Saturday, September 29, 2012

How The GOP Works In Florida

Labels: , , ,


Dan Savage: Get Over Your Prejudice

From AOL's "You've Got" series.

Labels: , , ,


MALAWI: President Joyce Banda Renegs On Vow To Descriminalize Homosexuality

"Anyone who has listened to the debate in Malawi realizes that Malawians are not ready to deal with that right now. I as a leader have no right to influence how people feel. Where Malawi is and most African countries are, is maybe where America or the U.K. where about 100 years ago. The best thing the world can do is to allow each country to take its course, to allow each country to have that debate freely without the pressure of being pushed. We have seen countries where homosexuals have been killed. Why? Because, in my view, the country — the nation— wasn't ready." - Malawi president Joyce Banda, reneging on her May 2012 vow to decriminalize homosexuality when she took office.

RELATED: Forbes Magazine this year named Banda the most powerful woman in Africa.

Labels: , ,


Thomas Roberts Gets Married Today


Labels: , ,


Quote Of The Day - Ann Romney

"You know, I think my biggest concern [if Mitt is elected], obviously, would just be for his mental well-being. I have all the confidence in the world in his ability, in his decisiveness and his leadership skills, in his understanding of the economy, in his understanding of what's missing right now in the economy - you know, pieces that are missing to get this jump-started. So for me I think it would just be the emotional part of it." - Ann Romney, speaking to a Nevada TV station.

Labels: , ,


Anti-Gay Russians To Picket "Gay Milk"

Russian anti-gay activists say they will picket PepsiCo because there's a gay-ass rainbow on their milk carton.
The milk brand is called Vesyoly Molochnik, which translates as Gay Milkman, though in Russian the word vesyoly does not suggest homosexuality. The group said that it was objecting to the rainbow, which it saw as the international symbol for the gay movement. The group said on Friday that it has asked prosecutors to take action because the packaging violated the law passed in St. Petersburg in February, which makes it illegal to spread "propaganda" that could "damage the health, moral and spiritual development of the underaged". The offence carries a fine of up to 500,000 roubles ($16,100).

Labels: , , ,


John Hagee: Prayer Ended The Civil War

Wingnut Pastor John Hagee enters David Barton territory when he claims that the Civil War ended because Abraham Lincoln called for a national day of prayer. Right Wing Watch rolls its eyes: "We'd like to point out that Lincoln issued this declaration on March 30, 1863 and Lee did not have 'the grace to surrender' for another two years, until April 9, 1865."

RELATED: Hagee has also demanded that all atheists leave America.  Hagee also claimed that Hurricane Katrina was caused by gay people.

Labels: , , ,


Friday, September 28, 2012

New York City Orders 10,000 Meningitis Vaccine Doses For Gay Men

The New York City Health Department has ordered 10,000 doses of the meningitis vaccine as we learn that there have been more than the four cases reported yesterday. Duncan Osborne reports at Gay City News:
While a September 27 alert from New York City’s health department warned of a cluster of four cases of “invasive meningococcal disease” that occurred among the city’s gay and bisexual men in the past four weeks, there have been 12 cases altogether since August of 2010 and four of those men have died. Among the 12 cases, one occurred in 2010, three occurred in 2011, and eight occurred this year, according to a separate alert that was distributed to health care providers on September 27. The men ranged in age from 21 to 59, and eight were HIV-positive. “Eight of the 12 cases were known to be infected with the human immunodeficiency virus,” read the health care provider alert. “Five reported using cocaine and/ or crystal methamphetamine. Four reported using Internet sites to meet men for sex. Three cases, however, were not known to be HIV-infected, did not report using drugs, and did not report using Internet sites to meet men for sex.”
Osborne notes that the city will launch a campaign to encourage HIV+ men to get the vaccine, but no date for its availability has yet been named. HIV+ men with private insurance should discuss their risk factors with their doctors.

Fox News Airs Suicide On Live TV

Today Fox News inadvertently aired a suicide during a live broadcast when the suspect in a police chase the network was following jumped from his vehicle and shot himself in the head. Moments later host Shepard Smith issued a profuse apology, which is below.

(Via Igor Volsky at Think Progress)

Labels: , , ,


The Theme Park Called Broadway

Broadway's Spider-Man is photographing the audience during aerial stunts and inviting people to tag themselves on Facebook. Gothamist is appalled:
For years people have been publicly complaining that Times Square was turning into Disneyland, and now the transformation is complete. You know how you can get your picture taken as you ride Splash Mountain? Well, now you can do the same thing on Broadway! Thank you Disney for this horrifying new development in live theater.

Labels: , , ,


The Obamas Want You To Vote Early

Labels: , ,


Zach Wahls Speaks To There Are Giants

Zach Wahls has been interviewed by There Are Giants, a site devoted to very tall men, where he talks about activism, Harvey Milk, his moms, and his plans for after college. Tall dudes might also appreciate his clothing tips.

