"Gay Agenda, Sexuality, Eco-Radicalism" Is Left's Focus Says Hicks

Los Angeles Dodgers Release 'It Gets Better' Video

Local Vocal

go f**k yourself

Go F*ck Yourself with Dave Franco from Dave Franco

Sarah Palin Asked if Her Political Career is Over

What happens when someone at a town hall stands up and asks Sarah Palin if she thinks her political career is over? In a new teaser from his new documentary 'You Betcha!', Nick Broomfield answers that question. The documentary is set to screen at the Toronto International Film Festival.

Rep. Jim Moran of Virginia: It Gets Better

Gay's Lion Farm

Gay's Lion farm was in El Monte, California, which is about 13 miles from Los Angeles. Gay's Lion farm opened in 1919 and closed in 1942. At one time the "farm" housed the MGM lion and several lions that were used in Tarzan movies. The site was open to tourists.

 Mrs. Gay

Palin ‘on the Verge’ of a Decision About Presidential Run

Sarah Palin has been quiet recently. Surprisingly quiet.

Ms. Palin, a one-time Alaska governor, is reportedly just days away from deciding whether to run for president.

In the meantime, her Twitter feed and Facebook page have gone silent for the last 10 days. Her Web site has not been updated recently. And Ms. Palin has not appeared on Fox News for a week, since before the last Republican presidential debate.

In a letter to donors late last week, Tim Crawford, the chief of her political action committee, wrote that Ms. Palin was “on the verge of making her decision of whether or not to run for office.”

Marriage Bans Even Worse than we Thought

Booted from Southwest flight for kissing in public

Lesbian actress Leisha Hailey — who starred in “The L Word” — was escorted off of a Southwest Airlines flight on Monday after a flight attendant said passengers complained after witnessing her kissing her girlfriend.

“I have been discriminated against,” Hailey “tweeted” on Monday, and added, “Since when is showing affection to someone you love illegal?”


Hailey, 40, tweeted that a flight attendant had told her that Southwest “was a ‘family’ airline and kissing was not ok,” and that she and her companion were then “escorted off the plane for getting upset about the issue.”

“SouthwestAir endorses homophobic employees,” she tweeted.

“Since when is showing affection toward someone you love illegal? I want to know what Southwest Airlines considers a ‘family.’”

She went on to tweet: “Boycott SouthwestAir if you are gay. They don’t like us.”

Hailey, who starred on Showtime network’s “The L Word” as Alice, a bisexual magazine writer and radio host, also demanded a public apology.

Reuters

In response, Southwest Airlines issued a statement that read, “Our crew, responsible for the comfort of all customers on board, approached the passengers based solely on behavior and not gender.”

The statement concluded: “We regret any circumstance where a passenger does not have a positive experience on Southwest and we are ready to work directly with the passengers involved to offer our heartfelt apologies for falling short of their expectation.”

Herndon Graddick, senior director of programs at the Gay and Lesbian Alliance Aganist Defamation (GLAAD), said in an email that “GLAAD contacted Southwest to call for additional actions beyond tonight’s statement that ensure all customers feel comfortable and welcomed while traveling.”

Parents of bullied New York gay teen say taunts continued after his death

Visit msnbc.com for breaking news, world news, and news about the economy

The parents of 14-year-old Jamey Rodemeyer, a 14-year-old gay teen who committed suicide last week, said Tuesday that the taunts and bullying directed at their son continued after his death.

Appearing on the “Today Show,” Tim and Tracy Rodemeyer told NBC’s Ann Curry that their daughter had attended a homecoming dance after her brother’s wake as a means to reconnect with friends, but when song by Lady Gaga was played, further taunts erupted.

“She was having a great time, and all of a sudden a Lady Gaga song came on, and they all started chanting for Jamey, all of his friends,” said Tracy Rodemeyer. “Then the bullies that put him into this situation started chanting, ‘You’re better off dead!’ and ‘We’re glad you’re dead!’ and things like that.”

Curry asked Jamey’s father, Tim, if he thought that the message of intolerance preached by certain politicians and religious leaders has contributed to the toxic climate that can result in harassment of gay teens.

“People have different views on things,” replied Tim Rodemeyer. “If you believe in homosexuality is right or wrong, that’s your right as an American, but it’s no reason to bully someone and hate them.”

“It’s all the same story, and it’s just got to stop,” Tracy Rodemeyer interjected.

From NBC

Jamey Rodemeyer Funeral Attracts 500 Supporters

Jamey Rodemeyer, the 14-​year old Buffalo-​area teen who died by suicide one week ago, was laid to rest Saturday. More than 500 mourners attended the funeral in Williamsville, New York, many of them strangers. Dozens more drove by with signs of support for the teen who was bullied online and at school for years, and had recorded an It Gets Better video.



Police have begun a criminal investigation into Rodemeyer’s death. Local authorities say that while New York does not have anti-​bullying laws, there are other avenues, such as harassment, aggravated harassment, cyber-​harassment or hate crimes laws that may apply. Reports state there are several individuals in particular that authorities are investigating.

Some of Rodemeyer’s bullies tormented him with anonymous comments online, like, “Kill your self!!!! You have nothing left!,” “Listen to us, you’re a bad person, you don’t belong here, jump off a bridge or something!,” “Go kill yourself, you’re worthless, ugly and dont have a point to live,” and “JAMIE IS STUPID, GAY, FAT ANND UGLY. HE MUST DIE!”

Gaga's Emotional Tribute to Jamey Rodemeyer

NFL Adds Sexual Orientation as Protected Class

The NFL has added sexual orientation to its list of protected classes, a change first noticed by Pete Olsen of the blog, Wide Rights

Thousands Strip In Salt Lake City In Protest Of Conservative Laws

Thousands of people stripped to their underwear and ran through Salt Lake City to protest what they called the "uptight" laws of Utah.

Undie Run organizer Nate Porter says the goal of the event Saturday was to organize people frustrated by the conservative nature of the state's politics.

Rick Santorum: 'I Condemn the People Who Booed That Gay Soldier'

Anti-Homophobia PSA to Air at Michigan Football Game

A PSA meant to combat anti-gay behavior will premiere tomorrow at the University of Michigan stadium, the largest in the nation, with more than 110,000 fans in attendance during the Michigan/San Diego State football game.

The PSA, called "Huddle Up", features a football team reacting to one of its members yelling "let's beat those queers!"

It's part of the University’s marking of the 40th anniversary of The Spectrum Center—the first organization directed at LGBT students by any university. Their celebration continues through November with a series of events on campus and the PSA airs again November 19 during the Michigan/Nebraska football game.

