Saturday, February 23, 2013

MSNBC Host Chris Hayes: I Won't Attend CPAC If Ban On GOProud Stands

"I wrote to [CPAC head] Al Cardenas who runs the ACU in a letter yesterday and asked whether the policy [not allowing GOProud to participate] is still in effect. If it isn't, I told him, I'm psyched to go and if it is, well, I'll wait until it changes, which is, really, just a matter of time.

"Now I should be clear, GOProud is not an organization I share much with ideologically, or even, truth be told, like all that much. They come out of the [Andrew] Breitbart wing of the conservative movement that seems to relish nothing more than pissing off liberals.

"GOProud is not really the point. The point is the principle, which is: it's not OK to ban organizations for reasons of pure bigotry. But the ACU does this because there's a powerful constituency within conservatism that won't have it any other way. It may not even be a majority of conservatives at this point, as a number of conservatives have said to me, but the bigots have enough juice that they call the shots." - MSNBC host Chris Hayes, saying he'll turn down his CPAC invite if the ban on GOProud stands. (Via Chris Geidner)

Labels: , , , , , , ,


Mayor Nutter At #LGBTmedia13

Philadelphia Mayor Michael Nutter spoke today at the Haas Convening for gay journalists, where he explained his desire to make Philly "the nation's most progressive city." Tomorrow we'll visit the construction site for Philadelphia's coming housing center for gay seniors, which had its groundbreaking with Nutter in November.

UPDATE: When Nutter took the podium, lots of folks took out their phones to tweet out photos.  He turned the tables on us by taking out his own phone. I had just crept up to the front of the room to get a better shot.

Labels: , , ,


At #LGBTmedia13

The fourth annual Haas Convening is underway in Philadelphia, where about 70 LGBT journalists have gathered for brainstorming and training on critical issues facing the community. Among today's presenters are noted lawyer Lavi Soloway, who advocates for bi-national couples who face DOMA-related deportations.

Other issues on today's agenda include LGBT rights abroad and asylum rights, aging and seniors in the gay community, transgender rights, and the LGBT community's place in the labor movement. In the photo above, Shuya Ohno skypes in from the National Immigration Forum. Follow the goings-on via the Twitter hashtag #LGBTmedia13.  The Haas Convening is sponsored by the National Lesbian & Gay Journalists Association.

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


Scott Lively Claims Credit For Current Wave Of Repression In Russia

"On Jan. 25 of this year the Russian State Duma, its highest legislative body, voted to prohibit homosexual advocacy to children, following the enactment of similar legislation in a number of Russian cities, including St. Petersburg and Novosibirsk (the capital of Siberia). Go Ruskies! I am personally very pleased to see this development, having called specifically for legislation of this sort in my speaking tour of the former Soviet Union in 2006 and 2007. During that tour, which began in the Russian eastern city of Blagoveschensk and ended in St. Petersburg, I lectured in a variety of venues including numerous universities, churches and conference halls, and met with numerous government leaders at various levels of influence.

"My pro-family message was warmly welcomed by the people of each of these countries, and to varying degrees the homosexual agenda has been slowed in all of them. To my knowledge the only two Eastern European countries to pass pro-family legislation designed to curtail the spread of homosexuality are Russia and Lithuania, which are coincidentally, the only two countries to whose people I wrote an open letter." - Hate group leader Scott Lively, writing for World Net Daily.  Lively is widely considered to be one of the primary forces behind Uganda's plan to execute homosexuals. He is presently being sued in a Massachusetts civil court for crimes against humanity.

Labels: , , , , , , , , ,


Tweet Of The Day: Bette Midler

Labels: , , ,


First Lady "Mom Dances" With Fallon

E Online reports:
In honor of Michelle Obama's national fitness initiative, Let's Move!, Jimmy Fallon donned a soccer-mom wig (with bangs, natch) and pastel cardigan to illustrate the evolution of mom dancing—and, luckily, Obama was his guest tonight, so he didn't have to get his groove on alone. Together, they showed off moves like "Go Shopping, Get Groceries," the classic "Raise the Roof," the is-it-silly-or-is-it-sassy "Hip Bump," the always-silly "Sprinkler" and the adorable "Happy Snapper."

Labels: , , ,


Obama Is Creating A Secret Black Army To Massacre White Americans

According to Gun Owners of America president Larry Pratt and some crackpot teabagger radio host.

Labels: , , , , , ,


Obama Files DOMA Brief

Last night the Obama administration filed a Supreme Court brief supporting the repeal of DOMA.
In its brief the U.S. bluntly declares: "Section 3 of DOMA violates the fundamental constitutional guarantee of equal protection. "The law denies to tens of thousands of same-sex couples who are legally married under state law an array of important federal benefits that are available to legally married opposite-sex couples," said the brief, which was signed by Solicitor General Donald Verrilli, the government's chief trial lawyer. "Because this discrimination cannot be justified as substantially furthering any important governmental interest, Section 3 is unconstitutional."
The brief cites (among many other things) the Stonewall rebellion, gay parenting studies, and federal hate crime statistics.

