Saturday, May 09, 2009

Alcohol Consumption By Country

Looks like Ireland might lead the pack. Embiggen for better detail.

(Via - Andrew Sullivan)

Labels: , ,


"Pride House" For Gay Athletes At 2010 Vancouver Olympic Game

Gay athletes at the 2010 Vancouver Games will have have a safe space to socialize together:
Canadian athletes at the 2010 Winter Games will have Canada House. Russians will have Russia House. The Dutch, Holland House. And now, gay and lesbian athletes will have Pride House. For the first time in Olympic history, gay and lesbian athletes will have a place to go to relax and watch events, and meet friends. On Friday, a group called Gay Whistler announced it will set up a special club house in partnership with the Pan Pacific Whistler Village hotel. The free facility will be open to homosexual athletes, their families, friends and fans. It will offer a lounge, television screens and meeting areas. "It is really important to have a safe space for out athletes, coaches, fans and allies to come and hang out, share their stories, trade pins and have fun," said Dean Nelson, one of the organizers.
It's a new world.

Labels: , , , , ,


NOM's New Hampshire Ad

Just released and on the air in New Hampshire.

Labels: , , ,


Friday, May 08, 2009

The $328,835 Photo

Which any 8th grader with Photoshop could have created. And probably made brighter. Today the White House's sacrificial lamb fell on his sword.
The director of the White House Military Office has resigned, an administration official said Friday, two weeks after he authorized an Air Force One flyover of the Statue of Liberty that terrified thousands of people in New York City. The director, Louis Caldera, who served as the secretary of the Army in the Clinton administration, had apologized for approving the flyover. He submitted his resignation on Friday, after the president ordered an internal White House review.

Labels: , , , , , ,


What Keeps You Awake?

I live in the back of my building, so the only thing that tends to wake me is when the neighbors across the alley put their dogs outside and go to work for the day. The separation anxiety kicks in after about ten minutes.

Embiggen Greg Hathaway's Things That Keep Me Awake In New York City for his list. My favorites: "Bodega radio playing, bodega gates opening, bodega gates closing." THAT I can relate to from when I lived in Hell's Kitchen.

Labels: , , ,


Today In Silliness

In Leeds, England, twin sisters and a friend have legally changed their names to salute Madonna. Their new names:

-Lianne Madonna Vogue On The Cover Of A Magazine McHale Dawson
-Emma Madonna Confessions On A Dance Floor McHale Dawson
-Gemma Madonna True Blue Strike A Pose Carroll McHale Dawson Me Me Mitchell.

Call me "Joe Donna Love To Love You Baby Summer MyGod."

Labels: , , ,


Miss Botswana Channels Carrie Prejean

A Miss Botswana contestant got the same question as Carrie Prejean and took her answer one step further, winning her the crown.
In a scenario that mirrors the recent controversy at the Miss USA competition, Sumaiyah Marope was asked by judge DJ Fresh if she would advocate gay marriage. “It is unnatural act,” Marope proclaimed. “God made us men and women [... ] It is only proper for men to have relationships with women as God created us.” The crowd erupted in a loud roar of approval of her comments. Unlike Miss California, Marope went on to win the competition, and was awarded a US $700 bracelet from rapper Russell Simmons, a brand new Mercedes Benz, and an academic scholarship. Miss Botswana’s comments come at an unusual time in Botswana, as several gay rights groups are pushing for the removal of legislation that does not recognize same-sex relationships.
Andy Towle notes that Russell Simmons may regret donating a prize to the pageant as he recently wrote a Huffington Post column in support of marriage equality.

Labels: , , , ,


Jon Stewart's Gaywatch

One of Jon Stewart's best, and that's saying something.

Labels: , , , ,


Oprah Almost Killed Mother's Day!

After debuting on Oprah's show on Tuesday, KFC's free grilled chicken promotion caused their corporate site to crash and spawned near riots at Manhattan outlets. Today the company suspended the promotion because the chain was going to run out of chicken by Mother's Day, which curiously is their busiest day of the year. Below KFC's CEO apologizes and offer rain checks. Dig his Kentucky accent.

Labels: , , , ,


PhoboQuotable -Bishop Richard Malone

"I am deeply disappointed in the Maine Legislature and the Governor for making same sex-marriage legal in our state. We believe that the vast majority of Maine's people believe that marriage is the union of one man and one woman, and that calling same-sex relationships marriage doesn't make them so. Marriage as we have known it for millennia has served as the cornerstone of society.

"The family, consisting of mother, father and children, has served throughout the ages as the natural place for the healthy development of children into well adjusted and productive citizens. Same-sex marriage is a dangerous sociological experiment that I believe will have negative consequences for society as a whole. Children will be taught in schools that same-sex marriage and traditional marriage are simply different expressions of the same thing, and that the logical and consistent understanding that marriage and reproduction are intrinsically linked is no longer valid. These are profound changes that will reverberate throughout society with tragic consequences." - Maine's Bishop Richard Malone.

The Portland Diocese has vowed to "play a lead role" in organizing the "people's veto" petition drive in Maine.

Labels: , , , , ,


Ground Zero

Gothamist points us to this photo of Ground Zero taken yesterday morning. More than seven years later and it's still mostly just a big hole in the ground. This shot faces west with New Jersey visible in the distance.

