Groundskeeper Willie For Yes Scotland

New From Yes Scotland

The pro-independence Yes Scotland appears to have adopted Dougie McClean's 1977 classic Caledonia as their theme song. Caledonia has been covered by countless artists and is often described as Scotland's unofficial national anthem. Kylie Minogue and Lulu performed the song with McLean at last month's closing ceremony for the Commonwealth Games in Glasgow.

NOM Hero Indicted For Child Abuse

Last May, NFL star Adrian Peterson was lauded by NOM for "courageously sharing" his opposition to same-sex marriage. Yesterday Peterson was indicted for bloodying his four year-old son's legs with a whip made out of a tree branch. (Tipped by JMG reader Scott)

Ex-Gays: Put US In The Smithsonian

According to a report on the right-wing CNS News, the "ex-gay" crackpots at PFOX are screaming for inclusion in the Smithsonian's LGBT history exhibit. The exhibit's curator is not only open to that, he plans on including materials from numerous anti-gay groups.

[Smithsonian Archives Specialist Franklin] Robinson told CNSNews.com that he would also be willing to collect items from pro-traditional family groups such as the National Organization for Marriage, the Family Research Council, the U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishop’s Marriage: Unique for a Reason Initiative, Concerned Women for America, and the American Family Association.  He said he also plans to collect material from the conservative Values Voter Summit which will be held later this month in Washington. “I am totally open to anybody that’s willing to kind of chat with me or mail me pamphlets because that fleshes this out and it makes it that much more valuable to researchers,” he said. PFOX said that it would be more than willing to provide additional documents to the Smithsonian. “We also have a D.C. Superior Court case four years ago where we won rights of the ex-gays to be included in the D.C. Human Rights Act and we could give them that case as well,” Salvatierra said. “That’s a historical legal case for ex-gay rights and we can give them that document…as well so they can archive that.”

Just like any African-American history exhibit includes materials about the KKK, the story of our people should include examples from the campaigns of the oppressors of LGBT Americans. In this one rare instance, I agree with PFOX.

ARKANSAS: State Supreme Court Justice Recuses Himself From Marriage Case

Citing a right wing legislative campaign to recall or impeach any pro-gay judge, last month attorneys for the plaintiffs in the Arkansas marriage equality case asked state Supreme Court justices who plan to seek reelection to recuse themselves from hearing the appeal of their win in a lower court. Last week the state Supreme Court rejected that request, but yesterday one justice decided to recuse himself even though he isn't running for reelection.

Supreme Court Justice Cliff Hoofman has recused from considering the appeal of Judge Chris Piazza's decision striking down the state's constitutional and statutory ban on same-sex marriage. Hoofman is not an elected member of the court, however. He was appointed by Gov. Mike Beebe to complete an unexpired term when Robert Brown retired. He leaves the court at the end of the year. Court of Appeals Judge Rhonda Wood will replace him. She has run for office repeatedly as a "values" and "conservative" judge and used her ties to Republican politicians such as Mike Huckabee, who has been harshly critical of Piazza's ruling. The appellant (state) brief in the case is due Sept. 15. The plaintiffs in the case then will have 30 days to respond. Then 15 days is allowed for a reply brief. Oral arguments can be requested and judges generally take a couple of weeks to rule after arguments. Extensions can be requested. The case, then, likely won't be decided until at least in November.

As the bolded portion indicates, this isn't a good thing. (Tipped by JMG reader Lulu)

Editorial Of The Day

From the editorial board of the Arizona Republic:

Marriage equality can sound like a political cause. It's been the subject of intense courtroom drama. But to Beverly Sevcik and Mary Baranovich, it's personal. It's about whether the Constitution protects their individual rights. That's why it is welcome news that the U.S. Supreme Court may be preparing to bring down the gavel on discriminatory laws. It's time the Supreme Court provided justice and clarity. Sevcik and Baranovich have been together for 42 years, and they told reporters they'd like a set of matching rings and official recognition of their commitment to each other.

Their wish to have the state give their love the same respect, dignity and legal recognition it gives "traditional" married couples is, as Ninth Circuit Judge Marsha S. Berzon said this week, a train that "has left the station." Eventually laws that define marriage as purely a heterosexual privilege will be swept away. It is wrong to write discrimination into law. But timing matters. Sevcik is 76 and Baranovich is 78. To them — and many, many other couples like them — this is more than a legal or philosophical argument. It's central to their lives. They need the Supreme Court to speak up for their individual constitutional rights.

"Six Californias" Plan Fails Petition Count

According to a just-completed preliminary count, the billionaire behind the plan to divide California into six new states did not turn in enough valid petition signatures to place the issue on the 2016 state ballot.

The measure needed 807,615 valid voter signatures to qualify, and the Six Californias campaign turned in nearly 1.14 million in mid-July. But several weeks of random signature checks that ended Friday determined that only 752,685 signatures were valid – almost 15,000 signatures below the threshold needed to launch a full count of every signature. In a statement, Tim Draper said he is convinced that the campaign turned in enough valid voter signatures to qualify his measure. He said the campaign will review signatures deemed invalid in several counties, noting that the campaign’s signature-gathering firm had projected that many more signatures would be valid than did election officials. “It is yet another example of the dysfunction of the current system and reinforces the need for six fresh, modern governments,” Draper said. “In the meantime, we will work with the secretary of state to verify all of the signatures gathered during the petition process.”

The plan, which would have to get past Congress, would create the states of Jefferson, North California, Central California, Silicon Valley, West California and South California.

Kutiman - Give It Up

Via the Creators Project:

Producer, musician, and remix artist extraordinaire Ophir Kutiel, aka Kutiman, has ended the five-year hiatus on his massively popular Thru-You project. Today, he released a groovy mashup sampling amateur musicians throughout the far reaches of YouTube culture. GIVE IT UP features bits and pieces of a young pianist wearing princess pajamas, a trombonist in his backyard, and a vocalist sitting on her couch belting melodies into her smartphone—together forming a stunning composition.

Quite the amazing result.