Read the full 54 page brief.

Labels: , ,


Perkins: Sears Caved To SNL Complaints

"Congratulations to our friends at American Family Association and all of you who contributed to the latest pro-family victory at Sears! After a violent SNL skit that mocked Jesus, AFA and its supporters flooded the SNL advertisers with calls to pull their support. Yesterday, AFA received a statement from Sears thanking them for bringing the matter to their attention. 'It wasn't supposed to happen and we're taking steps to make sure it doesn't happen again. Going forward our ads will not run in this form around SNL.'" - Hate group leader Tony Perkins, via press release.

Labels: , , ,


Friday, February 22, 2013

Tweet Of The Day: Mike Rogers

Labels: , , ,


Afternoon View: 30th Street Station


Labels: , , ,


One Million Moms Vs Geico

One Million Moms is super-upset about the Geico commercial that features a pig and his date parked on Lover's Lane.  Via press release:
Geico has succeeded in offending its customers with this inappropriate advertisement. One Million Moms has received numerous complaints because Geico's new commercial plays with the idea of bestiality. Parents find this type of advertising repulsive and unnecessary. Airing a commercial with an animal in it will surely grab children's attention, but this is a horrible commercial for families to see. Geico does not have our children's best interest in mind. The Geico Marketing Team may have thought this would be humorous, but it is disgusting to see how the company takes lightly the act of bestiality. Let Geico know their new ad is irresponsible.

Labels: , , ,


A Message From NOM's Cosponsor

Visit the (pro-gay) March 4 Marriage Facebook page.

Labels: , , , , , , ,


Bill Donohue Vs Dan Savage

"Unable to mount a rational critique of Pope Benedict XVI, he [Dan Savage] settled for writing a headline that was almost as long as his 'story.' It reads, 'That Motherf***ing Power-Hungry, Self-Aggrandized Bigot In the Stupid F***ing Hat Announces His Retirement.' Savage has a long history of trashing Catholicism, and he not only does it with impunity, he is rewarded for it. To wit: In 2011, he was invited to a White House reception for homosexuals. He said he arrived with his husband (would that make him the guy’s wife?). Savage gets away with his vile rants against Catholicism because he knows he can. Let’s face it, most of the mainstream media are as pro-gay as they are anti-Catholic. It really isn’t any more complicated than this." - Catholic League blowhard Bill Donohue.

Labels: , , , , , ,


Lesbian Sues M&M Mars For Termination Over Sexuality And Pregnancy

A New Jersey lesbian is suing a division of M&M Mars after she was fired after coming out and taking sick time due to a difficult pregnancy.
Theresa Kwiecinski, of Hampton, alleges that she was fired in September 2011 from Mars Chocolate North America after her co-workers learned of her sexuality, according to the civil complaint. She'd worked at the company for about 10 years when she noticed a difference in treatment, heralded by a complicated pregnancy, according to the complaint. After she was hospitalized a few times and unexpectedly needed to go on maternity leave, she was informed that her mid-year status was again "below expectations" for failing to prepare enough for her leave, according to the complaint. Following her pregnancy complications and revelation of her sexual orientation, Kwiecinski alleges she was placed on a performance improvement plan that proved impossible. She alleges that this culminated in her wrongful termination in September 2011.
Mars has refused to comment on the suit.

Labels: , , ,


NOM Posts Hate March Map

Larger version here. (PDF)

Labels: , , , , , , , ,


Headline Of The Day

Lesson learned. Never store ammo in the oven.

Labels: , ,


Gay Mormon Comes Out To Friends & Family And Videotapes Their Reactions

Interesting clip, even if he does say that he plans to stay celibate for the rest of his life. Poor kid.

Labels: , ,


Nate Silver Handicaps The Oscars

Details.

Labels: , ,


Tim Tebow Caved To Big Gay

It was Big Gay that forced Tim Tebow to cancel his speaking gig. And not, definitely not, the criticism heaped on Jeffress for saying that "Satan runs the Catholic Church" and that all Jews and Mormons will spend eternity in a lake of fire.

Labels: , , , , , ,


Libertarian Students Boo Ann Coulter

Andrew Kirell reports at Mediaite:: 
The war was certainly worth the cost because Saddam Hussein was “definitely looking for uranium from Niger,” she said. Her remarks were met with tepid boos and confusion, but the room was mostly pleasant at that point. But when the subject turned the the legalizing drugs, things quickly became tense. “Libertarians and pot,” Coulter said with a dismissive laugh. “This is why people think libertarians are pussies,” she said. Yes, it was bleeped. But I was there in person, so I know she said it.

