Frank Reveals Gay Agenda

In the wake of President Barack Obama signing the repeal of "don't ask, don't tell" into law, Barney Frank reflected on fears that the so-called radical homosexual agenda would be enacted if Rep. Nancy Pelosi became House speaker.

The gay agenda, Frank said in a press conference Wednesday, is "to be protected against violent crimes driven by bigotry, it's to be able to get married, it's to be able to get a job, and it's to be able to fight for our country. For those who are worried about the radical homosexual agenda, let me put them on notice. Two down, two to go."

Newsom Credits Marriage Equality for Career

San Francisco mayor Gavin Newsom, now the lieutenant governor-elect of California, said Tuesday that he believes his decision to allow same-sex marriages in 2004 helped him win reelection.

The San Francisco Chronicle reports on a meeting between the Democratic mayor and its editorial board.

"Newsom answered that the decision allowed him to take more risks,” the Chronicle reports. “He talked about the fate of his predecessors. Willie Brown, Newsom said, barely won re-election against Tom Ammiano. (Actually Da Mayor won in a landslide.) Predecessors Frank Jordan and Art Agnos failed to be re-elected. And he opined on his decision to allow same-sex marriages:

'If I'd not done that, I would never have been re-elected,' he said."

VP Joe Biden: Gay Marriage Inevitable

LeAnn Rimes and The Gay Men’s Chorus Celebrate Xmas

LeAnn Rimes donned a skimpy Santa dress and sang with the Gay Men’s Chorus of Los Angeles Sunday afternoon at the group’s annual Christmas show.

With boyfriend Eddie Cibrian and family members in the audience to cheer her on, the country star sang “Rockin’ Around the Christmas Tree” and the ballad “All I Want for Christmas Is You.”

She changed into something a bit less revealing for her final song, which she dedicated to all of the gay and lesbian teens who have taken their lives this year. The singer burst into tears and almost couldn’t finish her speech as she said, “We should all be loved for exactly who we are.”

Rimes then sat on a stool and sang “The Rose” with the chorus on backup.

Rimes later tweeted pictures of herself and the elves backstage, saying she’d been made an honorary member of the chorus.

“Wow, a beautiful night! My heart broke and I almost couldn't sing as I spoke about the young gay men and women who have taken their lives this year. It Gets Better!!!!”




Earlier this year, the Gay Men's Chorus released an "It Gets Better" video of them singing "True Colors."

Humans Now Consuming 25% of All Plant Life Growing Each Year

Plenty of research on both both personal and national ecological footprints has shown that we are using Earth's resources at unsustainable rates, that we are using them up faster than they can be regenerated. Now, some new work from NASA digs a bit deeper, examining how plant consumption is increasing as both population and consumerism levels increase.

Two Baptist Churches Get Into a Brawl (Over translation of the Bible)

[Really, WWJD?]

Ivies moving toward restoring ROTC

Some top universities moved quickly Saturday to respond to the vote repealing the ban on gays in the military, and those who don't restore their ROTC programs in the wake of the vote are likely to face immediate pressure on the issue.

The ROTC programs have been absent from a number of Ivy League and other leading campuses since the Vietnam War, and many schools subsequently linked programs' return to open service for gays and lesbians. The vote, said Columbia University President Lee Bollinger, provides "the opportunity for a new era in the relationship between universities and our military services."

"This is an historic development for a nation dedicated to fulfilling its core principle of equal rights. It also effectively ends what has been a vexing problem for higher education, including at Columbia -- given our desire to be open to our military, but not wanting to violate our own core principle against discrimination on the basis of sexual orientation," he said in a statement through a spokesman.

Harvard University President Drew Faust today signaled that she would move to restore ROTC to the campus.

"Because of today's action by the Senate, gay and lesbian Americans will now also have the right to pursue this honorable calling, and we as a nation will have the benefit of their service," she said in a statement through a spokesman. "I look forward to pursuing discussions with military officials and others to achieve Harvard's full and formal recognition of ROTC."

Repeal to Be Signed Wednesday

President Obama will sign the repeal of "don't ask, don't tell" Wednesday, White House press secretary Robert Gibbs indicated Monday.

