Bristol Palin: Leave Phil Robertson Alone

"Everyone needs to leave Phil Robertson alone for expressing his beliefs. I think it’s so hypocritical how the LGBT community expects every single flippen person to agree with their life style. This flies in the face of what makes America great – people can have their own beliefs and own opinions and their own ways of life. Everyone needs to treat others like God would, with love. It goes both ways. I hate how the LGBT community says it’s all about 'love' and 'equality.' However, if you don’t agree with their lifestyle, they spread the most hate. It is so hypocritical it makes my stomach turn. They need to learn how to respect others’ opinions and not just jump to the conclusion that everyone who doesn’t support homosexuality and gay marriage is homophobic. They take the easy way out every time anyone speaks out about their beliefs on the Bible. If I were Duck Dynasty, I would take my show to another channel. So much disrespect." - Bristol Palin, writing for Patheos.  (Tipped by JMG reader Dave)

Afternoon View - Goodbye Key West

Another sunny week in Key West gone in a dizzying blur. Once again, Father Tony and I scarcely left the fabulous Island House except to visit a few of our favorite restaurants. Huge thanks to Island House owner Jon and his very friendly team. Now, back to Fort Lauderdale.

Shirley Bassey - We Got Music

(Via Jared Braden)

HomoQuotable - Michelangelo Signorile

"The Duck Dynasty controversy has become so ugly so fast. It's time to just call it what it is. Religious zealots like Duck Dynasty star Phil Robertson are using the Bible to defame a group of people and excuse horrible actions against that group in the name of their Bible, refusing responsibility for the hate their words condone and inspire. And much of the media seems to be going along with it because the Robertsons, a Louisiana family with a reality TV show on A&E, are home-spun country people whom everyone seems to love. I'm seeing way too much defense of this crap as free speech -- as if every corporation is forced to allow its employees to spew vile and offensive defamation against people. Try telling your boss that he or she is like a pig-f**ker and see how long you keep your job. Just tell him or her it's in the Bible, and see if that keeps you from getting shown the door immediately without collecting your stuff." - Michelangelo Signorile, writing for the Huffington Post.

Frothy Mix: Phil Robertson Went Too Far

Even Rick Santorum says Phil Robertson was out of line. Not that he actually disagrees, mind you.

As conservatives line up to defend Duck Dynasty patriarch Phil Robertson’s right to condemn homosexual sex over the last couple of days, one usual suspect missing from the mix was former senator and presidential candidate Rick Santorum, who has been criticized for making similar statements in the past. When Santorum weighed in on Greta Van Susteren’s Fox show Friday evening, he spent plenty of time defending Robertson, but also tried to distance himself from the “crude and coarse” language. “Look, I wouldn’t have certainly said it the way he said it, that’s for darn sure,” Santorum remarked, without saying he disagrees with the sentiment behind Robertson’s statements.

UPDATE: The clip has been pulled.

Tony Perkins: Pray For Our Hate Group

"Dear Joe, Before you read another word, take a moment now to say a prayer for our nation and Family Research Council. Because of the radical, anti-Constitutional agenda of Barack Obama and the so-called Progressives, we are facing one of the greatest challenges in American history. Make no mistake about it, despite the debacle of ObamaCare, he will become more aggressive in his mission to strip you of your religious liberty and redefine the family. This past year President Obama has initiated several shocking efforts to strip Christian Americans of their First Amendment freedoms-especially religious freedom. He and his supporters believe that your faith should be legally confined within the walls of your church or the privacy of your home.

"In other words, there is no place in America for those who wish to live by and express their Christian faith in the workplace or in ANY 'public' space. Why? There can be no other allegiance to anything higher than the Federal Government. Those who disagree with the moral dictates of the government will be punished. So the president demands that same-sex 'marriage' be legalized, abortion on demand be funded by YOU, and that you and I support his redefinition of the family-or else face punishment." - KKK-affiliated hate group leader Tony Perkins, who closes with a promise to spend 2014 "compelling" the DOJ to enforce DOMA and fighting against the passage of ENDA.

Donna Summer - Love To Love You Baby

This Giorgio Moroder/Chris Cox remix came out in October, but now there's a video. A strange video.

INDIA: Government Asks Supreme Court To Review Anti-Homosexuality Law

The Indian government yesterday petitioned the Supreme Court to review its decision to reinstate the criminalization of homosexuality.

