Saturday, July 12, 2008

Morning View - Tranquility Base

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Friday, July 11, 2008

Afternoon View - Deliciousness

Aaron, Chris and I are in Lake Hopatcong, New Jersey at the Jefferson Diner, where their dessert carousel featured pies the size of basketballs. If you're gonna be at Hillside Campground this weekend, stop by Site 62 and say "Hello." (Yes, I'm live-blogging from a NJ diner. Sophistication!)

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Obama Campaign: Faith-Based Funding Will Not Hurt Gays

Barack Obama's campaign has assured Pam Spaulding (author of Pam's House Blend) that his faith-based initiative funding will not be allowed to be used for "ex-gay" therapies or for any project that advocates for a particular faith. Via Pam:

A source with Senator Obama's campaign (Director of the LGBT Vote, Dave Noble) has now confirmed to Pam's House Blend that under no circumstances will funds from the program will be granted to FBOs for proselytizing or reparative therapy.

Under the Obama plan, MCC congregations, LGBT-welcoming Methodist and Unitarian congregations, and other affirming churches will have access to funds to do much-needed work in communities large and small of great importance -- HIV/AIDS education, for instance, relief efforts, etc.

With these principles as a guide, my Council for Faith-Based and Neighborhood Partnerships will strengthen faith-based groups by making sure they know the opportunities open to them to build on their good works. Too often, faith-based groups - especially smaller congregations and those that aren't well connected - don't know how to apply for federal dollars, or how to navigate a government website to see what grants are available, or how to comply with federal laws and regulations. We rely too much on conferences in Washington, instead of getting technical assistance to the people who need it on the ground. What this means is that what's stopping many faith-based groups from helping struggling families is simply a lack of knowledge about how the system works.
Kudos to Pam Spaulding for seeking and getting this clarification. Let's hope Obama sticks to this one.

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Ft. Lauderdale Mayor Jim Naugle Loves To Talk About T-Room Sex

Fort Lauderdale Mayor Jim Naugle once again hammered the straw man issue of dirty, restroom trolling queers yesterday at the same time that he allowed that a "responsible homosexual" could be mayor of the city. Naugle will be term-limited out of office next year and two openly gay men have announced their mayoral candidacies.
Many in Fort Lauderdale's gay community are upset again at Mayor Naugle, after a radio interview he did Thursday morning. Discussing the fact that two gay men are vying for his job, he's stepping down because of term limits. Naugle's legacy leaving city hall may end up being that he was the "anti-gay" mayor—an accusation he denies.

Cleaning up Fort Lauderdale's parks--that's what Mayor Naugle says has been his focus in the last several months. He prides himself on shutting down what he says was illegal homosexual activity at Holiday Park. "We had serious problems last year at this park and you can see how great it is here tonight," said Naugle.

Some accuse Naugle of using a few arrests to give a black eye to the gay community. Gay activists are even more upset now, after Naugle appeared on the WFTL morning radio show discussing whether Ft. Lauderdale is ready for a gay mayor.

"I think a homosexual does have a chance to be elected mayor in Ft. Lauderdale, if they reject that notion that it's okay to take over our parks with that kind of activity," said Naugle. "I mean if a responsible homosexual would run for office and reject that kind of activity, if a responsible homosexual were to run for office and do something about the AIDS crisis."

"He needs to be responsible with the words he says- he is totally irresponsible and shameless in the comments," said mayoral candidate Dean Trantalis. Former city commissioner Trantalis is gay and is running for the mayor's job. He says the mayor is anti-gay and uses that issue to distract from the city's real problems. "Why does he keep bringing it up? He keeps bringing it up because it grabs the headlines," said Trantalis. "The Mayor has some serious problems with sexual orientation and enough is enough."

"A lot of people think because of political correctness they can't speak the truth," said Naugle.
Naugle is widely loved by local wingnuts and is expected to seek higher office after his mayoral term expires.

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HomoQuotable - Robert Dekoven

"Many people are deeply upset that our fundamental right to marry will soon appear on a ballot for public vote. It won’t be the first time in California’s history. In past elections, we’ve had to fight against initiatives that would have prohibited GLBT teachers from teaching in public schools and an initiative that sought to segregate HIV-positive people from the general population.

"When the electorate takes away our civil rights, the U.S. Supreme Court can literally be our court of last resort. That’s why, given that the next president will nominate one or more of its members, the GLBT community would do well to remember that, despite Proposition 8, our most important priority is to elect Barack Obama.

"Our rights now hang by a 5-4 margin: Five of the nine-member Court believe in equality for gays. Before Justice O’Connor retired and Chief Justice Rehnquist died, there were seven. And those who remain will not serve forever; one is now 90. The two justices Bush appointed to replace O’Connor and Rehnquist, while not homophobes, won’t likely find protection for gays in the Constitution, and, if John McCain has sold his soul to the right wing over Supreme Court appointments, as did George W. Bush, we can expect more anti-gay nominees to the Supreme Court, which would tip the balance against us.

"(Yes, the Democratically controlled U.S. Senate may have veto power over McCain nominees, but about the only thing we can count on Democrats for is screwing up.)

"So what’s the worst case scenario? Nothing will convince Justice Scalia (known for his opinion, in Lawrence v. Texas, that allowing same-sex sodomy would be akin to sanctioning masturbation) that the Constitution allows adults to have access to contraceptives, abortion, or even the right to have sex outside of marriage. (Even in marriage, sex had better be for procreative purposes, according to Scalia.)

"Couples who plan to marry between now and November should donate to the Obama campaign. Even if California is a given, the funds can help in swing states.

"And Scalia certainly won’t be in favor of same-sex couples marrying. How could he be? In his dissent in Romer v. Evans, Scalia found that the Constitution permits states to deny gays and lesbians equal rights.

"Scalia says he’s not a homophobe – he just finds that the Constitution permits states to imprison gay people, deny us equal rights to employment and housing and otherwise treat us as outcasts. (Pregnant women, blacks, Hispanics, the disabled, and seniors don’t fare much better.)

"While we gays and lesbians in California are “safe” (for now), imagine the potential problems when GLBT couples travel to other states, especially states like Michigan, which do not recognize same-sex marriage or relationships akin to marriage, such as domestic partnerships. Imagine if your spouse had to be hospitalized and you couldn’t visit because you happened to be in Michigan or Louisiana, or any of the states that do not recognize same-sex relationships.

