Italian Pop Star Hijacks Song Festival With Song In Support Of "Ex-Gay" Movement

As gay activists protested outside, wingnut Italian pop star Povia used the nationally televised Sanremo Song Festival to perform his song about an "ex-gay" who finds the love of a woman. Christianist outfit LifeSiteNews exults:

"Luca was Gay" recounts the liberation of a psychologically injured man from the homosexual lifestyle. "Luca", who is believed to be based on the Italian Luca di Tolvi, develops homosexual attractions after his father leaves and his mother treats him as a substitute, creating confusion about his sexual identity. Delivered as a "soft" rap song that alternates between a spoken and sung account, Povia becomes the mouthpiece for "Luca", who begins by saying: "Before I talk about the change in my sexuality, let me make something clear: If I believe in God, I can't depend on human beings for my answers. Human thought is divided on this issue, so I didn't look to psychologists, psychiatrists, clergymen, or scientists. My search took me into my own past, and when I dug down deep, I found answers to my questions about myself."

Luca's parents separate, and his father becomes an alcoholic. His mother becomes "obsessed" with him, "suffocates" him, and tells him "whatever you do, don't get married. She was jealous of my girlfriends; it felt so unhealthy. And I was more confused than ever about who I was," sings Povia, in Luca's name. Eventually Luca finds himself with homosexual attractions as he seeks the affirmation he never received from his father, while trying to avoid disappointing his mother with a female rival. He enters into sexual relationships with older men. "I was looking for my father in all those men. I went with them because I didn't want to betray my mother," Povia sings. He also alludes to the superficiality of homosexual relationships, having Luca say, "I was with a man for four years. Sometimes there was love and sometimes only deception. We cheated on each other constantly."

Oscar winning Italian actor/director Roberto Benigni opened the festival by condemning Povia, saying that homosexuality isn't a sin and that gays have been persecuted historically "because they love someone." Povia said he "didn't give a damn" about the protesters. The festival's artistic director defended the song as merely "telling a story." Aurelio Mancuso, the president of Italian gay rights group Arcigay, said, 'This song represents a wound for all gay people who are fighting against homophobia and ignorance in Italy. You don't change sexual orientation like a pair of shoes, it's rooted in our nature." Below is a clip of Povia's performance. Can somebody translate the sign unveiled on the stage at the end?

#1 This Week In 1966

This week in 1966, Frank Sinatra's daughter Nancy scored her only solo #1 hit when These Boots Are Made For Walkin' spent one week at the top of Billboard's pop chart. Songwriter Lee Hazelwood told Sinatra to sing the song as if she were a 16 year-old giving the kiss-off to a 40 year-old man. The song's memorable bass line was played by jazz sessionist Chuck Berghofer, who played on numerous classic albums such as the Beach Boys' Pet Sounds and Charlie Parker's Bird. These Boots Are Made For Walkin' was adopted as a theme song by American troops in Vietnam, leading to its inclusion in several war movies such as Full Metal Jacket. Nancy Sinatra continue to record and perform. In 1995 at age 54 she appeared topless in Playboy. In 2006 she recorded Another Gay Sunshine Day, the theme from Another Gay Movie.

CATALOG: Nancy Sinatra's only other #1 pop hit was the duet with her father, 1967's Something Stupid. I think this is the only father-daughter #1 pop hit ever. Anybody? Among Nancy's total of ten Top 40 hits are Sugar Town (#5, 1966), the These Boots ripoff How Does That Grab You, Darlin? (#7, 1966), and her duet with Lee Hazelwood, Jackson (#14, 1967), which was the flip side of her theme from the James Bond film, You Only Live Twice. I love Shirley Bassey, but Nancy's Bond theme is my absolute favorite. As for Jackson, you're probably more familiar with Johnny Cash and June Carter's version, which won them a Grammy in 1968.

TRIVIA: These Boots Are Made For Walkin' has been covered by hundreds of artists, most successfully by Jessica Simpson for the soundtrack of The Dukes Of Hazzard (#14, 2005). Lee Hazelwood sued Megadeth for their version, calling it a "perversion of the original." Other notable covers were recorded by Loretta Lynn, the Supremes, 70's disco artist Amanda Lear, Spice Girl Geri Halliwell, Jewel, and Boy George.

Tonight: Blowoff Brooklyn

Blowoff's bears bounce back to Brooklyn tonight at the Southpaw @ 125 Fifth Avenue in Park Slope. Directions here. Doors open 10PM. $15, advance tickets here.

Broadway Friday

- You've still got a few days to get tickets to Monday's gigantic marriage equality fundraiser, Defying Inequality. Appearing: Jane Fonda, Keith Olbermann, Cyndi Lauper, Harvey Fierstein, Nathan Lane, the casts of many hit Broadways shows, and many more.

- Will Ferrell's smash one-man show about Dubya, You're Welcome America, has recouped its investment in just a couple of weeks.

- GLAAD Award winning gay comedian Judy Gold plays Joe's Pub on March 20th in Judy Gold Is Mommy Queerest.

- Gilligan's Island: The Musical is touring Florida. Hopefully for more than three hours.

-The fifth annual Broadway Purim Shpiel plays the Hudson Theater on March 7th. Xanadu's Jackie Hoffman will host.

- Christine Jorgensen Reveals, the story of America's first and most famous transsexual, begins previews on February 26th at the Lion Theater. Bradford Louryk stars in the title role.

- Next To Normal comes to Broadway on March 27th at the Longacre Theater. J. Robert Spencer, Aaron Tveit, and Alice Ripley will star.

- This Beautiful City, a new musical about the rise of the evangelical movement in Colorado Springs, opens Sunday at the Vineyard Theater. Written by Steven Cosson and Jim Lewis, music and lyrics by Michael Friedman.

This Beautiful City is a play with music, created from interviews with actual persons, that explores the Evangelical movement and its unofficial U.S. capital. Because of the presence of several national Evangelical headquarters, the influential megachurch New Life (formerly led by Ted Haggard), and numerous and diverse churches, questions surrounding religion and civic concerns are brought to the foreground of everyday life in this city. The Civilians’ project looks at Colorado Springs as a microcosm of issues facing the country as a whole—the shifting line between church and state, changing ideas about the nature of Christianity, and how different beliefs can either coexist or conflict within a community.