(Photo credit: luluinnyc | Amy Dreher on Flickr)

Labels: , , , ,


Tipping Point

The number of Americans who don't own a landline now exceeds the number who don't own a cellphone.
A Centers for Disease Control and Prevention survey released Wednesday said that fully 20 percent of U.S. households only had cell phones in the second half of 2008. That's a three point increase since the first half of 2008--a big jump, statistically speaking--and also three points higher than the 17 percent of households with landlines but no cell phones. For comparison purposes, in 2003, just three percent of households were wireless only, whereas a whopping 43 percent had landlines but no cell phones yet. In the meantime, about 60 percent of households have both landlines and cell phones.
I'm wondering why this was a CDC survey? Anyone?

Labels: , , , ,


Poll: Mothers Trust Ellen & Portia

Readers of the site Parent Dish would rather leave their kids in the care of Ellen DeGeneres and Portia de Rossi than any other celebrities.
Ellen and Portia received 31 percent of the vote, nine points above runner-up Jennifer Aniston, followed by Angelina Jolie and Brad Pitt, Rachel Ray, and Oprah Winfrey. Alias star Jennifer Garner was named the best mother, taking 37 percent of the vote, 11 points above tied runners-up Michelle Obama and Reese Witherspoon, with Gwen Stefani and Angelina Jolie trailing in the single digits.
Voters also rated Courtney Love as "worst celebrity mom", but no criteria was offered for that judgment.

Labels: , , , ,


Crown Of Statue Of Liberty To Reopen

Visitors to the Statue of Liberty will be able to hike up to the crown again beginning on July 4th.
The Statue of Liberty’s crown, which was closed after the 9/11 attacks, will reopen to the public on July 4, the White House announced on Friday morning. The decision, by the Obama administration, is a reversal of the previous policy. Under the Bush administration, the Interior Department, which includes the National Park Service, had insisted that visitors could not be permitted because the crown — reachable only by a very narrow, 12-story-high spiral staircase with a low guardrail — did not meet modern fire, building and safety codes.
No improvements have been made to the 12-story staircase, which personal experience allows me to tell you can be rather claustrophobic - there's no way to go back if you change your mind. But hey, now you can get a GREAT view of Air Force One next time it zooms by at eye-level.

Labels: , , , ,


Crying Uncle: Boycott Forces San Diego Hotelier To Donate To LGBT Causes

Almost a year into what some have called a very effective boycott of his businesses, San Diego hotelier Doug Manchester is preparing to donate an amount to LGBT organizations that equals his $125,000 Prop 8 donation. The donation will likely partially come in the form of hotel credits that local LGBT groups can use for fundraising.
Manchester, a devout Catholic, gave $125,000 to get Proposition 8 on the ballot last year. He wasn't against gays and lesbians, he said, just the marrying part. Gays and lesbians decided they weren't against the Hyatt, considered a gay-friendly company, just the Manchester part. In July, the boycott began. Manchester brushed it off at first, but he seems to feel otherwise now: His plan – which his people warned this newspaper against publishing, even after a Hyatt representative discussed it – is to give $25,000 to a national organization that promotes civil unions and domestic partnerships. Manchester also is considering offering $100,000 in hotel credit to local gay and lesbian organizations so they can use the Grand Hyatt for events such as fundraisers. The $125,000 total matches what he gave to Proposition 8. So it would be even-steven. “He's trying to clarify his views,” said Kelly Commerford, director of marketing for the Grand Hyatt, one of the largest hotels on the West Coast. “He's not discriminatory. He's supportive of this community. He realizes he offended people.”
Credit goes to Fred Karger's Californians Against Hate, who started the boycott. Major conventions, including one for the American Trial Lawyers Association, have moved their business from Manchester-owned hotels since the boycott began.

Labels: , , , , , ,


Click On NOM's Ads!

Although none have appeared on JMG, you may be seeing ads from NOM popping up on many gay blogs, in your RSS reader, and in other places where their ad is triggered by gay marriage-related keywords. Please be sure and CLICK on these ads every time you see one. They have to pay for every click!

Labels: , , ,


Pat Robertson: Gay Marriage Will Lead To Bestiality, Pedophilia, Child Molestation

And meanwhile he continues to swindle little old ladies out of their social security checks so he can buy more diamond mines and oil refineries.

Labels: , , , , , , ,


GOP Senator Says He Could Support An Openly Gay SCOTUS Nominee

Sen. Jeff Sessions (R) could see himself supporting a SCOTUS nominee with "homosexual tendencies" (whatever that means) provided the candidate is properly qualified and doesn't bring any personal, religious, or moral agenda to the job. Uh, wow?

Peter LaBarbera loses what's left of his tiny bovine spongiform-addled mind:
Welcome to the new “Sexual Diversity” landscape created by decades of homosexual activism — with its essentially anti-Christian, anti-Biblical ethos. Liberal opinion-making elites like MSNBC’s Mark Halperin below now treat homosexual perversion (oops, sorry, “sexual orientation”) as part of America’s “minority” tapestry — eligible for all the “diversity” demands — read: quotas — of other (genuine) minority groups. Identity politics and affirmative action are bad enough with real minorities; they will become unbearable once expanded to include advocates and practitioners of changeable sexual sin — which is what an open and proudly “gay” Supreme Court justice would be.

Labels: , , , ,


Daily Ungrumble

Hey, what's that bright thing?