"This is what’s at stake in 2008.

"Couples who plan to marry between now and November should donate to the Obama campaign. Even if California is a given, the funds can help in swing states." - California Western School Of Law Professor Robert Dekoven.

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Morning View - Backyard

This is my glamorous view of the world's most exciting city.

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Boycott Launched Against CA Hotelier

A coalition of marriage equality advocates and a hotel workers union in California are calling for a boycott of Hyatt hotels owned by San Diego tycoon Doug Manchester after he donated $125K in support of Proposition 8, the November ballot measure that would overturn gay marriage.
The group's message Thursday was to urge residents and tourists to stay at other hotels. The boycott call comes at the height of the summer and just one week before the start of the 2008 Gay Pride festivities in San Diego, during which 200,000 attendees are expected to attend, according to festival organizers.

"San Diego is united in its outrage at the Manchester's funding of the initiative to outlaw marriage equality," said Todd Gloria, candidate for San Diego City Council. "I believe that all fair-minded San Diegans should take a stand against discrimination and boycott the Manchester Hyatt."

Brigette Browning, president of San Diego's Hotel Workers Union, also stood in support of the boycott. "We believe it is pure and simple discrimination," she told NBC 7/39. We believe equality for workers is just as important for gay and lesbians." Browning also accused Manchester of discriminating against his gay workers and discriminating against women by "forcing housekeepers to clean more rooms that housekeepers do at other Hyatt hotels."
In response to the union's support, "ex-gay" nutjob James Hartline is asking the 20,000 weekly readers of his newsletter, Conservative Christian News, to begin a tip boycott of union workers.
"Since you have decided to make your line of work a political issue in opposition to our views on homosexuality and marriage than we can no longer support giving your workers extra money," wrote Hartline, who supports the ban, in an e-mail to the president of Unite Here Local 30. "We are much bigger than you and will follow through with this stand," Hartline wrote.

Dan Rottenstreich, spokesman for Unite Here Local 30, said his organization is not worried. "If Mr. Hartline, and Manchester's other allies, seek to organize Christians against fair pay, basic decency and generosity, we wish him good luck," he said. "We will continue to educate the public about Manchester's discrimination against gays and the lack of job security for workers at the Manchester Hyatt."
You may remember Hartline for claiming that last October's fires in Southern California were due to Jeebus being mad about the passage of SB777, the anti-bullying law. Apparently, Jeebus doesn't tip sinners either.

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SC Says "No" To Gay Tourism

A tourism agency booked South Carolina into a gay tourism campaign in the UK, but once state officials found out about it, they refused to pay for it.
South Carolina’s top tourism agency has canceled an overseas advertising campaign targeting gay tourists. The campaign, tied to gay pride week celebrations in London, included ads that proclaimed “South Carolina is so gay.” A handful of other U.S. destinations joined the campaign, including Atlanta, Boston and New Orleans.

After learning last week the state had agreed to spend tax money on the campaign — and spurred by a post on The Palmetto Scoop blog — the Department of Parks, Recreation and Tourism said Thursday it would not pay the tour operator.

[snip]

Some lawmakers were shocked to learn about the campaign, with state Sen. David Thomas, R-Greenville, calling for an audit. Joel Sawyer, spokesman for Gov. Mark Sanford, said using tax money to support a social or political agenda is inappropriate. “Our state tourism dollars should be talking about the beaches and attractions of South Carolina,” Sawyer said. The campaign, which ends Saturday, planted posters all over a single London subway station. Prosser said the agency has asked the S.C. posters be removed.
The South Carolina tourism board is looking into disciplining the employee who signed off on the ad.

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FISA: Bush Signs, ACLU Sues

Yesterday Dubya signed away another piece of democracy when he gleefully scratched his name in blood onto the FISA bill.
George W. Bush Thursday signed a law expanding legal authority for wiretaps by spy agencies which he hailed as vital for America's security, after a fierce Congress battle. "This law will play a critical role in helping to prevent another attack on our soil," Bush said as he signed the bill, calling it "vital to the security of our people."

"The bill will allow our intelligence professionals to quickly and effectively monitor the communications of terrorists abroad while respecting the liberties of Americans here at home," he said. The law includes retroactive immunity for telecommunications firms which aided warrantless government surveillance operations following the September 11 attacks in 2001, meeting a key White House demand.
The ACLU responded with an immediate lawsuit.
"Spying on Americans without warrants or judicial approval is an abuse of government power - and that's exactly what this law allows. The ACLU will not sit by and let this evisceration of the Fourth Amendment go unchallenged," said ACLU Executive Director Anthony D. Romero. "Electronic surveillance must be conducted in a constitutional manner that affords the greatest possible protection for individual privacy and free speech rights. The new wiretapping law fails to provide fundamental safeguards that the Constitution unambiguously requires."

In today's legal challenge, the ACLU argues that the new spying law violates Americans' rights to free speech and privacy under the First and Fourth Amendments to the Constitution. The new law permits the government to conduct intrusive surveillance without ever telling a court who it intends to spy on, what phone lines and email addresses it intends to monitor, where its surveillance targets are located, why it's conducting the surveillance or whether it suspects any party to the communication of wrongdoing.

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Broadway Friday

- The revival of Godspell opens at the Barrymore on October 23rd with previews beginning on September 29th. Tony nominee Gavin Creel will star, David Goldstein will direct.

- Passing Strange closes on July 20th after a five month run.

- Bryant Park's summer program of free lunchtime Broadway performances kicked off yesterday. For the next five Thursdays you can see the casts of major hit shows do several numbers from each of their shows. Next Thursday: Mamma Mia!, Avenue Q, In The Heights. Showtime 12:30-1:30PM.

- Antonio Banderas has launched a fragrance called Blue Seduction For Women. A portion of sales will benefit Broadway Cares/Equity Fights AIDS. OK, then.

- The 12th Annual Fringe NYC Festival runs August 8 -24th. Among this year's entries: Perez Hilton Saves The World. Gulp. There will also be shows about Britney Spears and Anna Nicole Smith. What a world.

- Nine-time Tony winner Tommy Tune will be among the honorees at On Broadway! A Glittering Salute To The American Musical - Career Transition For Dancers, 23rd Anniversary Jubilee, to be held Monday, October 27 at 7pm at New York City Center. Angela Lansbury will host.