(Tipped by JMG reader Ray)

Red-Caped Catholic Loons: Same-Sex Marriage Will Lead To Bestiality

Toronto Faces Used Ford Trade-In

ARIZONA: Federal Judge Orders State To Recognize Marriage On Death Certificate

Via press release from Lambda Legal:

A federal district court judge ordered the state of Arizona today to provide a death certificate that accurately reflects a recently deceased Green Valley man’s marriage to another man. Lambda Legal had requested a temporary restraining order last week on behalf of 69-year-old Fred McQuire, surviving husband of George Martinez, who died August 28 at the age of 62. Judge John Sedwick, visiting judge for the U.S. District Court for the District of Arizona, said Arizona officials must provide McQuire a death certificate that lists Martinez as legally married to McQuire. An accurate death certificate is necessary for a surviving spouse to settle their loved one’s affairs, as well as to collect veterans, social security and other benefits generally available to surviving spouses. “I’m ecstatic and so grateful that my marriage to George is recognized. My birthday is next week and this is the best birthday present I could have ever hoped for. This is the highest honor that we could offer George and his memory—he would be so proud. Even though this ruling is for George and me, I hope this is going to help other families, too. No one else should have to deal with the pain and humiliation of not being able to take care of something as simple and sensitive as a death certificate for their spouse,” said Lambda Legal client Fred McQuire.

George had been diagnosed with cancer related to his exposure to Agent Orange in Vietnam.

UPDATE: Freedom To Marriage reacts.

"Couples in America should not have to play 'now you're married, now you're not' depending on which state they are in when a tragedy strikes, and states should not pick and choose which marriages they will respect and which they won’t as if we did not have one Constitution protecting all of us. It is good that the court has told Arizona it may not withhold an accurate death certificate from the surviving spouse in this compelling case, but Americans should not have to fight case by case, state by state, year by year for the freedom to marry and equal protection that the Constitution guarantees. It is time for the Supreme Court to take up one or more marriage cases and affirm the freedom to marry nationwide once and for all.”

ALASKA: Witness To Palin Family Brawl Gets Fired For Speaking To ABC News

Via Mediaite:

Entertainment Tonight producer Elizabeth Applegate tweeted that she’d spoken to Townsend this morning, who confirmed that he’d been fired specifically for talking to ABC. Weirdly enough, Political Gates reported that Thompson’s former employers, McKenna Brothers Paving, were the hosts of the party where the brawl took place. Last Saturday, many members of the Palin family attended a Wasilla party honoring the champions of the Iron Dog snowmobile race, and their presence eventually sparked a 20-person brawl — in which the Palins allegedly, wholeheartedly participated.

Germany Pitches For LGBT Tourism

Germany's National Tourism Office has launched a new website in support of LGBT tourism. Via Gay Times:

The country that gave us Adidas, Einstein and World Cup winning super-stud, Mario Gotze (move over Beckham) has now published the perfect resource to plan your next trip to Germany, and it’s all tailored exclusively with LGBT visitors in mind. That doesn’t mean that this new website is all about pride events, parties and bars though. Of course there is some really useful information on the LGBT scene in Germany’s five largest cities — Munich, Berlin, Frankfurt, Hamburg and Cologne, as well as details of the major LGBT festivals and events that take place across the country. But there is also information on Germany’s buzzing art landscape, cutting-edge architecture, latest design trends as well as what’s happening right now on the German fashion scene too.

MOSCOW: World Congress Of Families Issues Resolution Calling For More Countries To Institute Anti-Gay Laws

"To all people of goodwill everywhere, to leaders of all faiths, to the architects of public opinion, to those at the helm of professional, women’s and youth organizations, to the UN General Assembly, to the heads of state and legislative bodies and to the mass media: We, the participants of the Moscow International Forum, express our profound concern because certain countries are pursuing tenacious policies and an unprecedented propaganda campaign, all of which is leading to the ultimate destruction of the Natural Family − an institution that in a civilized society is the foundation of order, state’s prosperity and social peace. 

"The preservation of mankind is based on a system of family and kindred ties that are formed through the bonds of marriage between a male and a female and the children born to them. This and only this alone is capable of ensuring the reproduction, stability and continuity of human civilization. All other kinds of sexual relationships or alliances intentionally that exclude the birth of children are meaningless for they are devoid of the notion set down in the very definition of the word 'family.' And no political or economic interests can serve as a pretext for replacing the true and time-tested concept of family by any kind of surrogate.

"Actually, such a society is ultimately aimed at destroying faith in God, as well as belief in good. These post-modern policies focused on the material wealth are destroying what is human in the human being (as created by God), at wrecking the spiritual dimension in Man – all of which are his distinguishing features in Living Nature. We appeal to all people who acknowledge the significance and values of the Natural Family for preserving human civilization:

" - To unite before the threat of total dehumanization of society, to set up a barrier on the road of ideology-lined, state-supported interference in the private lives of people, in an attempt to foist specific sexual lifestyles and preferences of the minority upon the majority.

" - To strive to set forth legislative initiatives in the laws and constitutions of all countries that clearly define the naturally predetermined relationships in the Family as relationships between the male and female, their children and their relatives, to oppose the cynical utilization of women as surrogate mothers in the interests of same-gender liaisons and alliances.

" - To uphold the interests of children and to work for the adoption of legislative bans on all types of propaganda concerning homosexual relationships in the environment of children and juveniles and to initiate and support scientific research to study the conditions and prospects of developing a Natural Family, as well as studying the negative social and psychological effects of raising children in same-gender couples.

 "We urgently call upon the UN General Assembly, the UN Secretary General and the UN Supreme Commissioner for Human Rights that, while formulating the programs of the United Nations, to follow the letter and the spirit of Article 16 in the Universal Declaration of Human Rights which underscores the understanding of the Human Family as the only possible and acceptable notion to human civilization, and to proclaim in the foreseeable future a Special Year or Program in support of the Natural Family. We call upon all people who agree with the given Appeal to sign it and support it for the sake of preserving life and civilization on our Earth."

Right Wing Watch notes:

The forum in Moscow was originally organized under the name of the Illinois-based World Congress of Families, which officially “suspended” its planning of the conference after Russia invaded Ukraine, although two World Congress of Families officials were until recently listed as organizers on the event’s website and attended the gathering. National Organization for Marriage President Brian Brown also spoke at the event yesterday, and American representatives from the Catholic Family and Human Rights Institute, the Christian Broadcasting Network, Personhood USA, and Family Watch International were also scheduled to speak. It’s unclear if any of the Americans at the conference officially backed the resolution.

See the full resolution in Russian and English.