Tickets for This Beautiful City are available here. Below is a promotional clip. Looks great!

Sir Ivan - For What It's Worth

Hey, look - it's a non-hippie protest song. Sir Ivan is actually zillionaire Long Island banker-cum-philanthropist Ivan Wilzig, who is well-known around these parts for his 12,000 square foot medieval castle in Water Mill. Wilzig has ditched Wall Street for a music career to promote his Peaceman anti-war charity. Some of you might remember him as a contestant on Sci-Fi Channel's Who Wants To Be A Superhero?, where he competed, naturally, as Peaceman. This clip has already generated 800K+ views on YouTube. He's kind of a nut, but in the classic "good" NYC way.

Minnesota's Gay Senator Flips Us The Bird

Openly gay Minnesota Republican state Sen. Paul Koering is under fire for refusing to support same-sex marriage because the state has "more important" items on the agenda. Koering is getting a lot of understandable flack from his fellow gays and this, in part, is how his assistant is responding to complaining emails:

I can testify all day long about how much Senator Koering cares for the People of Senate District 12. He ran three consecutive times, being defeated the first two, and why did he put himself through so much hard work? Do you think it was because he needed another job? Absolutely not! He did it because he believed he was the best person to serve the People that he calls neighbors, friends, and family. And especially now, in a time like this, we are being bogged down with this completely pointless issue. There are People in Morrison and Crow Wing Counties, and across the State who are losing their jobs, their homes, their insurance, and were you to ask them if this is an issue that should take one second of precedent over these conditions they're facing every day, do you believe, do you honestly believe that they would say to you, 'Yes, please, waste the time of the State Legislature with a piece of legislation that will not help, but in fact, overshadow the current situation we're living in? Please, waste their time with this piece of legislation while I tell my son and daughter that mom and dad aren't hungry tonight?' I know very well that you will respond to this e-mail of mine with some probably quirky, snide, and very thoughtless comment that will make me out to be a bad person and threaten the Senator even more just as most of the absolutely tactless and disrespectful e-mails we've received have been written, but really, don't waste your time. We'll just put your e-mail where it belongs, in the trash.

You really must read the entire letter. It's the most astonishingly bold "FUCK YOU" I've seen from the office of a gay politician to his fellow queers. I suggest returning the favor. Sen. Koering's email: sen.paul.koering@senate.mn. His office phone number: 651.296.4875.

The Sanctity Of Marriage, Part 98

You can't get married once, but any old hetero loon can get married 23 times.

Throughout her life, she has been Mrs. Scott, Mrs. Street and Mrs. Smith. She was also Mrs. Moyer, Mrs. Massie and Mrs. McMillan. But the former Mrs. Berisford, Mrs. Chandler and Mrs. Essex was born Linda Lou Taylor. She grew up in Alexandria, Ind., a place that lays claim to the largest ball of dried paint in the world. More than a decade ago, the 68-year-old found her own way to bring Indiana a Guinness world record: She got hitched for the 23rd time. Now known as Mrs. Linda Wolfe, she is the most married woman in history. Two of her husbands were gay. Two were homeless. A few stepped out on her, but she never did the dirty on them. One choked her and turned her lip inside out. Another secured the fridge with padlock and chain. "It's easy to sum up," she said of her life. "When I was younger I was just a snot-nosed kid, but the neighborhood boys were all in love with me. They all wanted to marry me." She has been single now for a dozen years. "I would get married again," she said, "because, you know, it gets lonely."

Two gay husbands out of 23. How boringly statistically average.

NYU Protests Get Ugly

Things got out of control last night at the continuing tuition protest at NYU. Riot police used pepper spray and at least one student was beaten with a baton. Students are demanding that the school reveal its operating budget and endowments and that some scholarships be granted to students from the Gaza Strip. The school's cafeteria has been "occupied" for two days now. The protest has been the subject of ridicule on many media outlets, including some progressive blogs.

Obama Reverses U.S. Position On LGBT Issues At The United Nations

Remember last year when Dubya refused to allow the U.S. to consign a UN resolution calling for the decriminalization of homosexuality worldwide, putting us in league with the Organization of the Islamic Conference? Check this out.

At the so-called "Durban Review Conference" on racism and xenophopia underway in Geneva, Europe again put forward language condemning “all forms of discrimination and all other human rights violations based on sexual orientation.” According to UN Watch, "The Czech Republic on behalf of the E.U., with the support of New Zealand, the United States, Colombia, Chile on behalf of the South American states, the Netherlands, Argentina and a few others, took the floor in support." (emphasis mine). The efforts to include language on discrimination based on sexual orientation ended up failing for lack of support from non-Western countries. Still, it's relieving to see that the United States is now back on the side of the enlightened on this issue of basic human rights.

(Via - Towleroad)

IMPrezUB2

Princess Sparkle Pony points out the amusing name of this show at DC's Newseum. Head over to Sparkle Pony's site for an amusing reworking of the billboard.

Santorum Flashback

I was starting to do a post about some bullshit Rick Santorum is up to, but I got such a case of the giggles from this old 2006 photo of his kids that I had to run it again. Anyway the story is here, but the Santorum-encrusted pull quote is something about why we'll never see democracy in an Islamic nation.

“A democracy could not exist because Mohammed already made the perfect law,” Santorum said. “The Quran is perfect just the way it is, that’s why it is only written in Islamic.”

What is this "Islamic" language he speaks of? And I still want to know why his 12 year-old daughter wore the same outfit as her doll.

North Dakota Senate Approves Adding Gays To Existing Protected Classes

Yesterday the North Dakota senate voted to add sexual orientation to its list of groups protected from discrimination.

"If someone is not doing their job, or habitually tardy, or doesn't get along with people, they can still be fired, whether gay, lesbian or straight," said Sen. Tom Fiebiger, D-Fargo. "What employers can't do under this law is fire someone because they are gay." North Dakota's Senate agreed on Wednesday, voting 27-19 to include sexual orientation in a list of categories protected by the state's human rights law. The bill now moves to the state House. Aside from a presentation by Fiebiger, who is the bill's principal sponsor, there was no debate on the legislation. As written, it bars discrimination against gays and lesbians in matters of housing, employment, credit, insurance, public accommodations and public services.

The bill, which does not include transgender protections, now moves to the North Dakota House.