Labels: , ,


More On Mona

Twitter's wingnuts are continuing an onslaught of abuse towards Mona Eltahawy, accusing her of being a terrorist, a member of the Muslim Brotherhood, a member of Al-Queda, a member of Hamas, etc etc etc.  They ignore the fact that Eltahawy is a pro-democracy activist who was arrested and had both of her arms broken during last spring's uprising in Egypt's Tahrir Square.  I recommend reading her harrowing account of that day.

RELATED: Today the head of the NYC-based Palestinian rights group, Existence Is Resistance, spoke out in support of Eltahawy while emphasizing his group's position on freedom of speech.  (Short version: Pam Geller is a racist and has the right to prove it.) Eltahawy just appeared on CNN International and I'll add that clip here when it becomes available.

Labels: , , , , , , , , ,


Homeland Security Issues Written Guidelines On Delaying LGBT Deportations

Immigration Equality is thrilled:
Immigration Equality today praised the Obama Administration, and specifically the Department of Homeland Security (DHS), for new, written guidance that will extend discretionary relief to lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender (LGBT) immigrants with U.S. citizen spouses and partners. The new written directive, which was announced in response to a Congressional letter spearheaded by Minority Leader Nancy Pelosi (D-CA) and Congressman Jerrold Nadler (D-NY), marks one of the very first times LGBT families have been recognized within federal immigration policies. The guidelines, which are expected to be distributed soon to field offices across the country, will instruct officers and field agents to recognize LGBT families for purposes of relief as defined by a June 2011 memo from Immigration and Customs Enforcement Director John Morton.
Rep. Jerry Nadler reacts via press release:
“I am thrilled that the Obama Administration has taken to heart my concern about the need to explicitly protect LGBT immigrant families from being torn apart by needless and unwarranted immigration enforcement actions. I thank Secretary Napolitano for listening and supporting a policy that protects all American families, both straight and LGBT. With the written guidelines that I requested and which will be issued by ICE, federal immigration officials will finally have the clear direction they need to make responsible and compassionate decisions on family ties in immigration cases.”
UPDATE: The Washington Blade has posted Secretary Napolitano's letter to Nadler.

Labels: , , , , , ,


Explaining The NYC Anti-Violence Project

Labels: ,


Another Chart From Nate Silver

Source.

Labels: , ,


Headline Of The Day

Details.

Labels: , ,


Facelift Coming For NYC's LGBT Center

New York City's beloved but decidedly ramshackle LGBT Center is about to begin a much-needed multimillion dollar facelift. Via New York Times:
A 14-month renovation is expected to begin by the end of the year. The $7.5 million project is being financed with $3.7 million from New York City and $2 million from New York State. A fund-raising effort will seek private donors for the remaining $1.8 million. Brian Ripel of RSVP Architecture Studio in Brooklyn and Nicola Mongelli of N-Plus Architecture + Design in Brooklyn are the architects. The center is now receiving bids from general contractors. Perhaps the first thing noticed by visitors to the renovated center will be what’s not in the lobby any longer: a high, forbidding central reception desk that conveys, unintentionally, the message that one must stop and announce one’s business, which couldn’t be further from the case. Visitors are free to come and go.
Among the many improvements will be the acoustics in the main meeting room, where I've strained my brain many times to hear over the clattering air conditioning. More renderings of the changes are at the link.

Labels: , ,


Nasty New Ad From Allen West

Labels: , , , , , ,


Apple CEO: Sorry About That Map App

Apple CEO Tim Cook has posted an apology on the company's home page:
At Apple, we strive to make world-class products that deliver the best experience possible to our customers. With the launch of our new Maps last week, we fell short on this commitment. We are extremely sorry for the frustration this has caused our customers and we are doing everything we can to make Maps better. We launched Maps initially with the first version of iOS. As time progressed, we wanted to provide our customers with even better Maps including features such as turn-by-turn directions, voice integration, Flyover and vector-based maps. In order to do this, we had to create a new version of Maps from the ground up. There are already more than 100 million iOS devices using the new Apple Maps, with more and more joining us every day. In just over a week, iOS users with the new Maps have already searched for nearly half a billion locations. The more our customers use our Maps the better it will get and we greatly appreciate all of the feedback we have received from you.

Labels: , ,


SF Chorus: Tribute To Matthew Shepard

The lyrics are close-captioned on YouTube.

RELATED: The San Francisco Gay Men's Chorus will hold their annual fundraising gala on Sunday, October 14th. I'll be there with Dan Savage and his husband.