The government asked the court to review its order saying it believed it "violated the principle of equality". There has been outrage over the ruling seen as a huge blow to gay rights. There have been street protests and many activists and even government ministers have criticised it. "The government has filed the review petition on Section 377 in the Supreme Court today. Let's hope the right to personal choices is preserved," Law Minister Kapil Sibal tweeted on Friday. In its petition filed in the Supreme Court, the government says "the position of the central government on this issue has been that the Delhi High Court verdict... is correct". The Supreme Court's earlier order was widely criticised in India. The president of the ruling Congress party Sonia Gandhi described it as "an archaic, unjust law" and Finance Minister P Chidambaram said the ruling had taken India "back to 1860".

Very encouraging.

UTAH: Four Counties Refuse Gay Marriages

Four Utah counties refused to issue gay marriage licenses yesterday, including the clerk in Utah County, home to Provo. (And, NOT incidentally, Brigham Young University.)  Gay couples were also turned away in Weber, Washington, and Davis counties.

Morning View - Blogging Station

I spent some time blogging from that yellow chair, but then things went nuts with New Mexico and Utah and I had to retreat to my room. Too many distractions!

Wingnuts Threaten Cracker Barrel Boycott

From the Facebook page of Cracker Barrel:

Cracker Barrel’s mission is Pleasing People. We operate within the ideals of fairness, mutual respect and equal treatment of all people. These ideals are the core of our corporate culture. We continue to offer Duck Commander products in our stores. We removed selected products which we were concerned might offend some of our guests while we evaluate the situation. We continually evaluate the products we offer and will continue to do so.

Complaints are pouring in, of course. Twitchy is rallying the anti-gay troops.

Quote Of The Day - Ian Bayne

"In December 1955, Rosa Parks took a stand against an unjust societal persecution of black people, and in December 2013, Robertson took a stand against persecution of Christians. What Parks did was courageous. What Mr. Robertson did was courageous too." - Ian Bayne, GOP candidate for the US House, writing on his campaign website.

NEW MEXICO: County Clerk Resigns Rather Than Issue Gay Marriage Licenses

Via the Associated Press:

Officials say a rural eastern New Mexico county clerk and her deputy have resigned rather than abide by a state Supreme Court ruling legalizing gay marriage. Roosevelt County manager Charlene Webb says Clerk Donna Carpenter and Deputy Clerk Janet Collins announced their resignations Friday morning. Webb declined to say why they quit. But county commissioners confirmed it was in protest of Thursday's Supreme Court ruling that says it's unconstitutional to bar same-sex couples from getting marriage licenses. Commissioner Bill Cathey says the two had made it clear they would quit "rather than be associated with that."

Buh-bye.

Billie Jean King: Our Sochi Olympics Delegation Might Wave Rainbow Flags

In an interview with CNN's Christiane Amanpour, Billie Jean King said that the US Sochi delegation might wave rainbow flags.

“Maybe we should wave rainbow flags or something, I don’t know,” she said, drawing an analogy to the Black Power salute – a raised fist – given by two American athletes at the 1968 Mexico City Olympics. “As long as we’re not being malicious,” she said, “we can show our feelings.” President Obama named the former tennis champion, who is gay, to the American delegation at the Olympics earlier this week. “I'm very proud to go as an athlete, and as a gay woman,” she said. “I'm thrilled.” Russia’s hosting of the Olympics has been surrounded by controversy in large measure because of a law enacted earlier this year banning gay “propaganda,” which has contributed to many gay Russians fleeing the country. “I'm not real big on boycotting,” King told Amanpour. “It has to be absolutely a last resort.”

King went on to hope that she is provided "good security."

UTAH: Attorney General Files Emergency Appeal To Stop Gay Weddings

Chris Geidner reports at Buzzfeed:

In the late Friday night filing, Acting Attorney General Brian Tarbet argued that an emergency stay was needed from the 10th Circuit because Shelby already told lawyers for the state that he would not issue a stay of his ruling before receiving a written request for a stay — which the state has now filed — as well as receiving a response from the plaintiff same-sex couples in the case. The state requested an emergency, temporary stay from the 10th Circuit until Shelby can resolve the request — technically asking “for stay pending the district court’s consideration of a motion to stay.”  The state argued to the 10th Circuit that the emergency stay is needed “in order to preserve the status quo” because “[i]n the event that the district court’s decision is reversed, the licenses issued and the marriages performed in the absence of a stay may be void.” Whether given the emergency stay from the 10th Circuit or not, Tarbet wrote that his office would seek a stay from the 10th Circuit to last throughout its appeal of Shelby’s decision should Shelby deny the state’s request for such a stay.

