Charlie Christ: I Asked God To Protect FL From Hurricanes. Result? No Hurricanes

Florida Gov. Charlie Crist is taking credit for his state's recent lack of hurricanes. Because he slipped God a note about it.

Crist noted that just before his election in 2006, Florida had been affected by a total of eight hurricanes in 2004 and 2005. "Do you know the last time it was we had a hurricane in Florida? It's been awhile. In 2007, I took my first trade mission. Do you know where I went?" said Crist, a Methodist, referring to a trip to Israel. He then told of going to the Western Wall and inserting a note with a prayer. He said it read, "Dear God, please protect our Florida from storms and other difficulties. Charlie." "Time goes on - May, June, July, August, September, October, November, December - no hurricanes," Crist said. "Thank God."

Crist's note also asked God for a beard. Result? Carole Rome.

O'Reilly: Jon Stewart Lied About Me!

Mexico Gets It Right

Yesterday Mexico decriminalized the possession of, well, everything.

Mexico enacted a controversial law on Thursday decriminalizing possession of small amounts of marijuana, cocaine, heroin and other drugs while encouraging government-financed treatment for drug dependency free of charge. The law sets out maximum “personal use” amounts for drugs, also including LSD and methamphetamine. People detained with those quantities will no longer face criminal prosecution; the law goes into effect on Friday. Anyone caught with drug amounts under the personal-use limit will be encouraged to seek treatment, and for those caught a third time treatment is mandatory — although no penalties for noncompliance are specified. Mexican authorities said the change only recognized the longstanding practice here of not prosecuting people caught with small amounts of drugs.

No criminal charges for personal use and free government treatment for addicts. In Mexico. And how many Americans are in prison here with third-strike life sentences for possession?

CNN: Maggie Gallagher Vs. Tobias Wolff On DOMA Repeal

Despite his recent foray into birther wingnuttery, CNN moderator Lou Dobbs actually says some sensible things here, demanding that Maggie Gallagher explain how opposite marriage is damaged by gay marriage. "You're blaming homosexuals for an institution that's under assault by just about everything BUT gays!" Tobias Wolff is typically great here.

Lutheran Sect To Sanctify Gay Marriages

The Evangelical Lutheran Church voted today to allow individual congregations to bless same-sex marriages.

“I’ve been a life-long member at Redeemer Lutheran Church [in Atlanta], and I was never comfortable asking my church to bless my relationship,” said Bob Gibeling, who is at the assembly. “This offers great hope to me that when I find a future life-long partner, my own beloved congregation will want to bless that union.” The change in the Evangelical Lutheran Church does not require pastors or congregations to bless same-sex unions, but allows those comfortable with it to do so. Gay pastors can serve in Lutheran churches, but only if they are celibate. A vote expected later today will determine whether Lutheran churches can call and install gay pastors who are in relationships.

The Evangelical Lutherans are the largest sect of their denomination with 4.7M members at 10,000 churches. Today's move is opposed by other Lutheran sects and should further splinter the denomination.

80's Flashback

New Order, Confusion, 1983. After the global success of Blue Monday, some New Order fans were dismayed by this foray into hip-hop/electro, but I loved it. In this clip, legendary producer Arthur Baker takes the band to Chelsea's notorious Funhouse Disco so they can watch the b-boys react to his mix. (The Funhouse was two blocks from where the Eagle is now and was where DJ Jellybean Benitez was working when he met Madonna.) Bonus points here for shots of the formerly porn-filled Times Square and the formerly graffitti-ridden subway. And I'd kill for one of those Funhouse jackets. TRIVIA: An almost unrecognizable mix of Confusion was used for the disco bloodbath scene in Blade.

Still Alive: Oklahoma DOMA Challenge

A lesbian couple in Oklahoma has filed a new federal challenge to DOMA and their state's constitutional ban on same-sex marriage. The couple apparently filed their suit without the consultation of any LGBT group, despite pleas from such organizations that gay couples refrain from acting alone. Duncan Osborne at Gay City News:

The lawsuit has had a troubled history. Filed in 2004, the year Oklahoma amended its state constitution to ban recognition of same-sex marriages, the couples sued the governor, the state attorney general, and the federal government. A district court allowed the suit to proceed, but the state appealed that ruling in 2007. In a decision in June of this year, a three-judge appeals panel reversed the lower court and dismissed the case against the governor and attorney general.

Marriage licenses in Oklahoma are issued by court clerks who work for Oklahoma’s judicial branch of government, not the executive branch. The 2004 amendment made it a misdemeanor to issue a marriage license to a same-sex couple, but that law, if enforced by the attorney general, would apply to a court clerk, not the couple requesting the license. “The alleged injury to the Couples could not be caused by any action of the [governor and attorney general], nor would an injunction (tellingly, not requested here) against them give the Couples the legal status they seek,” the panel wrote. In their amended complaint, the couples sued the court clerk in Tulsa County and the federal government.

Caption This

Broadway Friday

- Openly gay Tony nominee Gavin Creel has been sidelined from his starring role in Hair due to an onstage ankle injury.

- Spike Lee's documentary of the Tony winning Passing Strange debuts tonight at NYC's IFC Film Center. Next week the film will be available on demand via Sundance Network.

- UGH: Disney is in negotiations to turn the Beatles' Yellow Submarine into a Broadway musical.

- The national tour of the Dreamgirls revival kicks off at Harlem's Apollo Theatre on November 11th.

- Benefiting the AIDS Healthcare Foundation, the 19th Annual Divas Simply Singing! takes place October 10th at Beverly Hills' Saban Theater. This year's divas: Sheryl Lee Ralph, Loretta Devine, Yolanda Adams, Brenda Russell, Jenifer Lewis, Barbara Morrison, Frenchie Davis, N'dambi, Yo Yo, Niecy Nash, and Sam Harris. Get tickets here.

