More Video From Moscow Pride Protest

Dog Pee Can't Stop Santorum

ILLINOIS: Porno Pete Stages Anti-Gay Marriage Rally In Downtown Chicago

Porno Pete LaBarbera and his merry band of KKKloset Kases staged an anti-gay marriage rally in downtown Chicago yesterday.

Opponents of the new law that will allow same-sex civil unions rallied at the Thompson Center today demanding that Illinois voters be allowed to decide the fate of the issue through referendum. Days before a measure that will give gay couples the same state rights as a married man and wife is set to take effect, opponents and supporters faced off. As busloads of protesters crowded in front of St. Peter’s Church in downtown Chicago, a counter demonstration took form on the other side of the 100 block of West Madison Street. “There’s a battle between gay rights and religious freedom,” said Peter LaBarbera, president of the group Americans for Truth, as he coached people on how to correctly complete the signature sheets on which opponents hope to collect the required 300,000 signatures. “We want to give Illinois votes the same opportunity other states have had.”

More photos can be found at the Flickr account of Chicago Man.

Tweet Of The Day - Miley Cyrus

Pop singer Miley Cyrus has been telling her one million Twitter followers to boycott Urban Outfitters because its CEO is a raving teabagger who contributed to Frothy Mix. Go Miley!

Dan Choi Shouts "GLASNOST!" As Moscow Police Arrest Him At Pride Protest

Bruno Mars - The Lazy Song

Forgettable song, but the clip stars Leonard Nimoy.

RUSSIA: Dan Choi Among Activists Arrested At Moscow Pride Protest

UK Gay News is running a live blog from the pride protest in Moscow. Here are the latest entries at this writing:

14:00. Andy Thayer is confirmed as having been arrested, along with Dan Choi and Louis-Georges Tin, Anna and three other Russian gay activists.

13:40. Report just in that four Russians participats in Pride have been arrested outside Moscow City Hall.

13:31. Dan Choi and Louis-Georges Tin both confirmed as having been arrested.

13:29. "All participants of Moscow Pride at Alexandrovski Gardens was been "brutally arrested", Chad Meacham has just reported. The arrest were made as participants arrived at the Gardens. One person, Louis-Geroges Tin was allowed to give an iterview with the world's TV and press. No names of those arrested are not known, apart from Anna.

Gil Scott-Heron Dies At 62

No word yet on the cause of death.

New From SarahPAC 2012

A dozen or so unrelated patriotic slogans makes for a campaign ad these days, apparently.

GOProud Begs For Money To Stop JMG

I fucking love it!

Actor Jeff Conaway Dies At Age 60

The New York Times reports:

Jeff Conaway, the personable actor who won television fame on the sitcom “Taxi” and movie success in the musical “Grease” three decades ago and who later publicly struggled with drug and alcohol abuse, died on Friday in Los Angeles. He was 60. He died of complications of pneumonia at Encino Tarzana Medical Center after being taken off life support on Thursday, a talent representative, Phil Brock, said.

Conaway had been in a coma since May 11th.

50 Years Of Amnesty International

Oh Noes! The Revenge Of GOProud!

GOProud has planted an anti-JMG story on the wingnut site Daily Caller, whose dumb bunny writer manages to spell my name two different ways in consecutive sentences. I'll totally cop to calling GOProud "kapos and Quislings," cuz ya know, they totally are. But Daily Caller also quotes Chris Barron as saying that I regularly post misogynistic comments. (No citation of that bullshit is offered in the article, of course.) This, from the guy who regularly tweets fat jokes about Meghan McCain and who only yesterday said that Rachel Maddow "looks like a dude."

MSNBC On Palin's Bus Tour

Palin is crashing a veterans event this weekend and a spokesman for the group says that not only was she not invited, she's going to be a "big distraction."

Ken Mehlman: Why Republicans Should Support Same-Sex Marriage

Yeah, that's nice now. But don't ever for one minute forget Mehlman's leadership role in the many anti-gay marriage referendums that swept the nation during his tenure as head of the Republican National Committee.

Gallup: How Many Gays Are There?

Gallup says: "U.S. adults, on average, estimate that 25% of Americans are gay or lesbian. More specifically, over half of Americans (52%) estimate that at least one in five Americans are gay or lesbian, including 35% who estimate that more than one in four are. Thirty percent put the figure at less than 15%."

PhoboQuotable - NY Sen. Ruben Diaz

"There is no just comparison between America’s struggle to overcome the evils of slavery and the promotion of the lifestyle of homosexuality. It is preposterous for Mayor Bloomberg to degrade and minimize the plight of African-Americans in this civil rights struggle by equating it with the effort to push to legalize homosexual marriage. Black Americans should not sit back and let Mayor Bloomberg compare the long struggle of their ancestors against American slavery to the current fight for a lifestyle choice.

"The effort to redefine marriage to include a man and a man or a woman and a woman can never be compared to the struggle against slavery. Before Mayor Bloomberg attempts to borrow from history for comparisons, he should take a look at the uncivil discourse that is taking place by those whose goals he has embraced. Black leaders should not allow Mayor Bloomberg or anyone else trivialize their suffering and their history!" - New York state Sen. Ruben "Reverend" Diaz, writing on his official state website.

Lady Gaga In Central Park

After landing on the Good Morning America stage via an overhead zipline, Gaga played a piano inside a hollowed-out unicorn.

UPDATE: Sorry, folks. Video yanked.

Photo Of The Day

(Via - Towleroad)

Tweet Of The Day - GOProud

GOProud's Jimmy LaSalvia today: "LGBT people who are interested in putting policy before partisanship now know that HRC is little more than a puppet of the Democratic National Committee and an organization that has one goal – to elect more Democrats."