- The 10th Annual Broadway Barks, the animal shelter benefit created and hosted by Mary Tyler Moore and Bernadette Peters, takes place tomorrow on Shubert Alley from 3:30-6:30PM. Major Broadway stars of past and present will be on hand. I went last year and had a blast. My photos are here. JoAnne Worley!

- The 2006 sleeper hit movie Kinky Boots will be coming to Broadway in musical form. Jerry Mitchell, who choreographed past movie-to-musical hits The Full Monty and Hairspray, is in talks to direct. No opening date has been announced.

- David H. Koch, NYC's wealthiest citizen, has donated $100M to Lincoln Center for the renovation of the New York State Theater, home to the New York City Ballet and the New York City Opera. In 1980 Koch ( pronounced "coke") ran for Vice President on the Libertarian ticket, but he is now one of the Republican Party's greatest contributors and supports many conservative causes. His gift to Lincoln Center represents 0.5% of his total wealth. Beginning this fall the theater will bear his name, but renovations will continue for years. The building's original Phillip Johnson design will be maintained.

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Thursday, July 10, 2008

Bilerico Project Celebrates First Year

Bil Browning's Bilerico Project, the LGBT community group blog where just about every gay activist you've ever heard of participates, is celebrating their first anniversary. Head over to Bilerico today and participate in their anniversary giveaway where you can win signed movie posters from John Waters and Margaret Cho and a package of 11 gay-themed DVDs. The contest runs like Swag Tuesday here on JMG, you need only comment there to have a chance to win.

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RUMOR: Anti-Gay Alabama Attorney General Busted In Bed With Male Aide, About To Resign

There's been an explosion of chatter on Alabama-based blogs today that the state's Republican anti-gay Attorney General Troy King may be about to resign in the face of a sex scandal with a male assistant. According to multiple sources, King was caught in bed with the man by his wife and thrown out of his home.

Via Wonkette:
His [King's] gay lover is either a college “buddy,” or a very young youngster and “Homecoming King” from Troy University. What are the odds of a dude named Troy King getting caught in bed with a Homecoming King from Troy University? This seems like a wacky sitcom plot, on a gay porn channel. (Is this what that Will & Grace was about?)
King has been considered a front-runner for the 2010 Alabama governor's race. A spokesperson for current Gov. Bob Riley denies any plan for King to resign. It is rumored that it was Riley's office that actually leaked the scandal in the first place. King has been in the news most recently for his campaign to enforce a ten year-old ban on the sale of sex toys in Alabama, prompting an internet-fueled project to mail King unwanted dildos.

As a college student, King was a notorious anti-gay crusader, writing numerous letters to his college newspaper attacking AIDS victims as deserving their fates. While in law school at the University of Alabama, he demanded that the school suspend their Gay/Lesbian Alliance, calling it an "affront to Alabama" and "evidence of the perversion of America."

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Anonymous Takes On Scientology at Toronto Pride


I got an email from anti-Scientology group Anonymous hipping me to the above clip which combines information about Scientology's anti-gay policies with images from the Anonymous protest in front of Scientology offices during last week's Toronto Pride, during which Scientology members threatened protesters with physical violence. Anonymous plans on bringing hate crimes charges against the cult, which says that gay people must be "removed from society quietly and without sorrow".

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Daily Grumble

Antonio Banderas, for so many years one of my favorite actors (starting with Women On the Verge), is ruined for me. Now when I hear his voice, all I can think is... Nasonex.

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Hands Free


A hilarious take on Bluetooth douchebaggery and California's new law against using cell phones while driving.

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Crack Attack

Flint, Michigan is cracking (heh) down on saggy pants.
Flint residents now have to watch their butts because Police Chief David Dicks is on the lookout. Dicks, who took over the department last month on an interim basis, announced that his officers would start arresting people wearing saggy pants that expose skivvies, boxer shorts or bare bottoms.

"Some people call it a fad," Dicks told the Free Press this week while patrolling the streets of Flint. "But I believe it's a national nuisance. It is indecent and thus it is indecent exposure, which has been on the books for years." On June 27, the chief issued a departmental memorandum telling officers: "This immoral self expression goes beyond freedom of expression."

The crime, he says, is disorderly conduct or indecent exposure, both misdemeanors punishable by 93 days to a year in jail and/or fines up to $500. Dicks, 41, broke down his interpretation of the laws as such: Pants pulled completely below the buttocks with underwear showing is disorderly conduct; saggy pants with skin of the buttocks showing is indecent exposure, and saggy pants, not completely below the buttocks, with underwear exposed results in a warning.

The American Civil Liberties Union is already scrutinizing the enforcement, something Dicks fully expected. But he said he's not backing down until the pants stop falling down.
I suppose it's mildly amusing that the chief of police behind this is named Dicks. Here in NYC, I've seen young men with their belts painfully cinched across their upper thighs in order to show off a properly "cool" amount of boxer short. Many years ago in Miami, I remember a mall cop telling some kid: "You know that you look retarded, right? As in, actually mentally disabled?" Supposedly the fad got started in prisons, where belts are not allowed.

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Wingnut Peter LaBarbera Issues List Of Top 20 Best LGBT Activists

Via Good As You: Drooling idiot Peter LaBarbera of Americans For Truth About Homosexuality has issued a hit list of " 20 ...good reasons why Christians (or anyone) should never feel guilty about a single-minded focus in countering the homosexual/transsexual activist and pro-abortion lobbies."

The list includes bloggers Jeremy Hooper (of Good As You), Pam Spaulding, and Wayne Besen. Others honored to be hated by LaBarbara include Barney Frank, PFLAG, MTV, the HRC, the National Gay & Lesbian Task Force, and Lambda Legal.

Congrats to all that made the list. I must not be trying hard enough.

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Hungarian Court: Gay Bashing Is Freedom Of Speech

Outrageous:
Four of more than a dozen people arrested for throwing eggs at a gay pride march in Budapest on Saturday received minor fines on Wednesday, while charges against three others were dismissed and charges against the others were dropped. Those fined were convicted only because they refused to obey a police order to disperse.

In delivering the verdicts in the case the court ruled that simply throwing eggs at a group you disagree with is simply an exercise in free speech Hungarian media reported Wednesday. The court noted that police on the scene of the parade at first did not want to file charges against the protestors but were ordered to do so by senior officers.