We should all pressure EVERY media outlet to include a mention of this resolution EVERY time that they quote Brian Brown. 

Sesame Street - Star S'Mores

"A long time ago in a cookies and milky way galaxy far, far away...Princess Parfaita was taken prisoner by the evil Galactic Empire and had to be saved by a group of unlikely heroes including the young Luke Piewalker, Flan Solo, and Chewie the Cookie." And Only-One Cannoli! I like how the princess starts with a British accent that later disappears. This clip debuted last month at Comic Con in San Diego.

GOP Rep. Charlie Dent Slams Ted Cruz

"I support Israel, but what Senator Cruz did was outrageous and incendiary. He showed a true lack of sensitivity for the people he was speaking to, especially the religious leaders who were there. It was a political speech, inappropriate and, overall, an uncomfortable moment. He was speaking to people outside of the building. It was a willful and deliberate confrontation, and very self-serving." - Rep. Charlie Dent (R-PA), speaking about Sen. Ted Cruz being booed off the stage at an event for Arab Christians.

UNRELATED: Dent is one of eight House Republicans to have endorsed same-sex marriage.

Liberty Counsel: We're Taking Our "Ex-Gay" Crusade Back To SCOTUS

Back in June, the Supreme Court rejected Liberty Counsel's appeal of the Ninth Circuit Court ruling that upheld California's ban on the "ex-gay" torture of LGBT youth. Yesterday the Third Circuit Court upheld New Jersey's ban. But Liberty Counsel today claims to have a way to get back in front of SCOTUS.

While the Third Circuit upheld the ban on change counseling, the decision conflicts with the Ninth Circuit Court of Appeals in the Pickup case involving a virtually identical law. In Pickup, the federal Court of Appeals found that professional counseling was not speech worthy of First Amendment protection, but in King the federal Court of Appeals found that such counsel is speech protected by the First Amendment. In fact, the King case found that the restriction on speech was content and possibly even viewpoint-based, but then instead of using what is called “strict scrutiny” for review, the court applied an “intermediate” level of review similar to commercial speech. This significant conflict as to whether counsel by licensed counselors is speech or not and what level, if any, of First Amendment protection such counsel should receive is significant and will need resolution by the U.S. Supreme Court.

“The laws banning counseling in this area are simply unconstitutional violations of free speech,” said Mat Staver, Founder and Chairman of Liberty Counsel. “While we are disappointed in the overall decision to uphold the law, we are glad that the Third Circuit finally recognized that the counseling that takes place with these minors is entitled to First Amendment protection. The Ninth Circuit flatly ignored that obvious truth and called this conduct not entitled to any protection,” Staver continued. “Liberty Counsel will ask the Supreme Court to review this decision, and we will not stop fighting until these laws are relegated to the dustbins of history,” Staver said. "Any decision upholding restrictions on what a counselor may say or a client may hear weakens the First Amendment and ultimately hurts counselors and clients,” concluded Staver.

Sarah Palin: I Owe America An Apology For Costing John McCain The Election

New From Scotland Better Together

"With just one week to go, now's the time to get out there and make the positive case for a No vote on 18 September - more powers for Scotland guaranteed, without taking on all the risks of separation. It's the best of both worlds for Scotland."

INDIANA: State Agrees To Recognize Marriage Of Terminally Ill Lesbian

Via the Indiana Times:

A federal judge on Thursday approved an agreement for Indiana to recognize the marriage of two Whiting women while the state appeals a ruling overturning its gay marriage ban. Veronica Romero and Mayra Yvette Rivera filed a lawsuit in U.S. District Court this week asking a judge to order Indiana to recognize their Illinois marriage because Rivera has advanced ovarian cancer. The couple's lawsuit named Indiana Attorney General Greg Zoeller; Indiana Health Commissioner William VanNess; and Lake County Clerk Michael A. Brown, who issues marriage licenses. A joint stipulation was filed Wednesday in which Indiana agreed to recognize the couple's marriage and, in the event of Rivera's death, issue a death certificate listing her as married and recording Romero as the surviving spouse. The Indiana State Department of Health also agreed to assist local health departments, funeral homes, physicians, coroners and others involved in completion of a death certificate to understand their duties in the couple's case.

The couple has been together for 27 years.

Gay Songwriter Bob Crewe Dies At 82

Legendary pop music songwriter Bob Crewe died yesterday at the age of 82. Crewe's list of hit records is enormous. Here's a taste from Frontiers:

Bob Crewe did it all—an actor, fine arts painter, singer, dancer, producer—but he was perhaps best known for producing and co-writing hit songs, including a long list of Top 10 singles for Frankie Valli and The Four Seasons such as “Sherry,” “Big Girls Don’t Cry,” “Walk Like a Man” and “My Eyes Adored You.” Those were also the days of sweet innuendo, so only the gays would know that the sweet and seductive “Can’t Take My Eyes Off You” is from a male-to-male point of view. Crewe also co-wrote the cheeky “Lady Marmalade” with Kenny Nolan for Patti LaBelle. And, in an amusing twist for a gay man, his The Bob Crewe Generation wrote “Music to Watch Girls By” and the soundtrack for the 1968 Jane Fonda cult film Barbarella, directed by Roger Vadim. Under his own label DynoVoice, Crewe managed and produced Mitch Ryder & the Detroit Wheels, which secured 11 Top 100 hits, including “Devil with a Blue Dress On.” Crewe was inducted into the Songwriter's Hall of Fame in 1985.

In addition to writing dozens of top 40 hits, Crewe was a member of Disco Tex & The Sex-O-Lettes, who landed two Crewe-penned hits in the mid-70s. I've always contended that their 1974 top ten smash Get Dancin' is one of the gayest records in the history of pop radio. "My chiffon is wet, darling! My wig is wet!"

Creationist Ken Ham To Headline For Group That Calls For South To Secede

Creation Museum head Ken Ham will headline a conference for a group that advocates for a new Christian America to be carved out of the southern states. Warren Throckmorton reports:

Founder of the young Earth Creation Museum Ken Ham accepted the donation of a dinosaur from Michael Peroutka’s foundation in May 2014. Now Ham is going to headline an event with Peroutka and [Pastor] David Whitney and put on by Peroutka’s Institute on the Constitution. Peroutka is a member and former board member of the League of the South; Whitney is the chaplain of the Virginia/MD chapter of the League. The League of the South advocates for the Southern states to secede to form a homeland [of] whites of European heritage. Peroutka has pledged the resources of the IOTC to the work of the League, and Peroutka defended the League as a Christian group. Ham’s decision to partner with IOTC indicates the reach that the IOTC has developed within the Christian right. The IOTC claims to properly represent and teach the Constitution. However, David Whitney teaches that only Christians should be allowed to be citizens.

