Health Care Reform Bill Passes First Procedural Vote In U.S. Senate

I Almost Became A Real New Yorker

My late aunt used to say that you weren't a real New Yorker until you saw a dead body. Therefore I almost earned my Gothamite stripes last night when a smiling young man climbed down onto the subway tracks at 68th Street, then started taking off his clothes while walking back and forth on the wooden cover over the third rail. The FDNY arrived within less than five minutes to coax the guy back to the platform's edge, where they hoisted him up for a ride to Bellevue. Gory suicide averted. But the guy left his backpack on the rails (and there was an electrical smell) so they had to shut the 6 line down anyway, forcing me to cab it to Tribeca for Blowoff. Crazy dude, you owe me twenty bucks.

On The "Death" Of LGBT Print Media

Over on Mediaite, Michael Triplett of the National Gay & Lesbian Journalists Association covers the demise of the Washington Blade and other LGBT print titles and what physical gay newspapers have meant to us.

Like other “minority” media, it is easy to underestimate the significance of the LGBT press for the gay community. For many of us, it was the first glimpse into what it meant to be gay or lesbian or bisexual or transgender. We opened up those newspapers tentatively, almost afraid of what we would discover about ourselves and the world around us. We turn to the LGBT press to find out what’s happening on our street, to find a church, to find a lawyer, and even find a boyfriend or girlfriend.

I remember poring over the pages of personal ads in the mid-70's Advocate and After Dark, wondering what expressions like "French passive" could possibly mean and why so many of these men described themselves as "artistic" or "generous" - all while recoiling from the quarter-page ads featuring handsome men modeling black sheer harem pants and padded butt and crotch-enhancing underwear. Was I going to have to dress like that? But at the same time I thrilled to the bar and disco ads with their thinly-coded descriptions of dance floor and dark-room shenanigans.

To my embarrassment, I don't recall being particularly interested in the actual writing - that vital reporting of the brave, scary, heady days of our then young movement. Instead, I would memorize the address of places like Uncle Charlie's - you know, just in case I made a wrong turn between Algebra 2 and the cafeteria and found myself in lower Manhattan. In the above-linked article, Triplett discusses what the loss of these writers and reporters may mean for blogs like this one.

The irony of the fall of the Advocate and the Blade is that LGBT journalism is booming, at least when it comes to citizen journalism. From Pam Spaulding’s Pam’s House Blend and John Aravosis’ AmericaBlog to Andy Towle’s Towleroad and Joe Jervis’ JoeMyGod, LGBT voices are everywhere in the political and LGBT blogosphere. This citizen journalism takes many forms, from the progressive political coverage by Spaulding and Aravosis to the popular coverage by Towle and Jervis that mixes pictures of Levi Johnston in Playgirl and 80s disco videos with news about Proposition 8 and hate crimes. But the constant thread is that they rely on the mainstream press—and legacy LGBT media—to keep their operations running. They rely on reporters like Kerry Eleveld, the Washington correspondent for the Advocate, and Lou Chibbarro Jr. and Chris Johnson of the Blade to cover the ins-and-outs of the LGBT agenda at the White House and Congress.

He's completely right, of course. I have greatly depended on the timely and found-nowhere-else reporting of the Washington Blade and Advocate. Any loss of original reporting by the LGBT press means less content for this here website thingy, or at the least, less content provided with the unique gay perspective.

While I occasionally write for print LGBT publications, most of my original writing here on JMG tends to be event coverage (rallies, marches, protests, vigils, etc) or items about my personal life that I (perhaps solipsistically) think might be interesting or relevant. With diminished hard news coverage from real gay reporters, this or any LGBT news blog will suffer - how much it will hurt remains to be seen. It worries me.

Sarah Palin's Fans Are Revolting

Fans of Sarah Palin staged a mini-revolt around her tour bus when they didn't get to meet her during a book signing as they'd been promised. Funny stuff.

If You Care....

...Oh No They Didn't has a full leaked set of Levi Johnston's Playgirl photos. My review: "Eh."

