The iPad DJ

JMG reader Mikey tips us to this gal who says she's the world's first iPad DJ. (This might be interesting to clubheads and fanboys only.) Jump ahead to the 10:00 mark for a demo of Daft Punk's amusing iDaft program. I still miss vinyl.

Catholic Group Continues To Peddle Fake Pediatricians Group

Remember two weeks back when the anti-gay American College of Pediatricians was exposed as a fake group invented by Christianists to spread lies about LGBT families to the nation's teachers? Well, that hasn't stopped the Catholic News Agency from creating the below lie-filled clip. The ACP is comprised of a dozen or so doctors affiliated with NARTH, the most notoriously discredited anti-gay group out there. (And that's saying something.) The real organization, the American Academy of Pediatricians (with 60,000 members), is quite gay friendly and supports gay adoption. The AAP denounced the fake group after learning that the bigots had mailed anti-gay letters to thousands of schools, knowing that teachers would assume the fakers were legit. The Catholic News Agency doesn't care.

NYC Event Promoter And Gay Magazine Publisher Marc Berkley Dies at 56

Famed NYC club promoter and one-time magazine kingpin Marc Berkley died unexpectedly in his sleep last night on Fire Island. Berkley reportedly had a heart attack. He was 56. Berkley was the co-founder of HX Media, the now-defunct gay publishing company that owned the popular nightlife guide HX Magazine and the LGBT news title The New York Blade.

Berkley became a dominant force in Manhattan nightlife twenty years ago, when as the longtime promoter of Chelsea's famed Limelight disco, he and business partner Matthew Bank founded Homo Xtra, a folded newsletter guide to parties and nightclubs. (And an essential list of must-dos that I was never without when visiting NYC.) Later Homo Xtra morphed into HX Magazine, a glossy weekly whose high production values and titillating cover photos influenced similar gay bar guides around the world. Avalon Media, which owned a stake in HX Media, was forced into receivership by its creditors in February 2009. Several months later, HX Magazine was sold to competing NYC nightlife guide Next Magazine, who shortly afterwards ceased its publication. Two days after the sale of HX, the New York Blade shut down as well.

In 2001, when he was probably at the height of his influence on Manhattan's gay nightlife, New York Magazine wrote a frank, but fascinating profile on Berkley. An excerpt:

Scratch a gay party promoter and more often than not you'll find a fledgling political activist; Berkley's no exception. Especially when it comes to Mayor Giuliani's relentless war on the city's nightclubs: "We're living in Nazi Germany done by Disney right now." He's told Gatien that he'd be willing to do events at the Limelight free, because "if that club stays open one day longer than Giuliani's term, we've won." Over the years, Berkley's served on his community board, coordinated Heritage of Pride's nineteenth and twentieth anniversaries, and donated hundreds of thousands of dollars to gay charities. Even HX was conceived as a political statement: "I used to sit in on act-up's fund-raising meetings every weekend; that's where I met Matthew Bank. It was 1990, and at the time, Outweek was more or less the only gay publication -- Matthew and I used to call it The New York Native Medical Journal, because every week, it was all about dying. There was nothing about what else was going on in the city. That's how we came up with the idea for HX, as an alternative to that."

Nightlife figures, DJs, fellow promoters, and longtime customers are leaving messages of tribute on Berkley's Facebook page.

UPDATE: Berkley's former business partner, Matthew Bank, sends the following message: "I am truly saddened by the passing of my dear friend and former business partner Marc Berkley. His creative spirit and boundless energy helped make New York gay nightlife a shamefully good time for what seems like forever. Working with him to create HX was a grand adventure that I will relish for the rest of my life. I'll miss him terribly."

Gary Gilmore's Eyes

A Utah judge has agreed to a prisoner's request that he be executed by firing squad. Two other prisoners have been executed by firing squad since the death penalty was reinstated in 1976. Both executions took place in Utah.

Ronnie Lee Gardner, 49, was given the choice of being killed by lethal injection or shot by a five-man team of executioners firing from a set of matched rifles – a rarely used method of execution that harkens back to Utah's territorial history. "I would like the firing squad, please," Gardner told state court Judge Robin Reese after hearing his avenues for appeal appear to be exhausted. Gardner, 49, was sentenced to death for killing an attorney 25 years ago during a failed escape attempt and shootout. Defense attorney Andrew Parnes said he plans to quickly seek a stay of execution and appeal Reese's ruling to the Utah Supreme Court.

When the Supreme Court ruled the death penalty to be constitutional in 1976, the first prisoner to be be executed was two-time murderer Gary Gilmore. His 1977 execution by a Utah firing squad became the subject of Norman Mailer's Pulitzer-winning The Executioner's Song. British punk band The Adverts had a top ten hit later that year with Gary Gilmore's Eyes, which was written from the viewpoint of a man who realizes that his transplanted eyes had been donated by Gary Gilmore.

Being Boring

After about two years of prep work, they've finally lowered the giant rock boring machine into the Upper East Side pit to begin drilling the next section of the Second Avenue Subway.

The machine’s 200-ton cutter head — which uses 44 rotating discs to mine through tons of underground rock — arrived at the project’s “launch box” between 96th and 92nd streets on Second Avenue on Wednesday. The entire, 450-foot-long Tunnel Boring Machine (TBM) will drill nearly a mile and a half of the new two-track line’s western tunnel beginning in May, the MTA stated.

The Q line will be running under my street in just nine years! Weren't we all supposed to be using hover-pods by now?

Arizona: OMG Immigrant Shoes

Weekend Mix - DJ Herbie James

Kick off your weekend with a gorgeous progressive vocal house mix by Fort Lauderdale's DJ Herbie James. Setlist. Website. Podcasts. Upcoming gigs: Fridays & Saturdays @ Ramrod. I was in the room kinda losing my mind (in a great way) when Herbie laid this down for us.