Pastor Whitney, who has testified against LGBT rights before state legislatures, has also called for murdering abortion providers: "We need to understand that there is such a thing as Biblically justifiable homicide." (Tipped by JMG reader Arthur)

Rand Paul Confirms For FRC Hate Summit

Last week the SPLC reported that fewer federal politicians are willing to appear on the FRC's hate stage, but yesterday Sen. Rand Paul earned his "confirmed" asterisk.

Palin Claims To Have Been "Traveling" On Day Of Alleged Drunken Family Brawl

Via the New York Post:

Former vice-presidential candidate Sarah Palin got into a fracas worthy of reality TV when she, husband Todd and their entourage of children allegedly got involved in a drunken brawl at an Anchorage house party, according to multiple reports. The former Alaska governor’s daughter Bristol even allegedly threw punches and son Track ripped his shirt off in anger and flipped the bird in the Saturday melee, according to the reports. The backwoods brawling began after the clan rolled up to the soiree in a stretch Hummer.

Although there was some discrepancy as to who started the fight, Anchorage Police confirmed that a fight occurred, alcohol was a factor and “some of the Palin family members” were in attendance, according to the Alaska Dispatch News. On her Facebook page, Sarah Palin claimed she had been traveling on Saturday. But one person who claimed to be a witness commented on the post that Sarah’s traveling claim was a load of moose manure. “Interesting. Pretty sure you were not traveling and you and family were on the Southside causing chaos. Saw it happen. Don’t fib.”

The story has not been covered by Breitbart or Twitchy. How curious.

Tweet Of The Day

We now BROnounce you husband and husband - http://t.co/vd7lO9hLkX
— The Edge (@TheEdgeNZ) September 12, 2014

Details.

Alan Cumming For Yes Scotland

Porno Pete Praises Uganda

"Just because America has fallen so far that we now treat sin, in this case homosexuality, as a civil right doesn't mean we have the right to force that on other countries that have more wholesome and biblical values. That should be our number one priority. We shouldn't be talking about homosexuality right now, but Obama is pandering to his base. He is the most pro-homosexual and gender confusion president our country has ever seen. It is high in his priority list, unfortunately to the detriment of our own security needs." - Peter LaBarbera, speaking about Uganda to the American Family Association, which earlier this month repeated one of its many calls to criminalize homosexuality.

Cruz Booed Off Stage At Christian Event

Last night Sen. Ted Cruz was booed off the stage at an event for Arab Christians, a group that Cruz and Tony Perkins daily accuse the president of abandoning.

On Wednesday night, the Texas GOP senator gave a keynote address at a gala sponsored by a group named In Defense of Christians. The organization’s objective is to focus public attention on the plight of persecuted Middle East Christian groups. Near the end of his speech, Senator Cruz said, “Christians have no greater ally than Israel.” At this point, some in the audience started to boo, according to eyewitness accounts and video of the incident. Cruz continued with, “Those who hate Israel hate America. Those who hate Jews hate Christians.” At that point, the boos got louder and things began to get out of hand. Eventually, Cruz decided he could not continue. He said, “If you will not stand with Israel and the Jews, then I will not stand with you. Thank you and God bless you.” He walked offstage to a decidedly mixed response. What happened here? The most likely explanation is that Palestinian Christians who feel oppressed by Israel as well as Muslim groups were expressing their negative opinion of Cruz’s words.

UPDATE: Cruz is predictably blaming the booing on anti-Semitism: "I came to this event tonight to help shine a light on the tragic persecution and slaughter of Christians by ISIS and Islamic radicals throughout the Middle East. American leaders have been far too silent as to this horrific evil. But bigotry and hatred have no place in this discussion. Anti-Semitism is a corrosive evil, and it reared its ugly head tonight."

Lambda Legal: An Arizona Love Story

Clip recap:

Tomorrow Lambda Legal will ask the U.S. District Court for the District of Arizona to order the State of Arizona to provide an accurate death certificate to Fred McQuire for his husband, George Martinez, who died on August 28. Fred, 69, and his late husband, George, 62, of Green Valley, both veterans of the U.S. Armed Forces, met in 1969. George served in the U.S. Air Force in Vietnam, and Fred served in both the U.S. Air Force and the U.S. Army and was stationed in Guam. Fred and George were married in California in July, after George was diagnosed with Stage IV pancreatic cancer. Their marriage is not recognized in Arizona. After 45 years together it is demeaning to Fred and George’s relationship and untrue if George’s death certificate says “never married” with the surviving spouse section blank.

Headline Of The Day

Details. (Via Christian Nightmares)

Survey: Gays More Accepted By Churches

Via the Associated Press:

Overall acceptance of gays and lesbians in American religious congregations rose significantly between 2006 and 2012, but it declined in Catholic congregations, according to a new survey. Duke University's National Congregations Study, derived from interviews with representatives of 1,331 American congregations, was released Thursday. The study found overall acceptance of gay and lesbian members increased from 37 percent to 48 percent over the six-year period. For Catholic churches, that number decreased from 74 percent to 53 percent. Acceptance of gays and lesbians as volunteer leaders increased from 18 percent to 26 percent overall but decreased in Catholic churches from 39 percent to 26 percent.

ALASKA: Palin Clan In Huge Brawl

This should prove fascinating. 

The details are a little sketchy, but there's enough of them, from enough different sources, that a story emerges, a story that according to the gossip Gods, looks kind of like this: There's some sort of unofficial birthday/Iron Dog-type/snowmachine party in Anchorage. A nice, mellow party, until the Palins show up. There's beer, of course, and maybe other things. Which is all fine, but just about the time when some people might have had one too many, Track Palin stumbles out of a stretch Hummer, and immediately spots an ex-boyfriend of Willow's. Track isn't happy with this guy, the story goes. There's words, and more. The owner of the house gets involved, and he probably wished he hadn't. At this point, he's up against nearly the whole Palin tribe: Palin women screaming. Palin men thumping their chests. Word is that Bristol has a particularly strong right hook, which she employed repeatedly, and it's something to hear when Sarah screams, "Don't you know who I am!"