Archbishop Dolan Tells Obama to End War Against DOMA

Archbishop Timothy Dolan, president of the U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops, sent a letter to President Barack Obama this week to criticize recent actions of the administration on behalf of LGBT equality, especially the decision to stop defending DOMA.

In the letter sent Tuesday, the archbishop of New York, writing in his capacity as head of the bishops' public policy arm, expressed “grave concerns” about steps that, in his opinion, “escalate the threat to marriage and imperil the religious freedom of those who promote and defend marriage.” He focused on the decision of the Justice Department to stop defending the Defense of Marriage Act earlier this year, a move the bishop's conference opposed.

“Now the Justice Department has shifted from not defending DOMA — which is problem enough, given the duty of the executive branch to enforce even laws it disfavors — to actively attacking DOMA’s constitutionality,” wrote Dolan, who seemed largely absent from the marriage equality debate in New York this year. “Unfortunately the only response to date has been the intensification of efforts to undermine DOMA and the institution of marriage.”

His two-page letter was accompanied by a three-page conference staff analysis of the administration’s recent actions around DOMA and related “threats.” The analysis argued that the Justice Department “escalated the level of hostility” against DOMA in July with its brief in Golinski v U.S. Office of Personnel Management, which the analysis said “compares DOMA in effect to racially discriminatory laws.”

Gay Activists to Protest Chick-Fil-A Opening in Hollywood

A new Chik-Fil-A restaurant is opening at 6750 W. Sunset Boulevard in Hollywood on Saturday, and activists angry over the company's anti-gay policies will be there for it:

Bring your own signs, banners, and flyers to educate the public of the virulently anti-gay policies and donations of this bigoted corporation. They actively suppress gay rights and the rights of anyone who isn't Right-wing Christianist. A coalition of LGBT people, gay rights organizations, animal rights organizations, and other progressive, fair-minded organizations and people are forming a coalition to protest this store making MILLIONS in OUR community for their bigoted "cause". Come one, come all - and STAND UP FOR JUSTICE, DIGNITY, and EQUALITY!!

"Peace Is Hard" President Obama UN Speech

“No country should deny people their rights — the freedom of speech and freedom of religion — but also no country should deny people their rights because of who they love, which is why we must stand up for the rights of gays and lesbians everywhere.”
- American President Barack Obama speaking to the UN General Assembly today.

Google Won’t Help Fix Rick Santorum’s Anal Sex Problem

In 2003 Dan Savage helped re-define the last name of homophobic politician Rick Santorum into a slang word meaning “the frothy mix of lube and fecal matter that is sometimes the byproduct of anal sex.” Google “Santorum” and five entries for Savage’s definition will come up before Santorum’s presidential campaign page. Earlier this week Santorum asked Google to remove Savage’s definition from the search results. They said no.

'The Daily Show' Celebrates 'Don't Ask Don't Tell' Repeal

Gay YouTube Soldier Reveals Himself, Comes Out to Dad

The faceless gay YouTube soldier we've been following for months as he's posted videos of life under 'DADT' has finally revealed himself, making the most difficult call an LGBT person ever has to make to a parent, to tell his father he's gay.

Christian Coalition Leader Says Anti-Gay Bullying Not An Issue in Schools, Calls it Part of Growing Up

The Christian Coalition of California's Robert Newman says the group plans to mobilize to fight the state's LGBT History Law, the recently-passed SB48, Think Progress LGBT reports.

Speaking at a convention in L.A. where he was handing out pamphlets on the dangers of the "gay lifestyle," Newman said that there's no need for the law because anti-gay bullying is "hardly...a real issue" and the bullying that does exist (which causes many LGBTQ kids to commit suicide each year) is "part of the maturational process."

Gay Buffalo Teen Kills Himself After Years of Bullying

Jamey Rodemeyer, a 14-year-old gay teen from the Buffalo, NY area, killed himself last weekend after what his parents say was years of bullying, WIVB reports:

Soon after coming home from a family camping trip, Jamey was found dead Sunday. His parents say he was always under pressure because of struggles with his sexuality. Jamey’s mother Tracy Rodemeyer said, "So he hung around with the girls a lot, so then the teasing started happening like 'Oh you're such a girl or you're gay or whatever and that bothered him for many years."

Jamey’s father Tim Rodemeyer said, "To the kids who are bullying they have to realize that words are very powerful and what you think is just fun and games isn't to some people, and you are destroying a lot of lives."

Buffalo News adds:

On Saturday night, he posted a lyric from Lady Gaga's song "The Queen" on his Facebook page: "Don't forget me when I come crying to heaven's door."

Then around 1:30 a.m. Sunday, Jamey posted two final messages to his main public Tumblr blog. One said he really wanted to see his great-grandmother, who had recently died, and one offered thanks to Lady Gaga.

That was his last entry.

Jamey was very active online, with a Tumblr blog, and YouTube account. He "routinely blogged about school bullying and thoughts of suicide in between upbeat posts about his pop star idol Lady Gaga" and posted to his followers about National Suicide Prevention Week, the paper adds.

He even recorded an 'It Gets Better' video



Parents carry on anti-bullying message: wivb.com

Parents carry on anti-bullying message: wivb.com

Dan Savage Talks About the End of 'DADT' and Michele Bachmann's Dumb Gay Joke

Video Gamers Helping Scientists Unlock HIV’s Secrets

Researchers at the University of Washington needed help understanding the structure of M-PMV the protease retrovirus protein that helps HIV multiply. So they challenged gamers to build an accurate three-dimensional model of the protein using Foldit, a multi-player game the university developed where players work together to construct the complex folding structures of proteins. In three weeks, the gamers created an accurate model of M-PMV—something that had stumped researchers for years—helping pave the way towards future breakthroughs in HIV research and medication.

DADT is officially finished

Eighteen years after Don't Ask Don't Tell went into effect, an estimated 70,000 LGBT service members can now serve openly in the US military. President Obama signed the DADT repeal last December, but the armed forces required until today to put the policy change into action. Today, September 20, Don't Ask Don't Tell is finally over.

Jay Leno tries to get Michele Bachmann it talk about gay marriage

Brad Pitt on why we’re still fighting for marriage equality: ‘it’s blatant, ugly bigotry’

“Can you believe that we’re still fighting for equality in America?” Pitt wonders, in the expanded web interview.

“To be against marriage for everyone is utter discrimination,” Pitt said. “I feel strongly about that because if equality of marriage doesn’t happen now, the next generation will have to deal with it.”

“It is an amazing thing that New York has finally gotten same-sex marriage. But the real problem is that the federal government hides behind states on this issue. It is blatant, ugly bigotry, and the federal government shouldn’t be doing that. You’re denying some Americans the right that all Americans have, to live their lives as they choose.

