Acid Hoax Woman Charged With Theft

The Washington state woman who falsely claimed that a black girl threw acid in her face is being charged with theft for accepting donations from a fooled community. When she was first hospitalized, the woman told reporters that it was only through her faith in Jeebus that she survived the attack of the evil (nonexistent) black woman.

(Tipped by JMG reader Andy)

Afternoon View - UES Teabagger House

On our way home from Bear Hill in Central Park today, Dr. Jeff and I noticed the Tea Party flag hanging outside a gajillion dollar Upper East Side townhouse on the block between Park Avenue and Lexington. By chance, the owners were returning home and on the sidewalk right behind me as I took this photo and they scurried inside with heads bowed as they realized as I was photographing their motherfucking flag.

HomoConQuotable - Christopher Barron

"Despite our name, GOProud is not a partisan organization; we do not hold ourselves out as an auxiliary of the Republican Party. We are not an organization seeking to 'change' the Republican Party into the party of Dede Scozzafava or Chris Shays. We are conservatives, committed to the conservative movement. We believe strongly that what matters are principles not partisanship.

"Our agenda is unlike the agenda of any other gay organization. Instead of fighting to expand the federal government through hate crimes laws or federal employment non-discrimination legislation, legislation that only impacts a sliver of gay people, we instead focus on issues like taxes, healthcare, retirement security, and the economy — we offer gay Americans pragmatic, common-sense conservative approaches to these issues that will improve their lives, as well as the lives of all Americans.

"We believe strongly that the federal government doesn’t have all the answers to the challenges facing gay and lesbian families. Indeed, we believe that often the federal government is the problem — not the solution." - GOProud head Christopher Barron, restating his group's opposition to LGBT rights in an essay for the right-wing Daily Caller.

UPDATE: Barron responds to this post via Twitter.

NEVADA: Reid & Angle Still Tied

Tweet Of The Day - Christine O'Donnell

New From The GOP Senate Committee

Christine O'Donnell: Why Aren't Monkeys Still Evolving Into Humans?

Fox News Is EVER So Pissed About Stephen Colbert's Fake House Testimony

FLASHBACK: In 2002 the GOP had Sesame Street's Elmo testify before Congress "at the invitation of Rep. Randy “Duke” Cunningham (R-California)."

PhoboQuotable- Matt Barber

"Madame Gen. Gaga summed up the trio's battle plan rather succinctly at a recent homosexualist rally for repeal: 'Our new law is called 'If you don't like it, go home!'' she observed. Those 12 words are perhaps the most perceptive ever to grace the dirty diva's foul-mouthed lips.

"In fact, according to a 2008 Military Times poll, Gaga's got it right. When asked the question 'If the 'don't ask, don't tell' policy is overturned and gays are allowed to serve openly, how would you respond?' almost 10 percent of active-duty personnel replied: 'I would not re-enlist or extend my service.' Another 14 percent warned: 'I would consider not re-enlisting or extending my service.'

"Of course, the potential exodus of up to 24 percent of current military personnel from our all-volunteer services would be devastating to national security. But when those holding the reins of government function from an egalitarian, globalist, Euro-socialist worldview, we shouldn't be surprised that national security takes a backseat to political correctness." - Liberty Council bigot Matt Barber, writing for the Moonie Times.

Disco Pinafore Megamix

Gayest thing ever?

(Tipped by JMG reader Brian)

AC360: Rep. Jared Polis & LCR's Clarke Cooper Discuss Chambliss Scandal

Tonight CNN's Anderson Cooper discussed the "all faggots must die" comment left by a Sen. Saxby Chambliss staffer here on JMG, bringing on Rep. Jared Polis and Log Cabin head R. Clarke Cooper. (The same pair discussed the issue on MSNBC's Hardball yesterday.) Tonight's conversation focused more on the delay in identifying the culprit, although LCR's Cooper once again attempted to derail the issue by launching into an attack on Obama over DADT.

UNRELATED: CNN really has a problem with my name, this is the third mention in as many weeks in which they get it wrong. Whatevs.

DADT WIN: Federal Judge Orders Reinstatement Of Major Margaret Witt

In another win in the battle to overturn DADT, late this afternoon a federal court ordered the reinstatement of Air Force Major Margaret Witt, who was suspended just before her retirement date in 2004 after her superiors learned she is a lesbian. Today's decision only applies to Major Witt's case.

A federal judge ruled Friday that a decorated flight nurse discharged from the Air Force for being gay should be given her job back as soon as possible in the latest legal setback to the military's "don't ask, don't tell" policy. The decision by U.S. District Judge Ronald Leighton came in a closely watched case as a tense debate has been playing out over the policy. Senate Republicans blocked an effort to lift the ban this week, but two federal judges have ruled against the policy in recent weeks. Maj. Margaret Witt was discharged under the "don't ask, don't tell" policy and sued to get her job back. A judge in 2006 rejected Witt's claims that the Air Force violated her rights when it fired her. An appeals court panel overruled him two years later, leaving it to Leighton to determine whether her firing met that standard.

Witt was represented by the ACLU. Read the decision here (PDF.) Reactions to the decision are below.