Lawrence King's Family Sues Everybody For Not Destroying His Gayness

The family of murdered gay teen Lawrence King has filed suit against just about everybody that ever knew him for not insisting that he "tone down" his feminine ways. Because that's why he was murdered. Not because Brandon McInerney was a Nazi-obsessed skinhead wannabe who hated gays.

The family of a gay teenager who was shot to death in class filed a wrongful–death lawsuit that accuses the school district, a shelter and a homosexual rights organization of failing to protect him. The suit, which seeks unspecified damages, was filed Feb. 11 in Ventura County Superior Court. Larry King, 15, of Oxnard, was killed in February 2008. His classmate at E.O. Green Junior High, Brandon McInerney, was charged as an adult and has pleaded not guilty to first–degree murder and a hate crime. If convicted, McInerney could face 51 years to life in prison. McInerney, now 15, allegedly shot King twice in the head in English class. Prosecutors said there had been rising tension between the two after the eight–grader told McInerney he loved him. The 18-page lawsuit filed by King’s parents and brother names nearly two dozen defendants. It claims that everyone from King’s teacher to his social worker failed to urge the effeminate teen to tone down flamboyant behavior. The suit also claims they failed to heed McInerney’s alleged threat to kill King a day before the shooting.

The suit also make the outrageous claim that the local gay youth shelter encouraged Larry to make sexual advances on Brandon.

It's Only Rape If She's A Real Woman

In what is somehow being hailed as a landmark case, a South Korean court has convicted a man for raping a transsexual woman, but apparently only because it was proven that the woman had been having regular vaginal sex with her longtime partner, therefore making her a "real" woman capable of being raped.

The Busan District Court yesterday convicted a man of rape against a transgender woman in the country's first ruling recognizing a legally male plaintiff as a rape victim. The 28-year-old defendant, surnamed Shin, was given a suspended three-year prison term with 120 hours of community service, officials at the court said. In August last year, Shin robbed the 58-year-old plaintiff of 100,000 won ($68), and raped her after having broken into her house. "The victim should be seen as a woman, the object of the rape crime in the criminal law, given that she underwent a sex reassignment surgery in 1974 at age 24, until which point she had behaved as a woman, and given that she had lived with a man, who was aware of her case, for 10 years," said Koh Jong-joo, the presiding judge at the court, in his ruling.

"Although the victim is legally a man, it is only the gender that was reported at birth, hardly the genuine sex the victim has ultimately accepted." The prosecutors initially indicted Shin only on charges of robbery and assault as they thought it would be difficult to press rape charges against him. Later, they changed the charges to break-in and rape charges after consultation with the court, officials said. The prosecution earlier sought a five-year jail sentence for Shin. The court added that if the victim's right to make her own sexual decisions is infringed on when the victim is physically able to have vaginal sex with a man, it can constitute rape. The ruling contrasts with the previous one in 1996 by the Supreme Court on a similar case. At the time, the top court did not recognize then 38-year-old victim as a woman, citing physical differences such as chromosomes, sexual organs and no reproductive ability.

Does this mean that South Korea has no law against male rape? The perpetrator in the above case was sentenced to a whopping 120 hours of community service. Disgusting.

Multivitamins Do Nothing

According to the largest study ever done on multivitamin users, there is no apparent health benefit to those horse pills.

The largest study ever conducted in post-menopausal women has found “convincing evidence” that multivitamin use has “little or no influence” on the risk of common cancers, cardiovascular disease or dying from any cause in post-menopausal women. The research involved 161,808 American women, age 50 to 79, who are part of the ongoing Women’s Health Initiative, the largest study of women’s health. A total of 41.5 per cent of the women used multivitamins. The most popular was a multivitamin with minerals. The women were enrolled in the trial between 1993 and 1998. After an average eight years of followup, researchers found no evidence multivitamins either increased or decreased the risk of cancers of the breast (invasive), colon/rectum, endometrium, ovary, kidney, bladder, stomach or lung. They also found no significant effect on the risk of heart attack, stroke and blood clots in the veins. There was also no association between multivitamin use and total mortality.

The same article notes this:

In November, researchers who have been following 15,000 male doctors for 10 years reported that vitamin E and C supplements have no effect on the risk of heart attacks, stroke, cardiovascular death, cancer or congestive heart failure in middle-aged and older men. They did find an increase in hemorrhagic stroke with vitamin E use.

Meanwhile this $8B annual ripoff industry rolls on.

Tyra's "I Hate Being Gay" Show

Yesterday Tyra Banks hosted a handful of homo sad sacks on her show where the subjects derided their fellow gays for being effeminate, disgusting, weak, terrifying, shameful, preying pedophiles. The first dumbo plans to be straight by the time he's 30. So he says in his upspeaking valley girl voice. He's also grossed out by dicks that don't look exactly like his and is apparently a selfish lay. But hey, he's giving himself another eleven years to kick it with the homos before he becomes a real man.

Let's all thank Tyra Banks for finding these seriously damaged young men and giving the wingnuts around the nation a collective "I knew it!" moment.

Buttars To Lose Senate Judiciary Committee Post Over Anti-Gay Rant

Utah state Sen. Chris Buttars will be stripped of his key Senate Judiciary Committee post because of his hateful anti-gay rant in the documentary 8: The Mormon Proposition.

An anti-gay diatribe by Sen. Chris Buttars will cost him his spot on the Senate Judiciary Committee, The Tribune has learned. Senate Republicans, prompted by complaints from minority Democrats, held a frank discussion of Buttars' actions in a closed-door caucus Thursday. Afterward, senators would not discuss what action, if any, might be taken against the West Jordan Republican. Part of it, Senate leaders said, depends on what Buttars, who left the Capitol after Thursday's caucus to be with his family, decides to do. He did not return a phone message. But Senate President Michael Waddoups said the action he plans to take is clear. "I've made up my mind what I'm going to do," Waddoups, R-Taylorsville said, but he would not elaborate. Sources familiar with the Senate discussions, speaking on the condition of anonymity, said the Senate Republican caucus decided to remove Buttars from the Senate Judiciary Committee, a panel which he currently chairs.

I'll have to admit that I'm impressed that a GOP president of the Utah senate is taking this swift action.

UPDATE: Buttars was indeed booted today.