“What are you so afraid of? That’s my question. Gay people getting married? What is so scary about that? It’s complicated. You grow up in a religion like that and you try to pray the gay away. I feel sadness for people like that. This is where people start short-circuiting — instead of being brave and questioning their beliefs, they are afraid and feel that they have to defend them.”

On faith, Pitt said he doesn’t mind a world with religion, but gets “hot” when people use religion to “start dictating how other people must live.”

“People suffer because of it,” he said. “They are spreading misery.”

Love it: Best Actress

Michigan House passes bills to deny unmarried partner healthcare benefits

The Michigan House of Representatives on Thursday passed two bills that would eliminate health care benefits for unmarried partners of state employees.

Additionally, the measures prohibit any state government entity in Michigan from providing such benefits and prohibit unions from including them in collective bargaining agreements.

The bills — HB 4770 and HB 4771 — were approved by a vote of 64-44.

The efforts were led by Michigan’s Republican Attorney General Bill Schuette, and the chief sponsor of the pair of bills, Rep. Dave Agema (R-Grandview), both of whom have been trying to strip away health care benefits for same-sex couples since February.

Why A Heterosexual, Married, North Carolinian Father Of Three Cares About LGBT Equality

Written by Def Shepherd:

I am a heterosexual, married, father of three, who has lived in North Carolina for most of my life. There have been a few ugly North Carolina moments during the time I have lived here (mostly related to one particular senator who has been in our rear view mirror for quite some time). But the ugliness that took place in North Carolina General Assembly this week was a stark reminder that, while we have made great strides in this state, there are a lot of people who still wish to deny rights to other citizens based on religious beliefs and misconceptions about sexuality and gender.

Unless you were living under a rock the past few days, you know that the NC Senate voted 30-16 to approve a proposed constitutional amendment banning any legal relationship recognition for same-sex couples. The amendment will be on the ballot in May during the Republican presidential primary.

Same-sex marriage, it should be noted, is already illegal in North Carolina. The amendment is simply a push to put the nail in the coffin, making it extremely difficult for same-sex marriages to be legalized in the future.

The issue of same-sex marriage is complicated in North Carolina, as it is in any state. According to recent survey conducted by Public Policy Polling, while most North Carolinians strongly believe that same-sex marriage should be illegal, they also strongly believe that there should not be a constitutional amendment to write that into the constitution. As conflicted as that message may be, it is clear: people may disagree on an issue, but that doesn't mean we should play political football with our constitution.

I've had people ask why I am so vocal about the issue of LGBT equality. Why is a heterosexual, married father so concerned with what gay people can or can't do? I don't have a dog in this fight, do I?

I find those kinds of questions to be puzzling (and telling), as if we should value the rights of one group of humans over any other group, or only be concerned with the welfare of a group to which we belong. As Elie Wiesel said, "I swore never to be silent whenever and wherever human beings endure suffering and humiliation. We must always take sides. Neutrality helps the oppressor, never the victim. Silence encourages the tormentor, never the tormented."

So, anyway, this is why I care (and why you should too):

LGBT people are citizens. I have friends (some of whom were married in other states years ago) who love each other as dearly as I love my own wife (and who have been committed to each other for just as long). It pains me to know that there are people who reject the validity of these relationships, and who wish to deny these couples the same benefits that other married couples are afforded. These committed, same-sex couples are North Carolinians. They contribute to the economy, they pay taxes, and they certainly do not deserve to be treated as second-class citizens by anyone. Just as it is hard to believe that we once denied marriage rights to interracial couples, or voting rights to women and African-Americans, we will look back upon this time with the same disbelief and shame.

Homosexuality is not a choice. Although science has not zeroed in on any one single cause, the growing body of research suggests that sexual orientation is caused by a combination of genetic, hormonal, and environmental influences. The biological factors related to sexual orientation involve a constellation of genetic factors, as well as brain structure and early uterine environment. Homosexuality is so natural, in fact, that it occurs in nature. Still not sold? The following major medical and professional organizations have also concluded that sexual orientation (and gender identity) is not a choice: American Psychological Association, American Psychiatric Association, National Association of Social Workers, Royal College of Psychiatrists, and American Academy of Pediatrics. If you think that all these scientists, doctors, and experts are all part of a conspiracy to advance the homosexual agenda, ask yourself this: at what point in your life did you make the choice to be heterosexual?

Kids do just fine in families with same-sex parents. "All of the major professional organizations with expertise in child welfare have issued reports and resolutions in support of gay and lesbian parental rights" (Professor Judith Stacey, New York University). These organizations include the American Academy of Pediatrics, the American Academy of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry, the American Psychiatric Association, the American Psychological Association, the American Psychoanalytic Association, the National Association of Social Workers, the Child Welfare League of America, the North American Council on Adoptable Children, and Canadian Psychological Association. A recent study indicates that kids with Lesbian parents may actually do better than their peers. If you are just convinced that kids absolutely need one mom and one dad, you're a) forgetting about the many single-parent families in existence, b) equating 'gut feelings' with facts, c) depriving a lot of children a wonderful life with a family, a stable, loving home, and the best opportunities possible.

Religious arguments against same-sex marriage do not pass the Lemon Test, a three-pronged legal requirement which stipulates that a) the government's action must have a secular legislative purpose, b) the government's action must not have the primary effect of either advancing or inhibiting religion, and c) the government's action must not result in an "excessive government entanglement" with religion. It am not sure I have heard anyone make a case against same-sex marriage that did not invoke religion. The second that your argument mentions God, or references a biblical passage, I refuse to entertain your argument. As a Humanist, I reject supernaturalism, pseudoscience, and superstition. Your religious arguments against same-sex marriage belong on that heap of nonsense. It has no basis in reality, it is not supported by the science, and it has no place in legislation. Unfortunately, anti-LGBT legislators cynically take great care to ensure that the language in their legislation in is not based on a religious ground -- even though we all know it is rooted in religious dogma. If it looks like a duck, swims like a duck, and quacks like a duck, then it probably is a duck.

Happiness is contagious. Really. It's true. And guess what else? Acceptance of LGBT folks helps protect against depression, substance abuse, and suicide. Why in the world would anyone want to cause suffering in others? If the answer lies in your religion, then you need to re-evaluate your religion. Its ancient morality is flawed at best. Societies which embrace human reason, ethics, justice, and the search for human fulfillment are statistically happier societies. According to Gallup data, the happiest nations were Denmark, Norway, Sweden, and the Netherlands. These countries are among the least religious in the world. Coincidence? I'm not asking you to discard your religion. Just keep it to yourself, your family, and your congregation. We'll all be happier if you do.