GOProud's Jimmy LaSalvia last month: “Defeating Barack Obama and putting a conservative in the White House should be the number one goal of every single person in the conservative movement. It is certainly the number one goal of this organization.”

Karl Rove On Palin 2012

"I don't think she thinks the rules apply to her. She doesn't need to have the traditional trappings of a presidential campaign, no finance committee, she can raise the money, she doesn't need to go shake a lot of hands in Iowa, New Hampshire, South Carolina. She gets to decide what the rules are that govern her campaign and go accordingly and politics is changing. Some people have done things that have been outside the norm of custom and have won." - Karl Rove on Sarah Palin's 2012 candidacy.

Liberty Counsel: Conservative Is New Cool

Matt Barber: "Kids today are standing up and saying, 'Take your moral relativist and redistributionist pig swill and put in your pipe and smoke it.'"

Top TN Democrat: Extremist Bills Make State Look Buck-Toothed And Barefoot

Sarah Palin Launches Bus Tour

From SarahPAC.com:

Our nation is at a critical turning point. As we look to the future, we are propelled by America's past. It's imperative that we connect with our founders, our patriots, our challenges and victories to clearly see our way forward. A good way to do this is to appreciate the significance of our nation's historic sites, patriotic events and diverse cultures, which we'll do in the coming weeks on our "One Nation" tour. We'll celebrate the good things that bring Americans together; those things that will give us the needed strength to meet the heady challenges ahead. I’ve said many times that America doesn’t need a "fundamental transformation," instead we need a restoration of all that is good and strong and free in America!

RUSSIA: Gay Activist Storms Off TV Show

During a nationally televised debate on the rights of gay people to assemble and protest, noted activist Nikolai Alekseev ripped off his microphone and stormed off the set. Feast Of Fun reports:

GayRussia leader Nikolai Alekseev walked off the set of a national TV debate show this afternoon after accusing the moderator, Vladimir Solovyev, of slanting the show towards homophobes. The show has been described to me as sort of like “Meet the Press,” except that millions of people actually watch it. Alekseev was debating Alexander Hinstein, a deputy in the State Duma (parliament) and member of Vladir Putin’s United Russia Party. The last straw was when Solovyev, host of the nationally broadcast show, Poednivo (roughly “The Dual” in English), called on an audience member who accused gays of physically threatening her young daughter. Alekseev tore off his microphone and walked off as the cameras rolled. Shortly thereafter, the LGBT members of the audience also walked out.

Porno Pete Launches New Hate Group

The first action from Porno Pete's latest hate group will be an anti-civil unions protest today in downtown Chicago. LaBarbera is once again trying to place a constitutional ban on same-sex marriage on the Illinois ballot, something he laughably failed at in 2006 due to "questionable" petition signatures.

IDMI is a statewide effort to preservee the historic, traditional definition of marriaeg in the Land of Lincoln. IDMI needs to gather almost 300,000 signatures of registered Illinois voters by next April 2012 – to put an Advisory Question on the 2012 ballot asking the Illinois General Assembly to pass a Constitutional Amendment stating: “To secure and preserve the benefits of marriage for our society and for future generations of children, the union of one man and one woman in marriage shall be the only agreement recognized as a marriage or similar union for any purpose.”

To accomplish this goal – and have Illinois join the 31 other states whose citizens have stood up for real marriage at the ballot box – we aim to gather 600,000 signatures by next year. This could help us avoid an expensive legal challenge by homosexual activists and the ACLU – who will go to any extreme to deny Illinois voters an opportunity to have their voices heard on traditional marriage.

Bloomberg's Speech On Marriage

Here's the full video of yesterday's pro-gay marriage speech by NYC Mayor Michael Bloomberg. As noted by Andy Humm, we've got some major issues with Bloomberg, but it IS a damn good speech.

L Train Pole Dance

No idea what's going on here. Damn hipsters.

NOM Releases More Bronx Video

ILLINOIS: Catholic Charities To End Adoption Services Due To Civil Unions

Catholic Charities of Rockford, Illinois announced yesterday that they will suspend all foster care and adoption services rather than comply with the state's new civil unions law.

Officials cited a lack of clarity in the Illinois Religious Freedom Protection and Civil Unions Act, which does not specify whether religious child welfare agencies must place children with couples in civil unions. Without a specific provision protecting religious agencies, church officials said, the agency can't risk losing state contracts or facing lawsuits if it turns away gay couples or others in civil unions. State funds make up about half of Catholic Charities of Rockford's $7.5 million operating budget.

"While we understand leaving this work will be very painful for our client families, employees, volunteers, donors and prayerful supporters, we can no longer contract with the state of Illinois whose laws would force us to participate in activity offensive to the moral teachings of the church — teachings which compel us to do this work in the first place," said Frank Vonch, director of social services for the Diocese of Rockford, which includes Kane and McHenry counties.

Catholic adoption agencies in other Illinois cities say they have not yet decided whether to stay open.

HRC Endorses Obama 2012

The Human Rights Campaign has already endorsed Barack Obama's reelection bid.

Running in 2008, Barack Obama promised change from the George W. Bush administration and on so many issues, change is certainly what we got. From signature achievements like passage of the law to end "Don't Ask, Don't Tell" to administrative changes throughout government, President Obama has done more to improve the lives of LGBT people than any President in history.

Hit the link for HRC's exhaustive list of Obama's pro-gay accomplishments.

