Saturday, May 22, 2010

Happy Harvey Milk Day!

Today is the first annual Harvey Milk Day in California and observances are taking place from the Castro to West Hollywood and elsewhere in the state.

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God's Gentle People, Part 87

Readers have been sending me clips by West Virginia-based Pastor Jeff Owens for several months now and this one went up on YouTube yesterday. "We need to stop burning flags and start burning FAGS! We need Hunt-A-Homo Week. We need to take 'em all out and shoot 'em with a scatter shotgun." Owens is on a national speaking tour of Baptist churches all this year. And he's not a one-man loony show, either. His Shenandoah Baptist Church has a staff of a dozen ministers and produces events such as the East Coast Ladies Conference, where attendees are commanded to "dress modestly according to the Bible." I believe this clip was made by one of Owens' charming fans.

UPDATE: The clip was pulled from YouTube but I was able to save it and repost it to Vimeo.

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Jews For Jesus Founder Dies

Moishe Rosen, founder of the controversial group Jews For Jesus, died this week at the age of 78.
Jews for Jesus was officially founded by Mr. Rosen in San Francisco in 1973. In the decades since, its missionaries have been a familiar presence on street corners in cities around the United States and elsewhere. Mr. Rosen was the group’s first executive director, a post he held until 1996. The organization’s central tenet is that it is possible simultaneously to be Jewish and to accept Jesus as the Messiah. “We certainly identify ourselves ethnically as Jewish, and with certain aspects of the religion that don’t conflict with our belief in Christ,” Ms. Perlman explained on Friday. Though Jews for Jesus enrolls no members per se, Ms. Perlman estimated that it has “a constituency” of about 200,000 interested Jews and Christians, a figure she said was based partly on subscriptions to the group’s print and online newsletters.
Jews For Jesus has chapters in ten countries, including Israel. Its members can be found annoying the fuck out of NYC's subway riders just about every day of the week.

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Andrew Cuomo Announces NY Gov Bid

It's been coming for about a year, but today New York Attorney General Andrew Cuomo finally announced formally that he is running for governor.
"New York is upside down and backwards; high taxes and low performance," said Cuomo. My campaign is this simple: I represent the people of the great state of New York and we want our government back." Cuomo's announcement isn't surprising but it is significant. Cuomo, the son of former Gov. Mario Cuomo, has long been expected to run -- a path made more clear by Gov. David Paterson's (D) decision not to seek a full term in the fall. Cuomo enters the race as an overwhelming favorite. Former Rep. Rick Lazio and Suffolk County Executive Steve Levy are competing for the Republican nod.
Cuomo previously ran for governor in 2002, but dropped out when it became clear that state Comptroller Carl McCall would win the Democratic primary. McCall lost to George Pataki.

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Janelle Monae On Letterman

I posted the production video of this song last month, but for the last few days I've been coming back to Janelle Monae's wonderful performance on Letterman this week. The band is amazingly tight and and I love how Monae bites on James Brown's cape schtick at the end. She blows me away. Play this loud!

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Signorile Interviews Donna Milo

Michelangelo Signorile has interviewed transgender candidate for Congress, Donna Milo. And she's not too great on gay issues. At all.
While she confirmed to me that she is in favor of the Employment Non-Discrimination Act ("of course"), it turns out she is opposed to marriage equality, giving the religious line on marriage being between "a man and a woman." On the issue of adoption Milo also believes that, though kids should go to gay and lesbian parents if it means they'll be in an institution, "traditional families" should have priority over gays. She also believes the government should not have a role in funding gender reassignment surgery for transgender people. It was quite an interview.
Hit the link to listen to the complete interview.

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Friday, May 21, 2010

Weekend Mix - DJ Paul Ferrer


Turn up the volume on your weekend with this pumping vocal house mix from popular NYC DJ Paul Ferrer. Setlist. Website. Podcasts. Facebook.

RESIDENCY: The NYC Eagle every Sunday from 5pm to 10pm on the roof in the summertime. (Or down and dirty on the first floor when weather doesn't permit.)

PREVIOUSLY ON JMG: DJ Shane Stiel. DJ Paul Goodyear. DJ Susan Morabito. DJ Seymour Butz. DJ RuBot. DJ Rotten Robbie. DJ Ted Eiel. DJ Herbie James. DJ David Knapp. DJ Dave Huge. DJ Corey Craig.

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Not The New Kanye Record


(Via - Andrew Sullivan)

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Too Ashamed To Mention His NARTH Pal, Porno Pete Attacks Ellen DeGeneres

We're into our third week of radio silence about Dr. George Rekers from Porno Pete LaBarbera, despite Petey's voluminous history of citing the "scientific" work of NARTH. Wassamatta, Petey? Rentboy got yer tongue? Or something else?

Instead of manning up to the scandal enveloping his colleagues in the hate industry, today Porno Pete attacks Ellen DeGeneres because she had a female American Idol contest sing a Paul McCartney song. A song written by a man! And containing the lyric "Baby, I'm a man!" Ellen was totally making was a secret statement of butch lesbian power! Or trans power! Or something!