Definitions change. Society evolves. I keep hearing over and over that "we can't redefine marriage." Well, why not? We have been redefining marriage throughout history. In fact, marriage pre-dates recorded history. The Bible (which is often used to defend the 'one man'/'one woman' definition) is full of polygamous marriages. There is also a long history of recognized same-sex marriages all over the world (including, but not limited to: Egypt, Greece, Rome, Japan, India, England, Italy, and North America). Over the course of history, marriage has meant different things: Love, the granting of property rights, or the protection of bloodlines. In some cultures two men and two women have been allowed to marry. People have historically married for many different reasons: legal, social, economic, spiritual, libidinal, and religious. So stop it with your 'sacred institution' argument and open up some history books. When you say that the Bible is clear about homosexuality, you must also admit that it was also very clear about how to treat your slaves, and the uncleanliness of women during their menstrual period. Listen. Society evolves. Sometimes we leave behind the Bronze Age mentality of the men who wrote the Bible. You want your marriage to be a religious, strictly bible-based marriage? That's fine. Nobody is stopping you from having one.

Don't we want less government intrusion in our lives? It's interesting that most of the people who support the ban on same-sex marriage also seem to be interested in less government intrusion. They want the government out of their health care. They want the TSA to keep their hands off their junk. They want less regulations on corporations. They worry the government is going to take away their rights: to bear arms, to speak freely, to practice their religion, to say 'Merry Christmas,' and to choose what kind of light bulb they use in their houses. They are furious when the government tries to tell them what they shouldn't eat, where they can or cannot smoke, or how much gas their car can guzzle. And these same people want the government to restrict the rights of someone else. They want the government to tell them what they can or can't do with another consenting adult. How do you reconcile your belief in a small, less intrusive government with your approval of legislation intended to restrict the rights of taxpaying citizens and to control who they should and shouldn't love? It's absurd. You want deregulation? Let's deregulate marriage.

I am a father of three beautiful boys. They are all young enough that they have not shown any definitive signs of sexual orientation one way or the other. Chances are, they will be heterosexual. Of course, there are studies indicating that the more older brothers a boy has, the greater the probability is that he will have a homosexual orientation. This is related to the in-utero maternal immune response, which increases with subsequent sons. Of course this is only one of many studies dealing with the hormonal factors associated with sexual orientation, but my point is, if any of my sons were gay, that's perfectly okay. We would accept him for who he is, and love him just the same. I don't worry about that. What I do worry about is this: if I did have a gay son, how could I explain to him that people don't want him to have the same rights as everyone else? How can I explain to him that if he wants to grow up, buy a home, and start a family, he might need to move to a state that doesn't reject him? How can I explain that people believe he is an abomination whose perverted lifestyle will lead him to an eternity in hell? How would I feel if my son killed himself because he was bullied, maligned, ridiculed, and made to feel as if he had no place in society? The only way to avoid any of our children going through this is to send a clear message that people are different and that's okay. Some families just have one mom, or one dad. Some have a mom and a dad. And some have two moms or two dads. And maybe if our state's leaders stop sending the message to our children that they are unwanted, maybe we can save the life of a child. Isn't that worth it?

At the end of the day, it just makes sense. Ask yourself what you are worried about if same-sex marriage is legalized. Whatever your answer is, ask yourself if you really believe what you just came up with. Homosexuality is not going to spread. It is not communicable. Society is not going to turn into a Lady Gaga video. Most gay couples I know are just as boring as you and I. They sit on the couch and watch television. They work at the post office, the hospital, the grocery store, and at real estate agencies, just like heterosexuals do. They eat out at restaurants and shop at Target. Many have pot bellies and don't have much fashion sense, just like me. They own pets, and go to church. They volunteer, sing Christmas carols, and buy Girl Scout cookies. What are you afraid of? What is going to change by allowing these people to commit to one another and enjoy the benefits that you and I enjoy: tax breaks, insurance breaks, bereavement leave, medical leave to care for a sick partner, domestic violence protection, visitation of partner in the hospital, burial determination, medical decisions on behalf of partner. Really sexy stuff. You and I take these things for granted. Nobody wants to go through life not knowing how they will deal with some of these difficult moments in life. Imagine if you were denied any of the above rights when the time came for you and your spouse to exercise that right? I'll tell you what it would feel like. It would feel like you were a second-class citizen.

So, if you're a North Carolina citizen, and you care about equality, please make yourself heard. Whether you're straight, lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, or queer, speak up. Educate yourself about the May amendment vote. Donate, volunteer, tweet, post Facebook statuses, blog, talk to your churches, your neighbors, your friends and relatives. Help them understand the science behind sexual orientation, and help them understand the importance of voting on May 8. 'Like' the organizations that are working to fight this amendment, and stay informed (EqualityNC, HRC). Repost articles and blog posts to keep friends aware.

There is a lot of work to be done. There are many things each of us can do. But we can't be indifferent.

"There may be times when we are powerless to prevent injustice, but there must never be a time when we fail to protest." - Elie Wiesel

 

http://www.defshepherd.com/2011/09/why-heterosexual-married-north.html?spref=fb

It does get better — gay teen shares the impact of the ‘It Gets Better’ campaign

Dylan’s video is an example that the campaign’s message of hope is indeed being received:

Colbert Mocks Bachmann's HPV Vaccine Claims

UK Government Commitment to Same-Sex Marriage Imminent?

The UK will commit to marriage equality tomorrow, according to reports:

Tim Montgomorie of Conservative Home appears to have confirmed the rumors, while James Chapman of the Daily Mail tweets that the intervention is coming after a "personal intervention" from Prime Minister David Cameron. The announcement is likely to occur at the Liberal Democrat conference tomorrow. The government began surveying opinion on the issue earlier this year and was due to take some action this summer...

...It now appears that legislation will be brought in to secure marriage equality for all couples. Gay marriage is effectively legal in the UK, but under the label of "civil partnership" and not "marriage."

Read more: http://www.towleroad.com/#ixzz1Y9RqxhJp

Anti-LGBT Bullying Advocates Meet With Bachmann’s Staff

Tammy Aaberg, whose gay son, Justin, was a perpetual target of harassment by fellow students and hanged himself in 2010, met Thursday with Bachmann staffers to ask, at the very least, that the congresswoman publicly denounce anti-LGBT bullying.

Southern California Grocery Workers Pave Way For Strike

Grocery workers could go on strike as soon as Sunday night in response to inaction on health care benefits, the workers' union said Thursday.