- The cast of Hair and other Broadway "notables" will rally at Central Park's Delacourt Theater next Friday from 2:30pm-3:30pm to help publicize the National Equality March. Hair's producers have canceled the October 11th performances so that the entire cast can attend the march.

HomoQuotable - Alan Cumming

"Sometimes people do think, 'Fuck the threat; I want to do the other thing'. It is a mental thing. There’s a psychologist here who said that it’s because the gay community has not properly grieved for the AIDS epidemic. In a way that’s why barebacking has become a sort of fetish. It’s up to all of us, especially people who have lived through a time when it was a real threat. It is still a real threat. But I remember that advert with that big iceberg, and I was just becoming sexually active when AIDS started. So I suppose it has been drummed into me. We all have to make sure, especially with young people, that you have to wear a condom. Not just because of HIV, just generally. There are lots of ugly things there. And if someone has not worn a condom with you, then they probably haven’t with many people. Think about it that way." - Actor Alan Cumming, speaking to Attitude Magazine.

Daily Grumble

I accidentally left my computer speakers turned on last night. Sometime around 5am I was awakened by a loud musical chime announcing the automatic download of an update of some sort. So I got out of bed and answered the door. My door buzzer sounds like a cat being strangled, so I have no idea what I was thinking. You've done this, right? Right?

NYC Is Still A Company Town

According to the second annual report from the Center For An Urban Future, the economic downturn has not hurt the number of national chain franchises in New York City, with 53 chains adding a total of 310 outlets and 62 chains closing 245 stores over the last 12 months. The most common stores in the five boroughs:

1. Dunkin' Donuts - 429 (+88)
2. Subway - 361 (+26)
3. McDonald's - 258 (+10)
4. Starbucks - 258 (+23)
5. Duane Reade - 229 (+13)

The biggest losers were ATT Wireless - 59 (-23), Pizza Hut - 20 (-19), and Blimpie - 37 (-13). Five chains completely went out of business, closing 68 locations: Office Max, KB Toys, Levitz, Circuit City, and Burritoville.

Best Scam Ever

For a mere $110 the kind atheists at Eternal Earthbound Pets will take care of your beloved animals after Jeebus has raptured you up to everlasting glory.

You've committed your life to Jesus. You know you're saved. But when the Rapture comes what's to become of your loving pets who are left behind? Eternal Earth-Bound Pets takes that burden off your mind. We are a group of dedicated animal lovers, and atheists. Each Eternal Earthbound Pet representative is a confirmed atheist, and as such will still be here on Earth after you've received your reward. Our network of animal activists are committed to step in when you step up to Jesus. We are currently active in 20 states and growing. Our representatives have been screened to ensure that they are atheists, animal lovers, are moral / ethical with no criminal background, have the ability and desire to rescue your pet and the means to retrieve them and ensure their care for your pet's natural life.

In the name of the Black Catholic Priestess Brenda Lee, how I wish I'd thought of this. Best. Scam. Ever.

Maine Couple Celebrates 40 Years

A nice story to appear on local Maine news right now, isn't it? Wait for a bitchy comment from anti-gay organizer Marl Mutty at the end. Your donation to No On 1/Protect Maine Equality will be doubled by an anonymous donor if you do it by today.

(Via - Pam's House Blend)

Rachel Explains Filibusters

I love it when Rachel gets cute.

NBC-Los Angeles Hires Homophobic Anchor Alycia Lane

You may recall former Philadelphia newscaster Alycia Lane, who was shitcanned by CBS after she got into a 2007 traffic altercation with a female NYPD officer, calling her a "fucking dyke bitch" and punching her in the face. The most serious charges against Lane were later dropped, drawing the ire of NYC's gay cops association. Lane has just been hired at NBC's owned and operated station in Los Angeles.

Lane, who had spent five years as the principal weeknight anchor for the 4 p.m., 6 p.m. and 11 p.m. newscasts at CBS-owned-and-operated KYW [in Philadelphia] before she was let go in early 2008, will start helming KNBC's weekend evening broadcasts Aug. 29. She replaces Kim Baldonado, who in July was promoted to anchor the station's daily "Midday Report" and the weekly "News Extra" investigative reporting series. KNBC's initial news release about Lane's hiring touted her résumé and accomplishments, including two Emmys for local reporting, boosting ratings in Philadelphia and a stint as a weekend anchor and reporter for WTVJ, the NBC station in Miami. It contained no mention of the events that undercut her standing at KYW.

Just so you know her story, Los Angeles.

(Tipped by Autumn Sandeen)

Gay Bashers Unite On Facebook

How does crap like this survive more than a day on Facebook? Interestingly, they are using an image from from a book of homoerotic photos by noted gay lensman Michael Alago.

Dan Savage Taping HBO Pilot

Dan Savage reports that he's in LA taping a pilot for HBO.

"Savage Love," the (potential) teevee show, "will focus on current events and cultural trends with sex as the filter." I'm hoping to bring a new kind of conversation to TV about sex—an honest conversation, one that's informed without being (too) wonky, funny without being (too) cruel, sexy without being (too) cheesy. Basically, my sex-advice column—but on the teevee! If any Sloggers are in LA next Thursday or want to come to LA next Thursday to be a part of the live studio audience at the taping of the "Savage Love" pilot—I'll save you a seat, Loveschild!—you can get tickets by clicking here.

Looking forward to it, Dan!

Ron Paul On Health Care Reform

Ron Paul thinks the government has no place interfering in health care. He also says that "some people aren't necessarily in need" of insurance. Bonus wingnut points for bringing up immigrants.

Morning View - Gowanus Building

The derelict Gowanus Building, an old power station in Brooklyn, has been on sale for $27M forever. It gained the above editorial last September during the Wall Street bailout, which hasn't helped it sell, oddly enough. The building sits on the Gowanus Canal, one of the nation's most polluted waterways. The EPA has proposed adding the Gowanus to its Superfund cleanup priority list, a move opposed by Mayor Bloomberg because that would interfere with two proposed 1200-unit apartment towers.

