Slime: Maggie Gallagher

Via Mike Tidmus. Go here for the rest.

Maddow On NOM's 2M4M

Wisconsin Supreme Court To Rule On Constitutionality Of Marriage Ban

A Wisconsin appeals court has punted the question of whether the state's 2006 ban on same-sex marriage is constitutional, due to a technicality in its wording Now it's up to the state's Supreme Court.

A referendum to define marriage in Wisconsin was put before the state’s voters in November of 2006. However, the referendum had two parts: the referendum asked whether the state constitution should be rewritten to define marriage as between one man and one woman; and the referendum asked whether the state should be prohibited from granting the same legal status to unmarried individuals that married couples have. The referendum passed 59 to 41 percent. William McConkey challenged the ban, filing a lawsuit in Dane County Circuit Court in 2007 and arguing that the dual questions in the referendum were illegal under an existing provision in the Wisconsin Constitution, referred to as the “single subject rule.” This provision prohibits referendums from containing multiple questions to be answered by a single vote.

It's unclear if a pro-gay ruling by the Court would legalize same-sex marriage or if it would merely strike down the referendum. The Court can also decline to review the case at all.

Maddow On NOM

UPDATE: NOM is all over YouTube demanding the removal of all videos that use their images, citing copyright violations. So all the parody videos, audition tapes, and even this Rachel Maddow clip may be removed. YouTubers will not be denied and some are reposting the clips as quickly as they can create new accounts. NOM is running scared!

UPDATE II: Somebody else has the clip up. NOM stuff starts at 2:30.

NYC: Protest At Iraq Mission Over Murders Of Gay Men In Iraq

Led by activist Brendan Fay, today a small group of LGBT activists protested in front of NYC's Iraq Mission over the recent spate of gay men murdered in Iraq. What would have been a relatively low-key demonstration turned somewhat ugly due to the NYPD, who at first refused to allow activists to stand on the public sidewalk in front of the Iraq Mission, then threatened to arrest anyone who attempted to ring the building's bell and deliver a formal letter of protest.

Reporter Andy Humm of Gay City News vehemently objected, shouting, "You can't ring a bell and deliver a LETTER in NYC?" Eventually two men appeared from inside and a man who identified himself as Yassar Mohammed accepted and read the letter but said he would have no official comment, as the Mission was observing "Great Friday." Below is my slideshow of the protest and my video of Brendan Fay's passionate speech in support of LGBT people in Iraq.

UPDATE: Wayne Anderson at World Of Wonder has his post up with more photos.

Comment System Down Back Up

OK. Looks like the comment system is back up. You can now go crazy on the wacky shit from earlier today.

More Gay Rights = More Mass Murders

Morality In Media president Robert Peters thinks there's a link between gay rights and mass murderers like the one who just killed 13 people in upstate New York. From his piece Connecting the Dots: The Link Between Gay Marriage and Mass Murders:

"For many citizens, what has replaced Judeo-Christian faith and values is the secular value system that is reflected in films, rap/music lyrics, and videogames and on TV and now the Internet, where the taking of human life for just about any reason is commonplace and is often portrayed in an appealing manner and in realistic detail. Murder motivated by hatred and revenge is also justified.

"This secular value system is also reflected in the 'sexual revolution,' which is the driving force behind the push for 'gay marriage;' and the Iowa Supreme Court decision is another indication that despite all the damage this revolution has caused to children, adults, family life and society (think abortion, divorce, pornography, rape, sexual abuse of children, sexually transmitted diseases, trafficking in women and children, unwed teen mothers and more), it continues to advance relentlessly. It most certainly is not my intention to blame the epidemic of mass murders on the gay rights movement! It is my intention to point out that the success of the sexual revolution is inversely proportional to the decline in morality; and it is the decline of morality (and the faith that so often under girds it) that is the underlying cause of our modern day epidemic of mass murders."

You can't make it up, people. Poe's Law.

HomoQuotable - Larry Kramer

“I don’t think we are going to win anything federal—which is really the only important place where it counts—until a few of these Supreme Court justices expire (including that homophobe Anthony Scalia) and Obama replaces them with people sympathetic to our side. This, of course, is by no means a sure thing. I have high hopes for Obama, but I do not feel all warm and fuzzy that he is going to be enough of a friend when push comes to shove.

"I hope I am wrong. I have never believed in patience, but I do not see that we have either the leaders or the troops enough—a la ACT UP—to go out there and fight. We continue to be a passive population. It drives me nuts. It has always driven me nuts. I do not think the gay population has been all that rabid for gay marriage. Note that I do not use the words ‘gay community.’ Expunge that expression from your vocabulary. We are not a community. There are too many of us to qualify for that word, which connotes something much smaller and more intimate than the huge multipeopled grab bag of our rainbow coalition.” -Larry Kramer, speaking to Kevin Sessums on the Daily Beast.

Kramer goes to to say that we've got to free ourselves from the "tyranny" of our LGTB organizations. It's a great piece by Sessums, which includes quotes from Rupert Everett, Kate Clinton, and Peter Staley.

The NOM Remixes Keep Coming!

2M4M.org

Aside from the humiliation of their ridiculous "Storm Clouds" ad, the National Organization for Marriage has more egg on their face - they failed to register the dot-org domain for their unintentionally hilarious 2M4M campaign. The guy who realized this is just building his site- check out what he's got so far.

XenoPhoboQuotable - Rep. Betty Brown

"Rather than everyone here having to learn Chinese — I understand it’s a rather difficult language — do you think that it would behoove you and your citizens to adopt a name that we could deal with more readily here. Can’t you see that this is something that would make it a lot easier for you and the people who are poll workers if you could adopt a name just for identification purposes that’s easier for Americans to deal with?” - Texas state Rep. Betty Brown, speaking to a member of the Organization Of Chinese-Americans. She refuses to apologize.