Human Rights Campaign

“By reinstating Major Witt, a decorated Air Force nurse discharged under ‘Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell,’ another federal court has demonstrated once again that this discriminatory law does not contribute to our nation’s security or defense,” said HRC President Joe Solmonese. “Had Major Witt been discharged in any other circuit in the country, she would not had her day in court. It is time for Congress and the Administration to recognize that his failed law should be removed from the books once and for all.”

Servicemembers United

"Yet another judge has taken yet another righteous, historic, and courageous stand against a discriminatory and unconstitutional law," said Alexander Nicholson, founder and Executive Director of Servicemembers United. "Major Witt's case is a clear-cut one in which her discharge itself actually harmed unit cohesion, morale, and combat readiness." This legal victory against the "Don't Ask, Don't Tell" law is the second this month, with a judge in Riverside, California previously declaring the entire "Don't Ask, Don't Tell" law unconstitutional in a facial challenge to the law brought by the Log Cabin Republicans. Major Witt's victory will apply only to her own discharge, but the precedent set with this decision and the previous appellate court ruling in this case on the standard to be used in deciding on "Don't Ask, Don't Tell" discharges all contribute to a significant shift in how courts appear to be viewing and treating the "Don't Ask, Don't Tell" law.

More reactions will be added to this post as they arrive.

ATLANTA: Pastors To Gather To Pray For Bishop Eddie "Down Low" Long

Atlanta's pastors are getting together for a "lock down" prayer vigil where they will ask Jeebus to watch over disgraced Bishop Eddie "Down Low" Long, his 22-room/nine bathroom mansion, and his $200K Bentley. Glory! Praise Hi$ Name! And send in another teenage hottie!

Andrew Cuomo Fires Back At Teabagger Whackadoodle Carl Paladino

Finally some action from the Cuomo camp. I've seen this five times on NYC stations already today.

Quote Of The Day - Chris Robinson

"As a band we've been trying to string together these moments, the kind of moments I've had as a music fan that have blown my mind. That's not happening when you're texting or checking your fucking fantasy league stats. I personally think you should be too high to operate a machine at our concerts." - Black Crowes frontman Chris Robinson, whose band has joined a growing movement to ban the use of cell phones and digital cameras at their concerts.

Also onboard are Wilco, White Stripes, and Natalie Merchant, the last of whom recently dissed the army of raised cameras facing her, saying, "I'm right here. This is live. This is where the show is." About one-third of the audience at the Scissor Sisters concert I attended last month seemed to be recording the show for YouTube, making me wonder about the diminished enjoyment resulting from such a conscious removal of oneself from "the moment."

Newt Gingrich Endorses Teabagger Carl "Imprison The Poor" Paladino

Libertarian Party To Gays: Leave Your Abusive Democratic "Spouse" And Join Us

The Libertarian Party has launched a campaign to lure gay voters, saying, "Like abused spouses who keep returning to their aggressors, gay voters keep handing their votes to the Democrats who abuse them." The statement continues:

The Libertarian Party (LP) wants to break this self-destructive behavior and offers LGBT voters a better alternative. LP Chairman Mark Hinkle said, "Exit polls indicate that Democrats get over 70% of LGBT votes in federal elections. Those voters must really love the Democrats' rhetoric, because they certainly aren't seeing any action. "President Obama and the Democrats had almost a year of complete control of the federal government: the Presidency, the House, and a filibuster-proof 60 votes in the Senate.

"They could have repealed 'don't ask don't tell.' They could have gotten rid of the Defense of Marriage Act. But they didn't do either of those things. That's a complete and total betrayal of all the promises they made to gay and lesbian voters for years. "After a carefully orchestrated failure in the Senate, the Democrats are now blaming Republicans for blocking the repeal of 'don't ask don't tell.' Of course, three Democrats just voted against it too, including Majority Leader Harry Reid. Reid claims he voted for procedural reasons, but the whole situation seems calculated to look like they're trying to help, while making sure they don't actually help." Unlike the Democratic and Republican Parties, the Libertarian Party believes that gays and lesbians deserve equal treatment under the law.

The statement concludes that the Libertarian Party "neither supports nor opposes gay relationships."

Obviously the Libertarian Party seeks to capitalize on LGBT disenchantment with the Obama administration and further splinter the gay vote to the benefit of the GOP. Nothing more, nothing less. Most self-described libertarian candidates, of course, actually run on the GOP ticket. (Witness today's post about Colorado's Stephen Bailey.) Virtually no officially Libertarian candidate ever becomes viable in a general election. Talk about throwing your vote away!

But just for the sake of argument, let's tick off the official Libertarian agenda as posted on their website:

1. Abolish welfare.
2. Abolish Social Security.
3. Abolish the IRS.
4. Abolish the FDA.
5. Allow insurance companies to exclude any disease.
6. Dismantle the public school system.
7. Allow machine gun ownership and open-carry anywhere.
8. End foreign aid to starving nations.
9. Sell all national parks to private groups.