PREVIOUSLY ON JMG: DJ David Knapp. DJ Dave Huge. DJ Corey Craig.

Tweet Of The Week - GLSEN

Some excellent news to close out a mostly crummy week. Congratulations to GLSEN and their fellow advocates for LGBT youth!

UPDATE: GLSEN executive director Eliza Byard writes: "Thank you so much for the shout out for GLSEN! However, the real champions on that legislation are Shannon Sullivan and the Illinois Safe Schools Alliance, our amazing friends and partners in this crucial work."

MEXICANS GET OUT: Arizona Gov. Jan Brewer Signs Racist Anti-Immigrant Bill

Facing reelection and desperate to appease teabaggers, Arizona Gov. Jan Brewer has just signed her state's racist anti-immigrant bill.

Arizona Gov. Jan Brewer signed into law the nation's toughest legislation against illegal immigration Friday, a sweeping measure that supporters said would take handcuffs off police but which President Barack Obama said could violate people's civil rights. The bill, sent to the Republican governor by the GOP-led Legislature, would make it a crime under state law to be in the country illegally. It would also require local police officers to question people about their immigration status if there is reason to suspect they are illegal immigrants. Brewer, who faces a tough election battle and growing anger in the state over illegal immigrants, said the law "protects every Arizona citizen," and said the state must act because the federal government has failed.

President Obama has vowed that the federal government will look at ways to overturn the bill on constitutional grounds.

SAN FRANCISCO: Anti-Gay BB Gun Attackers Sentenced To Six Months

The three Bay Area cousins who went on a San Francisco BB-gun shooting spree in February have been sentenced to six months in county jail. The three had targeted men who appeared to be gay.

Mohammad Habibzada, 24, Shafiq Hashemi, 21, and Sayed Bassam, 21, also will be on probation for three years and must complete as much as 400 hours of community service, including 40 hours of hate-crime sensitivity training, according to the San Francisco District Attorney's Office. Police said the men went to San Francisco on Feb. 26 armed with an air rifle and video camera, targeting people who they thought were gay, including a man who was standing outside a Mission District bar smoking a cigarette. They shot the man in the cheek and were caught soon after when the victim — while giving a report to police — spotted their car still in the area. The victim was not seriously injured, police said. Investigators found the rifle and camera, which contained footage of 11 additional attacks that appeared to occur in San Francisco. There was not enough evidence to pursue charges in the other attacks, said Brian Buckelew of the District Attorney's Office.

The trio, whose own video of the attacks was used against them, were only convicted of negligent discharge of a firearm, which is a misdemeanor. However the hate crimes enhancement made the attacks a felony worth six months in jail.

(Via - Towleroad)

The Sue Lowden Medical Chicken Plan

Earlier this week Nevada GOP U.S. Senate candidate Sue Lowden said that instead of all this nonsense about health care reform, we should go back to "the olden days our grandparents, they would bring a chicken to the doctor, they would say I'll paint your house. I mean, that's the old days of what people would do to get health care with your doctors. Doctors are very sympathetic people. I'm not backing down from that system." Democrats are having a field day with Lowden's comments, sending chicken-suited pranksters to her speaking engagements and creating the above how-many-chickens-does-it-take medical calculator. There's also Chickens For Checkups. Keep on fuckin' that chicken, Sue.

What Should Slaggie Do Next?

Fight Back NY wants your input on their Maggie Reinvention Tour survey.

TORONTO: Gay Bathhouse Closes To Become Heterosexual Bathhouse

Toronto's oldest gay bathhouse, Club Toronto, has closed to become an "upscale swinger's club," the fancy name for a straight bathhouse.

On April Fool’s Day, a hand-written note appeared on the red door of Club Toronto reading simply, “Closed forever.” It was no joke. After 37 years as a bathhouse, the large brick house at Mutual and Carlton streets is being gutted to make way, according to the landlord, for an upscale swingers’ club. When it opened in the summer of 1973 as the Club Baths, it offered a unique blend of sexual and social interaction for gay men. “It was a great place to be in the 1970s and ’80s,” says former regular Freddy Strickland, a retired meat inspector. “It was my home away from home — movies, saunas, meeting interesting people and relaxing in the whirlpool. It was one of the most important places for me then.” “What many people don’t realize was that for many closeted gay men, Club Toronto was as much social-psychological refuge as it was a place to get off,” says Rick Stenhouse, who worked at Club Toronto in 1973.

Read the above-linked story for a fascinating retelling of the infamous 1981 raid of five Toronto bathhouses, in which over 300 gay men were arrested.

NYC Eagle To Host Lambda Legal Benefit

On May 12th the NYC Eagle will host a benefit for Lambda Legal in solidarity with the Atlanta Eagle, who was the subject of a ridiculous raid last September. All patrons and employees were found not guilty last month, but Lambda Legal's lawsuit against the city of Atlanta, their police chief, and 48 police officers will continue. The Atlanta City Commission subpoenaed 18 officers to tell their side of the story, but at last report only one has complied. The NYC Eagle event will feature an open bar and a silent auction with music by DJ Rich King. Advance tickets are $50, RSVP online here.

Broadway Friday

PHOTO: Broadway Beauty Pageant winner Charlie Williams of Memphis accepts his tiara as verklempt past winners Marty Thomas and Frankie Grande look on. The Ali Forney Center fundraiser played to a packed house at Symphony Space on Monday with celebrity judges Charles Busch, Tony winner Christine Ebersole, and Michael Musto providing Idol-esque commentary. The evening was hosted by four-time Tony nominee Tovah Feldshuh. JMG staff photographer Dr. Jeff provides a fantastic slideshow at the bottom of this post, which may be slightly NSFW due to the swimsuit portion of the contest.

