Actor Paul Walker Dies In Car Crash

TMZ reports:

Paul Walker -- best known for his role in "The Fast and the Furious" movies -- died Saturday afternoon after a single-car accident and explosion in Southern California ... TMZ has learned. The accident happened in Santa Clarita -- north of Los Angeles -- and according to multiple sources connected to Paul ... the actor was in a Porsche when the driver somehow lost control and slammed into a post or a tree ... and then the car burst into flames. Several of our sources -- some who are still at the scene of the accident -- tell us Paul and another person in the car were killed. Law enforcement is still on the scene, and we're told the L.A. County Coroner's Office is on the way. At this point, it's unclear what caused the accident, or who was behind the wheel when it happened. Paul was 40 years old.

Obama's World AIDS Day Message

Via press release from the White House, here's a portion of President Obama's message for World AIDS Day.

We will win this battle, but it is not over yet. In memory of the loved ones we have lost and on behalf of our family members, friends, and fellow citizens of the world battling HIV/AIDS, we resolve to carry on the fight and end stigma and discrimination toward people living with this disease. At this pivotal moment, let us work together to bring this pandemic to an end. NOW, THEREFORE, I, BARACK OBAMA, President of the United States of America, by virtue of the authority vested in me by the Constitution and the laws of the United States do hereby proclaim December 1, 2013, as World AIDS Day. I urge the Governors of the States and the Commonwealth of Puerto Rico, officials of the other territories subject to the jurisdiction of the United States, and the American people to join me in appropriate activities to remember those who have lost their lives to AIDS and to provide support and comfort to those living with this disease.

RELATED: The 28-foot red ribbon seen above first appeared at the White House in 2007 during the administration of George W. Bush, who was terrible at many things but was surprisingly good on HIV/AIDS issues. 

CONNECTICUT: Paper Reveals Escorting Profiles Linked To Late Yale Professor

Last weekend Yale professor Samuel See died in the custody of New Haven, Connecticut police after a scuffle following a dispute with his estranged husband. Both men had orders of protection filed against each other. Today the New Haven Register revealed that profiles linked to See are on four male escorting sites.

The jail cell death last weekend of Yale University professor Samuel See, known as a brilliant writer and rising star in academia, has shaken up the tight-knit college community. Now adding to the mystery of his unexpected death are apparent connections between the online profiles of See and several escort service websites that include a cache of sexually explicit photos. At least four websites advertising male escort services included a phone number connected to See. The website Ryan Cochran Escort Services includes the same phone number listed on an order of protection filed against See in September. A profile photo on the Ryan Cochran Escort Service website matches the profile photograph on a LinkedIn account purporting to be See’s. The website lists Cochran’s home city as New Haven. A Facebook page with pictures resembling See and listed under the name Ryan Cochran includes See’s home address.

One of the escorting profiles (not work safe) contains this description: "I'm a professional, well-educated, sexually limitless escort working out of New Haven. I'm versatile, love cum, party, and prefer to fuck raw. I can get into all kinds of sexual and social situations, so just name your pleasure."  As yet there is no evidence that See himself created the profiles.

See was found dead in his cell on Sunday morning after being treated for a facial cut sustained during his struggle with the arresting officers. New Haven police have launched an internal inquiry. It should go without saying that whether or not See was doing sex work is irrelevant to the issue of his death while in the custody of the police.

Christian Grifter Paul Crouch Dead At 79

Paul Crouch Sr, the founder of the Trinity Broadcasting Network and perhaps the most successful evangelical con man of all time, has died of heart disease at the age  of 79. Crouch's "non-profit" Trinity Christian Center, which pays no taxes, recently reported net assets of over $827M.

Via the Christian Post:

TBN's official Facebook page released the announcement about Crouch's death: "Dr Paul F Crouch passed into the presence of the Lord on November 30, 2013. We are grateful for the life of this amazing servant of God. Please pray for the Crouch family during this time. #paulcrouch #tbn" [snip] In recent years, the Crouch and TBN have been embroiled in family lawsuits, with their granddaughter Brittany Koper, former director of finance and human resources, filing a lawsuit saying that the family was distributing more than $50 million for luxury goods, such as jets, estates, and vehicles, to company directors. When Koper refused to keep quiet about the illegal money use, she was fired and allegedly threatened with physical and lethal violence. Her uncle, Joseph McVeigh, who never worked for TBN, filed another lawsuit against TBN at the Orange County Superior Court in early 2012, saying that TBN was maliciously targeting him as part of a "campaign of retaliation" against Koper. With TBN officially announcing Crouch Sr.'s death on its Facebook page, within less than 20 minutes of the posting there were more than 450 comments, pledging to pray for the Crouch family and offering condolences.

In 2004 Crouch paid a $425,000 settlement to a male former employee who claimed that he was forced to have sex with Crouch in order to keep his job.

In October 1996, Ford said he and Crouch spent two nights at the same hotel in separate rooms. During that time, Ford said they worked out together at the hotel gym and ate expensive meals with bottles of wine and after-dinner drinks. "I knew what he was doing," Ford said. "He was seducing me." After checking out of the hotel, Ford said, Crouch took him to a TBN-owned cabin near Lake Arrowhead. It was there, Ford said, that Crouch first had sex with him. "I did it because I didn't know if this man is going to throw me straight out of that cabin," Ford said. "And I didn't want to lose my job. I was going to be in trouble if I said no." The next morning, Ford said, Crouch read a Bible passage to him in an attempt to reassure him about the night before. The passage, Proverbs 6:16-19, details seven "detestable" attitudes and acts in God's eyes. Ford said Crouch told him that because homosexuality wasn't listed, the Lord wasn't worried about what they had done. Still, Ford said, Crouch warned him to keep the encounter quiet "because people wouldn't understand."

In a separate sexual scandal, in 2010 Trinity Broadcasting settled a $2.5M suit brought by a different male employee who claimed that Crouch's son, Paul Crouch Jr, had emailed him transsexual porn and told fellow staffers that the employee had a "mangina."

RELATED: TBN broadcasts on scores of owned and affiliated stations around the United States and is transmitted worldwide on a network of 70 satellites.  Most of the nation's major evangelical grifters have shows on TBN, including Pat Robertson, TD Jakes, Benny Hinn, John Hagee, Joyce Meyer, Joel Osteen, Rod Parsley, and Creflo Dollar.  TBN also owns The Holy Land Experience, a Christian theme park in Orlando.