Jim Robinson Warns Freepers

"NOTICE: FR DOES NOT AND WILL NOT SUPPORT ABORTIONIST, GAY RIGHTS PUSHING BIG GOVERNMENT STATISTS FOR PRESIDENT!! This message is intended for those posters on FR who seem to have missed my prior statements in this regard and insist on advocating for these bastards. I'd rather shut the place down than be involved in any effort to install abortionist/gay rights pushing RINOS like Romney or Giuliani into the White House!! Do NOT push this crap on FR. Take your business elsewhere!! And I don't care how long you've been here!!" - Free Republic founder Jim Robinson.

HomoQuotable - Andy Humm

"Bloomberg's speech today amounted to hollow words. He is the sole reason that Republicans are in the majority in the NYS Senate as he has propped them up literally with MILLIONS of dollars in just the last several years. And he has repeatedly said that he will NOT stop donating to Senators who oppose marriage equality--who also happen to be the ones who oppose GENDA, the AIDS bills we need, and virtually everything else of a progressive nature. Let Bloomberg put his money where his mouth is: Stop funding bigots. It is sickening to watch the gay establishment and average gay people fawn over him like some kind of hero when he is in fact the main reason we don't have marriage equality in New York." - Gay City News reporter Andy Humm, via email.

Tony Perkins: Anti-Bullying Programs Are Indocrinating Kids Into Homosexuality

Blah, blah, blah. Same old, same old.

ATLANTA: Bishop Eddie Long Settles Sexual Coercion Suit With Four Young Men

It appears that Atlanta's Bishop Eddie Long has paid off the four young men who last year accused him of coercing them into totally gay homosexual sex. Long had regularly and viciously railed against LGBT people from his megachurch pulpit.

Barbara Marschalk, who represents New Birth Missionary Baptist Church and Long Fellows Youth Academy, said she anticipates " the lawsuits will be dismissed, with prejudice, by close of business tomorrow." B.J. Bernstein, who represents the four men who sued Long, New Birth and LongFellows, also confirmed the lawsuits had been settled. Neither side would comment further and settlement terms were unknown. According to Bernstein's office, neither she nor the plaintiffs -- Maurice Robinson, Jamal Parris, Anthony Flagg and Spencer LeGrande -- would be available for an interview "on this matter, now or in the future. "

VIDEO: Once again, here's Cadillac Kimberly's now-classic rant upon hearing the news last fall. Totally NSFW and totally hilarious.

Fox News Chairman Installed Bullet-Proof Glass Because He Feared Gay Activists

According to a former managing editor at Fox News, chairman Roger Ailes installed bullet-proof glass on his midtown Manhattan office windows because he feared assassination by gay activists. "They'll be down there protesting. Those gays!" Ailes reportedly said. Hit the link to read Rolling Stone's lengthy expose on Ailes and Fox.

(Tipped by JMG reader Enzo)

Today In Christian Love™

It almost feels like performance art. "We are the Gibsons, God's all-original Southern rock band. The lyrics, we get straight from the word of God."

Quote Of The Day - Michael Bloomberg

"In talking to state legislators who do not yet support marriage equality, I can sense that many of them are searching their souls for answers – and they are torn. Like all of us, they have friends and family and colleagues who are gay and lesbian. They know gay and lesbian couples who are deeply in love with each other – many of whom are loving and devoted parents, too. They know those couples yearn to be seen and treated as equal to all other couples. And they often hear from their own families – especially their children – that this is a civil rights issue. I hope they listen to their kids carefully and make them proud with their foresight and courage." - NYC Mayor Michael Bloomberg, speaking today at Manhattan's Cooper Union.

(Via - Freedom To Marry)

Conde Nast Inks WTC Deal

Aspirational magazine publisher Conde Nast has signed the long-awaited deal to assume over one million square feet of office space in One World Trade Center, which when completed will be the tallest skyscraper in the nation.

The lease marked the largest single tenant to be brought into Lower Manhattan in years. The project is being developed by the Port Authority of New York and New Jersey, which sold an ownership stake to the Durst Organization. “We hope Condé Nast, at long last united into a single building, will be the catalyst for the rebirth of the downtown area,” Newhouse told a crowd of reporters and elected officials standing in the bare concrete, window-clad floor of the tower — one of the floors being leased by his company.

Such an act takes a major load off the back of the Port Authority, which is seeking to lease up a building that comes with a long list of challenges. One World Trade Center is surely worth far less that it costs to build (the tower was valued last year at $2 billion, while its construction price tag is over $3 billion). It undeniably causes anxiety over future terrorism among potential tenants. At present, there is just one other private tenant, for 190,000 square feet, signed on to the 2.6 million-square-foot building.

Thousands of clackers are surely sobbing in their Times Square cubes. Quick, somebody get three thousand feet of velvet rope to Ground Zero, stat!

On Sarah Palin's Twitter Feed

Priest In Diocese Of Pope's Advisor On Pedophilia Scandal Arrested For Pedophilia

Time Magazine reports:

The latest sex-abuse case to rock the Catholic Church is unfolding in the archdiocese of an influential Italian Cardinal who has been working with Pope Benedict XVI on reforms to respond to prior scandals of pedophile priests. Father Riccardo Seppia, a 51-year-old parish priest in the village of Sastri Ponente, near Genoa, was arrested last Friday, May 13, on pedophilia and drug charges. Investigators say that in tapped mobile-phone conversations, Seppia asked a Moroccan drug dealer to arrange sexual encounters with young and vulnerable boys. "I do not want 16-year-old boys but younger. Fourteen-year-olds are O.K. Look for needy boys who have family issues," he allegedly said. Genoa Archbishop Angelo Bagnasco, who is the head of the Italian Bishops Conference, had been working with Benedict to establish a tough new worldwide policy, released this week, on how bishops should handle accusations of priestly sex abuse.