(Tipped by JMG reader Daddy Ray)

Gaymers Honored By World Of Warcraft

The Stonewall Family, a community of LGBT players in the massively popular World Of Warcraft game, has been honored by the site's operators as their "Guild of the Month." Coming from the Pong era, I'm not going to pretend that I understand how it all works, but it seems like a sweet story at the end of a week of nonsense and hatred. The history of the Stonewall Family:

Our meta-guild, The Stonewall Family, originally started as a single guild – La Familia de Stonewall. It was founded in late 2007 by a handful of friends who had tried other gay/lesbian/bi/transgender and LGBT-friendly raiding guilds... but always felt they were somewhat lost in the shuffle, and never really felt a sense of "family". They wanted to start a guild where the social aspects of play and friendships were the most important factor, and where they would be able to avoid any anti-lgbt harassment. From that small group of friends, we have grown to a "meta-guild" of over 700 members across 5 sub-guilds today. [La Familia De Stonewall, The Family of Stonewall, Stonewall Rioters, Die Familie von Stonewall, La Banque de Stonewall]

I looked at the WoW site once, couldn't figure out where to insert the quarters.

80's Flashback

The Clash, The Magnificent Seven, 1981. The third single from the band's epic 1980 triple album Sandinista!, this was one of the Clash's least commercially successful releases, reaching only #34 on the UK pop chart and failing to chart in the U.S. at all, other than reaching #21 on dance. But aside from being my second-favorite Clash track ever (after Hitsville UK), The Magnificent Seven is worthy of noting for being the first ever original rap single by a major white act. Lyrically, the track is a condemnation of consumerism and wage slavery, familiar territory perhaps, but damn if that baseline doesn't still get me out of my chair almost 30 years later. I've always regretted never getting to see The Clash in concert. The closest I ever came was running into Joe Strummer on the beach in Daytona sometime in the early 80s. "Wassup, mate?" JMG: (Awed silence.) The end.

Maggie Gallagher Finally Responds To The Miss Ladyfingers USA Scandal

After weeks of shamed silence during which NOM scrubbed all mention of Carrie Prejean from their website, Maggie Gallagher has at last commented on the Miss Ladyfingers USA scandal in a column published on the wingnut site Townhall.

I hope young women watching learn something from Carrie's ordeal; ideally something like: Don't have sex with men who aren't willing to marry you. But if that is too elevated an ideal, try this one: Girls, don't send any pic to your boyfriend you don't want your mom or Matt Lauer to see. An embarrassed Carrie wasn't fully truthful about her private and personal life, which ended up making things more difficult for her. (Could any of those folks who defended Bill Clinton's right to commit perjury about sex please step up and say a kind word or two for Carrie?) [snip]

A few people have asked me if Carrie is now going to "stop" working for me. The truth is she doesn't work for NOM (National Organization for Marriage). We cut a TV ad without asking her approval using publicly available footage, and then we asked her to appear at a press conference to promote it. Out of the goodness of her heart she agreed, for which I remain grateful. I was asked to introduce her at several events, and I would do so again.

I really wanted Carrie to work for me because I believed she may have had a calling to help fight for the other Americans who believe as she does that marriage is the union of husband and wife. But Carrie did not want to be a crusader on the gay marriage issue, or the leader of a Christian youth movement. She just wanted to be a model, or an entertainer, or a sportscaster, or a news reader -- the kind of thing you'd imagine a 22-year-old beauty queen might dream about. I don't know why so many people are exulting over the idea they may have killed her young dreams.

Gallagher says she "doesn't understand the newsworthiness" of the sex tape scandal and that she hopes "the people gleeful about this attack are enjoying their pyrrhic victory." HAH. "Gleeful" is far too weak a word to describe how happy the Ladyfingers disaster has made us, Maggie.

Tweet Your Parking Space

A Brooklyn resident has launched a text message and Twitter based system of finding parking spaces in Park Slope, which car-owning locals derisively call "No Park Slope."

It's no secret. Park Slope is a parking nightmare. But what if you could join a cyber community that allows members to share available parking spot information? Well, now it's possible with a brand new system called "Roadify." The service, which let's you know about parking spots near you at the moment went live this week. Here's how it works. Roadify focuses just on the area in Park Slope near New York Methodist Hospital, using a point based system called "Parking Around Me." Leaving a parking spot? Using either text messages or Twitter, you earn "GIVE" points by sending in your location and when it will be available. Someone who needs a parking spot, using either text messaging or Twitter, simply sends the word "GET." Seconds later, Roadify notifies you of what spots are available.

Of course, the entire idea flies in the face of laws against using your cell phone while driving.

From The Manhattan Declaration

Good As You has posted the complete text of The Manhattan Declaration, the anti-gay screed issued today by a pan-denominational group of Christian clergy that vows disobedience of laws that protect gays from discrimination. Excerpt titles are mine.