Uncommon Douchery: Erik Estrada Stars In Liberty Counsel Movie With Mat Staver

Kyle Mantyla writes at Right Wing Watch:

On the heels of Rick Santorum's flop as a movie mogul, it looks like the professional anti-gay activists over at Liberty Counsel have been bitten by the acting bug and decided to try their hands at filmmaking as well, with the release of a feature film called "Uncommon" starring none other than Erik Estrada. Based on the trailer, the film looks to be exactly as awful as one would expect a movie made by Liberty Counsel to be ... especially one that actually features Mat Staver in an acting role.

More from Raw Story:

The Christian conservative legal foundation released the trailer to “Uncommon,” which stars Erik Estrada as a principled janitor who helps the students put together the Bible-based production. The theme is in line with Liberty Counsel’s goal to allow students and school employees to promote religious beliefs in public schools.“Religious liberty in public school is certainly a fitting topic for our first feature film,” said Mat Staver, Liberty Counsel founder and chairman. “Many of the calls Liberty Counsel receives are from parents and students whose speech and religious viewpoints are being censored in the public schools.” According to its IMDB.com page, “Uncommon” will depict students at fictional Rosewood High School as they work to create their own theater, music and dance departments after they are eliminated due to budget cuts. “Struggling to find the right script, music and choreography the students get advice from an uncommon source: the Bible,” writes Daniel Bowden on IMDB. The trailer indicates the film’s climactic scenes will include courtroom scenes featuring Staver arguing on behalf of the students.

The film opens January 14th.

RELATED: Last August, Staver was named in a RICO Act suit which alleges that he conspired to kidnap the daughter of Janet Jenkins, a lesbian whose estranged partner went "ex-gay" and vanished to Central America with the child. The child is still missing and a Christian minister was last year found guilty of abetting her abduction.

Russia: Only Italy Can Adopt Our Children Because They Ban Gay Marriage

"It turns out that Italy is currently the only country whose citizens are able to adopt Russian children because, first of all, this country refused to recognise same-sex marriage, which, for its part, does not require Russia to change the existing agreement, and, secondly, (the Italians) abide by the terms of this treaty. That is all. It is not our fault. (Other countries) should work harder if you want international adoption to continue."- Pavel Astakhov, Russian Children's Rights Commissioner, speaking yesterday to Interfax.  Russia Today reports on the story with this quote from Astakhov: "Such cases of pedophilia, violence and brutality as we have in America, we have nothing like that anywhere else." (Tipped by JMG reader Calvin)

Gay Hockey Players Cover Mariah Carey

(Via Towleroad)

Computer-Designed Synthetic Molecule Prevents HIV From Replicating In Cells

The tech site IO9 reports:

European researchers have used a computer to design small synthetic molecules capable of attacking the deadly AIDS virus where it hurts the most: its ability to produce the genetic material required for replication. It's the first time in history this has ever been done. The novel designer molecules work by blocking the virus' ability to replicate. And they do so by inhibiting the output of genetic material from the infected cell nucleus to the cytoplasm. Without replication, no new infections can occur. So in theory, because all cells are mortal, even the infected cells will eventually wither away and die. Normally, the replicative genetic material of the AIDS virus, or HIV-1, is formed by ribonucleic acid (RNA). This critical genetic material encodes for special proteins that allow it to penetrate human cells and then reproduce within them. But the new designer compound, a virus inhibitor called terphenyls, reproduces the interactions of one of the proteins encoded by the virus — a viral protein called Rev.

Read the full abstract here. (Tipped by JMG reader Robert)

Tired Old Queen at the Movies #121

Clip recap:

Errol Flynn and Olivia deHavilland make movie magic in William Keighley and Michael Curtiz' s 1938 spectacular; "The Adventures Of Robin Hood." Sumptuously shot in Technicolor and featuring an unbelievable supporting cast featuring Claude Rains and Basil Rathbone at their villainous best, along with Alan Hale, Eugene Pallette , Una O'Connor and a cast of hundreds, it's the action/adventure epic of a lifetime. 

Cardinal Dolan: We've Been Out-Marketed

Cardinal Timothy Dolan says that that Catholic Church as been "out-marketed" by activists and politicians who have unfairly branded the church as anti-gay. Dolan's remarks will be aired tomorrow on Meet The Press.

"We've been caricatured as being anti-gay," Dolan said in an interview airing Sunday on NBC's Meet the Press. "And as much as we'd say, 'Wait a minute, we're pro marriage, we're pro traditional marriage, we're not anti anybody,' I don't know. "When you have forces like Hollywood, when you have forces like politicians, when you have forces like some opinion-molders that are behind it, it's a tough battle," he said. The legal battle over same-sex marriage has moved to states, following the U.S. Supreme Court's decision striking down a tenet of the federal Defense of Marriage Act. "I think I'd be a Pollyanna to say that there doesn't seem to be kind of a stampede to do this," Dolan told David Gregory of Meet the Press. "I regret that. I wish that were not the case for the states."

Maybe Dolan should hold an exorcism to get rid of all that evil marketing.  The Illinois-based Civil Rights Agenda has responded to Dolan's words. Via press release:

The Catholic bishops have spent millions of dollars fighting hate crimes legislation and laws banning housing and employment discrimination on the basis of sexual orientation,. Most egregious, the bishops have threatened to not support the immigration reform bill if it includes same-sex couples. The bishops consistently reduce gay people to their genitals and what they do or do not do with them and a number of bishops have supported and promoted dangers programs that seek to change gay people's sexual orientation. The bishops have opposed any legislation or policy changes that would affirm gay people's right to be treated equitably under the law. That is why the Church is perceived as anti-gay. It is not a caricature it is a sad reality,

Quote Of The Day - Danita Kilcullen

"We must fight with all we have. We must put pressure on the House like has never been seen before. I'll be damned if I will ever be forced to hire someone with orange hair, body/neck/face covered with tattoos, multiple piercings, or a man in a dress... or for that matter, a demonstrative effeminate male or purposeful butch-looking female. The Log Cabins are the same lobbyist organization that has all but taken over [Broward Republican Executive Committee]; and besides that, we have someone on the Board of BREC who is using her position to openly put pressure on some BREC members to stand for same-sex marriage. This is the same group who, based on nothing other than his recent stand for gay marriage, supports Chris Christie and who publicly worked against Cuccinelli for his stand for traditional marriage. Keep in mind, this is a thug organization with only their own 'special interests' in play." - Danita Kilcullen, co-founder of Tea Party Fort Lauderdale.