-Idina Menzel, Kristen Chenoweth, and Neil Patrick Harris have supplied tracks to Glee: The Music, Volume 3 Showstoppers, which will be released on May 18th.

-Alan Cumming has dropped out of the forever delayed Spider-Man: The Musical due to a scheduling conflict. The show was supposed to open in February, no firm date has yet been announced.

-Go to Broadway World for this week's rush, lottery, and standing room discounted tickets.

-David Hyde Pierce will receive the Isabelle Stevenson Award at this year's Tonys for his charity work on behalf of Alzheimer's Disease.

-Law & Order's Chris Noth will star in the 2011 revival of Born Yesterday. The play first opened in 1946, with Madeline Kahn starring in the 1989 revival.

-Tony winner (and beyond fabulous) Beth Leavel will perform with a cast of stars on May 17th at Broadway Unleashed, a benefit for Sean Casey Animal Rescue. Bernadette Peters and Chita Rivera are scheduled to speak.

SLIDESHOW: Broadway Beauty Pageant 2010. Possibly NSFW.

Rosie O'Donnell Vs. Mike Huckabee

Rosie O'Donnell hosted Mike Huckabee on her SiriusXM show yesterday to grill him about his recent outrageous "children are not puppies" statement of opposition to gay adoption. Wonk Room has the transcript. Good stuff, listen to this.

Westboro Baptist Church To Picket Constance McMillen's Graduation

Westboro Baptist Church has announced on their website (NFSW) that they will be picketing the graduation ceremony of Constance McMillen's high school in Mississippi.

WBC will picket the graduation of Itawamba Agricultural High School to remind the parents, teachers and students of this nation that God said "Thou shall not lie with mankind, as with womankind, it is abomination." Leviticus 18:22. This generation has been raised to believe that they can live for the devil and still go to heaven, that God has no standards and the biggest lie of all - that God loves everyone. The parents of Fulton, MS feign outrage that a filthy dyke wants to parade her "girlfriend" around at their night of fornication called a prom. They had a duty to teach their children what the Lord requires of them. They shirked this duty. The Lord repays them to their face by sending dykes, burning in their lusts, to tyrannize them. "For this cause God gave them up to vile affections: for even their women did change their natural use which is is against nature." Romans 1:26

While we've seen many moving examples of young people protesting the presence of Westboro, it will be very interesting to see how the people of Constance's hometown react to this. Encouragingly, a Facebook group against the picket has already appeared.

Everybody Draw Mohammed Day

Dan Savage is promoting May 20th as the "First Annual Everybody Draw Mohammed Day" in reaction to the death threats made against the creators of South Park. It was nice knowing you, Mr. Savage.

Tired Old Queen At The Movies #27

Joan Crawford in 1953's Torch Song.

Gay Softball League Responds To Suit

The North American Gay Amateur Athletic Association has issued an open letter in response to the lawsuit filed against them by the National Center for Lesbian Rights. The lawsuit contends that the NAGAAA's gay softball league discriminated when it disqualified a San Francisco team for having too many straight players.

At its core, NAGAAA is a grass roots organization dedicated to providing a safe environment for gays and lesbians. We have no paid staff; we do not have large sums of money, nor a pool of talented lawyers. It saddens all of us that the NCLR, whom we view as members of our community, have chosen this destructive path. NAGAAA represents a diverse population, and as such there are legitimate differences of opinion among us. However, the action by the NCLR has forced these differences into the court system, rather than allowing our members the right to define who and what we are. One thing is clear, if NCLR is successful, the enormous monetary damages they seek will put our very existence in jeopardy. Regardless of the outcome, everyone loses here. There are no winners We are just at the beginning of this difficult saga. The Board is committed to representing our organization to the best of our abilities. We are guided by the framework of our organizational charter, as written by you, our members. We commit to keeping you informed as this process continues. We believe that once the facts are discovered a very different story emerges from that which has been reported, and we hope that NCLR will join with us.

Archie Comic Gets Gay Character

After running for 69 years, the venerable Archie comic has added a gay character.

"We're trying to reflect society and we're just trying to show Riverdale is a diverse place," says Dan Parent, the artist-writer behind the series. Kevin Keller makes his debut in September in "Veronica" No. 202, on sale in September, as a hunky new kid who catches the raven-haired vixen's eye. Though Veronica is used to getting her way, she's finally run up against a boy who's immune to her charms. Cue the hijinks. Parent says he hopes the positive message will offend as few people as possible, but adverse conservative reaction "was not a reason not to do the story." Archie Comics Co-CEO Jon Goldwater said in the few hours since the official announcement his voice mail has been overwhelmed with messages - mostly in support of the company's decision.

Freepers react:
-Wow, those faggots are really taking over.
-An extremely marginal and diseased viewpoint.
-Giving the Arabs yet another reason to seek nuclear weapons...
-Maybe the new character will get himself some JugHead.

Director Changes Title, It's Now: "Ticked-Off T*@nnies With Knives"

The Tribeca Film Festival has begun and in advance of its first screening tonight, Ticked Off Trannies With Knives director Israel Luna has made a slight change to its title. Some transgender activists have strongly objected to both the film's content and original title.

Barb@zul - I Don't Care

JMG reader Hector writes from Sitges to tip us to the latest release from Barcelona bear dance duo Barb@zul. Lots of beefcake within, possibly NSFW. Bonus points for a short tour of Barcelona's bar scene. More performance clips from Barb@zul at their YouTube channel.

