Marriage Equality Within Reach in Washington: AP

Marriage equality is closer than ever in Washington state:

The AP has reached out to all 49 state senators over the past week and found that more lawmakers are firmly supporting gay marriage than opposing it, by a margin of 22-18. The measure needs 25 votes to pass the Senate.

Four other Democrats say they are considering whether to support it, including one who is leaning in favor. A pair of Republicans is among those supporting the proposal, and two first-term GOP members said they are still discussing the issue with constituents.

Two GOP state Senators, Cheryl Pflug and Steve Litzow, have come out in support of it in recent days.

Republican Iraq War Vet Fights for His Brother's Right to Marry in NH

In a new clip from HRC, Craig Stowell, a U.S. Marine Iraq war veteran, argues for his brother's right to marry in New Hampshire as the legislature considers repeal of the marriage equality law there.

Arizona Woman Sues Avis for Offering Gay Discounts

After renting a car in San Diego last year, an Arizona woman is suing Avis for offering discounts to gay and lesbian groups, saying it violates California's Civil Rights Act which bans discounts based on sexual orientation.
Avis established marketing agreements with the International Gay and Lesbian Travel Association and National Gay and Lesbian Chamber of Commerce, allowing its members reduced rental rates. Lynn Evenchik discovered about the discounts after she rented an Avis car in July.
“These unfair and unlawful business practices result in many consumers who are not affiliated with those organizations paying substantially higher rental rates than those made available to gay and lesbian renters,” the complaint states.
Evenchik's lawsuit asks for restitution for anyone who's rented an Avis vehicle since they began offering the LGBT discounts around September 2010, as well as an injunction to stop the gay discounts

Democratic Maryland Senate President Mike Miller Calls Same-Sex Marriage 'An Attack on The Family'

Democratic Maryland Senate President Mike Miller spoke out against efforts to pass marriage equality in that state using rhetoric he compared to "one of the Republican candidates for President," saying that he considers same-sex marriage to be an attack on the family, Think Progress LGBT reports.

Stephen Colbert Running For President In South Carolina

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

A recent poll showing comedian Stephen Colbert is leading third-place New Hampshire primary winner Jon Huntsman in South Carolina might be all the convincing the "Colbert Report" host needs to throw his hat in the ring for President -- whether seriously or not.

Gay Republicans Suze Orman Has A Message For You

Personal finance whiz and out-lesbian Suze Orman has a message for gay Republicans and odds are they’re not going to like it, but it’s true. On The View, Suze Orman made the extremely salient point that social issues affect financial issues, and gay Republicansshould look at the impact social issues have on fiscal issues.

“Obviously, it is no secret that I’m gay. So it is very difficult for me to look at any Republican nominee and go, ‘Oh, that’s who I want in office.’ Now, I understand that President Obama isn’t necessarily for marriage but I do believe that I have more of a chance…”

Barbara Walters interjects, saying, “You’re voting on a social issue.”

Orman replies, “That’s correct… My social issue affects my financial issue. And the reason why it affects my financial issue is ’cause if I die, KT [Orman's partner] is going to lose — my partner — is going to lose 50 percent of what I have because we can’t be married.”

NJ Gets Teen Suicide Prevention Law

Two New Jersey state Republican lawmakers successfully co-sponsored and passed a teen suicide prevention bill, which GOP Governor Chris Christie signed Monday.

“It’s obviously a very difficult topic to talk about, but suicide remains one of the top causes of death for teens and young adults,” said Republican Senator Sean T. Kean, the bill’s leading cosponsor, who, along with Dave Rible, ushered the legislation through both Houses.

New Anti-Transgender Bill Introduced in Tennessee General Assembly

A new anti-transgender "bathroom bill" was filed in Tennessee's General Assembly today by a Republican state Senator. The bill "restricts access to public restrooms and public dressing rooms designated by sex to members of that particular sex." There is a monetary fine for people who violate the law. And since in Tennessee it's legally impossible to get your sex changed on your birth certificate (and only a little less impossible to get it changed on your drivers' license), this affects all transgender and gender non-conforming people.