As always, you can't make it up.

Christianist Hate Group Spokesman Peter Sprigg: Gay Activists Distrust Black People

"None" Leads GOP 2012 Field

(Via - Andrew Sullivan)

CALIFORNIA: Mom Attempted To Murder Kids In Advance Of "Rapture"

End times proponent Harold Camping says he bears no responsibility for this.

Lyn Benedetto of Antelope Valley, Calif. slit the wrist and throat of her two daughters and then slit her own, claiming to prevent them from going through the “Tribulation” on May 21, 2011. However, her neighbor discovered the attempted murder and suicide early enough for ambulance to take them to a nearby hospital to be treated. At the Open Forum of Family Radio in Oakland, Calif. on Monday, Camping said he was not responsible for the acts committed by his followers. And he was also not prepared to tender any public apology or admit that he had made a mistake about his Doomsday prediction.

Camping: "Murdering is terrible. It is contrary to everything the Bible teaches. That would have been a horrible thing if she has done that. That will make me weep. That will fill me with sorrow that she would do that. The Bible teaches that we are to save life, not kill. If it is going to be death, leave it to God. God knows who He wants to kill and make alive. That is His business, not our business."

Controller Tom DeNapoli For NY Marriage

Photo Of The Day

(Via - Truth Wins Out)

No Homo

Totally NSFW.

Black LGBT News: No More Down Low

U.S. House Votes To Defund Medical Schools That Teach Abortion

The U.S. House has approved an amendment defunding medical schools that teach doctors how to perform abortions. The measure was sponsored by GOP Rep. Virginia Foxx (NC), whom you may recall for claiming that the murder of Matthew Shepard was a hoax.

The North Carolina Republican’s proposal was offered as an amendment to a bill that puts funding restrictions on a teaching program in President Barack Obama’s health care act. The amendment passed 234-182, over the objections of some Democrats who said it would prevent medical residents from learning a basic procedure in women’s health care. The bill must still be considered by the Senate.

MINNESOTA: Anti-Gay Preacher Told To Stop Raising Money At Walmart

Anti-gay Minnesota preacher Bradlee Dean, who last week came to national prominence for his prayer before the state legislature, has been told by Walmart that his ministry may no longer solicit donations in their parking lots. Also, Dean has lost one of the Christian radio networks that ran his show.

Wal-Mart and Salem Communications have severed ties with two entities run by pastor Bradlee Dean, who made headlines last week for a controversial prayer before the Minnesota House of Representatives. David Brauer reports that AM 1280 The Patriot, owned by Christian broadcaster Salem Communications, dropped Dean’s “Sons of Liberty” radio show, and Nick Pinto writes that Wal-Mart has told Dean’s ministry, You Can Run But You Cannot Hide, that it can no longer fundraise in the parking lots of its Minnesota locations. MinnPost’s Brauer notes that Dean was fired from AM 1280 before he gave his controversial speech before the House. The station pulled Dean after he engaged in a six-minute song mocking African Americans and then likened President Obama to Osama bin Laden. “For a minister to do that made no sense,” station manager Ron Stone told MinnPost. Dean is in talks to move to Clear Channel owned KTLK, but that station says that Dean would have to make changes to his show.

According to a Walmart spokesperson, Dean had registered to solicit funds under a false name.

(Tipped by JMG reader Chris)

NOM Defector To Launch Marriage Tour

From the blog of NOM defector Louis Marinelli, who organized his former employer's bus tour last summer.

Last year, I helped organize the 2010 Summer for Marriage Tour with the National Organization for Marriage. Over the course of 30 days, we traveled more than 10,000 miles to spread a discriminatory message I once believed in to oppose same-sex marriage. Ironically, it was that very summer tour that led me to change my mind and come to support marriage equality. This new tour will serve as a testimony to that change and will seek to spread two messages.

Firstly, that marriage equality is not an ideological issue. Too many see support for gay rights as strictly a liberal issue. That’s a mistake. Supporting the constitutional rights of all citizens is a conservative issue, too. Secondly, the tour will seek to demonstrate to conservative legislators across the country that more and more people are coming to support marriage equality. Eventually, that truth will start reflecting changes among conservatives, too. If I, an opinionated conservative can change my mind, it won’t be long before many other conservatives do, too. Not to mention independents.

Marinelli is raising money for the tour at the above link.

Gay Cousin Writes NY Senator

From an open letter to NY Sen. Tom Libious:

Dear Cousin Tom…

I read online the other day that you’re co-sponsoring a bill to declare null and void (according to NY State Law) gay marriages that are performed in other states. I can only assume that some of your constituents may have persuaded you to vote against gay marriage previously. But I am perplexed as to why you would LEAD the charge with a bill to suffocate the civil rights of many of your constituents and family members (me) while so many other states are embracing equality. WOW! [snip]

I guess the truth is that I could stomp my feet, wave my hands and yell from the rooftops about equality, but it might not do any good. What I really wish is that everybody reading this right now—all you heterosexuals—would take a moment to remember your cousin… your brother… your sister… your neighbor… your friend… your CHILD—or a friend of a friend—who’s homosexual. Call my Cousin Tom Libous right now. Here’s the number: (518) 455-2677. (It literally takes 2 minutes to leave a message with his staff.) Ask him to lead us down a new path—a strong path—a reasonable path—toward equality—and to lead us away from the prejudices of yesteryear.

That’s what’s on my mind Tom. Hello to Fran and the kids. Thanks for your time.

Cousin Michael

(Tipped by JMG reader Bill)

Another Gallup Poll

Open Thread Thursday

What was the first record you ever bought?