To be fair, the Libertarian Party does have reasonable positions on immigration reform, privacy, and the war on drugs. But the essential takeaway from reading their platform is this: "If you are impoverished, starving, desperately ill, unemployed, or uneducated...tough shit. Don't come to the government with your lazy unpatriotic hand out. Every American for himself. Get the fuck out of here."

Stephen Colbert Fake Fights Immigration Before U.S. House Committee

McDonald's Warns Madonna

Screw McDonald's and their oppressive binary gender paradigm! Or something!

(Via JMG reader Subtle Knife)

PalinPAC Site Puts Cross-Hairs On Dems

A new Saran Palin-backed website called "Take Back The Twenty" displays a map of 20 "winnable" Democratic districts with rifle scope cross-hairs laid over them. The site asks readers to "prescribe the solution" to doing away away with those Democrats. In March, when Palin last used the violent imagery of rifle cross-hairs to target Democrats, she was criticized by even such staunch supporters as Elizabeth Hasselbeck. But that was six months ago. I bet this new site hardly raises an eyebrow in the current environment of teabagger insanity.

NEW YORK: NOM Files Suit In Attempt To Evade State Campaign Finance Laws

As they have done in other states, the National Organization for Marriage has filed a lawsuit against the New York Elections Board, saying they shouldn't have to comply with state campaign finance disclosure laws. Julie Bolcer reports at the Advocate:

The complaint against the state board of elections was filed on September 16, two days after the primary election, in the U.S. district court for the western district of New York, according to a copy provided by the pro-equality PAC Fight Back New York. It reflects a similar effort from the group last year in Maine, where a marriage equality law was repealed. In the complaint signed by NOM executive director Brian Brown, the group says that it intends to engage in speech including “radio ads, television ads, direct mail and publicly accessible Internet postings of its radio ads and direct mail” in the western district of New York, which includes Buffalo, in September and October 2010. “NOM does not wish to reveal the legislators’ names in this complaint, because it does not wish to divulge its strategy at this early date,” says the complaint.

NOM has yet to comply with the August court ruling that they must disclose the names of their donors in Maine, saying they plan to appeal.

Daddy Bear

(Tipped by JMG reader Norman)

GOProud Vs. GetEQUAL

Today the Washington Post examines the two newest groups on the gay political scene.

It's been a big, loud gay year, and a pair of young gay rights groups on opposite ends of the political spectrum have tried to be heard above the noise in Washington: GOProud, from its basement office in Capitol Hill, and GetEQUAL, a nationwide, direct-action network of activists co-captained by Managing Director Heather Cronk, 32, who lives in Maryland. The groups are not analogous in size, strategy or mission, but each aspires to commandeer the causes championed by the establishment -- embodied by the Human Rights Campaign on the left and the Log Cabin Republicans on the right. It's been a busy gay week, too. On Tuesday, Democrats failed to break a Republican filibuster of the defense authorization bill, which included a repeal of "Don't Ask, Don't Tell." Both GetEQUAL and GOProud support repeal, but they reacted differently to defeat.

GOProud ripped Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid (D-Nev.) for refusing to extend debate on the bill, then headed to New York for Homocon, a $250-to-$2,500-a-plate dinner at the home of billionaire and GOProud donor Peter Thiel, the libertarian co-founder of PayPal, with conservative instigator Ann Coulter as the group's keynote speaker. GetEQUAL retrenched by pulling 80 people onto a conference call Wednesday night, soliciting the tactical ideas of supporters from Montana to Arkansas to Connecticut. Suggestions mirrored the actions that have already garnered publicity: sit-ins, walkouts and traffic blockades.

Read the entire article.

MINNESOTA: Here's What's On The DVD The Catholic Church Sent Out

The Knights of Columbus produced this program which the Catholic Church has sent out on DVD to all Catholics in Minnesota. Slaggie Gilamonster appears in the second clip.

PhoboQuotable - Msgr. Charles Pope

"Many today advocate homosexual acts as normal even though any study of the design of the human body will indicate that man is not for man, or woman for woman. Rather, man is for woman, and woman for man. In Romans 1:27 St. Paul calls homosexual acts παρὰ φύσιν (para physin), 'contrary to nature.'

"The latest rejection of nature is the declaration of Florida’s 3rd District Court of Appeal that 'gay people and heterosexuals make equally good parents.' It is odd that Mother Nature never got the memo from the Florida Court for she apparently thinks it is best for a child to have a (female) mother and (male) father.

"In her plan, Mother Nature never made the two daddies, or two mommies option equally available through something like parthenogenesis (asexual reproduction). Mother Nature in her backward and primitive notions only allows for natural conception to occur between heterosexuals. But the Florida Court of Appeals has now rescued us from the backward notions of Mother Nature." - Catholic Archdiocese of Washington's Monsignor Charles Pope, responding to FL Gov. Charlie Crist's declaration that he will not appeal the overturn of the ban on gay adoption.

Another Takedown Of NOM's Lies

Video by Matt Baume, who is also in the post below this one.