(Via - ThinkProgress)

Dr. Laura Gets Slightly Nicer

Dr. Laura is still a complete loon as you'll see, but at least she says this: "I still believe [...] that marriage is a sacrament between a man and a woman. So not calling it marriage works for me. But that two people would have that sort of commitment to me is very healthy and very positive thing in their lives and society as a whole."

11 Year-Old Massachusetts Boy Hangs Self Over Anti-Gay Bullying

And yet the Christianists will pull their children out of school rather than allow them to participate in any anti-bullying protest. Via GLSEN:

An 11-year-old Massachusetts boy, Carl Joseph Walker-Hoover, hung himself Monday after enduring bullying at school, including daily taunts of being gay, despite his mother's weekly pleas to the school to address the problem. This is at least the fourth suicide of a middle-school aged child linked to bullying this year. Carl, a junior at New Leadership Charter School in Springfield who did not identify as gay, would have turned 12 on April 17, the same day hundreds of thousands of students will participate in the 13th annual National Day of Silence by taking some form of a vow of silence to bring attention to anti-LGBT (lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender) bullying and harassment at school. The other three known cases of suicide among middle-school students took place in Chatham, Evanston and Chicago, Ill., in the month of February.

The National Day Of Silence is April 17th. While little Carl's tragic end happened in their own backyard, anti-gay hate group MassResistance is leading the wingnut movement to yank their kids out of school that day, rather than witness any peaceful observation that bullying gay students is morally wrong.

Bloomberg, Quinn Call On Feds To Count Married Gays In 2010 Census

At Monday's Task Force awards event, NYC Council Speaker Christine Quinn spoke quite a bit about the how the 2010 census will require legally married gay couples to lie about their status. Yesterday she and her boss released a letter to the feds decrying the policy.

Mayor Michael Bloomberg and the City Council speaker are urging federal census officials to include same-sex marriages in the 2010 count, an issue that has taken on greater significance in recent weeks as more gay couples are being allowed to marry. The federal law banning gay marriage bars the agency from counting same-sex marriages, the Census Bureau says, even though they are legal in Massachusetts, Connecticut, and, most recently, Vermont and Iowa. Last summer, census officials announced that legally married same-sex couples would be reported as unmarried, same-sex partners. In the April 7 letter to Gary Locke, the secretary of the U.S. Department of Commerce, which oversees the Census Bureau, Bloomberg and Christine Quinn wrote that counting same-sex marriages is crucial for state and local officials who use census data to plan for programs and social services. "Although we understand that federal law may not recognize same-sex marriages for the purposes of administration of federal benefits programs," they wrote, "we do not believe it prevents the Census Bureau from reporting statistics from the forms of self-identifying same-sex couples married under state law, like all married couples."

A spokesman for the Commerce Department responded by saying that the agency is reviewing its policies to ensure an accurate count in 2010.

Morning View - Houston & Broadway

NOM - Storm Clouds (Remix #2)

NYC Friday: Protest At Iraq Mission

There will be a protest of the murders of gay men in Iraq at NYC's Iraq Mission at noon on Friday.

Iraq Mission, 14 E. 79th Street in Manhattan
Friday, April 10, 2009 at 12 Noon.

Organizers of Friday’s protest point to the staggering number of gay men killed: over 400 since 2003, and over 85 since 2005. Men have been identified in and around Baghdad’s Shiit slum known as Sadr City with bullet-ridden bodies, some with broken arms and legs, and with the words “pervert” or “puppy” (a derogatory word used by residents in Sadr City to refer to gays) written on their chests. In an act of intimidation, a café frequented by lgbt citizens of Sadr City has been firebombed.

(Via - Petrelis Files)

PhoboQuotable - Pastor Eric Schumacher

"The Flood of 2008 is arguably the most destructive disaster that the state of Iowa has seen -- at least, that is, until last Friday. On April 3, the Iowa Supreme Court unanimously ruled that a state law limiting marriage to one man and one woman violates the equal protection clause of the Iowa Constitution. Licenses will be issued to homosexual couples April 27.

"It is not hyperbole to say that this ruling has the potential to be the worst disaster to strike the state of Iowa. Flood waters destroy houses, ruin offices buildings and displace families. Yet, recovery happens. Houses are rebuilt. Businesses relocate. Families eventually find housing.

"Legalized "homosexual marriage," on the other hand, does far more pervasive and irrecoverable damage. Civilization itself is eroded as marriage, the central building block of culture and society, is redefined. Soon, our sons and daughters are confused about what it means to be male and female, as "homosexual marriage" gains both legal status and visibility in neighborhoods and the classroom.

"Far worse, the Gospel message is confused. Marriage is established by God to be a living picture of the Gospel of Jesus Christ, the husband representing Christ and the wife representing his church. "Homosexual marriage" presents a distorted picture, a false Gospel, promoting a blasphemous message.

"Flood waters erode the soil. "Gay marriage" erodes the soul. A flood impacts for a decade. "Same-sex marriage" destroys generations. A flood draws a community together. "Homosexual marriage" tears the family apart. Communities recover from floods. The promotion of un-natural unions has an eternal consequence." - Pastor Eric Schumacher, writing for the Baptist Press.

(Via - Pam's House Blend)

Afternoon View - Soho

Domestic Partners Bill Advances To Full Nevada Senate Vote

A Nevada state Senate committee has approved a bill granting domestic partners benefits to same-sex couples, sending it on to the full Senate.