TRAILER: Noah

Two weeks ago I posted the first trailer for this "religious epic" and today we get Paramount's trailer for audiences overseas.

New CNN Poll

Obama Had DC Police Murder Woman Because She Carried His Love Child

Raw Story has the details:

A birther preacher is pushing the conspiracy theory that Miriam Carey, who was shot to death Oct. 3 after police said she tried to ram her car into a barrier outside the White House, was the mother of President Barack Obama’s illegitimate child. Rev. James David Manning, pastor of Atlah World Missionary Church who believes the president was born in Kenya, claims that Carey’s family has called for a paternity test to determine whether the woman’s 15-month-old daughter was fathered by the president. While Carey’s family has indeed asked U.S. Attorney General Eric Holder to look into the fatal shooting, the only source for the claim about the family’s request for a paternity test seems to be additional videos posted online by Manning.

Manning has previously claimed that President Obama had Andrew Breitbart murdered and that Mitt Romney and Newt Gingrich are secretly black.  Manning also says that preachers should feel free to use the word "faggot" because it gets people's attention.

NEW JERSEY: Atheist Group Launches Billboard Campaign On Disaster Relief

The Los Angeles Times reports:

A New Jersey-based atheist organization is castigating the work of Pope Francis and others who respond to natural disasters with prayer, Bibles and rosaries. The billboards then encourage people to go to Atheists.org for more information, including a list of secular agencies that American Atheists endorse for disaster relief efforts. The organization accuses religion in general, and Pope Francis in particular, of exploiting natural disasters to bring more people into the fold. Pope Francis, the organization noted, used Twitter to ask followers to pray for typhoon victims, and was retweeted more than 35,000 times. “Imagine if the pope had asked for people to send money to victims or to send needed supplies. How much more useful would that have been to the people of the Philippines?" American Atheists President David Silverman said in a statement, going on to say the pope's actions were "repugnant." "Natural disasters should not be viewed as opportunities for proselytization."

The Times article concludes: "Could that same criticism apply to the American Atheists? Their billboards are being used to drive people to their website. Is that a form of exploitation?"

Website Of The Day

The deaths are from previous Black Fridays. So far. Details.

Quote Of The Day - Pastor Mark Driscoll

"Sin is like water. It always finds the cracks and the low points where it can settle in to cause erosion. Deception is where we twist the truth into a weapon for harm and destruction. Cheating in school. Half-truths on a resume. Falsifying reports at work. Double-billing clients. And, pastors are notorious for 'borrowing' material. All of us are guilty of deception to some degree. Its prevalence, however, does not change the fact that deception is a demonic, satanic issue." - Pastor Mark Driscoll, of Seattle's Mars Hill megachurch, who has been busted for plagiarism in his latest book. Driscoll's "borrowing" was noticed by anti-gay crackpot (and JMG hater) Janet Mefferd.

RELATED: In 2011 Driscoll declared that male masturbation is a form of homosexuality because it is sex with a man.

Afternoon View - UES Muck House

After four years of blasting for the coming Second Avenue subway line, the monstrous muck house on my block is finally coming down and tenants on the first six floors of the above building again have sunlight reaching their windows. This is too late, of course, for the scores of street level businesses on the Upper East Side that long ago closed down. The first trains begin running in 2016. Allegedly.

Like Clockwork

BRITAIN: Church Of England Proposes "Blessings" For Same-Sex Marriages

Yesterday the Church of England unveiled a proposal that would allow clergy to offer "blessings" to same-sex unions, even though gay couples would still be barred from actually marrying in their churches.

Critics swiftly condemned the "blessing" proposal as contrary to the church's teaching on sexual conduct. The proposal was among 18 recommendations put forward by a working group set up two years ago amid growing tension over the church's approach to gay worshippers and clergy but could take up to two years of discussions before becoming policy. Acknowledging the issue was divisive, group chairman Joseph Pilling said the church needed to reflect rapid changes in society as senior clergy express fears of a looming crisis, with falling attendance rates and failure to attract young people. This year, parliament introduced new laws to allow gay marriages from 2014 after legalizing civil partnerships in 2005 and the church dropped its ban on gay clergy in civil partnerships becoming bishops. "You can make a church a cold place for gay and lesbian people ... or you can make it a more warm and accepting place," Pilling told a news conference.

Happy Holidays From Breitbart

"Dear fellow self-reliant American: Between now and the end of December, we're giving away 1,000 rounds of ammunition. You could win 1,000 rounds of ammo in less than 10 seconds. The best part? There are absolutely no strings attached. Simply click below and if you win, we'll send a huge box  containing your new 1,000 rounds of ammo right to your doorstep! You can choose between 9mm, 40 S&W, or 45 ACP. P.S. - If you win the ammo, start planning on where you'll store it because 1,000 rounds of ammo takes up quite a bit of space ;-)." - Via email from Breitbart, who closes with a smiley face.

President Obama's Thanksgiving Message Includes Allusion To Gay Rights

"Thanksgiving offers each of us the chance to count our many blessings -- the freedoms we enjoy, the time we spend with loved ones, the brave men and women who defend our Nation at home and abroad. This tradition reminds us that no matter what our background or beliefs, no matter who we are or who we love, at our core we are first and foremost Americans. [snip] NOW, THEREFORE, I, BARACK OBAMA, President of the United States of America, by virtue of the authority vested in me by the Constitution and the laws of the United States, do hereby proclaim Thursday, November 28, 2013, as a National Day of Thanksgiving." - From President Obama's Thanksgiving message, which was very upsetting to the commenters in Teabagistan.

Kinky Boots At the Macy's Parade

Wingnuts yesterday took to Twitter and Macy's Facebook page to scream with outraaaaaage because the Thanksgiving parade featured a performance by the cast of Kinky Boots.

HAITI: Gay Rights Office Attacked

Via the Associated Press:

Amnesty International says the office of a gay rights group in Haiti has been ransacked and two of its members beaten. It said Wednesday that three men carrying handguns and machetes raided the office of the Haitian rights organization Kouraj last week. Amnesty says the intruders said the center shouldn’t be allowed to operate and aimed anti-gay remarks at the two activists who were tied and beaten. The attackers also stole equipment, which included two laptops and files that contained sensitive information about the group’s members.