SAN FRANCISCO: "It Gets Better" Flash Mob To Film In The Castro On Sunday

JMG reader Matt Baume writes us to announce an It Gets Better flash mob to be filmed in the Castro on Sunday. San Francisco will be jammed for Folsom Street Fair this weekend so if you're attending the fair, please consider participating in the shoot first. Here's the event's Facebook page.

NOTE: This Sunday there will also be a marriage equality protest walk across the Golden Gate Bridge. The Castro flash mob is timed to begin upon the return of those participating in the walk.

Americans United Demands Military End Its Proselytizing Christian Concerts

Americans United for Separation of Church and State is calling on the U.S. military to stop holding Christian music concerts on its bases. Their complaint is spawned by an upcoming Christian rock concert planned for Fort Bragg.

The “Rock the Fort” event at Fort Bragg this weekend targets both military personnel and adults and children in the surrounding community for conversion to Christianity. This clearly violates the separation of church and state, attorneys with Americans United informed Army officials in a letter today. “It’s not the Army’s job to convert Americans to Christianity,” said the Rev. Barry W. Lynn, executive director of Americans United. “This event is totally unacceptable and must be canceled. “It is particularly shocking that the military would join forces with Franklin Graham,” Lynn continued. “Graham has expressed utter contempt for Islam, Hinduism and other faiths. When our military joins hands with him, it sends exactly the wrong message to the world. Our military defends a nation that includes people of many different faiths and some who follow no faith at all.”

RELATED: Last month about 80 soldiers at Fort Eustis, Virginia were punished by their superiors for refusing to attend a mandatory Christian rock concert on their base.

Tea Party Republicans With Signs And Costumes Against Glenn Beck

Ted Haggard Goes On CNN To Defend Fellow Hypocrite Bishop Eddie Long

Openly gay Pastor Troy Sanders responds to Haggard: "It didn't take a scandal for me to come out and walk in truth!"

John McCain Remixed

Remix by JMG reader Sean Chapin.

GOP House Nominee Stephen Bailey Visits JMG To Attack Rep. Jared Polis Over Saxby Chambliss Comments

"Jared Polis recklessly slandered every Republican and Republican staffer with his comments -- guilt by an association not predicated by the bias at issue. This is a logical fallacy and it undermines the moral high ground on this issue. He hurts his cause when there is a valid point to be made and lashes out emotionally and insults innocent people. When an organization has as many people as a political party, it will include some who do not reflect the values of the organization and certainly not all members. I have heard anti-gay comments a few times at Republican events. I, or others, have spoken against those comments. The comments reflect the personal biases of a very small number of people and not of all Republicans.

"Republicans believe in constitutionally limited government. Our Constitution protects the rights of everyone equally. Those values are incompatible with persecution of individuals or a group of individuals that are not guilty of violating anyone's rights. Monitor Sen. Chambliss and the resolution of this intolerable act. Allow for time to ensure that the guilty party is identified. A rush to judgment could accidentally identify an innocent and damage their reputation. If there is no accountability after a reasonable time, then the Senator will deserve your contempt." - GOP U.S. House nominee Stephen Bailey, in a comment he left on this JMG post last night. Bailey's opponent is Rep. Jared Polis (D-CO).

RELATED: Endorsed by Ron Paul and Dick Armey's FreedomWorks, Stephen Bailey is a libertarian Tenther who believes that the federal government has no authority to impose any laws not specifically mentioned in the U.S. Constitution. Bailey's campaign site glowingly quotes Ayn Rand and he has signed on to the Tea Party-influenced Contract From America (their italics.) He also wants to abolish the Federal Reserve and force the losers of civil lawsuits to pay the legal costs of the winner, effectively chilling any response to corporate, medical, or law enforcement wrong-doings. In denouncing the concept of global warming, Bailey says, "Use common sense. Is the climate of your area substantially different today than 20 years ago?"

QUESTION: Has a GOP candidate for national office ever before taken to the comments of a gay blog to attack his opponent? I can't recall such a thing happening in the past.

Dave Holmes - It Gets Better

Former MTV personality and JMG reader Dave Holmes responds to Dan Savage's It Gets Better project, which aims to help ward off the suicidal thoughts of LGBT youth. Holmes currently co-hosts DVD On TV on FX.

Eddie Fisher Dies At Age 82

1950's pop star and movie idol Eddie Fisher died from a fall in his California home yesterday at the age of 82.

Although Fisher sold millions of records and had his own television show, his biggest claim to fame may be his high-profile marriages to Hollywood starlets Debbie Reynolds, Elizabeth Taylor and Connie Stevens -- all of which ended in divorce. He had two more marriages after that. Fisher also co-starred in the films "Bundle of Joy" and "Butterfield 8". Among his four children were actresses Carrie Fisher and Joely Fisher. Fisher has two stars on the Hollywood Walk of Fame, one for recording and the other for TV.

Fisher notched over twenty Top 10 hits, included the below, which hit #1 in 1954. It's the song I'll always most associate with him, even though it's from before my time.

4Chan Hack Of The Year

Broadway Friday

- Legendary playwright and Tony nominee Charles Busch (left) has opened Off Broadway with his latest, The Divine Sister, in which he plays Mother Superior of St. Veronica's, where "dark secrets are rampant." Early reviews are boffo.