Hilariously and with no apparent sense of irony or the absurd, Petey is calling for Ellen to become "ex-gay." Just like his BFF George "Anal Long-Stroke" Rekers says everybody can!
More gender confusion from Ellen DeGeneres. It is so tiresome to see Ellen mega-hyped as a pop icon despite her immoral and chosen lifestyle as a practicing lesbian and pro-homosexuality activist. The very funny Ellen (who gets very serious when it comes to her public mission of promoting this immoral behavior) is getting more worldly fame than most humans could ever hope to have, but that means nothing before our holy God. She needs to humble herself and repent of her wrong and very changeable lifestyle, as other former “out and proud lesbians” have. Pray that Ellen would find reconciliation with God through Jesus Christ and join the ranks of ex-lesbians. Her worldly, Hollywood star would surely fall following such a godly transformation, but she could then become a truly wholesome role model for American girls, which she is not now, despite her many talents.
Seriously though, Petey, are you ever going to address the gloriously delicious downfall of the man whose organization you have cited dozens and dozens and dozens of times on your blog? We're waiting....

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Crazyland At The Texas Textbook Debate

The battle to rewrite the textbooks used by school districts all over the nation is nearly over as Christianists attempt to revise history. The Fox clip below is, of course, full of assholery.

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Rapper Cancels DC Show: I Didn't Know Black Pride Was A Gay Event

Popular rapper Wale has canceled his scheduled headlining appearance DC's Black Pride. Because he didn't know it was a gay event. Via the Washington Blade:
Black Pride organizers were startled this week when they received two e-mails from Wale’s agent, one saying the rapper had to cancel due to “family obligations,” and the second saying he didn’t know Black Pride was a gay-related event when he agreed to appear. “We were clear about what kind of event this is,” [organizer Earl] Fowlkes told the Blade. “After doing this for 20 years, we certainly don’t want to put ourselves and the artist in an uncomfortable situation by not telling them what we are. “We’re Black Gay Pride, and the people coming out there are members of our community,” he said. “We made that very clear.” Fowlkes said Black Pride officials believe homophobia was the underlying reason that Wale cancelled his appearance. He said Wale’s agent has refunded an advance fee that Black Pride made to book the rapper, but noted the group is considering taking legal action for what Fowlkes described as a breach of contract.
Organizers say they had carefully vetted Wale's music for signs of anti-gay lyrics and found none.

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Rep. Alan Grayson (D-FL) Introduces The "War Is Making You Poor Act"

Rep. Alan Grayson proposes a bill that:
* Limits the amount of funding for the wars in Iraq and Afghanistan
* Eliminates the federal income tax on the first $35,000 of every American’s income ($70,000 for married couples)
* Cuts the Federal deficit by $15.9 billion

The bill requires the president to fund the wars from the $549 billion budget for defense spending in FY 2011. “There is no longer any need to go beyond the exorbitant base defense budget," Grayson said. "It is not necessary. Enough is enough."
Not a chance in hell of passing, but at least somebody is screaming about war spending. Watch this.

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BAY AREA: Christianists Force End To School District's Anti-Bullying Program

As you can see by the above headline from World Net Daily, Christianists are celebrating their successful campaign to force the Alameda Unified School District to drop their planned anti-bullying campaign. WND exults:
A lawsuit that demanded a right for parents to opt their young children out of a "gay" indoctrination program in a California school district was dropped after the district suddenly killed the worst of the curriculum, officials told WND today. Brad Dacus, president of Pacific Justice Institute, had been working on the case pending against the Alameda Unified School District. Dacus said the case was filed because parents wanted to uphold a state law allowing them not to have their children participate in health education programs if they choose. But he said the decision to drop the case was made when the district announced it was canceling "Lesson 9" of the Caring School Community curriculum, which was adopted by the school board last year. "We're very pleased," he said. "But we're calling upon parents all across the country to investigate and find out just what material is being pushed in their school district. "We're hoping that this school district learns tolerance is a two way street. One way tolerance is not tolerance at all. It's tyranny," he said.
You simply cannot teach children not to beat up gay kids. That is tyranny. And indoctrination!

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Robyn - Dancing On My Own

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Quote Of The Day - Dan Savage

"Malawi is dependent on foreign aid—most of it from Britain and the US—and that aid should be withdrawn. The government of Malawi should be told that it can have its rabid anti-gay bigotry or it can it can have foreign aid. But it can't have both." - Dan Savage, responding to the 14 year sentence of a gay couple in Malawi merely for holding a commitment ceremony.

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Newt Gingrich: Left Wingers Are Racist To Criticize Arizona's Immigration Law

Another WTF moment from America's great moral voice.

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Photo Of The Day

(Via Queerty and Giopet's)

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We Were Long Overdue.....

...for another gay blog impostor. Anybody remember the gay firefighter dad of two adopted sons who turned out to be a Canadian grandmother?

UPDATE: Michael Triplett at Mediaite recaps the story nicely.

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ABC's What Would You Do? On Gay Families In Restaurants

ABC's hidden camera show What Would You Do? took actors playing gay families to a restaurant, where the proprietor (also an actor) pretended to refuse to serve them. Watch how patrons react. Or don't.

