Jon Stewart Can't Deal With Arizona's 'Morally Repugnant' Anti-Gay Discrimination Bill

HRC Links Antigay Americans to Russia's Anti-LGBT Climate

 A new video from the Human Rights Campaign takes American antigay activists to task for stoking the flames of LGBT hatred in Russia.

ARIZONA SENATE PASSES BILL ALLOWING BUSINESSES TO REFUSE SERVICE TO GAYS BASED ON RELIGIOUS BELIEFS

Arizona's Senate has voted 17-13 to approve a bill allowing businesses to refuse service to gays based on religious beliefs, the Arizona Daily Star reports:

The 17-13 vote along party lines, with Republicans in the majority, came after supporters defeated an attempt to extend existing employment laws that bar discrimination based on religion and race to also include sexual orientation. Sen. Steve Yarbrough (pictured), R-Chandler, said that's a separate issue from what he is trying to do.

But Sen. Steve Gallardo, D-Phoenix, said that's precisely the issue.

"The bill opens the door for discrimination against gays and lesbians," he said.

Yarbrough, however, said foes of SB 1062 are twisting what his legislation says.

"This bill is not about discrimination," he said. "It's about preventing discrimination against people who are clearly living out their faith."

Kansas Senate Rejects House ‘Freedom To Discriminate’ Bill

The Kansas State Senate has refused to consider a House bill that would make it legal to refuse service to gays due to “sincerely held religious beliefs”. Senate Republicans say the bill is too extreme.

House Bill 2453, which passed the House by a lopsided 72-49 vote, would have allowed anyone with religious objections to homosexuality to discriminate against gays at any time. Doctors. Teachers. Firefighters. Ambulance drivers.

From HB 2453:

“if it would be contrary to the sincerely held religious beliefs of the individual or religious entity…no individual or religious entity shall be required by any governmental entity to…[p]rovide any services, accommodations, advantages, facilities, goods, or privileges; provide counseling, adoption, foster care and other social services; or provide employment or employment benefits, related to, or related to the celebration of, any marriage, domestic partnership, civil union or similar arrangement; solemnize any marriage, domestic partnership, civil union or similar arrangement; or treat any marriage, domestic partnership, civil union or similar arrangement as valid.”

The Kansas Senate, with its 32-8 Republican majority, was expected to rubber stamp the legislation, but sanity has prevailed. Senate President, Republican Susan Wagle, told the Wichita Eagle that allowing government employees to discriminate went too far:

“I believe that when you hire police officers or a fireman that they have no choice in who they serve. They serve anyone who’s vulnerable, any age, any race, any sexual orientation. Public service needs to remain public service for the entire public.”

Lawmakers Cheer As Ugandan President Declares ‘War With The Homosexual Lobby’

After admonishing the Parliament of his own nation late last year for “repeatedly” breaking the law by passing the Anti-Homosexuality Bill without the required quorum, and strongly suggesting he would not sign it, the President of Uganda announced at his national party retreat last week that he will sign the bill.

The Anti-Homosexuality Bill mandates jail sentences — including life in prison — for those accused of having sex with members of their own gender, and for those who know LGBT people but do not report them to authorities. Jail is also mandated for those who support LGBT civil rights and the LGBT community.

Watch this video as the President of Uganda, Yoweri Museveni, tells the lawmakers of his party he will sign the bill. Watch as he announces, “We shall have a war with the homosexual lobby, in the world, backed by these people and you.”

Watch as the stand, applaud, and cheer.

Mormon-Produced Video Wants You To Stop Masturbating So Much

It is amazing how bad this video is.

'Faith Commander' Book By Duck Dynasty's Robertson Family Is Jesus-Based Church Curriculum

The Robertson family of "Duck Dynasty" fame is now wading into the world of Christian publishing with the release of a new book and DVD, Faith Commander: Living Five Values From The Parables Of Jesus, which is a five-week church curriculum.