- Nicole Kidman returns to Broadway next fall in a revival of Tennessee Williams' Sweet Bird Of Youth. The original 1959 production starred Geraldine Page and Paul Newman.

- Jodie Foster, Kate Winslett, and 2010 Oscar winner Christopher Waltz (Inglorious Basterds) will star in Roman Polanski's movie adaptation of the Tony winning drama Gods Of Carnage. Although the play is set in Brooklyn, filming will take place in France because, well, you know.

- The cast recording of the revival of Jerry Herman and Harvey Fierstein's La Cage Aux Folles has been released. Kelsey Grammer's vocals are reviewed as "rough."

- Playwright and gender-bending actor David Greenspan stars as Queen Elizabeth in the Off Broadway revival of Virginia Woolf's Orlando, now running at the Classic Stage Company.

- Jerry Seinfeld will make his Broadway debut as the director of former SNL cast member Colin Quinn's one-man show, which begins an 11-week run at the Helen Hayes on October 22nd.

- The musical version of Steven Spielberg's hit movie Catch Me If You Can is scheduled to land on Broadway in the spring. The show had a well-received tryout in Seattle last year.

- Moulin Rouge director Baz Luhrman is creating a stage version of Strictly Ballroom.

VIDEO: Broadway star Nathan Lane teases the ladies of The View about how their guests greet them.

DOJ To Judge: Keep Enforcing DADT

In response to the federal court ruling that DADT is unconstitutional, late this afternoon the Department of Justice filed a brief in support of keep the ban on openly gay servicemembers. Via Advocate:

In a 14-page brief, Justice Department attorneys argued that a permanent injunction against enforcing the 17-year-old law — one supported by Log Cabin Republicans, which successfully challenged DADT in federal court and has argued for an immediate halt of DADT enforcement throughout the armed forces — would be "untenable." "[A]ny injunction in this case must be limited to plaintiff LCR and the claims it asserts on behalf of its members – and cannot extend to non-parties – plaintiff’s requested world-wide injunction of the statute fails as a threshold matter," assistant U.S. attorney Paul Freeborne wrote.

Among the government’s arguments, Freeborne wrote that an injunction would preclude the government both from litigating other legal challenges to DADT and considering the terms of a stay barring discharges of gay and lesbian service members. An immediate halt of discharges would jeopardize successful implementation of repeal, by interfering with the “ability of the Department of Defense to develop necessary policies, regulations, and training and guidance to accommodate a change in the DADT law and policy,” the government argues.

The White House has issued the following statement.

Today, the Department of Justice made a filing in a legal challenge to the Don't Ask, Don't tell (DADT) policy, as it traditionally does when acts of Congress are challenged. This filing in no way diminishes the President's firm commitment to achieve a legislative repeal of DADT -- indeed, it clearly shows why Congress must act to end this misguided policy. The President was disappointed earlier this week when a majority of the Senate was willing to proceed with National Defense Authorization Act, but political posturing created a 60 vote threshold. The President spoke out against DADT in his first State of the Union Address, and the Secretary of Defense and the Chairman of the Joint Chiefs have both testified in support of repeal. And the Department of Defense continues to work on a plan on how to implement repeal. The President, along with his Administration, will continue to work with the Senate Leadership to achieve a legislative repeal of DADT as outlined in the NDAA this fall.

Here's the DOJ's full brief.
DOJ DADT Injunction

MSNBC's Hardball Covers Chambliss Story With Rep. Jared Polis And Log Cabin Head

Tonight MSNBC's Chris Matthews covered the Sen. Saxby Chambliss "all faggots must die" scandal, bringing on openly gay Rep. Jared Polis and Log Cabin head R. Clarke Cooper to discuss what should happen next. Watch Cooper quisle his defense of the GOP, saying that there aren't any gay haters in the GOP's offices. Matthews responds incredulously: "Not at ALL?" Jared Polis added, "Clark has a tough job being a member of a club that doesn't want him as a member."

Mercy Jesus! WTF? Even Through Chanel Shades, I Can See The Light!

Cadillac Kimberly sends out an extremely very super NSFW and freekin' hilarious rant against Bishop Eddie Long.

Family Research Council Hires Cleetus Slackjaw As Anti-Democrat Spokescoot

Carly Fiorina Mocks Sen. Barbara Boxer

Over on Twitter, GOProud is cheering this ad.

GOProud Hero Ann Coulter: Ronald Reagan Was Great Because He Hated Gays

GOProud's BFF Ann Coulter, who will headline their Homocon 2010 event here in NYC on Saturday, has published a column lionizing Ronald Reagan because of his staunch opposition to gay rights.

The social issues were the difference. Reagan agreed with Goldwater on fiscal and national defense issues, but by 1980, social issues loomed large and Reagan came down mightily on one side -- the opposite side as Goldwater, as it turned out. Unlike abortion-loving Goldwater, Reagan said, "We cannot survive as a free nation when some men decide that others are not fit to live and should be abandoned to abortion or infanticide." And unlike gay-marriage-loving Goldwater, Reagan said: "Society has always regarded marital love as a sacred expression of the bond between a man and a woman. It is the means by which families are created and society itself is extended into the future. ... We will resist the efforts of some to obtain government endorsement of homosexuality."