Labels: , ,


Knights Of Columbus Join Anti-Marriage Equality Battle In New Jersey

The Knights of Columbus and other groups are working to get an anti-marriage equality referendum put on New Jersey's 2010 ballot.
Organizations opposed to letting gay or lesbian couples marry are urging lawmakers to put a question on the 2010 ballot asking voters whether to amend the state constitution to ban such unions. While there's still time to get a referendum on this year's ballot, conservative activists said at a Wednesday news conference that it's not practical to think officials would put such a question on the ballot in a gubernatorial election year. Such a route would also mean the Legislature could put a question on the ballot without the three-fifths supermajority usually used to propose constitutional amendments. Proposals passed two years in a row by a simple majority also are presented to voters.
Jim White of the New Jersey Knights of Columbus says homosexuality is "inherently unhealthy" and that New Jersey "should discourage it." White: "Frankly, government does not have the right to meddle with marriage." Garden State Equality wants the legislature to vote on the issue now, but no vote is likely before the November gubernatorial election.

Labels: , , , ,


CNN: Gay Issues Closing In On Obama

Last night CNN broadcast this in-depth report on the LGBT issues closing in on President Obama. When even the networks note that little has been achieved on our behalf, that's saying something. Still, the report accurately notes that most LGBT Americans are willing to give the President a lot more time, considering what is on his plate.

Labels: , , , , ,


Maddow Interviews Kicked Out Soldier

This clip includes a mention of a personal handwritten note that President Obama just wrote to a recently discharged female GI, which includes his promise to end DADT, although "it will take some time."

Labels: , , , , ,


Disco Legend Viola Wills Dies At 69

A sad day for disco lovers. Legendary gay icon Viola Wills has died at age 69. From her site:
It is with great sadness that Vi's family report Viola passed peacefully away after a long illness, May 6th 8.27am Pacific Time. Viola leaves behind six children - Vincent, Christopher, Regina, La Donna, David and Rejal, 21 grandchildren and eight great grandchildren. Viola's favourite saying to her family was always "Aim for the sky and always dare to dream" Vi's service will be held at the Angeles Memorial Park, 1515 E Compton Blvd, Compton, Ca, 90221 at 11.30 on May 15 2009 - all are welcome. On Viola's behalf her family wish a special heartfelt thanks to all of Vi's fans over the years, whom, Vi always said, allowed her dreams to come true.
I was lucky enough to see several of Viola's club performances, including at Fort Lauderdale's Marlin Beach Hotel in 1982 and the following spring at Backstreet, where my crew and I got to chat with her out by the pool. Nice lady. Here's a few of my favorites from Viola Wills.

Labels: , , , , ,


New Ad Campaign From Equality California: Win Back Marriage

Look! Actual GAY people! This is how they should have done it the first time!

Labels: , , , ,


YouTube Restores NOM's Ad

YouTube has reversed itself and restored NOM's ad featuring Carrie Prejean. The ad was taken down after Perez Hilton claimed copyright infringement for a 3-second glimpse of his video blog reaction to the Miss USA pageant. For a detailed analysis of YouTube's ruling, visit Copyrights & Campaigns, which you should note is a site written by John McCain's former Special Counsel.

Labels: , , , , ,


Thursday, May 07, 2009

DC Anchor: "I'm Not Sorry" For Threatening To Punch Mike Rogers

As a follow-up to yesterday's show in which DC news anchor Doug McKelway threatened on the air to punch gay activist Mike Rogers, today the talking head vowed that he will never apologize.

Labels: , , , , , ,


Caption This

Labels: ,


The View Slams Joe The Plumber

Even Elizabeth Hasselbeck chimes saying, "Joe The Plumber is not invited anywhere around ME," referring to his statement that he wouldn't let his children be around his mythical gay friends.

Labels: , , , ,


Entertainment Weekly Picks Their Winner

Note the subhead: "*And not just because he might be gay."

Labels: , , ,


Font Fight

For my pal Tom and his "Hel Fucking Vetica" t-shirt.

(Tipped by JMG reader Wilson)

Labels: , , ,


Michael Savage To Sue UK Over Travel Ban

Radio host Michael Savage says he's going to sue UK Home Secretary Jacqui Smith for defamation after she included him on list of persons banned from visiting the country.

UK tabloid Daily Mail:
Michael Savage, who has up to 10 million listeners, branded Home Secretary Jacqui Smith a 'lunatic' and a 'witch' after being named alongside hate preachers and a member of Hamas. Last night lawyers suggested he had a strong case as he had not advocated violence, unlike others on the list. It was thought he could claim up to £200,000 in damages.
Michael Savage:
"I have been banned from Great Britain. I had not planned on going there, I had not been there in over 25 years. When I woke up this morning I just thought I could not be true. The point is that today it is me, tomorrow it will be somebody else. For her to link me up with skinheads who are killing people in Russia, to put me in league with mass murderers who kill Jews on buses, is defamation. I thought this was a joke or a mistake. How could they put Michael Savage in the same league with mass murderers when I have never avowed violence? As a result of this, I am going to sue. When has this witch heard my show, since it's not syndicated in England? She has painted a target on my back, linking me with people who are in prison for killing people. Does she not think people might hunt me down?"
An attorney for the ACLU described the travel ban as a form of censorship, saying, "While some of these people may express views that others find disagreeable, often the cure is worse than the disease. It also deprives the citizens of that country of their ability to hear dissenting views."

Jacqui Smith defended her actions, saying that Savage "is actually likely to cause inter-community tension or even violence" if allowed in the country. Smith: "Coming to this country is a privilege. If you can't live by the rules that we live by, the standards and the values that we live by, we should exclude you."

Now let's see if the litigation-loving Phelps join the lawsuit.

Labels: , , , , , ,


Where Is Our "Fierce Advocate"?