Senate Bill 283 would allow gay couples the right to enter into domestic partnerships, which would grant the same benefits to partners as married couples. It now will have to clear the Senate floor, where Democrats hold a slim 12 to 9 majority over Republicans. Sen. David Parks, D-Las Vegas, sponsored the bill. He added an amendment Wednesday that exempts state and local government from being required to pay for domestic partner benefits.

Nevada passed a constitutional amendment against same-sex marriage in 2002.

NOM - Storm Clouds (The Remix)

Op Zoek Naar Maria

Improv Everywhere-style, but as the Belgians do it. Classic.

(Via - AmericaBlog)

Tomorrow: Blowoff NYC @ Highline

Blowoff returns to Manhattan tomorrow night at the Highline Ballroom where Mack Daddy DJs Bob Mould and Rich Morel will spin the beer-soaked bears into a sweaty pile of fur. Doors open 11:30pm, advance tickets here.

RELATED: Bob Mould's excellent new album Life And Times was released this week. Check out Bob's artist page on Facebook for updates, reviews, and tour information.

NOM Launches 2M4M, Promises Not To Compete With Manhunt

The new anti-gay campaign from the National Organization For Marriage is called 2M4M. Totally seriously.

In just a few minutes, NOM President Maggie Gallagher and I will hold a press conference in Trenton, NJ, announcing an ambitious new nationwide "2 Million for Marriage" (2M4M) initiative. Over the next two years, we will be organizing two million marriage activists from every state in the nation to form an online army of marriage activists willing to stand up for marriage on a moment's notice, sending emails and making phone calls to legislators whenever marriage is threatened. The initiative represents the most ambitious effort ever of its kind, using a combination traditional TV and radio advertising and direct mail, coupled with the internet technology and social networking tools that President Obama used so effectively in his presidential campaign. To assist with this ambitious new initiative, we've enlisted the expertise of Schubert Flint Public Affairs -- the same group that managed the Prop 8 Campaign in California last year.

Too fucking funny. Maybe there really aren't any closet cases working at NOM. Cuz a 'mo would have put a stop to THAT acronym in a heartbeat.

(Via - Good As You)

Kevin Aviance Goes To Work

Episode 4 of Jonny McGovern's Three Dollar Bill series. Language NSFW. Loving Kevin's MetroCard gown.

Morning View - Washington Square

Open Thread Thursday

Good news only. What's going right in your life?

CNN On Marriage Momentum

We don't see enough of Evan Wolfson.

NYC: Vermont Celebration At Union Square

Wayne Anderson at World Of Wonder has a great set of photos from last night's Vermont celebration here in NYC.

Caption This

NY Gov. David Paterson To Reintroduce Marriage Equality Bill

How about THIS for some momentum?

Gov. David Paterson said Wednesday he plans to re-introduce legislation to make same-sex marriages legal in New York. The legislation is expected to mirror a gay-marriage bill introduced in 2007 by former Gov. Eliot Spitzer, who -- with Paterson as his running mate -- campaigned in 2006 on a platform that included marriage equality. "We'll put a bill out and let the people decide one way or the other," Paterson said Wednesday morning on WHCU-AM (870) in Ithaca.

But even with legislation from Paterson, the state Legislature has not signaled the bill would pass both houses. In 2007, the state Assembly passed Spitzer's marriage bill, but it stalled in the Republican-controlled Senate and remains that way now under Democratic control. Paterson has been an outspoken supporter of marriage equality for same-sex couples and has indicated he would sign legislation to make it law. His legislation is expected to be submitted in advance of a major lobbying day in Albany by gay-rights groups on April 28. The Democratic governor said he hopes the measure makes it to the Senate floor for a vote, even though he said he's not sure it would pass. "Why can't a bill just be on the floor and lose?" he said, adding "if you have the votes later on to pass it, bring it back."

The Empire State Pride Agenda says they welcome the governor's move. Paterson's bill will likely be before the legislation before the current session ends in June. Hopefully by then the few votes needed in the state Senate will have been secured. If you'd like to personally take part in winning those votes and marriage equality in New York, please visit the Pride Agenda's site and consider signing up for LGBT Equality & Justice Day in Albany on April 28th.

'70s Porn Icon Jack Wrangler, 62

Legendary 70's porn actor Jack Wrangler has died at age 62.

Jack Wrangler, a ruggedly handsome 1970s porn star whose openness about his homosexuality made him a symbol of self-confidence for many gay men, has died. He was 62. Wrangler died Tuesday in Manhattan from complications of lung disease, said Lewis Tice, director of publicity and marketing for TLA Releasing, a distributor of gay-themed independent films. His life of sometimes surprising turns — he found decades-long love with big-band singer Margaret Whiting — was chronicled in the documentary "Wrangler: Anatomy of an Icon," released last fall. "Jack Wrangler knew the power of image-making and inspired an entire generation to be comfortable in their own skin and to become the man of their dreams," said the film's director, Jeffrey Schwarz.

On how Wrangler met his wife:

In 1976, Wrangler met celebrated pop singer and film actress Margaret Whiting when she attended one of his one-man erotic shows in New York City, New York. As he later recalled, "I was with my manager when I looked over at Margaret, who was surrounded by five guys in a booth. There she was with the hair, the furs and the big gestures. I thought, 'Boy, now that's New York! That's glamour!' I had to meet her." When the couple first got together, Wrangler protested, "But I'm gay!" to which Whiting replied, "Only around the edges, dear."

Solmonese Vs. Gallagher!

Joe Solmonese FTW!