The Threat-

We are Christians who have joined together across historic lines of ecclesial differences to affirm our right—and, more importantly, to embrace our obligation—to speak and act in defense of these truths. We pledge to each other, and to our fellow believers, that no power on earth, be it cultural or political, will intimidate us into silence or acquiescence. It is our duty to proclaim the Gospel of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ in its fullness, both in season and out of season. May God help us not to fail in that duty.

Gay Marriage Encourages Incest and Polygamy-

The assumption that the legal status of one set of marriage relationships affects no other would not only argue for same sex partnerships; it could be asserted with equal validity for polyamorous partnerships, polygamous households, even adult brothers, sisters, or brothers and sisters living in incestuous relationships. Should these, as a matter of equality or civil rights, be recognized as lawful marriages, and would they have no effects on other relationships? No.

Gays Want To Kill Babies, Seniors, And The Disabled-

It is ironic that those who today assert a right to kill the unborn, aged and disabled and also a right to engage in immoral sexual practices, and even a right to have relationships integrated around these practices be recognized and blessed by law—such persons claiming these “rights” are very often in the vanguard of those who would trample upon the freedom of others to express their religious and moral commitments to the sanctity of life and to the dignity of marriage as the conjugal union of husband and wife.

It just goes on and on, with the copious ladling on of "hate the sin, not the sinner" type of bullshit.

UPDATE: Among the signatories are Maggie Gallagher, Bishop Harry Jackson, Gary Bauer, James Dobson, Bill Donohue, and nine Catholic archbishops including NY Archbishop Timothy Dolan.

"I Deserve Health Care"

The Democratic National Committee has just posted this health care reform clip on President Obama's official YouTube channel. I like that it spins the GOP's own "think of the children!" meme right back at them.

Quote Of The Day - Antonin Scalia

"My burden is not to show that originalism is perfect but to show that it beats the other available alternatives. Did any provision of the Constitution guarantee a right to abortion? No one thought so for almost two centuries after the founding. Did any provision in the Constitution guarantee a right to homosexual sodomy? Same answer." - Supreme Court Justice Antonin Scalia, speaking on the issue of originalism, the idea that the Constitution should be interpreted according to the intent of its writers. In other words, we should live as if it were still 1787.

Houston: Wingnut Mails Anti-Gay Annise Parker Flier To 35,000 Voters

The right wing is stepping up their anti-gay campaign against openly lesbian Houston mayoral candidate Annise Parker.

Via Towleroad:

Dave Wilson, an electrician who has spent years pestering incumbent politicians of both parties, has turned his sights on Houston Controller Annise Parker. He says that Parker should not be mayor because 'homosexual behavior leads to extinction.' Wilson says he is mailing the fliers to 35,000 Houston voters who cast ballots both in the November mayoral election and in the 2008 Republican presidential primary. 'I'd like to energize the conservative Christian base in Houston, and get them to vote,' he said...'I don't see a good family, a Christian family, one man, one woman,' Wilson said. 'It's a picture of her and her mate being sworn in in public and that's the image I have a problem with.' 11 News asked Wilson what he believes is wrong with the city having an openly gay mayor. 'The openly gay lifestyle leads to extinction,' he said. 'You can't reproduce.'"

Parker currently leads in polls for the coming runoff election.

Chaz Bono: Gender Is In Your Head

Oprah To Announce End Of Her Show

Today Oprah Winfrey will tell her audience that she's calling it quits. Sounds like major news, but in fact her contract with ABC runs for two more years and after that she will launch the Oprah Winfrey Network (OWN) in a deal with the Discovery Channel. The last episode of Oprah is scheduled for September 9th, 2011. ZOMG! Only 500 more shows left!

Jorge Mercado Vigils To Take Place This Weekend Nationwide

JMG reader Sean Chapin created this clip publicizing the memorial vigils to take place around the country this weekend in honor of murdered gay teen Jorge Mercado.

Transgender Day Of Remembrance

Today is the 11th annual International Transgender Day Of Remembrance.

The Transgender Day of Remembrance was set aside to memorialize those who were killed due to anti-transgender hatred or prejudice. The event is held in November to honor Rita Hester, whose murder on November 28th, 1998 kicked off the “Remembering Our Dead” web project and a San Francisco candlelight vigil in 1999. Rita Hester’s murder — like most anti-transgender murder cases — has yet to be solved.