Obama: No Insurance For Illegals

Speaking on a radio show today, President Obama told a caller that his health care reform plan will not offer coverage to illegal immigrants, but they will continue to be treated at ERs as per law.

Tom Ridge: Homeland Security Faked Terror Alerts For Dubya

Former director of Homeland Security Tom Ridge admits in his new book that he was pressured into faking terror alerts in order to help George W. Bush win reelection.

Dave Weigel, writing for the Washington Independent, notes that in the past, Ridge has denied manipulating security information for political reasons. In 2004, for example, he said, "We don't do politics in the Department of Homeland Security." The Bush administration was forced to admit in the days after the 2004 alert that it was based on intelligence three or four years old. Officials then claimed there was a previously unmentioned "separate stream of intelligence" that justified the warning -- but offered little tangible information to support their new story. ThinkProgress recalls, the AP reported that "even 'some senior Republicans' privately questioned Ridge's timing of a terror alert that came just three days after the Democratic National Convention."

Not really surprising, is it? Most of us were suspicious at the time. Let's see if the GOP leadership of today takes any responsibility. Yeah, hold your breath.

Friendly Voices - Kylie Minogue

"When I started out in music, going from acting to singing, that transition was very successful, but I also got flack for it. Many hurtful things were said. It wasn't easy. I was only 19 and I think the gay audience kinda picked up on that and decided to defend me and adopt me. They saw I was being criticised for being myself. A lot of record companies market directly towards 'the pink pound'. But I never did that. They kind of adopted me instead. Somebody once said to me, 'Gay icons, there's a lot of tragedy in their lives. But you don't really have that.' I said, 'I've had a lot of tragic hairdos and outfits. I think that makes up for it.'" - Kylie Minogue, speaking to Instinct Magazine. Minogue's first-ever North American tour begins next month.

80's Flashback

Paula Sheppard, Me And My Rhythm Box, 1983. From Liquid Sky, one of my favorite bad movies ever, in which microscopic aliens land in the East Village to harvest the chemicals in human brains created at the moment of orgasm, which kills the human. The acting is spectacularly bad, especially from Anna Carlisle, who plays the male and female leads. Fashion model Margaret (Carlisle) doesn't know why her lovers keep vaporizing during sex, but she becomes resigned to it, telling her lesbian lover Adrian (Sheppard), "I kill with my cunt." It does turn out to be handy for dealing with a rapist.

Quote Of The Day - Pastor John Piper

"The tornado in Minneapolis was a gentle but firm warning to the ELCA and all of us: Turn from the approval of sin. Turn from the promotion of behaviors that lead to destruction. Reaffirm the great Lutheran heritage of allegiance to the truth and authority of Scripture. Turn back from distorting the grace of God into sensuality. Rejoice in the pardon of the cross of Christ and its power to transform left and right wing sinners." - Pastor John Piper, blogging that Jeebus sent the tornado to Minneapolis because the Lutherans voted to be more accepting of gays.

(Tipped by JMG reader St.Paul Paul)

Double Your Money In Maine

If you donate to No On 1/Protect Maine Equality from now until tomorrow, an anonymous donor will match your gift dollar-for-dollar.

Ted Kennedy Wants His Replacement Chosen Quickly

Sen. Ted Kennedy is worried that he will die or be too ill to vote on health care fall this fall and has asked the Massachusetts legislature to speed up the process for replacing him.

Kennedy’s request comes in the midst of the heated national debate over health care, which has been the senior senator’s focus in Congress for decades. He does not address his battle with brain cancer in a letter to Gov. Deval Patrick and state leaders, but Kennedy does signal his struggle could be nearing an end. “I am now writing to you about an issue that concerns me deeply - the continuity of representation for Massachusetts should a Senate vacancy occur,” Kennedy wrote in July 2 letter to Patrick, state Senate President Therese Murray and House Speaker Robert A. DeLeo. In the letter, Kennedy asks that legislation be passed to change a law adopted in 2004 to provide for a special election to choose a new U.S. Senator in the event of a vacancy.

The law Kennedy wants changed was instituted in 2004 to prevent then Massachusetts governor Mitt Romney from replacing Sen. John Kerry, who was then the Democratic presidential nominee.

This is another example, tragic as it is, of why I consider Ted Kennedy to be the greatest Senator of my lifetime.

RELATED: President Obama may visit Kennedy at his family compound in Hyannisport this week if the Senator's health allows it.

Lockerbie Bomber Set Free

In a humanitarian move, the UK has released the terminally ill man believed to have placed the bomb on Pan Am Flight 103, which exploded over Lockerbie, Scotland in 1988, killing 270.

The White House, which has urged Britain to keep al Megrahi behind bars, said it "deeply regrets" the decision. Scottish Justice Secretary Kenny MacAskill told a news conference that the prisoner, who doctors say has three months to live, was "going home to die" and would be put on a plane later Thursday. "Our justice system demands that judgment be imposed but compassion available," MacAskill said. "Our beliefs dictate that justice be served but mercy be shown." The justice secretary said he declined to allow al Megrahi to be transferred to Libya to serve out his sentence, even though a prisoner transfer agreement exists between the United Kingdom and Libya.

Opinions?

Rush Limbaugh, Third Grader

"Barney Frank spends most of his time living around Uranus." I know you are, but what am I?

Ref. 71 Leader: The Gays Are Making The State Work Too Fast

As the rate of bad Referendum 71 signatures continues to rise, Washington state's wingnuts are accusing LGBT activists of pressuring election officials to speed up the process, thereby causing errors. The Faith and Freedom Network's Gary Randall bleats:

The hurry-up plan was put in place as the homosexual lobby discovered that the faster the checkers checked, the more names were discarded as not valid. They began to put pressure on the Secretary a couple of weeks ago. He and his staff have responded, by setting arbitrary deadlines toward which they could surge, increasing the number of checkers, increasing the number of hours of checking and putting new policies in place which would hurry the process and result in an increase in the error rate. The reasoning? I was told that with the possibility of a lawsuit and other pressing matters related to regular responsibilities, they needed to "get this completed."