RELATED: In July, Christian groups staged an anti-gay protest in which they threatened to burn down the national parliament building if same-sex marriage were to be approved. Two men accused of being gay were murdered at the protest.

About The Real HIV/AIDS Buyers Clubs

Focus Features' Dallas Buyers Club continues to perform strongly in theaters, moving up to #10 on last weekend's list of top grosses as the release widened to more than 650 houses. Focus writes:

Jean-Marc Vallée’s DALLAS BUYERS CLUB dramatizes the story of Ron Woodroof (played by Matthew McConaughey), a real man who, after being diagnosed as HIV+ in 1986, did everything he could to stay alive. In the process, he helped establish the Dallas Buyers Club, a group that skirted existing rules and regulations to get drugs and supplements previously unavailable to people with AIDS. Woodroof’s story is only one among many in the fight against AIDS. To give some additional context, we’ve assembled some articles and videos to give a larger sense of the fight. In “New York City Buyers Club,” Derek Hodel, the former Executive Director of the People With AIDS Health Group, provides a fascinating history of the Buyers Club movement. In three video profiles, Derek Hodel, along with two other members of People With AIDS Health Group — former office manager Robert Vazquez-Pacheco and board member Michael Spiegel — provide a personal remembrance of their own fight against AIDS. And in “Art Against AIDS,” we’ve put together a slide show of amazing AIDS activist art, some of which appears in DALLAS BUYERS CLUB.

Click over here to see the other clips of these pioneers.

HAWAII: Crackpot GOP State Rep Files Yet Another Court Challenge To Marriage

Hawaii state Rep. Bob "Crazy Eyes II" McDermott is trying again.

With Hawaii poised to start issuing same-sex marriage licenses Monday, state Rep. Bob McDermott has filed a new motion in state Circuit Court looking to invalidate the state's new law legalizing such marriages. The motion asks Judge Karl Sakamoto to reconsider the significance of Hawaii's 1998 constitutional amendment; McDermott argues that measure prevents the Legislature from expanding marriage to same-sex couples. "This is a serious issue, and we have case law and precedent on our side," McDermott said in a statement today announcing the motion. "We shall fully litigate this through the appeals process." A hearing on the motion is scheduled for Jan. 13, according to McDermott. The move comes after a Nov. 14 decision by Sakamoto refusing to issue a temporary restraining order sought by McDermott and a group of Christians looking to prevent the state from issuing licenses to gay couples. Sakamoto's ruling came the day after Gov. Neil Abercrombie signed the gay marriage bill into law.

Richard Simmons On Fox News

On Wednesday night, Richard Simmons delivered what is probably one of the most awkward interviews in Fox News history, telling squirming host Neil Cavuto, "You look so handsome tonight, I can hardly keep from climbing over this desk." Simmons goes on to declare that the Obamas have rejected him. Right wing sites such as Breitbart are calling him a hero. Yes, you read that correctly.

Gay US Ambassador & Husband Send Message To People Of Dominican Republic

Two weeks ago the Senate finally confirmed former HRC board member Wally Brewster as the US ambassador to the Dominican Republic, where local Catholic leaders have denounced his appointment. Shortly after his confirmation, Brewster married his partner, Bob J. Satawake. Brewster and his husband have posted a video message to the Dominican Republic. CNN reports:

The welcome message from America's new top diplomat in the Dominican Republic touched on baseball, culture and trade ties. No surprises there. But U.S. Ambassador James "Wally" Brewster brought one thing with him this week that's a first for a male U.S. ambassador in the Caribbean nation: a husband. "My spouse, Bob, and I have traveled the world, from the far reaches of Asia to the stunning coastlines of southern Europe," Brewster says in a video introducing himself on the U.S. Embassy's website.Then husband Bob Satawake chimes in: "But we always return to the beauty of the Dominican Republic."

After months of pressure from religious groups in the Dominican Republic who protested his appointment, Brewster arrived in Santo Domingo this week to begin his tenure as ambassador. An editorial in the Dominican Republic's El Nacional newspaper this week discussed proposals Brewster outlined in the introductory video and urged readers to stop focusing so much on the new ambassador's sexual orientation, even though it has "generated more attention than his diplomatic mission." His arrival in the Dominican Republic this week was front-page news in many of the country's newspapers, which also prominently discussed the arrival of his spouse.

Brian Brown: I'm Thankful For Jo Jordan

"It's been a tough year for those of us who labor to preserve true marriage, but I am still thankful for so many things. First, I am thankful for the struggle that we're in the midst of experiencing. Though we've suffered some losses, they have been hard-fought and close. I'm thankful for all those who stood with us in the state battles in Delaware, Rhode Island, Illinois and Hawaii. These were all very difficult states for us, yet with your help we waged a principled battle throughout. I am grateful to all those elected officials who were willing to listen to the stories of those who have been denied their religious freedom for honoring their belief in true marriage. Many legislators opposed redefining marriage because of the concern for the impact on others — including the first openly-gay legislator, Rep. Jo Jordan in Hawaii, to vote against redefining marriage. Candidly, I'm grateful that we have our toughest states behind us. For most of the past two years, we've been working in territory where the political deck has been stacked against us from the outset. Thankfully, the battle moves now to states where we are much stronger politically, such as Ohio and Indiana." - Hate group leader Brian Brown, from yesterday's Thanksgiving message.

Lady Gaga & RuPaul - Fashion

Watch it now before it ABC yanks it.

(Via JMG reader Wayne)

Guest Post: Carl Siciliano

We deal with a twofold tragedy every day at the Ali Forney Center. The first part is that hundreds of thousands of parents drive their children from their homes because they cannot accept having an LGBT child. The second part is that fewer than one tenth of homeless kids in this country can access a youth shelter bed. Hundreds of thousands of terrified, devastated kids are out on the streets tonight with nowhere safe to lay their heads.

Recently I met a girl in Minneapolis who told me about being out on the streets at 16 in the frozen Minnesota winter. She found a bus driver who would allow her to ride the city bus all night. But one night when he was off duty and she didn't have the bus fare, she shivered in the snow, fearing she would die in the cold. Another boy told me of being thrown out of his home in a suburb of Atlanta by a homophobic aunt. Having nowhere to go, he spent three days and nights in the woods near his house, with no food or water, crying and terrified and wanting to die. Finally he staggered out onto a sidewalk and collapsed of dehydration and was hospitalized.