Lying NOM Ad Played By Lying ACTORS

The Human Rights Campaign has found the audition reels for the anti-gay National Organization For Marriage spot that I posted this morning. Oops, all that "I'm a Massachusetts mother" bullshit turns out to be exactly that.

What’s next for the National Organization for Marriage? Will they hire legendary infomercial pitchman Ron Popeil to hawk their phony agenda?” said Human Rights Campaign Spokesman Brad Luna. “This ad is full of outrageous falsehoods—and they don’t even come out of the mouths of real people.” According to sources, the phony ad is set to run eight times per day in New Jersey, New York, Connecticut, Rhode Island and California. The National Organization for Marriage hired actors to peddle their lies about marriage for lesbian and gay couples.

Visit the HRC's site where they skillfully dissect each of the lies told by the lying ACTORS of the National Organization For Marriage.

Afternoon View - Bleecker & Broadway

It was snowing five minutes before I took this. For realz.

Solmonese Vs. Iowa Rep. Steve King

HRC's Joe Solmonese goes up against Iowa's wingnut Rep. Steve King (who was subject of a PhoboQuotable post here recently.)

Rescue Shelter Boys?

PETA has asked Pet Shop Boys to change their name to Rescue Shelter Boys.

You have many loyal fans of the Pet Shop Boys [JMG:*] here at PETA. We have a request that may at first seem bizarre, but we hope that after considering the following facts, you will understand why we are asking this of you: will you please consider changing your name from the Pet Shop Boys* to the Rescue Shelter Boys? Most pet-shop animals are kept in cages or runs that are far too small for their needs. Exercise is minimal, and they often never leave their cages until the day that they are sold. Nocturnal animals are displayed throughout the day under glaring lights. Predators, such as snakes, may be displayed alongside their prey. No screening is done to ensure the suitability of prospective guardians. By agreeing to change your name to the Rescue Shelter Boys, you would help raise awareness about the cruelty involved in the pet trade and encourage your millions of fans to consider giving a home to an abandoned or unwanted animal from an animal shelter. So, what do you say?

Pet Shop Boys say the request is one they are "unable to agree to but nonetheless think raises an issue worth thinking about." PETA's request has been posted to the front page of the band's official site.

(Via - Towleroad)

*Note of extreme pedantry: The band's name is Pet Shop Boys, not *The* Pet Shop Boys. We don't say The Depeche Mode or The Erasure do we?

Lego Silence Of The Lambs

Finally an all-Lego musical version of Silence Of The Lambs. This killed me. Dead. Possibly NSFW.


(Via - Slog)

Tony Blair To Pope: You're Wrong On Gays

Former British prime minister and new Catholic Tony Blair told the UK gay magazine Attitude that the Pope is wrong about homosexuality.

Tony Blair has challenged the “entrenched” attitudes of the Pope on homosexuality, and argued that it is time for him to “rethink” his views. Speaking to the gay magazine Attitude, the former Prime Minister, himself now a Roman Catholic, said that he wanted to urge religious figures everywhere to reinterpret their religious texts to see them as metaphorical, not literal, and suggested that in time this would make all religious groups accept gay people as equals. Asked about the Pope’s stance, Mr Blair blamed generational differences and said: “We need an attitude of mind where rethinking and the concept of evolving attitudes becomes part of the discipline with which you approach your religious faith.”

Blair says that Catholics are probably a lot more liberal and progressive that the Pope thinks. Hmmm.

Anti-Gay National Organization For Marriage Launches TV Campaign

The wingnuts are running terrifed in the wake of Iowa and Vermont. Today the National Organization For Marriage (NOM) moved up their planned anti-gay TV campaign and began running national spots. "Storm clouds are gathering!"

HomoQuotable - Alan Van Capelle

"Vermont was the first state to pass a law recognizing same-sex couples through civil unions and now becomes the first state to provide real marriage equality for same-sex couples through a vote in the state legislature. This is truly a victory for LGBT people in Vermont and across the country.

"But I’m embarrassed for New York State.

"We hope that our State Senate in New York will now look at three of the states that surround New York—Massachusetts, Connecticut and now Vermont—and realize that we are falling behind. Governor Paterson, Senator Schumer and Senator Gillibrand, every statewide official, the New York State Assembly, and a majority of New Yorkers already support passing a bill that would provide same-sex couples with the 1,324 rights and protections that come with a New York State marriage license.

"Despite the prevailing wisdom that Albany is hopelessly dysfunctional, we have—time and time again over the years—proved that we can break through the gridlock and pass legislation providing equality for our community when most people thought it couldn’t be done. We are working daily with Democrats and Republicans in the State Senate and grassroots organizations across the state to make sure that we have the votes to pass a marriage bill this year. Patience is not always a virtue—our families cannot wait any longer." - Alan Van Capelle, executive director of Empire State Pride Agenda.

Time Is On Our Side

Stats guru Nate Silver has done his usual brilliant number crunching and made estimates on how long it will take each state to reaching the tipping point at which ballot measures to ban same-sex marriage would fail. Go to the above link for Silver's explanations of how he reached his conclusions. Below is a map/timeline made by a Silver fan, which I found on Fark. Remember, these are the years by which marriage-banning referendums are expected to fail, not the years by which marriage equality would be enacted.

PhoboQuotable - Matt Barber

"How long can a nation founded on the laws of nature and nature's God expect to find favor in his eyes when we continue to mock God? I believe that the purveyors of evil around the country feel emboldened right now with the current political climate in Washington, DC," Barber states, what with both the Oval Office and Congress inhabited by "people who are bent on thumbing their nose at God." - Liberty Counsel director of "cultural affairs" Matt Barber, from a OneNewsNow story headlined "Vermont Mocks God."