Today the New York Times wonders when our president, who promised to be a "fierce advocate" for LGBT causes, is going to step up to the plate.
President Obama was noticeably silent last month when the Iowa Supreme Court overturned the state’s ban on same-sex marriage. But now Mr. Obama — who has said he opposes same-sex marriage as a Christian but describes himself as a “fierce advocate of equality” for gay men and lesbians — is under pressure to engage on a variety of gay issues that are coming to the fore amid a dizzying pace of social, political, legal and legislative change. Two of Mr. Obama’s potential Supreme Court nominees are openly gay; some advocates, irked that there are no gay men or lesbians in his cabinet, are mounting a campaign to influence his choice to replace Justice David H. Souter, who is retiring. Same-sex marriage is advancing in states — the latest to allow it is Maine — and a new flare-up in the District of Columbia could ultimately put the controversy in the lap of the president. Mr. Obama’s new global health initiative has infuriated activists who say he is not financing AIDS programs generously enough. And while the president has urged Congress to pass a hate crimes bill, a high priority for gay groups, he has delayed action on one of his key campaign promises, repealing the military’s “don’t ask, don’t tell” rule.
On Monday the president tried to allay the growing fears of abandonment and invited reps from major LGBT organizations to the White House for a chat. Afterwards, the HRC's Joe Solmonese emerged to say, "They have a vision. They have a plan."

We're waiting.

Labels: , , , , , , ,


Trippin' On The Moon!

OMG, you guys! A Saint reunion party!

Sunday May 31st, original Saint DJs Micheal Fierman and Robbie Leslie will perform at Trippin' On The Moon: Remembering Dancing Under The Dome at Manhattan's Santos House Party.

Advance tickets $30, $40 at the door (if available.) $20 admission to those with an original Saint membership card. The evening benefits Gay Men's Health Crisis and LifeBEAT.

I am SO freekin' there. I can guarantee you that the same song will not play all night long.

Labels: , , , , ,


Jackie Beat On Corn Syrup

If you've seen the ad touting the "healthiness" of high fructose corn syrup, you'll love these parodies starring drag legend Jackie Beat.

Labels: , , ,


Student At Christian College Appeals Suspension Over Appearance In Gay Porn

A student at a Christian college in Pennsylvania is fighting his school for suspending him because he's done gay porn.
Twenty-two-year-old John Gechter, of Philadelphia, was suspended for one year pending appeal from Grove City College after a student saw him last month in a video posted online. Gechter is appealing the suspension and says he may sue claiming that the gay porn job isn't any of the school's business, especially since he performed using the name "Vincent DeSalvo." Gechter says he used his porn income to pay for his schooling. School officials say Gechter is suspended because Gechter was well aware his porn involvement "exhibited behavior contrary to the values" of the school about 50 miles north of Pittsburgh.
And what about the fuckwit fellow student who narced him out? What was HE doing watching gay porn?

(Via - Dan Savage, who has a NSFW screenshot)

Labels: , , ,


The Prince's Rainforest Project

Labels: , , , ,


The Roots Of Carrie's Hate

Carrie Prejean's homophobia may have its origin in her parents' divorce and protracted custody battle in which her mother accused her father of being gay. TMZ has the court records.
Carrie's parents filed for divorce in 1988 and the divorce and custody fights went on for more than a decade -- it was a divorce filled with homosexual allegations hurled by both sides. In one of the docs, Carrie's dad describes a confrontation he had with her mom in 1996, in which he recounts an argument in a restaurant parking lot, where "Ms. Prejean accused me, in front of our daughter, of homosexuality."

The papers also quote a court-appointed doctor who said "The mother questioned [within hearing of the girls] whether [her father] was a homosexual or had a homosexual roommate." Carrie's mom says the "gay" allegations went both ways. In court papers dated May 16, 2000, a report from the court-appointed counselor says "The mother also alleges the father told the girls their stepfather was gay, that all men with mustaches are gay." The father's response: "The father acknowledges talking with the girls about the stepfather's brother being gay, not the stepfather."
In another court document, Carrie's older sister wrote that she and Carrie once saw their father's roommate in bed with another man, saying, "I don't think it's right for my sister & I to have to live that way."

Gays broke up her parents! I think this explains a lot.

Labels: , , ,


DC Newscaster Threatens To Punch Activist Mike Rogers Over Film Outrage

During a live broadcast, yesterday Washington DC NewsChannel 8 anchor Doug McKelway threatened to take activist Mike Rogers "outside and give you a punch across your face" when the two disagreed over the outing tactics of the film Outrage, in which Rogers appears. McKelway didn't like it when Rogers said that if he felt outing was wrong, then he must be anti-gay. Rogers remained amazingly unruffled. Fireworks start around 2:30. The movie opens nationwide on Friday.

(Via - Pam Spaulding)

Here's the trailer for Outrage.

Labels: , , , ,


Porn Star Stormy Daniels May Run Against Sen. David "Diaper Boy" Vitter (R-LA)

Sen. David Vitter (R-LA), the hateful gay rights opponent whose name was in the little black book of the DC Madam, may have a challenger in porn star Stormy Daniels.
Stormy Daniels strode onstage at a downtown Baton Rouge restaurant in a tight black blouse with a plunging neckline and a knee-length skirt in the popular purple of Louisiana State University. She introduced herself with a warning. "For those of you who don't know who I am," she told the lunch crowd at The Roux House, "I'd suggest that you don't Google that until you get home from work." She's a Louisiana-born porn star who says she is considering a 2010 run for the U.S. Senate seat currently held by Republican David Vitter, whose family-values reputation was marred in 2007 when his name was linked to a Washington prostitution ring.
According to hookers in the employ of the now-suicided DC Madam, Vitter enjoys adult baby roleplaying including wearing diapers. He also enjoys railing against the expansion of LGBT rights.