Utah state Sen. Chris Buttars, R-West Jordan, has been kicked off a judicial committee he chaired after comparing gay activists to radical Muslims. Buttars also told filmmaker Reed Cowan that gay activists are "probably the greatest threat to America going down." Utah Senate President Michael Waddoups announced this morning that Buttars will be removed as chair and a member of the Judicial Standing Committee. He will remain on the Senate Rules Committee. Waddoups, R-Taylorsville, says the move shouldn't be viewed as punishment but rather the removal of a distraction. He said this will free Sen. Buttars to be more at ease when speaking his opinions. He also said he stands behind Buttars' rights to express his opinions and to serve in the Senate.

Post Issues Non-Apologetic Apology

The New York Post has issued a classic "fuck you" apology for Wednesday's Obama=monkey cartoon.

Wednesday's Page Six cartoon - caricaturing Monday's police shooting of a chimpanzee in Connecticut - has created considerable controversy. It shows two police officers standing over the chimp's body: "They'll have to find someone else to write the next stimulus bill," one officer says. It was meant to mock an ineptly written federal stimulus bill. Period. But it has been taken as something else - as a depiction of President Obama, as a thinly veiled expression of racism. This most certainly was not its intent; to those who were offended by the image, we apologize. However, there are some in the media and in public life who have had differences with The Post in the past - and they see the incident as an opportunity for payback. To them, no apology is due. Sometimes a cartoon is just a cartoon - even as the opportunists seek to make it something else.

Yesterday about 200 protesters demonstrated in front of the Post's offices at the News Corp headquarters on Sixth Avenue.

Join The Chat As Matt Barber Hosts Peter LaBarbera On His Radio Show

Matt Barber and Peter LaBarbera, the two most evil anti-gay voices on the net, are coming together on the Liberty Counsel radio show today at 4pm Eastern. Listen live and join their live chat here. This should be interesting.

(Via - Good As You)

UPDATE: As those who listened in know, BamBam and Petey double-talked right over me for most of my call and didn't even allow me to get to my actual question. Instead, they wanted to know how many of my friends have HIV and whether I think there's a such thing as an actual "ex-gay." They both seem to think that because AIDS is in the world, all homosexuality should be righteously stopped. I should have asked them if those tens of millions of Africans with AIDS should stop being straight.

UPDATE II: Jeremy at Good As You captured the audio. I'm in Part 4.

GMU's New Homecoming Queen

Virginia's George Mason University had a real queen for Homecoming this year.

Ryan Allen, a popular host of the George Mason University's yearly drag show, was elected its homecoming queen over the weekend in an emotional crowning ceremony at halftime of the sold-out GMU vs. Northeastern basketball game at the Patriot Center. He beat out two female finalists after a student e-mail poll last week. Allen -- or, rather, his drag queen alter ego, Reann Ballslee -- assumed the title of Ms. Mason wearing a large green-and-gold bow sewed for him by the theater department's costume shop and visible even in the cheap seats, as well as a wig, lamé blouse and black skirt and heels. At the same time, a fellow student Ricky Malebranche, a junior from Woodbridge, was named Mr. Mason.

"For me it was just for fun," Allen said on his decision to enter the pageant. "In the larger scheme of things, winning says so much about the university. We're one of the most diverse campuses in the country, and . . . we celebrate that regularly." Some students have applauded his victory as a measure of the broadmindness of the 30,000 member student body, and that they felt engaged in homecoming week -- held during basketball season because Mason has no football team -- for the first time. But others said his election was an embarrassing setback to Mason's recent efforts to revamp its image from a suburban commuter school to a distinguished institution of higher learning. Officially, the university is "very comfortable with it. We're fine," said spokesman Daniel Walsch. They've never made a rule that requires participants in the Mr. and Ms. Mason pageant to compete along precise gender lines, he said.

(Tipped by Jimbo. Photo credit: Teddy Meyer)

HomoQuotable - Ron deHarte

"The mini-sized payout the jury awarded for emotional distress to the firefighters speaks volumes about the so-called notion that they endured severe or pervasive trauma while wearing earphones, sitting six feet off the ground inside a fire truck with the windows rolled up and a roaring diesel engine powering them along a one-mile parade route. This is the same parade route followed by hundreds of public safety and law enforcement officers annually who are unconditionally welcomed with applause by cheering crowds.

"Many believe this case was all about money, which cannot be proven. But we find it remarkable that out of 9,000 parade participants and 150,000 spectators who stood on the sidelines - both gay and straight -- that the jury could determine harassment against four individuals when there hasn't been a single complaint of this nature ever filed with San Diego Pride. We also bring into question the firefighters' relentless pursuit of this case, given the fact that the Fire Department changed its parade policy in favor of them almost immediately after their complaints were lodged.

"The firefighter's attorney Charles LiMandri has reportedly funded the $1.1 million cost of litigation, and according to LiMandri's website, what was really on trial was the gay, lesbian, bisexual and transgendered citizens of San Diego and their Constitutional right to assemble in public -- not the fire department nor the City of San Diego. LiMandri's site states: "Don't let the radical gay agenda trample our Christian beliefs and constitutional rights."

"It appears the four firefighters provided attorney Charles LiMandri and his associates at the Thomas More Law Center, an ultra-conservative Christian legal group that claims it "defends and promotes the religious freedom of Christians, time-honored family values, and the sanctity of human life," the opportunity to further their agenda. A few weeks after the 2007 parade, the leadership of the Thomas More Law Center tried placing the blame on the firefighter's required participation in the parade on "radical homosexual activists."

"While some call this a `win' for the firefighters, we believe the verdict sets a dangerous precedent that infringes on everyone's right to free speech in both civic and private events, especially when perceived harassment is involved." -San Diego Pride executive director Ron deHarte, responding to Tuesday's decision in favor San Diego firefighters who sued for sexual harassment because they had to drive a firetruck during the 2007 parade.

Hillary's First Test

Secretary of State Clinton is about to visit South Korea. Just hours ahead of her arrival, North Korea has declared that they are "fully ready for war."

