Jugs 4 Jesus

(Tipped by JMG reader David C)

Coming Soon To the Sears Tower

Here's an artist's rendition of the new glass ledge they are building on the 103rd floor of the Sears Tower (which is changing its name to the Willis Tower.) The first thing I thought of was that scene in Ferris Bueller.

David Shuster Rips Apart NOM Head Brian Brown Over Lies In Ad

Hmm, every time Miss Brown speaks, I hear a pinging noise.

Anita 2.0 Does The 700 Club

The best bit is hearing Pat Robertson say "dumb bitch" on the air.

"I want women to adorn themselves with proper clothing, modestly and discreetly, not with braided hair and gold or pearls or costly garments, but rather by means of good works, as is proper for women making a claim to godliness. A woman must quietly receive instruction with entire submissiveness. But I do not allow a woman to teach or exercise authority over a man, but to remain quiet." - 1Timothy 2:9-12

White House Fixes DADT Language On Website, "Repeal" Replaces "Change"

Blogger activism works! Americablog:

There was some concern that the Obama administration was backing off the President's repeated promise to lift the ban after the White House Web site yesterday changed its commitment to "repeal" DADT to a promise to only "change" the policy in a "sensible way." This lead many observers, including the Servicemembers Legal Defense Network, to worry whether the White House was backing off of its repeated commitment to, as President Obama himself promised, "fully repeal" the DADT policy. The White House Web site has now been updated, again, and the "repeal" language is back. And while it's couched in the same terms about being done in a "sensible way," I would assume that all administration policy is implemented in a "sensible way," so this should have no bearing on whether President Obama will keep his promise to fully repeal the ban.

My earlier posts on this issue are here and here.

Fur Ball NYC: Saturday May 9th

Next Saturday May 9th at the NYC LGBT Community Center in the West Village: FUR BALL. Tickets: $8 advance, $10 at the door.

Be warned…fur ahead! Join Dance 208 as we celebrate everything furry and fuzzy. Furball is back! There are 2 floors of dancing, go-go bears, cheap beer, bear art, and warm warm fur...and over 700 furry friends... So leave the caves and shake it out! And it’s a fundraiser for the Center! WHAT ARE YOU WAITING FOR? Cheap beer! Hot Guys! Go-Go Bears! Great sounds! Let the fur fly!

I have, uh, kinda foggy memories of the last Fur Ball.

Renewed Hope On Prop 8 Overturn

Kate Kendall, executive director of the National Center for Lesbian Rights, has renewed hope about the coming California Supreme Court decision on overturning Proposition 8.

With its groundbreaking marriage decision a year ago, the California Supreme Court set us on a path that — despite some setbacks — has led to one marriage victory a week in the past month: A first-ever unanimous state supreme court ruling in Iowa; a huge victory in Vermont, where there was strong enough support for marriage equality to override their Governor’s veto; and tremendous movement in the legislatures of New Hampshire and Maine, with similar progress likely in the months ahead in New York and New Jersey. The result has been a profound sea change in public opinion, including my own view of what the next month will bring here in California.

Just this week, a new Washington Post-ABC News poll showed “a sharp shift in public opinion on same-sex marriage. Forty-nine percent said it should be legal for gay people to marry” — an 11 point shift from a similar poll conducted by the Post just three years ago. I have always believed the California Supreme Court should strike down Prop 8 because the law is so overwhelmingly on our side. But I feared that other factors might result in an adverse decision. That fear has now been replaced by hope as courts and legislatures — as well as public opinion — have moved sharply in our direction. The Court can cement its legacy by overturning Prop 8 and upholding our Constitution’s promise of equal protection. Or it can cause untold pain and hardship to our community and forever undermine the independence of the judiciary and the historic role of the courts in protecting minority rights. I believe the Court will do the right thing.

The tide is surely turning. Is the Court listening?

Butching Up Figure Skating

Canadian figure skating officials are looking for ways to butch up the sport in advance of the 2010 Vancouver Games.

"It's just as tough as football," said Canadian figure skater Jeremy Ten, ranked third in Canada. "We aren't tackling each other, but we are hitting the ice pretty hard. We're hitting the boards; we're scraping our shins and cutting ourselves." Along with the more masculine presentation, skating officials say it's also time to throw away the frilly, sequin-clad outfits in favor of simpler, more uniform looks. The attempted rebranding of the sport has outraged many gay advocacy groups, who say it's nothing more than a thinly veiled attack on skating's sizable gay audience.

Skating officials say they are looking to draw a "hockey crowd" to the sport. Doesn't seem very "thinly veiled" to me.

NOM Backs Away From Carrie Prejean

Gee, I wonder why NOM is suddenly disavowing an official relationship with Carrie Prejean? Could it be because she has turned out to yet another PR disaster?

Maggie Gallagher, president of the National Organization for Marriage (NOM) released this statement today clarifying the role of Carrie Prejean at a press conference held Thursday in Washington, DC: “A number of media sources have described Carrie Prejean as a spokesperson for the National Organization for Marriage. As we made clear at our press conference yesterday: Carrie appeared with NOM as a private citizen; she does not work for the National Organization for Marriage. She is a spokesperson for her own views, as anyone watching her can tell. We are grateful to Carrie Prejean for her willingness to stand up for marriage. We would love to work with Carrie in the future if she chooses, and we wish her well in all her future endeavors whatever she chooses. We're proud of her. Americans are proud of her. She is a remarkable young woman. Thank you, Carrie. "

Let's see....NOM put her in their $1.5M ad which was immediately pulled for copyright infringement. Then they trotted her out at yesterday's press conference (where half of the reporters wanted to ask about her fake titties). But she doesn't really work for them. Yeah.

UPDATE: Prejean calls into the Greta Van Susteren show to say that doesn't know anything about anything.