Hit the link to read the filing in full.

VIDEO: Utah's First Married Gay Couple

Tweets Of The Day

Brian Brown Has The Utah Sadz

"This ruling is a travesty of justice. The voters of Utah made their will in this matter perfectly clear less than 10 years ago when adopting an amendment to the state constitution defining marriage as the union of one man and one woman. This ruling should concern every American who cares about the rights of citizens and their involvement in determining the laws that govern us. This trend of vetoing the voters from the bench must be stopped. We appreciate Attorney General Tarbet's swift action in seeking a stay of this decision and his commitment to appeal the ruling to the Tenth Circuit Court of Appeals. The rush to issue same-sex ‘marriage' licenses in Salt Lake County before the ink is even dry on Judge Shelby's decision is unseemly and an insult to the people. This is one of the most important issues facing the state and country. The constitution of the United States is not changed because a single judge says it should be. This critical matter needs to be considered by the higher courts immediately." - Hate group leader Brian Brown, who has the motherfucking sadz for the second time in 24 hours.

UTAH: Hearing On Marriage Stay May Not Come For Several Days

The Boston Globe reports:

The state filed a notice of appeal late Friday and was working on a request for an emergency stay that would stop marriage licenses from being issued to same-sex couples. "It will probably take a little bit of time to get everything in place," said Ryan Bruckman, a spokesman for the attorney general’s office. Bruckman said the judge told the attorney general’s office that it would be a couple of days before he would review any request for an emergency stay. The ruling has thrust the judge into the national spotlight less than two years after Congress approved his nomination to the federal bench. Shelby was appointed by President Barack Obama after GOP Sen. Orrin Hatch recommended him in November 2011.

UTAH: Salt Lake City Mayor Performs Wedding For Gay State Senator

Updated Marriage Map

Wikipedia's editors are already on it, even though Utah may not stay blue in the short term. 

UTAH: Gay Couples Rush County Clerk Office To Marry Ahead Of Expected Stay

According to an unconfirmed report from the first couple to marry, those who were in line by 5PM local time will be allowed to marry today.

Utah Gov Has The Gay Marriage Sadz

"I am very disappointed an activist federal judge is attempting to override the will of the people of Utah. I am working with my legal counsel and the acting Attorney General to determine the best course to defend traditional marriage within the borders of Utah." - Utah Governor Gary Herbert, via press release.

Mormon Church Reacts To Marriage Ruling

"This ruling by a district court will work its way through the judicial process. We continue to believe that voters in Utah did the right thing by providing clear direction in the state Constitution that marriage should be between a man and a woman and we are hopeful that this view will be validated by a higher court." - Eric Hawkins, spokesman for the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints.

Utah AG To Seek Stay, Will Appeal

This was expected. The above tweet is from a Salt Lake Tribune reporter.

Utah's First Gay Marriage Has Happened!

There is no waiting period in Utah. Couples that wish to marry there might want to do so immediately, as many expect the state to rush an appeal for a stay to the Tenth Circuit Court.

Via the Q Salt Lake:

Michael Adam Ferguson and J. Seth Anderson may well be Utah’s first gay couple to legally marry in the state of Utah. The couple, hearing that U.S. District Judge Robert J. Shelby has declared Utah’s Amendment 3 as unconstitutional, went to Salt Lake County Clerk Sherrie Swensen’s office asking for a marriage license. Deputy Salt Lake County Clerk Wany Morrison was in tears as she handed the couple their license to marry. As the couple was awaiting an officiant, Morrison told the couple she would marry them, but was pulled out of the ceremony by Salt Lake County District Attorney Sim Gill, who said he wanted to wait on official notice from the state. QSaltLake reporter Bob Henline, who is also an official marriage officiant, married the couple on the spot.

Congrats Michael and Seth!