Toronto Threatens To Pull Gay Pride Funding Over Anti-Israel Group

The city of Toronto is threatening to pull their funding for Pride Toronto if the organization allows an anti-Israel group to participate in the parade.

The city believes that its anti-discrimination policy was violated by the participation of Queers Against Israeli Apartheid in the 2009 Pride Toronto parade, to which the city gave $121,000, the Toronto Star reported Monday. The city reportedly received complaints about the use of the phrase "Israeli apartheid." Pride Toronto officials told the newspaper in an interview hours before the city's general manager of economic development and culture made the funding cut threat that it had not been decided whether the group would be allowed to march in the 2010 parade. The threat follows the announcement and cancellation last month of a Pride policy that would have parade signs reviewed by an ethics committee. Elle Flanders, a Jewish member of Queers Against Israeli Apartheid, objected to the city comparing a political opinion on apartheid to hate speech. "They're trying to compare it to hate speech, and I find it deeply offensive, as somebody who's been fighting human rights battles for a really long time, to hear that criticism of the State of Israel is somehow hate speech. No way," Flanders told the Star.

RELATED: Last night a group called Israeli Queer Activists protested outside the Ministry of Foreign Affairs in Jerusalem. Via press release:

The rally was to protest against "Israeli LGBT Festival" in San Francisco called "Out in Israel", which is funded by the Israeli consulate and Jewish organizations' together with support from the Israeli foreign affairs ministry. Activists held signs and shouted slogans saying "Stop Pinkwashing of Israeli Apartheid", "Racism = Homophobia", and "No Pride in Apartheid" Elinor Sidi, Queer activists and produced the Jerusalem Pride Parade, 2008 and 2009, says, "Israel is using this festival to rebrand itself as a liberal and open state. We as human rights activists, refuse that gay rights will be used as whitewash for human right violations against the Palestinians. Israel is not liberal and not open."

Tonight: Protest At Ohio's Miami University After Assault At Gay Fundraiser

Miami University junior Ben Collings says he and his boyfriend were assaulted after objecting to anti-gay comments he heard while attending a Gay/Straight Alliance fundraiser held at an off campus bar. Police are saying Collings initiated the fight.

Collings said that when he was in the restroom, he overheard others using derogatory words for homosexuals. Things got heated after that, he said in the video report filed by WCPO TV in Cincinnati. Collings suffered a broken cheekbone and nose, and had two black eyes. After the fight, he was treated at a hospital and underwent numerous medical tests. He said his injuries may require reconstructive surgery. Oxford police are investigating the fight, but believe that Collings initiated the fight. So far, police have not labeled the crime as a hate crime, but they continue to investigate. "I was assaulted because of my sexual orientation, if you want to define it as that – if you want to define it as assault, that's what it's going to be defined as," Collings told WCPO TV. Collings said he also believes an attack on his boyfriend inside the bar is a hate crime.

Student leaders said such assaults are never labeled a hate crime by local police. A silent protest will be held on campus tonight. Video of Collings' statement at the above link.

Tweet Of The Day - Mark Indelicato

Glee is holding open casting for its next season. Surely they could make an exception for Ugly Betty's Mark Indelicato.

CA Sen. Roy Ashburn Earns "Pink Brick" Award From San Francisco Pride

San Francisco Pride has named Sen. Roy Ashburn as the 2010 "dishonoree" recipient of their Pink Brick Award, which is given annually to any person "whose actions are deemed to have caused significant harm to the LGBT community.”

"This is the very first time in Pink Brick Award history that an out gay person is the recipient," said Amy André, executive director of SF Pride in a written statement. "By selecting Sen. Roy Ashburn, the LGBT community is sending a strong message to the world that LGBT people -- especially those with the political power and privilege to further LGBT rights -- have a responsibility to work toward liberation for all." Past recipients of the award include former Miss California Carrie Prejean, San Francisco Archbishop George Niederauer, Fox's Bill O'Reilly and Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger. The president of Pride's board of directors, Mikayla Connell, said in a statement the brick award educates people about the importance of "aligning personal honesty with political action...." "We hope this year's Pink Brick recipient ... realizes that it's never to late for him -- or anyone else -- to choose liberation and justice over shame, fear and silence," she said.

In 2008 the Human Rights Campaign was nominated for a Pink Brick, but did not "win."

Your Daily Minute Of Crazy

Rep. Michele "Crazy Eyes" Bachmann says the president and Barney Frank are a "gangster government" because the federal bailout of General Motors including closing some dealerships. Because it would been better to let the company go bankrupt and close ALL the dealerships.

Jon Stewart On Lindsey Graham

With a shot at GetEQUAL too.

Quote Of The Day - Andrea Lafferty

"This charge is supposed to carry some sort of credibility among leftists, but the fact is that the Southern Poverty Law Center is long known to be a leftwing hate group that smears any organization opposed to liberalism, illegal immigration or the LGBT agenda. Suggesting the SPLC has any credibility is as absurd as quoting members of the Flat Earth Society.

"The SPLC can’t seem to locate leftist hate groups. They don’t list the Communist Party, USA, the Workers World Party, Code Pink, MoveOn.org, Daily Kos, the Huffington Post, People for the American Way or other leftist groups as spewing hatred from their web sites or from their leaders. Several of these groups openly seek the violent overthrow of our nation. The SPLC is the group that wrote a memo used by Obama’s Homeland Security Department claiming that veterans and pro-lifers were dangerous to national security Actually, it is a badge of honor for TVC to be listed by the SPLC as a 'hate group.' It proves we’re effective in challenging liberalism, socialism, and the LGBT agenda. " - Traditional Values Coalition spokesdouche Andrea Lafferty, saying that she's proud to be identified as a repulsive, knuckle-dragging, bigoted, hate-filled shrew.