North Korea stepped up its war rhetoric Thursday, saying its troops are "fully ready" for war with South Korea, just hours before a visit to Seoul by U.S. Secretary of State Hillary Rodham Clinton. The North's military accused South Korean President Lee Myung-bak of using "nonexistent" nuclear and missile threats as a pretext for an invasion and warned it was prepared for an "all-out confrontation." The strident statement carried on state-run media comes amid reports that the North is preparing to test-fire a long-range missile and as Clinton heads to Seoul for talks Friday that are expected to focus on North Korea. Meanwhile, Clinton said that the North's leadership situation is uncertain and the United States is worried the Stalinist country may soon face a succession crisis to replace dictator Kim Jong Il.

Kim Jong Il is in poor health and has reportedly tapped his young son, who is thought to be in his 20's, to replace him.

KS Gov. Kathleen Sebelius To Head HHS

Kansas Gov. Kathleen Sebelius (D) is likely to be chosen as Secretary of Health and Human Services - provided she doesn't pull a Daschle.

Should she be nominated, Ms. Sebelius would bring eight years of experience as her state’s insurance commissioner as well as six years as a governor running a state Medicaid program. But with President Obama about to begin a drive to expand health coverage, an issue on which the two parties have deep ideological divisions, her strongest asset in the view of the White House may be her record of navigating partisan politics as a Democrat in one of the country’s most Republican states.

It remained unclear whether the White House would finish vetting Ms. Sebelius in time to nominate her by next week. Advisers described her as “the leading candidate,” although they said other names were still in discussion and emphasized that no final decision had been made. After the troubles with Mr. Daschle and other nominees, the White House has intensified its vetting to make sure it thoroughly scrubs its choices before Mr. Obama signs off.

Sebelius would be the fourth woman to join Obama's cabinet and would oversee a $700B budget. Health care activists appear pleased with Sebelius' candidacy so far.

Caption This

Georgia To Gay Parents: Keep Your Dirty Homo Friends Away From Your Kids

In Georgia, sometimes you can keep your kids if you come out after a heterosexual marriage. You just can't let your dirty homo friends anywhere near them.

A gay man in the US state of Georgia is disputing a child custody agreement restriction which prohibits him from "exposing his children to his homosexual partners and friends." Lambda Legal, a gay rights advocacy group, yesterday filed an amicus brief in support of Eric Mongerson at the Georgia Supreme Court. The brief argues that restrictions on custody arrangements should not be determined based on sexual orientation and that no evidence exists that contact with gay acquaintances of their father is harmful. "The court should do what it always does in divorce cases with custody issues, which is to focus on the needs of the children," said Beth Littrell, Staff Attorney in Lambda Legal's Southern Regional Office. "Placing a blanket ban on "exposure" to gay people hardly helps a gay dad maintain his relationship with his children. What the ban does do is perpetuate prejudice and stigma against an entire group of people based solely on their sexual orientation, and that is just plain wrong. "This order hinders Mr Mongerson's ability to maintain his relationship with his children as he is under a court order to treat other gay people as pariahs based solely on their sexual orientation."

Living a lonely life without any friends will make you a better parent. Got that?

"I Am A Homosexual" - Check Yes Or No

Over at Daily Kos, a straight woman is flabbergasted by the adoption form sent to her by the state of Florida.

As I am a straight, married woman, and my husband is a straight, married man, it never occurred to either of us that--after the volumes of paperwork we had to complete as a couple, the copies of marriage certificates we had to supply, and the hours and hours of Partnerships in Parenting classes we had to complete as a couple--we would yet have to again affirm our heterosexuality so that we could have the rights to adopt our foster children as our own.

Page 5, section G. of our adoptive home application reads (with check boxes for Yes and No):

Section 63.042(3), F.S. states that "no person eligible to adopt under this statute may adopt if that person is a homosexual."

I am a homosexual. Yes No

Husband (Man)

Wife (Woman)

I am a bisexual. Yes No

Husband (Man)

Wife (Woman)

In addition to the fact that I think that our state's law prohibiting same-sex adoption equality is Draconian B.S., I find this question on the application not only intrusive, but offensively stupid and redundant. If we are applying as a married het couple, isn't it assumed that (duh) we are not gay and thus able to BE married in Florida? Recall that same-sex marriage is already banned in Florida, and the despicably-supported Amendment 2 goes so far as to ban civil unions as well.

Is the Florida DCF automatically assuming that my husband and I would be "hiding" behind marriage in a closeted situation? Although this is definitely not the case, what business is it of theirs to interfere with what may be going on in our hearts and souls? Furthermore, if being gay or lesbian is what Florida feels is the worst that can happen to an adopted foster child--who has most likely already been beaten, neglected, and sometimes sexually abused by their biological STRAIGHT parents--why do they care to assume "the worst" about us?

There is a movement underway to repeal Florida's ban on gay adoption. Visit Equality Florida for updates and information on how to help.

Gay Republicans Are Creating Change From The Inside

Minnesota gay Republican state Sen. Paul Koering won't support same-sex marriage. Because the state is too busy with important things.

State Sen. Paul Koering, R-Fort Ripley, told KLKS on Friday that he will not vote for the Marriage and Family Protection Act, a bill that would make Minnesota’s marriage laws gender-neutral, allowing same-sex couples many of the rights currently denied by Minnesota statute. Koering, who is gay and a Republican, said he would vote against it because the state faces bigger problems.

It's not a new position for Koering. In 2005 he said, "I think some of the gay activists will be upset with me for this, but sometimes I think an agenda is pushed so far and so fast that people have no alternative but to push back. And I think that sometimes you have to move slowly."

Gay Republicans are working from the inside of the beast, people. Can't you see that?

God Is Our Air Traffic Controller

There's an amusing discussion over at Fark over this letter to a Michigan newspaper:

On the Feb. 8 "60 Minutes" program, we were captivated while viewing the Katie Couric interview of the crew and passengers of Flight 1549. However, we were struck there was not one mention of God, who directs pilots of planes and secures the safety of passengers. We have written CBS and asked them for more realistic programming. Help protect our freedoms. Write CBS about this.

A few responses...

-"If God wants a mention on tv, he can land his own damn plane...."
-"Because he didn't want to talk about how god threw birds at his plane?"
-"I've seen what happens when you trust God to land a plane. He favors fiery death."
-"Well I'm sure he mentioned God a few times as he was crashing."

LA Gay Youth Shelter To Declare Bankruptcy

Calling it the "first domino to fall" as the economy wreaks havoc on gay social agencies, Karen Ocamb reports on Pam's House Blend that LA's gay youth shelter GLASS has voted to declare bankruptcy.