(Via - Towleroad)

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Police Arrest Four Men In Bizarre Hate Crime Assault On 14 Year-Old Boy

Police in Concord, New Hampshire have arrested four men for assaulting a mentally challenged 14 year-old boy and tattooing male genitalia and the words "poop dick" on his buttocks. Police say a 15 year-old high school student will also be charged.
Two of the men arrested yesterday have connections to white supremacy, prosecutors said. One of them also threatened to assault the victim with his genitals if he didn't keep quiet, police records show. "These crimes were committed with huge cruelty and insensitivity to a victim who was emotionally vulnerable and intellectually challenged," Prosecutor Scott Murray said yesterday at an arraignment in Concord District Court. For about a week leading up to the incident, Blake VanNest, 18, of 2 Jennings Drive, promised the victim that others would stop bullying him if he got a tattoo on his butt, the police said. "(VanNest) knew the victim was younger, unpopular and frequently picked on, and that (VanNest) had taken advantage of him based on this," Concord police Detective Wade Brown wrote in an affidavit.[snip]

"(VanNest) told him that he was going to get the tattoo one way or another," Brown's affidavit said. "Blake then took out his penis and pointed it at (the victim) telling him to pull down his pants or he would touch (the victim) with his penis." When the victim kneeled against the bench, Donald Wyman, 20, used a red permanent marker to sketch an outline of the tattoo, according to police records. Fisk soon began etching, court records show. For about 20 or 30 minutes, Fisk worked to draw the first five letters in block print. When the victim complained about the pain, Fisk said he'd punch him in the face if he didn't stop squirming, according to police records.
Police note that one of the arrested men has Confederate flag and swastika tattoos.

UPDATE: JMG reader Lane tips us that the Smoking Gun has the arrest report.

(Tipped by JMG reader Thomas)

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Chely Wright Talks Gay With Oprah

On Wednesday newly out country music singer Chely Wright told Oprah that only two of her industry colleagues have reached out to her since her revelation. "And they all have my email." She also expressed shame for having once told a young gay friend to "get his sin out of my face." Wright said she had to come out because "young people in America are being told by their churches that they are damaged goods." In the bottom clip below, Wright tears up in regret over "having wronged" country star Brad Paisley by dating him.

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Barney Frank: This Time I'm Not Stripping Trans Protections Out Of ENDA

Rep. Barney Frank is vowing that unlike in 2007, this time he will not allow transgender and gender identity protections to be stripped from ENDA. On the last go-round, Frank endured blistering criticism from many quarters (including this blog) when he reluctantly removed transgender protections from the bill to ensure its passage. And that did work last time, although the bill died in its Senate committee. Frank is now facing criticism from fellow House members who supported the bill in 2007.
Some Republicans say they would back the legislation only if the transgender rights portion is dropped. “If you include transgender rights, I think that just pushes the envelope too far,’’ said Representative John Campbell of California, a Republican who voted for Frank’s bill in 2007. “It is seen by the populace as a very extreme procedure.’’ Campbell is not the only previous supporter to object. Republican Representatives Jeff Flake of Arizona, Paul Ryan of Wisconsin, and Jim Gerlach of Pennsylvania also say they don’t support the current version because it includes transgender rights. Also, some moderate Democrats have expressed concerns about voting on the transgender provision with the midterm elections approaching.
Anti-gay bigots are, as usual, framing ENDA as the "man in the ladies room" bill. Asshats like Peter LaBarbera are mockingly posting videos of "burly-voiced men in dresses" pleading for employment protections. Frank has attempted to address that claim by adding a nebulous amendment that employers can demand "reasonable dress and grooming standards." Whatever that means.

The trans-inclusive ENDA currently has 202 House co-sponsors, assuming none back out. In the Senate there are 44 co-sponsors, with the same proviso. The needed 16 House and 7 Senate votes are being furiously lobbied every day. Sign and send this petition to your reps in Congress. Call them directly using this script. Even if they are already co-sponsors, they need to know they should not back out.

NOTE: The above co-sponsor counts are from May 14th, the most recent tally I can find. I'll update that number in this post when I get it.

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HomoQuotable - Jessica Lee

"'Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell' is the most dramatic and disappointing example of the Democrats’ failure. Despite overwhelming public support for repeal, Congress is at an impasse on the issue and the administration of our 'fierce advocate,' despite his promise to repeal, is now urging Congress not to vote for repeal this year.

"It is clear the gay community is taken for granted by the Democratic Party. No matter how much money we give them or how many doors we knock on for their candidates our issues are never a priority. And not until we make Democrats compete for our money and our votes will they be. I know as gay conservatives, we have an uphill battle. I understand how entrenched the Democratic Party is within our community. But you can be a good gay person who supports equality and not be a Democrat. Gay conservatives share many of the same goals as our friends on the left, even if we may disagree on the best policy route to get us there." - GOProud's newest board member Jessica Lee, writing for the Washington Blade.

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This Rand Is Your Rand

Rachel Maddow continues her takedown of Rand Paul.

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PhoboQuotable - Matt Barber

"Whereas every liberal hack on the planet tripped over one another to demand Mark Foley, Larry Craig, Ted Haggard and, most recently, George Rekers divulge the most intimate details of their own bizarre (allegedly) sexual appetites, with Kagan, they've suddenly lost interest. Although the mainstream media refuse to do their job, some in the homosexual-activist press are stepping-up to fill the vacuum.

"Homosexual blogger Andrew Sullivan, for instance, writing in The Atlantic, opined: 'In a free society in the 21st century, it is not illegitimate to ask. And it's cowardly not to tell.' But Kagan ain't tellin', and the media ain't askin'. Of course, even if they were inclined to ask, they'd have a difficult time doing so. The White House has Kagan wrapped-up tighter than Barney Frank in a bustier." - Professional bigot Matt Barber, writing for World Net Daily.

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Rep. Alan Grayson On Financial Reform: Too Big To Fail Means Too Big To Exist

Grayson thinks the Senate finance reform bill is too weak.

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Morning View - Christopher & Bleecker

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Senate Passes Financial Reform Bill

By a partisan vote of 59-39, the Senate has passed its sweeping financial reform bill.
The legislation aims to prevent a recurrence of the near-meltdown of big Wall Street investment banks and the resulting costly bailouts. It calls for new ways to watch for risks in the financial system and makes it easier to liquidate large failing financial firms. It also writes new rules for complex securities blamed for helping precipitate the 2008 economic crisis, and it creates a new consumer protection agency. It would impose new restraints on the largest, most interconnected banks and demand proof that borrowers could pay for the simplest of mortgages.