Although not every person represented during the Day of Remembrance self-identified as transgender — that is, as a transsexual, crossdresser, or otherwise gender-variant — each was a victim of violence based on bias against transgender people. We live in times more sensitive than ever to hatred based violence, especially since the events of September 11th. Yet even now, the deaths of those based on anti-transgender hatred or prejudice are largely ignored. Over the last decade, more than one person per month has died due to transgender-based hate or prejudice, regardless of any other factors in their lives. This trend shows no sign of abating.

Christian Leaders Issue Proclamation Declaring Unity Against Gays Rights

A coalition of leaders from numerous Christian denominations have issued The Manhattan Declaration, a manifesto declaring the intent to disobey any laws that force them to recognize same-sex marriages. The group intends to use the document to sabotage the ENDA debate currently taking place in Congress.

Citing the Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King Jr.’s call to civil disobedience, 145 evangelical, Roman Catholic and Orthodox Christian leaders have signed a declaration saying they will not cooperate with laws that they say could be used to compel their institutions to participate in abortions, or to bless or in any way recognize same-sex couples.

The manifesto, to be released on Friday at the National Press Club in Washington, is an effort to rejuvenate the political alliance of conservative Catholics and evangelicals that dominated the religious debate during the administration of President George W. Bush. The signers include nine Roman Catholic archbishops and the primate of the Orthodox Church in America.

They want to signal to the Obama administration and to Congress that they are still a formidable force that will not compromise on abortion, stem-cell research or gay marriage. They hope to influence current debates over health care reform, the same-sex marriage bill in Washington, D.C., and the Employment Non-Discrimination Act, which would prohibit discrimination based on sexual orientation.

Legal experts call the document blatant fear mongering.

HomoQuotable - Adam Lambert

"It was my desire to stay away from talking about certain political and civil rights issues because I’m not a politician. I’m an entertainer. That is not my area of expertise. I can talk about relationships and personal experiences because as an artist those things involve writing lyrics and that part of my process. But I didn’t feel comfortable talking about the March on Washington. I didn’t feel comfortable, so I asked my publicist to ask the interviewer to stay away from the political questions. I take full responsibility for that. I think that the editor has his agenda and has his opinions, which I respect, but they’re not necessarily my opinions. And I wish there was a little respect for that. Not every gay man is the same gay man." - Adam Lambert, talking to Entertainment Weekly about his ongoing public feud with Out Magazine and its editor Aaron Hicklin. According to Hicklin, Lambert's handlers had stipulated a number of conditions for this month's cover photo shoot, including a requirement there be at least one straight woman in the shot.

Civil Unions For Austria

Austria has passed a comprehensive civil unions law, but part of the compromise with the country's right wing includes a provision that gays cannot hold ceremonies at registry offices.

The compromise, achieved after weeks of wrangling between the ruling Social Democrats and their conservative coalition partner in government, will give gay couples equal rights to heterosexuals with regards to pensions and alimony. Partners will also be able to take each other's name, if they wish. But the new law will continue to ban adoption or artificial insemination for gay couples, said Justice Minister Claudia Bandion-Ortner, who had put forward the draft. The proposal came up against strong opposition from the conservative People's Party, which fought any attempts to allow civil partnership ceremonies at the civil registry's office, where gay couples can marry.

Instead, civil partnerships will be registered at the municipal office or the magistrate's office -- the local authority of which the registry's office is only a part. Conservative Interior Minister Maria Fekter welcomed the compromise on Tuesday: "We sought a realistic solution and this was (registration at) the local authority." Gabriele Heinisch-Hosek, the minister for women's affairs who had pushed for civil registry ceremonies, insisted however that the law was an "unfinished document." Tuesday's compromise was "an important first step" but future amendments were on the cards, the Social Democrat said.

The law goes into effect on January 1st after a final approval from parliament.

Palin: I Love Unprotected Sex & Porn!!!

Rep. Virginia Foxx (R-NC): The GOP Passed The Civil Rights Act

Somebody really really doesn't know her history. Rep. Dennis Cardoza (D-CA) gets up to set her straight. Good stuff.

Giuliani: No Run For NY Governor, May Challenge Gillibrand In Senate Instead

Insiders report that former NYC mayor Rudy Giuliani plans to challenge Kristen Gillibrand for her Senate seat in 2010 rather than run for New York governor, as has been long rumored.