Eight months into contract negotiations, Southern California grocery workers issued a 72-hour notice Thursday night to cancel a contract extension and pave the way for a strike, said Rick Icaza, president of Grocery Workers Union Local 770.

A strike isn't guaranteed for workers at Albertsons, Ralphs and Vons, but cancelling the contract removes the final barrier to a strike.

In separate statements Thursday, all three grocers said they were disappointed in the union's move and they will remain in active negotiations.

Anderson Cooper Points Out That Michele Bachmann is a Big Liar

Anderson Cooper talks with Bachmann's former Chief of Staff Ron Carey and David Gergen and asks if Michele Bachmann's lie about the HPV vaccine Gardasil and mental retardation will be the one that makes people realize she flat-out lies all the time.

New "X" Option for Gender in Australian Passports

New passport guidelines intended to eliminate discrimination against transgender and intersex people will include an “X” option for gender, the Australian government announced Thursday.

Call for Action on FAIR Education Act from the Courage Campaign

Kristin Chenoweth Talks About Being Christian and Pro-Gay

Hate Group Leaders Peter Sprigg & Bryan Fischer On The Myth People Are Born Gay

NCAA updates guidelines for transgender players

"The NCAA—which governs sports for more than 1,200 colleges and institutions—worked closely with the National Center for Lesbian Rights’ Sports Project and Griffin Educational Consulting to develop the policy, which according to the announcement 'will allow a transgender student athlete to participate in sex-separated sports activities so long as the athlete’s use of hormone therapy is consistent with the NCAA policies and current medical standards.'”

Cher Calls Into Ellen's Show To Blast Transphobes

Cher made a surprise call during her son Chaz Bono's appearance on Ellen DeGeneres's talk show to blast the transphobic haters who've complained about his appearance on Dancing With the Stars, reports E! Online.

"If you got that excess time and that amount of hostility, I'm not so sure that I can say anything to you that would make you change your feelings," Cher says. "Those are feelings of such hostility and fear I don't know that I would have any magic words to make you feel more comfortable and to soothe you into not being terrified of my child dancing on Dancing With the Fucking Stars."

The studio audience applauds wildly after Cher's comment. DeGeneres adds that it's key for the conservative protesters to remember that Bono is someone's child. "What if someone attacked your child? Try to put yourself in someone else's shoes."

Mother of Suicide Victim Takes on Bachmann

The mother of a gay Minnesota teen who committed suicide after being harassed in a school district now under federal investigation is asking Rep. Michele Bachmann to speak out against bullying.

Tammy Aaberg, whose 15-year-old son, Justin (pictured), hanged himself in 2010, will deliver a petition Thursday with 130,000 signatures to Bachmann, whose district covers much of the Anoka-Hennepin School District, where Justin was a student.

The district is currently under investigation by the U.S. Departments of Justice and Education for a pervasive anti-LGBT climate. Bachmann has not spoken out on multiple student suicides nor on mounting claims that the school district’s "neutrality" policy creates a hostile atmosphere for gay youth. State public health officials have called the region a "suicide contagion area."

Of Bachmann’s silence, House minority leader Nancy Pelosi told The Advocate in July, “I would think that if she wanted to be the president of the United States, she would understand that this is a larger issue than whether someone is gay or not, but as to whether someone is harassed and bullied to the point of seeing no way out.”

SF Chronicle Profiles Gay Mayoral Candidate Bevan Dufty

The SF Chronicle profiles mayoral candidate and former SF supervisor Bevan Dufty:

A gay Jew who was raised in Harlem, Dufty is hard to define. He's one part Castro district socialite, one part scrappy underdog fighting A-list competitors, and one part political insider, counting on the No. 2 endorsement of former mayor and power broker Willie Brown.

At the Irish candidates forum, he was Bevan Doyle Dufty. When he's touring the Bayview, he makes sure everyone knows his godmother was jazz singer Billie Holiday. He can discuss his favorite Tequila with a 95-year-old woman as easily as he can discuss the benefits of the Central Subway with a skeptical budget hawk.

But while Dufty is a bit of a political chameleon, he isn't a panderer. He just wants to be liked.

Dufty has a simple solution for fixing San Francisco: Everybody needs to talk more.

Clint Eastwood

‘I don’t give a fuck who wants to get married to anybody else’

L.A. Schools Won't Tolerate Antigay Bullying

The Los Angeles Unified School District, the second-largest district in the nation, has strengthened their LGBT-positive policies.

On Tuesday, the LAUSD board passed a resolution that states school staff need to intervene when they see acts of antigay bias or harassment. The action also reiterates that Los Angeles schools teach the contributions of gays and lesbians by, "promoting positive images of LGBT people and making age-appropriate LGBT curriculum available in elementary and secondary schools."

Listen To The Sermon That Made A Preacher An Anti-Gay Hate Group

Baptist Pastor Prays For President Obama To Die & Go To Hell! "Our Country Is Ran By Faggots"



Pastor Steven Anderson of the Faithful Word Baptist Church in Tempe, Arizona, delivered a sermon in 2009 so vile it landed him on the Southern Poverty Law Center’s anti-​gay hate group list.

AFA's Bryan Fischer Says Christians are True Victims of Hate because of Chaz Bono

Dick and Lynne Cheney Voice Support for Marriage Equality on 'The View'

Wait for it... about 1.35

Episcopal Bishop Who Pushed Gay Ordination Dies at 87

Walter C. Righter, an Episcopal bishop who pushed for the ordination of gay clergy members, which once resulted in heresy charges against him, died Sunday at the age of 87.

Oregon GOP Dropping Antigay Stance

Oregon's Republican Party announced that it will strip antigay language from its 2012 platform, The Oregonian reports.

The move was made to bring the party more toward the center in a state that has become dominated by Democratic politics on the city and state level.

"We want the public to take another look at the Republican Party and our policies," Oregon GOP spokesman Greg Leo told The Oregonian Tuesday. Oregon has not given its electoral votes to a Republican since Ronald Reagan's reelection campaign in 1984. No Republican has been elected governor since 1987.

Gay marriage ban will be on May ballot in NC

North Carolina voters will get to vote next May on a proposed constitutional amendment to ban gay marriage in the state.

The Senate voted 30-16 Tuesday in favor of putting the question on the statewide primary ballot. The number of yes votes was just enough to approve the constitutional amendment. The House approved the measure Monday.

While 30 states already have similar prohibitions in their constitutions, North Carolina is the only state in the Southeast without one.

State law already defines marriage as between a man and a woman, but amendment supporters argue traditional marriage would be better protected against potential legal challenges by same-sex couples in six other states.

Opponents say the question will diminish the state's business climate by perception that gays and lesbians aren't welcome.