The Bear Party

Tomorrow: Blowoff NYC

DJs Bob Mould and Rich Morel return to Tribeca's Canal Room tomorrow night for the latest NYC installment of Blowoff. Doors open at 11:30pm, advance tickets $15. Get tickets here. Subway: A/C/E/1 to Canal Station, one block from the venue. Rich has promised to play Tightrope, the new smoking track from 2009 Grammy-nominee Janelle Monae. Love it.

Today In Banking Scams

JP Morgan Chase is telling its customers to select "credit" when making debit card purchases, because then they'll have to sign for their purchase and that's safer than entering a PIN in public Except banking industry experts say it's actually not safer. Could this new advice arise from the fact that that JP Morgan Chase makes a dollar from the average $100 signature debit purchase, versus a nickel or dime from the same PIN debit purchase? Naw!

Guide Magazine To Go Web Only

Long-running gay travel title, Guide Magazine, announced today that after 30 years in business, their final print edition will be published in July as the company migrates to a web-only presence. Via press release:

Pink Triangle Press (PTP) today announced plans to migrate the international gay travel publication Guide magazine from a print publication to an internet-based publishing operation. A redesigned GuideMag.com, focused exclusively on gay travel, will launch at the end of May. The final print edition of Guide magazine, the August 2010 issue, will roll off the press the third week of July. For more than three decades, Guide magazine has been renowned for providing gay male readers with a quirky blend of gay travel information, culture and politics.

The Canada-based Pink Triangle Press also publishes local editions of the gay newspaper, Xtra, in Ottawa, Toronto and Vancouver.

Day Of Anti-Gay Truth: Three Kentucky Girls Charged With Kidnapping And Attempted Murder Of Lesbian Classmate

Three high school girls in Kentucky have been charged with kidnapping and attempting to murder an openly lesbian classmate by pushing her off of a cliff. The attack took place on the Day Of Silence, which some students at the school observed as the anti-gay Day Of Truth, as instructed by Christian hate groups.

Cheyenne Williams, 18, of McKee, signed a sworn criminal complaint Monday, saying she was abducted on Friday by Corinne M. Schwab, 18, of Sandgap; Ashley N. Sams, 18, of Annville; and a 17-year-old girl who was not identified because she is a juvenile. Williams told police she was attacked as a result of her sexual orientation, state police Detective Joie Peters said. The criminal complaint says the girls unlawfully restrained and tried to cause Williams' death. The intent was to "accomplish or advance the commission of a felony and to inflict bodily injury or to terrorize" Williams. The complaint, which was signed by George Hays, the Jackson County attorney, does not provide any other details. Hays declined to comment. State police issued a news release Tuesday that says Williams was "taken against her will to the Flat Lick Falls area" where she was assaulted and that the other three girls "attempted to push her over a cliff, which could have resulted in serious physical injury or death." Williams was able to escape and get to safety, the report says.

Police say they don't yet have proof that that attack was motivated by the victim's sexual orientation.

State police Detective Joie Peters, who is investigating, said it appears the incident began as a practical joke but got out of hand, escalating to the point that Williams sustained minor injuries. Peters said he was not minimizing the incident but has not uncovered evidence it constituted a hate crime. Peters said he would present evidence to a grand jury for a decision on what charge correctly fits the facts of the case. The grand jury could indict the girls on the same charges, a lesser charge such as assault or decline to indict them.

The victim's mother says that the attack was spurred by student dissent to the national Day Of Silence. Christian groups across the country had encouraged students to actively oppose the Day Of Silence in their schools.

Johnson said she has no clue why the other girls would try to hurt her daughter. As for the timing, however, she noted that the alleged attack happened Friday, the day of a national observance for people who have faced bullying or harassment because of their sexual orientation. The attack stemmed from that, Johnson said. Crawford said he understood some students were wearing tags or stickers in support of the observance, while others were wearing stickers in opposition that said something like "Gay is not the way." Superintendent Ralph Hoskins directed that students in both groups not to display the stickers because he didn't want the situation to escalate, Crawford said.

And here we appear to have proof of exactly what the anti-gay Christian groups enabled and encouraged with their campaign against the Day Of Silence. Congratulations, PFOX, Laurie Higgins, Linda Harvey, Concerned Women For America, Exodus International, Peter LaBarbera, and all the rest.

Sonoma County On Gay Seniors Harold & Clay: It Was A Case Of Domestic Abuse

We've been hearing for a day or so that there may be much more to the story of Sonoma County gay seniors Harold and Clay, whose handling by hospital authorities has so riled much of the nation over the last week. According to county officials and the local sheriff's department, in 2008 Harold attacked Clay, putting him in the hospital.

The Guerneville man suing Sonoma County for separating him from his partner and selling their possessions had attacked the other man and at one point threatened to kill him, according to the sheriff’s department report of the 2008 incident released Wednesday. But no charges were brought against Clay Greene, 78, accused of attacking Harold Scull, 88, because prosecutors said there was insufficient evidence. Greene has repeatedly denied the allegations of abuse and Scull at the time was unwilling to pursue charges. “As far as we’re concerned, it’s a closed matter,” Diana Gomez, assistant district attorney, said. “We rejected it two years ago.” That opinion in the criminal case could chip away at the underpinnings of the county’s response to a lawsuit filed by Greene that is drawing national and international attention and has become a cause célèbre in the gay community.

Officials claim that Clay wanted to be put in a nursing home, away from Harold's reach.