Box Turtle Bulletin's Timothy Kincaid: "Now anyone familiar with the process of looking for error - in anything - knows that going too fast doesn’t result in more identified false discrepancies but rather in missing those that are overlooked. But Randall isn’t doing his best truth telling this week."

Gary Randall is asking his followers to pray to God to make the Washington Secretary of State stop bowing to pressure from dirty homos. With over half of the signatures counted, the error rate has edged up to 11.67%. If it finishes at over 12.43%, the measure will not make the ballot.

Sen. Jim DeMint Wants "Loser Pays" System Of Tort Reform

Sen. Jim DeMint (R-SC) wants to create a "loser pays" system for civil lawsuits so groups like the ACLU will be "dissuaded from intimidating Christians and conservative groups."

"They've done a lot of harm," he states bluntly. "They're the group that constantly attacks the Boy Scouts for having 'God' in their pledge and wanting to set their own standards. The ACLU uses the threat of lawsuits and the cost of those lawsuits to back down school boards. They can drag people into court [and] they have a whole lot of power as attorneys to intimidate people." So DeMint argues there needs to be tort reform. "I just think we need to change our laws to create a 'loser pay' system, so that if they sue someone and lose, the defendants get...their court costs back," says the lawmaker. "That would make [the ACLU] a little more hesitant when they go out and try to attack those who are doing anything that's faith-related in our culture."

DeMint claims that those attacked by the ACLU know that even if they win, they can't recover the money spent defending themselves.

Maine's New Marriage Equality Ad

DeLay Wants To See The Gift Certificate

"Will you ask the president to show me his gift certificate?"

Berlin: Record-Setting Female Sprinter Accused Of Not Being Female

Teenage South African sprinter Caster Semanya "came out of nowhere" to set records at the track and field world championships in Berlin this week. But everybody is waiting for the result of a "gender test" given three weeks ago to determine if Semanya is literally woman enough to compete in female events.

About three weeks ago, the international federation asked South African track and field authorities to conduct the verification test. Semenya had burst onto the scene by posting a world-leading time of 1:56.72 at the African junior championships in Maruitius. Her dramatic improvement in times, muscular build and deep voice sparked speculation about her gender. Ideally, any dispute surrounding an athlete is dealt with before a major competition. But Semenya’s stunning rise from unknown teenage runner to the favorite in the 800 happened almost overnight. That meant the gender test—which takes several weeks—could not be completed in time. Before the race, IAAF spokesman Nick Davies stressed this is a “medical issue, not an issue of cheating.” He said the “extremely complex” testing has begun. The process requires a physical medical evaluation and includes reports from a gynecologist, endocrinologist, psychologist, internal medicine specialist and gender expert. South Africa team manager Phiwe Mlangeni-Tsholetsane would not confirm or deny that Semenya was having such a test. “We entered Caster as a woman and we want to keep it that way,” Mlangeni-Tsholetsane said. “Our conscience is clear in terms of Caster. We have no reservations at all about that.”

Semenya will receive her gold medal in Berlin, but will be stripped of her win if test results are not to the satisfaction of sport officials.

Maddow: Guns N Poses

Turns out wingnut radio host Ernest Hancock, the guy who staged the assault rifle stunt at Obama's event in Arizona, has ties to militias who may be linked to Oklahoma City bomber Timothy McVeigh.

Open Thread Thursday

What are you reading?

Prop 8 Trial Set, Gay Groups Excluded

A federal judge has set January 11th, 2010 as the start of the Olsen/Boies suit to overturn Proposition 8. The ACLU, the National Center for Lesbian Rights, and Lambda Legal were all denied in their request to be a party to the action. The judge did allow San Francisco City Attorney Dennis Herrera to take part, but only to assess Prop 8's impact on local governments.

Protect Marriage exults:

As the only party to Perry v Schwarzenegger that has consistently fought to preserve Prop.8, we are pleased with Judge Walker's decision to deny intervenor status to Campaign for California Families, the Our Family Coalition, Lambda Legal, and the National Center for Lesbian Rights. The motions for intervenor status clearly demonstrate the discord and disagreement that exists among gay activists as they continue to run roughshod in their efforts to overturn the will of the people in regards to upholding traditional marriage in California.

The ACLU complains:

On behalf of our clients, we are disappointed that the court did not permit organizations that represent California’s diverse lesbian, gay, bisexual, and transgender (LGBT) community to participate in the case as the Court weighs the harms inflicted by Proposition 8. The significance of this case for our entire community is enormous. To exclude the people whose very freedom is at stake is troubling. Our commitment to restoring marriage for all Californians is unwavering, and we will continue to do everything within our power to secure full equality and justice for LGBT people.

Law Dork 2.0 analyzes:

What the intervention rulings mean is that Ted Olson and David Boies, along with San Francisco City Attorney Dennis Herrera, will be the lawyers now controlling this challenge to Proposition 8, considered by many to be the most broad, grand-scale attack on marriage discrimination of all those brought in recent years. It is not yet clear how Vaughn ruled in terms of whether both plaintiff groups — the AFER plaintiffs and the City Intervenor-Plaintiff — will be responsible for all decisions or whether Walker named one lead plaintiff in the case. The ramifications of an appellate or Supreme Court ruling would have impact far outside California’s borders, with a success for the plaintiffs calling into question other state amendments banning lesbian and gay couples from marrying, as well as the federal Defense of Marriage Act.