Written by Korie Robertson and her mother Chrys Howard, the content focuses on the five themes of faith, forgiveness, obedience, prayer, and kindness. Robertson, the wife of Duck Commander CEO Willie Robertson, explained in a press release from Christian publishing house Zondervan that "There are some things that the Bible tells us are God’s guidelines." She continued, "He gives us examples throughout the Bible so that we may live a better life and those are the lessons that we have tried to cover in ‘Faith Commander.’ We hope that people will bring these lessons into their own family through this curriculum.”

HEAD OF RUSSIAN ORTHODOX CHURCH URGES BAN ON ‘ANY ATTEMPT’ TO LEGALIZE GAY MARRIAGE

The head of the Russian Orthodox Church is asking lawmakers in the country to implement state-level bans on ‘any attempt’ to legalize same-sex marriage, saying that rejecting gay marriage is inherent in Christian doctrine.

RT reports:

“In a response to the broad international discussion of this issue we would like to make a resolute statement – marriage is a union between a man and a woman, based on love and mutual understanding and made in order to give birth to children,” Russia’s head cleric stated.

Patriarch Kirill promised that the church would provide support to all state and public institutions that seek to protect the traditional Christian values. He stressed, however, that such a move was not caused by a desire to influence politics, rather by the very nature of Christianity.

When the state adjusts its every move in accordance with the “natural moral norms” it does not become religious, but instead turns into a “reasonable guardian of the common good.”

RUSSIA'S 'ANTI-GAY STUFF' IS NOT SO BAD

Canadian IOC member Dick Pound told Metro Canada that the media is not only overreacting to Russia's "anti-gay stuff", they're losing interest:

“Nobody has got anything else to write about and for some reason as they have sort of moved away from the anti-gay stuff — I think it’s not drawing the kind of attention that they wanted,” Pound said.

Pound said other countries have “far harsher laws” regarding homosexuals than Russia and little is written on that.

“In Malaysia, you can be put to death. In Nigeria, you can be put in jail for God knows how long,” Pound said. “So it’s a target of convenience with respect to Russia, not that I approve of the law, but putting it on a scale of 1-10 of odious laws, it’s not way up there near 10.”

Grammys Wedding Of Gay And Straight Couples Was ‘Intolerance, Bigotry And Hatred’

Fox News religion “reporter” Todd Starnes had a meltdown last night during the Grammys, as Queen Latifah married 33 same-sex and opposite-sex couples in a mass wedding. Just before the ceremony, Macklemore and Ryan Lewis’ offered a fantastic performance of their hit, “Same Love,” with Mary Lambert. Then, as Queen Latifah asked the couples to exchange rings, Madonna sang her 1986 hit song, “Open Your Heart.”

All this was far too much for Starnes, who has been labeled a liar by a Christian blogger for his piecemeal, cherry-picking “reporting” that tries to paint President Barack Obama and the U.S. Military as waging a war against Christians.

NOM Planning Second March of Marriage

Okla. lawmaker wants voters to ban same-sex marriage … again

Just one week after a judge struck down Oklahoma’s 2004 voter-approved ban on same-sex marriage, a state lawmaker has filed a bill that would call for a second vote to amend the Oklahoma Constitution to again ban same-sex marriage.

Rep. Mike Turner (R-Edmond, Okla.), on Tuesday said he filed the measure in anticipation that a federal appeals court will uphold the ruling and Oklahoma’s gay marriage ban would be struck down, reported the Tulsa World.

Turner has also introduced a separate bill called the “Preservation of Marriage Act,” which currently contains no substantial language and can be modified, as can the other measure.

Overstock.com CEO Faces PR Battle After Board Member’s Anti-Gay Stance

Mormon Church-owned Deseret News, which covers Utah, this weekend published an article claiming the “majority of Utahns do not support same-sex marriage, believe the decision on marriage should rest with individual states, and say if gay marriage were legal, Utah should pass laws to protect places of worship from having to perform weddings for gay and lesbian couples.”