Stossel then asked: “Why can’t gays get married?” “Well, they can,” Coulter replied. “They have to marry a member of the opposite sex.” The room filled with boos. “This is another one where you’re just sucking up to liberals when there are big fights,” Coulter explained. “No, we believe the individual should be left alone,” Stossel shot back. “Marriage is the most important institution to civilize young people. I make divorce a lot more difficult,” she said. “Liberals want to destroy the family,” she continued, eliciting jeers and mocking laughter from the students.

Labels: , , ,


This Weekend: #LGBTmedia13

This weekend I'll be in Philadelphia to attend the fourth annual Haas Convening, a symposium for LGBT journalists sponsored by the Evelyn and Walter Haas Jr. Fund and the National Lesbian & Gay Journalists Association. Organizer Bil Browning gives a preview at Bilerico:
"This year's convening is focusing on coalition building. We'll have presentations on immigration reform, international issues, the aging queer community, transgender-specific issues, and the labor movement. Philadelphia Mayor Nutter will address the group during lunch on Saturday while Cleve Jones and David Mixner will do a Q&A session at Friday night's reception and dinner."
Writers from most of the nation's top LGBT news sites and print publications will attend. Some of the folks whose names you might know well: Rex Wockner, Chris Geidner, Jeremy Hooper, David Badash, Ann Northrop, Andy Humm, Paul Schindler, Rod McCullom, Mike Rogers. Hit the link for a full list of attendees.

In previous years the convention was held in New York City, San Francisco, and Houston. We held great JMG reader meet-ups in all three cities and tomorrow night you're welcome to join us all at Tavern On Camac at 9PM.  Come out and meet the writers behind all your favorite news outlets. And follow the goings-on all weekend via the Twitter hashtag #LGBTmedia13.  I've been advised that everything we say to everybody is "on the record." So I better watch my potty mouth.

Labels: , , , , , , ,


AUSTRALIA: Federal Court Rejects Challenge To Same-Sex Marriage Ban

An Australian federal court has rejected a challenge to the ban on same-sex marriage, saying that since both men and women are not allowed to marry each other, the ban does not constitute gender discrimination.
“A man cannot enter into the state of marriage as defined with another man just as a woman cannot enter into the state of marriage with another woman,” the judge wrote. “The redress for these circumstances lies in the political and not the legal arena.” In her ruling, Jagot upheld the Australian Human Rights Commission’s decision to terminate a complaint from Simon Margan, a gay rights activist who sought an order directing the states of New South Wales and Queensland to register same-sex marriages.
The judge concluded: "There cannot be discrimination by reason of the sex of a person because in all cases the treatment of the person of the opposite sex is the same."

Labels: , ,


Philly Archbishop To Bus Parishioners To NOM Hate March On SCOTUS

Philadelphia Archbishop Charles Chaput has issued the above letter in support of NOM's hate march on SCOTUS and tells Catholic Vote that he'll be organizing buses from all five of his districts.

RELATED: In 2011 the Archdiocese of Philadelphia announced that it was investigating 37 active priests on suspicion of child molestation.  In June of 2012, high-ranking Philadelphia Archdiocese official Father William Lynn was convicted of child endangerment for shielding the crimes of pedophile priests. Father Charles Englehart was convicted of molesting an altar boy last month. More trials are coming. NOM's hate march is surely a welcome diversion for Archbishop Chaput.

Labels: , , , , , , ,


ECUADOR: President Apologizes On National TV For Homophobic Remarks

Hours after Ecuador President Rafael Correa won a third term on Sunday, he used a portion of his nationally televised victory speech to apologize for anti-gay remarks he'd made several months earlier. Andres Duque has a translation on Blabbeando:
A few months ago I used a number of inappropriate words that were offensive to LGBT groups and for which I apologized in writing - and I stated I would apologize again after winning [the election] to make sure they knew I wasn't doing it simply for political gain.

Once again I'd like to express my apologies to those LGBT groups for some words that might have escaped me. Each one of us was born and grew up with stereotypes and stigmas and we have to fight against this type of - let's call it deformed - social upbringing, etcetera. But our commitment is to defend everyone's dignity and equality. We are diverse but never unequal.

And I was reminded of this by the leader of a GLBT group who I greatly admire a couple of days ago. You need a lot of courage to lead these type of movements. Let's offer them all our support and - on a personal basis - I offer my full respect and the effort and commitment to eliminate all types of discrimination in this country.