Dennis Herrera cheers:

We're gratified that San Francisco has been granted a key role in the federal challenge to Proposition 8. In terms of our unique public sector perspective and the evidence we've already developed, we think the City is an extremely well-prepared co-plaintiff in the kind of trial Judge Walker envisions. We are ready to help put anti-gay discrimination on trial based on the facts, and our office has the experience and expertise to aggressively assist in doing exactly that.

DC: Bishop Harry Jackson: Health Care Reform Is Racist

Emboldened by his recent high profile as DC's most angry homo hater, Bishop Harry Jackson is taking aim at health care reform, saying it's "reverse classist" (huh?) and racist. I don't know who the woman with the terrible wig is, but dig her giving Jackson those Nancy Reagan eyes.

Pastor Steven Anderson: America Is Controlled By Homosexuals

Good As You points us to this just-posted "sermon" by Pastor Steven L. Anderson of the Faithful Word Baptist Church of Tempe, Arizona. The clip is audio-only and NSFW as the good gentle Christian pastor screams things like "Faggots run this country!" He also accuses Barney Frank of being a pedophile and lies that Frank has been arrested for it. It's an unbelievably vile speech coming from a so-called Christian minister. (No, wait, it's totally believable.) The church's website says they are "young, family-oriented church."

UPDATE: YouTube has already pulled the clip, no doubt because of the libeling of Rep. Frank. If you can bear more of the Andersons, check out the blog of Pastor Steve's wife Zsuzsanna, who in her top post wishes that a local cop be killed on duty. I sense a replacement for the Phelps family.

UPDATE II: Good As You captured the audio. Go listen.

80's Flashback

2 Live Crew, Me So Horny, 1989. Using the music of Mass Production's 1979 hit Firecracker and a vocal sample from Full Metal Jacket, this track took the Miami-based rappers to the top of the charts, to jail, and eventually, to the U.S. Supreme Court, which ruled that freedom of speech protected the group from charges of obscenity. The album that spawned Me So Horny, As Nasty As They Wanna Be, is often cited as launching a now two-decade run of over-the-top hip-hop misogyny. TRIVIA: You might enjoy the parody Oy, It's So Humid, by 2 Live Jews. DISCLOSURE: I had to work with 2 Live Crew's label, Luke Records, while working for a record distributor in Miami. They were always horrible to me.

Protesters Decry NYC Council Speaker Christine Quinn Outside Debate

Protesters waved anti-Christine Quinn signs outside of an event where the openly lesbian NYC Council Speaker debated two other candidates for her seat.

While City Council Speaker Christine C. Quinn’s campaign experience showed in a debate among three of the Democrats vying for her seat, it was Maria Passannante-Derr who brought the heat to the August 13 event. “You’re the second most powerful official in New York City,” Passannante-Derr said to Quinn when the candidates were discussing a 2005 lawsuit brought by Mayor Michael R. Bloomberg that successfully appealed a state court decision allowing same-sex marriage. “You could have used your influence to stop that lawsuit. If you did, there would be same-sex marriage in New York today.” Quinn, who was unfazed by the attacks from Passannante-Derr and milder shots from Yetta Kurland during the 90-minute debate, countered that she had opposed that suit. “I think the lawsuit that Mayor Bloomberg brought was outrageous and I spoke out against it,” she said. Quinn, an out lesbian, noted that she had lobbied Republican state senators in an effort to enact same-sex marriage in New York.

Both of Quinn's opponents are also out lesbians. Some of Quinn's former supporters are irate that she supported Mayor Bloomberg in his successful bid to overturn term limits restrictions and run for a third term. Quinn continues to bear criticism for last year's slush fund scandal. The debate was cosponsored by Gay City News and was moderated by editor Paul Schindler. A complete video of the debate is here. Things heat up around the 7:00 mark.

Hurricane Bill May Hit NYC

Hurricane Bill was just upgraded to Category 4 and is forecast to begin affecting the NYC area sometime Sunday morning. By then colder waters should have reduced its wind speed to a mere 115mph. Reverend Pat Robertson has not yet said whether he intends to pray Bill away from New York.

NYCLU Sues School District Over Harassment Of Gay Student

The New York Civil Liberties Union has filed a lawsuit against a local school district, alleging that they failed to protect a gay student from physical and verbal harassment.

The New York Civil Liberties Union has filed a federal lawsuit against the Mohawk Central School District in Herkimer County for failing to protect a gay student who does not conform to masculine stereotypes from vicious and relentless harassment, physical abuse and threats of violence. Over the past two school years, Jacob, a 14-year-old student at Gregory B. Jarvis Junior/Senior High School, endured escalating harassment for his sexual orientation and for not conforming to masculine stereotypes. He suffered near-constant verbal assault, his personal property has been defaced and broken, and he was regularly pushed and had things thrown at him. This past year, a student knocked Jacob down the stairs and sprained his ankle and a student brought a knife to school and threatened to kill him.

According to the NYCLU, the school district was repeatedly made aware of the abuse and did nothing to discipline Jacob's tormentors. In June, Jacob's principal told his parents that he could not guarantee Jacob's safety at the school and that the abuse would likely continue in the coming term. He is not presently attending classes.

Staten Island Gets A Gay Bar

A gay nightclub/restaurant has opened on Staten Island, the borough's first gay club in over a decade.

Q-SINY's owners Jim McKernan, 44, and his partner of 16 years, Ray Carr, 48, say they opened their venue in response to the LGBT community's gaping need for a regular place to rock out. "They've been screaming for it," says McKernan. The Castleton Corners couple picked up the call, after bumping into old friends at recent dance parties hosted by a gay-friendly travel agency in West Brighton and a new LGBT wellness center in Tompkinsville. "Our community really needs something like this to support ourselves," says Carr. McKernan, who has never owned a bar, but managed and worked in several throughout Florida, remembers a gay bar that operated in South Beach under the names "Brazil," "Abracadabra" and "Sand Castle." But that establishment closed about 15 years ago.

