Allstate Insurance has rolled out a new Pride Month ad campaign that features the new original song “Safe In My Hands“ by singer Eli Lieb. Eli, who is gay, is best known for his 2013 breakout single “Young Love.”
The Allstate ad campaign, Out Holding Hands, brings a spotlight to the message that no one should be afraid to be who they are.
“We believe everyone should be treated with respect and without judgment no matter who they love.” says the Allstate promotional statement accompanying the video.
Monday, June 16, 2014
Sunday, June 15, 2014
Thursday, June 12, 2014
Wednesday, June 11, 2014
Tea Party Republican OK With Stoning The Gays: ‘We Would Totally Be In The Right’
A conservative Christian Tea Party Republican candidate running for the Oklahoma House of Representatives says he is OK with stoning gays to death. Scott Esk reportedly said in a Facebook conversation, “I think we would be totally in the right” to stone gay people to death. He also quoted the bible — including Leviticus 20:13 — and added, “ignoring as a nation things that are worthy of death is very remiss.”
The Facebook conversation was ignited by a posting of Pope Francis’ “Who am I to judge?” comments last year. Esk apparently believes he is capable.
Tuesday, June 10, 2014
Judge Rules Conversion Therapists Can Be Sued For Consumer Fraud
New Jersey Superior Court Judge Peter F. Bariso Jr. has refused to dismiss a first of its kind lawsuit seeking damages against the conversion therapists of Jews Offering New Alternatives for Healing, (JONAH).
R. Kelly's Youngest Child Comes Out as Transgender
R. Kelly's youngest child, 13 and named Jaya at birth but now goes by Jay, has come out as transgender, InTouch reports:
As of three months ago, Jay said his father was unaware of his new identity, but added his mother—Drea, who stars on the reality series Hollywood Exes—has been extremely supportive.
“[My mom] was like, ‘Baby, you know I love you if you were bi, gay, [lesbian], you name it and I would still love you so much,’” he wrote on his Ask.fm page, which is a social platform that allows users to answer anonymously submitted questions.
“She was very proud of me, I was like, ‘Thank you mum for accepting the fact that I’m a transgender.’
“And same with my sister, she told me that she was proud of me, and respects me by calling me handsome and calling me her little brother now, and I love her for that, so you know it was great for me.”
Jay says he is looking forward to being truly comfortable at some point in the future after gender reassignment surgery and testosterone treatments.
RUBEN DIAZ IS BUSSING PEOPLE TO NOM'S ANTI-GAY MARRIAGE MARCH BUT NOT TELLING THEM
The National Organization for Marriage has organized the "2014 March for Marriage," to take place on June 19th, and they toot that New York Senator Ruben Diaz, Sr., a speaker at the march and a longtime anti-gay activist, is set to bring thousands of African-American and Latino constituents to Washington, DC to take part. Too bad he Diaz not mention the organization or the march in the video advertisement he's released.
Discrimination Against Blacks, Jews ‘Fundamentally Different’ From Gays
Liberty Counsel head Mat Staver testified before a House sub-committee hearing on religion this afternoon, telling Congress that discrimination against Black people and Jewish people is wrong, but against gay people is acceptable. Today’ hearing, The State Of Religious Liberty In The United States, was chaired by Tea Party extremist and birtherRep. Trent Franks (R-AZ).
Rep. Jerrold Nadler (D-NY) grilled Staver, whose law firm is closely affiliated with Jerry Falwell’s Liberty University. Staver is also the Dean of Liberty University School of Law .
Staver told Nadler he thinks that a photographer, based on her religious beliefs, refusing to take photos at a wedding of Black people is “fundamentally different” from a photographer refusing to take photos at a wedding of gay people.
This Week in Marriage News
Wisconsin's marriage ban is unconstitutional. There've been more big defeats for the National Organization for Marriage. Utah officials resist a ruling that they must recognize the marriage licenses that the state issued to gay and lesbian couples last winter. And Pennsylvania voters show their support for the freedom to marry.
Monday, June 9, 2014
Tony Perkins calls on parents to remove kids from public schools after principal comes out
Family Research Council President Tony Perkins is urging parents across the country to pull their children out of public schools in response to a Washington, D.C., principal’s decision to come out to his students and school staff.