"Our goal is not to punish the banks but to protect the larger economy and the American people from the kind of upheavals that we've seen in the past few years," Obama said earlier Thursday after the Senate cleared a key 60-vote hurdle blocking final action. The financial industry, Obama said, had tried to stop the new regulations "with hordes of lobbyists and millions of dollars in ads." Two Democrats, Sens. Maria Cantwell (D-WA) and Russ Feingold (D-WI), voted against the bill. Four Republicans, Sens. Scott Brown (R-MA), Olympia Snowe (R-ME), Susan Collins (R-ME), and Chuck Grassley (R-IA), voted in favor of the bill.
A House version of the bill passed in December and now must be reconciled with the Senate version.

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Broadway Friday

-I know you are but what am I? The Pee-wee Herman Show will transfer from its wildy successful Los Angeles revival to Broadway for a six week run to start on October 26th. The show debuted in 1980 as a for-adults act before morphing into the kids friendly TV show that ran from 1986-1990.

- Beefcake-O-Rama! Broadway Cares/Equity Fights AIDS will stage Broadway Bares: Classic on June 6th at Splash Bar. Scheduled to perform: Jerry Mitchell, Jennifer Cody, Steve Geary, Sebastian LaCause, and others. Tickets for Broadway Bares 20: Strip-Opoly are on sale now.

-The password is "Dirty Sanchez." Saved By The Bell's Dustin Diamond will join the cast of Off Broadway's Awesome 80's Prom beginning tonight.

-Probably not loverly. Sony Pictures is moving forward with the fifth remake of My Fair Lady. Oscar nominee Carey Mulligan is set to star.

-She's bringing sexy back. Jessica Biel has been cast to star in the musical version of Women On The Verge Of A Nervous Breakdown, which begins previews at the Belasco on October 2nd.

-Dolphins are just gay sharks. The first season of Glee will be released on DVD on September 14th. The set will feature sing-along karaoke, behind-the-scenes extras, and several unaired editions of Sue's Corner.

-I love that dress every time you wear it. The revival of Ragtime has been stripped of its 2010 Tony nomination for Best Costumes because the designs are essentially the same as those used in the 1998 production. There will be no replacement nominee.

-But who will play Ping Pong Lady? Will Swenson and Tony Sheldon will star as Mitzi and Bernadette (respectively) for the Broadway transfer of the West End smash musical version of Priscilla, Queen of the Desert. Felicia has not yet been cast. The show will run in Toronto beginning in October before opening in the spring on Broadway.

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Thursday, May 20, 2010

White House (And Madonna) Denounce Prison Sentence Of Gay Malawi Couple

Today the White House strongly denounced the sentencing of a gay Malawi couple to 14 years of hard labor merely for holding an engagement ceremony.
“The United States strongly condemns the conviction and harsh sentencing of Steven Monjeza and Tiwonge Chimbalanga in Malawi. The criminalization of sexual orientation and gender identity is unconscionable, and this case mars the human rights record of Malawi. We urge Malawi and all countries to stop using sexual orientation or gender identity as the basis for arrest, detention, or execution.”
Yesterday the State Department issued a similar statement before the sentence was handed down.

UPDATE: Madonna, who adopted a baby boy from Malawi, has issued a statement as well:
"I am shocked and saddened by the decision made today by the Malawian court, which sentenced two innocent men to prison. As a matter of principle, I believe in equal rights for all people, no matter what their gender, race, color, religion, or sexual orientation. Today, Malawi took a giant step backward. The world is filled with pain and suffering; therefore, we must support our basic human right to love and be loved. I call upon the progressive men and women of Malawi—and around the world—to challenge this decision in the name of human dignity and equal rights for all."

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Rand Paul Backtracks On Civil Rights

After 24 hours of nonstop ridicule and outrage from all quarters, Kentucky GOP Senate candidate Rand Paul is trying to spin his way out of his Civil Rights Act mess.

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Backstreet Boys To Headline SF Pride

The Backstreet Boys will headline San Francisco Pride on Sunday, June 27th. You weren't expecting that were you?
Main stage producer Audrey Joseph, who was brought on board by the San Francisco LGBT Pride Celebration Committee only in April to line up talent for this year's 40th anniversary of the LGBT Pride Parade and festival, confirmed the news Tuesday, May 18. The Backstreet Boys were already scheduled to be in San Francisco for a pair of concerts at the Warfield, according to Joseph and the band's website. Besides the boy band, popular for hits such as "As Long as You Love Me," the lineup for Sunday, June 27, is expected to include Rose Royce ("Car Wash"), Martha Davis and the Motels ("Suddenly Last Summer"), and Andy Bell from Erasure (the band known for the song "A Little Respect").
The band will be performing in the mid-afternoon prior to their show at the Warfield that night. And yes, there's only four of them now that the one with the eyebrows has quit.

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Interesting....

A reader posted this link in the comments of the post below this one, should you want to listen in at 9pm EDT.

UPDATE: Listened to the "call" for ten minutes. Nothing but interminable terrible music before "Rentboy2" mumbled something about having met Rekers, then clicked off. Just some idiot, apparently. My apologies for posting about it.

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Nasty Gays

Via Good As You, from Rosie O'Donnell's radio show.

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Will Rekers Scandal Affect Prop 8?