Labels: , , , , ,


No Prosecution For Wal-Mart Over Black Friday Death Stampede

After a security guard was trampled to death by an unruly mob stampeding the entrance of a Long Island Wal-Mart, many called for the criminal prosecution of the company for staging the pre-dawn "doorbuster" holiday sales event with little security. Yesterday the company evaded charges.
Mega-retailer Wal-Mart will avoid criminal prosecution for its role in the fatal post- Thanksgiving Day stampede at its Valley Stream store by agreeing to overhaul its statewide safety plan, paying out $400,000 to victims of the melee and donating $1.5 million to community programs, Nassau District Attorney Kathleen Rice said Wednesday. Rice announced the agreement at a Mineola news conference Wednesday, more than five months after a temporary worker was killed by stampeding shoppers during the sale day. "No prosecution could have achieved what we have been able to do with this agreement," Rice said. "Rather than bringing the world's largest retailer to court and imposing a small fine against them, I felt it was important to require significant safety changes that will affect the whole state."
Wal-Mart admits no wrongdoing under the plea deal. The family of the trampled security guard is continuing with a civil suit against the company.

Labels: , , , ,


Openly Gay Justice For SCOTUS?

The Victory Fund's Chuck Wolfe talks to MSNBC's David Shuster about the possibility of President Obama appointing a gay or lesbian person to replace SCOTUS Judge David Souter.

Labels: , , , ,


Friendly Voices - Adrian Fenty

''I think you can certainly anticipate that [gay marriage] is in the future of the District of Columbia. How soon, we don't know. But this is a huge step forward in being -- having a law that recognizes marriages from other jurisdictions. And I do believe that nationally there's movement on this issue. Just in the past six to 12 months -- you just announced Maine being the latest state to grant same-sex marriages. I think, just as marriage used to prohibit people from different races from being able to marry each other in this country, and that was done away with; I think prohibiting same-sex marriage will be done away with also in this country." Washington DC Mayor Adrian Fenty predicting marriage equality for his city.

Labels: , , ,


West Point Grad Booted From Army After Coming Out On Rachel Maddow Show

Paging President Obama......

Labels: , , , , , ,


Aerial Virtual Tour Of NYC

If you need a new time suck, check out this aerial virtual tour of NYC. Use your arrow keys to zoom around or click on the lower left boxes for specific destinations. Warning: bad new age music ahead.

(Via - Gothamist)

Labels: , , , ,


Perez Hilton Vs. Maggie Gallagher

Again, I'm surprised with Perez Hilton.

Labels: , , , , ,


Bye Allison

As expected (and predicted by Dial Idol).

Labels: , , ,


Open Thread Thursday

If you didn't have to work until Monday, where would you be today?

Labels: ,


Wednesday, May 06, 2009

Rock Maine Lobster!

For the hardworking folks at Equality Maine!

Labels: ,


Victory In New Hampshire! Marriage Bill Now On Governor's Desk

The New Hampshire House narrowly approved its marriage equality bill today by a vote of 178-167, sending the bill to the desk of Gov. John Lynch, who has not said whether he will sign the bill.

Another big win for the good guys! Congrats to all who worked so hard!

Labels: , , ,


McDonald's Settles "Faggots" Complaint

McDonald's has settled a complaint brought by the ACLU on behalf of five gay customers who were verbally abused by a restaurant staffer at a Louisville, Kentucky outlet.
Nine months after an employee at a McDonald's restaurant in downtown Louisville called a group of gay customers a series of anti-gay slurs, the American Civil Liberties Union announced today that McDonald's has agreed to a cash settlement and diversity training for management at 30 of its Louisville-area restaurants. Ryan Marlatt, Teddy Eggers, and three other friends had stopped for lunch at a McDonald's restaurant on East Market Street on July 26, 2008 while visiting Louisville for the weekend. While they waited for their food to be prepared, an employee behind the counter referred to them as “faggots” to another employee. When Marlatt and Eggers objected to the slur and asked to speak with a manager, the employee who had called them “faggots” started arguing with them, repeatedly calling them “faggots” in front of other customers and calling one of them a “cocksucker” and “bitch.”
After the incident, the offended patrons tried repeatedly to reach McDonald's corporate offices but were ignored, eventually resulting in the ACLU's complaint with the Louisville Human Rights Commission. Although the customers had only requested the refund of their purchase, McDonald's offered them each $2000, which they accepted. All that, plus lawyers' fees, plus diversity training for 30 managers... and all it would have taken is an apology and one shit-canned employee. The customers tell their story in a video clip at the ACLU's site.

Labels: , , , ,


Mormon Rep. Jason Chaffetz Vows To Bring Congress Into DC Marriage Battle

Freshman Rep. Jason Chaffetz (R-UT), a Mormon, has vowed to have Congress intervene in DC's decision to recognize same-sex marriages from other jurisdictions.
Chaffetz, who is the ranking Republican on the House subcommittee that oversees the district, says he is in discussions with House minority leaders on which of several options they will use to try to thwart the sanction of same-sex marriage within the nation's capital. "I'm in a favor of recognizing marriage as a union between a man and a woman," Chaffetz said. "I'm not in favor of trying to redefine it, or disguise it under another name." Unlike any other American city, Washington has no ultimate control over its own laws and budgets and Congress has 30 days in which to cancel the 12-1 vote by the City Council to recognize same-sex marriage licenses from other states. The district, home to nearly 600,000 residents, has no voting member of Congress.
The Democratic majority in the House may be able to block any action Chaffetz attempts. And how is it that a Congressman in office for three months is already the ranking Republican in charge of DC? Must be a shit assignment.