Former Mayor Rudy Giuliani has decided against running for governor, but is strongly considering running for U.S. Senate instead, sources told the Daily News. The Republican heavyweight was considered the GOP's best shot at reclaiming the governor's mansion. The only declared candidate on the Republican side is little-known former Long Island Rep. Rick Lazio. One source said Giuliani is prepared to run for U.S. Senate against Democratic Sen. Kirsten Gillibrand in 2010 to fill out the remaining two years of Hillary's Clinton's term.

A Giuliani spokesman refuses to confirm the report. If Giuliani does not enter the NY gubernatorial campaign, that makes state Attorney General Andrew Cuomo a virtual shoo-in for the job. Cuomo presently leads Gov. David Paterson by a staggering 59 points in opinion polls.

80's Flashback

a-ha, The Sun Always Shines On TV, 1985. The second hit single from their debut album, Hunting High And Low, this track didn't do quite as well as 1984's Take On Me, which went to #1 in a dozen countries, including the U.S. But it did reach the Top Ten in many places, even bettering the #2 peak of Take On Me in the UK, staying at the pinnacle there for two weeks in early '86. Here in America the track petered out at #20 on pop, but it was the astonishingly great extended 12" mix with its huge crescendos that turned the song into a big-room club classic. I'll never forget the crowd's reaction to the track early one Easter morning at South Beach's Paragon. The band continues to draw arena-sized crowds in many places, especially its native Norway where they've notched 24 Top Tens including 8 #1's, but plans to split after a 2010 world tour.

"Homos For Palin" T-Shirt Gets Man Booted From Sarah Palin Book Signing

If you're one those mentally ill "Gays For Palin," you shouldn't broadcast your queerness at one of her appearances. At a Barnes & Nobles in a mall in Grand Rapids, Michigan:

Bob Weinert, 56, a fencing salesman from Lansing, said he’d heard Rush Limbaugh say recently that Palin is “the most conservative candidate out there.” She represents, he said, “limited government and traditional values,” including “putting homos back in the closet.” “And putting Christmas in the stores,” added his wife, Rexanna, who said she felt she could trust the “down-to-earth” Palin. A few minutes later, a diffident young man wandered by with a handmade “Homos for Palin” t-shirt until he encountered a mall security guard. “You’ve got to zip it up or leave,” said the security guard and the young man, who said he was a college student but wouldn’t give his name, complied.

I'd like to hope that the young man was just trying to rile Palin's supporters, which I'd endorse, but if so he should have refused to leave the mall just because of the word "homo" on his shirt. Here's an idea: If Palin does a book signing here in NYC, let's all show up and prance around with "Homos For Palin" shirts. Who's down?

(Via - Michelangelo Signorile)

Poll: NJ Residents Narrowly Endorse Marriage Equality

A just-released poll shows that New Jerseyans support marriage equality, but only by a slim majority.

The poll, conducted between Nov. 6 and 10, found 46 percent of adult residents want to extend the right to gay couples while 42 percent oppose it. Still undecided were 12 percent of respondents. “While this tests opinion outside the intensity of a campaign to ban gay marriage, as occurred in California, there is more of a ‘live and let live’ attitude in New Jersey than in many other states that have dealt with this issue," said David Redlawsk, director of the Rutgers-Eagleton Poll and professor of political science at Rutgers University. The results come out as the Legislature contemplates the issue in the last weeks before Gov.-elect Chris Christie takes office in January. The legislature begins its lameduck session early next week. If lawmakers pass the bill legalizing gay marriage, 52 percent would accept the new law, while 40 percent would support a constitutional amendment banning it, the poll said. “There will be a strong reaction from opponents, but for the most part, opponents actually see this as a less important issue than do supporters,” said Redlawsk.

That's what they tell pollsters, but the Bradley Effect has taught us otherwise lately.

Snatched Bald-Headed

The winner of Miss Gay Brazil 2009 had her moment of glory ruined yesterday when one of the losing queens snatched her bald-headed on national television.

(Via - DListed)

Utah State Sen. Chris Buttars Doesn't Want You Stuffing Anything Down His Throat

In February of this year, Utah state Sen. Chris Buttars was booted from a Senate judiciary committee after he made incendiary anti-gay comments that were caught by the crew filming 8: The Mormon Proposition. Today he says he has nothing against gay people and actually supports Salt Lake City's recent move to add LGBT protections. But just so you know, he still doesn't want want you stuffing your dirty homo anythings down his throat.