Following up on the New York Times story about the legal implications of the Dr. George Rekers scandal, Amanda Terkel at Think Progress has found four instances of Rekers' ties to the Perry Vs. Schwarzenegger trial to overturn Proposition 8. I don't usually excerpt another blogger's work so extensively, but this is a must-read.

1. Blankenhorn was the defendants’ star witness and was eviscerated on the stand by attorney David Boies, who was arguing against Prop. 8 for the American Foundation for Equal Rights. Blakenhorn has claimed that he is “not familiar” with Rekers’ work and didn’t “cite anyone named ‘Dr. Rekers’” in his “expert testimony submitted to the court.” However, Blankenhorn did reference Rekers’ work the bibliography of his “expert report” for the trial:

This Rekers declaration that Blankenhorn references has statements such as “The inherent structure of households with one or more homosexually behaving members deprives children of vitally needed positive contributions to child adjustment and to the child’s preparation for successful adulthood adjustment that are present in heterosexual homes.” (View it here.)

2. One of the witnesses arguing against Prop. 8 was Ryan Kendall, a gay man who was forced to undergo “reparative therapy” as a teenager to make him straight. He “was first sent to see a Christian therapist and then the National Association of Research and Therapy of Homosexuality (NARTH),” and the experiences left him contemplating suicide. Rekers was on the board of NARTH during the Prop. 8 trial and only recently stepped down after the “rent boy” scandal broke.

3. Rekers is a member of the American College of Pediatricians (ACP), which submitted an amicus brief to Chief Judge Walker in the Prop. 8 trial. ACP is a sham, right-wing group. When “the American Academy of Pediatrics passed its policy statement supporting second-parent adoptions by lesbian and gay parents in 2002, a fringe group of approximately 60 of the AAP’s more than 60,000 members” broke off and formed ACP.

4. The Prop. 8 defense had a witness named George Robinson who was going to testify about how being gay is a choice, although he was eventually withdrawn. He had also based some of his expert report on Rekers’ Prop. 22 declaration.

Excellent work by Amanda Terkels! Let's hope that Judge Vaughn Walker takes notice of this during the upcoming closing arguments.

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Sen. Al Franken (D-MN) Introduces Federal Anti-Bullying Bill

Today Sen. Al Franken (D-MN) and 21 fellow Senators introduced a federal bill intended to protect LGBT students from harassment and bullying. Via the ACLU:
The Student Non-Discrimination Act (SNDA) would help to end entrenched biases towards lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender (LGBT) students in our education system. A similar bill was introduced in the House of Representatives in January by Rep. Jared Polis (D-CO) and currently has over 100 co-sponsors. The American Civil Liberties Union strongly supports these bills and urges swift action by both chambers. The ACLU is currently involved in a case that underscores the need for the SNDA. In April, the ACLU filed a complaint with the Itawamba County School District in Fulton, Mississippi urging the school district to reverse its decision to forbid a lesbian student from attending a prom with her girlfriend and from wearing a tuxedo to the prom. After school officials canceled the prom altogether rather than allow Constance McMillen to attend the dance in a tuxedo with her girlfriend, the ACLU then filed a federal lawsuit. In a preliminary ruling in April, the court found that Itawamba County School District officials violated McMillen's First Amendment right to freedom of expression, and the case is expected to go to trial.
Franken says that he and others are working on language to define what constitutes bullying. But he says that most people know it when they see it. As noted in the above-linked story, Rep. Jared Polis introduced similar legislation in the U.S. House earlier this year. Here's the list of Senate co-sponsors:
SNDA is co-sponsored by Senators Barbara Mikulski (D-Md.), Jeff Merkley (D-Ore.), John Kerry (D-Mass.), Tom Harkin (D-Iowa), Bob Casey (D-Pa.), Patty Murray (D-Wash.), Jeff Bingaman (D-N.M.), Russ Feingold (D-Wisc.), Ben Cardin (D-Md.), Bernie Sanders (I-Vt.), Maria Cantwell (D-Wash.), Sherrod Brown (D-Ohio), Chris Dodd (D-Conn.), Mark Begich (D-Alaska), Dick Durbin (D-Ill.), Frank Lautenberg (D-N.J.), Patrick Leahy (D-Vt.), Robert Menedez (D-N.J.), Sheldon Whitehouse (D-R.I.), Ron Wyden (D-Ore.), and Daniel Akaka (D-Hawaii).

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Goldfrapp - Alive


(Tipped by JMG reader Seattle Mike)

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CHICAGO: Thirteen Arrested At ENDA Sit-In At Office Of Sen. Richard Durbin

This just in via press release:
As part of a broad strategy to gain a vote on ENDA this year, a group of thirteen Chicago activists have been arrested after a sit-in in Senator Richard J. Durbin’s office. The sit-in was initiated due to the Senator’s lack of response regarding a pledge (seen here) that a coalition of activist groups sent to the Senator for signature. The pledge affirms his commitment to a transgender-inclusive Employment Non-Discrimination Act, and forceful advocacy of the bill before the Media and Senate. The ‘form letter’ response received from the Senator via email did state his support for ENDA, but does not mention transgender protections as part of the bill he supports.
They note: "Chicago Harvey Milk Week of Action Coalition is comprised of LGBT Change, Join the Impact Chicago and the Gay Liberation Network."