Old news now, but from the day before:
The North Carolina House of Representatives passed today, 75-42, a proposed anti-LGBT state constitutional amendment that would ban marriage, civil unions, domestic partnerships and other relationship recognition for same-sex couples.

The House took up the amendment after its rushed passage through the chamber’s Rules Committee earlier this afternoon. It came as another surprise move by Republican legislative leaders, who had previously announced, though sneakily, that the amendment would be heard today in a Senate committee. Sources say two GOP senators had excused absences, leaving the body without the votes for passage.

The newest version of the amendment, SB 514, moves the ballot date from November 2012 to the primary election in May 2012. Speaker of the House Thom Tillis (R-Mecklenburg) said the date change was a way to “remove politics” from the issue.

“What we’re trying to do is respect the concerns of some who felt like this was purely politically-motivated,” Tillis said at the press conference. “I decided, consulting with a number of people, and we decided that this was the most acceptable form. It was a discussion that involved both chambers. There are some members who were inclined to support the bill and did feel like political considerations were an issue that might cause them not to vote for something they would otherwise support.”

GOP leaders had come under fire for placing the amendment on the ballot during next year’s presidential elections. Critics said they were merely attempting to increase conservative voter turnout.

'Campaign Obama Is Back!'

Efforts To Repeal Colorado's Gay Marriage Ban Dropped

Efforts to gather approximately 86,000 signatures to repeal Colorado’s gay marriage ban with a ballot measure has been dropped by gay marriage activists, The Denver Post reported last week.

Activists had been gathering signatures since July for the measure, that if passed, would have allowed for a vote to amend the state constitution to allow same-sex marriage.

Despite this setback, there appears to be momentum building for gay and lesbian rights in Colorado with state Senators like Mark Udall wholeheartedly endorsing marriage equality for gay and lesbian couples, but it may come in the form of civil unions first, rather than marriage.

One of the most influential LGBT rights organizations in Colorado, One Colorado, is focusing its energy on passing civil unions legislation -- a bill that would be voted on by state Senators and Representatives -- rather than a a ballot vote by Colorado citizens.

Tennessee HS student threatened with suspension for attempting to start GSA

Nathan Carroll, a Tennessee high school senior, has been bullied most of his life for being gay. The openly-gay teen attends Sequoyah High School in Madisonville, Tenn., and recently decided a Gay Straight Alliance (GSA) is needed at his school.

Catholic Mom is Scared to Leave the House Because of All the Gays

Stacy Trasancos is a scientist-turned-Catholic-homemaker in Massachusetts with seven kids who suffers from agorahomophobia. In a wrenching blog post, she describes how the gruesome spectacle of gay families hanging out at a local public pool has made her afraid to venture outdoors: "I find myself unable to even leave the house anymore without worrying about what in tarnation we are going to encounter. We are responsible citizens. We live by the rules, we pay our taxes, we take care of our things. I'm supposed to be able to influence what goes on in my community, and as a voter I do exercise that right. But I'm outnumbered. I can't even go to normal places without having to sit silently and tolerate immorality. We all know what would happen if I asked two men or two women to stop displaying, right in front of me and my children, that they live in sodomy."

Gay Facebook Founder and NC Native Chris Hughes Speaks Out, Donates Against Anti-Gay Marriage Amendment

Late on Friday, Facebook founder Chris Hughes stepped up action against North Carolina GOP efforts to pass an amendment banning same-sex marriage in the state constitution:

September 9, 2011

An Open Letter to the North Carolina General Assembly:

I’m writing today to express my deep concern and fervent opposition to the proposed anti-gay constitutional amendment, SB106/HB777.

As the co-founder of Facebook, I have some experience with the challenges of attracting the kind of driven, dynamic and diverse employees it takes to build a fledgling start-up into a full- fledged economic success story.

Companies like Facebook, Google and Apple are the future of our global economy. But the proposed anti-gay constitutional amendment signals to these and other major employers, as well as their mobile, educated employees, that North Carolina does not welcome the diverse workforce that any state needs to compete in the international marketplace.

In short, this amendment is bad for business, bad for the perception of my home state on the national stage, and a far cry from job-creating legislation that North Carolina lawmakers should be focused on.

But the negative business impact is far from the only harm of this amendment. Growing up in a conservative atmosphere in Hickory, North Carolina, I felt first-hand the stigma of being different in a Southern state—a feeling that made it clear to me that I was not welcome in North Carolina.

The proposed discriminatory legislation will only perpetuate this stigma for a new generation of creative, talented youth, uninterested in second-class citizenship in a state they call home. Gay and lesbian North Carolinians work hard, contribute to society, and want to protect their families like everyone else. Their families deserve the same respect and the same treatment as everyone else, and they should not be exposed to the derogatory and harmful anti-gay rhetoric that inevitability accompanies these kinds of campaigns. North Carolina deserves better than that.

The next Facebook or Apple or Google could be created by another North Carolinian. Be mindful of how you treat them and their families.

Chris Hughes Co-founder of Facebook and North Carolina native


Read more: http://www.towleroad.com/#ixzz1XlxKF5yG

NAACP Condemns North Carolina Anti-Gay Marriage Amendment

The NAACP of North Carolina has published an open letter to North Carolinians opposing the constitutional amendment banning same-sex marriage set to be considered as early as today by the state legislature.

NC close to vote on gay marriage ban in constitution

North Carolina is the only state in the Southeast without a gay marriage ban in its constitution. The idea has gone nowhere in the last decade because Democratic leaders quashed Republican efforts to debate amendment referenda.

Now with Republicans in charge of the Legislature for the first time in 140 years, conservatives are making their move. Lawmakers return Monday to Raleigh to debate proposed amendments, including one to let voters next year decide if a state law already on the books defining marriage as between one man and one woman should be imprinted into the state constitution as well.

“It’s time that we settled this issue,” said GOP state Rep. Dale Folwell of Winston-Salem, the No. 2 leader in the House and a key amendment proponent.

Gay rights supporters and gay-friendly companies in the state have been attacking the proposal, saying a 2012 statewide ballot is unnecessary and would humiliate the state in a nation that’s become more accepting of same-sex relationships. They say it would discourage business from coming to North Carolina, where unemployment has crept back above 10 percent.

“It makes no sense that North Carolina in a dark economic hour, should signal out a minority of its population for public judgment,” said Andrew Spainhour, general counsel of Greensboro-based tableware seller Replacements Ltd., where as many as 100 of the 450 employees are gay, including the company founder.

The marriage debate rises against a backdrop of looming, critical elections. A divisive ballot measure in November 2012 could help bring conservatives to the polls in a state where Barack Obama won in 2008 by only 13,000 votes and which is hosting the Democratic National Convention. Democratic Gov. Beverly Perdue also faces a tough re-election fight next year.