Labels: , , , , , ,


"Terrorizing" The Ex-Gays

Certified hate group MassResistance is claiming that LGBT activists led by Wayne Besen "terrorized" a meeting of "ex-gay" loonies Exodus International last week at a Boston church. Here's the video MassResistance made of the protest. Besen's group had a permit, police were called, no arrests, no citations. No "terrorism".

RELATED: In November 2007 the teenage daughter of MassResistance founder Amy Contrada came out as a lesbian after her mother picketed her high school's production of The Laramie Project. The next week good ol' mom created a full page on the MassResistance site to announce that her daughter was adopted, emotionally unstable, and a "special needs" student. Last year the Southern Poverty Law Center rated MassResistance as a hate group.

Labels: , , , , , ,


NH House Vote Imminent

The New Hampshire House is voting on concurrence with the state Senate's marriage bill this afternoon. The vote should come shortly and is likely to be close. Live audio/video streams are here.

Labels: , ,


Lesbian Couple To Attempt First Same-Sex Marriage In Russia

Although they'll surely be rejected, next week a lesbian couple in Moscow will attempt to get a marriage license.
Public relations worker Irina Fyet, 31, and her partner of the same age will apply for a marriage license at a register office on May 12 in Moscow, a city where mayor Yuri Luzhkov once described gay pride marches as "satanic." Gay rights activist Nikolai Alekseyev said it was the first time a gay couple would apply for a license. "I am 99 percent sure there will be a refusal, but maybe later the situation in Russia can change, the political feeling can change," he told Reuters on Wednesday. The pair will most likely legally marry in the coming months in Toronto, or Norway, he added. Neither country requires residency for gay couples wishing to marry. Activists say a loophole exists in Russian law which bans gay marriage at home but does not prevent the recognition of a same-sex marriage that has taken place abroad.
Next week Moscow Pride will coincide with the finals of the Eurovision Song Contest, bringing the couple access to hundreds of probably friendly foreign journalists.

Labels: , , , ,


Kylie Minogue Announces 1st U.S. Tour

Six dates were just announced for Kylie Minogue's first ever North American tour.
Sep. 30 Oakland, CA Fox Theater
Oct. 3 Las Vegas, NV The Pearl
Oct. 4 Los Angeles, CA Hollywood Bowl
Oct. 7 Chicago, IL Congress Theater
Oct. 9 Toronto, ON Air Canada Centre
Oct. 11 NYC, NY Hammerstein Ballroom
Rainbows! Glitter! Unicorns! Kylie! Tickets go on sale next week. My pal Ken just emailed from LA: "You do realize that I'm breathing into a paper bag right now." This news came via #1 Kylie fanatic Jimbo in DC.

Labels: , , , ,


Marriage Comes To Maine! Gov. Baldacci Signs Marriage Equality Bill!

Today Maine became the fifth state to approve marriage equality!
Democratic Gov. John Baldacci today signed into law a bill allowing gay marriage, making Maine the fifth state to allow same-sex marriage. The governor's signature came barely an hour after the measure won final approval in the state Legislature, with a final 31-8 vote in favor in the Maine Senate. Baldacci said in a statement that while he has opposed gay marriage in the past, “I have come to believe that this is a question of fairness and of equal protection under the law, and that a civil union is not equal to civil marriage.

“This new law does not force any religion to recognize a marriage that falls outside of its beliefs," the governor said. "It does not require the church to perform any ceremony with which it disagrees. Instead, it reaffirms the separation of church and state. It guarantees that Maine citizens will be treated equally under Maine’s civil marriage laws, and that is the responsibility of government," Baldacci said. The governor's signature means the law would take effect in 90 days after the end of the legislative session. It may not, however, be the last word: Opponents of same-sex marriage are gearing up to mount a so-called "people's veto" campaign that would put the issue to a statewide vote in November.
Congratulations to all our brothers and sisters in Maine for their hard work! Lobster for everybody!!

Labels: , , , ,


At Yesterday's DC Marriage Hearing

Marion Barry makes his deluded case. And then after the vote, all the crazies start shouting.

(Via - Washington Blade)
UPDATE: More screaming!

Labels: , , ,


ZOMG! GPS Will Bring The Stormtroopers To Your Front Door!

Wingnutistan is up in arms (again!) because the 2010 Census will include GPS data for the front doors every American home. Via World Net Daily:
"GPS coordinates of your front door will make it easier for the government to monitor you. The U.S. Census Bureau is simply an excuse – a harmless looking means of obtaining the front door coordinates. The creation of GPS coordinates for front doors has nothing to do with the census, in all honesty, no matter how much the United States government tries to convince you that it does. The Obamites, thirsty to serve their new messianic figure, have lost enough of their objectivity to be willingly recruited into such an insidious program like gaining these coordinates for the U.S. government."
And then he took his Google Maps print-out and got into his GSP-equipped car to find the nearest titty bar.

WND readers respond:
-"Obama is really scaring me..swine flu outbreak..air force one incident..now he is tracking us to our front door?..i have a very bad feeling that we are in a lot of trouble and it's just starting..he wants to control the radio and internet..i fear for america and the american people..i don't think obama is as foolish as he wants everyone to believe..he has an agenda and he knows exactly what he's doing..i think he is more evil than anyone can imagine.."
-"Well, once they have the GPS coordinates for everybody in the USA then they just need to match that info up with Janet Napolean's list of the "domestic terrorist troublemakers" and voila! Properly programmed smart weapons can then be used to eliminate any opposition to Obummer's dictatorship."
-"They'll be wearing blue helmets, won't be able to read English or an American map, but they'll be marginally intelligent enough to follow GPS coordinates and read the number of 'anti-U.N./NWO Christian extremists' occupying the dwellings. Yes, they will kill me because I do plan to take a few with me. (but of course I will leave the 'coordinates' immediately with family at the first word of emergency or GPS aerial attack.)"