Dozens of protesters from a right wing Hungarian nationalist group clashed with marchers and police on Saturday. Marchers were pelted with eggs, bottles and rocks and set fire to a police van. Police used water cannon and tear gas to disperse the protesters at several points along a boulevard in downtown Budapest.
Anybody still feel like visiting Hungary?

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Massachusetts May Roll Back Residency Requirement For Marriage

Good news out of Massachusetts - by next week gay New Yorkers may have a shorter trip to get hitched.
State lawmakers are expected to vote next week on repealing a 1913 law that prevents out-of-state gay and lesbian couples from getting married in Massachusetts, reigniting a divisive debate on an issue that has stirred passions and put the state in the national spotlight.

The Senate is expected to take up the legislation Tuesday, and the House will follow shortly afterward, according to several lawmakers. House Speaker Salvatore F. DiMasi and Senate President Therese Murray favor the repeal, but their support on such a hot-button social issue does not guarantee that rank-and-file lawmakers will follow.
Governor Deval Patrick supports the repeal.

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Mike Jones Says No To Fox

The Denver Post is reporting that Mike Jones, the gay escort who brought down televangelist Ted Haggard, just turned down the producers of Fox's game show Moment Of Truth.
Mike Jones, the former male prostitute/masseur who jump-started the Ted Haggard scandal, just turned down a chance to make $500,000. But not the easy way. He was in talks with the people from Fox's "Moment of Truth," the game show that hooks you up to a lie detector and asks you embarrassing questions while your family/friends/ enemies listen in.

"It would be a ratings bonanza if I went on," Jones said. "But I volunteered to take a polygraph test when my story first broke, and I flunked it, so those things can happen. I'm not going to humiliate myself on national TV."

And who needs $500,000 anyway? "I could use $1,000," Jones said, with a laugh.
That Jones failed a lie detector test asking him the same questions that Haggard later copped to...well, that tells you how reliable those machines are.

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Morning View - Sotheby's

On York Avenue and 71st Street on the Upper East Side, Sotheby's is the second longest-running auction house in the world. The Manhattan office combines galleries, specialty departments and storage in one location.

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Open Thread Thursday

If you had to move to another country and could pick any one you want, which would you choose?

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Wednesday, July 09, 2008

Jesse Jackson Gelds Himself


Rumors about this gaffe and the other whispered comments that Fox isn't showing us have been flying all day. What else could Jackson have said that could be so bad that even Fox won't show it? Jackson's own son, Rep. Jesse Jackson Jr. even blasted his dad: "I'm deeply outraged and disappointed in Rev. Jackson's reckless statements about Sen. Barack Obama."

The irony here, of course, is that a careless open mic comment like Jackson's is exactly the sort of opportunity that Jackson himself would use against others to make political hay. Goose, gander.

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Senate Approves FISA, Warrantless Wiretapping To Become Law

Thanks to today's Senate vote to approve the Foreign Intelligence Surveillance Act, warrantless wiretapping, arguably the most intrusive violation of Americans' right to privacy, will become legal. Oh, and everybody who's already done it is now immunized against lawsuits. A list of how each Senator voted is here.
The Democratic-led Congress this afternoon voted to put an end to the NSA spying scandal, as the Senate approved a bill -- approved last week by the House -- to immunize lawbreaking telecoms, terminate all pending lawsuits against them, and vest whole new warrantless eavesdropping powers in the President. The vote in favor of the new FISA bill was 69-28. Barack Obama joined every Senate Republican (and every House Republican other than one) by voting in favor of it, while his now-vanquished primary rival, Sen. Hillary Clinton, voted against it. John McCain wasn't present for any of the votes, but shared Obama's support for the bill. The bill will now be sent to an extremely happy George Bush, who already announced that he enthusiastically supports it, and he will sign it into law very shortly.

Prior to final approval, the Senate, in the morning, rejected three separate amendments which would have improved the bill but which, the White House threatened, would have prompted a veto. With those amendments defeated, the Senate then passed the same bill passed last week by the House, which means it is that bill, in unchanged form, that will be signed into law -- just as the Bush administration demanded.
More from Salon's Glenn Greenwald:

Obama's vote in favor of cloture, in particular, cemented the complete betrayal of the commitment he made back in October when seeking the Democratic nomination. Back then, Obama's spokesman -- in response to demands for a clear statement of Obama's views on the spying controversy after he had previously given a vague and noncommittal statement -- issued this emphatic vow:

To be clear: Barack will support a filibuster of any bill that includes retroactive immunity for telecommunications companies.
But the bill today does include retroactive immunity for telecommunications companies. Nonetheless, Obama voted for cloture on the bill -- the exact opposition of supporting a filibuster -- and then voted for the bill itself. A more complete abandonment of an unambiguous campaign promise is difficult of imagine.
The ACLU has come out swinging and vows to fight the bill:
Today, in a blatant assault upon civil liberties and the right to privacy, the Senate passed an unconstitutional domestic spying bill that violates the Fourth Amendment and eliminates any meaningful role for judicial oversight of government surveillance. The FISA Amendments Act of 2008 was approved by a vote of 69 to 28 and is expected to be signed into law by President Bush shortly. This bill essentially legalizes the president’s unlawful warrantless wiretapping program revealed in December 2005 by the New York Times.

[snip]

“This fight is not over. We intend to challenge this bill as soon as President Bush signs it into law,” said Jameel Jaffer, Director of the ACLU National Security Project. “The bill allows the warrantless and dragnet surveillance of Americans’ international telephone and email communications. It plainly violates the Fourth Amendment.”

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Gay Man Sues Bible Publishers For $70M

Wingnut site WorldNetDaily is reporting that a gay Michigan man is suing two local Christian publishing houses for a combined $70M for putting out versions of the Bible which he says featured deliberately changed Biblical admonishments against homosexuality.