Interestingly, Barber makes no complaint about "activist legislators."

NYC: Vermont Celebration Tonight

Vermonters and fans will gather in NYC's Union Square tonight at 6:30PM for a celebration of yesterday's approval of same-sex marriage. Civil Rights Front is organizing, so expect more wacky fun like at Friday's Iowa celebration. I'm told there will be cake!

Obama Invites Gay Families To White House For Annual Easter Egg Roll

The Obama administration has invited gay families to participate in this year's annual White House Easter Egg Roll, a holiday tradition which began in the 1870's.

Families say the gesture shows that the new Democratic administration values them as equal to other families. And for many, being included in the annual tradition — dating to 1878 — renews hope that they will have more support in their quest for equal rights in matters such as marriage and adoption than under the previous administration. White House officials said that tickets for Monday's Easter Egg Roll event were distributed to gay, lesbian, bisexual and transgender organizations, but did not specify how many or to which ones. Representatives from Family Equality Council, Human Rights Campaign, National Gay and Lesbian Task Force and other groups confirmed they were invited and encouraged to have their members participate.

You might recall that in 2006 about 100 gay families attended the event in a show of visibility. Wingnuts screamed that homos had "crashed" the party and ruined it for everybody.

LA: Matt Alber In Concert April 19th

JMG readers favorite Matt Alber will perform at Los Angeles' Hotel Cafe on April 19th.

Dignity For All Students: Sweeping Anti-Bullying Bill Passes NY Assembly

Sponsored by openly gay politico Daniel O'Donnell, a sweeping anti-bullying bill has overwhelmingly passed in New York's state Assembly. Via press release:

The bill was recently amended to cover the broadest categories of students who face harassment and discrimination in our state's schools. While the amendment explicitly added weight, it also clarified that protections should not be limited to the categories listed -- actual or perceived race, color, weight, national origin, ethnic group, religion, disability, sexual orientation, gender, or sex. The Dignity For All Students Act would afford all persons in public schools an environment free of harassment and discrimination based on actual or perceived race, national origin, ethnic group, religion, disability, sexual orientation, weight, gender, or sex. The bill has been endorsed by Governor Paterson and has yet to be taken up by the Senate.

O'Donnell has called on the state Senate to pass the bill immediately. Only five of O'Donnell's colleagues in the Assembly voted against his bill.

Joel Osteen On Marriage

Soft-spoken mega-preacher Joel Osteen allows that gay people can be good people, but when it comes to marriage, he'd prefer "we shoot for God's best."

Adam Lambert - Mad World

Last night the contestants performed songs from the year of their birth - meaning everything sounded really recent to me. The show ran long and last-to-perform Adam Lambert was only allowed one judge review - a standing ovation from Simon Cowell.

Obama Speaks To Troops In Iraq

Quite the reception.

Freepers React To Vermont

Since you asked......

-"I await the volcanoes, the tsunamis, the hurricanes and hopefully, the destruction of Vt and its pacifist secular socialism by the Lord. I actually do want it to happen with good Americans being protected as we see in the OT, when God protects believers that do good and trust the Lord. Since VT doesn’t seem to believe in the Biblical God or His standards, perhaps a nice lesson in humility would be a nice taste of God’s wrath."
-"Homosexuals like to target beautiful areas and states to infect them with their agenda to force the abhorrent lifestyle upon the unsuspecting, though often liberal-tending, population. It is going on all over the country."
-"Now it is time for the animal-lovers to file a lawsuit to get recognition of marriage between humans and animals. Equal protection and all..."
-"And I guarantee that kids in Jr High and younger who have this stuff pushed at them daily....as “love” and marriage, HAVE NOT A CLUE, what it takes to commit a homosexual act. If they are told the truth, they will naturally be repelled"
-"I really would love to see millions of conservatives not republicans move out of their liberal states think about it they will lose money red state gets mroe money we have the second amendment recognised to people who go to church not laughed at we would increase the electoral college count too"
-"they account of 5% of the population yet there is so much fact and numbers about them being sick , dying,disease, serial killers, child molesters etc we have to counter the Hollywood for two girls being together is sexy, it is not the lesbians are not Hollywood they are manly looking wearing strap ons. men who are doing it are poking in a hole where our waste comes out and then they suck it. disgusting and not cool. yes it is sick and visual but I found it is the only way for us normal people to understand how sick these people are"

DC To Recognize Same-Sex Marriages From Other Jurisdictions

Washington DC's City Council has voted unanimously to recognize same-sex marriages performed in states where such unions are legal.

The D.C. Council voted today to recognize same-sex marriages performed in other states, on the same day that Vermont became the fourth state to legalize same-sex unions. Domestic partnerships are already legal in the nation's capital, and gay couples married in other states are recognized as domestic partners when they move to the city. But today's legislation, billed as an important milestone in gay rights, explicitly recognizes them as married couples. The initial vote was 12-0. The unanimous vote sets the stage for future debate on legalizing same-sex marriage in the District and a clash with Congress, which approves the city's laws under Home Rule. The council is expected to take a final vote on the legislation next month. Council member Jim Graham (D-Ward 1), who is gay, called the amendment a matter of "basic fairness."

New York state similarly recognizes same-sex marriages from other states. Let's keep the good news rolling!

Vermonters Really Earned Their Freedom To Marry Today

Today's victory in Vermont didn't materialize out of thin air - it took years and years of tireless work by local and national activists who had to sit down over and over again with legislators, business leaders, and clergy to educate them about our issues.