Wal-Mart CEO Signed Anti-Gay Petition

Know Thy Neighbor is reporting that Wal-Mart CEO Mike Duke is among the 80,000 Arkansas residents that signed a petition to ban adoption for same-sex couples. His wife signed also.

Mike Duke of 16 Pinnacle Drive, Rogers, Arkansas with the birthdate of 12/07/49 appears on a petition sheet for the Anti-Gay Arkansas Adoption and Foster Ban or Act 1. The actual petition sheet may be viewed here and on KnowThyNeighbor.org where one may find the alleged signature of Mr. Duke and the check mark put on by the State of Arkansas indicating that this name was verified and counted for the advancement and ultimate success of the anti-gay legislation in Arkansas in 2008 otherwise known as Act 1.

Wal-Mart has a dismal 40% rating on the HRC's Corporate Diversity Index.

(Via - Good As You)

White House Restores LGBT Rights Promises On Website (But Changes DADT Wording From "Repeal" To "Change")

UPDATE: There's been another change and it's for the better.

Yesterday JMG reader Sean Chapin alerted me to the shrunken list of commitments to LGBT rights on the White House's official site. What was once an eight-point list of detailed promises including the repeal of DADT, the repeal of DOMA, and other major commitments shrank to these two sentences:

President Obama also continues to support the Employment Non-Discrimination Act and believes that our anti-discrimination employment laws should be expanded to include sexual orientation and gender identity. He supports full civil unions and federal rights for LGBT couples and opposes a constitutional ban on same-sex marriage.

I posted about this massive reduction and sent the post off to my contacts at several major LGBT organizations. Among the responses was this from the National Gay & Lesbian Task Force:

I wanted to let you know that Rea Carey contacted the White House directly about the issue today after you alerted us to your post. Rea was told that they are changing the White House Web site to turn it into a more governance-focused site to reflect progress, as opposed to a campaign and transition site. They said they have taken out many such points throughout the site (not just on LGBT policy issues) as part of this changeover, and are apparently modifying the site over the next few weeks. We will be keeping an eye on it, but if you see changes before we do (or a lack thereof), please let us know. And thank you for calling this to our attention.

Today Americablog's John Aravosis writes:

In spite of yesterday's change in language, a White House spokesman assured me last night that no change in policy was intended:

"As is the case with most websites, periodic changes are made to WhiteHouse.gov. Recently we overhauled the issues section to concisely reflect the President's broad agenda, and will continue to update these pages. The President's commitment on LGBT issues has not changed, and any suggestions to the contrary are false."

At around the same time last night, the Civil Rights page was updated to include many of the previously omitted promises. Hate Crimes was now included as a news update, since the bill just passed the House, and AIDS is now included elsewhere on the White House Web site - all of which is fine.

There was, however, one bit of new language that caught the eye of a number of observers with whom I spoke last night:

[President Obama] supports changing Don’t Ask Don’t Tell in a sensible way that strengthens our armed forces and our national security... [emphasis added]

Aravosis concludes:

The language changed from a commitment to a "full repeal" of DADT to a commitment to "change" the discriminatory policy in a "sensible" manner. While the White House has assured us that this is not an indication of a change in policy, the language, on its face, appears to be a clear change in policy. Changing DADT is not repealing DADT. It is a commitment to keep the discriminatory policy in place, albeit with some alterations. If the White House is still in favor of "repealing" Don't Ask Don't Tell, albeit in a "sensible way" - and we're happy to take them at their word - then say just that. Change "change" to "repeal" and be done with it.

Naturally, I'm stoked that my post spurred some movers-and-shakers to pressure the White House to restore most of the list. But like John Aravosis, I'm quite dismayed with the new DADT wording.

Broadway Friday

-Gay funnyman Seth Rudetsky will host the 2009 Broadway Touring Awards on Monday at the Hilton Theater. Liza Minnelli among the presenters.
-The limited engagement of Waiting For Godot had its official opening last night at Studio 54 starring Nathan Lane, Bill Irwin, John Goodman and John Glover.
-The soundtrack to Big Gay Musical will be released on July 14th.
-PBS will broadcast a documentary about Passing Strange in the 2010 season.
-Carrie Fisher's solo show Wishful Drinking opens on Broadway October 4th at Studio 54. Previews begin September 22nd.
-R&B diva Ashanti to play Dorothy in the NYC Center Encores! revival of The Wiz. Limited engagement: June 12 - July 5.
Video: The cast of Hair gets wiggy on Letterman.

Queens For Marriage Equality

Queens, the borough, that is. Tomorrow marriage equality activists in Queens will stage an organizational meeting and party. Details: Saturday, May 2nd, 5:30pm, 21-21 24th Street, Astoria, Queens. (b/w Ditmars and 21st Avenue). I know we have tons of JMG readers in Queens, who's down?

Breast In Show

Village Voice gossip columnist Michael Musto joined Keith Olbermann last night for several minutes of fake boob jokes.

Stocks See Best April In Nine Years

Hmm.

April was Wall Street's best month in nine years _ offering some of the most powerful evidence yet that maybe, just maybe, the economy is about to begin a turnaround. The Standard & Poor's 500 index, considered the most reliable measure of the broader market, climbed 9.4 percent in April, its best performance since March 2000, the peak of the dot-com bubble. The Dow Jones industrial average shot up 7.4 percent in April, on top of a 7.7 percent gain in March.

Do things seem any better to YOU?

Carol Ann Duffy Becomes UK's First Openly Gay Poet Laureate

The UK has appointed Carol Ann Duffy as its first openly gay poet laureate. She is also the first woman to hold the post.

Duffy, who once said "no self-respecting poet" should have to write verses about the wedding of Queen Elizabeth II's youngest son, will be expected to produce poems for royal weddings, funerals and other state occasions. A witty and popular writer whose work is widely taught in British schools, Duffy is also the first openly gay laureate. Duffy said she had thought "long and hard" before accepting the job, which now has a 10-year term. "I look on it as a recognition of the great woman poets we have writing now," she told the BBC.