Labels: , ,


TORONTO: Yunel Escobar Returns To Play By Accepting First Pitch From Gay Athlete

Last night Toronto Blue Jays shortstop Yunel Escobar "drew some boos" when his name was announced before the team's first home game since he was suspended for writing "You're a faggot" in his eye-black.  In a show of contrition, Escobar then took the field to receive the ceremonial first pitch from an openly gay soccer player.
Escobar caught the ceremonial first pitch from David Testo, a former MLS soccer player who is openly gay. Testo is now a board member for You Can Play, an advocacy group for lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender athletes. Before the game, Escobar sat down with Jose Estevez, an openly gay distance runner from Boston College, and Patrick Burke, the founder of You Can Play. Escobar’s lost salary during his three-game ban — about $82,000 — was to be directed to You Can Play and the Gay & Lesbian Alliance Against Defamation. Burke said the 45-minute meeting was helpful for all parties. “I think it put a face on the issue for Yunel,” Burke said. “I think it humanized the issue of gay athletes for Yunel and I think Jose did a great job today.” “After meeting with him, I like Yunel,” Burke said. “I think he did a stupid thing but I think he has learned from it.”
The Blue Jays' manager says Escobar may continue to hear some boos: "He understands whatever comes his way is part of the process. He made a terrible mistake and is going to have to be accountable."

Labels: , , ,


Australia's Gay Marriage Hamster Wheel


(Via Towleroad)

Labels: , , ,


The Diabetes-Alzheimer's Connection

An interesting item from the New York Times food blogger.
Diabetes causes complications too numerous to mention, but they include heart disease, which remains our No. 1 killer. And when the cells in your brain become insulin-resistant, you start to lose memory and become disoriented. You even might lose aspects of your personality. In short, it appears, you develop Alzheimer’s. A neuropathologist named Alois Alzheimer noticed, over a century ago, that an odd form of protein was taking the place of normal brain cells. How those beta amyloid plaques (as they’re called) get there has been a mystery. What’s becoming clear, however, is that a lack of insulin — or insulin resistance — not only impairs cognition but seems to be implicated in the formation of those plaques. Suzanne de la Monte, a neuropathologist at Brown University, has been working on these phenomena in humans and rats. When she blocked the path of insulin to rats’ brains, their neurons deteriorated, they became physically disoriented and their brains showed all the signs of Alzheimer’s. The fact that Alzheimer’s can be associated with low levels of insulin in the brain is the reason why increasing numbers of researchers have taken to calling it Type 3 diabetes, or diabetes of the brain.
(Via JMG reader Aaron)

Labels: , , ,


Quote Of The Day - Pete Townshend

"Mick [Jagger] is the only man I've ever seriously wanted to fuck." - Pete Townshend, from his coming autobiography.  But wait, there's more.
He also described Jagger's penis as "long and plump" and insisted the singer was "very well endowed", echoing comments he had made about the frontman's member being "huge and extremely tasty". His description, however contradicts less complimentary claims made by Keith Richards in his million-selling autobiography Life which reportedly led to a rift between the pair.
Townshend's Who Am I comes out on October 11th.

Labels: ,


Bananarama Releases New EP

Thirty years after first hitting the charts and now pared down to a duo, Bananarama has released a four track EP of dance numbers that seem right out of the Almighty catalog. Here's a sampler.

(Via Allure Of Sound)

Labels: , ,


Porno Pete: I'm Pissed At Ryan Over DADT

"Has the USA, which professes to be 'under God,' sunk so far and so fast that the societal outrage that greeted a major liberal social-sexual experiment and propelled a GOP landslide less than two decades ago is now just a quaint memory of past prudery and 'prejudice'? A nation in which sexual perversion is a 'non-issue' is a nation in precipitous moral decline. Now more than ever, America needs bold statesmen who courageously lead based on unswerving, godly principles — rather than those who adjust their positions according to polls and political calculations. Kvetching on the Right is to be expected, but Retreating by acquiescing to – and even embracing – the Left’s destructive orthodoxies should not be an option for conservatives who champion faith in God and absolute truth." - Peter LaBarbera, who is super pissed about Paul Ryan's declaration that DADT "is behind us."

Labels: , , ,


Megachurch Pastor Jack Schapp Pleads Guilty To Sexual Affair With Teen Girl

Megachurch Pastor Jack Schapp yesterday pleaded guilty to federal charges of sex with an underage girl, but denied knowing that taking the teen across state lines was also a federal crime.  Early last month Schapp was fired by Indiana's massive 15,000-member First Baptist Church.
U.S. District Judge Rudy Lozano scheduled the sentencing for Jan. 15, although Schaap, 54, has already signed a plea agreement stating that he faces at least 10 years in prison for taking a person under 18 across state lines for sex, although the maximum sentence for such a crime could be life imprisonment. The former pastor, described by the Southtown Star as wearing an orange prison garb while standing before the court, admitted to taking three trips with the teen across state lines for sexual activity, and said someone else actually drove the girl to the destinations. The married father of two was removed from his position at First Baptist Church last month after a deacon apparently found a text message on his cell phone that showed the pastor and the girl kissing. Schaap had even been counseling the girl, it was revealed.
Schapp is the author of a dating advice book for young Christian girls in which he cautions them to keep their weight down in order to attract suitors.