RELATED: Ecuador legalized civil unions in 2009 and allows gays to served openly in the military. In 1998 it became the first nation in the Western Hemisphere to alter its federal constitution to ban most forms of discrimination based on sexual orientation. (Canada followed shortly after.) However same-sex marriage and gay adoption are both banned by Ecuador's constitution. 

Labels: , ,


Brian Brown: HRC Stole My Logo!

"Because I designed NOM's logo personally, I find this to be an insulting mockery, as well as very ironic: you see, I created this image to reflect the difference between men and women symbolically. The red ring represents men and the blue represents, women. The intertwining of the rings is meant to show that marriage is the unique union of both a woman and a man coming together in committed love. As for what it means for HRC, though, I can't imagine. Maybe, as with the former First Lady's views on marriage, HRC simply didn't bother looking into the background and meaning of an image before appropriating it as part of their latest misinformation campaign." - Hate group leader Brian Brown, who stole an Obama rally photo and pretended it was NOM rally, who stole my original video from my YouTube channel and posted it to their own, and who stole a photo from the 1963 March On Washington to use in their artwork to promote their hate march on the Supreme Court.

Labels: , , , , , , ,


Perkins: Join Our Hate March With NOM

"Pro-family groups like FRC, churches, state activists, and cultural leaders are all converging on Washington to show the world that we care about protecting marriage and want to stand up and fight for it. The event kicks off Tuesday morning, March 26, as nine Supreme Court justices hear oral arguments on two cases that could change the course of history--and our nation--forever. This is a chance to prove that the only consensus on marriage is the belief that one man and one woman define it. You can help us bring that message to the steps of the Supreme Court by standing with men and women from all 50 states who believe in marriage, religious liberty, and the right of every child to have a mom and a dad. People often ask me what they can do to take a stand up for the values they believe in. This is one of those opportunities." - Hate group leader Tony Perkins, via press release.

Labels: , , , , , , , ,


AFER Explains SCOTUS Brief

Labels: , ,


Gallup's LGBT Survey: Colorized

Somebody over at Buzzfeed colorized Gallup's survey.

Labels: , ,


Pat Robertson Denies Climate Change

Those "nutty" scientists!

Labels: , , ,


Tweet Of The Day: Fake AP Stylebook

Labels: , ,


NEW JERSEY: Legislators Plan Attempt To Override Christie's Marriage Veto

One year ago last week New Jersey Gov. Chris Christie vetoed a marriage equality bill one day after it had passed in the Assembly and landed on his desk. Yesterday Democratic leaders in both state chambers announced a plan to attempt to override that veto before the end of the current legislative session.
Assemblyman Reed Gusciora, an openly gay lawmaker who sponsored the bill in the Assembly, said he met with both Senate President Steve Sweeney and Assembly Majority Leader Lou Greenwald and both men were committed to putting the bill up for an override. The bill did not pass in either house with enough votes to override the governor's action, but gay rights advocates have been working the phones for a year trying to turn lawmakers in their favor.

The bill passed 24-16 in the Senate and 42-33 in the Assembly. In the Senate, three additional votes are needed to pass an override, while in the Assembly an additional 12 are needed for the two-thirds majority required to override. "I think we can get the three in the Senate," he said. "But the Assembly is a different story. I can name five who might switch their vote, but it stops there." Gusciora said he spoke to both men about the possibility of a ballot initiative to legalize same sex marriage, however Gusciora said Sweeney was against the idea. "He didn't close the door entirely, but he said he firmly believes that civil rights should not be on the ballot," Gusciora said. "I agree, but I think the worst thing that can happen is the status quo."
Sweeney said the override attempt might occur after the June primaries so that Republicans would be safer from punishment by the voters.  The current New Jersey legislative session began in January last year and ends in January 2014. 

Labels: , ,


Gambling On The Next Pope

Above are the current odds on Intrade. Tim Dolan is way down the list at 2.1%.

Labels: , , ,


Alison Moyet - Changeling

From her coming album, The Minutes, which is due in May.

(Tipped by JMG reader Billy)

Labels: , ,


Thursday, February 21, 2013

Tweet Of The Day - Donald Trump

Minutes after the above tweet went out, Trump tweeted that he had been "seriously hacked" and is "looking for the perpetrators." Mediaite is suspicious.
If a group like the one that recently turned Burger King’s Twitter feed into a McDonald’s ad and turned Jeep’s into one for Cadillac actually did hack Trump’s account, it seems like they would have done more damage than one relatively tame rap lyric. Was this really a malicious hacking incident? Or just a careless mistake by whoever Trump has running his Twitter account? Or maybe Trump’s just using the current Twitter hacking craze to drum up more publicity for himself now that his lawsuit feud with Bill Maher seems to have died down.
The tweet is a rap lyric from Lil Wayne, in case you wondered.