Brian Brown: JMG Is Blasphemous And Totally Keeps Quoting Me Verbatim

"For GLAAD, of all groups, to demand for A&E to punish him [Phil Robertson] for these words manifests an irony that would almost be funny if it wasn't so offensive. The same organization, GLAAD, has awarded and celebrated the gay blogger, Joe Jervis (of the famous gay blog, Joe.My.G*d). Apart from the blasphemous and offensive title of his blog, Jervis makes a living saying hateful things about Christians and others who disagree with his views, and saying them often in a pretty crude and crass manner. Of course, Jervis is nothing in comparison with Dan Savage, whom we all know well for his hate-filled rants about Christianity (such as his statement that the Bible is "bulls**t"). And guess what? GLAAD has been just as cozy with Savage in the past as well!" - Hate group leading Brian Brown, who is super pissed about my motherfucking potty mouth.

BREAKING: Federal District Judge Strikes Down Utah's Ban On Same-Sex Marriage

From the Salt Lake City Tribune:

A federal judge in Utah Friday struck down the state’s ban on same-sex marriage, saying the law violates the U.S. Constitution’s guarantees of equal protection and due process. "The state’s current laws deny its gay and lesbian citizens their fundamental right to marry and, in so doing, demean the dignity of these same-sex couples for no rational reason," wrote U.S. District Court Judge Robert J. Shelby. "Accordingly, the court finds that these laws are unconstitutional." Shelby’s ruling came just 16 days after he heard arguments in the case and well before his self-imposed deadline to render a decision by Jan. 7, when the next hearing in the matter was to be held.

NCLR attorney Shannon Minter:

"A federal district court judge in Utah just issued a decision striking down Utah's marriage ban on the grounds that it violates the fundamental right to marry and lacks even a rational basis. This is the first decision since Perry--and the first after Windsor--striking down a marriage ban under the federal constitution. The judge did not stay his decision, so same-sex couples in Utah are applying for marriage licenses now."

I've posted the decision to my Scribd account.

UPDATE: Buzzfeed notes that the judge was appointed to the federal bench by President Obama. From his ruling:

Applying the law as it is required to do, the court holds that Utah’s prohibition on same- sex marriage conflicts with the United States Constitution’s guarantees of equal protection and due process under the law. The State’s current laws deny its gay and lesbian citizens their fundamental right to marry and, in so doing, demean the dignity of these same-sex couples for no rational reason. Accordingly, the court finds that these laws are unconstitutional.

From The Ugandan Government Website

From the official website of the Ugandan Parliament:

The Anti-Homosexuality Bill, 2009 seeks to establish a comprehensive consolidated legislation to protect the traditional family by prohibiting any form of sexual relations between persons of the same sex; and the promotion or recognition of such sexual relations in public institutions and other places through or with the support of any government entity in Uganda or any other non governmental organization inside or outside the country. The Committee on Legal and Parliamentary Affairs said in its Report, “The Bill aims at strengthening the nation’s capacity to deal with emerging internal and external threats to the traditional heterosexual family.” The Committee also said that there is need to protect the children and youth of Uganda who are vulnerable to sexual abuse and deviations as a result of cultural changes, uncensored information technologies, parentless child development settings and increasing attempts by homosexuals to raise children in homosexual relationships through adoption and foster care. The Anti Homosexuality Bill provides a fourteen year jail term for one convicted for the offence of homosexuality; and imprisonment for life for the offence of aggravated homosexuality.

Rant Of The Day

Potty mouth alert. Headphones if you're at work.

Bradlee Dean: New York City Is Teaching Bestiality In Public Schools

"When we talk of the left in this country, it's really what the right has tolerated. There wouldn't be a left if the right was doing the right thing all of the time. And I wish people in America would just come to the terms and to the facts that when we're talking about those that again are on the left, we're really talking about a lawless people, we're talking about a criminal population that is only complained about because the right is tolerating their crimes committed against the constitutional republic. You're dealing with an educational system - National Education Association - they're so demoralized [sic], they're so irrational that now they have something called the homosexual caucus; that wasn't good enough, now they have a drag queen caucus. In New York City, they're teaching kids bestiality in public schools." - Hate group cuckoo bird Bradlee Dean, speaking on End Times Radio.

GMCLA - The 12 Rockin' Days of Christmas

As Predicted

It would be interesting, actually, to find out if Phil Robertson wants American gays rounded up and sent to prison for life as Bryan Fischer does.

This Is An Ad For Something

Source.