'I Like Firing People'

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

Jimmy Kimmel Explains The Pope's Statement Warning That Gay Marriage Could End Humanity

Girl Scout Calls for Boycott of Cookies Because Organization Welcomes Transgender Kids

A 14-year-old Girl Scout named Taylor is calling for a boycott of Girl Scout Cookies because the organization welcomes transgender children, World Net Daily reports.

Says Taylor, in a YouTube video: “The real question is, why is GSUSA willing to break their own safety rules and go against its own research institute findings to accommodate transgender boys? Unfortunately, I think it is because GSUSA cares more about promoting the desires of a small handful of people than it does for my safety and the safety of my friends and sister Girl Scouts, and they are doing it with money we earned for them from Girl Scout cookies.”

The Girl Scouts of America's inclusive policy made headlines last fall when a Colorado troop refused (and later reversed) admittance to Bobby Montoya, a transgender 7-year-old.

Off Their Rockers

Warren Buffett Ready to Take Republicans’ Tax Challenge

Warren Buffett is ready to call Republicans’ tax bluff. Last fall, Senator Mitch McConnell said that if Buffett was feeling “guilty” about paying too little in taxes, he should “send in a check.” The jab was in response to Buffett’s August 2011 New York Times op-ed, which made hay of the fact that our tax system is so unbalanced that Buffett (worth about $45 billion) pays a lower tax rate than his secretary. Senator John Thune promptly introduced the “Buffett Rule Act,” an option on tax forms that would allow the rich to donate more in taxes to help pay down the national debt. It was, as Buffett told me for this week’s TIME cover story, “A tax policy only a Republican could come up with.”

Still, he’s willing to take them up on it. “It restores my faith in human nature to think that there are people who have been around Washington all this time and are not yet so cynical as to think that [the deficit] can’t be solved by voluntary contributions,” he says with a chuckle. So, Buffett has pledged to match one for one all such voluntary contributions made by Republican members of Congress. “And, I’ll even go three for one for McConnell.” That could be quite a bill if McConnell takes the challenge; after all, the Senator is worth at least $10 million. As Buffett put it to me: “I’m not worried.”

Jesus Camp Kid All Grown Up

Shervin Lalezary On Ellen

Shervin Lalezary, the modest and endearing hero who caught the Los Angeles arsonist suspect on Jan. 2, on "The Ellen Degeneres Show" Monday.

Ellen asks him if he's single... he is!

The Pope Denounces Gay Marriage! [again]

Christian Bullshit Nailed by Bill Maher

NJ Lawmakers Introduce and Fast Track Marriage Equality Bill

The New Jersey "Freedom to Marry" bill has been placed on a high priority fast track, a group of lawmakers said today, introducing the bill in Trenton.

Senator Steve Sweeney, who introduced the bill for a Senate, voted against the marriage equality bill when it was up for a vote last year and called it the biggest mistake of his career, reiterating remarks he made earlier this year.

Assemblywoman Sheila Oliver, who introduced the bill to the Assembly, spoke about Loving v. Virginia and interracial marriage, emphasizing that marriage equality is a matter of civil rights.

Steve Litzow is First GOP Washington State Senator to Come Out in Support of Marriage Equality Bill

The marriage equality bill announced by Governor Chris Gregoire last week in Washington State now has GOP support in the state senate. Freshman Senator Steve Litzow says he's there, the Seattle Times reports:

"I am a traditional Republican," explained Litzow. "When you think about gay marriage, it's the right thing to do and it's very consistent with the tenets of being a Republican — such as individual freedom and personal responsibility."

Litzow is not an activist on social issues, but is a big supporter of education reform. He also is a suburban businessman, married with four children, who believes in treating all citizens fairly. He believes that if two adults of the same gender wish to commit to each other, the state should not discriminate, period.

Newt Gingrich Rejects Facts and Pushes Christian Victim Claim When Challenged on Gay Adoption

NOM Pledges $500K to Fight Marriage Equality in New Jersey

The National Organization for Marriage says it will launch "an all-out effort to prevent same-sex marriage from becoming law in New Jersey.," pledging $500,000 for or against lawmakers depending on their positions:

"The media is reporting that gay marriage is sure to pass through the Legislature, but we heard the same false story in 2009 and 2010. The people of New Jersey can and will stop this bill." said Brian Brown, NOM's president.