Labels: , ,


NM House Committee Kills Marriage Bill

By a vote of 7-4, today a Democratic-majority New Mexico House subcommittee killed a bill that would have placed marriage equality to a public vote.  Two Democrats (Mary Helen Garcia and Debbie Rodella) voted against the bill, otherwise it would have passed 6-5.
Glen Strock, pastor of Pecos Valley Cowboy Church, was among several people who argued against the amendment based on biblical teachings. "The same God we ask to bless America said, 'You shall not lay with a man as with a woman. That is an abomination,' " Strock said. Former state representative Andy Nunez, an independent from Hatch, also opposed the bill. "We're against this gay marriage. It's not right in my estimation," Nunez said. "They can go to Canada and get married, or somewhere else."

House Speaker Ken Martinez, D-Grants, made an impassioned speech for the amendment. He wept at one point as he recounted the struggles of a young gay man who had cut his wrists because of unhappiness. Martinez argued that gay people are born with that orientation, and said everyone by now should understand that. "Why would you choose a life where you're going to be discriminated against?" he asked. Martinez's oratory was strong enough to move several people in the audience to tears.
NOM will surely claim credit. (Tipped by JMG reader Paula)

UPDATE: American Veterans For Equal Rights reacts.
Many of us got up early, travelled through the snow in and around Albuquerque to snowless Santa Fe for the hearing on the Marriage Amendment only to see it tabled after very passionate and often emotional testimony. Representative Egolf, the sponsor, and Speaker of the House, Sanchez both had tears in their eyes as they spoke eloquently for passage of a Marriage Amendment to the NM Constitution. Several of us, young and old, Hispanic and Anglo, men and women, testified about the importance of passing this bill. Rest assured this is only temporary and we will win this fight in New Mexico for the equal right to marry the ones we love. Just as we won the right to serve openly in our military, we will prevail in the fight for equal rights for marriage as each of us individually and as groups makes our story known to our family, friends, co-workers and elected representatives.

Labels: , ,


First Lady Teams Up With Romney Foe

Labels: , ,


FRC To Cosponsor NOM's Hate March

Good As You tips us that the FRC has signed on to cosponsor NOM's hate march on the Supreme Court next month.

Labels: , , ,


Porno Pete Has The Sadz

Labels: , , ,


700 Club: Satan Loves Gay Marriage

Labels: , , ,


AP Issues Style Guide On Husband/Wife

For the last week the LGBT blogosphere has been battling the Associated Press over a direction to  their reporters that they should not automatically refer to people in legal same-sex marriages as "husband" or "wife."  I left the story alone because I figured the AP would immediately correct such as obviously wrong position. Today they finally did. Here's the new policy.
husband, wife Regardless of sexual orientation, husband or wife is acceptable in all references to individuals in any legally recognized marriage. Spouse or partner may be used if requested.
The AP adds: "The AP has never had a Stylebook entry on the question of the usage of husband and wife. All the previous conversation was in the absence of such a formal entry. This lays down clear and simple usage. After reviewing existing practice, we are formalizing 'husband, wife' as an entry."

Labels: , ,


Ben Ivory - The Righteous Ones

In the comments of the Eurovision post from earlier today, reader Nobbi tips us that the second place finisher in Germany's contest was this rousing anthem to queer liberation.  Wow!
You can close your eyes if you want to
Lock your doors and hide if we haunt you
Get your guns tonight if we scare you
But we ain’t goin’ nowhere, no we ain’t goin’ nowhere

You can pass a law if you need to
Punch us in the jaw when we beat you
Use your shock and awe if you dare to
But we ain’t goin’ nowhere, no we ain’t goin’ nowhere

Labels: , , ,


Bryan Fischer: Tebow Is Now Going To Hell

"Instead of standing with the Christian leader of their day, the disciples of Christ fled like panicked sheep when he came under direct attack. I had thought and hoped Tebow was made of sterner stuff. Tebow needs to clarify and expand on his remarks immediately, and undo this disastrous decision. Dr. Jeffress is a man of unconditional love and will gladly receive him back. If Tim Tebow doesn’t reverse field here, much more than his NFL career is in jeopardy." - Hate group spokesman Bryan Fischer, responding to Tebow canceling his appearance at the megachurch headed by crackpot Robert Jeffress.

UPDATE: Jeffress is claiming that Tebow will reschedule "once the current controversy blows over."

Labels: , , ,


Missed Connections

Andrew Sullivan points out an analysis of where the folks who post on the Craigslist "Missed Connections" forum are most likely to have seen the person they want to meet.
More people spy love at Wal-Mart than anywhere else, from Florida all the way to New Mexico. And that thread runs all the way through deep red America. Only Oklahoma cites the state fair as a mixer. The rest see each other under the merciless lighting of the giant super-store. This is how we fall in love or lust, where we flirt and look back: when we’re shopping. The big cities – like NYC and DC – showcase the random human interaction on the subway or metro. The Northwest has it all going on on buses.