The principal of Woodrow Wilson High School in Washington D.C.publicly announced that he is gay at a Pride Day event on Wednesday, thanking students and community members for their support.
Perkins was of course appalled, urging his Washington Watch listeners yesterday to pull their kids from public schools:
“If you have your children in the public schools, unless you’re in a district where you know exactly what’s going on in some rural part of the country where values are still embraced, you really need to think about whether or not you want to expose your kids to what’s happening in our public school system. I would encourage you to look for other alternatives.”“Eighty-three percent of the students coming out of the District of Columbia are not proficient in reading skills, but they know how to celebrate gay pride,” Perkins said. “As we drop further and further in the global ranking of math and science scores, at least our kids will understand sex-ed. Amazing.”
This Newlywed Gay Couple In Wisconsin Got An Amazing Surprise At Dinner
Late last week, U.S. District Judge Barbara Crabb overturned Wisconsin's ban on same-sex marriage, saying that "[gay couples] are entitled to the same treatment as any heterosexual couple." After the news broke, dozens of gay couples made their way to courthouses across Wisconsin to tie the knot and finally become legally recognized by the state.
This was exactly what Christopher Graham and his partner Andrew Cappelle had in mind when they drove down to the courthouse to get their license.
Graham explains:
"After we stayed at the courthouse, we went out for dinner to Transfer Pizzeria & Cafe. We talked with our server about what had just happened down at the courthouse -- we got married and witnessed to several other marriages -- and to help us celebrate, the staff at Transfer bought our dinner!"
Saturday, June 7, 2014
Wilson HS Principal Pete Cahall Coming Out as Gay to His School
Principal Pete Cahall at Wilson High School in D.C. shocked his students when he came out of the closet at a school Pride event.
Here's some great video of Cahall making the announcement, his hands shaking, then doubling over with relief as his students cheer and then rush the stage to give him hugs.
Cahall is 50 years old. He told ABC7 that he felt it would have been hypocritical for him to host a school Pride event while holding on to his secret.
Friday, June 6, 2014
Appeals court keeps recognition of same-sex marriages in Utah on hold
More than 1,000 couples who rushed to wed after a judge overturned Utah’s gay marriage ban will have to keep waiting for many of the legal benefits of being married following an appeals court decision Thursday.
The 10th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals granted Utah’s request to delay the implementation of a ruling that ordered state officials to start recognizing the marriages next week.
The Denver-based judges gave the four same-sex couples who sued Utah until next Thursday to file papers laying out why the order should be implemented. The court must next choose whether to lift or extend the temporary stay.
We’re Living On The Edge Of The Rapture
Franklin Graham exposed his soul to religious broadcaster Jan Crouch last week, telling the Trinity Broadcasting Network (TBN) co-founder that he believes we’re living on the edge of the Rapture.
“Where ever I go everyone says, ‘Franklin, do you think we’re close?’,” Graham claimed. “And I’ll say, ‘I feel that way.’ and they’ll say, ‘We do too. We feel that we’re on the edge, that the lord Jesus Christ could come back at any moment.’”
“We know that Christ is coming back, we know that there’s a Rapture,” Graham, the son of the far-more endearing Rev. Billy Graham, told Crouch.
Thursday, June 5, 2014
Texas GOP Platform Embraces ‘Reparative Therapy’ to ‘Escape Homosexual Lifestyle’
The Republican Party of Texas has drafted a new platform for 2014 which embraces so-called “ex-gay” or “reparative therapy,” a practice that has been deemed ineffective, harmful, or even dangerous by every major medical organization.
“We recognize the legitimacy and value of counseling which offers reparative therapy and treatment to patients who are seeking escape from the homosexual lifestyle,” thefirst draft, according to the Houston Chronicle, reads. “No laws or executive orders shall be imposed to limit or restrict access to this type of therapy.”
Wednesday, June 4, 2014
Judge Tells Florida Anti-Gay Groups Same-Sex Marriage Doesn’t Affect Them
A state court judge has just denied a request by three anti-gay organizations who asked to be given standing to defend Florida’s ban on same-sex marriage. Circuit Court Judge Sarah Zabel ruled that Florida Family Action, Inc. (FFAI), Florida Democratic League Inc. (FDL), and People United to Lead the Struggle for Equality, Inc. (PULSE) did not have standing and would not be allied to be parties to the case because they “will not be directly and immediately affected if others enter into a same-sex marriage, or are prevented from entering into a same-sex marriage.” The judge added that the “validity of their own marriages will not be affected,” regardless of the trial’s outcome.