Labels: , , , , , ,


Tonight: NY Marriage Equality Meetings

Tonight at the NYC LGBT Center:
Both Marriage Equality New York and Civil Rights Front will be having their monthly meetings tonight at the LGBT Center. MENY is at 6:30pm, CRF at 7:30pm. These may be the last meetings before the Prop 8 decision is issued, so I'd strongly urge you to attend one or both. Both meetings will also talk about the counter-demonstration that's being planned against the National Organization for Marriage (Sunday, May 17, 1pm, 3rd Ave & 40t St)
(Via - Eric Leven)

Labels: , , , , , ,


HomoQuotable - David Ogden Stiers

"From the late 1980s until about seven or eight years ago, you would find certain individuals coming up to you, me, and advocating the position that since we were doing family fare that it would be best were the actors to maintain a certain palatability to parents. These parties likely had heard rumors or harbored suspicions about me and wanted to make sure no embarrassing incidents were forthcoming. I could claim noble reasons as coming out in order to move gay rights forward, but I must admit it is for far more selfish reasons. Now is the time I wish to find someone and I do not desire to force any potential partner to live a life of extreme discretion for me." - Actor David Ogden Stiers coming out, because he wants a husband.

Labels: , , ,


About Yesterday

If you visited yesterday's Carrie Prejean posts you noticed an avalanche of anti-gay trolls as this here website thingy saw about ten times its normal traffic from people Googling variations on "Miss California topless." Some of the conversation threads no longer "track" because I had to delete and ban so many "your all sick fagets" types of comments. My apologies to loyal JMGers who took on the trolls, but that stuff had to go. I think yesterday I banned more people in one day that in the previous five years of JMG*. However, I will admit taking no small pleasure in wiping out 500-word opuses (that probably took an hour to craft) merely after reading the first few words. "As it says in the Book of Revela.." GONE. Insert Muttley laugh here.

*I did allow some of their ridiculousness to remain if your riposts were especially zingy.

Labels: , , ,


The Mormon Church Has Posthumously Baptized President Obama's Mother

John Aravosis at Americablog went digging through the Mormon Church's online records and discovered that the LDS posthumously baptized Barack Obama's mother during the 2008 presidential campaign. Remember the scandal last November when the LDS was caught posthumously baptizing Holocaust victims even after they said they would stop? Read Aravosis' first and follow-up posts on this latest revelation.

Labels: , , , , ,


PETA By The Numbers

According to the website PETA Kills Animals:
PETA’s “Animal Record” report for 2008 (PDF), filed with the Virginia Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services, shows that the animal rights group killed 95 percent of the dogs and cats in its care last year. During all of 2008, PETA found adoptive homes for just seven pets. Just seven animals -- out of the 2,216 it took in. PETA just broke its own record. Why would an animal rights group secretly kill animals at its headquarters? PETA’s continued silence on the matter makes it hard to say for sure. But from a cost-saving standpoint, PETA’s hypocrisy isn’t difficult to understand: Killing adoptable cats and dogs – and storing the bodies in a walk-in freezer until they can be cremated – requires far less money and effort than caring for the pets until they are adopted. PETA has a $32 million annual budget. But instead of investing in the lives of the thousands of flesh and blood creatures in its care, the group spends millions on media campaigns telling Americans that eating meat, drinking milk, fishing, hunting, wearing leather shoes, and benefiting from medical research performed on lab rats are all “unethical.”
A couple of things. When this site says "killed", they mean "euthanized." And I don't necessarily see anything wrong with storing dead animals in a freezer pending cremation. (What's the alternative?) Otherwise, these numbers are horrifying.

Labels: , , ,


Rep. Virginia Foxx Sends Letter Of Apology To Judy Shepard

After standing on the floor of Congress and calling the use of Matthew Shepard's death to advance the hate crimes bill a "hoax", Rep. Virginia Foxx (R-NC) has sent a letter of apology to Judy Shepard, who was in the gallery during the speech.

The Matthew Shepard Foundation acknowledges receipt of the letter, but declined to discuss its contents, saying they prefer to focus on the task of getting the bill passed in the Senate. Foxx has not yet said if she now considers the murder of Matthew Shepard to have in fact been a hate crime.

Labels: , , , ,


Rumors

Sources say that the California Supreme Court may issue its Prop 8 ruling tomorrow. We should hear something by the end of today. Notice should pop up on the Court's site here.

UPDATE: False alarm. Tomorrow's notices have gone up and Prop 8 isn't there. Will the Court uphold Prop 8 next week on the very anniversary of the day same-sex marriage was approved last year?

Labels: , , ,


James Dobson: The Religious Rights's Most Outrageous Liar

Focus On The Family head James Dobson goes video with his outrageous lies that the hate crimes bill currently before Congress in fact protects pedophiles and other sexual criminals from prosecution. Watch in disbelief.

"Bisexuality, exhibitionism, fetishism, incest, necrophilia, pedophilia, prostitution, sexual masochism, urophilia, voyeurism, and bestiality. Those are just a few. And I have to ask, have we gone completely MAD? We're gonna protect all thirty of these forms of sexual perversion?