Labels: , , ,


Focus On The Family Mocks Obama Over Same-Sex Marriage Support

Cats AND dogs! It's a madhouse!

Labels: , , ,


Nate Silver's Electoral Update

Source.

Labels: , ,


Ben Cohen Launches Magazine

Gay Star News has some details:
The magazine, which carries the tagline 'True Champions Stand Up,' will feature the personal stories of athletes and focus on such things as character, fairness and inclusion. Among the articles in the debut issue are on the National Hockey League taking the lead in the fight against homophobia and whether the National Football League is ready for an openly gay player. "We stand up against bullying regardless of to whom it happens," the foundation states on its website. "Because lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender (LGBT) people are often targeted by bullies, we give particular attention to this community. We include removing homophobia from sports as central to our mission."
There will be a kick-off party for the magazine in New York City in November.

Ryan Idol Sentenced To 12 Years

Former gay porn star Ryan Idol has been sentenced to 12 years in prison for attempting to kill his girlfriend. Idol, whose real name is Marc Donais, was convicted last September but his sentencing was delayed while he appealed in vain for a retrial.
According to the victim's testimony at trial, Donais entered the woman's apartment the night of Sept. 5, 2009, and told her, "I came over here to kill you." The two had been involved in a relationship, but the woman -- whose name is being withheld because she is a domestic violence victim -- said she cut it off when she caught him having sex with his male lover. The woman said Donais stormed into her bathroom while she was taking a bath of her 48th Street residence and began to beat her with the porcelain lid until "I felt blood gushing down my shoulders."
RELATED: After retiring from porn, Idol tried his hand at acting and appeared in the Broadway revival of The Ritz. (I saw him in that.) In 2008 he got caught up in a financial scandal involving a Birmingham, Alabama city council member, who was accused of embezzling money from a children's charity to pay Idol $30,000 for "computer repairs."

Labels: , , ,


Moving Boxes For The Obamas

Christian Newswire today promotes a campaign to send 25,000 moving boxes to the White House. The boxes depict the First Lady eating a hamburger while the president smokes and warns the moving men not damage a bust of his "hero," Karl Marx.
"We don't like his policies, lack of leadership, traveling the globe and trashing America and feeding tax dollars to his cronies and unions. We are not protesting in the streets, trashing private property, occupying city and state parks or rioting. We'll protest peacefully and help others as we do so," Gibson adds. Again, it will show what people can do without the help of Government. "It's definitely time for Mitt Romney and Paul Ryan to start rebuilding America and working to undo the damage caused by the failed Obama policies."
The boxes sell for $9.95 each with "a portion" of the proceeds going to Kids Against Hunger.

Labels: , ,


Appeals Court Begins Windsor DOMA Case

Yesterday the Second Circuit Court of Appeals began hearing Edith Windsor's DOMA case in New York.  Chris Geidner reports that the legal team hired by House GOP immediately opened with references to polygamy.
The lawyer for House Republican leaders had to reach all the way back to 1885 today when asked where the “traditional understanding” of marriage could be found in federal case law — referring to a case dealing with polygamy in the Utah territory. That case, decided about polygamy in Utah before women were guaranteed the right to vote, came only 20 years after the end of the Civil War and more than 80 years before the court would strike down bans on interracial marriage. Today, it was one of the underlying arguments in House Republican leaders’ case that the Supreme Court recognizes a "traditional understanding" of marriage that the Defense of Marriage Act is seeking to uphold. The Republicans' lawyer, Paul Clement, never used the word "polygamy." But the 1885 case and other government efforts aimed at stopping polygamy came up throughout today's hearing about DOMA's constitutionality.
The main message from Clement: "There’s no way to preserve the definition of marriage [as one man and one woman] other than by preserving the definition. It becomes somewhat circular."

Labels: , ,


Susannah Hoffs - Picture Me

Bangles lead singer Susannah Hoffs steps out solo with a new track and video that features a young lesbian couple.