The job pays £5000 annually.

Dancing Is For Poofs

Hugh Jackman: "In another world, another life, probably growing up in another country, I might have been more of a dancer. In fact I was going down that road when I was about 12. I was encouraged to do that, and I remember my brother saying, 'Ah, you poof,' so I gave it up. I dropped it like a hot rock. I didn't have the guts of Billy Elliot at the time!"

He still turned out to be a pretty good dancer, yes?

Maddow Interviews Judy Shepard

Rachel Maddow provides a history lesson on the murder of Matthew Shepard, then interviews his mother Judy about the comments of Rep. Virginia Foxx. Since the murder of her son, Shepard has become a well-known national spokesperson against violence perpetrated on LGBT people.

Who Would Jesus Waterboard?

The more often an American attends church, the higher the likelihood is that he supports the torture of prisoners. And evangelicals are the most likely support it.

More than half of people who attend services at least once a week -- 54 percent -- said the use of torture against suspected terrorists is "often" or "sometimes" justified. Only 42 percent of people who "seldom or never" go to services agreed, according to the analysis released Wednesday by the Pew Forum on Religion & Public Life. White evangelical Protestants were the religious group most likely to say torture is often or sometimes justified -- more than six in 10 supported it. People unaffiliated with any religious organization were least likely to back it. Only four in 10 of them did.

The president of the National Association of Evangelicals declined to comment on the survey.

Influenza A (H1N1)

New from WHO:

The World Health Organisation (WHO), bowing to pressure from meat industry producers and concerned governments, said on Thursday it would refer to a deadly new virus strain as influenza A (H1N1), not swine flu. "From today, WHO will refer to the new influenza virus as 'influenza A (H1N1)'," it said on its site. The new strain has infected 257 people. The WHO has confirmed eight deaths although many more people are suspected to have died from the virus. It derives from a swine influenza virus but the new strain has been found only in people. While it contains mostly swine flu genetic sequences, it also contains small amounts of human and bird flu virus genetic material. No pigs have been confirmed to be sick with it. WHO has consistently said the disease cannot be caught from eating pork if it is prepared properly.

But people here will still say "swine."

Foxx's "Apology" Lands Her Back At #1

SCOTUS Judge David Souter To Retire

Sources close to Supreme Court Justice David Souter have revealed that he will retire at the entire of the Court's current term. The sources say that he will remain in office until President Obama selects his replacement.

Factors in his decision no doubt include the election of President Obama, who would be more likely to appoint a successor attuned to the principles Souter has followed as a moderate-to-liberal member of the court's more liberal bloc over the past two decades. In addition, Souter was apparently satisfied that neither the court's oldest member, 89-year-old John Paul Stevens, nor its lone woman, Ruth Bader Ginsburg, who had cancer surgery over the winter, wanted to retire at the end of this term. Not wanting to cause a second vacancy, Souter apparently had waited to learn his colleagues' plans before deciding his own.

Souter was appointed by Bush I in 1990 but to the president's dismay, Souter joined the liberal voting wing of the Court. Some are speculating that Obama will select a second woman to join Ruth Bader Ginsberg on the nine-member panel.

Deeeeelicous!!!!

Hey, remember when NOM went all copyright on everybody's ass because of those Gathering Storm audition tapes? Check out what you see now when you try to play their new clip featuring Perez Hilton aka Mario Lavandeira.
BWA HA HA HA. Never thought I'd say THIS, but Perez Hilton FTMFW!

Q&A With Carrie Prejean At The Washington Press Club

Washington Blade's Rebecca Armendariz:

[Maggie] Gallagher introduced Carrie and was very careful in choosing her words. She said that she understands that the "attacks" on Miss Cali don't reflect the views of most gay people, and remained civil, and a little emotional, about the need to preserve traditional marriage. I'm sure she's also really proud of the soundbite she brought out for the occasion - that Carrie "chose the truth over the tiara."

"No comment" on the boobs question!

Marriage Bill Begins Journey Through New York Legislature

The New York Assembly has moved openly gay rep Daniel O'Donnell's marriage equality bill through committee and may vote on the bill as early as next week. Empire State Pride Agenda urges New Yorkers to contact their Assembly rep and request their support.

White House Shrinks LGBT Rights Commitments List On Official Site

UPDATE II: There have been two important developments in the story. First. Second.

Hey, President Obama! Where did that famous list of commitments to LGBT rights go on your website? Within five minutes of Obama's swearing-in, a heavily detailed list of eight promises to us were posted: repeal DADT, support ENDA, expand adoption rights, etc. There's no mention of DADT or adoption rights or HIV prevention anymore, here's the two sentences that remain:

President Obama also continues to support the Employment Non-Discrimination Act and believes that our anti-discrimination employment laws should be expanded to include sexual orientation and gender identity. He supports full civil unions and federal rights for LGBT couples and opposes a constitutional ban on same-sex marriage.

Compare what's there now with what was there on Inauguration Day.

UPDATE: The National Gay & Lesbian Task Force has responded to my email.

Hi Joe,

I wanted to let you know that Rea Carey contacted the White House directly about the issue today after you alerted us to your post. Rea was told that they are changing the White House Web site to turn it into a more governance-focused site to reflect progress, as opposed to a campaign and transition site. They said they have taken out many such points throughout the site (not just on LGBT policy issues) as part of this changeover, and are apparently modifying the site over the next few weeks. We will be keeping an eye on it, but if you see changes before we do (or a lack thereof), please let us know. And thank you for calling this to our attention.