To Treat Me, You Have To Know Me

From the city of New York.

Tweet Of The Day - Chris Barron

Shawn is Barron's husband.

Caption This

(Via - Towleroad)

Rep. Paul Ryan: Democrats Are Demagoguing The Medicare Issue

Demagoguing: "Obtaining power by means of impassioned appeals to the emotions and prejudices of the populace." Uh, yeah. Who does that actually sound like?

Tucson Shooter Found Incompetent

Not very surprising.

Jared Loughner is incompetent to stand trial, a federal judge decided today. A psychologist and psychiatrist both found Loughner unable to help in his own defense or understand the proceedings. Doctors say he is schizophrenic. U.S. District Judge Larry A. Burns said doctors report Loughner is unable to help with his defense because of his irrational distrust of lawyers. He doesn't understand the system and the role played by everyone, doctors said in their reports. Loughner doesn't think he can get a fair trial because of conspiracy, the judge was told by doctors.

Stand by for calls for Loughner's execution anyway.

HomoQuotable - MN Sen. Scott Dibble

"We are about to do the hardest thing that many of us have ever done in our lives.But we're up to it. We are a strong, resilient, loving people. We will replace the scorched-earth campaign tactics of our opponents with stories of the love, commitment and responsibility at the core of our families. The only thing this whole debate is about is whether people are able to have access to the things that keep all families strong ± economic, legal and civil protections. We will build an incredible coalition of allies from across the political spectrum and from every sector of Minnesota life to help us reach the hearts and minds of every Minnesota of every belief and political persuasion, across the countryside, in every hamlet, town and city." - Openly gay Minnesota state Sen. Scott Dibble, vowing to defeat the 2012 ballot measure to ban same-sex marriage.

Quote Of The Day - Tim Winter

"I cannot imagine what would possibly lead the ABC television network to air a profanity-laced, S&M sex show on primetime broadcast television. The overtly sexualized performance by Rihanna and Britney Spears was no accident or mishap, but a deliberate effort to target teens with images and lyrics that that glamorize whips, chains and other sexual fetishes." - Parents Television Council head Tim Winter, who's really upset that Britney and Rihanna kissed during their performance on the Billboard Awards. Lesbianism, the OTHER sexual fetish!

Ostrich Pillow Thingy

For napping at the office. And suffocating, apparently.

OSTRICH offers a micro environment in which to take a warm and comfortable power nap at ease. It is neither a pillow nor a cushion, nor a bed, nor a garment, but a bit of each at the same time. Its soothing cave-like interior shelters and isolates our head and hands (mind, senses and body) for a few minutes, without needing to leave our desk.

Mr. Stache

An amusing short from the 2011 Tribeca Film Festival.

(Tipped by JMG reader Justin)

GOP Rep. Bob Goodlatte (VA): Medicare And Social Security Are Unconstitutional

Minnesota Gov. Mark Dayton Symbolically Vetoes Anti-Gay Marriage Bill

Even though he has no power to stop Minnesota's anti-gay marriage amendment from going on the 2012 ballot, Gov. Mark Dayton has symbolically vetoed the bill.

"I do not have the power to prevent this divisive and destructive constitutional amendment from appearing on the ballot, in November 2012, the Legislature sent it to me in the form of a bill," he wrote in a letter to legislative leaders. "Thus, symbolic as it my be, I am exercising my legal responsibility to either sign or veto it." He predicted the amendment will fail when it comes before Minnesotans. If that happens, Minnesota voters would be the first voters of dozens of states to reject a gay marriage ban. "The path of social progress, of human compassion and understanding, would be tragically reversed by this amendment. Minnesotans are better than this. I urge Minnesotans to reject this amendment," he wrote.

Hit the above link for a copy of Dayton's letter announcing the veto.

VH1 Revives Pop Up Video

I'm unreasonably pleased by this.

After a 10-year hiatus, VH1 is resurrecting Pop Up Video with co-creator Woody Thompson on board as executive producer. The network has ordered 60 half-hour episodes set to bow as a strip in the fall. The reboot will remain faithful to the original concept of bubbles of true “info nuggets” strategically deployed over music videos for maximum irony. But this time Thompson and his team will also pop-up rap and hip-hop, a genre that was off limits for the original because it was the domain of sister network MTV.

NYC Still Has A Club Kids Scene

CONNECTICUT: Gender Identity Bill Scheduled For Senate Vote Today

Following its approval by the Connecticut House, today the state Senate will consider a bill granting anti-discrimination protections on the basis of gender identity. The measure has been been characterized as the "Bathroom Bill" by anti-gay groups, who are today flooding right wing sites with pleas to call Connecticut's legislators. Cited in the Christianist materials are numerous cases of men arrested for peeping or videotaping in women's restrooms. That has nothing to do with Connecticut's bill, of course, but outrageous lying scare tactics have long been the calling card of God's Gentle People.

Obama Fumbles Toast To Queen

Equality Maryland Faces Shutdown

Shortly after the failure of Maryland's marriage equality bill and a gender identity measure, Equality Maryland is facing shutdown over financial problems. Chris Geidner reports at Metro Weekly:

Equality Maryland could shut down operations at the end of June if it does not collect $20,000 to $25,000 in donations to cover operating expenses, according to members of the statewide LGBT-advocacy organization's board. Those expenses include rent for its Baltimore office headquarters, as well as salary for current staff. Equality Maryland has two full-time staff members, while interim Executive Director Lynne Bowman earns roughly $7,000 per month, employed as an independent contractor. Charles Butler, board president of Equality Maryland Inc., the lobbying arm of Equality Maryland, says the organization had ''gotten away from engaging the community as far as fundraising goes to cover operating costs'' under past leadership.