Which is odd, since their competitor just published a poll that finds Utahans evenly-split, 48-48 on marriage.

“If same-sex marriage were legal in Utah, 72 percent said laws should be passed to protect churches, synagogues and other places of worship from having to perform same-sex marriages. Twenty-two percent said no such laws are needed,” Deseret News claims:

Jonathan Johnson, executive vice chairman of the online retailer Overstock.com and founder of the First Freedom PAC, said it’s shocking to him that some people think churches don’t need protection. He started the political action committee to combat what he sees as an assault on the First Amendment and to preserve the role of churches and religious associations in society.

“It makes me feel like if a same-gender couple goes to an orthodox Jewish rabbi and says, ‘Marry us in your synagogue,’ the 22 percent would say he has to say yes,” he said.

“I’m surprised that anyone thinks that the government should force religions to do things,” he said. “But because the religious liberties issue today is so tied to the same-sex marriage issue, I can see why it’s a sore spot for people.”

The Overstock.com executive vice chairman’s First Freedom PAC says the ”Supreme Court’s DOMA decision was an affront to the religious convictions of tens of millions of Americans. The Obama Administration has been a constant battering ram on the conscience of individuals, businesses, religious organizations, and even the military.”

Vote To Ban Gay Marriage Or I’ll Kick You Off Committee

Indiana‘s Republican Speaker of the House is now on a religious crusade to ensure — at any and all costs — that a bill to ban same-sex marriage passes in committee. This week, after hours of testimony from in-state and out-of-state parties on HJR3, legislation that would allow allow voters to decide if they want a ban on same-sex marriage written into their constitution, the committee decided to not actually complete a scheduled vote on the measure.

Now, it appears the delay was due to not having enough “yeas” to pass the bill to the full House for a vote. In other words, the bill — which, given all the recent federal rulings, in Utah, Oklahoma, and other states, is clearly unconstitutional — is about to die, and the Speaker has effectively demanded super-natural life-sustaining measures be taken.

House Speaker Brian Bosma is now threatening Judiciary Committee members that he will kick them off the prestigious and influential committee if they will not vote for the bill.

“The speaker, of course, has the power to move bills and has complete autonomy over committee membership,” Bosma says, according to NWI Politics. “Our rules clearly provide for” removal of an elected representative from the judiciary committee. “Members serve at the pleasure of the speaker.”

Juan Pablo Galavis, 'Bachelor' Star, Says Gays Should Not Be On Hit ABC Reality Show

When asked whether or not he thought the hit ABC reality show featuring a gay or bisexual bachelor would be a "good idea," Juan Pablo Galavis reportedly told The TV Page's Sean Daly, "No... I respect [gay people] but, honestly, I don't think it's a good example for kids..."

Galavis, the 18th man to score the coveted role of "The Bachelor," continued his conversation with Daly -- but not before pointing out his gay friend Peter (because if you have a gay friend, you can't be homophobic, right?) -- and added:

"Obviously people have their husband and wife and kids and that is how we are brought up. Now there is fathers having kids and all that, and it is hard for me to understand that too in the sense of a household having peoples… Two parents sleeping in the same bed and the kid going into bed… It is confusing in a sense."

Galavis, who is the show's first Latino bachelor, also stated that "there's this thing about gay people... it seems to me, and I don't know if I'm mistaken or not... but they're more 'pervert' in a sense. And to me the show would be too strong... too hard to watch."

Joel Osteen Tells Larry King 'Scripture Says Homosexuality Is A Sin.. But I Don't Want To Preach About It'

Megachurch pastor of Lakewood Church and televangelist Joel Osteen was a guest on Larry King Now in Los Angeles to talk about everything from Duck Dynasty to Obamacare -- and, of course, his views on the gays came up.

King asked Osteen, "What are your views on homosexuality?” to which Osteen replied “The same that they’ve been. I believe that scripture says that it’s a sin but I always follow that up by saying you know what, we’re not against anybody.”