Warm regards,

Inga Sarda-Sorensen
Director of Communications
National Gay and Lesbian Task Force

The Two Best Rebuttals In Yesterday's House Hate Crimes Debate

Rep. Rush Holt (D-NJ) rips the GOP position that the hate crimes bill criminalizes thought. "That's like saying that anti-lynching laws criminalized knot-tying!" Some real zingers there. But DO watch Rep. Barney Frank (D-MA) tear into the Repubs who numerous times evoked the "Philadelphia 11", a group of anti-gay protesters who were arrested in 2004 for preaching at a gay pride event. Best speech of the day and classic Barney Frank.

34 Senate Co-Sponsors Of Hate Crimes Act

A whopping 34 U.S. Senators have already signed on as co-sponsors of Ted Kennedy's hate crimes bill. This bodes very well.

Sen Akaka, Daniel K. [HI], Sen Bayh, Evan [IN], Sen Bingaman, Jeff [NM], Sen Boxer, Barbara [CA], Sen Brown, Sherrod [OH], Sen Cantwell, Maria [WA], Sen Cardin, Benjamin L. [MD], Sen Casey, Robert P., Jr. [PA], Sen Collins, Susan M. [ME], Sen Dodd, Christopher J. [CT], Sen Durbin, Richard [IL], Sen Feinstein, Dianne [CA], Sen Gillibrand, Kirsten E. [NY], Sen Harkin, Tom [IA], Sen Johnson, Tim [SD], Sen Kerry, John F. [MA], Sen Klobuchar, Amy [MN], Sen Landrieu, Mary L. [LA], Sen Lautenberg, Frank R. [NJ], Sen Leahy, Patrick J. [VT], Sen Levin, Carl [MI], Sen Lieberman, Joseph I. [CT] , Sen Merkley, Jeff [OR], Sen Mikulski, Barbara A. [MD], Sen Murray, Patty [WA], Sen Nelson, Bill [FL], Sen Nelson, E. Benjamin [NE] ,Sen Reed, Jack [RI] , Sen Schumer, Charles E. [NY], Sen Shaheen, Jeanne [NH], Sen Snowe, Olympia J. [ME], Sen Specter, Arlen [PA], Sen Udall, Mark [CO] , Sen Whitehouse, Sheldon [RI]

The Senate Judiciary Committee may consider the bill as early as next week. Upon approval, they will send it to the full Senate for a vote.

Victory For Marriage In Maine Senate

The wins are coming every day now. This just in:

The Maine Senate this morning passed a bill that would allow same-sex marriage in Maine. The Senate voted 20-15 in favor of the measure. Supporters say it would end discrimination against gays and lesbians and opponents say the proposal is an attack against the institution of marriage. This morning’s vote means the bill has cleared its first hurdle in the Legislature. However, it still needs to pass through the House of the Representatives

Downside: Senators are discussing an amendment to the bill which would send the issue to the voters. A poll taken last week shows voters split almost evenly on the issue.

UPDATE: The amendment to send the issue to the voters has FAILED.

Rep. Foxx Says She's Getting Death Threats Over Matthew Shepard Remarks

Rep. Virginia Foxx (R-NC) says she has gotten death threats since yesterday's House hate crimes debate during which she called the murder of Matthew Shepard a hoax. Foxx is now backing off her statement.

A spokesperson for the congresswoman said Foxx's office has received hate mail over the past 24 hours, including death threats. Foxx later said her comments didn't convey what she meant to say. "The term 'hoax' was a poor choice of words used in the discussion of the hate-crimes bill," Foxx said in a statement. "Mr. Shepard's death was nothing less than a tragedy, and those responsible for his death certainly deserved the punishment they received." Foxx said in her statement that she relied on two news reports for her comments about robbery being a motive for the slaying. "Referencing these media accounts may have been a mistake, but if so, it was a mistake based on what I believed were reliable accounts," she said.

A Facebook group has already sprung up calling for Foxx's resignation.

Tramp Stamp Barbie

Some parents aren't too pleased about Tattoo Stamper Barbie.

Kelly McGillis Comes Out

I would have sworn this was old news, but apparently Top Gun and The L Word actress Kelly McGillis never came out officially until now.

Fifty-one-year young Kelly McGillis is starting her "life in a whole different phase," she told rocker and SheWired vlogger Jennifer Corday -- ostensibly coming out as a lesbian. Corday, in her Girl Rock video blog, asks the Top Gun and The Accused star, that since she is single, is she looking for a man or woman, or both? In no uncertain terms McGillis responded that what she is looking for is "definitely a woman." McGillis, a long-rumored lesbian who starred on The L Word as a closeted Army Colonel trying a Don't Ask Don't Tell case added that she is "done with the man thing." She said she is "done with that, and needs to move on in life, and that's another part of being true to yourself." It has been a challenge personally for her, she added. McGillis said that realizing her sexuality has been an ongoing process for her since she was 12 years old, but through her life faced getting over being convinced that God was punishing her for being gay.

She Wired has video of the coming out interview. Now, Kelly...about your Top Gun co-star....

Bankruptcy For Chrysler

Today the Obama administration will announce that Chrysler will enter into bankruptcy in order to force a debt reduction with their partner Fiat.

With the UAW late Wednesday ratifying cost cuts in its contract and cuts in the money due its retiree health-care trust fund, President Barack Obama will announce a Chrysler-Fiat deal and the government’s “surgical” bankruptcy plan later today. The administration "was willing to give the holdout creditors a final opportunity to do the right thing," an administration official said. But "the agreement of all other key stakeholders ensured that no hedge fund could have a veto over Chrysler's future success."

In 1979 Jimmy Carter famously bailed out Chrysler in a deal that included the government buying thousands of Dodge trucks for military use.