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PhoboQuotable - Archbishop Janis Pujats

"We must assert that homosexuality is an acquired vice that can be likened to addiction to drugs, alcoholism, tobacco smoking, etc., so that those who practice it cannot be treated as a 'minority.' We must say that sexual perversion cannot be tolerated in the public sphere so that this disorder is not turned into a bad example for all society. If someone has inclinations to vice, vice must be reined in and treated. It cannot be legalized or protected, erroneously invoking the notion of human rights. Homosexuality is not a sexual orientation; it is a sexual perversion." - Archbishop of Latvia, Janis Pujats, speaking to the American Catholic nutters, the Society for the Defense of Tradition, Family, and Property.

RELATED: Latvia is presently embroiled in a molestation scandal in which a former Catholic priest is accused of abusing numerous orphan boys at a school for the mentally handicapped.

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MALAWI: Maximum 14 Year Hard Labor Sentence Imposed On Gay Couple

The Malawi gay couple arrest for "gross and indecent acts" has been sentenced to the maximum of 14 years in prison at hard labor.
The judge said he wanted to protect the public from "people like you". Steven Monjeza, 26, and Tiwonge Chimbalanga, 20, have been in jail since they were arrested in December after holding an engagement ceremony. The case has sparked international condemnation and a debate about homosexuality in the country. The British government, Malawi's largest donor, expressed its "dismay" at the sentences, but has not withdrawn aid. The US state department, meanwhile, said the case was "a step backwards in the protection of human rights in Malawi." Judge Nyakwawa Usiwa-Usiwa described the actions by Malawi's first openly gay couple as an affront on Malawi's moral code. The courtroom was packed and hundreds more people stood outside, peering through windows. The case has ignited debate over homosexuality in Malawi, a conservative country where religious leaders equate same-sex liaisons with Satanism.

But the impoverished southern African nation has come under pressure from Western donor nations and agencies. They have cautioned Malawi to tread carefully over rights of minority groups, such as homosexuals, or risk being black-listed on governance issues, which may have aid implications. Some 40% of the development budget in Malawi is from donors. But despite the outcry, the authorities won't budge. President Bingu wa Mutharika dismisses homosexuality as alien. Handing down sentence in the commercial capital, Blantyre, Judge Nyakwawa Usiwa-Usiwa told the pair: "I will give you a scaring sentence so that the public be protected from people like you, so that we are not tempted to emulate this horrendous example."
The crowd outside the courtroom shouted abuse at the pair as they were led away, with some screaming that the two deserved longer sentences.

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BP Approves Use Of Kevin Costner's Oil Separation Machine

As terrible at Kevin Costner's Waterworld was, something great has actually come out of it. Costner has spent the last 15 years and $24M of his own money to develop a Waterworld-ish machine that removes oil from water. And it's going to be put to use in the Gulf.
“Kevin saw the Exxon Valdez spill, and as a fisherman and an environmentalist, it just stuck in his craw, the fact that we didn’t have separation technology,” said John Houghtaling, Mr. Costner’s lawyer and business partner as chief executive with Ocean Therapy Solutions, which developed the technology. Mr. Costner’s brother, Dan, is a scientist who worked on the project and was also in New Orleans this week. On Wednesday, BP’s chief operating officer, Doug Suttles, said that the company had approved six of Ocean Therapy’s 32 machines for testing. All boast centrifuge processing technology — giant vacuum-like machines that suck oil from water, separate the oil, store it in a tanker and send the water, 99.9 percent purified, back into the gulf. “I’m very happy the light of day has come to this,” Mr. Costner said at a news conference in New Orleans. He said he was “very sad” about the spill, “but this is why it’s developed.”

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Moscow Pride Banned By Mayor

For the fifth year in a row, Moscow Mayor Yury Lushkov has banned gay pride.
Not unexpectedly, the homophobic Mayor of Moscow, Yury Luzhkov, has banned the march planned in Russian capital as part of Moscow Pride on May 29. It is the fifth successive year that the Mayor, who infamously described Gay Pride parades a “satanic happenings”, has invoked a ban. “As soon as we receive the authorities’ refusal in writing, we will appeal it in the Tver District Court,” chief organiser Nikolai Alekseev said this afternoon. In accordance with Russian law, application for the parade was made to the Mayor’s office on May 17, giving the proposed route. Plans were that the parade would end in Lubyanka Square. But Mr. Alekseev said that City Hall had not offered any alternate route for the march, which is contrary to the requirements of current legislation.
Last year Moscow police roughed up and arrested over 20 LGBT activists who defied the ban. Among those arrested was British activist Peter Tatchell.

UPDATE: Luskgov has forced the company that hosts GayRussia.ru to take the site down that word of the ban can't be spread.

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Tea Party: Repeal 17th Amendment

A new teabagger project is the repeal of the 17th Amendment. Because they think U.S. Senators should be appointed by state legislatures, not elected by popular vote. Power to the people! Oh, wait.

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Intrepid Museum Head Bill White Under Investigation Over State Pension Fund

Yesterday Bill White abruptly resigned after 20 years as the openly gay head of NYC's Intrepid Air Sea and Space Museum. Today the New York Post reveals that White has been under investigation since 2007 in a corruption probe of the state pension fund.
The probers were trying to determine if he solicited campaign contributions for disgraced ex-state Comptroller Alan Hevesi from Guggenheim Advisors, a branch of the Bank of Ireland, in exchange for the right to manage $447 million in state pension funds. Cuomo last year subpoenaed dozens of companies, including Bill White & Associates, that acted as middlemen and received fees for arranging access to pension-fund monies. White's firm received a $2 million fee from City Investment Fund LP, a real-estate firm that was chosen to invest pension funds. Late last year, Cuomo, who plans to run for governor, returned a $1,000 contribution from White.
Former state Comptroller Alan Hevesi resigned amidst a massive corruption scandal in late 2006. He plead guilty to defrauding the government and was banned from ever holding elective office again.