Many kids turn to prostitution, having no other way to support themselves. Deon became homeless in Houston when he was 15. He also rode the buses all night, and would shower in the morning at a friend's house before heading to school. One night he was propositioned while waiting for the bus, and was offered money for sex. Deeply exhausted from his long nights on the bus, he reluctantly accepted. He told me that he felt so ashamed and humiliated by the experience, that he spent over an hour in the shower at his friends house that morning. He was weeping uncontrollably and didn't want anyone to see him like that. Deon lives with us now. Yesterday he told me that at his job at H&M clothing store, he has a portion of his income taken out of each paycheck. He uses this money to sponsor an orphan in Zimbabwe. He was beaming with pride when he told me this. I am more proud of him than I know how to say.

At the Ali Forney Center we respond to LGBT kids in the most horrifying situations imaginable. We respond with food and shelter, with job training and medical care. We work with kids from all over the country. Last year we cared for over 1,000 kids. As important as it is to house and feed these kids, it is just as important to affirm their basic human worth as LGBT people. It is important to show that they belong to our community, that they are valued and loved.

This Thanksgiving I am thankful for the kids who live with us, that they can have the opportunity to be healed of their terrible wounds. And I am thankful for the community of support that allows us to do this beautiful work. I am especially thankful to Joe and the JoeMyGod community for standing by us year after year. I am especially thankful for the amazing support we received last year when Hurricane Sandy destroyed our drop-in center.

I ask you to consider supporting our kids at this time. We have 200 kids on the waiting list for our shelters tonight, and have to rely on the support of the community in this time of sequestration and government cutbacks. Donations can be sent to us by mail at: Ali Forney Center, 224 West 35th Street, 15th Floor, New York, NY 10001. Donations can be made online here.

I wish all JMG readers a wonderful Thanksgiving! Thank you. - Carl Siciliano.

ILLINOIS: Terminally Ill Lesbian Marries In State's First Legal Same-Sex Wedding

Illinois today saw its first-ever same-sex wedding after a terminally ill lesbian was granted permission to marry months before the law goes into effect.

When Illinois became the 16th state to legalize gay marriage earlier this month, it was bittersweet for the couple, in their mid-60s. They feared that Vernita Gray might not live until the law would allow them to wed. They filed a lawsuit, and a federal judge allowed the two women, in their mid-60s, to get an expedited marriage license. "She went from one day being as full of energy as she could be to being completely bedridden," Patricia Ewert said of her partner's deterioration. As for waiting until June, Ewert said: "It's a long time in the cancer world." But the mood was cheerful and festive Wednesday; Ewert wore leopard print and Gray donned a dark leather jacket. They quick signed the papers after the ceremony. "It's a great day for Vernita and Pat, and an historic day for Illinois, for a deserving and loving couple to have the chance to be married on an expedited basis," John Knight, LGBT Project Director at the ACLU of Illinois, said in a statement. "Their love and commitment to each other has been demonstrated over time, and we're thrilled they didn't have to wait."

Click over to Windy City Times for many great photos by Hal Balm.

Brits Describe Thanksgiving

RELATED: Brits attempt to map the US states.

Soda / Pop / Coke

Yale Professor Dies In Police Custody After Dispute With Estranged Husband

New Haven police have ordered an internal inquiry into the death of a Yale professor who died in their custody following his arrest after a dispute with his estranged husband.  NBC News reports:

Police said Samuel See, 34, of New Haven. was arrested on Saturday night. On Sunday, he was found unresponsive in his cell and later pronounced deceased. Police went to See's home after receiving a complaint of a domestic dispute at 5:15 p.m. Saturday. According to police, See's husband, Saunder Ganglani, 32, of New Haven, had gone to See's home to retrieve his belongings despite a protective order that was in place. Ganglani told officers that he’d spent about two and a half hours at the house on Saturday before police responded. Officers charged Ganglani with violating the protective order and spoke with See, who told police to remove Ganglani from the home, police said. As officers were speaking with See, they mentioned there is also a protective order filed for See to stay away from Ganglani and See “became enraged," police said. He yelled that it was his house, said he shouldn't be arrested and fought with the officers when they tried handcuffing him.

After the arrest See was transported to a local hospital for treatment for a cut over his eye that occurred during the scuffle with police. After his release from the hospital, New Haven detectives say See was "alert and communicating" during his detainment on Saturday night and that guards administered CPR when he was found unresponsive in his cell at 6am on Sunday. See was an English professor and was on leave from Yale this semester. The college has issued a statement of condolences to his friends, family and students. (Tipped by JMG reader West)

Texas Caves On National Guard

Via press release from Lambda Legal:

After increasing pressure to follow U.S. Department of Defense guidelines, the Texas Military Forces today allowed Lambda Legal's client, Alicia Butler the wife of 1st Lt. Judith Chedville to register for federal military benefits at Camp Mabry. "We are thrilled for Alicia and Judith who just wanted to take steps, like all military families, to access critical support networks and benefits provided to families of servicemembers," Lambda Legal Staff Attorney Paul Castillo said. "Texas Military Forces implements a host of federal benefits programs for all National Guard units in the state and it should be no different for married same-sex couples."

In September, Lambda Legal submitted a letter urging the commanding officer of the Texas Military Forces to abide by U.S. Department of Defense (DoD) guidelines and allow married same-sex military couples to register for federal benefits at any military base in the state. Since that first contact, Lambda Legal has engaged in continued aggressive advocacy at all levels to urge this result. I am so pleased to have this spousal ID card and begin to access a range of benefits," Butler said. "My wife served our country and our family needs support like all military families."

The American Military Partner Association reacts:

“We applaud the Texas Military Forces for changing course and the Department of Defense for making sure this issue is resolved in Texas," said Stephen Peters, president of AMPA. "All military spouses, regardless of orientation or gender, deserve to treated with the same dignity, respect, and support for their sacrifices in support of our nation, no matter what state they serve in. We urge the remaining states who have not yet complied with Department of Defense policy to do so quickly and affirm their commitment to all military families."