Daily Grumble

So I couldn't sleep the other night and this show popped up on my channel guide. "Internal cleansing has swept across America." Really? Has it? Blech. The pitchman was the most ghoulish looking creature, reminding me of the repulsive Durk Pearson and Sandy Shaw, who pitched their "life extension" crapola on Merv Griffin every other week for about a decade. Why are these floggers of health gimmickry so sickly looking?

Oh, It's Broughten

Now that Carrie Prejean has officially signed on with NOM, the Miss California pageant is taking the gloves off.

Shanna Moakler, Co-Executive Director of the Miss California Organization, has confirmed the group behind the pageant paid for Miss California Carrie Prejean’s breast implants, weeks before she competed in Miss USA. In a new interview with Access Hollywood’s Billy Bush, Shanna confirmed the news. “Did you guys pay for it?” Billy asked Shanna directly. “Yes,” Shanna said. “We did.” The organization paid for Carrie’s breast enhancement prior to her competing in the Miss USA pageant, which was held in Las Vegas, almost two weeks ago.

Pageant officials say Prejean has been avoiding them and they are considering stripping her of her title.

(Via Wayne @ World Of Wonder)

SF Police To Crackdown On Dore Alley Fair

San Francisco police have met with the organizers of the Up Your Alley Fair (better known to some as Dore Alley) to warn they will will not tolerate public sex at this year's July event. The fair is considered the smaller, more local version of the famed Folsom Street Fair. Via Bay Area Reporter:

The stepped up enforcement against lewd behavior at the South of Market street party, officially known as the Up Your Alley Fair, comes after two individuals filed numerous complaints with the city's Office of Citizen Complaints against the 14 police officers assigned to patrol the 2008 event for not addressing the acts of public indecency. Police also point to the Web site Zombie Time (NSFW) that documented numerous photos of men performing oral sex, urinating in public, and masturbating from second floor windows overlooking the fair as another reason for their increased vigilance. The site, created by an anonymous local photographer, also questions why the police took no action against the public nudity and sexual behavior at the fair.

Police say that if the event's promoters do not rein in illegal behavior, they will not approve an application for the 2010 fair. Fair organizers were caught by surprise.

The department's stance caught off guard officials with Folsom Street Events, the nonprofit producer of both the Up Your Alley Fair and Folsom Street Fair. Executive Director Demetri Moshoyannis said the first time he learned about the complaints stemming from the 2008 event came during last week's meeting before a panel of city staffers charged with approving street closure requests. At the hearing, Greely said that the "public sex last year was very blatant" at Up Your Alley and that people sent the police photos that "were very demented." The hearing grew testy when Moshoyannis said he had not been apprised of the problems and Greely jokingly asked how he could not know of the sex occurring, eliciting laughter from those present. "I don't think this is funny at all," shot back a visibly annoyed Moshoyannis, who asked "SFPD to address us within 30 days of the event if there are problems." He added that if brought to his attention earlier, "We can help you do your jobs."

Without a doubt, those complaining about fairgoers' behavior are doing so at the behest of Peter LaBarbera, who routinely posts diatribes about SF's leather events, including photos of unsuspecting attendees. Last fall LaBarbera's complaint campaign successfully ended a leather/sex event that was to occur during Washington DC's Mid-Atlantic Leather.

(Via Matthew S. Bajko @ Bay Area Reporter)

Maine Senate Vote Imminent

Maine's Senate votes on marriage this morning. Watch the proceedings live here.

The Maine Senate is expected to take its first vote today on a bill that would allow same-sex couples to marry in Maine. On Tuesday, the Legislature’s Judiciary Committee voted 11-2-1 in support of the bill. Eleven members of the committee voted ought to pass, two voted ought not to pass and one voted to send the question to voters. Opponents said they are prepared to present lawmakers with more than 10,000 signatures in opposition to the bill. Marc Mutty, of the Roman Catholic Diocese of Portland, called it “an avalanche of opposition,” in a news release.

The Maine House is not expected to vote on the bill until next week.

The Worst Sin In Advertising...

...is to be boring. NOM's highly anticipated new ad with Carrie Prejean is just a bunch of recycled old clips. BORING. Nothing parody-worthy in this instantly forgotten message. At least Gathering Storm was memorable.

ABC Poll Shows Marriage Approval At 49%

A new poll from ABC News shows approval of same-sex marriage to be a record 49% nationwide, even higher than the 42% reported by CBS on Tuesday.

Gay marriage, legal in Massachusetts, Connecticut and now Iowa, with Vermont coming aboard in September. At its low, in 2004, just 32 percent of Americans favored gay marriage, with 62 percent opposed. Now 49 percent support it versus 46 percent opposed -- the first time in ABC/Post polls that supporters have outnumbered opponents. More than half, moreover -- 53 percent -- say gay marriages held legally in another state should be recognized as legal in their states. The surprise is that the shift has occurred across ideological groups. While conservatives are least apt to favor gay marriage, they've gone from 10 percent support in 2004 to 19 percent in 2006 and 30 percent now -- overall a 20-point, threefold increase, alongside a 13-point gain among liberals and 14 points among moderates. (Politically, support for gay marriage has risen sharply among Democrats and independents alike, while far more slightly among Republicans.)

Up, up and up. Of course, according to the Freepers these polls are all faked by media homo insiders.

Audio: Howard Stern Tells Listeners To Support Same-Sex Marriage

Yesterday Howard Stern told his typically less-than-progressive audience that they should support marriage equality and then he made fun of anti-gay activists. Audio NSFW.

Interesting Question

Olbermann: Rep. Virginia Foxx Is The Worst Person In The World

Olbermann delivers a blistering condemnation of Rep. Virginia Foxx for calling Matthew Shepard's murder a hoax. And in a two-fer, he leads with a classic rip on dumb bunny Rep. Michelle Bachmann.