King pressed him to explain, commenting, "How can it be if we don't know what causes it? You don't know why you're a heterosexual."

"There's a lot of things Larry that I don't understand- so I just don't want to preach on it, preach about it," Osteen said.

King enquired, "Does gay marriage annoy you?" Osteen said, “It doesn’t annoy me. From a scripture point of view, it’s not what my faith would teach, but it doesn’t annoy me."

The interview with Larry King is another example of the somewhat mixed messages offered by Rev. Osteen on homosexuals. 

Church Congregation Protests Treatment Of Gay Choir Director In Amazing Way

A Methodist congregation in Indiana rallied behind a local choir director who left his position and was not allowed to return, presumably because he is gay.

Adam Fraley took a job as the choir director for the United Methodist Church in Alexandria, Ind., six years ago, area news outlet The Herald Bulletin reported. He was not openly gay while working at the church, but his partner attended services. Earlier this year, a new minister was hired and said he was "uncomfortable" with Fraley in the position. Fraley eventually resigned because of a heavy workload and his own personal discomfort with the new leadership, per the Bulletin. Six months later, the church got yet another new minister, and the congregants hoped Fraley would be allowed back, but he was not.

“The pastor that’s currently at the church, doesn’t want to work, or doesn’t feel like he can work with somebody, that is like me,” Fraley told local news station WISH. “I do wonder, if the fact that I am gay, had something to do with the amount of workload I was given, because I did resign from the position."

A central point in the issue is apparently a United Methodist Church law stating gay people are allowed to attend services, but are not allowed to serve in positions of leadership. The official guidelines on the topic state: "The practice of homosexuality is incompatible with Christian teaching. Therefore self-avowed practicing homosexuals are not to be certified as candidates, ordained as ministers, or appointed to serve in The United Methodist Church."

CHURCH LOSES 80 PERCENT OF CONGREGATION AFTER DRIVING OUT GAY CHORAL DIRECTOR

'View' Co-Host Sherri Shepherd Denies Being Anti-Gay

"The View" co-host Sherri Shepherd used the "love the sinner, hate the sin" rationale to explain why she is not homophobic.

Shepherd sat down with Fusion host Alicia Menendez Tuesday, Jan. 14, for a candid discussion about her six-year stint on the morning talk show. Menendez asked what the biggest misconception about her has been, and Shepherd said it's that she has been mistakenly deemed anti-gay because of her Christian background.

"I think people don't know my heart," she told Menendez. "I think people feel I'm very judgmental. I think people feel I'm very homophobic. If they knew me, and knew my heart ... You grow up being a Christian and you grow up believing homosexuality is a sin; you're going to hell if you're a homosexual. This is something that they teach in churches. So it's something that I grew up believing."

"I might not agree with your lifestyle, but I love you," she continued. "You may not agree with my lifestyle, but you love me ... I don't say it's a choice. If you tell me, 'Sherri, I was born gay.' Okay. I'm not gonna argue with you, because I can't tell you how you feel and what's going on inside. I'm trying to make it into heaven by the skin of my teeth ... I don't know who I'm gonna see. So if you tell me you're born [gay], I'm not gonna argue with you. And I absolutely respect you for that. I just ask that people respect how I feel, [I] respect how you feel and we can have a great dialogue."

Chick-Fil-A In Tennessee Vandalized With Pro-Gay Message

WKRN, Nashville News, Nashville Weather and Sports

Employees at a Tennessee-based Chick-fil-A franchise arrived Jan. 9 to find a pro-gay message spray-painted on the exterior of the restaurant.

As WKRN-TV reports, the spraypainted message at the Chick-fil-A in Cookeville, Tenn. read, "God loves fags and chicken," a pointed reference to the 2012 media firestorm that erupted after CEO Dan Cathy confirmed his company's controversial support of Christian organizations with known opposition to same-sex marriage and other lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender (LGBT) rights.