Bradley Fowler, 39, claims the changes by Zondervan and Thomas Nelson Publishing caused his family to ostracize him and created twenty years of personal "demoralization, chaos and bewilderment."
U.S. District Judge Julian Abele Cook Jr. refused Monday to appoint an attorney to represent Fowler in the Thomas Nelson case, saying the court "has some very genuine concerns about the nature and efficacy of these claims."
Fowler, who is representing himself in both lawsuits, says in his complaint against Zondervan that the publisher intended to design a religious, sacred document to reflect an individual opinion or a group's conclusion to cause "me or anyone who is a homosexual to endure verbal abuse, discrimination, episodes of hate, and physical violence ... including murder."
WorldNetDaily notes a particular passage that Fowler is complaining about. From Fowler's blog:
In 1970, I Corinthians 6:9 read as followed-

Know ye not that the unrighteous shall not inherit the kingdom of God? Be not deceived: neither fornicators, nor idolaters, nor adulteres, nor idolaters, nor adulterers, nor effiminate, nor abusers of themselves with mankind.

In 1982 ,the same scripture read like this-

Do you not know that the unrighteous will not inherit the kingdom of God? Do not be deceived, neither fornicators, nor idolaters, nor adulterers, nor homosexuals, nor sodimites.

In 2001 the same scripture reads like this-

Surely you know that the people who do wrong will not inherit God’s kingdom. Do not be fooled, those who sin sexually, worship idols, take part in adultery, those who are male prostitutes, or men who have sexual relations with other men, those who steal, are greedy, get drunk, lie about others, or rob thses people will not inherit God’s kingdom.

Fowler says that he became obsessed with Biblical translations during his time in prison. He seems to mostly be upset with the change from "effeminate" to "homosexual."

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Obama To Get His Reagan Moment

Barack Obama is planning a visit to Germany and Chancellor Angela Merkel isn't sure it's a good idea to let him stage a planned appearance in front of Berlin's historic Brandenburg Gate, the place where Ronald Reagan famously demanded: "Mr. Gorbachev, tear down this wall!"
German Chancellor Angela Merkel has signaled unease over the prospect of a possible speech by Democratic presidential hopeful Barack Obama at Berlin's historic Brandenburg Gate, a spokesman said Wednesday. Merkel has "only limited understanding for using the Brandenburg Gate as an election campaign backdrop, as it were, and has expressed skepticism about pursuing such plans," Thomas Steg, a spokesman for the chancellor, told reporters.

However, Steg stressed that the chancellor is "very happy" for Obama to visit Germany and meet her and Foreign Minister Frank-Walter Steinmeier.Berlin city officials said this week that members of the Democratic candidate's campaign had contacted them about what permission and security issues would need to be resolved before Obama could speak in front of the monument.
Only sitting U.S. presidents have previously used the Brandenburg Gate as a backdrop. A spokesperson for Merkel said that no German candidate would expect to use the DC National Mall or Red Square as a backdrop because it would be inappropriate.

Despite Chancellor Merkel's reservations, the decision lies with the city of Berlin. A spokesman for Berlin's mayor said the city is "delighted to have Mr Obama take advantage of speaking at the Brandenburg Gate to spread his message."

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McCain=Bush=No Free Speech


In a PR nightmare for John McCain, a 61 year-old librarian was kicked off of public property in Denver outside of a McCain appearance because she was holding a McCain=Bush sign. After McCain's goons had the cops remove the tiny woman, the story blew up in the national press and little was heard about McCain's actual "town hall" speech.

Seriously now. A small, frail-looking, librarian. Hollywood couldn't have created a more sympathetic character. And for extra visual drama, the cops all happened to be giants.

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Peace Corps Reverses On HIV+ Volunteers

The Peace Corps has apparently backed off its policy of rejecting HIV+ volunteers, as reported here back in April.

In a lengthy story about Jeremiah Johnson, the 25 year-old Peace Corps volunteer who became infected while on assignment in Ukraine, Poz Magazine reports receiving this email from the Peace Corps:
“Although there are certainly significant challenges associated with properly supporting Peace Corps Volunteers overseas who are HIV positive, our commitment to accommodation of HIV-positive applicants and Volunteers where reasonable and possible is firm. If qualified applicants and qualified Volunteers can be reasonably accommodated without placing an undue burden on the agency, they will not be medically disqualified, or medically separated from service, as the case may be.”
After being ejected from the Peace Corps, Johnson returned to Denver where he currently works in a restaurant. Congratulations to him for pursuing his case and causing this policy change at the Peace Corps.

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Don't Annoy The Pope

Australian gays and progressives are annoyed by a new law against "annoying" the attendees of next week's World Youth Day with Ill Papa.
Wearing T-shirts that read "Pope Go Homo" and "The pope is wrong, put a condom on!," a dozen demonstrators poked fun Wednesday at a new Australian law meant to protect participants of next week's World Youth Day from being annoyed by opponents. The new rules, which critics have panned as a form of censorship, give authorities the power to order anyone to stop behavior that "causes annoyance or inconvenience" to the 250,000 pilgrims expected in Sydney for the Roman Catholic festival being held July 15-20.

Anyone who doesn't comply could face a fine of $5,300. The law will apply in dozens of areas of downtown Sydney - including the city's landmark opera house, train stations and city parks - that are designated venues for World Youth Day, which will culminate in a papal mass.

Police and the New South Wales state government say they are a necessary security measure. Libertarians and rights activists disagree. "These annoyance laws are outrageous," said Rachel Evans, a spokeswoman for the NoToPope Coalition that helped organize Wednesday's protest.

The coalition, made up of gay rights, student and atheist groups, is planning a July 19 march to protest what it calls the pope's homophobic and antiquated ideas. The group is also planning to distribute condoms to young pilgrims and speak with them about human rights issues.

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Scottish Lesbian Cleared Of Assisted Suicide

In Scotland, a lesbian was found not guilty of assisted suicide after a judge ruled that her partner would have committed suicide on her own anyway.
A woman prison officer who watched her lesbian lover commit suicide was spared jail Monday after a judge ruled it was ‘an act of love.’ Patricia Mulpeter, 48, comforted her dying friend as she suffocated after wrapping sticky tape over her nose and mouth in October last year.

The two agreed she would only intervene if her 58-year-old lover Kaija Savolainen touched her hand but she remained still until she died. The couple had borrowed £10,000 from the bank and spent their £3,000 savings on traveling around the West Country together.

They had both tried to commit suicide before and failed and Kaija left a note begging Mulpeter to help her die. Kaija committed suicide on the back seat of their hired Vauxhall Astra and as soon as she died Mulpeter drove to Tavistock police station to give herself up.