It's always been a truism of gay Gotham nightlife that even though Brooklyn and Queens combined have three times the population of Manhattan, each borough only ever had a handful of gay nightspots. The Bronx has 1.4M residents and has (I think) two small bars. Half a million people live in Staten Island, a population that anywhere else in the country would surely support at least a small network of gay bars and clubs, so hopefully Q-SINY has a shot. Here's their site, I doubt I'll ever get out there, from the UES it would take me about an hour and a half.

Letterman Supports Marriage Equality

While speaking to Miss California USA owner Donald Trump last night, David Letterman said, "Anybody who wants to get married ought to be able to get married," garnering some supportive applause from his audience. Nice, but earlier during his monologue Letterman made some tired cracks about the rumored split of Rosie O'Donnell and her wife Kelli, saying that in the divorce "Rosie will get the power tools." Sigh.

Julian Bond Endorses Equality March

NAACP chairman Julian Bond has joined the list of high-profile endorsements of the National Equality March. Via press release:

Most notably, recent endorsements for the NEM have come from allies representing organizations not usually thought of as part of the immediate LGBT community. US Representative, Danny K. Davis, of Chicago, Illinois; Michael Letwin, Co-Convener, New York City Labor Against the War (NYCLAW); and NAACP Board Chairman, Julian Bond, have all recently voiced their support for the NEM. "GLBT rights are civil rights; there are no 'special rights' in America. Everyone has rights - or should have - and I am happy to join in this battle for justice and fairness," explains Bond. Other notable endorsements include Susan Stryker, Associate Professor of Gender Studies at Indiana University and author of “Transgender History”; and the Tony Award-winning production of Broadway’s Hair, which will be going dark for the weekend of the NEM in order to attend the event.

Visit the Equality Across America site for information about volunteering, events, and fundraising.

Dems To GOP: We're Doing Health Care Reform With Or Without You

Democrats seem ready to give up on trying to achieve a bipartisan consensus on health care reform and say they are ready to wield their Congressional majorities to push the bill through on their own.

Top Democrats said Tuesday that their go-it-alone view was being shaped by what they saw as Republicans’ purposely strident tone against health care legislation during this month’s Congressional recess, as well as remarks by leading Republicans that current proposals were flawed beyond repair. Rahm Emanuel, the White House chief of staff, said the heated opposition was evidence that Republicans had made a political calculation to draw a line against any health care changes, the latest in a string of major administration proposals that Republicans have opposed.

“The Republican leadership,” Mr. Emanuel said, “has made a strategic decision that defeating President Obama’s health care proposal is more important for their political goals than solving the health insurance problems that Americans face every day.” The Democratic shift may not make producing a final bill much easier. The party must still reconcile the views of moderate and conservative Democrats worried about the cost and scope of the legislation with those of more liberal lawmakers determined to win a government-run insurance option to compete with private insurers.

Now we need to get those Blue Dogs on the same page as the administration.

Rainbow Lounge Fallout: Fort Worth Cops Rewrite Rules On Bar Raids

After enduring a firestorm of criticism and demonstrations over their violent raid of the Rainbow Lounge, Fort Worth police are completely revising their rules on conducting inspections of nightclubs.

The Fort Worth police chief said Tuesday that he is revising bar inspection policies in the wake of a raid on a gay bar that left one customer seriously injured and several officers facing allegations of wrongdoing. Chief Jeff Halstead told the City Council that problems happened at the Rainbow Lounge in the early morning hours of June 28 because the department's bar inspection policy lacked specific guidelines, which he said was why no policies were violated. He said a revised policy should be in place by Sept. 1 with rules for a three tiered-system: bar checks, inspections and investigations. The department is also trying to mend its relationship with the gay community — which held several protest marches after the raid — by having meetings, appointing an officer as a liaison and providing more diversity training to officers, Halstead said. "Once the policy is complete, we're never going to come here again," he said after giving his preliminary report on the investigation into the raid. "We are recovering from this, and I'm very proud of that."

You may recall that the above-quoted police chief initially claimed that Rainbow Lounge patrons groped the officers involved in the raid. Investigations continue against those officers. No lawsuits have yet been filed by customers.

Hit N Run Hula

Led by a drag queen, the Nā Lei Hulu I Ka Wēkiu hula troupe last weekend performed a "hit n run" piece at the corner of Castro and Market in San Francisco. The music is History Repeating by the Propellerheads featuring Shirley Bassey.

(Tipped by JMG reader Leif)

Fired News Anchor Charles Perez Files Restraining Order Against Ex

Recently fired Miami ABC News anchor Charles Perez has been granted a restraining order against his ex-boyfriend, saying Dennis Pena had physically threatened and sexually assaulted him.

Miami-Dade County Judge Rosa Figarola ordered Dennis Ricardo Peña to stay at least 500 feet away from Perez for the next 24 months. Peña, an unemployed paralegal, has 30 days to appeal and said "of course'' he will. Perez, 46, testified in domestic violence court that he was afraid of Peña, 42, claiming that his ex-partner had threatened and sexually assaulted him. Peña denied harming Perez, who did not file a complaint with the police. The two men began an on-again, off-again relationship in February 2006 in New York, while Perez was a TV anchor at WABC. Peña moved to South Florida when Perez accepted a reporting-anchor job at Channel 10. They broke up in August 2008, a few months after Perez succeeded Dwight Lauderdale as weeknight news anchor with Laurie Jennings.

Perez was fired after filing a complaint alleging that his station had demoted him for being too obviously gay on the air.

Using Gay Marriage To Split California

Split California literally, that is. Duncan Osborne at Gay City News reports that the lawyers backing the litigants in the Smelt case, the one that has caused all the DOJ-DOMA furor, have a master plan other than marriage equality.