(Tipped by JMG reader Homer)

New Promo For Liberty Counsel

To be aired at the Values Voter Summit.

PENNSYLVANIA: Teen Faces Two Years In Jail For "Desecrating" Jesus Statue

An unnamed Pennsylvania teenager is facing up to two years in jail after posting this photo to Facebook.

The young man posted that he took the pictures in late July at the statue of a kneeling Jesus in front of the “Love in the Name of Christ” Christian organization in his hometown of Everett. The criminal charge, which will be heard in family court, consists of “Desecration of a Venerated Object.” Pennsylvania law defines desecration as “Defacing, damaging, polluting or otherwise, physically mistreating in a way that the actor knows will outrage the sensibilities of persons likely to observe or discover the action.”

Commenters are having quite the "free speech" argument at the above link. (Tipped by JMG reader Candide)

Brian Brown Is Speaking At The Kremlin With The World Congress Of Families

Via Right Wing Watch:

As Buzzfeed and Mother Jones have reported over the past several days, a planned conference at the Kremlin organized by the Illinois-based World Congress of Families, which was supposedly cancelled after Russia’s incursion into Ukraine, is in fact going ahead this week with only nominal changes to its sponsorship line-up. In fact, World Congress of Families officials Don Feder and Larry Jacobs were on hand at the event’s opening today to take questions from reporters…being careful to give their affiliations as their personal consulting operations rather than WCF. Also planning to attend and scheduled to speak tomorrow, according to organizers: National Organization for Marriage President Brian Brown. Last year, Brown traveled to Moscow with a group of French anti-gay activists to speak to members of the Russian Parliament in support of a spate of anti-gay laws. He then traveled back to Moscow to help organize what was then supposed to be the World Congress of Families summit. Brown is scheduled to be in France this weekend to lead a training for activists with the anti-gay group Manif Pour Tous.

RWW updated the above post this morning to add the photo of Brown.

RELATED: Mother Jones wonders if the World Congress of Families is violating US sanctions against Russia by working with banned entities.

Liberty Counsel: Religious Liberty Under Obama Is Worse Than In Nazi Germany

OREGON: NOM Petitions Ninth Circuit For En Banc Review Of Marriage Ruling

Because they can never take "Didn't we just tell you to fuck off?" as a hint, NOM is trying again to gain standing in Oregon.

Despite a string of legal defeats, the National Organization for Marriage is continuing its battle against the May 19 federal court decision overturning Oregon's ban on same-sex marriage. Two weeks after a three-judge panel of the Ninth Circuit Court of Appeals rejected the group's attempt to intervene in the case, the National Organization for Marriage on Wednesday asked the full Ninth Circuit Court to reconsider the decision. The group -- which has waged a legal battle against same-sex marriages throughout the country -- had earlier lost several attempts to insert itself in the Oregon case. In June, the U.S. Supreme Court denied a request by NOM to halt same-sex marriages in Oregon, which began after U.S. District Judge Michael McShane ruled that the ban unconstitutionally discriminated against gay and lesbian couples.

Read the full petition at Equality Case Files.

Bill Donoue: I've Been Betrayed And Will Boycott The St. Patrick's Day Parade

Catholic League blowhard Bill Donohue today announced that he has been betrayed by the New York City St. Patrick's Day Parade committee and will boycott next year's event. According to Donohue, he had been promised that an anti-abortion group would be allowed to march in the parade in return for allowing one gay group to participate.

To be specific, I asked them to pledge that a pro-life Catholic group would also be permitted. I was told that a formal change in the rules had been approved and that a pro-life group would march. Now I am being told that the list of marching units is set and that no pro-life group will march in next year’s parade. Accordingly, I have decided to withdraw our participation. Why should this matter? For the past two decades I have been the parade’s most vocal defender of its rules. Repeatedly, I have said that gays have no more been banned from marching than pro-life Catholics have: members of both groups can march with other units; they simply can’t march under their own banner. Why? Because the parade is not about gays or abortion, or anything other than St. Patrick. Attempts will now be made to pit me against Timothy Cardinal Dolan, the Grand Marshal of the 2015 parade. The suggestion that I am at odds with the New York Archbishop is not only false, it is despicable. Cardinal Dolan has no more rabid supporter than Bill Donohue, and nothing that has transpired recently changes anything. My reasons for withdrawing from the parade have nothing to do with Cardinal Dolan or with gays. It has to do with being betrayed by the parade committee. They not only told me one thing, and did another, they decided to include a gay group that is neither Catholic nor Irish while stiffing pro-life Catholics. This is as stunning as it is indefensible.

RELATED: On Tuesday three LGBT Irish groups held a press conference in midtown where they mailed their applications to also march in next year's parade.

NEW JERSEY: Third Circuit Court Upholds Ban On "Ex-Gay" Torture Of LGBT Youth

The Third Circuit Court of Appeals today upheld New Jersey's ban on the "ex-gay" torture of LGBT youth. A similar ban was recently upheld in California. This is yet another loss for NARTH, the Liberty Counsel, and Alliance Defending Freedom.

From The Bankruptcy King

Oscar Pistorious Found Not Guilty

Via Newsweek:

South African Olympic and Paralympic sprinter Oscar Pistorius has been found “not guilty” of murdering long-time girlfriend Reeva Steenkamp in the early hours of 14 February 2013. The court will resume shortly when Judge Thokozile Masipa will deliver her verdict on the charge of culpable homicide, or manslaughter, and other firearms offences. Masipa accepted the defence’s timeline of events, ruling that the shooting took place at 3.12 in the morning, crucially making the screams of distress heard by neighbours around 3.17am those of a shocked Pistorius and not Steenkamp, meaning her killing was sudden and was unlikely to have been premeditated.

More from the Los Angeles Times:

Judge Thokozile Masipa halted the proceedings before delivering a ruling on a lesser charge of culpable homicide and said she would resume the proceedings on Friday. "It's clear that his conduct was negligent," Masipa said. But the judge said she did not find sufficient evidence to prove the prosecution’s contention that Pistorius intended to kill Reeva Steenkamp after the couple had an argument, though she did conclude that the athlete was negligent in firing his weapon four times through the door of the bathroom in his residence, in which Steenkamp had locked herself. Pistorius admitted to firing four expanding bullets into the toilet cubicle off his bathroom. But he had insisted that he mistook Steenkamp for an intruder, fired unintentionally and not meaning to kill anyone.