Tuesday, June 3, 2014
Request for full-court review of decision overturning Idaho’s same-sex marriage ban
Idaho Gov. Butch Otter is asking the 9th Circuit U.S. Court of Appeals to send Idaho’s same-sex marriage case directly to a full, 11-judge panel of the court, rather than the usual three-judge panel.
“Because the marriage issue is so passionately contested and so divisive among the citizenry, the perception of the legitimacy of this court’s resolution of it must be of paramount concern,” attorneys for the governor argue in their motion. “A decision by an 11-judge panel stands far higher and stronger than does a decision by a three-judge panel, just as a decision by a three-judge panel stands far higher and stronger than does a decision by a single judge.”
Fox's Juan Williams Asks Whether Phil Robertson Is Face of GOP Outreach
When asked on Fox News whether having Duck Dynasty patriarch Phil Robertson speak at the Republican Leadership Conference was a good idea for the GOP, commentator Juan Williams didn't hold back.
“No! Where does it say…that the GOP makes a hero out of a guy who says blacks were happy with slavery and segregation and gays are to be damned?" said Williams on the May 31 edition of Cashin’ In "I mean that’s just… is he the chief of outreach for the GOP, or is he the chief of internal self-satisfaction?”
Robertson spoke at the Republican Leadership Conference on Thursday. Republican National Committee Chairman Reince Prebus, Louisiana Governor Bobby Jindal, and Wisconsin Senator Ron Johnson also took the stage at the conference held in New Orleans.
When asked on Fox News whether having Duck Dynastypatriarch Phil Robertson speak at the Republican Leadership Conference was a good idea for the GOP, commentator Juan Williams didn't hold back.
“No! Where does it say…that the GOP makes a hero out of a guy who says blacks were happy with slavery and segregation and gays are to be damned?" said Williams on the May 31 edition of Cashin’ In "I mean that’s just… is he the chief of outreach for the GOP, or is he the chief of internal self-satisfaction?”
Robertson spoke at the Republican Leadership Conference on Thursday. Republican National Committee Chairman Reince Prebus, Louisiana Governor Bobby Jindal, and Wisconsin Senator Ron Johnson also took the stage at the conference held in New Orleans.
Monday, June 2, 2014
Melissa Etheridge Marries Linda Wallem, Is 'So Blessed'
Melissa Etheridge and Linda Wallem got married Saturday, May 31, in California two days after their shared birthday. Etheridge took to Twitter to say she feels "so blessed."
According to People, Etheridge and Wallem had been friends for over a decade before they began dating in 2010.
Sarah Palin Introduces Phil Robertson At Religion-Focused Republican Conference
Could there be any greater snapshot of just how in trouble the Republican Party is today than to have its former vice presidential nominee turned reality TV show host and political pundit, Sarah Palin, invited to introduce the Duck Dynasty patriarch Phil Robertson at the Republican Leadership Conference? The Republican Leadership Conference is one of the first stops for all potential GOP presidential candidates, and one of many opportunities Republican politicians are given to establish their bona fides with the party’s base.
And it was Robertson, not Palin, who was the keynote speaker of the evening, kicking off the three-day event in New Orleans.
Burgess Brothers Fight Homophobia in Sport
"I think discrimination in sport is old fashioned. We're very passionate about the game. We have lots of gay friends."
Sam and Thomas Burgess, who play for the South Sydney Rabbitohs, released a video in conjunction with the Bingham Cup's 'Out in the Field' study of anti-discrimination in sports.
Sam and Thomas Burgess, who play for the South Sydney Rabbitohs, released a video in conjunction with the Bingham Cup's 'Out in the Field' study of anti-discrimination in sports.
Obama issues proclamation declaring June LGBT Pride Month
The White House on Friday issued a proclamation by President Barack Obama, declaring June as Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, and Transgender Pride Month, saying his administration “stands alongside all those who fight for LGBT rights.”
“As we mark 45 years since the patrons of the Stonewall Inn defied an unjust policy and awakened a nascent movement, let us honor every brave leader who stood up, sat in, and came out, as well as the allies who supported them along the way,” said Obama, in this, the sixth consecutive year he has issued the proclamation.
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