Maine Governor Calls Calls Blogger To Discuss Support Of Marriage Bill

In a surprising move, Maine Gov. John Baldacci called the home of Pam's House Blend blogger Louise yesterday to say he was reconsidering his position about signing the marriage equality bill should it reach his desk. Baldacci has been saying he was undecided for several weeks. On Tuesday the Maine Judiciary Committee strongly endorsed the bill and sent it on the state House and Senate who will consider it next week.

Baldacci was calling Louise to respond to an irate email that her husband had sent him. Go to her PHB entry for a transcript of the call, which floored the couple.

Bye Matt

Everybody's pick for next to go, Matt Giraud, was indeed next to go. The shocker was Adam Lambert placing in the bottom two. Immediately the fan forums lit up with cries of "set-up!" and "rigged!" as devotees speculated that the producers were engaging in shenanigans. Two words: Chris Daughtry.

Open Thread Thursday

What's your favorite instrumental movie theme? I'm devoted to the work of Ennio Morricone - everything from The Good, The Bad, And The Ugly to Cinema Paradiso to my all time favorite Mission To Mars. Below is the track The Martian, which is heard towards the end of the film. Mournful, wistful, majestic. The clip on the left is from the soundtrack, the one is the right is from the film.

Hate Crimes Bill Passes U.S. House!

After hours of contentious debate during which GOP members of the House parroted numerous lies funneled to them by the American Family Association, the Local Law Enforcement Hate Crimes Prevention Act (HR 1913) passed by a vote of 249-175. Democrats opposing: 17. Republicans in favor: 18.

Yesterday Sen. Ted Kennedy introduced a Senate version of the bill. President Obama has promised to sign the bill when it reaches his desk. That will likely be the first of his many promises to the LGBT community to come to fruition.

Two great victories for movement in one day!

GOP Liars At The Podium

The debate has just ended and the vote is about to commence, but check out Rep. Virginia Foxx (R-NC) calling the murder of Matthew Shepard "a hoax."

Rep. Foxx: "The bill was named after a very unfortunate incident that happened, where a young man was killed, but we know that that young man was killed in the commitment of robbery. It wasn't because he was gay. The bill was named for him, the hate crimes bill was named for him, but it's, it's really a hoax, that that continues to be used as an excuse for passing these bills."

In fact, and as you all probably know, the killers DID conspire to select a gay victim to rob.

While his killers Aaron McKinney and Russell Henderson did rob him, they also admitted that they were well aware of his sexual orientation and pretended they were gay to lure him away from the bar he was in at the time. The most striking feature of the case, of course, is that during the course of a normal, simple robbery, the victim is not generally beaten, tied to a post, and left for dead.

Foxx was only one of many Republican liars to take the podium in today's House debate. Barney Frank did a great job tearing down one of them in particular, I'll have that clip ASAP.

SHOCKER: Marriage Equality Passes In New Hampshire Senate

This just in!

The New Hampshire Senate has approved a bill that would allow same-sex marriage in the Granite State. After surviving an early vote to kill HB 436, the bill passed the New Hampshire Senate Wednesday afternoon by a vote of 13 to 11. The Senate version of the bill made minor amendments to remove gender-specific language, so it will now go back to the House for a vote. Gov. John Lynch has said marriage is a word that should be reserved for the union of a man and a woman, but he has not said specifically that he would veto the bill.

Yesterday the progressive site Blue Hampshire forecast that the bill would fail by several votes.

Unbelievable victory!

Now Hampshire reports:

The House passed a similar measure last month by a 186-179 vote. The two chambers must reconcile small changes between the two measures in a conference committee but this is seen as a technicality. Senators were subjected to a blizzard of lobbying from gay rights groups in the days leading up to today’s vote. Lobbying efforts focused on a small handful of Democratic lawmakers who were seen as on the fence, including Senate President Sylvia Larson and Sens. Lou D’Allesandro, Betsy DeVries and Deb Reynolds. All but D’Allesandro voted in favor of the bill. Sen. Reynolds may face criticism from conservative and Republican circles, as she voted to kill the measure in the committee and switched her vote on the Senate floor. Sen. DeVries told constituents this weekend in voice mail recordings that she would vote against it, but she voted for it. Every Republican member of the state Senate voted against the bill.

Thanks to the work of LGBT activists, two Democratic Senators switched their votes at the last minute, giving us the win.

Israel: Let's Call It "Mexican Flu" Because "Swine" Is Religiously Offensive

Israel wants to rename swine flu to "Mexican flu" because pork is offensive to Jews and Muslims.

Deputy Health Minister Yakov Litzman said the reference to pigs is offensive to both religions and "we should call this Mexican flu and not swine flu," he told a news conference Monday at a hospital in central Israel. Both Judaism and Islam consider pigs unclean and forbid the eating of pork products. Scientists are unsure where the new swine flu virus originally emerged, though it was identified first in the United States. They say there is nothing about the virus that makes it "Mexican" and worry such a label would be stigmatizing.

So if anything, it should be the "American flu." But I guess Israel would rather dis Mexicans.

TVC: Dishonest Or Dumb?

Many of you greatly enjoyed Rob Tisinai's recent video deconstructing the lies of the Christianist right regarding same-sex marriage. Today Rob rips apart the lies of the Traditional Values Coalition in their campaign against hate crimes laws. Fantastic work.

Carrie Prejean To Star In New NOM Ad

You just knew this was coming, right? Via Ben Smith at Politico:

Miss California, Carrie Prejean, who offered memorable opposition to same-sex marriage and a young, attractive new face for the movement against it, will appear tomorrow at a press conference hosted by the National Organization for Marriage at the National Press Club, according to a press release from the group. She'll be launching a new ad, the second in what the group says is a $1.5 million campaign. The ad, the release says, will address:

"What happens when a young California beauty pageant contestant is asked, "Do you support same-sex marriage?" She is attacked viciously for having the courage to speak up for her truth and her values. But Carrie's courage inspired a whole nation and a whole generation of young people because she chose to risk the Miss USA crown rather than be silent about her deepest moral values. "No Offense" calls gay marriage advocates to account for their unwillingness to debate the real issue: Gay marriage has consequences."