Yesterday Equality Maryland issued a plea for donations.

TEXAS: Judge Rules No Death Benefits For Trans Widow Of Firefighter

A Texas judge has ruled that the trans widow of a firefighter killed in the line of duty is not eligible for his death benefits.

Ever since Thomas Araguz died fighting a fire at an egg farm last year, his family has been battling his widow, Nikki Araguz, over $600,000 in death benefits. The firefighter’s family argued that, since Nikki Araguz was born a man, her marriage to Thomas Araguz –under Texas law – was not valid. The family said the death benefits should go to Thomas Araguz’s two children with his first wife. But Nikki Araguz has maintained that Thomas Araguz knew about her past as a man, and that their marriage was legal. Nikki Araguz had sexual reassignment surgery after the marriage. The couple was estranged at the time of Thomas Araguz’s death. On Tuesday, Judge Randy Clapp said that because Nikki Araguz was born a man, Thomas Araguz was not married on the day he died, and any marriage – formal or informal – is void.

The decision is expected to be appealed.

Giuliani To Run For President?

According to wingnut Rep. Steve King (R-NY), former NYC Mayor Rudy "9/11" Giuliani is set to announce a run for the GOP 2012 presidential nomination.

"If he were to make the decision today, he would run," says King. Speaking at a dinner with reporters in Washington, King, who was an enthusiastic Giuliani supporter in 2008, said the former mayor has been quietly lining up support and exploring strategy. Giuliani has also examined the mistakes his campaign made in '08, when he did not seriously compete in a contest until the Florida primary, by which time he was hopelessly behind in the race. It's unclear what effect a Giuliani candidacy would have on the primary campaign. There is an ongoing conversation among Republican political insiders about supposed voter unhappiness with the GOP field, and after Indiana governor Mitch Daniels' decision not to run, pundits and strategists have focused on hopes that New Jersey governor Chris Christie or House Budget Committee chairman Paul Ryan might be coaxed into running. Others have mentioned the name of former Florida governor Jeb Bush. Few observers have looked to Giuliani as a possible savior of the Republican Party.

In a poll of New Hampshire Republicans released two days ago, Giuliani tied for third in the field of potential GOP candidates.

Crazy Eyes On 2012 Campaign

Bachmann says she won't officially announce her intent to run for president (or not) until June, but judging by this interview, the decision has been made.

OREGON: Two Gay Portland Men Beaten For Holding Hands

Portland, Oregon police are investigating a possible hate crime after two gay men were beaten after being seen walking hand-in-hand. One of the victims reports: "I left [the ER] with 9 stitches in my lips, two black eyes, a dislodged jaw, some loose teeth, severe swelling where they hit me on my cheek, and scrapes and bruises on my head."

Detectives say Brad Forkner and Christopher Rosevear were walking hand-in-hand Sunday evening in Waterfront Park and then headed over the Hawthorne Bridge. As the pair walked, police say, they noticed several men behind them who were talking, laughing and pointing, but they weren’t sure if it was directed at them. Police say the attack happened as Forkner and Rosevear walked from the bridge to the trail toward the East Bank Esplanade. The pair told officers the men pushed and punched Forkner before he managed to break away and call 911. Police say the attackers hit Rosevear in the head, face, back and ribs before running off. ”It’s too bad that people are still walking around a city like Portland feeling, well, actually unsafe,” says Paul Fukui, the operations manager of the Q-Center, which advocates for the gay, lesbian, bisexual and transgendered community.

According to the above-linked news story, several witnesses observed the attack but did nothing to help. The three assailants are described as white men in their 20s.

(Tipped by JMG reader Megan)

NEW YORK: Pro-Gay Democrat To Replace U.S. Rep. Chris "Craigslist" Lee

Erie County Clerk Kathy Hochul, who supports same-sex marriage and the repeal of DADT, last night won the special election to replace Rep. Chris Lee (R), who resigned earlier this year after being exposed for cruising Craigslist for women other than his wife. The election largely turned on the GOP's campaign to dismantle Medicare.

“Today, the Republican plan to end Medicare cost Republicans $3.4 million and a seat in Congress,” said Rep. Steve Israel (N.Y.), the chairman of the Democratic Congressional Campaign Committee. “And this is only the first seat.” Even before voters went to the polls Tuesday, Republicans played down the significance of the race and particularly its relevance to the debate about Medicare’s future. “I know this town loves to take signals from individual races. I think the best signal you can take is the 63 seats that we picked up in November,” House Majority Leader Eric Cantor (Va.) told reporters Monday.

The GOP loser, Jane Corwin, had been supported by NOM.

Don't Say Gay (Or Anything Else)

PSA: The R-Word

This ran during Glee last night.

John Edwards Faces Federal Charges

Former presidential candidate John Edwards is facing federal prosecution for diverting campaign donations to support his mistress (and mother of his love child.)

Edwards has been the focus of a lengthy federal investigation focusing on hundreds of thousands of dollars allegedly provided by two wealthy supporters. The government will contend those were illegal donations that ultimately went to support and seclude his mistress, Rielle Hunter. Hunter was a campaign videographer with whom Edwards had a lengthy affair that resulted in a daughter, Frances Quinn Hunter, now three years old. If the case were to proceed to trial, legal experts said, the government would have to prove that the intent of the donations was to cover-up the affair so that Edwards could continue his pursuit of the 2008 Democratic nomination for president.

An indictment is expected shortly.