An exact schedule has yet to be laid out, but Gibbs said he expected a formal ceremony for the signing on December 22. A presidential press conference is also expected this week, but not until the Senate has wrapped up its business, including the contentious arms treaty with Russia.

No more Rainbos in San Francisco?

"Rainbow banners, an enduring symbol of gay rights and San Francisco, may disappear from the streets of the Castro.

Preservationists contend that the banners could damage historical light posts because the fasteners used to attach the banners are prone to rust. The majority of lamp posts are ornate replicas of fixtures created in the late 19th century and are protected landmarks of San Francisco. But gay rights leaders in the area say the rainbow banners are as much a part of the city as the lights. Gay city supervisor Bevan Dufty is working on a compromise that would allow both the banners and lamp posts to remain on San Francisco's streets."

‘Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell’ repeal: the perfect alignment, with a price

The suspense is over: The U.S. Senate finally took a vote on a bill to repeal the ban on openly gay people in the military and passed it, 65 to 31. Having Congress pass that bill, to repeal “Don’t Ask Don’t Tell,” and having that bill signed by the President is an important legislative and political milestone.

It is not the first time the LGBT community has ever succeeded at dismantling a form of institutionalized discrimination. That honor goes to the eradication of laws prohibiting consensual sex between same-sex partners. That was done state by state and, eventually, in the U.S. Supreme Court.

The community has, in several states, won the right to obtain marriage licenses the same as straight couples. And, in 2010, it made enormous progress towards marriage equality nationwide through several lawsuits.

But passing the DADT repeal bill in Congress this year was itself a Herculean feat. Partisan hostilities were at an apex, and the Democratic majority was eroding. Two efforts to break a Republican-led filibuster failed. Many in the community voiced impatience and exasperation at the stops and starts in moving legislation.

Even more were uneasy with the White House strategy of giving military officials such voice in how and when repeal might happen. And some wondered why repealing the discriminatory policy in the military took precedence over bills that could have benefited even more people. At the end of 2009, after all, the community was hearing that the Employment Non-Discrimination Act (ENDA) would get a vote.

ENDA was blocked, in large part, by deliberations over the landmark –- and contentious — health reform legislation. It was also snarled to some extent by preoccupations over bathroom accommodations and wild imagining of bearded kindergarten teachers in dresses.

But ultimately, says Mara Keisling, an activist who has pushed hard for ENDA, the “Don’t Ask Don’t Tell” repeal had more money and more organizational drive behind it, from Servicemembers Legal Defense Network, Servicemembers United, GetEqual, and the Center for American Progress, to name just a few.

Historic Senate vote: Congress repeals 17-year-old ban on gays in military

The U.S. Senate approved a bill Saturday, Dec. 18, to repeal the 17-year-old law banning openly gay people from serving in the military. The roll call vote on the measure, which came to the Senate Wednesday from the House, was 65 to 31. It had passed the House 250 to 175.

Because both bills are identical, it now moves to the president’s desk for his signature.

The White House issued a statement, calling the vote “an historic step toward ending a policy that undermines our national security.”

The Senate vote to repeal the “Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell” (DADT) ban, which came at about 3:20 Saturday, seemed almost anti-climactic. It came three hours after a procedural vote (known as cloture) to send the bill to the Senate floor. The procedural vote was 63 to 33, with one senator not voting.

Two previous motions on cloture –- one in September and one last week — had failed.But this time, six moderate Republicans voted for sending the bill to the floor and for repeal: Senators Scott Brown of Massachusetts, Susan Collins and Olympia Snowe of Maine, Mark Kirk of Illinois, Lisa Murkowski of Alaska, and George Voinovich of Ohio.

On previous cloture votes, they had stood by a Republican Party demand that the Senate not consider “any legislative item until the Senate has acted to fund the government and we have prevented the tax increase….”

HIV 'Cure' Risky and Impractical

When Victor Maldonado heard German researchers claim they had cured a man of HIV with a bone marrow transplant, he said his reaction was "guarded optimism."