Morrissey Wishes You Happy Thankskilling

"Please ignore the abysmal example set by President Obama who, in the name of Thanksgiving, supports torture as 45 million birds are horrifically abused; dragged through electrified stun baths, and then have their throats slit. And President Obama laughs. Haha, so funny! As Ingrid Newkirk from PETA points out, turkey 'meat' is one of "our nation's top killers", causing heart-attacks and strokes in humans due to saturated animal fats and cholesterol. And President Obama laughs. Further, the meat industry is responsible for 51% of human-caused greenhouse-gas emission, therefore the embarrassingly stupid White House 'turkey pardon' is open support for a viciously cruel and environmentally irresponsible industry. And President Obama laughs." - Morrissey, in an online post titled "Happy Thankskilling."

RELATED: Here's another message from Ingrid Newkirk: "Even if animal experiments did result in a cure for AIDS, of which there is no chance, I’d be against it on moral grounds."

UPDATE: Popcorn has won the Turkey pardon challenge.

Prince William Sings With Jon Bon Jovi

Brian Brown: We're Still Going To Win

"Dear Joe, When history looks back on the 2012-2013 legislative year, I believe it will be remembered as the year Americans realized the same-sex marriage movement for what it truly is: a bullying behemoth that puts the very foundations of our democracy at stake. From the earliest days of the marriage battle in our country, the other side has claimed to be 'on the right side of history' and said that their movement enjoyed the momentum of public sentiment so that same-sex marriage in America was 'inevitable.' They said this despite majorities in state after state standing up in favor of marriage between one man and one woman at the ballot box. It wasn't until 2012 that they had a single election victory to bolster their 'inevitability' myth.

"But one year of slight victories does not make a myth reality. Next year we'll show that history — and not myths — is what finally matters. And history is on our side! Recent losses in stacked battles won't help radical activists in their quest to force the entire country to recognize same-sex 'marriage.' On the contrary, 2014 will be the year of the PEOPLE... your time and mine to make history — if we have the resources we need to make sure our message is heard by voters across the country. Please make a contribution of $50, $100 or even $500 right now to help us turn the tide and take back the momentum in the fight to defend marriage!" - Hate group leader Brian Brown, via email.

YouTube Comment Reconstruction #2

KENTUCKY: Gay Couple Fined One Cent For Trespassing During Marriage Protest

A Louisville, Kentucky gay couple has been found guilty of trespassing for refusing to leave the county clerk's office after being denied a marriage license. But the sympathetic jury fined them only one penny.

After three hours of testimony in which their lawyers hailed them for their civil disobedience, while the prosecution urged jurors to stick to the facts, Blanchard and James were convicted Tuesday of trespassing — but fined only a penny. Blanchard called the penalty a vindication of their protest in support of same-sex marriage. “It shows they understood what we were doing,” he said after jurors returned their verdict following 90 minutes of deliberations.

James’ lawyer, Annie O’Connell, said the fine may have been the smallest ever imposed in a criminal trial in Kentucky. Blanchard’s counsel, Ted Shouse, said in court that he had never tried a case in which the maximum penalty — $250 — “was so low and the stakes were so high.” Jessie Halladay, a spokeswoman for the county attorney’s office, said after the verdict that prosecutors had no choice but to take the case to trial. “We respect the right of the defendants to protest, but we also respect the law, and the law doesn’t distinguish what causes are worth breaking the law for,” she said.

The jury had sent the a judge a note asking if they could convict but impose no fine at all. The judge responded that some fine was mandated by the law. The judge then waived the one penny fine and all court costs. Bonus nicety: The arresting officer testified that he had shaken the couple's hands before taking them into custody. (Tipped by JMG reader Rob)

Maggie: The Cheney Feud Is Staged

"The Cheney family is a very close family, and I don’t believe they would have this spat in public, except for the fact that it’s good for both of the sisters. It gives Mary a chance to air her deeply held, passionate moral convictions and advance the ball for gay marriage. And it helps Liz Cheney get elected senator in the state of Wyoming. Call me a skeptic, but the Cheney family’s been in the public eye a long time, and I don’t doubt that they have the emotions that they’re saying. I’m not saying they’re not telling the truth, but I don’t think the sisters would have done this, except that it’s kind of a win-win for the family as a whole." - Maggie Gallagher, quoted by the Advocate.

Board: Gynecologists May Treat Men

The American Board of Obstetrics and Gynecology has reversed a September directive that barred its members from treating men for anal cancer. Some gynecologists have been treating men due to expertise gained via cervical pap smears.

Like cervical cancer, anal cancer is usually caused by the human papillomavirus, or HPV, which is sexually transmitted. This type of cancer is rare, but its incidence is increasing, especially among men and women infected with H.I.V. Experts in anal cancer asked the board to reconsider its position, and some started letter-writing campaigns. Patient advocacy groups expressed worry that the prohibition would interfere with research and make it harder for male patients to find screening and treatment. The board had said it wanted to protect the profession as a female specialty and limit the nongynecological work performed by its members. But Dr. Kenneth L. Noller, the board’s director of evaluation, said board members had reconsidered and realized that gynecologists had a long tradition of treating sexually transmitted infections in both men and women, and that HPV and problems related to the virus fell into that category.

BRITAIN: Supreme Court Rules Against Anti-Gay Bed & Breakfast Owners

Britain's Supreme Court has ruled against the owners of a bed & breakfast who were fined after refusing to rent a room to a gay couple.

Hazelmary and Peter Bull refused to let civil partners Steven Preddy and Martyn Hall stay in a double room at Chymorvah House in Marazion in Cornwall in 2008. The couple, who had already lost cases at Bristol County Court and the Court of Appeal, said they were "saddened". Mr and Mrs Bull have said they regard any sex outside marriage as a "sin". The Bulls denied discriminating against Mr Hall and Mr Preddy, who are from Bristol. Sixty-nine-year-old Mrs Bull and her 74-year-old husband said their decision was founded on a "religiously-informed judgment of conscience". Five Supreme Court justices ruled against them on Wednesday after analysing the case at a hearing in London in October.