At the top of the "Thank You" list should be Vermont Freedom To Marry. How about a nice email to VFTM Chair Beth Robinson? Write her here: brobinson@langrock.com.

PhoboQuotable - Michael Savage

"So there are the vermin now celebrating twisted perverse marriage in the middle of America. It's a victory for perversion in my opinion. You want me to tell you what makes me sick? When I see two puffy white males kissing each other, I wanna puke. When I see two women kissing each other, on the lips, as lovers, I wanna vomit. Why? It's unnatural. It's against all of the laws of mankind. It's against all the laws of humankind. It is suicide for a society to embrace such behavior." - Radio host/closet case Michael Weiner Savage, responding to the approval of same-sex marriage in Iowa. Audio here.

(Via Media Matters & Towleroad)

Russian Activists Found Guilty Of "Popularizing Homosexuality"

Gay activists in Russia have been found guilty of "popularizing homosexuality" for demonstrating with pro-gay posters.

A court in Ryazan has found the organizers of two public events protesting homophobia guilty of popularizing homosexuality and ruled they be fined 1,500 rubles each. Nikolay Bayev and Irina Fet were found guilty of popularizing homosexuality among minors and the court ruled to fine them 1,500 rubles each, an organizer of the Moscow gay parade Nikolay Alexeyev told Interfax. On March 30, the gay activists staged public event demonstrating posters reading, "Homosexuality is normal" and "I am proud of my homosexuality." The judge ordered the posters be destroyed. Sexual minorities held their rallies near schools and near a regional children's library, the court said.
"We will now file a complaint with the Russian Constitutional Court," Alexeyev said

Unreal.

Vermont APPROVES Marriage Equality!

By a vote of 100-49 the Vermont House of Representatives has overridden Gov. Jim Douglas' veto! Marriage equality comes to Vermont! The fourth state to approve same-sex marriage, Vermont is the first to do so legislatively, rather than by judicial fiat. California's legislature approved same-sex marriage twice, but was vetoed by Gov. Schwarzenegger.

GO VERMONT!

Watch Vermont's Override Attempt

The Vermont House and Senate will vote today on the attempted override of Gov. Jim Douglas' marriage equality veto. Watch it live here.

The vote to override the veto will start Tuesday morning in the Senate, where a 26-4 vote on the bill itself indicates an override is likely. The House vote, possibly later this morning, will be more dramatic. Smith and other House Democratic leaders are urging Democrats who voted against the bill to support the majority and vote for the override. If all 150 members are present, 100 votes are needed for an override. Counting all members who voted for the bill in two votes last week, plus the speaker, who did not cast a vote but may on the override, there are 97 who support the bill. Two Democrats who voted against the bill have said they would change course and support the override.

UPDATE: The Senate has easily overridden Douglas' veto by a vote of 23-5.

Like It Or Not, Yes On 8 Ad Featuring Gavin Newsom Wins Top Industry Prize

The Yes On 8 ad men who created the infamous "Like It Or Not" clip featuring SF Mayor Gavin Newsom have won the top prize at an industry convention.

Frank Schubert walked off a big winner at the just-concluded 2009 Pollie Awards for his come-from-behind knockout punch to same-sex marriage, and he had a special guy to thank: Mayor Gavin Newsom. Schubert and his crew were honored at the American Association of Political Consultants' annual meeting in Washington, D.C., for their successful fight to pass Proposition 8 in November, which banned same-sex marriage in California. Schubert acknowledged that half the crowd at the Gaylord hotel ballroom didn't agree with his stance. Still, he was happy to give the political pros from across the country a 45-minute seminar on his victorious campaign, where he was asked: "How did you come from 14 points behind in the polls and win?" Well, Schubert explained, they were very disciplined, they had tremendous support from the faith community and they had "a gift from God: Gavin Newsom."

Here's the ad again.

Rick Warren Lies

Pastor Rick Warren appeared on Larry King last night to say that he has never been anti-gay or against gay marriage. Funny, we remember Warren comparing same-sex marriage to pedophilia and incest.

AmericaBlog reminds us of the exact quote:

Steven Waldman: One controversial moment for you in the last election was your support for Proposition 8 in California.
Rick Warren: Eight, yeah, yeah.
Steven Waldman: A couple questions about that. First, just to clarify, do you support civil unions or domestic partnerships?
Rick Warren: [long answer about civil unions]
Steven Waldman: What about like partnership benefits in terms of insurance or hospital visitation?
Rick Warren: Not a problem to me. But the issue to me is, I’m not opposed to that as much as I’m opposed to the redefinition of a 5,000-year definition of marriage. I’m opposed to having a brother and sister be together and call that marriage, an older guy marrying a child and calling that a marriage. I’m opposed to one guy having multiple wives and calling that marriage.
Steven Waldman: Do you think, though, that they are equivalent to having gays getting married?
Rick Warren: Oh I do.

I guess in Warren's world, even your most famous quote never happened if you say it didn't.

Vermont Gov Vetoes Marriage Bill

As expected.

Gov. Jim Douglas vetoed a bill that would legalize same-sex marriage, setting the stage for an override vote by the legislature. Mr. Douglas, a Republican, announced in March that he would veto the bill, which the Senate passed overwhelmingly and the House of Representatives approved 96 to 52.

The Vermont House only needs five more votes to override the veto.

Iowa Senate Majority Leader On Marriage Repeal Attempt: "You've Already Lost"

Watch this suh-weet video in which Iowa Senate Majority Leader Mike Gronstal refuses to co-sponsor an attempt to repeal Iowa's marriage equality bill.