Labels: , ,


ABC News Asks Obama: Will You File A SCOTUS Brief On Marriage?

Andy Towle provides the text of the president's response:
"The solicitor general is still looking at this. I have to make sure that I'm not interjecting myself too much into this process particularly when we're not a party to the case. I can tell you, though, obviously my personal view, which is that I think that same-sex couples should have the same rights and be treated like everybody else. And that's something that I feel very strongly about [and] my administration's acting on wherever we can."

Labels: , , ,


AFER Files Prop 8 Brief

The good guys have begun filing their Supreme Court briefs. First out, appropriately, is the American Foundation for Equal Rights, who today filed their brief in the Proposition 8 case. Chris Geidner reports at Buzzfeed:
Nearly four years after filing the case, Ted Olson and David Boies told the Supreme Court Thursday that the Constitution "does not tolerate the permanent exclusion of gay men and lesbians from the most important relation in life" — marriage. As part of the challenge to California's Proposition 8 that the two lawyers have brought on behalf of two same-sex couples unable to marry in the state, Olson and Boies argue both broadly for a constitutional right to marry that should include same-sex couples and more narrowly that the vote in November 2008 to end same-sex couples' right to marry in California was unconstitutional.
The brief is 63 pages long. Hit the link and read their arguments.

UPDATE: AFER sends us an excerpt via press release.
“Because of their sexual orientation—a characteristic with which they were born and which they cannot change—Plaintiffs and hundreds of thousands of gay men and lesbians in California and across the country are being excluded from one of life’s most precious relationships. They may not marry the person they love, the person with whom they wish to partner in building a family and with whom they wish to share their future and their most intimate and private dreams,” Plaintiffs’ attorneys, led by distinguished co-counsel Theodore B. Olson and David Boies, said in the brief. “Although opening to them participation in the unique and immensely valuable institution of marriage will not diminish the value or status of marriage for heterosexuals, withholding it causes infinite and permanent stigma, pain, and isolation. It denies gay men and lesbians their identity and their dignity; it labels their families as second-rate. That outcome cannot be squared with the principle of equality and the unalienable right to liberty and the pursuit of happiness that is the bedrock promise of America from the Declaration of Independence to the Fourteenth Amendment, and the dream of all Americans. This badge of inferiority, separateness, and inequality must be extinguished. When it is, America will be closer to fulfilling the aspirations of all its citizens.”

Labels: , , ,


Tebow Cancels Gig With Anti-Gay Church

Stand by for the howls of outrage as this is clearly the result of homofascism.  Either that or Tebow is now aware that First Baptist Pastor Robert Jeffress has said that all Jews and Mormons will go to hell and that Satan runs the Catholic Church.

Labels: , , ,


Italian Newspaper Claims Pope Resigned Due To Influence By "Gay Lobby"

According to an unsubstantiated claim by an Italian newspaper, the Pope resigned partially due to an internal Vatican report which warned that a "gay lobby" has an "inappropriate influence" on the daily workings of his office.
The newspaper suggests that such was Benedict’s dismay when presented with the details of the report on December 17th that it hardened his long-meditated decision to resign. The internal report prepared by Cardinals Julian Herranz, Josef Tomko and Salvatore De Giorgi had been commissioned by Benedict himself. He had ordered it in response to the so-called Vatileaks scandal which culminated with the arrest and subsequent conviction last autumn of the Pope's butler, Paolo Gabriele, found guilty of having stolen confidential documents from the papal apartment. In this morning's article, it is claimed that the cardinals reported that various lobbies within the Holy See were consistently breaking the sixth and seventh commandments, namely "thou shalt not steal" and "thou shalt not commit adultery". The "stealing" was in particular related to the Vatican Bank, IOR, whilst the sexual offences were related to the influence of an active gay lobby within the Vatican.
The above-linked article notes that the newspaper does not report the source of its claim and offers no quotes from any of the involved parties.

Labels: , , ,


Eurovision 2013: Germany's Cascada

Popular dance act Cascada will represent Germany at the 2013 Eurovision Song Contest. Their 2009 release Evacuate The Dancefloor was a global hit and went platinum in the United States. 

UPDATE: A reader notes that the German press is looking into whether Cascada has copied last year's winning entry from Sweden's Loreen, who herself was accused of copying her song from Rihanna. There's a chance Germany could be disqualified.

Labels: , ,


Headline Of The Day

Details.