Judge Mr Justice Owen imposed a 28 week sentence suspended for a year at Plymouth Crown Court after telling Mulpeter she deserved ‘compassion and not punishment.' Mulpeter, who was born in Glasgow but worked as a prison officer in London, admitted aiding and abetting suicide by giving moral support. She was originally arrested for murder but the charge was thrown out after the prosecution withdrew the case.
In his ruling the judge said: 'The encouragement you gave amounted to moral support and it was encouragement bordering on compassion. You had been together for many years and cared deeply for each other. Yours was an enduring and loving relationship and I accept you acted out of love."

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25 Years Of NYC's LGBT Center

There's a great story in the NYTimes today commemorating the 25th anniversary of NYC's LGBT Community Center. There's also a fun 17 photo slide show of the Center's history, including a copy of the above story written 25 years ago by the author of today's piece, David W. Dunlap. Dig the headline!

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Attacks At NYCTransgender Youth Shelter

A beloved Episcopal priest and several transgender youth were attacked Monday in a possible hate crime outside of a shelter for LGBT youth in Queens.
A priest who runs a shelter specializing in outreach to homeless transgender youths was beaten with construction equipment and paint cans by a group of teenagers in a possible hate crime, authorities said Tuesday.

Two 17-year-olds and a 16-year-old were awaiting arraignment Tuesday on charges of assault and criminal possession of a weapon, Queens prosecutors said. A 15-year-old was being charged as a juvenile in the Monday attack outside the Carmen's Place shelter, prosecutors said.

The four boys gathered in front of Carmen's Place around 10 p.m. and started harassing and taunting the residents with homophobic slurs and insults, people at the shelter said. The director, the Rev. Louis Braxton Jr., tried to intervene but was attacked with paint cans, a woodworking tool and other objects found along the street, they said.

Braxton, 52, was treated at a hospital for cuts and bruises. A shelter resident also was injured in the attack, which occurred on one of the main thoroughfares in the Astoria neighborhood.

Braxton spoke about the attack on Tuesday. "Unfortunately, violent attacks against transgender youth is not unusual," he said. "What made this incident so disturbing is that it occurred on a congested and busy New York City street."

The incident was being investigated by the police Hate Crimes Task Force, and charges could be upgraded if it's found a hate crime took place.
Carmen's Place is a struggling small shelter for transgender and gay youth in Astoria, Queens and works to find employment for their residents other than prostitution. Visit their website and consider making a donation. They have a list of items that they need.

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Morning View - 1st Avenue & 69th Street

As fancy as much of the UES is, you can still find a lot of scenes like this one. Of course, across the street from this row of tenements is a giant "luxury" condo that recently replaced a mirror image of the photo you see here. Embiggens nicely.

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Tuesday, July 08, 2008

DJ Neil Lewis Collection For Sale

Dance music and vinyl junkies will be interested to learn that the vast collection of legendary late DJ Neil Lewis is now for sale.
As one of the most highly regarded DJs on the international dance circuit for nearly two decades, Neil Lewis captivated audiences and inspired a generation of loyal fans from around the globe with his mesmerizing and incomparable musical style. Beyond his historic residency at San Francisco's Pleasuredome, Neil established his world-class reputation at some of the most popular dance events around the world, including Sydney's Gay & Lesbian Mardi Gras, Folsom Street Fair weekend's Magnitude, and Black & Blue Weekend in Montreal. The loss from his untimely death is still deeply felt by the dance world and by all those who loved his music and his gentle spirit.

But his memory and his musical legacy live on.
So many of my fondest memories of my time in San Francisco are woven into the soundtrack that Neil provided us. Every weekend on SF's dance floors his fans would gather together as a giant family. We called ourselves "Neilies". I remain in awe of Neil's talent and generosity.

The entire 7000+ piece collection (listed in Excel format) is being sold as one item and includes many hundreds of classic impossible-to-find releases. Neil was meticulous with his vinyl and I'd imagine that virtually all of the pieces are in pristine condition. His collection represents an aural archive of 20 years of gay nightclub culture and we can only trust that the lucky person who takes it treats it as such.

Neil Lewis: September 14, 1965 - February 29, 2004

Full disclosure: As some of you may know, I was one of the producers of Neil's two commercial CD releases: Magnitude 2000 and Magnitude: Late Night, however I have nothing to do with this sale.

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HomoQuotable - Peter Tatchell

"They say it's a celebration of heterosexuality, but really it's a promotion of straight supremacism. The organisers are semi-literate frauds and liars. They falsely claim that the Stop Murder Music campaign was an attack on reggae music. Nonsense. It was an attack on a small number of reggae singers who have perverted reggae's message of peace, love and justice. They have betrayed the ideals of the reggae pioneers and are hijacking the genre to turn it into an anthem of homophobic hatred and violence. They are encouraging civil war in the black community." - Gay activist Peter Tatchell, on yesterday's announcement of a "Straight Pride Parade" in NYC.

(Via - PageOneQ)

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Viacom Will Know You
Watched "2 Girls, 1 Cup"

In a case that has privacy advocates outraged, a federal court has ordered Google to give Viacom the list of videos viewed by every YouTube visitor. Last year Viacom sued YouTube for over $1B, charging them with “massive intentional copyright infringement”.
A US judge has ordered Google to expose to Viacom the video-viewing habits of everyone who has ever used YouTube in a decision condemned by the Internet giant and privacy advocates.

US District Court Judge Louis Stanton backed Viacom's request for data on which YouTube users watch which videos on the website in order to support its case in a billion-dollar copyright lawsuit against Google. Viacom charges Google, which bought YouTube in 2006, acts as a willing accomplice to Internet users who put clips of Viacom's copyrighted television programs on the popular video-sharing website.

"We are disappointed the court granted Viacom's overreaching demand for viewing history," Google senior litigation counsel Catherine Lacavera told AFP in an email Thursday.

Stanton brushed aside privacy concerns on Tuesday while ordering Google to give Viacom log-in names of YouTube users and Internet protocol (IP) addresses identifying which computers they used for viewing videos. Stanton contends that Viacom needs more than pseudonyms and IP numbers that are tantamount to addresses on the Internet to identify individual YouTube users.

Electronic Frontier Foundation attorney Kurt Opsahl called the court's ruling a significant reversal to privacy rights. The judge's ruling ignores US federal law as well as a "fiasco" that resulted after America Online gave researchers what it thought was anonymous search data, Opsahl said. People's online searches can unintentionally divulge identities even without accompanying onscreen nicknames or IP addresses, according to Opsahl.
TechCrunch suggests that Google deliver the over 12 terabytes of user data in printed form.