Actress Sara Gilbert Surprises Talk Show Co-Hosts With Pregnancy Announcement

Former Rosanne star and talk show host Sara Gilbert surprised her co-hosts by revealing her pregnancy during a "face your fears" segment of the show. The cast's reaction is really sweet. Gilbert is married to rocker Linda Perry.

(Via Towleroad)

NEW YORK CITY: West Village Locals Block Attempts To Relocate Gay Bar

In the face of soaring rent, Boots & Saddle is soon leaving its Christopher Street location after almost 40 years. The owners have found another location in the neighborhood, but the local community board has blocked their move.

Community Board 2's State Liquor Authority committee unanimously rejected Boots & Saddle's bid to transfer its liquor license to the new location. More than half a dozen unhappy neighbors turned out to the packed meeting to say that the bar, which hosts daily drag shows and twice-weekly karaoke nights, would disrupt their quiet block. “I cannot imagine anything less appropriate for this part of our enclave than this particular application,” said Greg Jackson, president of the Morton Street Block Association. Boots & Saddle co-owners Ron Silver and Rob Ziegler bristled at Jackson's use of the word "enclave," which they saw as discriminatory against the four-decade-old bar's clientele. "When they say 'enclave,' you know what that means," Ziegler said after the meeting. "They don't want our kind."

One member of the committee worried that children might see drag queens. In the West Village.

Westboro Protests Huffington Post

NEW ZEALAND: LGBT Groups Angry Over Radio Station's "Gay Marriage" Stunt

Two heterosexual men will marry in New Zealand tomorrow as part of a radio station stunt that will earn them a trip to the Rugby World Cup in Britain. LGBT groups are furious.

A celebrant would make the union legally binding and Crowd Goes Wild television presenter James McOnie would be MC. The pair said their wedding vows would touch on their friendship and recall their time playing rugby together at King's High School in Dunedin. They were undecided if they would take hyphenated surnames and who would walk down the aisle. The couple's wedding song is Cruisin', by Huey Lewis and Gwyneth Paltrow. Mr McIntosh said he thought the marriage would last at least two years. Otago University Students' Association Queer Support co-ordinator Neill Ballantyne, of Dunedin, said the wedding was an"insult" because marriage equality was a"hard fought" battle for gay people. "Something like this trivialises what we fought for." The competition promoted the marriage of two men as something negative,"as something outrageous that you'd never consider", Mr Ballantyne said. LegaliseLove Aotearoa Wellington co-chairman Joseph Habgood said the competition attacked the legitimacy of same-sex marriages. "The point of this competition is that men marrying each other is still something they think is worth having a laugh at.

Two hundred straight same-sex couples reportedly entered the contest.

Janelle Monae Visits Sesame Street

SCOTUSblog On 9/29 Conference

Lyle Denniston writes at SCOTUSblog:

It has taken only a little over a year for the same-sex marriage issue to return to the Court, with the focus solely on state bans, and lawyers on both sides of the controversy have been moving very rapidly to get the issue prepared for the Supreme Court after lower courts had expedited their review. In none of the seven petitions that the Court will be examining is anyone involved resisting Supreme Court review. The Court’s own staff also has moved with dispatch. Some of the seven petitions that will go to the Justices late this month were filed just the day before they were distributed to the Justices — almost unheard of at the Court.

Although no one at the Court said this explicitly, the Justices apparently wanted all seven of the petitions so far filed to be ready for the September 29 Conference, which is to be held a week before the new Term formally opens. The seven petitions present a variety of scenarios with regard to who is appealing and what they are asking. There is no way for outsiders to know exactly what the Justices will be looking for as they go over the seven filings. Those petitions almost certainly will not be the last that the Supreme Court sees in the coming Term. Two other federal appeals courts are poised to rule quite soon, and a third has a case before it but has not yet scheduled a hearing.

Denniston adds that if any case is granted cert by January, a ruling would be expected by "next summer."

McCain Battles With Former White House Spokesman Jay Carney Over ISIS Plan

Mediaite sets the stage:

Jay Carney, on his very first night working for CNN, ended up sparring with Senator John McCain over President Obama‘s ISIS speech, in which McCain repeatedly took shots at Carney for not telling the truth, saying at least once that “facts are stubborn things.” The second McCain appeared on CNN, he immediately got combative with Carney. McCain said that Obama unilaterally decided, against advisement from his national security team, not to train Syrian rebels. In addition, he said not leaving a residual force in Iraq was a huge mistake on Obama’s part. Carney disputed McCain’s claims, but the senator said, “Again, Mr. Carney, you are saying facts that are patently false.” They kept talking over each other and arguing, with McCain continuing to insist that Carney has his facts wrong.

Obama: It's Time To Get ISIS

Via CNN:

It's time to go after ISIS in Iraq and Syria, President Barack Obama said Wednesday night in a nationally televised address intended to sell stepped-up military efforts to a war-weary public. Obama said the United States would expand its airstrikes against the Sunni jihadists in Iraq to target them across the border in Syria. "I have made it clear that we will hunt down terrorists who threaten our country, wherever they are," he said. "That means I will not hesitate to take action against ISIL in Syria, as well as Iraq. This is a core principle of my presidency: if you threaten America, you will find no safe haven." The declaration answered calls from a growing number of U.S. politicians for such a step, with increasing public support.

Obama also announced another 475 American military advisers would go to Iraq, pushing the total figure to about 1,700. At the same time, he made clear the strategy differed from all-out war again in Iraq less than three years after he withdrew combat forces from the country. "It will not involve American combat troops fighting on foreign soil," Obama said. His address from the White House also sought to convince allies and the nation of a firm U.S. commitment to lead an international coalition to fight the jihadists who rampaged across northern Iraq from Syria this year. They are known as ISIS, ISIL and Islamic State.