"Everyone is curious and heartened by news about a possible cure, but by no means is anyone swinging from the chandeliers," said Maldonado, who has been HIV-positive since 2005 and works with HealthHIV, a Washington, D.C., HIV/AIDS advocacy group. "We've been disappointed too many times."

Medical experts reacted similarly, saying that while the news could potentially lead to more research into new types of treatments, a bone marrow transplant is both risky and impractical.

"Although it may encourage hope that a cure is feasible, this approach in practice cannot be applied to the vast majority of patients," said Dr. Douglas Richman, director of the Center for AIDS Research at
the University of California at San Diego.

The "cured" patient also had leukemia, and originally received a bone marrow transplant in 2007. The
researchers, led by Dr. Gero Hutter of Charite-Medical University in Berlin, first reported the man's progress at a workshop last summer and published their findings in the current issue of the journal Blood.

But the patient's marrow donor turned out to be a special case. The donor had a mutation that
prevented the virus from entering cells. Research has shown that people with this mutation are rarely infected with HIV, but finding such donors is difficult.

"These donor cells are rare. About one in 100 people in central Europe have this mutation," said Dr. Frank Spinelli, who's in private practice in New York.

"We should be clear that this 'cure' will in fact have almost no impact on the average HIV-infected patient," said Bert Jacobs, a professor at Arizona State University at Tempe.

Weekend vote set to overturn "Don't ask, don't tell"

The U.S. House of Representatives passed a bill Wednesday that would begin the repeal of "Don't ask, don't tell," sending responsibility for final action to the Senate, where Majority Leader Harry Reid, D-Nev., has scheduled a vote on the matter as soon as this weekend. A handful of Republican senators have announced their support for the measure, meaning Reid has enough votes to overcome a filibuster, but opponents could still offer a flood of amendments in a last-ditch effort to run out the clock before passage.

My Father Will Filibuster Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell And Lose

Senator John McCain’s daughter, Meghan McCain, predicting her father will be on the wrong side of history, threw him under the bus on the upcoming “Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell” repeal vote Wednesday night on “The Last Word.”

“I think my father will filibuster probably. And I think that this will probably pass, and I think gay marriage will pass in this country.”

Lawrence O’Donnell then asked Ms. McCain what would she say to lobby GOP senators who aren’t as entrenched as her father. Meghan’s reply:

“I would make to them that they would want to be on the right side of history. That’s where I’m standing out of this. I think gay marriage and everything having to do with the gay rights movement right now is a civil rights issue. I think it’s my generation’s civil rights issue. Do you want to look back at this time the way I look back at a time when women couldn’t vote?”

Reid files cloture — Senate to vote on ‘Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell’ repeal

Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid (D-Nev.) unexpectedly pulled the omnibus bill from the Senate floor on Thursday evening, and instead filed cloture on the stand-alone “Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell” repeal, clearing the way for a Senate vote this weekend.

Reid announced that he will hold a cloture vote on both the “Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell” measure, and the DREAM Act on Saturday:

Via John Aravosis, AMERICAblog:

Filing for cloture is how you cut off a filibuster.

Basically, you file a petition for cloture, you wait two days for it to “ripen,” then you vote on it. If you get 60 votes, cloture is invoked and the legislation can be considered for no more than 30 additional hours, when you have to have a final vote.

Thus when you vote for cloture, you vote against a filibuster.

Sen. Joe Lieberman (I-Conn.), who sponsored the stand alone measure in the Senate, said he now has the necessary votes to break the months-long GOP filibuster led by Sen. John McCain (R-Ariz.).

“We’ve got not 60, but now 61 members of the U.S. Senate publicly committed to the repeal of ‘Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell,’” Lieberman said.

Democrats have 57 votes in favor — only Sen. Joe Manchin (D-W.V.), is expected to vote no. At least four Republicans are expected to vote in favor of repeal — Sens. Susan Collins and Olympia of Maine, Sen. Lisa Murkowski of Alaska, and Sen. Scott Brown of Massachusetts.

“Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell” is the 17-year-old ban on openly gay service members; the DREAM Act would grant pathways to citizenship for children of illegal immigrants. Votes on the two measures will be Saturday morning — the DREAM will go first, followed by “Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell.”