Labels: , , , , , ,


Caption This

Labels: ,


Matthews Vs. Rep. Pence On Evolution

Labels: , , ,


Tuesday, May 05, 2009

Adam Lambert - Whole Lotta Love

Adam Lambert's patented wailing was well-suited to tonight's rock theme, especially for a Led Zeppelin cover. Both Danny and Kris were disasters, but I still wouldn't be surprised to see Alison go tomorrow night.

Labels: , , , ,


NH Freedom To Marry Ad, NH House Votes On Marriage Equality Tomorrow


Via Blue Hampshire:
House Bill 436 will be on the House floor this Wednesday, May 6th. We will ask the House to "concur" with the excellent amendments put onto the bill by the Senate. If we are able to earn concurrence, the bill then will be on its way to Governor John Lynch, who we hope will continue to listen to the growing support that marriage equality has received during all these months. We need your help. The opposition is working hard. We have to work harder.
Contact representatives in the New Hampshire House here.

Labels: , ,


Marion Barry Warns Of "Civil War" Over Same-Sex Marriage

After accidentally voting FOR marriage equality today, then calling for a second vote because he wasn't paying attention, former DC mayor and current City Councilman Marion Barry said that a "civil war" may erupt in the nation's capitol over same-sex marriage. Pandemonium ensued in the council's building after the vote and police and security had to removing screaming evangelicals.
"All hell is going to break lose," Barry said while speaking to reporters. "We may have a civil war. The black community is just adamant against this." Barry made his remarks a few hours after a group of same-sex marriage opponents, led by black ministers, caused uproar in the Wilson Building after the Council voted 12 to 1 to recognize same-sex marriages performed elsewhere. They caused such a ruckus that security guards and police had to clear the hallway. The protesters shouted that council members who voted for the bill will face retribution at the polls. Although he has been a longtime supporter of gay rights, Barry said he voted against the bill to satisfy his constituents in Southeast Washington. "What you've got to understand is 98 percent of my constituents are black and we don't have but a handful of openly gay residents," Barry said. "Secondly, at least 70 percent of those who express themselves to me about this are opposed to anything dealing with this issue. The ministers think it is a sin, and I have to be sensitive to that."
Four times married. Convicted crack addict. Three times indicted for tax evasion. One DUI arrest. He is a "moral politician."

Labels: , , , ,


Pageant To NOM: Cease & Desist

The Miss California USA pageant doesn't want NOM using images from the contest on their website. Via TMZ:
The Miss Universe Organization just told us they've fired off a cease and desist letter to the National Organization for Marriage -- after NOM used footage from the Miss USA 2009 pageant in an anti-gay marriage commercial. The commercial -- which is currently still playing on NOM's website -- uses Carrie Prejean's pageant response to the gay marriage question as a selling point for the ad. This doesn't mean the MUO is taking sides on the issue -- just saying NOM can't use the copyrighted material to promote their agenda.
When will they snatch Carrie's tiara and crown the runner-up, Tami Farrell - Miss Malibu USA?

Labels: , , ,


Comments Links Alert

Porn site owners and other spammers are bombarding JMG with outgoing comments links today. I'm deleting them as I can, but please take care when clicking on links left in comments. Some of the linked sites appear to be loaded with spyware/malware/adware. If you don't already, you should add alert services for these attack sites to your browser.

Labels: , , ,


Swag Tuesday

Courtesy of Universal Music, today's Swag Tuesday giftie is the Elton John concert DVD The Red Piano, which goes on sale nationwide today.
Thousands of Elton John fans have traveled to Caesars Palace Las Vegas to see over 200 sold-out The Red Piano shows, helping break attendance records and setting new standards for musical entertainment. Now available everywhere for the first time, the concert DVD or a high-definition Blu-ray format contains the 14-song performance of The Red Piano show, including fan favorites such as “Candle in the Wind,” “Your Song,” “Rocket Man” and “Tiny Dancer.” The Blu-ray features a bonus 50-minute documentary, “The Life and Legacy Of Elton John,” with behind-the-scenes of David LaChapelle’s treatment of the show, plus stage projections, as well as unique raw videos made for the stage backdrop for select songs.
Enter to win The Red Piano by commenting on this post. Only enter once and please remember to leave your email address in the text of your comments. Entries close at midnight Wednesday, west coast time. Publicists: If you'd like to take part in Swag Tuesday on JMG, please email me.

Labels: , , , ,


The Big Fat Gay Anti-Hate Collaboration

Two dozen YouTubers collaborated to create this take on Lily Allen's Fuck You. Love it, love it, love it. Big props to Bil Browning at the Bilerico Project for the tip. I'm putting this on repeat for the rest of the day.

Labels: , , , , ,


Victory In Maine!

Victory again! Maine's House of Representatives just approved their marriage equality bill by a vote of 89-58. The bill now goes back to the state Senate for final approval before landing on Gov. John Baldacci's desk. Baldacci has been evasive as to his decision.

Maine's in-house haters will have 90 days after the governor's potential approval to gather 55,000 petition signatures to force a November referendum.

Labels: , , , ,


Miss Implants Tweets Me

Garsh, Miss California, what is it, exactly, that I'm lying about?

UPDATE: So how do we find out if this Twitter account really belongs to her? A little help!

Labels: , , , , , , , ,


Traffic Spike

Overnight this here website thingy saw a traffic spike not seen in several years. Along with that traffic comes a few anti-gay trolls, some of whom I've dispatched, some of whom I've allowed to stay just for the fun of mocking them. If this is your first visit to JMG and you are straight, welcome, and the Miss California post is here. If you got here due to last night's Rachel Maddow show, that post is here.

Labels: , ,