Tonight In Manhattan

Breathtaking photo of the Tribute in Light one night before the 13th anniversary of 9/11 (captured by @GaryHershorn) pic.twitter.com/Ax4ecxscG5

— New York Post (@nypost) September 11, 2014

LGBT History At The Smithsonian

BREAKING: Supreme Court Lists ALL Marriage Cases For Consideration On 9/29

Via the Wall Street Journal:

Mark your calendars: the Supreme Court is scheduled to consider its next steps on gay marriage when the justices meet for the first time since their summer break. The court on Wednesday listed gay marriage petitions from five states – Indiana, Oklahoma, Utah, Virginia and Wisconsin – for consideration at its Sept. 29 private conference. Officials in those states are asking the court to decide whether state bans on same-sex marriage are constitutional. The justices use the September meeting to wade through stacks of appeals that pile up during the court’s three-month recess. The court at some point after the conference is expected to add several of those cases to its docket for the term that begins Oct. 6. Court watchers are eagerly awaiting word on whether one or more gay marriages cases will be among them. The court is under no obligation to act right away. It’s possible the court could take additional time to mull its options, particularly because of fast-moving developments in other gay-marriage litigation.

More from USA Today:

By scheduling all for consideration simultaneously, the justices gave equal footing to the Indiana and Wisconsin cases just decided last week by the U.S. Court of Appeals for the 7th Circuit. The 10th and 4th Circuits previously ruled in the other cases. The court could agree to hear one or more cases this winter; deny them all, or delay its decision for a while. In all five states, federal district and appellate judges have agreed that state bans on same-sex marriage should be struck down as unconstitutional. But those decisions are on hold pending the Supreme Court's review. Additional gay marriage cases could be added to the justices' list soon. A ruling is expected from the U.S. Court of Appeals for the 6th Circuit on cases from Ohio, Michigan, Kentucky and Tennessee. And just this week, the 9th Circuit heard oral arguments in cases stemming from Idaho and Nevada. Cases from Texas and Florida remain at the appellate court level.

AFER reacts via press release:

“Gay and lesbian couples in Virginia should not have to wait another day to enjoy their right to marry,” said AFER Executive Director, Adam Umhoefer. “The distribution of our case for the Court’s consideration brings us one step closer to our mission of marriage equality for all Americans. Our Constitution’s guarantee of liberty and equality soon will be realized for all loving and committed couples, no matter what state they reside in.” The Court is expected to release an Orders List on October 6, 2014, that will indicate which – if any – marriage equality case or cases it will consider for its 2014-2015 term. If the Court denies review in Bostic, the July 2014 decision of the United States Court of Appeals for the Fourth Circuit that struck down Virginia’s marriage ban will be binding and gay and lesbian Virginians will be able to marry in the Commonwealth.

NCLR reacts via press release:

The couples in the [Utah] case—Kitchen v. Herbert—are represented by Peggy Tomsic of the Salt Lake City law firm of Magleby & Greenwood, P.C., Shannon Minter of the National Center for Lesbian Rights (NCLR), Mary Bonauto of Gay & Lesbian Advocates & Defenders (GLAD), and former acting Solicitor General Neal Katyal of the law firm of Hogan Lovells. Said Tomsic: “The State of Utah and the plaintiff couples agree that it is important the Supreme Court take this case and settle the constitutional questions at stake, questions that matter so much to the families we represent and to so many others across the country.” Said Bonauto: “It is time to end the legal bans that keep committed couples from standing up and making the unique pledges of marriage to each other—pledges that would allow their families protection and security everywhere in this country.”

British PM David Cameron Pleads With Scots Not Rip Apart "Family Of Nations"

Via Reuters:

British Prime Minister David Cameron on Wednesday begged Scots not to rip apart the United Kingdom's "family of nations", flying to Scotland to man the barricades against a surge in support for independence eight days before a referendum. Cameron appealed to Scots to use their heads and their hearts when they voted on Sept. 18. He reminded them of their shared history and bonds with England, Wales and Northern Ireland - twice evoking World War Two and the fight against Hitler. He also warned that an independent Scotland could not keep the pound currency, jobs would head south, and the country's security be weakened. "I would be heartbroken if this family of nations was torn apart," said Cameron.

Frothy Mix: Make Secularism A Religion So That It Can Be Banned In Public Schools

"The idea that if you take religion out of the public square, if you take the Bible out of the classroom, that that’s neutral - well, no it’s not neutral! It’s a different worldview. I think we should start calling secularism a religion. Because if we did, then we could ban that too, because that’s what they’ve done. They’ve hidden behind the fact that the absence of a religion is not a religion of itself, which, in fact it is, because it has certain moral values and certain teachings that look like a type of moral worldview. So what we have to start doing as Christians is reassert ourselves and say, 'You know what? The freedom of religion is not the freedom from religion.' We should be in the public square. We should be taught in the schools. We should be an open marketplace of ideas instead of throttling one perspective out of the fear it being offensive to someone." - Likely 2016 GOP presidential candidate Rick Santorum, speaking today on the radio show of Bryan Fischer, who has declared that the First Amendment only applies to Christians.

Anxiety Meds Linked To Alzheimer's

According to a study issued this week, long-term use of anti-anxiety and insomnia drugs may dramatically increase the odds of developing Alzheimer's.

Regular use of benzodiazepines -- which include medications such as Valium (diazepam), Ativan (lorazepam), Xanax (alprazolam) and Klonopin (clonazepam) -- is associated with as much as a 51 percent increased risk for Alzheimer's among people who use the drugs for three months or more. For the study, published in BMJ-British Medical Journal, researchers looked at data from the Quebec health insurance program database. They tracked elderly people living in Quebec, Canada who were prescribed benzodiazepines (sometimes called 'benzos'). The researchers analyzed six years of data, and noted 1,796 cases of Alzheimer's disease. The study found that beyond three months on the drug, the longer people took it, the higher their risk for dementia. Additionally, the study indicated that long-acting or extended release forms of the drugs were associated with higher risk for Alzheimer's than shorter acting forms of the same medication.

A study published in 2012 found a similar but less dramatic link between this class of drugs and the incidence of dementia.