Quote Of The Day - Matt Taibbi

"Conservatives have always had trouble grasping the difference between public censorship and private enterprise. With a few exceptions, like whistleblower laws and National Labor Relations Board protections against being fired for off-site discussions about work conditions (exceptions that, in almost every case, conservatives bitterly opposed), there is no legal or constitutional right to free speech on private property. You can be fired for calling your boss a dick, and you can just as easily be let go by a profit-seeking media company for imperiling its relationship with advertisers. And incidentally, this is the way true conservatives, and especially true hardcore speech advocates, have always wanted it. Could you imagine the uproar if someone passed a law saying that Martin Bashir couldn't be bounced from a broadcast job for saying Sarah Palin was a good candidate to have feces shoved in her mouth? Now that would be censorship. Remember, nobody heard a peep from Sarah Palin about free speech after that episode." - Matt Taibbi, writing for Rolling Stone. (Tipped by JMG reader David)

Barney Frank Joins CNBC

This should prove entertaining.

CANADA: Supreme Court Strikes Down Laws Against Prostitution And Brothels

The Canadian Supreme Court today issued a sweeping ruling which declares that laws banning prostitution and brothels are a violation of the federal constitution.

In striking down laws prohibiting brothels, living on the avails of prostitution and communicating in public with clients, the top court ruled Friday that the laws were over-broad and grossly disproportionate. "Parliament has the power to regulate against nuisances, but not at the cost of the health, safety and lives of prostitutes," wrote Chief Justice Beverley McLachlin in the 9-0 decision that noted "it is not a crime in Canada to sell sex for money." The ruling was in response to a court challenge by women with experience in the sex trade, Terri-Jean Bedford, Amy Lebovitch and Valerie Scott that had resulted in an Ontario court ruling that overturned the laws. The Ontario Court of Appeal later upheld the law against communicating in public, but sided with the lower court in overturning the provisions against living off the avails and keeping a common bawdy house or brothel.

The Court has stayed their ruling for one year to give Parliament a chance to react.

The ball is now back in the court of Justice Minister Peter MacKay, who needs to decide whether to adopt new prohibitions and if so, how to ensure those prohibitions do not fall afoul of the court. Mr. MacKay suggested in a statement that the government will continue to look at prohibiting prostitution in some fashion. The government is “exploring all possible options to ensure the criminal law continues to address the significant harms that flow from prostitution to communities, those engaged in prostitution, and vulnerable persons,” he said.

You know this was the inevitable result of gay marriage, right? Because that's what we're going to hear for the next few days.

America Needs 150M Phil Robertsons

HRC Denounces Uganda's Anti-Gay Bill

"Representatives of the Ugandan government have launched a shameful sneak attack on their own people.  If this bill becomes law, countless LGBT Ugandans will be condemned to violence or prison. The United States government has a moral obligation to use every tool at its disposal to put a stop to this legislation. Perhaps most disgusting is the fact that American extremists have worked tirelessly in the name of Christianity to see this bill passed. True people of faith know that calling for the imprisonment of an entire community is not in line with Christian values. American Christian faith leaders with ties to Uganda must speak out and call on their colleagues in Uganda to oppose this bill from becoming law." - Chad Griffin, head of the Human Rights Campaign, in a press release that blames (in part) American evangelical Scott Lively for the passage of today's bill.

Ellen Degeneres For The Oscars

Via press release:  

The Academy launched its Oscar season with a trailer starring show host Ellen DeGeneres and 250 tuxedo-clad men and women dancing to “The Walker” by indie pop band Fitz and The Tantrums. The Oscars® will air Sunday, March 2, 2014, live on ABC. “I had the best time making this,” said DeGeneres. “I love Paul, I love tWitch, I love Fitz and I like most of the Tantrums.” Paul Feig, a new Academy member, conceived and directed the trailer, which was choreographed by freestyle dancer Stephen “tWitch” Boss. Feig’s directorial credits include “Bridesmaids,” “The Heat” and the upcoming comedy “Susan Cooper,” starring Melissa McCarthy.

FRC Fails With Military Bill

As I've reported several times this year, the Family Research Council has been pushing an amendment to the National Defense Authorization Act (a spending bill) which would have barred military commanders from taking disciplinary action against soldiers who abuse and harass gay soldiers on the basis of "sincerely held religious beliefs." Last night the Senate approved the NDAA, but it includes a very weakened version of the amendment originally backed by the FRC.