Spaulding said the allegations of abuse is the real case. Greene, he said, attacked Scull and the county stepped in to protect the elder man at his own request. In court documents, Spaulding said Scull was admitted to Kaiser Hospital in Santa Rosa on April 27, 2008 as a result of domestic violence-related injuries inflicted by Greene. The case was reported to the Sheriff’s Office, adult protective services and the county’s public guardian, who all conducted investigations, he said. Scull allegedly told officials he no longer wished to live with Greene, so he was placed in a nursing home. Greene was later deemed incapable of caring for himself and was sent to a different facility, Spaulding said. The men were given a chance to remove possessions from their rented Sebastopol house, he said. What was left was sold at auction to cover their expenses, Spaulding said.

Today the Sonoma Country Sheriff's released the below statement. Embiggen to read. Even if the domestic abuse allegations are true, I doubt it will clear the county of all of the charges in the lawsuit filed against them.

Biden: Prez Cracked Up At My F-Bomb

Joe Biden told the ladies of The View today that President Obama was very amused by his dropping of the F-bomb during the signing of the health care reform bill. Get ready for the teabaggers: "Our socialist Kenyan thinks prime time obscenity is FUNNY!"

2PM: LBGT Town Hall Live On SiriusXM

Michelangelo Signorile will be broadcasting live from the LGBT Town Hall in DC today where noted activists will spar with Joe Solmonese and discuss the future of the movement. With the developments of the last few days, things promise to be VERY lively.

The panelists: National Gay & Lesbian Task Force executive director Rea Carey; Human Rights Campaign president Joe Solmonese; National Center for Transgender Equality executive director Mara Keisling; Servicemembers Legal Defense Network executive director Aubrey Sarvis; former Clinton White House advisor on gay rights Richard Socarides and blogger and activist Pam Spaulding of Pam's House Blend.

GetEQUAL activist Robin McGehee will be among those providing questions from the studio audience. Solomonese was unable to get out of London due to that pesky volcano thingy, but will be participating via video link. You can listen online beginning at 2PM by signing up for SiriusXM's free trial. Mike has promised us video clips after the event's conclusion.

Eurovision 2010: Finland's Työlki Ellää

Now this is the Eurovision kitsch I love. Folk music, accordions, blonds, and bare feet. And not a pale American pop imitation.

Comedy Central Censors South Park

After an American Islamic extremist group issued a YouTube death threat to the creators of South Park, last night Comedy Central censored a portion of a rerun of the controversial episode.

This week Muhammad was set to appear again, but was replaced by Santa Claus in a bear suit and the word "CENSORED" was plastered over parts of the episode. Every mention of Muhammad was bleeped out. It's not immediately clear whether this was intended to protect the show's creators or if it was executed by them to mock the hoopla, but what is clear is this is not the first time. During the Muhammad cartoon uproar last year, the men tried to insert a picture of the Islamic holy figure into their show, but Comedy Central said no.

When Comedy Central last censored South Park over a different depiction of Muhammad, co-creator Matt Parker complained that the network had "totally fucking pussed out."

Who Will It Be?

Insiders are reporting that People Magazine is about to feature the coming out of a "Hollywood celebrity."

People Magazine allegedly has the exclusive and the celeb is booked on several major talk shows that week including "The View." PR powerhouse Howard Bragman, who has successfully -- some might add brilliantly -- orchestrated several celeb outings in the past decade talked about his next coming out project at the GLAAD Media Awards red carpet Sunday (Apr. 17). Bragman -- the coming out king of Hollywood -- doesn't want to speculate on who it will be (that would kind of ruin his well-planned surprise, wouldn't it) but In the past he's helped NFL defensive lineman Esera Tuaolo, LPGA star Rosie Jones, WNBA star Sheryl Swoops and retired NBA center John Amaechi come out. He also orchestrated the plans for former "Party of Five" Mitchell Anderson, "Married with Children" co-star Amanda Bearse and aided Dick Sargent of "Bewitched" fame to come out on Entertainment Tonight.

My vote is on Queen Latifah. Of course, Johnny Weir (who isn't "Hollywood" but has a TV show) is repped by Bragman and he does have a book coming.

Photo Of The Day - Subway Etiquette

Jen Carlson at Gothamist directs us to fake subway etiquette signs being placed by West Village artist Jason Shelowitz. The MTA can't actually do anything about subway preachers, of course. I just smile creepily and shout "Hail Satan!" That works about half of the time.

NYC LGBT Center Unveils Massive Replacement Rainbow Flag

Yesterday NYC's LGBT Community Center had a ceremony to unveil a massive new rainbow flag after somebody taped a burned and torn flag to their front wall.

Barney Frank On GetEQUAL's ENDA Protest: What A Stupid Thing To Do

Barney Frank was not pleased by yesterday's GetEQUAL action at a House Labor Committee meeting. Chris Geidner at MetroWeekly reports:

''What a stupid thing to do.'' Those were the first words an agitated Rep. Barney Frank (D-Mass.) spit out when commenting on the Get Equal protest that happened Wednesday morning, April 21, at a meeting of the House Education and Labor Committee. On Sunday, the openly gay Frank said the committee would be marking up and voting on the Employment Non-Discrimination Act (ENDA) ''this week or next.'' The activists, led by Get Equal co-founder Robin McGehee, weren't waiting. Signs and markers in hand, they walked right up the aisle of the hearing room on Wednesday to Chairman George Miller (D-Calif.), offering him a marker to mark up the bill right then. Frank called the action ''immature, tacky'' behavior on Wednesday afternoon and said that ''George Miller and others are working hard'' to see the bill passed in the House.

GetEQUAL's Robin McGehee responds to Frank: ''Prove us wrong, and make it happen.'' Frank: ''How does this help us get the bill passed? Whose mind are they going to change?''