The attorney representing two gay men who sued in state court and now in federal court in southern California to win the right to marry hopes the case will spawn a political movement that will result in residents there voting by ballot initiative to divide the state in two. “We’re hoping to use the case in court as a springboard to get a proposition on the ballot that will break up California into two states,” said Richard C. Gilbert, a partner at Gilbert & Marlowe, a law firm with two offices in California. “We think if we can get this proposition on the ballot, we think we’ll win.”

Gilbert said the ideal result would be that all the counties north of Los Angeles would become New California while the southern counties would remain California. Gilbert likened the circumstances of his clients — Arthur Smelt and Christopher Hammer — to Dredd Scott, who sued for his freedom in the 19th century only to have the US Supreme Court rule in 1857 that no African-American, free or enslaved, could be a US citizen. That decision contributed to the Civil War and Scott was eventually freed. “We don’t want a civil war,” Gilbert said. “We just want to have civil division in our state between people who are willing to respect the rights of all people and those who are not.” Residents of New California, in his view, would be far more amenable to arguments in favor of marriage equality than those in the southern part of the state.

Osborne reports that Freedom To Marry's Evan Wolfson is not pleased. Wolfson says, "I think it is reckless and intolerable to risk bad court rulings through premature and poorly executed litigation putting gay people’s freedom to marry and legal rights at risk for other dubious agendas."

Read Duncan Osborne's entire article.

Barney Frank FTW!!!

Finally, a Congressman fucking PWNS a teabagger.

Obamacare Will Bring Home Invasions!

Or so screams the headline on Christianist site OneNewsNow. But here's what the article says:

Mike Farris with ParentalRights.org is drawing attention to Title IX, Subpart 3, section 440, on page 837 of Obama's healthcare plan (HR 3200). That section deals with the creation of a government bureaucracy that would establish and expand "programs providing voluntary home visitation for families with young children and families expecting children." Under the provision, the government would instruct parents on age-appropriate child development in "cognitive, language, social, emotional, and motor skills." It would also provide parents with "modeling, consulting, and coaching on parenting practices."

Home invasions. Yeah.

Rock Bottom

At a Las Vegas town hall meeting, a woman yells "Heil Hitler!" at an Israeli immigrant speaking about his home country's national health care. She does this while the man is live on the air with a local television station. This country is lost.

UPDATE: The woman's name is Pamela Pilger. It's hard to tell, but it seems like she's wearing a t-shirt that says "Israeli Defense Forces." Huh?

Man With Assault Weapon At Obama's Event Was Planted By Wingnut Radio Host

It turns out that the man with the assault rifle who appeared outside of the president's town hall event in Arizona yesterday was planted by a teabagger Libertarian wingnut internet radio host. Shocker!

The host, Ernest Hancock, says, "We're up against a tyrannical government that will rob the next generation as long as they can get away with it. If you go to FreedomsPhoenix.com, the top story is the interview I had with this young man. Quite simply, he understands that his generation is going to be plundered until there's nothing left to plunder. When you do that, at some point, there will be resistance."

Hancock is a Ron Paul supporter (again, SHOCKING) and has been an apparently perennial candidate for Arizona Secretary of State. Check out his website for a month's worth of crazy.

Men In Film

Here's a very Godley & Creme-ish morphing of the faces of male actors of the last 80 or so years. I was surprised that I could name almost every single one.

(Via - Slog)

80's Flashback

Coil, Tainted Love, 1985. Real life boyfriends John Balance and Peter Christopherson created one of the most sobering and creepy depictions of AIDS ever in their cover of Gloria Jones' 1964 soul hit. Soft Cell's Marc Almond, whose own cover of Tainted Love was a global hit three years earlier, makes a cameo here as the Angel of Death. Coil's Tainted Love was the first ever single with profits going to an AIDS charity, all proceeds went to the UK's Terrence Higgins Trust. This video is on permanent display in NYC's Museum of Modern Art. John Balance died in an accidental fall in his home in 2004.

Swag Tuesday

Courtesy of Fly Life Inc, today's Swag Tuesday prize is Rufus Wainwright's new live CD, Milwaukee At Last!, which comes out nationwide on September 22nd.

Recorded at Milwaukee's Pabst Theater in August 2007 this 10 song CD highlights selections from the full concert DVD that will be released simultaneously. Having wowed and dazzled audiences on his acclaimed and celebrated 2007 `Release The Stars' tour, Rufus Wainwright releases his eagerly anticipated new live CD `Milwaukee at Last!!!'. Rufus Wainwright's `Release The Stars' world tour lasted nearly eight months. Launching in London's Old Vic for a week of triumphant sold out shows in May 2007; the tour was taken around the world before being officially brought to a close in 2008 at Radio City Music Hall, New York City on Valentines Day. `Release The Stars' is the focal point of the new live CD with other highlights coming from Rufus' `Want One' record, a scintillating performance of Noel Coward's `If Love Were All' from his `Rufus Does Judy' show, plus a spine tingling acapella version of celtic song `Macushla'. Rufus Wainwright was fully complemented on his `Release The Stars' tour by his epic 7-piece band.

A deluxe package featuring a DVD of the concert will be released at the same time as the CD. Enter to win one of our five copies of Milwaukee At Last! by commenting on this post. Only enter once and please remember to leave your email address in the text of your comments. Entries close on Wednesday at midnight, west coast time. Publicists: if you'd like to take part in Swag Tuesday on JMG, please email me.

NYC: Calling All Extra Bears

The producers of a film to be called Bear City has issued a casting call for extras for scenes to be filmed over three nights at the NYC Eagle.

CASTING BACKGROUND BEARS & CUBS!!! Casting call for indie feature "BearCity," a gay romantic comedy set in New York's gay "Bear" scene. Being developed/produced in association with TLA Releasing (Another Gay Movie, Bear Cub). HIGHLIGHTS: Monday Night, August 24, 2009 THE EAGLE - ROOF DECK OPENING PARTY! Friday Night, August 28, 2009 THE EAGLE - YOU GOT MAIL PARTY SCENE! Saturday, August 29, 2009 - ENDING DANCE SCENE & LOUNGE - WRAP PARTY!!! FOOD & COPY OF THE FILM PROVIDED.