Wednesday night, eight days after its 25th anniversary, the board of directors of Gay and Lesbian Adolescent Social Services (GLASS) voted 7-0 (with one abstention) to file for Chapter 7 bankruptcy this afternoon. According to founder and executive director Terry DeCrescenzo, the staff is so "outraged" at the board's decision, they plan to ask a court to intervene and accept a reorganization plan instead. "This is a world-class disaster," DeCrescenzo told me by phone, noting that GLASS just became the first licensed LGBT adoption agency in the country. Their primary program is providing group homes for 40 LGBT 15-17 year olds, and transitional living for 25 teens between 17-19. DeCrescenzo says she believes the board filed for Chapter 7 out of fear of their own personal liability because the agency was behind in paying Worker's Comp and with the IRS. But she says an LA County contract check was expected to cover the gap and she could work out a payment plan with the IRS. Additionally, the reorganization plan would change the group home structure from a "family style" of six beds with two fulltime staff to 12-bed congregate living - hardly ideal but "better than going under."

Indiana: No Anti-Gay Marriage Amendment

Via press release from the HRC:

Indiana’s Senate Republican Caucus voted this week not to consider a resolution that would have proposed amending the state constitution to define marriage as between a man and a woman. This vote means the amendment is unlikely to advance during this legislative session. The resolution would require approval by the Senate and House in two consecutive legislative sessions, and, if approved, would then go before the voters.

“The Human Rights Campaign is glad to see that this divisive, unnecessary amendment appears to have stalled,” said Human Rights Campaign President Joe Solmonese. “We congratulate Indiana Equality, its coalition partners, HRC members and others throughout the state who urged their legislators to reject this resolution.” Indiana Equality Action Vice-President Randy Studt said, “Indiana Equality is glad to see that the Senate has finally decided this issue is unworthy of their time, after passing a similar measure on four occasions. We appreciate the calls and emails by our supporters to help defeat this measure.”

This is the first legislative good news this week.

Georgia Rep. Charlice Byrd Wants To Fire "Disgusting" Queer Theory Profs

Georgia state Rep. Charlice Byrd wants to fire every university professor who teaches such "disgusting" classes as queer theory. (Or anything else to do with sex or gayness, apparently.) Sounds like somebody wants to be the next Sally Kern. Since Byrd wants you to contact representatives and complain about perverted classes on dirty homo sex, you should start with her: 404.656.0126.

Westboro Banned From UK

Westboro Baptist Church's Fred Phelps and his daughter Shirley Phelps-Roper have been banned from entering the UK. Just yesterday we learned of their plans to protest a British staging of the Matthew Shepard play, The Laramie Project.

Two members of the Westboro Baptist Church, an American religious sect which calls for homosexuals to be killed, have been banned from entering the UK. Fred Phelps and his daughter Shirley Phelps-Roper had planned to fly into Britain to protest against a play being put on by a gay youth group. The pair are members of the church, based in Kansas, which has been described as "the most evil religious sect in the world". Mr Phelps, 79, and his daughter Ms Phelps-Roper, 51, had targeted a performance of The Laramie Project, about the death of an American man killed for being homosexual.

They had announced that they would picket the play, which is due to be held at a school arts centre in Basingstoke, Hampshire, on Friday. But the pair will now be stopped by immigration officials if they arrive and placed straight on a flight back to the US. The ban comes after Dutch MP Geert Wilders was barred from the UK last week for his extremist views on Islam. A UK Border Agency spokesman said: "The Home Secretary has excluded both Fred Phelps and his daughter Shirley Phelps-Roper from the UK. "Both these individuals have engaged in unacceptable behaviour by inciting hatred against a number of communities. The Government has made it clear it opposes extremism in all its forms.

Open Thread Thursday

What's your favorite movie line?

NYPD's Internal Affairs Now Investigating False Arrests At Porn Shops

Saturday's protest at Mayor Bloomberg's UES home has drawn the attention of the NYPD's Internal Affairs Bureau which is now looking into the allegations of false arrests of gay men at the city's adult bookstores. The most vocal victim of the campaign, Robert Pinter, was visited at his home by the IAB early this week. Via Duncan Osborne at Gay City News:

Pinter was visited by two IAB detectives at his East Village apartment the evening of February 15. The officers, identified by Pinter as a Lieutenant Hickey and a Sergeant Prentice, told him that the "differences" between his account of his arrest in press reports and that given by his arresting officer had prompted the inquiry. Pinter, who spoke with the two officers for no more than 15 minutes, said they told him, "We need to talk to you before we can launch the investigation." The two officers also asked Pinter if he was going to sue the city.

New York Post Hits New Low With Outrageous Racist Sean Delonas Cartoon

Achieving the impossible, scumbag New York Post cartoonist Sean Delonas has outdone even himself with today's cartoon combining yesterday's bizarre "monkey critically injures woman" story with a reference to Barack Obama and the stimulus bill. Outrage has been immediate and widespread as thousands of news stories condemning the cartoon have already been posted. Al Sharpton, never a fan of the Post, has weighed in.

Al Sharpton:

The cartoon in today's New York Post is troubling at best given the historic racist attacks of African-Americans as being synonymous with monkeys. One has to question whether the cartoonist is making a less than casual reference to this when in the cartoon they have police saying after shooting a chimpanzee that "Now they will have to find someone else to write the stimulus bill." Being that the stimulus bill has been the first legislative victory of President Barack Obama (the first African American president) and has become synonymous with him it is not a reach to wonder are they inferring that a monkey wrote the last bill?

The NY Post regularly publishes Delonas cartoons which depict gay men in bed with farm animals or flittering above the ground in ballerina drag. Let's hope that this repulsive cartoon is the final straw to end his career.

UPDATE: Gawker has posted a gallery of Sean Delonas' most offensive cartoons.

How To Become A Millionaire

Step 1: Get shitfaced.
Step 2: Fall on tracks.
Step 3: Lose leg to train.
Step 4: Sue NYC.
Step 5: Collect $2.3M.