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Dance With The One Who Brought You

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McCain Bashes Obama's "Hope" Meme


In his new campaign ad touting his years as a POW, John McCain has a go at Obama's famed speaking skills.
"John McCain's doesn't always tell us what we 'hope' to hear. Beautiful words cannot make your lives better. But a man who has always put his country and his people before self, before politics, can. Don’t hope for a better life, vote for one. McCain."

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Gossip Round-Up

Madonna and A-Rod. Samantha and Lindsay. There. We're caught up.

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Realpolitiking Continues: Obama Drifts Right On Abortion

Barack Obama's latest statement on abortion has both sides angered, with right-wing Christians labeling him the "abortion President" and progressives screaming that he is planning to erode current abortion rights.

From the Christian Broadcast Network:
Rev. Patrick J. Mahoney, director of the Christian Defense Coalition, says Obama would have "the most extremist policies on abortion of any President in history. Senator Obama's views on abortion are so radical that he even wants American citizens to pay for them. This would include Catholics, Evangelicals and all people of faith. He would also expand abortion rights through his passionate support of The Freedom of Choice Act."
From AlterNet:
During the recent Obama pander tour -- the one in which he spent about a week trying to win over conservative religious voters -- the presumptive Democratic nominee unnecessarily endorsed President Bush's faith-based initiative, a sort of patronage program that rewards religious activists for their political support with public grants. Then in a St. Louis speech, Obama declared that "I let Jesus Christ into my life." That's fine, but we already have a president who believes this was a qualification for the Oval Office, and look where that's gotten us.

Obama's verbal meanderings on the issue of late-term abortion go further. He has muddied his position. Whether this is a mistake or deliberate triangulation, only Obama knows for sure.

One thing is certain: Obama has backhandedly given credibility to the right-wing narrative that women who have abortions -- even those who go through the physically and mentally wrenching experience of a late-term abortion -- are frivolous and selfish creatures who might perhaps undergo this ordeal because they are "feeling blue."
Labeling the last couple of week's Obama's "pander tour" feels about right. Realpolitiking sucks, but may be necessary for the win.

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EU: Gays Not Safe In Hungary

Although local Pride organizers praised the Budapest police for their handling of last weekend's violent anti-gay demonstration, the European Parliament is condemning the Hungarian government for not adequately ensuring the safety of LGBT citizens.
The European Parliament's Intergroup on Gay and Lesbian Rights has accused the Hungarian government of being unable to guarantee the safety of their citizens and visitors to the country. The violent scenes at a Pride march in Budapest on Saturday showed the country's "inability to deal with extremists", said Michael Cashman, President of the Intergroup. "This must be referred to the European Commission and Commission's President."

A Hungarian MEP, who is a Vice-President of the Intergroup, criticised the police. "(They) failed to protect citizens exercising their fundamental rights to peaceful assembly, probably due to inadequate resources," said Sirpa Pietikäinen. "I will demand an explanation from the Hungarian government and I will raise this issue with the European Commission."

In a statement issued the day after the Pride march, Hungarian gay rights group the Patent Association said: "The police protected the march against serious physical attacks in an exemplary manner." Last month police tried to cancel this year's Pride march only to reverse their decision within twenty-four hours following international condemnation.
According to some watchdogs of Eastern Europe's neo-Nazis, the Budapest Pride incident has emboldened anti-gay sentiment and fears are being raised that more Pride-related violence is to come.

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Betting On Gay Marriage

Intrade, the online stock trading /gambling site that allows players to bet on social issues rather than sports, is currently showing California's gay marriage amendment as selling at 40, meaning that only 40% of the site's thousands of traders believe that gay marriage will be overturned. If you buy at 40 and the players' opinions turn in the amendment's favor, then the price will go up and you can sell the difference at a profit. The amendment's stock sold as high as 60 in recent weeks, but has steadily dropped.

RELATED: Barack Obama's stock is presently at 64.

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Cage Match Gay Stunt Causes Mayhem

Is this funny?
Crowds in Arkansas came for the lure of cage fighting and $1 beer, but police say what they got instead was men ripping each others' clothes off and kissing - a stunt suspected of being orchestrated by Sacha Baron Cohen of "Borat" fame.

"We had a contract for cage fighting. We were deceived," said Dwight Duncan, president and CEO of Four States Fair Grounds in Texarkana, where the first of two Arkansas fights raised suspicions last month. Matt Labov, a Los Angeles-based publicist for Baron Cohen, said he had no comment Monday about the faked fights. One of Baron Cohen's movies is due out next year.

The day after the June 5 Texarkana bout, Fort Smith's convention center hosted "Blue Collar Brawlin.'" Fort Smith police Sgt. Adam Holland said organizers told him a character named "Straight Dave" would goad a planted audience member into the ring for a fight.

The two men would then wrestle, rip away some of their clothes and share a brief kiss reminiscent of one between Baron Cohen and Will Ferrell in the film "Talladega Nights: The Ballad of Ricky Bobby." Producers said "there would be a romantic embrace," Holland said. "They said it was kind of to essentially make fun, poke fun at wrestling - two guys rolling around on the floor, all sweaty."

An elaborate array of mounted and handheld video cameras caught the crowd of 1,600's reaction as the two men "went right up to the line" of the city's morality laws, Holland said. The two men stripped down to their underwear, kissed and rubbed on each other, the sergeant said.

The audience, as well as local fighters drawn to take part in the show, became enraged. "It set the crowd off lobbing beers," Holland said. "They had beers in plastic cups. Those things can get some distance on them actually." Holland said it took officers about 45 minutes to clear the convention center, as the two actors sprinted away through a specially set-aside tunnel.

I don't know, tricking a rural crowd into displaying violent homophobia might have some value. Maybe. I'll really have to think about this.

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Morning View - NewYork-Presbyterian

At York Avenue & 70th Street, NewYork-Presbyterian is rated the 6th best hospital in the US, and its ambulance service is the most-used by NYC, hence the non-stop wail of sirens going up my street. Trivia: Richard Nixon, Malcolm X, and Jim Henson all died here. Dumber trivia: the proper spelling of the hospital specifies there be no space between "New" and "York", supposedly so that people know it's not a city hospital. Yeah, that works.