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Coast Guard Threatens To Arrest Journalists Filming Oil Spill

"These are BP's rules, not ours." Unreal.

(Via - Towleroad)

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FDA To Consider End To Gay Blood Ban

The FDA is beginning the review process to lift the ban on donations from gay men. Chris Johnson at the Washington Blade reports:
A notice published Thursday states the Department of Health & Human Services has scheduled a meeting next month of the Advisory Committee on Blood Safety & Availability to discuss the issue. The committee is charged with providing recommendations to HHS on blood supply and blood products. The meeting, which is open to the public, is set to take place at the Universities of Shady Grove in Rockville, Md. Discussion is scheduled over the course of two days — from June 10 to June 11. The meetings on both days are set for 9:30 am to 5:00 pm.
The push to lift the ban gained momentum in March when Sen. John Kerry and 17 other Senators wrote a letter to the FDA denouncing the ban as scientifically unsound. You can expect that anti-gay groups will crowd the above-mentioned public meeting.

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Arizona Electric Official To Los Angeles: If You Hate Us So Much, Cut Off Your Power

Angry over the decision to boycott his state, an Arizona power commissioner has sent a letter to the mayor of Los Angeles, daring him to cut off the city's power supply from Arizona.
In a sharply worded letter to Mayor Antonio Villaraigosa that raises the political stakes for America's second-largest city, Arizona Corporation Commissioner Gary Pierce noted that Los Angeles gets 25 percent of its electricity from Arizona and challenged the mayor to cut off that supply. "If an economic boycott is truly what you desire, I will be happy to encourage Arizona utilities to renegotiate your power agreements so that Los Angeles no longer receives any power from Arizona-based generation," Pierce said in the letter. "If, however, you find that the City Council lacks the strength of its convictions to turn off the lights in Los Angeles and boycott Arizona power, please reconsider the wisdom of attempting to harm Arizona's economy." The letter was sent to Villaraigosa on Tuesday and provided to Reuters by Pierce's office. Villaraigosa, who was in Washington on Wednesday for the visit of Mexican President Felipe Calderon, issued a statement in which he declined to take up Pierce's challenge directly. "The Mayor stands strongly behind the city council on this issue and will not respond to threats from a state which has isolated itself from the America that values freedom, liberty and basic civil rights," Villaraigosa said in the statement.
Last week Los Angeles became the largest municipality to break business ties with Arizona.

UPDATE: LA officials respond: "Suck it, we OWN your damn power plants."

(Tipped by JMG reader Peter and Ed)

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Family Research Council Applauds Steve Jobs For Porn-Free iPad

The Family Research Council would like you to know that they are VERY appreciative of Steve Jobs' attempts to keep Apple devices free of nasty porn.
The new Apple iPad offers consumers plenty of things--including "freedom from porn," according to chief executive Steve Jobs. In an exchange with blogger Ryan Tate, who disagreed with the suggestion that the iPad is a revolution, Jobs said, "[This is about] freedom"--including, he wrote, "freedom from porn." Tate accused the company of "imposing...morality" on customers. "Porn is just fine!" the reporter insisted. The Apple boss disagreed. "You might care about porn when you have kids." In an era of corporate irresponsibility, it's nice to see one company taking a step in the right direction. Unfortunately, the Apple Empire has a little farther to go. For now, users can still download Playboy apps, but this is certainly a good start. While some executives try to out-sleaze their competition, we're grateful that Jobs is trying to keep the iPad from becoming an eyesore.
Steve Jobs wants freedom from porn. And Flash!

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Pakistan Blocks Facebook And YouTube On "Everybody Draw Mohammed Day"

Spawned by a Seattle cartoonist who later denounced the campaign, today is "Everybody Draw Mohammed Day." In response, Pakistan has instituted a block on YouTube, Facebook and other social media sites.
Prompted by a court order, the Pakistan Telecommunications Authority today told providers to suspend access. The order runs until 31 May. The Facebook group for "Everybody Draw Mohammed Day" has more than 43,000 supporters. The group has become a target for protest in Pakistan, and today a group of Islamic lawyers obtained a court order for a full suspension of Facebook. The government had previously blocked access to only the "Everybody Draw Mohammed Day" pages. The group's organisers say it is not designed to offend ordinary Muslims, but as a demonstration of their right to free speech and "to show the extremists... that we're not afraid of them". Islamic teaching typically forbids depictions of its prophet. After online threats of violence last month, the US cable network Comedy Central bleeped Mohammed's name in an episode of South Park that featured him hidden in a bear suit.
Wikipedia has been blocked in Pakistan as well.

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Exodus Family Values

Via Ex-Gay Watch, below is an exultant Facebook posting from Exodus International president Alan Chambers in which he excitedly celebrates that a lesbian couple has broken up after 22 years and "come to Christ." Knowing Chambers, of course, it's possible that the couple doesn't exist at all. Still, the posting is a window into the grief that Exodus and its followers wishes on gay families.

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Quote Of The Day - Alex Sink

"When Attorney General McCollum was asked why he would hire a man like this -- who previous courts had said that his testimony was no legitimacy -- his response was, 'Well it wasn't me who hired him. It was the Department of Children and Families, they hired the expert witnesses.' Well, surprise, surprise, about two weeks later the Department of Children and Families said, 'Oh no that's not the way it was. We didn't want to hire this guy. The attorney general demanded that we hire the man,' and they produced a letter signed by the Attorney General McCollum himself.