TRAILER: True Blood Season 4

Tony Perkins On Tennessee

"After harassing law firms, sports figures, restaurants, and average Americans, homosexual activists are starting to show the public what they really are. Intolerant. Lawmakers in Tennessee witnessed the bullying firsthand, when the state tried to stop policies that are bad for business and worse for the economy. The Left had been trying to use local governments to demand special employment rights for gays and lesbians. Yesterday, Gov. Bill Haslam signed a bill into law that will keep private companies from being held hostage by homosexual activists.

"Starting this month, cities and counties can no longer adopt anti-discrimination policies that are stricter than state law. It all started with a Nashville city ordinance that required private government contractors to give special preference to gays in lesbians in hiring and firing decisions. By signing SB 632 into law, Gov. Haslam erased the Nashville measure and freed up companies to run their businesses the way they see fit. Thanks to local pastors and former state Sen. David Fowler at the Family Action Council of Tennessee, employers will be the ones dictating office policy--not the liberal government." - Lying Family Research Council spokes-liar Tony Perkins, lying about Nashville's now overturned law.

OMG I Love Huh

A much more entertaining version of my own rant.

Glee Spoiler: Season Finale

Stay out of the comments if you haven't seen tonight's season finale. Otherwise, dive in and dish.

Palin Aide Pens "Scathing" Tell-All

As Mayor As He Wants To Be

2 Live Crew rapper Luther Campbell is among the eleven candidates in today's special election to replace recalled Miami-Dade Mayor Carlos Alvarez, who was booted from office in March for (among other things) daring to raise property taxes in the face of a massive budget deficit.

RELATED: Back when I worked for a Miami-based music distributor, once a week I had to visit the Liberty City office of Campbell's label. Even after my 20th visit, he always acted as if he'd never seen me before. Pissed me the hell off.

Language Advice For Christianists

From the Desiring God site of Pastor John Piper:

Except in a sentence like this one, I don’t think we should use the term “gay marriage” or “same-sex marriage.” I think in our everyday discourse, we should say “so-called gay marriage” or “so-called same sex marriage.” I would encourage politicians, pastors, and people to adopt this simple habit. The reason is that in God’s eyes, there simply is no such thing as so-called “gay marriage.” It does not exist. It cannot be made to exist by desires or decisions or language or laws. God ordained marriage with the words: “A man shall leave his father and his mother and hold fast to his wife, and they shall become one flesh” (Genesis 2:24). Marriage is the union of a man and a woman in a lifelong covenant as husband and wife.

Going by Piper's logic, Newt Gingrich is on his third "so-called marriage."

Apple Passes 500,000 Apps

(Source)

Harry Reid Rebukes Obama On Israel

At yesterday's meeting of AIPAC, the powerful pro-Israel lobbying group.

PhoboQuotable - Michael Medved

"Among those who describe themselves as homosexual or bisexual (a grand total of 3.7% of the 18-44 age group), overwhelming majorities (81%) say they've experienced sex with partners of the opposite gender. Among those who call themselves heterosexual, on the other hand, only a tiny minority (6%) ever engaged in physical intimacy of any kind with a member of the same sex. These figure indicate that 94% of those living heterosexual lives felt no physical attraction to members of the same sex, but the great bulk of self-identified homosexuals and bisexuals feel enough intimate interest in the opposite gender to engage in erotic contact at some stage in their development. [snip]

"In other words, for the minority who may have experimented with gay relationships at some juncture in their lives, well over 80% explicitly renounced homosexual (or even bisexual) self-identification by age of 35. For the clear majority of males (as well as women) who report gay encounters, homosexual activity appears to represent a passing phase, or even a fleeting episode, rather than an unshakable, genetically pre-determined orientation." - Asshat conservative columnist Michael Medved, twisting statistics for USA Today.

Vanessa Daou - Heart Of Wax

As a JMG exclusive, here's a free download of famed remixer Rich Morel's take on Vanessa Daou's Heart Of Wax. Veteran househeads will fondly recall Daou's epic 1992 classic Surrender Yourself. (Work it, learn it, serve it, bring it to the ball.) I'm loving this new single.

Family Research Council: ENDA Is A Form Of Economic Terrorism

Netanyahu Heckled Before Congress

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu received 26 standing ovations during his speech to Congress today. Including when he got heckled.

NOM Denounces What Would You Do?

NOM isn't very happy with this week's edition of ABC's What Would You Do?, which showed Texas diner patrons coming to the defense of a two-mom family.

We can expect a lot more of this from the MSM. Let's note first of all that the behavior of the "waitress" in this setup up is outrageous. No boss, and no customers would tolerate it. Not even in the "conservative" towns of Texas. Good news for American common sense. The insidious propaganda point from ABC News is the suggestion that millions of good Americans who believe marriage means a man and a woman because children ought to have moms and dads, would or are behaving like this. Shame on ABC. Be prepared for lot more prejudiced stereotyping of decent and honorable Americans down the road by powerful elites.

Twitter Buys Tweetdeck

Twitter has acquired my obsession, Tweetdeck. Via Washington Post:

Word has been circulating for weeks now that Twitter was soon to be swooping up the popular third-party app. In early May, Mike Arrington reported that the deal was as good as done, but the two companies were not yet willing to publicly release the numbers. That changed today, as CNN and CNET broke the news that TweetDeck has officially been acquired by Twitter for $40 million. Twitter has yet to officially confirm, but judging by what we’re hearing from sources close to the deal, it’s done and done.

Madonna On Oprah Finale

Military Chaplains Seek Protections For Publicly Anti-Gay Troops

The leaders of 21 religious groups that provide chaplains to the military have sent a letter to the chiefs of chaplains of the armed services seeking assurance that anti-gay troops won't face retribution for publicly stating their beliefs.