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Monday, July 07, 2008

Reggae Label Plans "Straight Pride Parade" In Brooklyn

Via Good As You comes word of a "Straight Pride Parade" to be staged in Brooklyn on August 31st. The parade is being organized by a reggae music label who is pissed off because a hit song by their artist Stapler, Hit Them Hard, has been banned by some radio stations because it encourages violence against gays. From the press release:
Productions the label behind the "18 Karat Reggae" CD series is holding the first ever Straight Pride Parade in Brooklyn, New York on August 31, 2008. The parade will take place on Eastern Parkway along the same route as the annual Caribbean labor day parade.

New reggae / dancehall sensation Jango Fresh said, "the Straight pride parade is a great idea because when a song like "Hit them hard" by my label mate Stapler can be banned just because it stresses the importance of a male and a female in every family, it is a sign that heterosexuals need to wake up.

The Straight Pride Parade is a chance for Heterosexuals to gather together and proudly embrace their sexuality. The Parade will also allow reggae and dancehall fans who are in New York City for the Labor Day celebrations to get together and celebrate reggae, dancehall and family in love and unity. Adults are encouraged to bring their children along for the celebrations, as the event will be family oriented.

The president of TCOOO said he hopes the event will unify the reggae community who has seen many reggae events cancelled recently not only in the United States but all over Europe and the Caribbean. "I sat quietly and watched as they cancelled artists like Buju Banton, Sizzla Kalonji and Capleton" he said, "but when the gay community went after TCOOO artists like Vineyard the Rebel Priest, Stapler and Jango Fresh we decided that we must make a show of strength."
Lyrics from Hit Them Hard:
Jah Jah gonna hit them hard
All the men who visit men backyard
Leaving all the women to starve
One thunder ball and all of them pause

Hand in hand with my lady
Hug her and kiss her cause she carried my baby
But some boys moving shady


The label contends that the song is "pro-family." Yeah, right. The "Straight Pride Parade" will coincide with the Brooklyn West Indian Carnival, guaranteeing them of at least some attendance and interest.

Thanks to the work of gay activist Peter Tatchell and Stop Murder Music, increasing scrutiny and pressure has been placed on the violent and homophobic lyrics of some reggae and dancehall artists, causing concerts to be canceled and airplay to cease. It will be interesting to see how the LGBT activism community reacts to this parade. I am thinking it may not be a good idea to appear in person to protest.

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HomoQuotable - Michelangelo Signorile

"The news on Friday about Helms' death was certainly satisfying for those of us who experienced his reign of terror, and I among others gave him a fitting send off.

"But let's not let history forget that a powerful gay man was instrumental to Jesse Helms, even as Helms was vilifying and demonizing gay men and allowing them and and many others to die throughout the 80s and 90s. Conservative, then-closeted, Republican political operative Arthur Finkelstein (pictured here in one of the only known photos of the guy) helped engineer Helms' racist campaign against African-American Charlotte Mayor Harvey Gantt in 1990, as Helms was vilifying gay sexuality, blocking AIDS funding, stalling prevention and attacking queer artists.

"Had Jesse Helms not had the handiwork of Finkelstein, who worked for Richard Nixon, Ronald Reagan and various right-wing senators, he might have lost that race. Instead, we had another decade of his antigay grip on the Republican Party, as he blocked HIV prevention measures and thousands more died.

"Finkelstein is today still working as a strategist for right-wing Republicans, as are many other closeted and not-so-closeted gay Republicans. Finkelstein was outed in 1996 in Boston magazine, and a few years ago he quietly got married to his partner in Massachusetts -- benefiting from the hard work of LGBT activists while he promoted and worked for a vile antigay crusader like Jesse Helms.

"Jesse Helms is dead but his legacy lives on. Republicans today similarly bash gays, lesbians, bisexuals and transgender people in order to win elections -- maybe not so vociferously, maybe on different issues than those in the 80s and 90s, but no less opportunistically. And people like Arthur Finklelstein and many other gay Republicans work for them and endorse them.

"Here we are, currently in a presidential election season in which the Republican candidate John McCain supports the California ballot measure banning marriage, has left the door open to a federal marriage amendment, is opposed to lifting the ban on gays serving openly in the military, is opposed to the Employment Non-Discrimination Act and voted against the Hate Crimes Prevention Act. And yet, we've seen Patrick Sammon of the Log Cabin Republicans and his group carry water for McCain as the group mulls whether or not they should endorse him -- as if it's a difficult decision. John McCain may not be ideologically in the same place as Jesse Helms on homosexuality, but what does that matter? If Jesse Helms were in the Senate today John McCain's voting record on gay rights wouldn't be that much different from that of Helms. And John McCain is busy promising to defeat gays to all the same people who supported Jesse Helms.

"Let Jesse Helms' death be a reminder of the kind of gay-bashing the Republican Party has promoted and exploited for decades among its politicians -- and which continues today -- and of the selfish and self-deluded gay people who give the party cover, help, strategy and support. And let's vow not to let it happen again. " - Activist, author, and radio host Michelangelo Signorile.

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Bristol Bushes Brouhaha

In light of last month's stories about sex arrests on Fire Island, it's interesting that gay activists in the UK are calling the plans to raze a local cruising area "discriminatory."
Scrub clearance work on Bristol Downs has raised concerns among some gay men who use the area for sex, the city council has said. The authority's lesbian, gay and bisexual advisory group said the action was "potentially discriminating". Work on the Circular Road above Avon Gorge would open up the area to wildlife and visitors, the council said. The Terrence Higgins Trust said it was in talks with the police and council.

Plans to clear the overgrown landscape follow consultations three years ago, when some Downs users complained about "inappropriate sexual activity". A meeting of the Bristol Downs Committee on Monday was told: "Concerns were expressed by the city council's lesbian, gay and bisexual group that this action was potentially discriminating against gay and bisexual men whose activities on this part of the Downs were objected to by other members of the local community and Downs users."

Head of parks Peter Wilkinson said the council had strong equality policies to protect the interests of all groups, irrespective of their sexuality. "The general public are unhappy about people taking part in lewd behaviour in public spaces, whether it's between men and women or people of the same sex," he said. "We are working together with the Terrence Higgins Trust to make sure any work we will do is sensitive. We're making sure people know what we are doing so we are not seen to be discriminating."
George Michael has yet to comment.

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