In September the Bulls announced that they were closing their inn due to a plummeting occupancy rate. (Tipped by JMG reader Paolo)

HomoQuotable - Joel Simkhai

"I’m very proud if Grindr has forced us to up up our game. To brush our teeth. Comb our hair. Eat right. Go to the gym. Be a healthy person. Cut back on the smoking. Cut back on the bad things and look your best. We’re men. We visualize. We see before we hear, before we think, before we do anything else. That’s how we are. I haven’t changed that. That’s what our evolution has taught us to do. I certainly go to the gym more because of Grindr. I’m competing with the guy a space away from me on that grid." - Joel Simkhai, CEO of Grindr, speaking to Michelangelo Signorile.

Tap Tap Tap

So is anybody working today?

Alec Baldwin Blames Firing On GLAAD And Andrew Sulllivan (Plus Himself)

"Martin Bashir's on the air, and he made his comment on the air! I dispute half the comment I made If I called him 'cocksucking maggot' or a 'cocksucking motherfucker'... 'faggot' is not the word that came out of my mouth. That I know. But you've got the fundamentalist wing of gay advocacy— Rich Ferraro and Andrew Sullivan—they're out there, they've got you. Rich Ferraro, this is probably one of his greatest triumphs. They killed my show. And I have to take some responsibility for that myself." - Alec Baldwin, speaking to Gothamist.

GLAAD Vice President Rich Ferraro emails us: "I consider GLAAD's campaigns to end the Boy Scout of America's ban on gay scouts, raise national visibility of the violence and inequality facing transgender people, and battling for marriage equality to be among my 'greatest triumphs.' But if a teacher, coach, local radio show host, or parent realizes that anti-LGBT slurs are outdated and unacceptable because of this Baldwin issue, I guess we'll call it a win. Alec Baldwin's team has not been open to turning this incident into an opportunity for public education and that's unfortunate."

Shortest Boycott Ever: Salvation Army Yanks "Ex-Gay" Groups From Website

Mere hours after Truth Wins Out called for boycotting the Salvation Army, the organization has removed the "ex-gay" groups listed on its website. From their letter to Truth Wins Out:

We sincerely appreciate you bringing this matter to our attention. As you know, The Salvation Army strives to live out our mission of meeting human need without discrimination. Our doors are always open to anyone who seeks our help, regardless of race, gender, ethnicity or sexual orientation. We simply do not discriminate against the people we serve or the people we hire. We have removed the page of referrals for sexual addiction centers. Truthfully this was an old page that had been archived but was reposted when we launched our new website last month. We apologize for our oversight and any confusion this may have caused. The Salvation Army does not consider homosexual orientation a sin. Please know that we serve anyone who comes to our doors without discrimination.

Bolding is mine. Way to go, Truth Wins Out. Now...we wait for the sadz.

Freedom From Religion Foundation: Boycott Hobby Lobby Over SCOTUS Suit

VIRGINIA: State Sen. Adam Ebbin Intros Bill To Repeal Same-Sex Marriage Ban

Openly gay Virginia state Sen. Adam Ebbin today introduced a bill to repeal that state's constitutional ban on marriage. There's a long road ahead, however.

To repeal the 2006 amendment, legislation would have to pass the General Assembly two times with an intervening election, then would go on the ballot in the next succeeding general election. If it won first passage in the 2014 session, the measure would have to again pass the legislature in the 2016 session after the next state election, meaning the earliest the measure could go before voters would be November 2016. Even gaining first passage in the General Assembly could be the longest of longshots, particularly in the House of Delegates. A companion bill to Ebbin’s has been introduced by Del. Joseph Morrissey Richmond). In the 2013 session, a similar measure by Del. Scott Surovell (D-Fairfax) failed to make it out of a House subcommittee. There was no companion bill in the state Senate.

After being approved overwhelmingly by both chambers of Virginia's legislature in 2006, the ban was approved by 57% of voters.

Freep This TIME Magazine Poll

TIME Magazine is polling readers for its annual Person Of The Year issue. Click over and vote for Edith Windsor, my pretties. NOTE: You must connect your Facebook account to vote (ugh). At this writing 57% of voters do not want Windsor to be be selected. (Tipped by JMG reader Alan)

INDIANA: Mary Cheney To Host Fundraiser To Fight Proposed Gay Marriage Ban

Mary Cheney will help Freedom Indiana raise money to fight that state's proposed constitutional ban on same-sex marriage. From Cheney's message that accompanies the above image:

"Speaking out against HJR-6 isn’t a matter of politics. It’s about family. It’s about everyone feeling welcome in the state they call home. There’s nothing I wouldn’t do to protect my wife Heather and our two children. And then I think about the thousands of same-sex couples and their families in Indiana who would be directly impacted by HJR-6, I’m committed to standing together and working across party lines to keep this amendment out of Indiana’s constitution. Freedom Indiana’s campaign is strong. And as the start of the legislative session quickly approaches, we can make it even stronger by pitching in to support the grassroots work across the state. Join me in Indianapolis on Wednesday, December 11th as we raise crucial funds and resources to protect Indiana’s constitution. Click here to get your ticket now. Thanks for everything you're doing to stop HJR-6. See you soon, Mary Cheney."

Mary Cheney infamously stayed silent in 2004 when the Bush/Cheney administration pushed for the Federal Marriage Amendment. And as Dan Savage eloquently noted last week, "Mary wrote that fucker a check" when Mitt Romney did the same thing last year. Can anybody recall if Mary Cheney has ever previously campaigned for the rights of her people? This might be a first, thanks, no doubt, to her sister Liz. (Tipped by JMG reader Charles)

Caramel Vs Popcorn

The White House has launched a website that actually works. Click over and select which turkey you'd like to have pardoned. Both will be pardoned, but if you check around in Teabagistan today they don't seem to notice that detail and therefore the turkey contest is EXACTLY LIKE OBAMACARE DEATH PANELS. Praise Jesus, y'all.

Pat Robertson Renews Old Leg Press Lies

Like Eugene Delgaudio, Pat Robertson is today dipping into the old well of his beyond ridiculous lies. Right Wing Watch catches you up on the back story.

Back in 2006, Robertson said he could leg press 2,000 lbs. The New York Times wrote at the time: “According to a related news release and photographs on the network's website, Mr. Robertson has leg-pressed 2,000 pounds, even though (as many online commentators have pointed out) he is 76 years old and the current world record is 1,335 pounds.” GNC eventually pulled its Robertson-branded protein smoothie, “Pat’s Diet Shake,” but not before the episode raised questions about, as the Virginian-Pilot put it, “the fuzzy line between his tax-exempt operations and his profit-making ventures.”