Here's the final language of the amendment:

"Unless it could have an adverse impact on military readiness, unit cohesion, and good order and discipline, the Armed Forces shall accommodate individual expressions of belief of a member of the armed forces reflecting the sincerely held conscience, moral principles, or religious beliefs of the member and, in so far as practicable, may not use such expression of belief as the basis of any adverse personnel action, discrimination, or denial of promotion, schooling, training, or assignment."

As you can see, there are no real protections for those that abuse gay soldiers, but that hasn't stopped Tony Perkins from declaring victory.

I commend the overwhelming bipartisan support in Congress for protecting the right of service members to freely practice and express their faith. Congress acted appropriately after investigating numerous incidents involving service members who have had their careers threatened, and harassed simply for practicing their faith in a real and tangible way. The religious liberty violations have grown so frequent in recent years leading many service members to report being too fearful to share their faith.

The pro-gay Military Religious Freedom Foundation has taken great pleasure in pointing out that anti-gay groups like the FRC have suddenly changed their talking points. Go read their lengthy and very informative breakdown of how the amendment morphed from the extremely anti-gay House version into the compromise version approved yesterday.

Headline Of The Day

The protest spread via Twitter to another Catholic high school nearby, where students also staged a sit-in. More encouraging photos are at Buzzfeed.

Methodist Church Defrocks Unrepentant Pastor Who Officiated At Son's Wedding

Last month the United Methodist Church "convicted" a Pennsylvania minister of performing a same-sex wedding for his son. Yesterday they defrocked him for refusing to say that he'll never perform another gay wedding.

The fate of Reverend Frank Schaefer, pastor of the Zion United Methodist Church in Lebanon, Pennsylvania, was decided by a United Methodist church board in a closed-door session in a church office located in a suburban Philadelphia office park. "He no longer holds the ministerial office in the Eastern Pennsylvania Conference by virtue of his decision," Bishop Peggy Johnson said in a statement. Schaefer left the site without comment but scheduled a press conference for Thursday afternoon. Schaefer was defrocked less than a month after he was found guilty in a church trial of violating church law by performing the ceremony for his son, Tim, in 2007.

Jon Stewart Vs Fox News On Duck Flap

Another recap from Mediaite:

The Daily Show host took the opportunity to deliver a scathing take down of the “free speech absolutists” at Fox News. “Look, I think what the guy said is ignorant,” Stewart said, “but I also have an inclination to support a world where saying ignorant shit on television doesn’t get you kicked off that medium.” But does Fox News truly believe you shouldn’t “pressure people to have to adhere to cultural norms of speech?” This led to an epic “War on Christmas” montage, after which Stewart explained that Fox’s “belief in free speech doesn’t extend to the holidays where the word Christmas is mandatory.”

Bill O'Reilly: Robertson Shouldn't Judge

Mediaite recaps last night's show:

More than 24 hours after the news broke that A&E was suspending Duck Dynasty patriarch Phil Robertson over comments he made about homosexual sex, Fox News’ Bill O’Reilly finally weighed in with his opinion on the matter. But unlike some other conservative commentators who defended Robertson, O’Reilly surprised his guest Laura Ingraham by going the other way and practically applauding A&E’s decision. “Mr. Robertson, I believe, made a mistake by the condemnation line,” O’Reilly said. “And here’s why. It’s not about the Bible, or believing or not believing in the Bible. It’s singling out a group, it could be anyone, and saying to that group, ‘Hey, you’re not worthy in the eyes of the lord… because of who you are.”

Ann Coulter: There Is Nothing Offensive In What Phil Robertson Said About Gays

"He cited standard morality that has been around for thousands of years. This is not good for the gays. Gay person after gay person is coming out and saying, 'What are you people doing? We believe in free speech.'"

Robertson Family: We All Might Quit

From a statement released last night by the entire cast of Duck Dynasty:

We want to thank all of you for your prayers and support. The family has spent much time in prayer since learning of A&E's decision. We want you to know that first and foremost we are a family rooted in our faith in God and our belief that the Bible is His word. While some of Phil’s unfiltered comments to the reporter were coarse, his beliefs are grounded in the teachings of the Bible. Phil is a Godly man who follows what the Bible says are the greatest commandments: “Love the Lord your God with all your heart” and “Love your neighbor as yourself.” Phil would never incite or encourage hate.We are disappointed that Phil has been placed on hiatus for expressing his faith, which is his constitutionally protected right.We have had a successful working relationship with A&E but, as a family, we cannot imagine the show going forward without our patriarch at the helm. We are in discussions with A&E to see what that means for the future of Duck Dynasty. Again, thank you for your continued support of our family.