Focus On The Family Employee Busted For Focusing On Underage Sex

Somebody at Focus On The Family was clearly thinking of the children.

A man who narrates Christian CDs has been arrested on suspicion of using the Internet to arrange sex with a teenage girl. Juan Alberto Ovalle, 42, thought he was corresponding with a girl under the age of 15, but instead it was undercover officers with the Jefferson County District Attorney's office, according to court documents. Ovalle works for a Spanish-speaking arm of the Colorado Springs Christian group Focus on the Family and narrates Biblical text for CDs, according to Internet Web sites that sell the products. "We're shocked," said Gary Schneeberger, a spokesman with Focus. Schneeberger said the group "is beginning its own process of looking into the allegations" and that it "will work with authorities" if asked. Ovalle serves the Trans World Radio ministry and also the Spanish broadcasting department of Focus on the Family, according to one of the sites. "He founded Spanish Christian Audio in 2001 to help Christian organizations with their audio needs," the site said. Ovalle was arrested Friday when he drove to Lakewood to meet the young girl, who was actually an undercover officer, to have sex, the DA's office said in a media release.

Ovalle was charged with two felony counts: attempted sex with a minor and internet luring of a child.

Fun With Wingnuts

Rachel Maddow has some fun with the persistent wingnut meme that Obama is the anti-Christ.

National Gay & Lesbian Task Force's 2009 New York Leadership Awards

Last night my loyal companion Aaron and I attended the National Gay & Lesbian Task Force's annual New York Leadership Awards, where San Francisco Mayor Gavin Newsom and designer John Bartlett were recognized for their contributions to the LGBT movement. Here's a quick slideshow of the event; I'll add more thoughts on the evening later today. Full screen versions of the below photos are here.

Levi Johnston Talks To Tyra

Rocket scientist Levi Johnston, the former would-be son-in-law of Sarah Palin appeared on Tyra Banks' show today to say that he and Bristol absolutely had safe sex all the time. Except for all those times when, you know, they didn't. And that they knocked boots in the Palin home with Sarah's knowledge.

Toronto: World's First Murder Conviction For Knowingly Spreading HIV

In what is being called the first such result in the world, a Ugandan immigrant in Canada has been convicted of two counts of first degree murder for knowingly infecting women with HIV.

During the trial, which began in October of last year, prosecutors said that Johnson Aziga had unprotected sex with former female co-workers and women he met at bars. Aziga had been aware he was carrying HIV since 1996 and public health officials had ordered him to disclose his illness to any potential sexual partners. During the trial, the jury of three women and nine men had to decide if the illnesses and deaths could be directly linked to Aziga, a Ugandan immigrant who worked for the Ontario Ministry of the Attorney General. The Crown said that seven women were infected with HIV and that two of them died after Aziga, in police custody since 2003, neglected to tell them about his illness. Aziga met both of the deceased women while working for the Ontario government, the court heard. Another four women were also exposed to the virus, but later tested negative for HIV, prosecutors told the court.

Under Canadian law, a first-degree murder conviction means a mandatory life sentence.

(Tipped by JMG reader Suzanne)

CBS: Is Iowa The Tipping Point?

From today's Hot Topic on the CBS news blog:

The decision by the Iowa Supreme Court to overturn that state's gay marriage ban is prompting questions about whether or not the battle over gay marriage, long a central focus in the culture war, has reached a tipping point in American culture. Iowa, as gay marriage backers like to point out, is not a liberal, coastal state like Massachusetts and Connecticut – the two states that already offer legal gay marriage – or California, where the narrow passage of a ballot initiative banning gay marriage last year galvanized the gay rights movement.

It is, instead, a Midwestern state in what is commonly called "the heartland" – an area of America thought to be more reticent to warm to liberal ideas, particularly when it comes to social issues. That's why Richard Socarides, a former adviser on gay rights to President Clinton, argued that the decision "represents the mainstreaming of gay marriage" – it's not just for the "tax-hiking, government-expanding, latte-drinking, sushi-eating, Volvo-driving, New York Times-reading, body-piercing, Hollywood-loving left" anymore.

The author points out that Iowa has a long history of progressive politics relative to its neighbors, but speculates that its "heartland of America" reputation might work to swing more states to the correct side of the issue.

Iowa's Bishops Are Shaking In Their Dresses With Righteous Anger

A secretive all-male group of dudes in embroidered dresses are angrily stomping their bejeweled slippers about Iowa's approval of same-sex marriage. Via Catholic News Service:

Iowa's Catholic bishops vigorously disagreed with the Iowa Supreme Court's unanimous decision April 3 that strikes down state law defining marriage as a union of one man and one woman. "This decision rejects the wisdom of thousands of years of human history. It implements a novel understanding of marriage, which will grievously harm families and children," the bishops said in a statement prepared by the Iowa Catholic Conference. The bishops vowed to continue to protect and promote marriage as a union between a man and a woman and asked Catholics and other citizens of Iowa to call for a constitutional amendment on marriage.

"Grievously harm families and children." Bold words coming from a group whose name would be the question to the Jeopardy answer "They are often convicted of child molestation."

Walkability

A new real estate website calculates how many useful destinations are within a walkable distance from your home and assigns a "walkability score."

Although the idea of a compact town center is not new, walkability has become easier to quantify, thanks to Walkscore.com. The website's algorithm takes a previously subjective idea - being able to step out your door and walk to places you need to go - and boils it down to a single number. Now online real estate sites, including Zillow and ZipRealty, are beginning to add walkability ratings to their home listings. "When people live in a walkable neighborhood, they are able to save a lot of time and money that they would otherwise be pouring in their gas tanks," said David Goldberg, communications director for Smart Growth America, a Washington-based coalition of organizations promoting smart planning and building, and an advisory board member of Walkscore.com.