Ted Cruz: Democrats Want To Outlaw SNL

Via Deadline:

A new proposal for campaign finance reform would make Saturday Night Live’s political skits illegal, Republican Sen. Ted Cruz has warned. The Senate is debating a bill that would add a constitutional amendment allowing Congress reverse a 2010 Supreme Court decision and restore limits on corporate campaign spending. Republicans say the bill, proposed by Dems, is an attack on free speech. Cruz, however, went one step further and connected the dots to NBC’s late-night sketch comedy show, and its exec producer Lorne Michaels. “Lorne Michaels could be put in jail under this amendment for making fun of any politician. That is extremely dangerous,” Cruz argued yesterday afternoon — tossing in a Dana Carvey impression to drive home his point. That’s because, Cruz insisted, the bill would give congress the “constitutional authority to prohibit” corporations “from engaging in political speech” and, “NBC, which airs Saturday Night Live, is a corporation.”

Headline Of The Day

From Britain's always bombastic Daily Mail:

Wearing matching slippers and bow ties, Brian Davidson, 55, Britain's consul-general in Shanghai, married his 33-year-old American boyfriend Scott Chang on the lawn of the home of Ambassador Sir Sebastian Wood. New rules mean that British nationals in homosexual relationships can marry in British consulates in 24 countries around the world as the land where the building stands is technically British soil. Brian Davidson hails from Northern Ireland and has worked as Consul-General in Shanghai since January 2011. He was previously Consul-General in Guangzhou from October 2006. He said that he was surprised at the response to his posting on Sina Weibo: 'The scale of the coverage has been a bit daunting but it has mostly been very positive.' A spokesman for Britain's embassy in Beijing confirmed to Agence France-Presse that the wedding had taken place, but said that the couple viewed it as a 'private matter'.

Britain permits gay weddings at its consulates provided that the host country does not object. According to the Daily Mail, China has not protested but the former British colony of Hong Kong has stated that it will not allow such ceremonies.

Pat Robertson: My Reruns Will Totally Chase Criminals Right Out Of Your House

US House Panel Rejects Spousal Benefits For Partners Of Gay Military Veterans

Today the US House Veterans Affairs Committee voted 13-12 to reject an amendment to the Veteran Spouses Equal Treatment Act. The proposed change would align Veterans Administration policy with Department of Defense rules granting benefits to the legal spouses of active duty gay service members. Via Chris Johnson at the Washington Blade:

Although the vote was a largely along party lines with Republicans voting “no” and Democrats voting “yes,” Rep. Jon Runyan (R-N.J.), a co-sponsor of the Employment Non-Discrimination Act, was the only Republican who broke with his party to vote “yes” on the amendment. Committee Chairman Jeff Miller (R-Fla.) said he opposed the amendment because it would interfere with states that have enacted laws related to marriage. “Deference to the state is not motivated by hostility, it is motivated by adherence to the Constitution,” Miller said. “As such, I believe that it is not appropriate to usurp the states’ power to democratically define marriage for their citizenry — not for personal belief, and not for bureaucratic convenience.” In his remarks, Miller invoked a recent federal court decision upholding Louisiana’s ban on same-sex marriage as evidence that state laws are still standing that restrict marriage to one man, one woman. That decision upholding Lousiana’s marriage ban is one among more than 35 other rulings that have overturned prohibitions on same-sex marriage in other states.

Openly gay House Veterans Affairs Committee member Rep. Mark Takano reacts via press release:

“I’m disappointed to see members of the House Veterans Affairs Committee vote against providing benefits to veterans in same-sex marriages who reside in a state that does not recognize marriage equality. The amendment introduced by Representative Titus had no impact on state laws and simply ensured that the policies of the Veterans Administration was aligned with the Department of Defense and the rest of the federal government. Those brave men and women who served our country have earned these benefits and no Member of Congress should be standing in the way of what they are owed. It is my hope that the House Veterans Affairs Committee will revisit this issue as soon as possible so that all veterans, regardless of who they love, are eligible for their full spousal benefits.”

The American Military Partners Association reacts via press release:

"The ability of our nation’s veterans, no matter their sexual orientation, to access their earned benefits should be an issue that transcends partisan politics,” said Dr. Lori Hensic, AMPA Director of Research and Policy. “We are incredibly disappointed, and it’s a sad reflection on the state of our Congress when our elected officials cannot put aside their differences to end this discrimination." The amendment introduced from Representative Titus (D-Nev.) would have changed the language in Title 38 that forces the Department of Veterans Affairs to look to the place of residency when determining the validity of the marriage, rather than the place of celebration.

American Family Association: Atheists Should Be Banned From US Military

"This is an absolutely foundational, non-negotiable, bed-rock American principle: there is a Creator - with a capital 'C' (you could look it up) - and he and he alone is the source of the very rights the military exists to protect and defend. An individual who does not understand and believe this has no right to serve in the U.S. military. Military service should rightly be reserved for those who believe in and are willing to die for what America stands for - and what America stands for is a belief in God as the source of our rights. A man who doesn't believe in the Creator the Founders trusted certainly can live in America without being troubled for being a fool. But he most certainly should not wear the uniform." - Bryan Fischer, writing for the American Family Association.

RELATED: There is a very freepable poll at the link.

PREVIOUSLY ON JMG: The American Family Association declares that the First Amendment only applies to Christians. The American Family Association calls for banning Muslims from the military. The American Family Association calls for deporting all Muslims from the United States. The American Family Association declares that Native Americans are "morally disqualified" from owning property in the United States. The American Family Association calls for criminalizing homosexuality in the United States. The American Family Association calls for criminalizing all sex outside of marriage in the United States.

Air Force Rejects Airman For Refusing To Swear "So Help Me God" At Reenlistment

Via the Air Force Times:

An atheist airman at Creech Air Force Base in Nevada has until November to change his mind and swear a reenlistment oath to God, the Air Force said. The unnamed airman was denied reenlistment Aug. 25 for refusing to take an oath that concludes with the phrase “so help me God,” the American Humanist Association said in a Sept. 2 letter to the inspectors general for the Air Force and Creech. In her letter, Monica Miller, an attorney with the AHA’s Apignani Humanist Legal Center, said the airman should be given the choice to reenlist by swearing a secular oath. She said the AHA will sue if the airman is not allowed to reenlist. In a Sept. 5 email, Air Force spokeswoman Rose Richeson said the airman is still serving and will continue to do so for at least two more months. “The airman’s term of service expires in November 2014,” Richeson said. “He has until this time to complete the Department of Defense Form 4 in compliance with the Title 10 USC 502.”

The Air Force says it can do nothing unless Congress changes the statute which demands that all Air Force enlistees swear allegiance to God. (Tipped by JMG reader Alan)