The Dancing Boys Of Afghanistan

From PBS Frontline's new documentary:

In Afghanistan today, in the midst of war and endemic poverty, an ancient tradition--banned when the Taliban were in power--has re-emerged across the country. It's called Bacha Bazi, translated literally as "boy play." Hundreds of boys, some as young as eleven, street orphans or boys bought from poor families by former warlords and powerful businessmen, are dressed in woman's clothes, taught to sing and dance for the entertainment of male audiences, and then sold to the highest bidder or traded among the men for sex. With remarkable access inside a Bacha Bazi ring operating in Northern Afghanistan, Najibullah Quraishi, an Afghan journalist, investigates this practice, still illegal under Afghan law, talking with the boys, their families, and their masters, exposing the sexual abuse and even murders of the boys, and documenting how Afghan authorities responsible for stopping these crimes are sometimes themselves complicit in the practice.

The program aired Tuesday night and can be viewed online here.

DADT: What Did The White House Decide And When Did They Decide It?

The Advocate's Kerry Eleveld reports that the White House may have made the decision not to pursue a 2010 repeal of DADT as early as February, yet the president still pledged its repeal this year during his State Of The Union address.

Early in the year, multiple sources say some administration officials counseled the president against acting on the military’s gay ban in 2010. Still, Obama included his intention to end the policy in his State of the Union address, saying, “This year, I will work with Congress and our military to finally repeal the law…” Yet just days after the January 27 speech, White House officials convened a meeting on February 1 with LGBT advocates in which they said the policy would not be included in the president’s recommendations for this year's Department of Defense authorization bill, according to multiple sources with direct knowledge of the meeting.

“It was a definitive shut-down from [Jim] Messina,” said a source, who was present at the meeting and agreed to speak on the condition of anonymity, referring to the White House deputy chief of staff. “He said it would not be going into the president’s Defense authorization budget proposal.” The news was a blow to activists since the Defense funding bill is the best legislative vehicle for including a measure to overturn the policy. “It almost seemed like the bar on the hurdle got raised two or three times higher,” said the source. The White House declined to comment on the meeting.

Speaking to a North Carolina audience, two months ago the Human Right Campaign's Joe Solmonese famously vowed that DADT would indeed be turned back in 2010. Unsurprising, the HRC remembers the above-cited White House meeting differently.

“They were noncommittal about legislation in that meeting, but not definitively one way or the other,” said [David] Smith, vice president of programs for HRC. According to Smith, the meeting included discussion of the Pentagon’s working group, who was going to lead that group, and their intent to review the current regulations and consider how they could reduce discharges.

John Aravosis reacts at AmericaBlog:

So yet again the White House is putting out the line that the President is weak and powerless, and has no influence with Congress. It's not only pathetic that any employee of the White House would think it wise to spread the word that the President is weak, but it's also a lie. And it's one the White House, and frankly HRC, has been spreading for a while now. The notion that Congress passes laws, the President only executes them. It's a cute high school civics approach to explaining how Washington works, it's also incredibly naive.

As we saw with health care reform, when the President dithered for a good year, the reform effort spun out of control and the entire thing was almost lost. When the President finally got engaged, finally put the full force of his presidency behind lobbying for the bill, suddenly the bill became law. It is flat out wrong, a lie, to suggest that the President has no power to influence legislation. Anyone who tells you otherwise is either lying to you, or has no concept whatsoever of how Washington works.

MetroWeekly Speaks With GetEQUAL Six

DC's MetroWeekly sends us this clip of messages from the GetEQUAL Six just as they got out of jail yesterday after having chained themselves to the White House fence.

Rep. Brian Bilbray (R-CA): I Can Spot Immigrants Just By Their Clothes

NYC Releases Condom Use Study

Gawker tips us to this new study by the NYC Department of Health.

Unprotected anal sex poses well known health hazards for men, but new research suggests that the practice is a significant health issue for women as well. More than 100,000 New York City women engage in anal intercourse each year, according to a new report from the Health Department, and many are not taking the steps needed to prevent HIV and other sexually transmitted infections. Anal membranes are easily damaged during sex, facilitating the spread of infection. Past studies suggest that anal exposure to HIV poses 30 times more risk than vaginal exposure. But the New York City findings suggest that women are less likely than men who have sex with men to use condoms during anal sex. The figure is just 23%, according to the new report, compared to 61% among men who have sex with other men. The full report is available at nyc.gov/health.

Depressing.

New Anti-Gay Christian Group Launches

Former Christian Coalition spokesman Bishop E.W. Jackson says that the black members of Congress are in the grips of Godless Democrats and homosexuals. Therefore he is launching STAND America, a new PAC dedicated to electing conservative black lawmakers. Via Christian news site OneNewsNow:

"They are pro-abortion, they are pro-homosexuality, they are pro-gay marriage -- and the black community doesn't agree with any of these things...and it is time [those lawmakers] were challenged," he vows. "[O]ur PAC is going to challenge them, recruit candidates, and ultimately see to it that they are defeated, and that the black community has an alternative leadership to look to." According to Jackson, members of the Congressional Black Caucus have insulted the black community by "conflating the black struggle for civil rights with the demands of radical homosexuals for marriage and other rights." That, he says, is "one of the most preposterous frauds ever perpetrated on a people." Consequently, the bishop says he is "declaring war" on the Democratic Party and expects his PAC's candidates will be running as Republicans or Independents. "The Democrat Party [sic] has become a coalition of the godless, and it has a death grip and it is a curse on the black community -- and it is about time that that death grip was broken and that curse was broken," says the Harvard Law School graduate.

Coachella Tribute To Grace Jones

JMG reader Jeb was there when the Gossip, LCD Soundsystem, and Tashi Condelee performed Pull Up To The Bumper as a tribute to Grace Jones, who was a last minute cancellation at Coachella.