Again I remind you, GOProud and their ilk are no less the enemies of LGBT Americans than the Family Research Council or Focus On The Family. Perhaps more so, because by collaborating with those who wish us harm, they give those anti-gay bigots cover for their repulsive work.

(Via - Right Wing Watch)

CDC Reports 1 In 5 Urban Gay Men Are Poz

According to a new report from the Centers For Disease Control, 19% of urban gay and bisexual men are HIV positive but one-quarter to one-half of them don't know it.

Researchers at the CDC studied 8,153 men who have sex with men in 21 U.S. cities. The men were taking part in the 2008 National HIV Behavioral Surveillance System, which looked at prevalence and awareness of the human immunodeficiency virus or HIV, the virus that causes AIDS. Overall, they found that 19 percent of gay men are infected with HIV. The study found that 28 percent of gay black men infected with HIV, compared with 18 percent of Hispanic men and 16 percent of white men. Black men in the study were also least likely to be aware of their infection, with 59 percent unaware of their infection compared with 46 percent of Hispanic men and 26 percent of white men. Age also plays a role. Among 18 to 29-year-old men, 63 percent did not know they were infected with HIV, compared with 37 percent of men aged 30 and older, the team reported in the CDC's weekly report on death and disease.

The CDC recommends at least an annual HIV test for all men who have sex with men.

Closet Case Anti-Gay Bishop Eddie Long Cancels Media As Scandal Grows

Christianist Groups To Gather To Defy IRS Rules On Political Activism

The anti-gay Alliance Defense Fund is organizing a meeting of about 100 pastors who will preach "biblical perspectives on the positions of electoral candidates or current government officials" in defiance of IRS rules against such activism by tax-exempt religious organizations.

Pulpit Freedom Sunday is an event associated with the ADF Pulpit Initiative, a legal effort designed to secure the First Amendment rights of pastors in the pulpit. The Pulpit Initiative is part of the larger ADF Church Project. Participating pastors preaching on Pulpit Freedom Sunday will address the subject of current candidates for office, including the positions held by those candidates, in light of Scripture. “Pastors and churches shouldn’t live in fear of being punished or penalized by the government—in this case, the IRS,” said ADF Senior Legal Counsel Erik Stanley. “ADF is not trying to get politics into the pulpit; we want to get government out of the pulpit. Churches should be allowed to decide for themselves what they want to talk about. The IRS should not be the one making the decision by threatening to revoke a church’s tax-exempt status.”

The ADF is hoping to force the courts to address the constitutionality of the 1954 law.

Afternoon View - TKTS Booth

The ticket windows are under the steps.

JMG Fan Page

I've reached the friends limit on Facebook so I've been forced to create, UGH, a JMG fan page, where I'll be posting breaking stories and clips as I've done on my regular page. I encourage you to use the new page to post your own news items of LGBT interest and add your own commentaries.

True Mud

Two Sesame Street posts in a row today as Towleroad points us to their parody of True Blood. Stand by for the uptight anti-titty brigade to rebrand as the uptight anti-vampire brigade.

Sesame Street Censors Katy Perry

After a Facebook-based uproar from uptight anti-titty parents, Sesame Street has decided that they will not be airing a segment in which pop star Katy Perry sings to Elmo while wearing a low-cut costume.

Sesame Street has a long history of working with celebrities across all genres, including athletes, actors, musicians and artists. Sesame Street has always been written on two levels, for the child and adult. We use parodies and celebrity segments to interest adults in the show because we know that a child learns best when co-viewing with a parent or care-giver. We also value our viewer’s opinions and particularly those of parents. In light of the feedback we’ve received on the Katy Perry music video which was released on You Tube only, we have decided we will not air the segment on the television broadcast of Sesame Street, which is aimed at preschoolers.

The video can still be seen on YouTube.

(Via - Gothamist)

Schlemiel! Schlimazel!

GetEQUAL's Broken Promises Remix

Starsmith - Give Me A Break

Posted for the 1980 Ritchie Family sample...

(Tipped by JMG reader Foxy)

Blockbuster Files For Bankruptcy

It's a Netflix world. Blockbuster has filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy protection from its creditors.

Blockbuster Inc., once the dominant movie rental company in the U.S., filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy protection on Thursday, after reeling from mounting losses, rising debt and competitors that have better catered to Americans' changed media habits. Blockbuster will continue to operate its 3,000 U.S. stores. But the move, long expected, marks the end of an era that Blockbuster and its gold-and-blue torn ticket logo helped establish – of Americans visiting video-store chains for the latest movie-rental releases. Increasingly, Americans are forgoing Blockbuster and watching movies via video subscription services like Netflix Inc., video on demand and vending machine services such as Coinstar Inc.'s Redbox.

The company is about $1.5B in debt, much of which is owed to the nation's largest movie distributors such as Walt Disney and Sony.