If cloture in invoked Saturday, a final vote on repealing “Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell” would occur by Monday, or Tuesday at the latest.

The House version of the stand alone repeal was passed in that chamber on Wednesday.

U.S. House approves stand alone bill for repeal of ‘Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell’

The U.S. House of Representatives voted Wednesday afternoon to approve a measure to repeal “Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell.”

The vote was 250 to 175.

It was the second time this year the House approved such a measure. In May, the vote was 232 to 180. The measure will now go to the Senate where it is expected to reach the floor sometime next week.

Civil Unions are a Joke

NOM's Maggie Gallagher Says Prop 8 Defeat Would Mean 'End of Marriage as We Know It in All 50 States'

Gay History Bill Introduced in California

Gay California state senator Mark Leno introduced a bill Monday that would add historical contributions of LGBT people to school textbooks.

Leno sees the bill as an effort to combat school bullying. "Most textbooks don't include any historical information about the LGBT movement, which has great significance to both California and U.S. history," Leno said in a press release. "Our collective silence on this issue perpetuates negative stereotypes of LGBT people and leads to increased bullying of young people."

Leno's legislation mirrors a similar bill passed by the legislature four years ago but vetoed by Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger.

Erasure & Hendrick-Martin NYC LGBT Youth Chorus - A Little Respect

Proceeds from the track will be donated to The Hetrick-Martin Institute, the home of the Harvey Milk High School, in New York, and the True Colors Fund. The Hetrick-Martin Institute, the nation's oldest and largest LGBTQ youth service organization, provides a safe and supportive environment to all young people -- regardless of their sexual orientation or gender identity so that they can achieve their full potential. The HMI Redux features a youth chorus from the Hetrick-Martin Institute who also appear in the music video, directed by filmmaker Jason Stein.

Buy it on iTunes today and support a great cause!

Dannii & Kylie Dancing Flash Mob @ Sydney Opera House

NASA Temperature Maps

Warming World
NASA has just published two world maps showing temperature anomalies in the decades starting in 1970 and 2000. Looking at those maps, it's pretty obvious that the planet is warming, especially closer to the poles.

AIDS cure with stem cell transplant found claim German doctors

As breakthroughs go, finding a cure for AIDS would be pretty high on the list, and that’s what Berlin doctors believe they have achieved. US citizen Timothy Ray Brown was treated for acute myeloid leukaemia in 2007, with doctors carrying out a stem cell transplant using bone marrow resistant to HIV infection. That marrow lacked the CCR5 co-receptor on CD4 cells – to which the most common form of HIV initially binds with – and by replacing all of the patient’s infected CD4 cells, the HIV has seemingly been eradicated.

Books about gay issues vandalized at Harvard University

Harvard police say they are investigating vandalism to about 40 books about lesbian and gay issues at a university library as a hate crime.

Security staff at Lamont Library said in a report filed with campus police on Friday that it appeared someone poured urine on the books on Nov. 24. An empty bottle was found nearby.

A police spokesman tells The Crimson student newspaper that all the books were about lesbian, gay and same-sex marriage issues

New DADT Repeal Bill Introduced

Two prominent senators introduced a bipartisan bill Friday to end the ban on gay and lesbian troops serving openly in the military.

Introduced by senators Joseph Lieberman, an independent from Connecticut, and Susan Collins, a Republican from Maine, the bill comes after the Senate failed to win enough procedural votes Thursday to move forward on the National Defense Authorization Act, which included an amendment to repeal "don't ask, don't tell."

According toThe Washington Post, Lieberman and Collins collaborated on the idea for a stand-alone bill to repeal "don't ask, don't tell" during Thursday's failed vote. Senate majority leader harry Reid reportedly told Lieberman that he would fast-track the bill to a full vote, rather than force it to go through the committee process. Democratic aides told the Post that a vote could come late Tuesday or Wednesday after senators consider the impending tax cut legislation.

White House officials said Friday that President Barack Obama wishes to explore all legislative options to repeal the 17-year-old law during the lame-duck session, which is drawing to a close.