Lesbians Pissed At PETA

Lesbian activists are angry with PETA over their Valentine's Day "vegetarians make better lovers" stunt which featured semi-naked female hotties making out. Via SheWired:

Animal rights organization PETA, who have been widely criticized in the past for their extreme methods, are very proud of their new ‘Vegetarian’s Make Better Lovers’ campaign. The ads include hot, barely clothed women rubbing vegetables on themselves. And that’s not all; they’ve taken the act on the road for a “Girl-On-Girl Make-Out Tour." Over Valentine's Day weekend, PETA volunteers took to the streets to raise attention for their cause. But some are offended by PETA capitalizing on girl-on-girl titillation for a seemingly unrelated subject- vegetarianism. Said one angry blogger, “All this little love fest shows is that lesbian relationships need validation and that women exist to titillate the sexual fantasies of men.”

Fox News isn't happy about the campaign either, but not for the same reasons.

Q: How many semi-naked PETA protesters does it take to change a light bulb?
A: Zero. Semi-naked PETA protesters have never changed anything.

This Is Not A Test

The French border city of Strasbourg got a major freak-out yesterday.

Strasbourg panicked Tuesday after sirens used to warn of impending nuclear attack or natural catastrophe malfunctioned and wailed for 90 minutes. The eastern city's fire and rescue service switchboard was flooded with about 600 calls during that time, 10 times more than normal, officials and France Telecom said, adding that the sirens went off due to a technical hitch. France's nationwide emergency warning network is the legacy of the air-raid siren network developed for World War II. It has 4,500 sirens placed around the country which are tested at midday on the first Wednesday of every month. France Telecom, which runs the system, offered residents of Strasbourg "its apologies for the inconvenience they may have suffered" during Tuesday's malfunction which affected several districts of the city.

San Francisco tests its earthquake siren every Tuesday at noon. Which can actually be a lot of fun when you have visitors which you have sternly warned a couple of hours in advance that they should run for cover if the alarm should happen to go off. Uh, not that I ever did that. A lot.

Utah Kills Two More LGBT Rights Bills

Two more LGBT rights bills failed to get out of committee in the Utah legislature yesterday. Dead are the bills to allow gay and unmarried couples to adopt and the bill that would have protected LGBT folks from housing and employment discrimination. The haters framed their arguments against the bills in the tired "homosexuality is a choice" bullshit.

"Adoption is not a right, it's a privilege. Those who choose alternative lifestyles suffer the consequences because they can't naturally produce between them," said Rep. Stephen Sandstrom, R-Orem, who joined a 5-1 vote to defeat HB288. "Heterosexual couples who cohabit also face consequences because they choose not to marry." And on the anti-discrimination bill, Eagle Forum President Gayle Ruzicka made a similar case against adding sexual orientation to existing fair housing and employment laws. "What we're talking about is choice -- someone's sexual choice," she told a House panel. "Why would we put into law someone's sexual choice? … This is not the right thing to do."

The bill allowing gay hospital visitation and property rights remains in committee.

Calls For Burris To Resign Grow Louder

Ever since Blago appointee Sen. Roland Burris (D-IL) admitted this week that he tried to raise money for the disgraced former governor in a quid pro quo for his seat, there have been calls for him to resign. Today both the Washington Post and the Chicago Tribune posted editorials demanding his resignation over having perjured himself when asked about Blago. You knew there was something shady about Burris' appointment, didn't you? Illinois Democrats just keep giving.

Kentucky GOP Moves To Ban Gay Adoption

Kentucky state Sen. Gary Tapp (R) wants to make double-extra sure that no dirty homos are allowed to adopt children and yesterday introduced a bill that will ban all unmarried couples from adopting.

Human rights group The Fairness Campaign called Senator Gary Tapp’s bill "deceptively-worded." "It is identical to a measure recently passed in Arkansas that prohibits adoption or foster care by an applicant 'cohabiting with a sexual partner outside of a marriage that is legally valid in Kentucky'," the group said. "The language of the bill renders not just same-gender couples unfit to parent, but countless heterosexual couples that could serve as "next of kin" placement for children in need. "The state would be forced to provide millions in additional foster care, an irresponsible burden to add to the Commonwealth's economic crisis."

SD Firefighters Win Gay Pride Harassment Lawsuit But Get Tiny Settlement

San Diego firefighters have finally triumphed in their lawsuit against the city for being forced to work a gay pride parade, where they claim they were sexually harassed by attendees. But the four plaintiffs must share a meager $34,000 settlement.

A jury found four San Diego firefighters who sued the city were sexually harassed after being ordered to participate in a gay pride parade. They also determined the group must split $34,300 in damages. Jurors deliberated for about two-and-a-half days before reaching the verdict Tuesday in the case brought by firefighters John Ghiotto, Jason Hewitt, Alex Kane and Chad Allison. The firemen said they were subjected to sexually charged conduct and lewd comments while riding a fire engine in the July 2007 parade. City attorneys said they will appeal the verdict.

Jurors were required to determine if the firefighters faced pervasive or severe harassment from spectators and participants. Nancy Chiquete, the jury foreperson, said reaching the decision was “not easy,” particularly because she said she lives in the city and knows its financial situation is not good. But, Chiquete said, “I felt truly like these four men were wronged by the situation.” The case was first heard in September but that jury was unable to reach a verdict on the sexual harassment claim. The jury did not know how much money the firefighters had asked for in the first trial, Chiquete said. She said that throughout the trial, the firefighters said they wanted to make a point and prevent the situation from happening to others and wanted to have the department's policy changed. “So, I think in that sense, hopefully they got what they wanted,” she said. The firefighters' attorney, Charles LiMandri, said he and his clients were pleased. “We won on every issue. This is what we've been fighting for. It's what we've been working for. It's been what we've been hoping for,” LiMandri said.

What fucking crybabies. The firefighters had asked for $1M each, but say they are satisfied with the settlement in light of San Diego's dire economic situation. Working the pride parade is no longer an assigned duty for firefighters; the city asks for volunteers. We can only presume that gay firefighters can now successfully sue for sexual harassment the next time a female member of the public offers a "lewd comment."

Ho Hum, Another Evangelical Ousted For Being A Ho Hummer

Yaaaawn. Another day, another top evangelical resigns in disgrace for being unable to control his pervy unholy urges.