I typed in my address and got a rating of 98 out of 100, thanks to the 24-hour drugstore, the grocery store, the post office, and the dozen or so restaurants on my block. I imagine most Manhattan addresses would score similarly, so this site probably isn't very useful for this borough. Check your neigborhood's walkability here. San Francisco leads the list of "most walkable neighborhoods" followed by NYC, Boston, Chicago, and Philadelphia.

NYC: Bye Bye Balducci's

Gotham's foodies are crying in their $40/lb goat cheese over the news that both of NYC's fancy-schmancy Balducci's are closing.

Balducci's, the storied high-end grocery chain that first opened in Greenwich Village 63 years ago, is closing its two Manhattan locations at the end of the month. Balducci's is probably best remembered by New Yorkers for its store on Sixth Avenue in Greenwich Village, which operated from 1972 to 2003. After the Greenwich Village store shuttered, Balducci's only Manhattan location for a while was on West 66th Street near Lincoln Center. That store will close, as will what is now Balducci's Manhattan flagship, a 17,000-square-foot store that opened in 2005 in a former bank at Eighth Avenue and 14th Street in Chelsea.

What will appear next in that gorgeous Chelsea building? I think it was a carpet store before it was Balducci's.

Daily Grumble

The fact that Molly Ringwald is now playing a grandmother-to-be on TV makes me feel rilly, rilly old. That's all I got on that.

SNL: The Fast & The Bi-Curious

Is this even funny? SNL has done the "ZOMG!1!! They're GAY!" thing so many times, I expect it in pretty much every skit anymore.

(Via - Towleroad)

Divine's Mother, Frances Milstead, 88

Frances Milstead, the mother of drag legend Divine, died two weeks ago in Fort Lauderdale at the age of 88. Although she was estranged from her son at the beginning of his drag fame, upon learning of his new career Frances became Divine's biggest fan - attending his movie premieres and penning the 2001 memoir My Son Divine. Up until her death, Frances had been a icon in South Florida's gay community. Her MySpace page, which chronicles her love for her son and her health battles, is still up.

North Dakota: It's OK To Discriminate

North Dakota's House of Representatives has voted against extending anti-discrimination protections to LGBT citizens.

Representatives voted 54-34 to reject the measure. It sought to ban discrimination in housing, employment and credit on the basis of a person's sexual orientation. North Dakota law already extends the same protection to a number of categories, including a person's race, color, sex, religious beliefs and national origin.

Being gay or lesbian "is not something that you're born with, that you have no choice in," said Rep. Robin Weisz, R-Hurdsfield. "It is a behavior, and it is a lifestyle choice." The legislation may force North Dakotans who oppose homosexuality to accept it, Weisz said. "I don't think (the bill) is needed," Weisz said. "I do believe it has consequences that aren't in the best interest of this state, that do intrude on the rights of others."

Contact Rep. Weisz at rweisz@nd.gov.

HomoQuotable - Matt Drudge

"False. False. False. I do not love sex with men. My site is not anti-gay. I present both sides of the anti-choice-life issue. I am not anti-tolerant! Except against big-government freaks. I liked Chaka in the eighties, and have not watched Young and the Restless in twenty years! But I do watch Judge Judy!” - Blogger Matt Drudge, telling New York Magazine that he does not appreciate being named as one of Out Magazine's "Power 50" homos in media.

Out's profile for Drudge reads in part: “The archly conservative 42-year-old … also happens to love Chaka Khan, The Young and the Restless, and sex with men … Unfortunately, his agenda is often anti-gay, anti-choice, and anti-tolerance."

PhoboQuotable - Steve King

"This is an unconstitutional ruling and another example of activist judges molding the Constitution to achieve their personal political ends. Iowa law says that marriage is between one man and one woman. If judges believe the Iowa legislature should grant same sex marriage, they should resign from their positions and run for office, not legislate from the bench.

"Now it is the Iowa legislature’s responsibility to pass the Marriage Amendment to the Iowa Constitution, clarifying that marriage is between one man and one woman, to give the power that the Supreme Court has arrogated to itself back to the people of Iowa. Along with a constitutional amendment, the legislature must also enact marriage license residency requirements so that Iowa does not become the gay marriage Mecca due to the Supreme Court’s latest experiment in social engineering." Iowa state Rep. Steve King, writing on his official state site.

Another "gay marriage Mecca"? OH NOES! If you are an Iowa resident, please visit this action page and tell Gov. Culver that you support the decision of his state's Supreme Court. Be sure to mention this study which suggests that Iowa could see $160M pumped into its economy over the next three years from gay couples rushing in from nearby states to marry.

The Chicken Formerly Known As Obama

The New York Times reports that Obama Fried Chicken in Brooklyn has caved to the threats of activists.

From the restaurant’s perspective, the name change grew out of pride in the new president and a keen sense of commerce. From other perspectives, it was tone-deaf at best, and racist at worst. When the restaurant, Royal Fried Chicken on Rutland Road in Brownsville, changed its name last week to Obama Fried Chicken, the reaction was swift. “Community leaders came. They told us we have to change the name,” said Mohammad Jabbar, 33, the manager. “They said if you don’t change it they will take action.”

The restaurant will now be known as Popular Fried Chicken. Obama's reps say, "The White House has a longstanding policy of disapproving uses of the president’s name and likeness for commercial purposes.” Hmm, so what about the Chia Obama? I guess I'll have to get up to the OFC in Harlem before they give up too.