Calif DMV Investigates Hate Letter

The California Department of Motor Vehicles suspended one of its employees and is looking for more answers after the clerk sent a scornful letter to the home of a transgender woman seeking to change her driver's license.

The DMV put the clerk on an administrative leave in October, but the department is now conducting a full investigation, according to KABC News.

Amber Yust, 23, said she received the letter less than a week after going to the DMV in October to changer her license. Her claim is the first step toward suing the DMV for privacy invasion and violating her civil rights, according to the Associated Press.

The letter Yust received said she was an "abomination," that she made a "very evil decision," and that she was going to go to hell.

Earlier this week Yust filed a lawsuit against the worker and the DMV, seeking at least $25,000 in damages.

Minn. Judge Considers Marriage Equality

Minnesota's state solicitor general pulled out all the stops Friday to convince district court judge Mary Steenson DuFresne to dismiss a legal challenge to the state's ban on same-sex marriage.

Three same-sex couples are suing the state over the marriage equality ban, saying the law violates their rights to due process, equal protection, and freedom of conscience and association under the state constitution.

Solicitor general Alan Gilbert repeatedly highlighted a 1971 Minnesota supreme court ruling that made the state the first in the nation to explicitly outlaw gay marriage. "In that case, the court found that the state didn't deprive a male couple of equal protection or of liberty or property without due process [by not allowing same-sex unions]," reports the Star-Tribune newspaper.

DuFresne heard arguments for an hour but didn't specify when she would rule on whether the case can go forward.

California to get high-speed rail funds

California's high-speed rail plan will receive up to $624 million in additional federal funds, Transportation Department officials announced Thursday.

The new funding adds to the $715 million in federal funds previously awarded to California. It arrives courtesy of Ohio and Wisconsin, two states where recently elected Republican governors decided not to accept their own allotment of high-speed rail dollars.

"I am pleased that so many other states are enthusiastic about the additional support they are receiving to help bring America's high-speed rail network to life," Transportation Secretary Ray LaHood declared in a written statement.

LaHood's redistribution of an additional $1.195 billion in high-speed rail funding provoked cheers among lawmakers who had been lobbying for a bigger slice, but regret among some Midwesterners who saw their own money slip away.

California is one of 12 states that will receive a piece of the redirected funds. Florida, the next biggest beneficiary will get $300 million.

California's two Democratic senators, Dianne Feinstein and Barbara Boxer, had both urged LaHood last month to provide additional funding once it became clear Ohio and Wisconsin would forgo their potential share.

"No other state is as ready, as able, or as determined to develop a high-speed rail system in the near future," Feinstein stated.

Boxer added that the new funding is "great news for California, which has made a strong commitment to high-speed rail and the jobs it creates."

Transportation Department and state officials are still negotiating their grant agreements, which will spell out details of the funding including the final amounts.

Gates Warns on DADT Repeal Failure

Secretary of Defense Robert Gates urged Congress to act on repeal of “don’t ask, don’t tell” before the end of the year, warning that its failure to pass a bill would put the military at the “mercy of the courts.”

Maryland Marriage Equality Prospects Strong

Signs look increasingly positive for marriage equality in Maryland next year, where a majority of state senators on the key Judicial Proceedings Committee now support a bill that would legalize same-sex marriages.

Obama to Senate: Revisit the gay ban this year

President Barack Obama is urging the Senate to try again to repeal the military’s ban on openly gay service members before the end of the year.

Obama made the appeal Thursday shortly after Senate Republicans voted to block an effort in the Senate to end the “don’t ask, don’t tell” policy.

The president expressed disappointment with the vote. But he said in a statement that, in his words, “It must not be the end of our efforts.”

The Senate has little time left to vote again before the holidays. Next year, when a new Senate convenes, the Democratic majority will be narrower and repealing the ban will likely face more opposition.

Obama thanked Sen. Susan Collins of Maine, the only Republican to vote to advance the legislation.

Lieberman introduces SB 4022, a stand-alone repeal of ‘Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell’

Making good on his promise, tweeted yesterday, Sen. Joe Lieberman (I-Conn.), on Thursday, introduced Senate Bill 4022, “a bill to provide for the repeal of the Department of Defense policy concerning homosexuality in the Armed Forces known as ‘Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell.’”