Governor Chris Christie has previously pledged to veto any same-sex marriage legislation that is passed by the Legislature.

"We commend Governor Christie for his position that marriage is the union of one man and one woman, just as it has been throughout history. Even though the governor has pledged to veto the legislation, we are committed to holding legislators accountable for their own views and will work to assure that he never has to exercise his veto power," Brown said. "NOM will spend $500,000 in New Jersey legislative races to support those who stand with us in defense of traditional marriage, and hold those who abandon marriage accountable to voters."

Vote Against

The Vote Against Project - Welcome! from Vote Against Project on Vimeo.

On May 8, North Carolina voters will choose whether or not to ban same-sex marriage in their home state. Raleigh-based photographer Curtis Brown, determined to “defeat discrimination” with the help of a team of dedicated volunteers has begun The Vote Against Project.

Troy Mayor Tells High School GSA Students Being Gay Is A Mental Disease

Embattled first-term Troy, Michigan Mayor Janice Daniels — famous for writing on Facebook an anti-gay slur in response to news New York had passed a marriage equality law — is again under fire for telling students yesterday from the Troy High School gay-straight alliance (GSA) who had invited her to an anti-bullying forum design to stem the tide of suicide, that she wanted to bring a team of psychologists with her to testify that homosexuality is a mental disease.

The Troy Patch published this report today:


“There were a lot of disturbing things that were said in that meeting,” said GSA member and Troy High School senior Skye Curtis.

According to Curtis and others who attended the meeting – including GSA member Zach Kilgore and lesbian couple Amy and Tina Weber – Daniels, while discussing mental health and suicide among members of the LGBT community, at one point suggested putting together a panel of psychologists to show that homosexuality is dangerous to your mental health.

“She definitely meant it in quite a negative connotation,” Curtis said.

“The mayor of Troy told my daughter this afternoon that she wants to bring in a panel of psychologists to explain to the high school’s Gay-Straight Alliance that homosexuality is a mental disease,” Rodney Curtis, Skye’s father, wrote on his Facebook page

Tabatha Coffey considers a New Jersey gay marriage ‘Takeover’

The US state of New Jersey has announced it will introduce legislation to extend equal marriage rights to gay couples this year, but if the Governor blocks the laws, small business TV mentor Tabatha Coffey says she is prepared to step in and take over.

Senate President Stephen Sweeney and House Speaker Sheila Oliver said yesterday they will fast-track and prioritise the new rules in the new legislative session.

The proposed law has support from US salon guru and New Jersey resident Tabatha Coffey, who backed the effort in an interview with PinkNews.co.uk.

Coffey’s show Tabatha Takes Over, formerly Tabatha’s Salon Takeover, follows her around the US as she takes control of small businesses to transform their owners’ prospects.

She told interviewer Laurence Watts she would be prepared to do the same to Republican Governor Chris Christie if he blocks the legislation.

Christie is a long-standing opponent of equal marriage rights. Senate President Sweeney said he was “a decent person” but they would have to “work on educating him”.

If that fails, Tabatha Coffey is prepared to step in and take over in her trademark style to ensure equality.

In a message to Christie about new legislation, she said: “Pass it! And if he doesn’t, maybe I’ll have to do a takeover of the Governor’s Office on the next season of Tabatha Takes Over. Who knows, maybe I’ll even run for Governor myself.”

Super Bowl Viewers Will See Graphic Anti-Abortion Ads Featuring Aborted Fetuses

Anti-abortion ads showing graphic images of aborted fetuses covered in blood and surrounded by religious icons will air during the Super Bowl in February, courtesy of Democratic Presidential candidate Randall Terry. Terry, who has spent a year in jail and been arrested 50 times for his anti-abortion efforts, is using a Federal Election Commission loophole that ensures ads for political candidates cannot be prohibited within 45 days of an election. Apparently, primaries count, so Terry will be running ads on local stations during Super Bowl XLVI February 5.