Labels: , , ,


INDIANA: Diane "Gays Have No Purpose" Medley Suspended By School District

Indiana teacher Diane Medley, who made national news last week for objecting to gay students bringing dates to the prom, has been suspended by her school district.
Superintendent Mark Baker of the Northeast School Corp. in western Indiana's Sullivan County issued a statement saying the teacher has been placed on administrative leave out of concern "for the safety and security of everyone in our buildings." He added that "as a precaution" the Sullivan County Sheriff's Department and Indiana State Police "have deemed it necessary to station an officer" at North Central Junior-Senior High School in Farmersburg, about 75 miles southwest of Indianapolis. He said the "administration and one school employee in particular" at the school have received "aggressive email messages." "We are turning over to law enforcement all such communications," Baker said.
JMG reader Enzo notes that a Facebook page calling for a separate "tradition prom" has gone back online.

Labels: , , ,


Donald Trump Threatens To Sue Organizer Of Campaign For Macy's To Drop Him

Donald Trump says he's might sue the man who launched an online petition drive that calls for Macy's to stop selling his branded items.
Trump's attorney, Alan Garten, has sent a letter to Angelo Carusone, who launched an online petition urging Macy's to drop Trump, saying that Trump will sue Carusone for damages "not less than $25,000,000" if he continues his campaign. "While you claim to be merely exercising or right to free speech, your egregious, pre-meditated and illegal conduct far exceeds anything protected by the Constitution," the letter, dated Dec. 27, reads. "Rather than simply engage in lawful protest, you have apparently made it your mission to interfere with and intentionally disrupt Mr. Trump's longstanding and well-established business relationship with Macy's as well as his contractual dealings with other third parties through mob-like bullying and coercion."
Carusone: "Donald Trump's attempt to silence me will not work. I've dealt with enough bullies and know better than to succumb to intimidation."  Carusone formerly ran the "Stop Beck" campaign which called on advertisers to abandon Glenn Beck's show when it was on Fox News.

Labels: , , ,


Dan Savage On Gay Adoption

Labels: , ,


Free Republic Down For Fourth day

Free Republic crashed four days ago and is still not back at this writing.  Some Freepers have taken to the site's Facebook page to question where all their money goes as the site runs quarterly "Freepathon" donation drives.  Sample comment:
I have been a long time supporter of FR. It is times like these that are very frustrating to witness. An operation that brings in this much money in 4 quarterly donation drives should not crash for days or hell even hours. I mean no disrespect here and I have been a Freeper since 1999. Jim something has to change here. These kinds of things have happened before and FR is just too popular and big to be down this long. It hurts credibility and we can't afford that.

Labels: , , ,


GLAAD To Honor Anderson Cooper

Anderson Cooper will receive the Vito Russo Award during the 2013 GLAAD Media Awards in New York City next month.
Past recipients of the Vito Russo Award include Sir Elton John, Ricky Martin, and Rosie O'Donnell. "By sharing his own experiences as a gay man, Anderson has reminded millions of Americans that LGBT people are part of their everyday lives and an integral part of our cultural fabric," said GLAAD President Herndon Graddick in a statement. "He continues to raise the bar and set a new standard for journalists everywhere, and I'm proud to call him a friend." Cooper, whose sexual orientation had long been a secret to the general public, revealed that he was gay in a letter to The Daily Beast's Andrew Sullivan last summer.

Labels: , , ,


Laura Bush: Take Me Out Of Marriage Ad

Former First Lady Laura Bush is demanding to be removed from the national same-sex marriage advertising campaign launched yesterday by a coalition of LGBT groups.
The advertising blitz, first reported by Politico, features a clip of Bush talking to Larry King on CNN in 2010 and saying, “When couples are committed to each other and love each other then they ought to have the same sort of rights that everyone has.” But Bush spokeswoman Anne MacDonald said in a statement Wednesday that the former first lady “did not approve of her inclusion in this advertisement nor is she associated with the group that made the ad in any way.” “When she became aware of the advertisement last night, we requested that the group remove her from it,” MacDonald said.
The Respect For Marriage Coalition has not yet responded.

Labels: , , ,


Mumbai Queer Flashmob


(Via Towleroad)

Labels: , , ,


Matt Baume: Marriage News Watch

A special clip about the new ad campaign.

Labels: , , , , , ,


Beware The Gay Bear Trap

"The incidence of homosexuality is seven times, ten times worse than it was twenty-five years ago. The sin of homosexuality is far more rampant today than it was in 1990, 1980 and 1960. Ladies and gentlemen today what makes this sin so rough, it’s so destructive to the family, to sexuality, to life itself and it destroys civilizations, social systems eventually. But what makes the sin really, really, really tough is that it’s hard to pull away from it. Now some make it out but many, many don’t. It’s one high-tension bear trap that grabs onto young men and young women when they make their way into the lifestyle of homosexuality." - Pastor Kevin Swanson, speaking on his radio show.