And all the intertubes rubbed their hands in glee over the coming parody opportunities.

U.S. House Debating Vote On Hate Crimes

At the moment, wingnut Rep. Steve King (R-Iowa) is railing against "protected sexual orientations" such as pedophilia. Rep. Louie Gohmert (R-Texas) is literally waving his Bible and quoting scripture. It's a zoo. Watch live here.

Panic Attack

Duane Reade, 1st & 72nd, 11am

Woman: Hey, where is the Tamiflu?
Clerk: Do you have a prescription?
Woman: What?? You need a prescription?
Clerk: Yes, but your doctor can just call it in.
Woman: That's CRAZY! You people should be giving it out for FREE. People are DYING!

She storms out......

Terrorism Expert Wins Transgender Discrimination Case Against Feds

Former Army Special Forces commander Diana Shroer has won a $500K judgement from the federal government because she was denied a Library of Congress job while transitioning her gender.

Diane Schroer of Alexandria, Va., applied for the terrorism analyst job while she was still a man named David Schroer. He was offered the job, but the offer was pulled after he told a library official that he was having surgery to change his gender. U.S. District Judge James Robinson ruled Tuesday that Schroer was entitled to $491,190 in back pay and damages because of sex discrimination. The Library of Congress and the Justice Department argued unsuccessfully that discrimination because of transsexuality was not illegal sex discrimination under the Civil Rights Act. The American Civil Liberties Union had argued the case on Schroer's behalf. Paul Cates with the ACLU's Lesbian and Gay Rights Project said the ruling was significant because a federal judge said that discriminating against someone for changing genders is sex discrimination under federal law.

Another big win for the ACLU.

Worst Tattoos Ever

From a coming book called No Regrets: The Best, Worst & Most £$%*ing Ridiculous Tattoos Ever, here's Pegasus fucking a pink unicorn. Who is smoking. Slideshow of more examples here.

RELATED: I've always found it very interesting that most of my friends in SF are somewhat heavily tattooed, while very few of my NYC friends have a single dot of ink.

Iowa Family Policy Council Hits New Low

On behalf of the Iowa Family Policy Council, a local couple has published an editorial in the Des Moines Register titled Homosexual lifestyle, marriage cause families pain. The piece tells the story of their recently deceased son, who was "recruited" into the "cult" of homosexuality "by a coworker" and then "abandoned" by his "friends" to die of AIDS alone. A small excerpt:

As a parent, nothing can prepare you for the loss of a child to a terminal illness. It's somehow worse when that illness resulted from your child's reckless decision and his own actions. Witnessing the daily physical deterioration of our son caused great pain and sadness to us as parents and on the extended family as well. It was interesting to note that once Randy was diagnosed HIV positive, the homosexual community who had actively recruited him and had claimed to be his "family" were nowhere to be found. As his health declined, he spoke frankly about the homosexual experience. Randy said, "It is not an alternate lifestyle. It is a cult."

For the Iowa Supreme Court to sanction homosexual "marriage" is to encourage and underwrite the negative results that naturally come from the homosexual "lifestyle." Aside from the physical destruction inflicted on those who practice homosexuality and the incredible stress homosexuals cause their extended families, society often pays a hefty price as well. Randy lost his job when he was no longer strong enough to work. With the loss of that job, he lost his ability to insure himself. As a result, you the taxpayer paid for more than $250,000 in medical bills for this one AIDS patient.

No, he wasn't "recruited." You gave him your gay genes and made him that way yourselves. And it was your own rejection of him that caused him to hate himself and probably, distance himself from his gay family who would have likely been there for him. YOU did this. Here's their YouTube clip.

Know Thy Hater

Know Thy Neighbor has posted the names of all 83,000 Arkansas voters who signed petitions calling for a ban on adoption by same-sex couples. Their database is searchable by zip code, last name, town, and county.

"This is about responsibility and dialogue," said Tom Lang, KnowThyNeighbor.org's director. "These petition signers need to stand behind their signatures and be responsible for this dehumanizing attack on the gay community. It's disgraceful that they have chosen to exercise their prejudice at the expense of children who are now being denied access to loving adoptive and foster parents. Such activity must be challenged and cannot be allowed to pass under the cover of darkness."

Four Times Married Ex-Con Drunk Driving Tax Evader Calls Gay Marriage Immoral

(Via - Right Wing Watch)

Fly-Over Flap Widens

Everybody is falling over themselves apologizing, half of NYC wants somebody fired, and now we hear the feds predicted panic during the fly-over, yet had it anyway.

Federal officials knew that sending two fighter jets and Air Force One to buzz ground zero and Lady Liberty might set off nightmarish fears of a 9/11 replay, but they still ordered the photo-op kept secret from the public. In a memo obtained by CBS 2 HD the Federal Aviation Administration's James Johnston said the agency was aware of "the possibility of public concern regarding DOD (Department of Defense) aircraft flying at low altitudes" in an around New York City. But they demanded total secrecy from the NYPD, the Secret Service, the FBI and even the mayor's office and threatened federal sanctions if the secret got out.

Meawhile, as the first major "oops" of the Obama administration, the flyover flap has really brought out the loony conspiracy wackos in Wingnutistan.
-"The president didn’t know that Air Force One was flying over Manhattan? Tell me another whopper!"
-"Sounds more like some VIP was given a sightseeing flyover—hence the need for F-16 escorts and no announcement to the public."
-"My guess is either a bigtime fundraiser, or Michelle and the kids."
-"Someone big enough to require a fighter escort was on that plane. Fidel Castro? Hugo Chavez? King of Saud? King of Jordan?"
-ZERO was sending a message to his Muslim Buddies! “Look what I can do at the snap of my Arab Fingers!” and tried to camouflage it as a photo op."
-"I’d bet a whole bucket of chicken and waffles it was either Fidel or Chavez!"
-"I'll call that bet and raise you two watermelons and a gallon of ice cream and say that it was George Soros."