Labels: , ,


NEW YORK CITY: MTA To Place Disclaimers On Pam Geller's "Hate" Advertising

New York City's public transit authority has voted unanimously to place disclaimers on ads such as the ones recently posted by anti-Islam activist Pam Geller. Similar disclaimers are already posted adjacent to Geller's ads on San Francisco's MUNI.
The Metropolitan Transportation Authority approved new guidelines for advertisements on Thursday, prohibiting those that it “reasonably foresees would imminently incite or provoke violence or other immediate breach of the peace.” The 8-to-0 vote by the authority’s board came three days after pro-Israel ads characterizing Islamist opponents of the Jewish state as being “savage” began appearing in subway stations, setting off vandalism, denunciations of the authority and calls for the ads’ removal. The authority had initially rejected the ads, citing their “demeaning” language. The group responsible for the ads, the American Freedom Defense Initiative, sued, and in July won a federal court ruling on First Amendment grounds. “We’ve gotten to a point where we needed to take action today,” Joseph J. Lhota, the authority’s chairman, said at a news conference on Thursday.
Yesterday's contentious MTA meeting was attended by some of Geller's most vocal detractors, who tried to shout her down when she appeared at the podium. About ten anti-Geller protesters were removed from the room by transit police.  Geller is claiming victory over the MTA decision.
The people who attended were for the most part OWS thugs, anarchists, and Jew-haters. They spoke as one violent and hateful voice, attacking the board members, attacking the system, attacking me, attacking everything they could. In this poisonous atmosphere, I was grateful to be given the opportunity to speak. I explained the context of the ad, how it was a response to the anti-Israel ads that ran in the subways with no complaints. Of course, these free speech crushers did everything they could to shout me down. They were escorted out quickly.

Labels: , , , , , , , ,


Thursday, September 27, 2012

FRC Needs More Money To Stop You

Labels: , , ,


Crazy Eyes Is Sounding Desperate

Labels: , , ,


Confirmed: Mars Once Had Water

The Mars Curiosity rover has at last confirmed what astronomers have long believed.
The landing site of the Mars rover Curiosity was once covered with fast-moving and possibly waist-high water that could have possibly supported life, NASA scientists announced Thursday. While planetary scientists have often speculated that the now-desiccated surface of Mars was once wet, Curiosity cameras provided the first proof that flowing water was present on a least one part of Mars for “a long time.” Curiosity team scientists determined that flowing water was once present near the Gale Crater landing site based on the telltale size, shape and scattering of pebbles and gravel nearby. The roundedness of the pebbles is especially significant, they said, and strongly suggests that the rocks were carried down a roughly 25-mile stream or river and were smoothed along the way.

Labels: , ,


The Thing That Ate Its Own Brain 15
Starring Victoria Jackson As The Thing

Her clip description:
A Gay Rights Activist in a yellow Tshirt, (his gay activist group all wore matching yellow Tshirts), approached me on the street at the DNC and said "in 29 states, you can still be fired if you're gay or lesbian," I replied that one can also be fired for being a Christian. A stranger approached and joined the conversation saying that 13 year olds are being confused and taught to embrace homosexuality, and then he added that his mother had become a lesbian and that it had hurt his family... "My Mom's gay...it hurt my family...you're smiling...it's not even funny...."

Labels: , , ,


Israeli PM Netanyahu Tells UN To Draw Red Line At Stopping Iran's Nuke Program

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu addressed the United Nations General Assembly today and used a magic marker to illustrate his demand for American intervention in Iran's nuclear program.
After ticking off the evidence that he says points to Iran's support of terrorism around the world, Netanyahu said that "given this record of Iranian aggression without nuclear weapons, just imagine Iranian aggression with nuclear weapons." And Netanyahu cast doubt on the theory that "mutual deterrence" would prevent a nuclear-armed Iran from ever using such weapons. He said it is "absurd" to suggest, "that a nuclear-armed Iran would actually stabilize the Middle East." "The hour is getting late, very late" to stop Iran from obtaining such weapons, Netanyahu warned. "We must face the truth," he added: Economic sanctions have not stopped Iran's nuclear program. What's needed, he said, is "a clear red line on Iran's nuclear weapons program." The red line that Iran must not cross, Netanyahu said, is "amassing enough enriched uranium" to produce a nuclear weapon.

Labels: , , , , ,


Tampa Bay Hazes New Ballplayers

By putting them in drag and having them dance to Call Me Maybe. For added humiliation, the players were forced to wear their outfits back to the team hotel in Boston. They all seemed to have a great time.

Labels: , ,


NYC Health Department Issues Meningitis Outbreak Alert For Gay Men

Via press release from the NYC Health Department:
The Health Department is currently investigating a cluster of invasive meningococcal disease, commonly known as meningitis, among gay men and men who have sex with men. Invasive meningococcal disease is a severe bacterial infection that has a high fatality rate. Within the past four weeks, there have been four cases; one died and one person is in critical care. The cases are spread across several boroughs and among men ages 31 to 42 years old. The most recent four cases have all been among HIV infected men. People living with HIV are at a greater risk than the general population of acquiring invasive meningococcal disease and if infected, dying from infection. This disease is spread by prolonged close contact with nose or throat discharges from an infected person. Examples of prolonged contact include living in the same household or intimate activities, including kissing and sexual contact.
A list of symptoms is at the link. (Tipped by JMG reader Eric)