RELATED:  In November Swanson has claimed that gay people caused Hurricane Sandy.

Labels: , , ,


Cardinal Tim Dolan Deposed Over Molestations In Milwaukee Archdiocese

Lawyers for the victims of pedophile priests yesterday deposed Cardinal Tim Dolan in Manhattan for the role he may have had in covering up the crimes while the Archbishop of Milwaukee.
The lawyers deposing Cardinal Dolan represent hundreds of people who say they were sexually molested by priests in the Archdiocese of Milwaukee, which he led for seven years before his appointment as archbishop of New York in 2009. The lawyers want to know when Cardinal Dolan, as archbishop of Milwaukee, learned of allegations against certain priests, and how quickly he made those allegations public.

Cardinal Dolan is one of two American cardinals who are being deposed in sexual abuse lawsuits this week, and who plan to travel to Rome next week in advance of the proceedings to elect the successor to Pope Benedict XVI. The Milwaukee Archdiocese said recently that it had spent $9 million in legal fees. Creditors accuse the archdiocese, under Archbishop Dolan, of shielding $55 million in a cemetery trust. The archdiocese argued that those assets had been set aside for Catholic burials by Archbishop Dolan’s predecessors.
A spokesman said that Dolan was "eager to cooperate."

Labels: , , , , , , ,


Rick Scott Flip-Flops On Obamacare

Teabaggers are losing their shit on the news that Florida Gov. Rick Scott has abruptly reversed his position on Obamacare. 
Gov. Rick Scott said Wednesday he supports expanding Medicaid and funneling billions of federal dollars to Florida, a significant policy reversal that could bring health care coverage to 1 million additional Floridians. "While the federal government is committed to pay 100 percent of the cost, I cannot, in good conscience, deny Floridians the needed access to health care," Scott said at a hastily called news conference at the Governor's Mansion. Scott, a former hospital executive, spoke with unusual directness about helping the "poorest and weakest" Floridians — a stunning about-face for a small-government Republican who was one of the loudest voices in an aggressive, and ultimately unsuccessful, legal strategy to kill a law he derided as "Obamacare."
One teabagger reacted by calling Scott "the Benedict Arnold to the patriot and Tea Party movement in Florida."  Move over, Karl Rove.

Labels: , , ,


Open Thread Thursday

Go ahead. Brag a little.

Labels:


Wednesday, February 20, 2013

New Kindle Ad Is Gay-Inclusive

You know who ain't gonna like this!

(Tipped by JMG reader Bstewart23)

Labels: , ,


IL House Committee Vote: February 26th

The Illinois House Executive Committee will consider the marriage equality bill on February 26th.
The committee vote is the next hurdle the bill must overcome on its path to becoming law and needs at least six votes there before it is cleared to hit the full House floor. Advocates are expecting success in the committee, which comprises seven Democrats and four Republicans, but anticipate a tougher road to the 60 “yes” votes required to pass the measure in the full House. Shortly after the bill passed through the Senate, Rep. Greg Harris (D-Chicago) and Sen. Heather Steans (D-Chicago), the bill’s chief sponsors in the General Assembly, said they expect the bill to come up for consideration in the House chamber in the coming weeks. Both contend the bill has a “very good” chance in the House following the landmark Senate approval.
RELATED: The Illinois Family Institute claims that 3000 protested the bill today in Springfield.

Labels: , ,


From NOM's Marketing Kingpin

"Imagine if you were on the cusp of the greatest victory of your life — within months of achieving something you'd worked doggedly for years to achieve, something truly worthy of a heroic effort. And even as you could almost feel victory in your hands, your opponent announces that your defeat is inevitable and it's time for you to quit. Moreover, this story leads the nightly news and fills the daily newspapers day after day.

"Would you give up a virtuous fight because those who oppose you say it's inevitable you will lose? Of course you wouldn't! The very notion is outrageous — yet that is the inside out, upside down world we're served by the media when it comes to the issue of marriage. Inevitability is the great lie of the same-sex marriage movement. It's one that has been carefully crafted and aggressively spread throughout the media and the culture. But it's a lie nonetheless.

"Here's the truth of where we stand with the marriage movement: we are within months of achieving our greatest victory — winning the Roe v. Wade of marriage. They claim that the U.S. Constitution contains an absolute 'right' for a man to marry another man or a woman to marry another woman. Moreover, they contend the Constitution has contained this legal right for the past 145 years! Do you think those Americans who adopted the 14th Amendment back in 1868 realized that it was done so that homosexual 'marriage' would be accepted as the law of the land? Oh, you don't? You must be a bigot!" - NOM marketing mastermind Frank Schubert, in today's emailed money beg.

Labels: , , , , , , ,