The bill is co-sponsored by Sen. Susan Collins (R-Maine), Sen. Kirsten Gillibrand (D-N.Y.) and Sen. Mark Udall (D-Colo.).

Lieberman said Thursday that he has the necessary 60 votes to repeal “Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell,” which was defeated yesterday, for the second time, as part of the larger Defense Authorization bill, when the GOP-led filibuster prevented a debate and vote from coming to the Senate floor.

Cleve Jones - "Harvey Milk Would Be Horrified To See HRC In His Castro Store!"

Going All Out

Facebook To Reimburse Gay Staffers For Partner Benefit Tax Inequities

"Facebook is joining the small but growing list of companies who are reimbursing their gay employees for the tax inequities incurred by carrying their partners on their insurance.

Gay employees pay about $1100 more annually than heterosexual married employees who insure their spouses."

California High Speed Rail Line to Begin Construction

The California High-Speed Rail Authority Board voted last week to begin construction on the line that will connect Los Angeles to San Francisco.

Senate Rejects Defense Bill, 'Don't Ask, Don't Tell' Repeal in 57-40 Vote

The Senate has rejected S3454, the Defense Dept. appropriations bill containing a measure approving repeal of the military's "Don't Ask, Don't Tell" policy by a vote of 57-40

GOP Senators Scott Brown, Olympia Snowe, Mark Kirk, Lisa Murkowski, and Democrat Joe Manchin all voted "no" on the measure. Senator Susan Collins, after leading the Republican charge against the bill, voted "yes".

The vote was preceded by an exchange between Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid and Collins, in which they publicly aired their inability to come to terms on an agreement to vote on the measure.

Anti-Gay Pastor Eddie Long Cutting Deal with Young Men Who Accused Him of Sexual Misconduct

AC360 reports on Atlanta Megachurch pastor Eddie Long, who has agreed to undergo mediation over accusations of sexual misconduct with young men in his ministry. Long has up till now proclaimed his innocence, but now appears to be trying to cut a deal with his accusers.

Oprah Confronts Lesbian Rumors

In a tearful interview, Oprah Winfrey told Barbara Walters why the persistent rumors about a lesbian relationship with her best friend, Gayle King, irritate her.

During the interview scheduled to air Thursday night on ABC, Walters asked Oprah about the “dumb rumors” regarding the nature of her relationship with King.

“Well, I have said we are not gay enough times,” said Winfrey. “I’m not lesbian. I’m not even kind of lesbian. And the reason why it irritates me is because it means somebody must think I’m lying. That’s number one. Number two, why would you want to hide it? That is not the way I run my life.”

Walters said the interview presents Winfrey at her most "revealing," where she apparently admits her fears about ending her long-running talk show to start her OWN network next year.

Tom Emmer to Concede MN Governor Race to Democrat Dayton

Target-supported GOP candidate Tom Emmer is expected to concede the Minnesota governor's race to Democrat Mark Dayton this morning.

The Hill reports:
"The Minnesota governor’s race will conclude Wednesday morning with the concession of Republican Tom Emmer, according to reports. On Tuesday, Emmer's campaign withdrew almost all its remaining ballot challenges, paving the way for Democrat Mark Dayton to declare victory. Dayton, a former senator, currently leads Emmer by about 9,000 votes out of 2.1 million cast. A recount had been under way since the Nov. 2 election but didn't erode the Democrat's lead."

Emmer is expected to concede at an 11:30 am ET press conference.

You may recall Emmer in the headlines over the summer after Target Corp. and Best Buy donated large sums of money to MN Forward, a conservative and anti-gay PAC helping to elect Emmer.

Stephen Colbert on the Bias of the Pentagon's 'DADT' Study

The Colbert Report	Mon - Thurs 11:30pm / 10:30c
Poll to Repeal Don't Ask, Don't Tell
www.colbertnation.com
Colbert Report Full Episodes Political Humor & Satire Blog</a> March to Keep Fear Alive

Federal appeals court hears Prop 8 arguments — Replay here

The 9th Circuit Appeals Court in San Francisco hears arguments Monday in a challenge to Proposition 8, the state's ban on same-sex marriage. In the first hour, the panel of three judges hear arguments for and against consider the legal eligibility of the group launching the appeal.