“There’s no doubt that there would be some advantage in motivating voters for Republican candidates,” said Ferrel Guillory, director of the Program on Public Life at the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill. On the gay marriage issue itself, he added: “We are polarized on this.”

Marriage News Watch

Unexpected legacy left by hero of Flight 93

Stephen Colbert Apologizes for Blaming Recent Natural Disasters on The Gays

The Colbert Report
Get More: Colbert Report Full Episodes,Political Humor & Satire Blog,Video Archive

Rory's Story

Connecticut Christian School Kicks 12th Grader Out For Being A Lesbian

A private Christian school has kicked out a 12th grader for being a lesbian. The Master’s School in West Simsbury, Connecticut interrogated Rachel Aviles about her sexual orientation, then, when she acknowledged she was a lesbian, they forced her out. The school’s website says its motto is, “Veritas Vos Liberabit which translates to ‘the truth shall set you free’ from John 8:32.”

“Aviles said she was encouraged to withdraw, rather than be expelled,” writes Susan Campbell at CT NOW. “It was a not thinly veiled threat,” said Beth Miller, who met Aviles when the student applied to Hartford Youth Scholars Foundation in ’07.


Legally, private schools — secular and otherwise —- have more leeway as to whom to accept within their ranks. The school’s meadmaster, Jon Holley, said he wouldn’t discuss Aviles because of privacy concerns, but Aviles’ former coach, Heather Lodovico, said when she withdrew, Aviles sent her coach a text message.

“She texted me and said something like ‘They kicked me out,’ and I made a joke, ‘What, are you pregnant?’ and she said, ‘No, worse. I’m gay,’” said Lodovico.

The coach said she immediately got on the phone to see if the decision could be reversed, but no.

“She’s a fantastic kid,” said Lodovico. “My reaction was: ‘Wow. Your God’s really small.’ Whether it’s a sin or not, take that out of the picture, and this is still wrong. I think God’s up there shaking His head going, ‘Really? Really?’

Britain To Lift Gay Men Blood Donation Ban

British health officials say they will lift the ban on gay men donating blood – as long as their last sexual contact with another man was more than one year ago.

The U.K. health department said Thursday the change would be implemented in November after a new review found no evidence to support the ban.

The decision reverses a policy first adopted in the 1980s when officials feared AIDS could be spread in the blood supply.

Other countries including Australia, Japan, South Africa, Sweden and New Zealand also allow gay men to donate blood with similar conditions. In Canada and the U.S., however, gay men are still banned from donating blood.

Little Rock Weatherman wakes to Dead Companion in Empty Jacuzzi

A Little Rock, Ark., weatherman was found sleeping in an empty Jacuzzi-style bathtub next to the body of a young friend, a Sept. 6 Arkansas News Bureau story said.

The dead man, Dexter Paul Williams, 24, was wearing a dog collar, news reports said. Williams and meteorologist Brett Cummins, 33, who appears on Little Rock’s KARK-TV, had apparently slept in the tub.

The owner of the home where the death occurred, John Barbour, 36, described the previous evening’s activities, telling authorities that Cummins and Williams came over at about 8:00 on the evening of Sept. 4. The three men got into the tub together at around 10:00 p.m., Barbour said, and they had already used drugs and alcohol by that point. The men continued drinking while in the tub, according to Barbour’s statement.

Pastor Performs Anatomy Demonstration at GOP Presser on NC Anti-Gay Marriage Amendment

Calif. Gov Signs Equal Benefits Law

California governor Jerry Brown today signed into law a bill requiring businesses that have large contracts with the state to provide equal spousal benefits for all employees, gay and straight.

The legislation, authored by lesbian state senator Christine Kehoe and backed by LGBT rights group Equality California, prohibits the state from entering into a contract of more than $100,000 with businesses or other entities that deny same-sex spouses the benefits offered to opposite-sex spouses of employees. The bill passed the state legislature last month.

“Providing the same benefits to an employee with a domestic partner, or same-sex or opposite-sex spouse ensures that workers receive equal pay for equal work,” Kehoe said in a press release. “California should lead the way for other employers to provide benefits that are nondiscriminatory.”

“The state’s tax dollars earned by hardworking Californians should not be invested in companies that unfairly discriminate against LGBT people and their families,” added Roland Palencia, executive director of Equality California.

Prop 8 Supporters and Opponents Face Off Before Prop 8 Hearing

Videographer and activist Sean Chapin documented the 'for' and 'against' action before yesterday's California Supreme Court hearing on 'standing' in the Prop 8 case. It's always amazing to me how much hate people can have in their hearts.

Transgenderism Not A Civil Right

Chaz Bono does not have a civil right to be transgender, suggests Fox News pundit Dr. Keith Ablow, discussing his recent column, “Don’t Let Your Kids Watch Chaz Bono On ‘Dancing With the Stars’.” Ablow adds that Chaz Bono’s appearance on “Dancing With The Stars” is a “fame tour” “promoting transgenderism,” and warns parents that tomboys watching Chaz Bono on DWTS will want to become boys — or may think they’re transgender.

"We Don't Need No Education"

"The Constitution does not specifically enumerate nor does it give to the federal government the role and duty to superintend over education. That historically has been held by the parents and by local communities and by state government. To put that into the federal government as we saw a Department of Education in the late 1970s has eviscerated the constitutional understanding that the control of education truly lies with the parents."

- Rep. Michele Bachmann, telling a South Carolina audience that if elected, she will abolish the Department of Education.

"Talk To Me" Flash Mob for The Trevor Project

Prayer cures AIDS

As reported in Ugandan media, in May 2011 Dr. Christine Ondoa was chosen as the new head of Uganda’s Ministry of Health. The position will give Ondoa authority over a significant portion of Uganda’s foreign HIV/AIDS mitigation funding, which in the year 2010 included over $270 million dollars from the United States.

Along with her role as a medical professional, Christine Ondoa also serves as pastor in the Life Line Ministries of apostle Julius Peter Oyet, one of the most powerful clerics leading Uganda’s ongoing crusade against gay rights.

Julius Oyet’s Life Line Ministries runs a Uganda branch of an international faith healing ministry under Wagner apostle Cal Pierce, head of the International Association of Healing Rooms. Cal Pierce’s Healing Room Ministries lists almost 400 healing room branches in cities and towns across the United States, and well over 1,000 internationally.