Labels: ,


Bishop Thomas John Paprocki: If You Vote For A Democrat, Satan Will Take Your Soul

Labels: , , , , , , , , , ,


7-Election

7-Eleven is once again running their "7-Election" in which coffee drinkers indicate their candidate by which cup they choose.
As of Wednesday, Sept. 26, the president holds a commanding 16 percent lead in the popular vote, collecting 58 percent of cups compared to 42 percent for the former Massachusetts governor. And the news isn’t better for Romney when it comes to an electoral-style map, as he holds a lead in only four states: Idaho, New Hampshire, South Carolina and West Virginia. North Carolina appears to be tied at this point.
Reading the World Net Daily comments on this story you'll learn that 7-Eleven is entirely owned and staffed by communists and Islamists who are faking the results of their promotion.

Labels: , ,


OKLAHOMA: Child Molestations And Cover-Ups At Tulsa's Massive Megachurch

Two employees at Tulsa's Victory Christian megachurch have been arrested for child molestation and several other high-level staffers have been accused of shielding those crimes.
More alleged sexual abuse victims at the 17,000-member Victory Christian Center in Tulsa, Okla., have come forward, adding to charges already made against the megachurch that its staff delayed reporting the alleged rape of a 13-year-old girl. Reports revealed that on Monday, prosecutors added two additional charges against 20-year-old Chris Denman, a former employee who was arrested for allegedly raping a 13-year old in a stairwell on the ministry's main campus in August. He is also being accused of molesting a 15-year-old girl and for using a computer to make a lewd proposal to a child and committing a sex crime involving a 12-year-old girl. Another former employee, Israel Castillo, was arrested last week over similar accusations of making a lewd proposal to a 15-year-old girl and using a computer to commit a sex crime, The Tulsa World shared. On Tuesday it was unveiled that there might be a fifth victim of sexual abuse and a third suspect could face charges if more information is provided on the currently undisclosed incident.
Five church employees have been suspended as the police investigate whether they protected the molesters.
"We deeply regret that our employees did not report these incidents to authorities within the proper amount of time. This failure within our organization weighs heavily on us, because our purpose is to help people and minister to their needs," Victory Christian Center has said. "Our internal response was unacceptable, and we are taking the proper steps to correct it." The mother of the assaulted 13-year-old girl filed a lawsuit against the church last week, claiming that Victory Christian Christian had not done enough to report the crime on time. "Rather than contacting the appropriate authorities, defendant (Victory Christian Center) chose to conduct its own 'investigation' with the ultimate purpose of doing damage control as opposed to protecting the victim", the lawsuit reads.

Labels: , , , , , , ,


Barney Frank: Mitt Gets Worse

Labels: , ,


Headline Of The Day

Details.

Labels: , , , , , , , , ,


Central Park Gay Marriage Proposal

She rowed her girlfriend out from under the bridge as friends secretly gathered overhead for "Operation Rainbow Umbrella." The girlfriend said "Yes" as Central Park visitors applauded and took photos from from the shore. Many more photos here. (Tipped by JMG reader Acacius.)

Labels: , ,


Premature Aging Hits Longtime HIV+

The San Francisco Chronicle reports that some longtime HIV patients are experiencing symptoms of aging long before those ailments normally appear.  Such reports have been appearing for several years.
Patients are coming down with diseases and conditions most associated with aging even when their HIV is well controlled - even when the antiretroviral drugs used to treat it make the virus essentially undetectable in the blood, and by nearly all accounts a patient's immune system is strong and stable. They are having heart attacks and strokes in their 50s or 60s. They're developing dementia and arthritis a decade earlier than they should be. They're getting cancers that tend to strike only people in their 70s or 80s. "In the last 18 months, in my clinic I've had four people under age 60 who've had either bypass surgery or heart attacks," said Dr. Brad Hare, medical director of the HIV/AIDS ward at San Francisco General Hospital. "One of them was 37 years old. That's something that would be more typical in somebody 70 or older."
The primary culprit appears to be chronic inflammation brought on by latent copies of the virus that remain in the bloodstream even during anti-retroviral treatment.
It's been clear to scientists for some time that chronic inflammation is tied to aging, and especially to the decline in the immune system known as cellular senescence, the process by which the body loses cells critical to fighting infections. What's not clear is whether inflammation is a cause or effect of the deterioration of the immune system. Scientists have, in HIV patients and in the elderly, identified signs of both senescence and inflammation. And, in turn, they've noted a susceptibility to certain "old-age" diseases in both older patients and HIV-positive patients. But how those processes are causing disease isn't quite understood.
Bryan Fischer is quick to react with Christian Love.