MADDOW: Advocate's Kerry Eleveld Talks About Possible DADT Appeal By DOJ

The clip starts out with the awards just given to two anti-gay Congress members by the Log Cabin Republicans.

President Obama Heckled By AIDS Protesters At New York City Fundraiser

President Obama's speech to a Democratic fundraiser in New York City was interrupted last night by hecklers pushing for increased funding for HIV/AIDS programs. Obama halted his prepared remarks several times to respond.

Activists yelled slogans and held signs aloft reading "Obama broken promises KILL." Supporters of the president tried to drown them out with shouts of "O-bam-a! O-bam-a!" The hecklers were so raucous Obama went off-script several times to address them, insisting he's increased AIDS funding and is working to overturn the military's "don't ask, don't tell" policy. He told them to go shout at Republicans, noting that a vote on repealing "don't ask, don't tell" failed this week in the Senate, with Republicans united in opposition. "Some of those signs should be going up at the other folks' events, and folks should be hollering at the other folks' event. Because the choice in November could not be clearer," the president said. Addressing an activist pushing for more funding for global AIDS initiatives, the president said, "We heard your point. And as I said before, we increased AIDS funding. ... The people who will take over if we don't focus on the election, I promise you, will cut AIDS funding."

The protesters were not removed from the room and kept their signs aloft even as the president waded into the crowd to shake hands.

Tired Old Queen At The Movies #50

1955's The Night Of The Hunter, starring Shelley Winters, Robert Mitchum, Lillian Gish, and Peter Graves.

Juice Boxes Make You Gay!

Nationally syndicated libertarian radio host Alex Jones told his audience that drinking out of juice boxes turns people into homosexuals. Also gay-making: kettle chips. It's all a government plot to create more gay people! And here you were blaming Glee.

Totally Not Gay Ted Haggard Offers Words Of Support To Totally Not Gay Eddie Long

Yesterday disgraced televangelist Ted Haggard issued a statement of support for Atlanta's Bishop Eddie Long, the anti-gay marriage activist now being sued by several young men for coercing them into sex.

Ted Haggard cautioned today that no one should rush to judge the leader of an Atlanta megachurch accused of coercing three young men into sex. "Nobody's guilty until the court says he's guilty," Haggard, the former head of a 14,000-member congregation in Colorado, told AOL News today in a phone interview. Three young men from Bishop Eddie Long's church filed lawsuits this week claiming he exploited his position and used cash, cars and expensive trips to pressure them into sexual relationships. Long's attorney says the pastor "categorically denies" the allegations. Haggard said that Long deserves a fair hearing and that if the accusations are false, he will survive the ordeal. "The bishop is surrounded by people that will counsel him well," he said.

Also yesterday photos surfaced of Bishop Long striking an "Guys With iPhones" pose while wearing a "muscle tee." One of the young men suing Long says that the opposite-married Long emailed him the photos. Several years ago Long led an anti-marriage equality march to the gravesite of Martin Luther King.

Burning Man By Satellite

The Daily What provides us with this stunning view of this year's Burning Man camp from the GeoEye-1 satellite.

Get Behind Me, Satan!

Open Thread Thursday

Tell us about your very first apartment.

Suggested by JMG reader Joe (AO)

Sen. Saxby Chambliss Admits: It Was My Guy That Said "All Faggots Must Die"

The office of GOP Sen. Saxby Chamblis has admitted that it was their staffer that left the comment "All faggots must die" on this blog yesterday. The Atlanta Journal-Constitution reports:

U.S. Sen. Saxby Chambliss’ office has determined it was indeed the source of a highly publicized homosexual-bashing slur on an Internet site. But in a statement, Chambliss’ office said it has not discovered exactly who was behind the slur, and has turned the matter over to the Senate Sergeant At Arms. “The (Sergeant at Arms) has worked side by side with our personnel to determine whether the comment in question emanated from our office. That appears to be the case,” an unsigned statement from Chambliss’ press office read. “There has not been a determination as to who posted the comment,” the statement read. “That part of the review is ongoing, and is now in the hands of the Senate Sergeant at Arms.” Spokeswomen for Chambliss did not return a reporters phone calls or emails seeking more details.

We're standing by for your apology, Sen. Chambliss.

UPDATE: The New York Times has interviewed me for likely publication tomorrow.

UPDATE II: Keith Olbermann covered the story tonight.

Midweek Mix - DJ Jerry Bonham

Shake off those DADT blues for an hour or so with this gorgeous electronic vocal mix from Denver's DJ Jerry Bonham. Website. Facebook.

UPCOMING GIG: Remember The Party, San Francisco, Oct. 10th

PREVIOUSLY ON JMG: DJ Russ Rich. DJ Jeb Edwards. DJ James Torres. DJ Bill Pfeiffer. DJ Mike Ponsades. DJ Steve Sherwood. DJ Pete Savas. DJ Jeff Jackson & DJ Disco Connie. DJ Phillip Kimball. DJ Paul Ferrer. 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.