"Food provided." THAT is a bear casting call.

Is The Public Option Back On?

On Sunday word rocketed around the intertubes that the Obama administration was dropping the "public option" portion of the health care reform plan - government-sponsored insurance for the poor or uninsurable. The word came from Health and Human Services Kathleen Sebelius, who now says she "misspoke." Sounds like the outrage from progressives caused some furious backtracking, eh?

(Via - AmericaBlog)

LaTeisha Green's Killer Gets Max

The murderer of Syracuse, New York transwoman Lateisha Green has received the maximum sentence of 25 years.

Dwight DeLee, the defendant in Onondaga County's first hate-crime homicide prosecution, was sentenced this morning to the maximum penalty of 25 years in prison. DeLee, 20, of Gifford St., was convicted last month of first-degree manslaughter as a hate crime for fatally shooting Moses Cannon as the victim sat in a car outside a house on Seymour Street Nov. 14. Cannon, 22, has been described by family as a transgender person who went by the name LaTeisha "Teish" Green and often dressed as a woman. DeLee read a statement in court this morning maintaining he is innocent and attacking the media coverage of his case and the jury verdict against him. He offered an apology to the victim's family, but maintained he did not kill anybody. "I'm no monster. I'm a young human being," DeLee said. The victim's mother, Roxanne Green, spoke briefly in court so that DeLee would understand the depth of the family's loss. "He took a very precious life," Green said, adding she hoped DeLee would see the victim's face every time he closes his eyes for the rest of his life.

According to witnesses, DeLee used anti-gay slurs before shooting Green as she sat in a parked car with her brother. DeLee's is the first hate crime conviction involving a transgender person in New York state and only the second in the entire nation.

Robert Novak Dead At 78

Conservative columnist Robert Novak, known as the "Prince of Darkness" to his enemies, has died of brain cancer at the age of 78.

Novak’s remarkable and long-running career made him a powerful presence in newspaper columns, newsletters, books and on television. On May 15, 1963, Novak teamed up with the late Rowland Evans Jr. to create the “Inside Report” political column, which became the must-read syndicated column. Evans tapped Novak, then a 31-year old correspondent for the Wall Street Journal, to help with the workload of a six-day-a-week column. Evans and Novak were the od d couple: Evans a Philadelphia blue blood and Yale graduate; Novak from Joliet, Ill. who attended the University of Illinois, Champaign-Urbana campus. Novak handled the column solo after Evans retired in 1993. The Chicago Sun-Times has been Novak’s home paper since 1966.

In 2003 Novak was accused of deliberately leaking the name of Valerie Plame, a covert CIA operative in Africa. Plame's identity was classified and the "Plame Affair" consumed the national press for months, some of whom accused Karl Rove or Dick Cheney of ordering the leak. Novak's revelation ended Plame's career with the CIA, but he was never charged with breaching national security. Cheney's chief of staff Scooter Libby was eventually convicted.

Guam Considers Domestic Partners

The tiny U.S. territory of Guam is considering domestic partners legislation. The island's Democratic leadership would like to pursue full marriage equality, but have struck a compromise with the Catholic Church.

“Guam's bill is domestic partnership, unfortunately. It is not the marriage, it is not the civil union. I have promised the Archbishop [Anthony Apuron] not to use either one of those two words though the bill does provide the same benefits that married heterosexual couples receive. I had to try to meet everybody half way. I recognize that the archbishop is concerned about the the use of the word marriage and civil union. I didn't have a ceremony because he didn't want a ceremony, it is now just an application.” “It's like applying for a driver's license,” he added. Despite Cruz's compromises with the church, Archbishop Anthony Apuron called the new bill an affront to marriage.

Local GOP leaders have offered a watered-down version of the bill that would only grant hospital visitation rights to gay couples.

Vogue Evolution, Week 2

Vogue Evolution scored big with the America's Best Dance Crew judges for their "Beyonce challenge."

RELATED: Father Tony attended this year's GMHC House of Latex vogueing ball at the Roseland Ballroom this weekend. His report with photos and video is here.

New Wingnut Hero Katy Abram

Town hall protester Katy Abram has become a wingnut media darling after going off on Sen. Arlen Specter last week. Last night Sean Hannity hosted Abrams where she railed against the government and complained that people don't like her.

NYC Homeless Shelter For LGBT Youth To Name Residence For Bea Arthur

The Ali Forney Center, NYC's homeless shelter for LGBT youth, is naming one of their residences for the late Bea Arthur. Via press release:

The Ali Forney Center (AFC), the nation's largest organization dedicated to homeless LGBT youth, will formally announce it's plan to name a residence for LGBT youth in honor of Bea Arthur at her memorial service on September 14th at the Majestic Theater in New York City. The Ali Forney Center is working with a group of Bea's close friends and colleagues to plan the memorial service. "Bea Arthur was tremendously kind and generous to the Ali Forney Center" says Carl Siciliano, AFC Founder and Executive Director. "The caring and concern that Bea expressed for our kids meant the world to us, and we are thrilled to be able to give honor to her memory in this way".

In November of 2005, Bea flew to New York City from her home in Los Angeles in order to give a special benefit performance of her one-woman show. The performance raised over $40,000 for the Ali Forney Center. In an interview for Next Magazine Bea explained her decision to offer her support "I'm very, very involved in charities involving youth and the plight of foster children. But these kids at the Ali Forney Center are literally dumped by their families because of the fact that they are lesbian, gay, or transgender - this organization really is saving lives." Bea continued to offer her support, both as a donor and as an advocate. In one of her very last interviews, published in the New York Blade in May 2008, Bea spoke with pride of having done the benefit for AFC, and indicated that she would do anything to help gay kids disowned by their parents.