FKCH8

[okay, but they go a little violent when they are trying to say bullies/bulling is a bad thing.]

'It's Time' To Repeal Don't Ask, Don't Tell

Liz Cheney, a former State Department official and the daughter of former Vice President Dick Cheney, declared last week that "it's time" to end the military's Don't Ask, Don't Tell policy on gay troops. It is not the first time she has taken the position, but Cheney reiterated her view at a time when calls to repeal the policy are mounting.

At a speech in Dallas, Cheney took a brief break from her usual unapologetic opposition to many of Obama's national security and military policies to stand behind one of the president's rhetorical causes.

Obama Backs Pentagon Report

President Obama has issued a statement backing the Pentagon report that repeal of “don’t ask, don’t tell” would not disrupt unit cohesion.

The statement reads: As Commander in Chief, I have pledged to repeal the “don’t ask, don’t tell” law because it weakens our national security, diminishes our military readiness, and violates fundamental American principles of fairness and equality by preventing patriotic Americans who are gay from serving openly in our armed forces. At the same time, as Commander in Chief, I am committed to ensuring that we understand the implications of this transition, and maintain good order and discipline within our military ranks. That is why I directed the Department of Defense earlier this year to begin preparing for a transition to a new policy

Illinois OK's Civil Unions

The Illinois state senate today passed a civil unions bill by a vote of 32-24, following the house’s approval of the legislation Tuesday. Gov. Pat Quinn has pledged to sign the bill, which will take effect in July.

Illinois joins 11 other states and the District of Columbia in providing some form of relationship recognition to same-sex couples, through marriage, civil unions, or domestic partnerships. Unmarried opposite-sex couples will be eligible for civil unions in Illinois as well.

Rep. Greg Harris, a gay Democrat from Chicago, spoke passionately in favor of the bill in the house. “We have a chance here, as leaders have had in previous generations, to correct injustice and to move us down the path toward liberty,” he said, according to the Chicago Tribune.“It’s a matter of fairness, it’s a matter of respect, it’s a matter of equality.”

Most of those favoring the legislation were Democrats, although a handful of Republicans voted for the bill, and a couple of Republican house members stood up to voice their support.

Harris: We Will Not Defend Prop. 8

Newly elected California attorney general Kamala Harris has said previously that she would not defend Proposition 8 in court, and Tuesday, after nearly a month of vote tallying, she confirmed it in her victory speech.

Digital Death

World AIDS Day :: Fewer than half of Americans have had HIV test

Fewer than half of Americans have had an AIDS test since guidelines were expanded to include routine screening, according to a government report released Tuesday.

Last year, an estimated 45 percent of Americans ages 18 to 64 reported they’ve had an HIV test at least once in their lives, up from 40 percent in 2006. That’s an increase of 11 million people to 83 million people who have ever been screened, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention reported in Atlanta.

The CDC estimates that about 1.1 million Americans have HIV, but about 20 percent don’t know it. About 56,000 new infections occur each year in the U.S.

Red in 'World AIDS Day' Campaign

Eighty landmarks in 13 countries including Sydney's Opera House and Harbor Bridge will be floodlit red to mark World AIDS Day (December 1) as part of Bono's '(RED)' campaign.

Pentagon Report Says Gays Could Serve In Military With No Harm

A Pentagon study on gays in the military has determined that overturning the law known as "don't ask, don't tell" might cause some disruption at first but would not create any widespread or long-lasting problems.

The findings were confirmed by two people familiar with the findings. They spoke on condition of anonymity because the results hadn't been publicly released.

The study found that 70 percent of troops believed that repealing the law would have mixed, positive or no effect, while 30 percent predicted negative consequences. Opposition was strongest among combat troops, with 40 percent saying it was a bad idea. That number climbs to 46 percent among Marines.

The study found that 92 percent of troops who worked with a gay service member believed their experience to be good, very good or to have no impact.

Dan Savage Challenges Stephen Colbert

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