[Photo Credit: Bearotic]

Here's The GOP's "Pledge To America"

They might as well have called it the "Teabagger Manifesto." If you needed further proof that the GOP is firmly in the clutches of the lunatics, just read the first couple of pages. Patriots! Self-appointed elites! Traditional marriage! Hurl!

MINNESOTA: NOM Launches Ad Campaign Supporting Anti-Gay Tom Emmer

NOM crows about their support of Rep. Tom Emmer, the anti-gay asshat running for governor of Minnesota:

We’ve just released what may very well be our most powerful ad yet . . . Focused on protecting one of our most precious civil rights – the right to vote – the ad traces today’s battle for the right to vote on marriage back to Dr. Martin Luther King’s famous stand and the civil rights movement. In the Minnesota governor’s race, two of the three candidates want to let unelected judges force same-sex marriage on Minnesotans, with only Republican Tom Emmer standing up for the rights of Minnesota voters. Partnering with the Minnesota Family Council, this new ad campaign holds these politicians accountable, making sure that voters know where their candidates stand on marriage.

NOM also announces that "a group of anonymous donors" has pledged to match all donations up to $1M.

Tweet Of The Day

Truth In Divorce Advertising

"You're on your way to getting rid of that vermin you call a spouse! Divorce EZ! A Florida company!"

No Gays? No Way! Ireland's President Turns Down NYC's St. Patrick's Day Parade

Irish President Mary McAleese has turned down an offer to be the grand marshal of NYC's 250th Annual St. Patrick's Day Parade over the event's long-running ban on LGBT participation.

Efforts at a compromise where President McAleese could attend the gay-organized, all-inclusive St. Patrick’s parade in Queens on the weekend before March 17, and then march in the actual Fifth Avenue parade the Thursday following, also failed because the president could not remain in New York for such a long period of time. Marching in the Queens parade as well as the Fifth Avenue one also has been the way most major U.S. politicians, such as New York City Mayor Michael Bloomberg, have handled the issue in recent years. McAleese’s refusal to accept the grand marshal invite will come as major blow to parade officials who were intent on making the day an historic showcase. New York Archbishop Timothy Dolan of New York is now being considered a likely replacement. Despite a reputation as a conservative Catholic when she took office, McAleese has become a firm advocate for marginalized groups in Irish societies including gay groups.

Thank you, President McAleese!

VIDEO: Russian Activists Arrested At Protest Over Moscow's Anti-Gay Mayor

Eight Russian LGBT activists, including Moscow Pride head Nikolai Alexeyev, were arrested yesterday at a protest rally outside the office of Moscow's anti-gay mayor.

At least eight protesters were arrested when police moved in to disperse the rally outside the mayor's office. Among them was Russia's best-known gay rights campaigner, Nikolai Alexeyev, who accused security agents of abducting him last week. There was no official comment on his allegations. He said he had been stopped at a Moscow airport while trying to fly to Switzerland on Wednesday and was held for two days at an unknown address before being released on Saturday. He said he had been asked to withdraw a case from the European Court of Human Rights, where he complains about Mayor Luzhkov's refusal to allow gay pride marches in the Russian capital.

The bravery of Nikolai Alexeyev continues to astound us.

My Interviews With Fox & CNN

Fox News commenters think the story is fake and if it's not fake then I should be arrested for violating the privacy of a Senate staffer. Or something. CNN's reporter just confirmed the details and doesn't quote me. The story has also landed on the Washington Post and some progressive blogs like the Daily Beast and Talking Points Memo. Change.org has launched an email campaign to Sen. Chambliss' office demanding that he address the situation. Chambliss' office has been unresponsive to media all day.

JMG is also getting buried with hits from Fark, Reddit, and Digg today, so apologies if the trollery reaches new heights. In particular, please email me if you see comments calling for the physical harm of public figures. Anti-gay asshats have been trying to leave such comments here so that the media will see them and report that "the gays are just as bad!" As always, be advised that JMG comments have been harvested and published elsewhere in the past.

FRC's Tony Perkins Gloats Over DADT Vote, Asks For More Anti-Gay Money

"I don't often get to write to you on the heels of a thrilling, public victory. FRC's strategic team and your prayers and financial support won the day! Yesterday afternoon, the Senate voted down the Defense Authorization Bill -- with its candy box of treats for radical liberals. The outrageous amendments to the bill included repealing Don't Ask, Don't Tell and turning every military installation into an abortion clinic. This is a victory for the men and women who serve our nation in uniform--at least for now they will not be used to advance a radical social agenda. The Wall Street Journal credited FRC with '[leading] the opposition to a repeal.'

"Friends, FRC needs your renewed support urgently. FRC's fiscal year closes on September 30. This is a critical milestone for us, because our financial status at the end of the fiscal year will determine how much we can grow and accomplish in the next year. We have $1.1 million remaining to raise. It's important for you to know that FRC doesn't spend what we don't have. We have very conservative financial management. We won't go into debt in order to fight pivotal battles like Don't Ask, Don't Tell. We don't have any endowment or large reserves. Together, we can accomplish more victories like today's win in the Senate. Donate today!" - Family Research Council head bigot Tony Perkins, getting happy with the Lord over crushing the civil rights of fellow Americans.