David Mixner: DADT Repeal Can Be Done Without Help Of White House

"I have spent the day visiting on the phone with extremely reliable sources on Capitol Hill in both the Senate and House. With over twenty calls, I have been able to determine that the revolt is perhaps much larger than the media realizes. There is a sense of total frustration with the administration. They just don't understand why the White House won't move on this issue. Many of persons on the Hill that I spoke too are from states with large urban populations, including in the South. They feel the failure to vote this year on DADT will have a 'chilling effect' regarding voter turn out in the Fall elections. Those interviewed think that not only will many LGBT citizens stay home but also other progressives.

"One high ranking staffer said, 'We are going to get creamed in our district since we need the gay vote. It is just only a matter of time that what is happening to Pelosi in San Fran works it way down to our districts. We don't fucking need it. For God sakes, lets get this out of the way.' An elected official in DC told me, 'If the President digs in, he then guarantees that the debate will be ugly and divisive. I am really concerned about their intransigence.' Another Chief of Staff confided to me that this is a 'huge mistake' since it was the President himself that set the expectations." - David Mixner, saying that despite the White House's plan to wait for the Pentagon's implementation study, there is still a strong will among some in Congress to get DADT repealed on their own.

You're Doing It Wrong

A medley of infomercial idiots.

Open Thread Thursday

I know we got some artists up in here. Who draws, paints, composes, sculpts, etc? Link or post your favorite works.

Islamic Group Issues Death Threat To Makers Of South Park

An American Islamic extremist group has posted an internet threat to South Park creators Matt Stone and Trey Parker for allegedly mocking Muhammed.

A U.S. Muslim group has issued a dire Internet "warning" to creators of the satirical animated TV show "South Park" over a depiction of the Prophet Muhammad in a bear outfit. "We have to warn Matt (Stone) and Trey (Parker) that what they are doing is stupid and they will probably wind up like Theo Van Gogh for airing this show," said a posting on website RevolutionMuslim.com. The website posted a graphic photo of slain Dutch filmmaker Theo Van Gogh, who was killed in 2004 by an Islamic militant over a movie he made that accused Islam of condoning violence against women. It also posted link to a news article with details of a mansion in Colorado that Parker and Stone apparently own, suggesting the Web posters know where to find the South Park creators. The episode in question aired last week on cable channel Comedy Central of the 200th episode of "South Park", in which the Prophet Muhammad was depicted in a bear outfit.

Your Daily Minute Of Crazy

Rep. Michele "Crazy Eyes" Bachmann says that teabaggers are "actually the happiest people you'd ever want to meet." Their rallies are like "going to a state fair or family reunion." Uh, yeah. But only if your family reunion includes brandishing semi-automatic weapons, waving signs telling the president to go back to Africa, and calling for the violent overthrow of your own government.

Fox News' Greg Gutfield: GetEQUAL Are Racists For Heckling Obama

This takes the cake. Fox News host Greg Gutfield thinks he'll be cute and turn the teabaggers' racist table back on GetEqual.

"Now I, for one, think it's awesome to see gay activists moving beyond the easy targets. Usually, they rag on Mormons, because they'll take it, but ignore black churches because they won't. So now, for once, they actually spoke truth to power. But I wonder, couldn't this heckling be a precursor to violent extremism? And could this agitation toward our president, said to be based on policy, really be thinly veiled racism? I mean, the president did say he agreed with this gay group and yet they still heckled. Perhaps the members of Get Equal should look in the mirror and ask themselves why they're so uncomfortable with a black man in the Oval Office. Maybe Chris Matthews could ask this question for them while Olbermann holds the mirror. But don't hold your breath — those hecklers weren't Tea Partiers."

Gutfield once commented here on JMG to tell me that I was worse than Hitler, which I think is his standard catchphrase.

(Via - Pam Spaulding)

Robert Gibbs: White House Will Wait Until Pentagon Completes DADT Repeal Study

Press secretary Robert Gibbs said today that the White House remains committed to repealing DADT, but will not push for action until the Pentagon completes its repeal implementation study, which is expected to be concluded in December. Reporter Kerry Eleveld: "So that rules out legislative action this year?" Gibbs: "The House and the Senate are obviously different branches of government. The president has a process and proposal I think that he believes is the best way forward to seeing, again, the commitment he has made for many years to changing that law."

This clip opens with Gibbs and Eleveld discussing the unprecedented action taken by the police and Secret Service during GetEQUAL's protest yesterday, when they pushed back reporters attempting to cover the action. Lafayette Park, a frequent site of protests on many issues, was closed entirely to everybody during the arrests. Reporters are usually allowed to remain.

April 28th: Marriage Equality NY Gala

The 12th annual Marriage Equality New York gala fundraiser takes place on April 28th in Manhattan. Get tickets here.

The MENY Gala will be recognizing and honoring: Queer Rising, NYS Senator Peralta, Sharron Minter, and BD Wong for their work in moving marriage equality forward in New York State and, in some cases, on the national front. This recognition comes from the lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender community and it represents how important this issue is in our everyday lives. There will also be a silent auction put on by MENY PAC (our political action committee is not a 501c3 and donations on the auction are not tax-deductible)

Betty White Lines

The St. Olaf Glee Club, better known as Frank DeCaro, Fredrick Ford and Jim Colucci, have created a hysterical Grandmaster Flash-y tribute to Betty White. DeCaro is a midday host on SiriusXM's OutQ, Colucci (his husband) is the author of The Q Guide To The Golden Girls. (They were a hilarious companions on my trip to Key West last October.) You may know Frederick Ford from gay porn, although he's recently pursued a career as a singer and performed at NYC's Folsom East last year.