Labels: , , ,


NYC To Get World's Biggest Ferris Wheel

Well, that's one way to get people to visit Staten Island. It will be 200 feet taller than the London Eye, which was the world's biggest until taller ones were built in China and Singapore.

Labels: , ,


Today's Silly Lie From Matt Barber

Hate group watchdog Jeremy Hooper points out that the photo is actually from an Obama rally in 2008. Snork!

Labels: , , ,


Samuel L. Jackson Reads A Pro-Obama Bedtime Story: Wake The Fuck Up!

Labels: , ,


Austin To Endorse Marriage

Today Austin will be become the first city in Texas to endorse same-sex marriage when its city council will approve a symbolic resolution.
The feel-good proposal on Thursday's City Council agenda (Sept. 27) is Item 77, an endorsement of marriage equality in the state of Texas. Sponsored by Mayor Pro Tem Sheryl Cole and co-sponsored by Mayor Lee Leffingwell and Council Member Laura Mor­rison, the symbolic resolution is unlikely to raise much dissent in the chamber and certainly none on the dais. It cites the historical, moral, and political reasons for same-sex equality – notably, the Bill of Rights of the Texas Constitution, which says rights cannot be restricted only to certain people – and should be recommended reading for all Austinites.

Labels: , ,


SF Plans "End Of Prop 8" Party

Facebook page.

Labels: , ,


Billboard Of The Day

NOM has placed 25 of these around Minnesota's major cities.

Labels: , , ,


IOWA: Jindal Shills For NOM's Hate Tour

As always, the audience is in the tens.

(Via Good As You)

Labels: , , ,


Now Appearing In Swing State Papers

The above full-page repulsive ad from the Government Is Not God PAC has been appearing in newspapers in Florida and Ohio. The Herald-Tribune in Sarasota, Florida ran the ad but then published an apology:
The Sunday, September 23rd edition of the Herald-Tribune contained an opposing political advertisement against President Obama. After reviewing our political advertising policy we have concluded that the advertisement did not meet the Herald-Tribune standards for fairness and accuracy and we apologize to our readers for the advertisement appearing in the newspaper.
The group's leader is furious:
Virtually every lying radical rag that calls itself a news outlet in the United States has begun attacks on Government Is Not God- PAC, including Huffpost. The attacks are more because of the name of the PAC than anything else. Liberals want government to be God. GING-PAC's name says what all conservatives believe: Government Is Not God! The very name of the PAC infuriates liberals.
Not incidentally, the above-quoted GING-PAC leader is William J. Murray, the born-again son of famed atheist Madalyn Murray.

Labels: , , ,


Christian Groups To Protest Obamacare Outside The White House

Via press release:
For the faith community, we can never be silent or indifferent when it comes to matters of justice, human rights and religious freedom. As people of principle and faith, we must purpose in our hearts that we will never comply with an unjust or immoral government mandate which would require us to violate our conscience, the teachings of the Scriptures and the historic teachings of the Church. We want to make it clear to President Obama and all public officials that we would rather spend time in jail that to be forced into complying with a mandate that crushes religious freedom.

Labels: , , ,


DNC Remixes Mittens

Labels: , , ,


Tasmania's Marriage Bill Fails

Tasmania's upper legislative chamber has rejected its marriage equality bill.   Last month a similar bill passed in the state Assembly.
Gay marriage advocates have vowed to keep campaigning as numbers mount against them in the first attempt at pioneering state-based same sex marriage. The numbers for reform in Tasmania were lost tonight when the eighth voice against the bill was declared in the 15 member state upper house, the Legislative Council. Australian Marriage Equality spokesman Rodney Croome said lower houser approval and some backing in the council were great achievements, given that Tasmania was last to decriminalise homosexuality. "If opponents of this bill think they have put the debate to bed they are wrong," Mr Croome said.
Last month Tasmania's legislature voted to recognize same-sex marriages from other countries.

Labels: , ,


Open Thread Thursday

How have your movie-watching habits changed in the last ten years?

Labels: , ,


Two Minutes Of Minnesota Hate, Vol. 39

Think of the children!

Labels: , ,


Wednesday, September 26, 2012

Mona Eltahawy Is Out Of Jail

Mona Eltahawy was released from the NYPD's Central Booking this afternoon after being held for 22 hours following her arrest for defacing one of Pam Geller's anti-Islam billboards in the Times Square subway station. She's been charged with criminal mischief and making graffiti. Her tweets since being released are interesting.

Labels: , , , , , , , , ,


Jimmy Fallon Sings TV Theme Songs

There hasn't been a good TV theme song in many years. Maybe the theme to Big Bang Theory is an exception.