Puerto Rico: "Gay Panic" Defense In Murder Of Gay Teen Jorge Mercado

Juan Martinez Matos, 25, is being held on $4M bond in San Juan, Puerto Rico after confessing to the decapitation murder of 19 year-old gay teen Jorge Mercado. The killer is claiming "gay panic" after he discovered that Mercado, who was in drag, was a male.

Martinez met Lopez while looking for women Thursday night in an area known for prostitution, according to prosecutor Jose Bermudez Santos. Bermudez said the suspect confessed to stabbing Lopez, who was dressed as a woman, after discovering he was a man. "He has a deep-seated rage," Bermudez said in remarks reported by the newspaper El Nuevo Dia. "All the information we have is very clear that this is indeed a hate crime," said Pedro Julio Serrano, a Puerto Rico native who is a spokesman for the National Gay and Lesbian Task Force. A 2002 hate crime law in this U.S. territory has not been applied to any cases involving sexual orientation or gender identity despite calls to use it more aggressively, Serrano said.

A suspect convicted of a hate crime offense as part of another crime automatically faces the maximum penalty for the underlying crime. For murder, that would be life in prison. Serrano said he has identified at least 10 slayings on the island over the last seven years that should have been investigated as hate crimes, including some in which the victims were sex workers. Two U.S. Congress members from New York, who are of Puerto Rican origin, have suggested prosecuting the case under new federal hate crimes legislation that extended coverage to sexual orientation. President Barack Obama signed it last month. The FBI is monitoring the investigation, and Lymarie Llovet Ayala, a spokeswoman for the U.S. attorney's office in San Juan, said Wednesday that federal prosecutors are considering whether to take on the case.

Vigils in memory of Jorge Mercado will take place across the United States this weekend. New Yorkers will gather at the Christopher Street Pier at 5pm on Sunday. (I will attend and provide coverage.) A website has been established with information about vigils in Atlanta, Boston, Chicago, Durham, Los Angeles, New Orleans, Oakland, Philadelphia, and San Francisco.

The Death Of A Wrapper

Famed avant garde artist Jeanne-Claude has died in NYC from a brain aneurysm at the age of 74. In 2005, Jeanne-Claude and her artist husband Christo installed The Gates, a 23-mile pathway of orange fabric in Central Park that was viewed by millions. Christo has vowed to complete the couple's final collaborations in Colorado and the United Arab Emirates. No word on how he plans to wrap Jeanne-Claude's coffin. (I denounce myself for saying that.)

Gay-Friendly GOP San Diego Mayor Jerry Sanders To Testify For Olson/Boies

Republican San Diego Mayor Jerry Sanders, who in 2007 changed his mind on same-sex marriage in a tear-filled press conference with his lesbian daughter, will testify in the federal suit to repeal Prop 8 being brought by superstar lawyers Ted Olson and David Boies.

San Diego Mayor Jerry Sanders will be a witness in the upcoming federal court trial over the constitutionality of California’s Proposition 8, according to San Francisco City Attorney Dennis Herrera. Herrera announced Sanders’ participation today at a San Diego fundraiser for Herrera’s reelection. Herrera said he traveled to San Diego last week to meet with Sanders and that Sanders readily agreed to testify in the case, which seeks to overturn the constitutional amendment banning same sex marriage narrowly approved by California voters last year.

The City of San Francisco has been allowed to join the lawsuit, hence Herrera's involvement. In August a judge ruled in favor of Olson and Boies' request to block the ACLU, Lambda Legal, and the National Center for Lesbian Rights from joining the suit after the groups' earlier denouncement of the attempt.

FLASHBACK: Here is Sanders' beautiful 2007 speech. If you haven't seen it, get out a hankie first.

Quote Of The Day - Donald Trump

"Maybe she should become a major porn star, make millions of dollars, and give it to worthy causes." - Donald Trump, reporting that Carrie Prejean has been calling him for advice on her post-sex tape career. Earlier this week porn giant Vivid Entertainment sent Prejean a letter advising that she "could certainly make millions" if she made a sex flick for them.

Valley Lodge - All My Loving

You'll love the furniture design. Possibly NSFW due to bare butts.

DC: Bishop Harry Jackson Files Suit To Force Vote On Marriage

Maryland-based carpetbagger Bishop Harry Jackson and seven co-plaintiffs have filed a suit in DC Superior Court in order to force Washington residents into a public vote on marriage equality. Jackson's action comes after DC's Board of Elections and Ethics refused to allow a ballot on the issue.