"This is already an assault and a challenge on individual conscience and some soldiers may think it’s forcing them to abandon their religious beliefs or being marginalized for holding to those beliefs,” said Douglas E. Lee, a retired Army brigadier general and chaplain, whose signature was the first on the letter. Chaplains who preach at base chapels that homosexuality is a sin will still be entitled to express their beliefs during worship after the military’s adopts its new policy allowing openly gay troops, according to training materials given to Marines. But the organizations say it is not enough to state that service members and chaplains remain free to exercise their faith in chapel services. “Service members should know that chaplains’ ministry and their own rights of conscience remain protected everywhere military necessity has placed them,” the letter states.

Budweiser For Beards

Via press release from Budweiser:

Budweiser is asking adult men across America to help save one million gallons of water by not shaving in the days and weeks leading up to World Environment Day (June 5). As part of Budweiser's ongoing commitment to water conservation, the Grow One. Save a Million. program allows consumers to get involved and save roughly 5 gallons of water for each shave they skip. Consumers 21 years of age and older can visit Budweiser's Facebook page to make a pledge and share the program with Facebook friends. Participants can commit to a range of options, from a few days to multiple weeks. Ladies can get involved by recruiting male friends or family members. The page also features a daily tracker of the gallons saved to date.

TEXAS: Federal Judge Upholds El Paso's Ban On Domestic Partner Benefits

In November 2010, El Paso's Pastor Tom Brown organized a ballot referendum banning the city from offering domestic partners benefits. Only after the measure passed did the city realize that it was so broadly written, it would also ban benefits for retired cops and firefighters. Nevertheless, yesterday a federal judge upheld the ban.

The ordinance forcing the city of El Paso to "uphold traditional family values" will stand, and elected officials, retirees, affiliated service contractors, domestic partners of employees and certain dependent children will be left out, ruled a federal judge. "This is an example of how direct democracy can have unexpected consequences," wrote Federal Judge Frank Montalvo quoting James Madison. The plaintiffs who filed the lawsuit included city employees, domestic partners of city employees, retirees and even elected officials.

They wanted the ordinance struck on two grounds. They alleged it prevented them from obtaining health insurance, thus violating the contract they had with the insurance company, and that they were denied equal protection under the law, meaning, they were singled out for discrimination. "We keep hearing from the critics that the ordinance that the people passed was unconstitutional, well, we now have a federal judge that says this is completely constitutional," Tom Brown said. He is the leader of El Pasoans for Traditional Family Values and was the man behind the movement to deny benefits. "What more does city council need?"

(Tipped by JMG reader Melissa)

Harold Camping: I Screwed Up, The Rapture Is Actually October 21st

HomoQuotable - Officer X

"I held my composure as I stood in the back of a small but crowded room with standing room only. The formal briefing was a slightly awkward attempt at a conversation between one of my superior officers and the 40 or so of us squeezed in that room. He was clearly not used to talking about the topic of homosexuality as he seemed uneasy, but his overall message was a good one: 'Soon you will be working around openly gay people. This change is akin to the integration of blacks into the military and the key to a successful transition is professionalism and mutual respect.'

"As with any other conversation about gays in a setting where I am not 'out,' I found myself reverting to old defense mechanisms. I tried to laugh, but not too hard. I listened intently while trying to look as if I was barely paying attention. I looked to see how everyone else was reacting only to mimic their posture, their level of attentiveness, and their own reactions to the conversation." - TIME Magazine's anonymous Officer X, writing about his DADT repeal training.

Lady Gaga On Letterman

Touch Brian Wilson's Beard

San Francisco Giants pitcher Brian Wilson has launched a virtual "beard-touching" website.

Quote Of The Day - Peter Fonda

"I’m training my grandchildren to use long-range rifles. For what purpose? Well, I’m not going to say the words 'Barack Obama’, but....it’s more of a thought process than an actuality, but we are heading for a major conflict between the haves and the have nots. I came here many years ago with a biker movie and we stopped a war. Now, it’s about starting the world. I prefer to not to use the words, 'let’s stop something’. I prefer to say, 'let’s start something, let’s start the world’. " - Actor Peter Fonda, speaking at the Cannes Film Festival. Fonda says he sent the president an email calling him "a fucking traitor" for his handling of the BP oil spill.

Somebody's getting a visit from the Secret Service, I'm betting.

NY. Sen. Ruben Diaz On The Rapture Fail

"Like many who heard about the prediction that a Biblical rapture world come upon us yesterday, I used the occasion to reflect upon my life. The rapture prediction put many of us in mind of our final judgment. Since no rapture took place and we are here continuing with our lives, I take from this a rededication to devoting myself to protect the institutions of the family which include marriage between a man and a woman, and to promote respect for all human life. To those who hoped that I would be taken away on the rapture day, please be assured that your negative blogging and tweeting comments have not distracted me. Instead I will proceed undeterred dedicated to my Christian beliefs." - NY Sen. Ruben Diaz.

Jesse Ventura On LGBT Rights

In a rambling book-signing speech, former Minnesota Gov. Jesse Ventura spoke at length about his support for LGBT rights. Ventura's comments were apparently spurred by an airport incident with a male TSA agent, leading the former pro wrestler to declare, "I'm not homophobic at all...but when I pass through and they touch me, I want a woman doing it."

Photo Of The Day - SF AIDS Ribbon

A giant AIDS ribbon has been installed on San Francisco's Twin Peaks in observance of the 30th anniversary of the epidemic. The ribbon, which can been seen for many miles, will remain on the hillside until it's replaced by the giant pink triangle which appears in that space every year on gay pride weekend.

(Tipped by JMG reader James)
[Photo Credit: Thomas Levinson]