Labels: , ,


In-Home HIV Test Now On Sale

Just in time for tomorrow's HIV Awareness Day, the first-ever in-home testing kit is now available online.  The kit will be on the physical shelves of drugstores next month.  If you don't want to spend $40, virtually all major cities offer free and confidential testing. (Via Box Turtle Bulletin)

Labels: , ,


Linda Harvey: Gay Rights Kills People

"This [gay rights], friends, is the rotten fruit of ungodly values. Obama’s open support for homosexuality as marriage is very unpopular once the truth is known; the same is true of his new contraceptive mandate. Again, as this election campaign unfolds I am reminded of the Scripture verse that has been on our homepage at Mission America since 1995, it’s Hosea 4:6, my people are destroyed for lack of knowledge. Suppressing the truth will be our undoing on so many levels, friends, but the good news is that many Americans are not so easily fooled. These radical values cost not just jobs, but lives. I urge you to support companies that support Christian moral values and avoid those that don’t, and help to spread the word far and wide." - Hate group leader Linda Harvey, quoted on Right Wing Watch.

Labels: , , ,


Baldwin Opponent Caught Boasting: I'm The Guy To End Medicaid & Medicare

Tammy Baldwin's Senate opponent has been caught on tape bragging to a Tea Party audience that he's the best man to end Medicare and Medicaid. The Atlantic wonders: "Will this video sink Tommy Thompson?" The clip has already been turned into a pro-Baldwin ad.

Labels: , , , , , , ,


Dirty Jobs With Mitt Romney


RELATED: Five years ago Mike Rowe posted a now-deleted video message expressing disgust about fawning emails from male fans who said they had a "man-crush" on him. A year later he softened his tone and issued playful remarks about a Gay.com survey that named him the man readers would most like to cheat on their boyfriends with.

Labels: , , ,


CALIFORNIA: UC Davis To Pay $1M To Students Pepper-Sprayed By Cop

Last week I reported that the above police officer had gotten off with no criminal charges. But at least today we learn the amount of the settlement to be paid to students by UC Davis.
The details of the settlement, approved in secret earlier this month by the regents, are contained in documents filed in federal court in Sacramento this morning. The deal, hammered out in mediation sessions after 21 students and former students sued last February, still must be approved by a federal judge. It calls for each of the 21 plaintiffs to receive $30,000 for a total payout of $630,000. The agreement also transforms the suit into a class action, which will allow others who were hit with pepper spray during the Nov. 18 protest to submit claims for payments of up to $20,000. That part of the deal envisions five to 10 additional claimants coming forward, with a sliding scale that reduces the payout for each of those depending on the final tally. Those claimants wil be paid from a pool of money limited to $100,000. In addition, the settlement calls for the payment of $250,000 in legal fees and costs to the lawyers who filed the suit.

Labels: , , ,


NEW YORK CITY: Catholic League To Protest New Exhibition Of Piss Christ

Catholic League blowhard Bill Donohue responds with a bobblehead of President Obama in a bed of feces.

UPDATE: I guess ole Bill didn't like my comment over on YouTube. "Comments are disabled." Heh.

Labels: , , , , , ,


OctoBEARfest At NYC's LGBT Center

Next month the NYC LGBT Center will host a week of events as part of their inaugural octoBEARfest.  Via press release:
In a celebration of bear culture, the Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual & Transgender Community Center (the Center) has created octoBEARfest, a week of activities centered on everything furry and fuzzy. Four events will take place throughout the week of October 1-6, ending with the legendary Fur Ball. Started in 2004, the Fur Ball brings out the wide spectrum of creatures in the bear community and is affectionately called the "bear prom." “This bear-centric fundraiser for the LGBT Community Center has raised over $500,000 and has brought thousands of bears, cubs and their admirers (many for the first time) through the doors of the Center,” said Joe Fiore, Fur Ball Creator and Manager. “We are very excited to present such a great week of events for bears – and hope to do so annually!”
Details about the four events are here.

Labels: , , ,


Gays Remain Missing From Marriage Ads

And even the mainstream press has noticed.

Labels: , ,


Tomorrow: HIV Awareness Day

A message from the Centers For Disease Control:
On National Gay Men’s HIV/AIDS Awareness Day, we honor the remarkable history of gay men’s leadership in the fight against the HIV epidemic. Three decades ago, extraordinary community and public health prevention efforts led to dramatic declines in new HIV infections among men who have sex with men. Yet infection rates are now increasing among young gay and bisexual men, particularly men of color. We must not allow another generation to be devastated by this disease. Together we can, and must, revitalize the passion and dedication that helped turn back the HIV epidemic among gay men during its darkest days. Research and surveillance data from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention remind us that gay and bisexual men remain at the epicenter of the U.S. HIV epidemic. HIV prevention, education and testing for men who have sex with men remain top CDC priorities.  
When were you last tested?

Labels: , , ,


Anti-Austerity Riots Rock Athens

Labels: , ,