"That sounds to me like a typical politician. He's faced with something, they try to sweep it under the carpet or lay the blame on somebody else when all along he was the one who agreed to hire this Rekers, whose testimony in previous cases had already been judged to be not relevant and not accurate. We don't need people in public service like that." - Democratic candidate for Florida governor Alex Sink on the George Rekers scandal.

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GetEQUAL: ENDA Protest In DC Today

As ENDA appears to be stalled in committee, GetEQUAL will be holding an emergency protest in Washington DC today.

From the event Facebook page:
The Employment Non-Discrimination Act, which would provide basic workplace protections for LGBT Americans, is currently stalled in committee. If it does not see a floor vote before Memorial Day most agree it has NO CHANCE this election cycle. This is an EMERGENCY. We will be picketing Democratic leadership who have let the bill stall on their watches. NANCY PELOSI: WE DEMAND OUR CIVIL RIGHTS. PASS A TRANS-INCLUSIVE ENDA NOW. Bring your picket sign, your work clothes and your friends. We can save this bill. LET'S GET EQUAL!
GetEqual co-founder Robin McGehee:
“We’ve heard all we can stand to hear from leaders in Congress, they promised a vote this calendar year and we expect them to honor their word,” said Robin McGhee, co-founder of GetEQUAL. “As the window continues to slowly close on available legislative calendar dates to vote on ENDA in the House and in the Senate, we will continue to hold Speaker Pelosi and Senate Majority Leader Reid accountable for the direct promise they made to the LGBT community. Our community has done the work to lobby and educate members of Congress on the need for a fully inclusive ENDA and now is the time to stop the talking and start the voting.”
WHAT: Emergency Capitol Hill Protest to Save ENDA
WHEN: TODAY -- Thursday, May 20th, 2010
WHERE: Corner of Independence Ave SE & 1st ST SE
WHO: GetEQUAL, a new direct action LGBT civil rights organization
TIME: 12:00 noon – 2:00 pm (ET)

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Tired Old Queen At The Movies #32

1950's No Way Out starring Sydney Poitier.

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AUSTRALIA: Family Values Pol Busted Leaving Gay Bathhouse

Australia is seeing a Rekersesque scandal of its own as a family values-type member of Parliament was busted on camera leaving a gay bathhouse near Sydney.
NSW Transport Minister David Campbell has resigned following revelations he used his taxpayer-funded car to visit a gay men's sex venue in Sydney's eastern suburbs. A 7News investigation has revealed Mr Campbell allegedly left a sex venue in the electorate of Premier Kristina Keneally on Tuesday night. About 5pm on Thursday night, the Labor MP met with Premier Keneally to offer his resignation and she accepted it without hesitation. In a statement issued by the government, Mr Campbell said he apologises to his wife, family, colleagues and staff. "This will be a very difficult time for my family and friends," it said. The investigation aired video of Mr Campbell seen to be leaving Kens at Kensington where he spent two hours on Tuesday night. Mr Campbell is accused of driving his own ministerial car to the gay sauna. Formerly known as Ken's Karate Klub (or KKK) the establishment charges a $22 entry fee and assures clients of discretion. Its website offers services for men who prefer men, including a porn lounge, sauna and spa. Since 1999, Mr Campbell has campaigned strongly and successfully as a family man in his Wollongong seat of Keira.
(Tipped by JMG reader Barry)

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Rand Paul: Businesses Should Have The Right To Discriminate

The apple doesn't fall far from the nutty libertarian tree. Rand Paul think that the Civil Rights Act of 1964 should be amended to allow businesses the right to deny service to anybody they please. Rachel Maddow takes him down in classic fashion.

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Open Thread Thursday

So. How's your love life?

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Wednesday, May 19, 2010

U.S. State Department Condemns Conviction Of Malawi Gay Couple

The U.S. State Department has denounced the Malawi government's conviction of two gay men for "unnatural acts and gross indecency."
"The United States is deeply disappointed in today’s conviction of same-sex couple Tiwonge Chimbalanga and Steven Monjeza in Malawi," said assistant secretary Phillip J. Crowley at a press briefing Wednesday. "We view the criminalization of sexual orientation and gender identity as a step backward in the protection of human rights in Malawi. The Government of Malawi must respect the human rights of all of its citizens. The United States views the decriminalization of sexual orientation and gender identity as integral to the protection of human rights in Malawi and elsewhere in the world."
Thank you, Secretary Clinton. It may not help these poor men, but it's better than silence.

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They Were Saying Boo-urns

Media Matters enjoys some post-election gloating over the defeat of teabagger Tim Burns, which came despite relentless promotion by virtually every talking head on Fox News.

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Bill O'Reilly On Trans People & Ewoks

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Florida Dems Invoice Attorney General Bill McCollum For Rekers Testimony

The Florida Democratic Party continues their "Give the money back, Bill!" campaign. Via press release:
Today, the Florida Democratic Party sent an invoice to Florida Attorney General Bill McCollum on behalf of Florida taxpayers, requesting that he pay back the over $2.4 million that he has spent for his own personal gain and partisan agenda. The invoice bills McCollum's campaign for the full $120,000 McCollum directed towards George Rekers for "expert" testimony, the $2.2 million McCollum spent on a no-bid contract to his political consultant for self-promoting TV ads, and the $50,000 going to McCollum's old lobbying firm for his frivolous health care lawsuit.
Payment terms: 30 days.

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