Pat's Diet Shake is still selling online at a price of $21.99.

MSNBC Fires Alec Baldwin

Above is the spin from the right-wing New York Post. A spokesman for Baldwin confirms the story but "quibbles" with the word "fired." (Tipped by JMG reader Todd)

Radio Free Europe Interviews Rainbow Flag Creator And Activist Gilbert Baker

Radio Free Europe has posted a great chat with rainbow flag creator Gilbert Baker, who these days is a major force with Queer Nation here in New York City. The clip takes you inside Baker's Harlem apartment and you even get a look at his sewing machines. He's a JMG reader!

(Tipped by JMG reader Ken)

No Results Found

It looks like Charity Buzz has pulled the auction to have crackpot Orson Scott Card speak to a high school. I don't know why, the bidding had soared to $0.00. Snork!

UPDATE: Credit for the auction being yanked goes to Back2Stonewall blogger Will Kohler, who wrote to the RFK Center For Human Rights and got this response:

Dear Will: The RFK Center works around the world to defend sexual minorities’ rights, and is a longstanding leader in the fight against LGBTI discrimination. In Uganda alone, we have partnered for years with on-the-ground activists to lead a global coalition against the infamous anti-homosexuality bill, galvanized global faith leaders and Nobel Peace laureates on behalf of LGBTI Ugandans, secured the release of trans activists imprisoned for their advocacy efforts, brought life-saving medical resources to health care clinics serving LGBTI patients who have been turned away from city hospitals, and fostered a historic dialogue on sexual minority rights within the nation’s police forces. Auction coordinators occasionally offer items to the RFK Center auction. The RFK Center did not solicit this item and it is no longer part of our auction.

Atheist Billboards Go Up In Sacramento

SCOTUS Accepts Hobby Lobby Case

The Supreme Court today agreed to hear Hobby Lobby's appeal of the portion of Obamacare which mandates that employers provide contraception coverage.

The high court last year narrowly upheld the key funding provision of the health care law, a blockbuster ruling affirming that most Americans would be required to purchase insurance or pay a financial penalty -- the so-called "individual mandate."  The constitutional debate now shifts to the separate employer mandates and whether corporations and religious institutions themselves enjoy the same First Amendment rights as individuals. Three federal appeals courts around the country have struck down the contraception coverage rule, while two other appeals courts have upheld it. That "circuit split" made a Supreme Court review more likely. Among the plaintiffs is Hobby Lobby, Inc. a nationwide chain of about 500 for-profit arts and crafts stores. David Green and his family are the owners and say their Christian beliefs clash with parts of the law's mandates for comprehensive coverage. They say some of the drugs that would be provided prevent human embryos from being implanted in a woman's womb, which the Greens equate to abortion. The privately held company does not object to funding other forms of contraception -- such as condoms and diaphragms -- for their roughly 13,000 employees, which Hobby Lobby says represent a variety of faiths. Companies that refuse to provide the coverage could be fined up to $1.3 million daily.

Christianist groups are doing cartwheels on Twitter.

Email Of The Day - Eugene Delgaudio

"Dear Joe, I’ve been putting off sending you this letter for a while because I didn’t want to worry you. But late one night while sorting through pro-Family petitions from supporters like you, a thug crept in through a door, threw a blanket over my head and pummeled me with a rock. Thankfully, one of my volunteers heard when I yelled for help. I thank God that when he came running into the room, this goon was startled and ran off. I wasn’t seriously hurt. I’ve gotten death threats before -- nearly two dozen this year alone -- and I never take them lightly. But when they go beyond threatening and actually try to kill me, it’s a whole different story. There’s more my friend. They harass my family and neighbors trying to turn them against me. Radical homosexuals recently littered my entire neighborhood with hateful flyers filled with terrible, false accusations I dare not repeat -- I was out until 4:30 in the morning going door to door gathering them all up so my children wouldn’t see this trash. I am still shaken from the latest attempt on my life."- Eugene Delgaudio, repeating a years-old claim in today's money beg for $5, $10 or $35.

NOM Goes After Fred Karger

NOM's attorneys have sent archenemy Fred Karger the above letter (dated November 1st, but only just received) in which they demand that he not destroy any information he may have regarding the leaking of their tax return to the Human Rights Campaign, where Karger does not work. Via press release from Karger:

Exactly four years ago Karger filed charges against NOM with the Maine Ethics’ Office for alleged money laundering in that state’s 2009 marriage election, Two weeks later NOM, with the backing of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints (Mormon Church), subpoenaed Karger in another federal lawsuit and requested virtually all the same information that they are attempting to gather now. We fought back against NOM and its millionaire backers then and we will do it again,” said Karger who heads up Rights Equal Rights. “NOM doesn't like to obey state and federal election laws and when I call them out, they go after me.” “I am a one person organization and they are attempting to destroy me with these frivolous legal actions. I will once again seek support and fight back against NOM head mega-bully Brian Brown and his army of lawyers.”

Embiggen the letter to read NOM's demands. Act Right, by the way, is another one of Brian Brown's organizations.

Truth Wins Out: Boycott Salvation Army

Via press release:

Truth Wins Out called on people today to withhold holiday donations from The Salvation Army until the organization removes all anti-LGBT materials from its website, starting with two “ex-gay” ministries that are listed as sexual addiction resources. “Don’t drop change in The Salvation Army’s bucket until it changes its website into a platform that doesn’t refer clients to dangerous groups that attempt to pray away the gay,” said Truth Wins Out Executive Director Wayne Besen. “Ex-gay organizations are harmful, ineffective, and rejected by every mainstream mental health association in the world.”

The existence of this resource was surprising, considering that The Salvation Army’s public relations arm has launched a new campaign that portrays the organization as pro-LGBT. On its website is a page that “debunks the myth of LGBT discrimination.” According to the website: “For years, Facebook posts, forwarded emails and rumors have been leading some people to believe that The Salvation Army does not serve members of the Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual and Transgender (LGBT) community. These accusations simply aren’t true.” [snip]

“While we appreciate The Salvation Army’s recent outreach to the LGBT community, we won’t settle for cheap spin, we insist on substance,” said TWO’s Wayne Besen. “If The Salvation Army is truly committed to non-discrimination, it will immediately eliminate these “ex-gay” groups as resources, and scrub its entire website of all anti-gay materials.”

Read much more here.