In the 15-page filing, Jackson and his seven co-petitioners argue that the city's ordinances gives residents the same lawmaking power as the council, except for appropriations. "The people of D.C. have a right to vote on the definition of marriage," said Austin R. Nimocks, senior legal counsel for the Alliance Defense Fund, the conservative legal group representing Jackson. "The D.C. Charter guarantees the people the right to vote, and the council cannot amend the charter for any reason, much less to deny citizens the right to vote."

Meanwhile DC Mayor Adrian Fenty and City Councilman Vincent Gray were called before a U.S. House committee, where anti-gay congress members interrogated them on their refusal to allow a popular vote on civil rights.

Rep. Jason Chaffetz (Utah), the ranking member of the subcommittee that has oversight over District laws, noted that voters in 31 states have rejected same-sex marriage. "I'm disappointed the people are not getting an opportunity to vote on this issue," Chaffetz said. Fenty responded that he stands by the board's opinion, which said city code prohibits a public vote on a matter protected under the Human Rights Act. "The voters of the District of Columbia have elected a fabulous council to make those decisions," Fenty said. Later, Rep. Brian P. Bilbray noted that his home state of California allowed its residents to vote on that state's same-sex marriage law, which they overturned. He then asked Fenty what he should tell his constituents about the District's decision not to give its residents the same right. "What you can say," Fenty responded, "is the people of the District of Columbia have a different set of laws."

Despite all of the above, backers are optimistic that the bill will become law without a public vote.

NY Court Upholds Marriage Recognition

Today the anti-gay Alliance Defense Fund lost their challenge to New York's recognition of same-sex marriages performed outside the state. The AP reports:

New York's top court has rejected a Christian legal group's challenge to some government benefits provided to legally married same-sex couples living in New York. The court avoided declaring that same-sex couples are entitled to all the rights of other married couples in the ruling released Thursday. New York doesn't allow same-sex marriage, so the ruling applies to couples married elsewhere. The case was pushed by the Alliance Defense Fund of Scottsdale, Ariz. In a written opinion, Judge Carmen Beauchamp Ciparick warns the effect of the decision will be to allow an unworkable pattern of conflicting orders by public officials involving different benefits and rights.

The New York Times describes the ruling as a "narrow" and "small" victory for gay advocates as it applies only to the specifics of the case.

In their majority ruling, four of the seven members of the court said they were making their decision on narrow grounds involving the specifics of each case, and not settling the broader question of whether same-sex marriages performed in other states should be recognized. Judge Eugene F. Pigott Jr., writing for the majority, expressed “hope that the Legislature will address this controversy.” But Judge Carmen Beauchamp Ciparick, writing for the three-member minority, said “that the orders under review should be affirmed on the ground that same-sex marriages, valid where performed, are entitled to full legal recognition in New York under our state’s longstanding marriage recognition rule.” The ruling leaves open the possibility there could be future challenges on the issue in New York.

The NY Senate has not brought the issue to a vote in the special session called by Gov. Paterson, despite his demand that they do so.

Caster Semanya To Keep Gold Medal

South African champion sprinter Caster Semanya, who rocked the sports world this summer when she was revealed to be intersex, will be allowed to keep the gold medal she earned at the world championships. Semanya is waiting for a further decision on whether she may continue to compete as a woman.

Catholic Bishops: Gay Marriage Will Destroy American Society

The U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops has issued a 60-page pastoral letter condemning same-sex unions as a "threat to the fabric of society."

"We have the need to defend marriage within our culture," said Archbishop Joseph Kurtz of Louisville, a member of the committee that wrote the document. "This pastoral letter will also serve as a foundational document as we seek a direction and a strategy to defend marriage over these coming years." Before the session, the bishops circulated statistics showing that American couples have grown less likely to marry and more likely to live together. Those who do marry tend to do so later in life, and the probability that they will divorce or separate is between 40 and 50 percent, according to a University of Virginia report.

The letter defines marriage as "a natural institution established by God the Creator" and called it "a permanent, faithful, fruitful partnership between one man and one woman" that has two purposes: "the good of the spouses" and "the procreation and education of children." It says "Male-female complementarity is essential to marriage" and "attempts to make same-sex unions the equivalent of marriage disregard the nature of marriage. "Since marriage and same-sex unions are different realities, it is not unjust discrimination to oppose the legal recognition of same-sex unions," the letter says. "These unions pose a serious threat to the fabric of society that affects all people."