Since her appointment as Health Ministry head, Ondoa has promoted the claim, an established tenet of Peter Wagner’s apostolic movement, also advanced by Oyet’s Life Line Ministries, that HIV/AIDS can be cured through prayer. According to a story published September 2008 in the Uganda Daily Monitor, “Unverified faith healing is posing a threat to adherence to antiretroviral therapy (ART) by persons living with HIV/Aids.”

Judges seem to side with backers of Prop. 8

The California Supreme Court signaled today that it won't stand in the way of a showdown in federal court over the state's ban on same-sex marriage.

At a hearing in San Francisco, all seven justices, including newly confirmed Justice Goodwin Liu, appeared to agree with sponsors of the voter-approved Proposition 8 that they had the right to appeal a federal judge's ruling declaring the 2008 ballot measure unconstitutional.

When Chief U.S. District Judge Vaughn Walker ruled in August 2010 that Prop. 8 violated the rights of gays and lesbians to marry their chosen partners, Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger and Attorney General Jerry Brown declined to appeal. The Ninth U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals then asked the state's highest court whether the initiative's sponsors, a conservative religious coalition called Protect Marriage, had the right to represent the state's interests in an appeal.

At today's one-hour hearing, the answer seemed to be yes.

"Is there any authority for the governor and attorney general to second-guess the majority of Californians?" asked Justice Ming Chin.

Theodore Olson, lawyer for same-sex couples challenging Prop. 8, argued that California law does not give initiative sponsors, or any other private citizens, "the right to take over the attorney general's responsibility to represent the state."

But Justice Joyce Kennard said denying legal standing to the official sponsors of an initiative would leave the measure without defenders in court, and effectively "nullify the great power that the people have reserved to them for proposing and adopting constitutional amendments" at the ballot box.

Liu, hearing his first case since a state commission confirmed his nomination to the court last week, observed that the court has traditionally protected the initiative power as "a check on representative democracy."

Past rulings have also promoted "an adversarial process that is fair" by allowing sponsors of ballot measures to intervene in state court proceedings, Liu said.

The court's decision, due in 90 days, will be limited to the question of whether Protect Marriage has the right to appeal Walker's ruling and will not address the validity of Prop. 8, which the court upheld under state law in 2009. If that right is upheld, the federal appeals court will then decide whether Prop. 8 is constitutional, an issue that could wind up before the U.S. Supreme Court.

The case is Perry vs. Brown, S189476.

Famous Anti-Gay Politicians Caught In Gay Affairs

California Senate approves ‘Seth’s Law,’ aimed at reducing anti-gay bullying

The California state Senate late Thursday approved “Seth’s Law,” an anti-bullying measure aimed at giving public schools tools to prevent and address bullying through mandatory policies and systems to help discourage harassment and track incidents when they do occur.

The bill, introduced by openly gay Assemblyman Tom Ammiano (D-San Francisco), is named for Seth Walsh, a 13-year-old gay teen who committed suicide last September after enduring years of bullying due to his sexual orientation.

The measure would require districts to create anti-harassment policies and programs that include bullying based on perceived or actual sexual orientation.

Schools would also be required to have a system in place to ensure all reports of bullying are taken seriously and addressed immediately.

The bill passed in the Senate by a vote of 24-14. The measure passed on June 1 in the state Assembly by a vote of 44-17. It now goes to Gov. Jerry Brown, who is expected to sign it into law.

California Supreme Court to hear arguments on ‘standing’ in Prop 8 appeal

For the second week in a row, Proposition 8 is in court and, next week, it’s right back where it started.

On Tuesday, September 6, the court is the California Supreme Court, and the question is whether there is any authority under California law that gives Yes on 8 the right to appeal a ruling that struck down the state ban on same-sex marriage when state officials decided not to.

Yes on 8 is the coalition of groups that organized the campaign to pass California’s ban on same-sex marriage in November 2008, ending six months of marriage equality in the nation’s most populous state.

The Proposition 8 initiative was Yes on 8’s reaction to a decision by the California Supreme Court in 2008 that held that the state constitution’s guarantee of equal protection.

Last Monday, August 29, the venue for the Proposition 8 litigation was the U.S. District Court in San Francisco, and the question was whether the court would release to the public videotapes of the landmark Proposition 8 trial — Perry v. Brown (formerly Perry v. Schwarzenegger). A decision in that matter is expected any day now.

Glitter Rains Down on Anti-Gay Booth at Minnesota State Fair

Glitter rained down from the heavens in a "Minnesota Miracle" on the anti-marriage equality booth at the Minnesota state fair. LGBT equality activists showered the booth from a skilift shouting: "where's our booth?" and "equality for all" in reference to the strange appearance of the anti-gay booth despite the exclusion of a pro-equality booth on the fairgrounds.
"As LGBT people are excluded from basic rights like marriage, the voices of marriage equality activists in Minnesota were excluded from having a booth at the Minnesota state fair," said participant Joanna Hirvela, "but we will not be silenced. Wherever there is bigotry, let there be glitter."



This weekend activists used the Minnesota State Fair skylift to shower glitter upon Minnesota for Marriage (M4M), an organizer behind the state’s proposed constitutional ban on marriage equality. Apparently the (un)fair organizers allowed M4M to have a booth while denying the pro-LGBT Minnesotans United for All Families a booth as well.

Proposition 8 Faces Next Legal Hurdle Before State Supreme Court

California's same-sex marriage ban faces its next legal test Tuesday when the state's highest court attempts to shed light on whether the voter-approved measure's backers have legal authority to appeal the federal ruling that overturned Proposition 8.

The California Supreme Court is scheduled to hear an hour of arguments on that question, which could prove crucial to the future of the voter-approved ban. The federal appeals court that is considering the initiative's constitutionality wants the state court to weigh in on the matter before it issues its decision.

The 9th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals has expressed doubts about the ability of Proposition 8's sponsors to challenge the lower court ruling absent the involvement of California's governor or attorney general, both of whom refused to appeal a federal judge's August 2010 decision striking down the ban as a violation of gay Californians' civil rights.

The court punted the question to the California Supreme Court earlier this year, saying it was a matter of state law.

Lawyers for the coalition of religious and conservative groups that qualified Proposition 8 for the November 2008 ballot maintain they are legally eligible to represent the majority of California voters who approved the same-sex marriage ban. They argue that because California has such a vigorous citizen's initiative process, it would not make sense for elected officials to effectively veto measures by not defending them in court.

"This is a pivotal hearing for us as we continue to fight to uphold the People's vote to restore traditional marriage in California against these ferocious attacks," Andy Pugno, legal counsel for the Proposition 8 coalition said in a letter to supporters last week. "We simply cannot allow our opponents to manipulate the legal system to the point where there is nobody left to defend the People!"

"My New Target" Marcus Bachmann "Seems..."