Paterson: Guilt Drives Marriage Opponents

Yesterday NY Gov. Paterson called out religious leaders for opposing marriage equality, saying they do so because they feel guilty about not stopping gay bashing.

Gov. Paterson said Tuesday gay marriage foes - including religious leaders - are driven by guilt over their failure to oppose discrimination and violence against homosexuals. Paterson told a gathering of about 2,000 gay rights advocates that many of the people speaking out against his bill to legalize gay marriage were silent when gays and lesbians were beaten, chastised or blamed for AIDS. "Where were these leaders of faith when college students of gay and lesbian orientation were beaten and often brutalized for expressing their feelings for each other," Paterson said. Dennis Poust, director of communications for the New York State Catholic Conference, called Paterson's remarks disappointing and baffling. "We are not sure why he would feel the need to question the motivations of good people who disagree with him on this issue and engage in armchair psychoanalysis," Poust said. Guilt has nothing to do with it," Poust said.

I bet that quote will have legs during the election.

Amy Walker Does Garland

Actress Amy Walker turns in an uncanny impression of Judy Garland.

(Via JMG reader Zakky)

Equality & Justice Day In Albany

JMG reader Gavin sends us the above shot of the Empire State Pride Agenda's Equality & Justice Day in Albany yesterday, where over 2000 LGBT activists lobbied their state reps for equal rights. Gavin reports that ten bus loads of activists came from NYC alone. Visit Gavin's blog for lots of great photos.

Obama: Pass The Hate Crimes Act

Last night President Obama urged Congress to pass the Local Law Enforcement Hate Crimes Prevention Act.

"This week, the House of Representatives is expected to consider H.R. 1913, the Local Law Enforcement Hate Crimes Prevention Act of 2009. I urge members on both sides of the aisle to act on this important civil rights issue by passing this legislation to protect all of our citizens from violent acts of intolerance – legislation that will enhance civil rights protections, while also protecting our freedom of speech and association. I also urge the Senate to work with my Administration to finalize this bill and to take swift action."

Contact your representative to demand their support using this form. Do it now.

(Via - Towleroad)

Hugs For Baldies

A report commissioned by a hair-loss supplement company in the UK says that many balding men need therapy to deal with the situation.

Many of those with hair loss reported no emotional problems, but a "significant minority" were found to be at risk of serious psychosocial consequences - including depression, anxiety, lower self-esteem and identity change, according to the report's author, health psychologist Dr Nigel Hunt. He said: "While hair loss affects a quarter of the population, the psychosocial consequences are relatively unknown." He added that people with the condition should be given more access to therapy to deal with the psychological issues associated with hair loss. The study, which questioned more than 1400 people found that a quarter with hair loss felt distressed when they looked in the mirror, 33% felt self-conscious, and almost 20% said they lacked confidence in social situations. Those polled said the condition had a "significant risk" of damaging relationships and worried their sexual attractiveness would decrease.

Hold me.

Australia's Prime Minister Kevin Rudd Rejects Civil Unions

Australian Prime Minister Kevin Rudd's government has formally rejected a call for civil unions for same-sex couples.

The Government’s response equated the proposal with same-sex marriage equality, saying the no gay unions policy “reflects the widely held view in the community that marriage is between a man and a woman”. But the Government confirmed it still intends to recognise and support same-sex families through its community and social inclusion strategies, and convince NSW, QLD, SA, WA and NT to implement relationship registers.

A representative from Australian Marriage Equality called Rudd behind the times, saying, "Opinion polls consistently show that a majority of Australians support same-sex marriage, making a nonsense of the Government’s stated belief that its policy ‘reflects a widely held view in the community’."

Since 2004 Australia has defined marriage as the "union of a man and a woman." Domestic partners registries are available to same-sex couples in the states of Victoria and Tasmania, and in the Australian Capital Territory. As noted in the excerpted text above, the federal government is pressuring other states to do so as well. Late last year same-sex couples nationwide were granted most of the federal rights afforded married opposite-sex couples.

PhoboQuotable - Bishop Thomas Tobin

"Let me explain the “champagne principle.” Not every wine is champagne. Champagne has certain very specific, universally recognized characteristics. If someone were to take a bottle of Chianti, label and sell it as champagne, they’d be arrested for fraud. In the same way, those who seek to redefine marriage – with its specific characteristics – and to usurp the title “marriage” for their morally bankrupt relationships, are committing an act of fraud. It’s insulting to those who have entered the authentic, sacred and time-honored institution of marriage over the years. [snip]

"Proponents of gay marriage say that the Church won’t be forced to witness such marriages. Don’t believe it. And other related problems will inevitably arise. Will the Church be required to admit gay couples as sponsors for baptisms; to rent its facilities for gay wedding receptions; to hire employees despite their immoral gay lifestyles; to grant family benefits to gay couples? For simply maintaining its teachings in these and many other possible scenarios, the Church will be accused of bigotry and unlawful discrimination. The threat to our religious freedom is real, and imminent." - Rhode Island Bishop Thomas Tobin, who says gay marriage threatens the "most Catholic state" because of the "abysmal apathy" of Catholics.

Adam Lambert - Feeling Good

Tonight was "rat pack" night on American Idol, in which the contestants were to deliver their takes on Dean Martin, Sammy Davis Jr., Frank Sinatra, etc. I'm not sure what Nina Simone has to do with the rat pack or big band, but Adam Lambert's take on Feeling Good was typically bombastic and theatrical. His version was more