The pastor of Willow Creek Chicago -- the city campus of the evangelical megachurch Willow Creek Community Church -- has resigned and admitted to "sexual impurity," a church spokesman said. The pastor, Rev. Steve Wu, could not be reached, and the church would specify what took place. Wu, 43, moved from California's Silicon Valley in early 2006, hired by senior pastor Rev. Bill Hybels to lead Willow Creek Chicago, the downtown branch of the South Barrington-based church. Under Wu, Willow Creek Chicago began holding Sunday services at the historic Auditorium Theatre in October 2006, becoming Willow Creek's fifth campus and drawing a diverse congregation of more than 1,200 worshipers to the new church.

Willow Creek Community Church is one of the most influential evangelical churches in the nation with more than 20,000 members who worship at six locations throughout Illinois, as well as an international church community. During Sunday services on Jan. 25, one of the church Elders, Greg Haecker, read a brief statement to the Willow Chicago congregation announcing Wu's resignation effective immediately. The statement said: "He admitted to sexual impurity and has taken full responsibility for his sin. He has expressed a desire to participate in a restoration process." The statement also said Todd Katter has agreed to serve as interim campus pastor while the church searches for Wu's replacement. We would ask you to pray diligently for Steve in these difficult days," the statement concluded.

The church won't say what this "sexual impurity" was, exactly. But the good Rev. Wu did used to live in San Francisco. Woo hoo! Wu ho! Pam Spaulding points out that Wu has already been scrubbed from the church's website. He never existed, people. Move along.

(Photo sent by JMG reader Sammy)

PhoboQuotable - Chris Buttars

"Homosexuality will always be a sexual perversion. And you say that around here now and everybody goes nuts. But I don't care. They're mean. They want to talk about being nice. They're the meanest buggers I have ever seen. It's just like the Muslims. Muslims are good people and their religion is anti-war. But it’s been taken over by the radical side. What is the morals of a gay person? You can't answer that because anything goes. They're probably the greatest threat to America going down I know of." - Utah state Sen. Chris Buttars (R), speaking in the documentary, 8 - The Mormon Proposition.

The Utah television station reporting on the documentary says that Buttars goes on to describe a particular gay sexual act he claims is taking place, "but ABC 4 does not consider that appropriate for its news content."

McCain's Daughter To Address Log Cabins, RNC Head Michael Steele Invited Too

Meghan McCain, the flashy socialite daughter of Sen. John McCain, will address the opening session of this year's Log Cabin Republicans convention.

John McCain's daughter, Meghan McCain, 24, has agreed to headline the annual convention of the Log Cabin Republicans, a GOP group which advocates on behalf of gays and lesbians. "Her willingness to reach out to organizations like ours shows her commitment to growing the Republican Party," Log Cabin convention manager Christian Berle told ABC News. "The title of Meghan McCain's speech is 'Winning the Next Generation -- How can the Republican Party attract more young voters.'" Joining Meghan McCain at the conference will be Steve Schmidt, her father's top 2008 strategist. The topic of Schmidt's address is "Moving Forward." The Log Cabin Republicans are scheduled to meet in Washington, D.C., on April 17th at a time when the GOP is seeking to rebound from an election which left the party out of power on both ends of Pennsylvania Avenue.

Newly-elected RNC head Michael Steele has been invited too, but hasn't yet responded. Americans For Truth About Homosexuality spokesdouche Peter LaBarbera has been losing his shit about Steele's LCR invite in post after post for the last week, saying, “If the Republican Party is to turn itself around, it must reach out aggressively to real, pro-family minorities like Steele himself — not homosexual activists whose agenda would restrict our precious religious and First Amendment freedoms by using the government to promote aberrant sexual lifestyles.”

Openly Gay Mayor Of North Miami To Run For U.S. Senate In 2010

Kevin Burns, the openly gay mayor of North Miami, is set to announce his candidacy for the U.S. Senate in 2010.

North Miami Mayor Kevin Burns will become the third Florida Democrat to join the race for the U.S. Senate seat being vacated by Republican Mel Martinez, according to local television stations. Burns, North Miami's first openly gay mayor, is facing term limits in his current post. He will announce his candidacy today, WSVN is reporting. Martinez, of Orlando, has said he won't seek re-election for a second term in 2010. U.S. Rep. Kendrick Meek and Miami Beach State Rep. Dan Gelber, both Democrats, have already announced their candidacies for the seat. They may be joined by other Democrats, and several prominent Republicans, also considering potential runs to replace Martinez

Burns and his partner of 24 years have a seven year-old daughter. North Miami is a small suburb (population 55,000) near the northern Miami-Dade County border and is the home of Florida International University. Burns will be term-limited out of office in May. He made local news late last year when, with his own home in foreclosure, he asked the Miami-Dade courts to create a mortgage foreclosure diversion program to help folks in the early stages of foreclosure stay in their homes.

Westboro To Protest In UK

Westboro Baptist Church says they are going to the UK to protest a production of the Laramie Project. The Telegraph asked Shirley-Phelps Roper why they are coming.

"You KNOW his word - you had great light in your land in the 1600s with the vast array of John's (Knox, Bunyan, Brown, Gill, Trapp, etc., etc.) and you have Bible's everywhere! But your goofy queen and her adulterous whore of a son - YIKES put their hand and you all put your hands to mischief at every turn. The antichrist is sitting now, in the Whitehouse, the time is SO SHORT - the Lord is coming and this generation is DOOMED! You see the destruction already before your eyes! As filthy america goes down, and The Beast Obama, That Son of Perdition, that Man of Sin gets his power grab on, you will all give over the power of your government to him and when you see that phony façade fall away, and he gets his war on and all your fawning over him turns to great fear, then you can remember these words. In that hour, if you or any other soul in the UK has a heart to know your God, and you understand that the end is near, you can yet put away your idols, your false gods and your FILTHY manner of life and you can serve the Lord your God in truth! THAT is your only hope. Thanks for asking!"

A member of Parliament has asked the UK's Home Secretary to deny Westboro access to the country.

Maria Miller, MP for Basingstoke, has contacted the Home Secretary after she received emails from concerned constituents. A spokesperson for Ms Miller told PinkNews.co.uk that she has "passed on her constituents requests" that members of the Westboro Baptist Church be denied entry into the UK.

I'm wondering how the Phelps would do when they run into the UK's famously stiff laws against public hate speech. Who wants to bet they never show?