Phil Robertson: Gays Are Full Of Murder

"Women with women, men with men, they committed indecent acts with one another, and they received in themselves the due penalty for their perversions. They're full of murder, envy, strife, hatred. They are insolent, arrogant, God-haters. They are heartless, they are faithless, they are senseless, they are ruthless. They invent ways of doing evil. That's what you have 235 years, roughly, after your forefathers founded the country. So what are you gonna do Pennsylvania? Just run with them? You're doing to die. Don't forget that." - Phil Robertson in 2010.

NEW MEXICO: GOP State Senator Intro's Bill To Ban Same-Sex Marriage

As expected, a GOP senator in New Mexico has already introduced a bill to place a ban on same-sex marriage in the state constitution and thereby overturn yesterday's ruling by the state Supreme Court.

HomoQuotable - Andrew Sullivan

"Robertson is a character in a reality show. He’s not a spokesman for A&E any more than some soul-sucking social x-ray from the Real Housewives series is a spokeswoman for Bravo. Is he being fired for being out of character? Nah. He’s being fired for staying in character – a character A&E have nurtured and promoted and benefited from. Turning around and demanding a Duck Dynasty star suddenly become the equivalent of a Rachel Maddow guest is preposterous and unfair.What Phil Robertson has given A&E is a dose of redneck reality. Why on earth would they fire him for giving some more?" - Andrew Sullivan, writing for his blog.

Uganda MPs Approve Life In Prison For Homosexuality, Citizens Must Report Gays Or Be Jailed Themselves

The BBC reports:

Uganda's parliament has passed a bill to toughen the punishment for homosexual acts to include life imprisonment in some cases. The anti-homosexuality bill also makes it a crime punishable by a prison sentence not to report gay people. The prime minister opposed the vote, saying not enough MPs were present. The bill has been condemned by world leaders since it was mooted in 2009 - US President Barack Obama called it "odious". The BBC's Catherine Byaruhanga in Kampala says the government knows there will be an international outcry, which could see some countries suspend aid to the country. She says that Prime Minister Amama Mbabazi might follow up on his complaints about a lack of quorum, while it remains to be seen whether President Yoweri Museveni will sign the bill into law.

More from Gay Star News:

The bill will make it illegal to 'promote' homosexuality and will also jail anyone who does not report homosexual activities to the police. Ugandan LGBTI people are said to be 'panicked' and 'afraid for their lives'. It has already been predicted it will lead to more deaths in the LGBTI community. Members of Parliament (MPs) heard every clause in the Anti-Homosexuality Bill 2009. But debate which was expected to run all day was over very quickly. The bill is now an act of parliament and is just awaiting a signature from President Yoweri Museveni, which could happen as early as tomorrow. Uganda LGBTI activist Frank Mugisha said he was in ‘total shock’, saying the motion had caught every gay rights advocate off guard. He said Kadaga, who promised last year to make the bill law as a ‘Christmas present’ to the nation, had been ‘cleaning up’ any shelved legislation.

Stand by for victory laps by Peter LaBarbera, Scott Lively, and Bryan Fischer.

PETA Vs Duck Slayers

Via press release:

PETA wants A&E to do more than suspend one of the characters on Duck Dynasty for damning gays. We call on the channel to challenge the entire crew of duck slayers to ignore Sarah Palin's self-serving slap on the back for spewing hate speech and deny that they are as anti-gay as they are anti-animal. All people who consider themselves followers of Christ should follow all His teachings—and that includes showing mercy, compassion, and kindness to all of God's creation, human and nonhuman alike. What's "sinful" is hating people and animals. PETA asks everyone who consider themselves to be Christian to reject hate speech and call for this show's cancellation.

Quack Quack Quack

Morning View - Island House Cafe

The Island House has been sold out all week, but the patrons rarely seem to make it to breakfast at the poolside cafe.

TMZ's Harvey Levin Defends Robertson