Ho hum. Nothing surprising here.

Tampa: Wingnuts Rail Against "Man In The Ladies Room" Bill

Two weeks ago the Tampa City Council made a preliminary unanimous vote to extend employment and housing protections to transgender residents. The law will be finalized in a vote today, which has brought out the wingnuts with their now familiar and ridiculous claim that cross-dressing sexual predators will freely molest children in the city's public restrooms.

"This ordinance will give lawful protection to cross dressing males to patronize women's restrooms," the Florida Family Association said in a statement. "And men dressed as women or women who perceive themselves as men can also use men's restrooms." Terry Kemple, president of the Community Issues Council, blasted the city council's move in an e-mail to his membership, suggesting the protections would allow "sexual predators" to go into public restrooms designated for the opposite sex and force local business owners and landlords, regardless of their religious beliefs, to accept cross-dressers. City Attorney Chip Fletcher said the changes are not meant to protect the occasional cross-dresser, but individuals who are undergoing sexual reassignment surgery. "This is intended to address people who are dealing with gender identity," he said. Still, members of both evangelical groups are mobilizing to pack council chambers Thursday and voice their opposition to the proposed changes before a final vote.

Sexual predators always abide by the law and have been waiting for the right to scurry into the nation's ladies rooms! Wait, what? That's not what this is really about?

UPDATE: By a vote of 5-1, the Tampa city council has approved transgender protections. Suck it, wingnuts!

House Committee Approves Bill Granting Partner Benefits To Federal Employees

Yesterday the House Oversight and Government Reform Committee voted 23-12 to approve Rep. Tammy Baldwin's bill granting benefits for the partners of federal employees.

The bill is now likely to move to a full House floor vote, which many anticipate could take place before the end of the year. “Last I talked to the majority leader who sets the floor schedule, he was hopeful that it could get fairly prompt attention by the full House,” said out congresswoman Tammy Baldwin of Wisconsin, who is the lead sponsor of the bill in the House. Debate over the bill split along party lines with Democrats emphasizing the concepts of fairness and equality and Republicans objecting to the legislation on the basis that it would begin to redefine marriage or would create special rights for LGBT people.

Get ready for the right to mobilize against the full House vote.

DC Agenda: Replacement For Washington Blade Launches Tomorrow

Talk about quick! Staffers from the just-defunct Washington Blade will launch their new publication, DC Agenda, tomorrow. (With some help from the Gay Men's Chorus.)

Members of the Gay Men’s Chorus of Washington, D.C. presented the former Washington Blade with a check Wednesday night for a full-page ad in the newspaper’s new print iteration, the D.C. Agenda, which will be available on Friday. Former Blade editor Kevin Naff, who will head up the D.C. Agenda, called the ad buy, one of six pages’ worth that have poured in unsolicited this week, a pleasant surprise. “They took a full page ad in this first modest issue and they went out of their way to deliver it in person,” said Naff. “It was unexpected and very heartwarming.” The chorus made the offering at a previously scheduled party for former Blade readers in Washington, D.C. that turned into an impromptu transition party after the publication’s closure was announced Monday.

The first issue of the DC Agenda will be a "modest" eight pages. It will be online at Save The Blade and DCAgenda.com. Meanwhile a campaign to preserve the invaluable and historical archives of the Blade is underway.

(Via - The Advocate)

Fox Staff In Hot Water Over Video Switch

In a story about Sarah Palin's book tour, Fox News ran video of Palin at a 2008 campaign appearance, leading viewers to believe that a massive crowd was on hand. This is second such "mistake" by Fox in a week, leading network honchos to claim that staffers will be disciplined.

The unwelcome mishap follows soon on the heels of another FOX Pas - when the network's Sean Hannity ran video of a hugely attended TEA Party protest rally in Washington in September as Hannity was talking about a less-attended Nov. 4 rally outside the Capitol. Comedy Central's Jon Stewart called out Hannity on that video, and Hannity apologized, on air, for what he called an "inadvertent'' error. Hannity has a book-tour interview of Palin on his show tonight, and we're betting Stewart's Daily Show crew will be watching. So, as you might suspect, the No. 1-rated cable news network is taking today's mixing of videos quite seriously; How seriously? The Swamp hears tonight that it's highly like that serious disciplinary action will be taken for those responsible behind the scenes in the control room. News executives there consider this to have been a sloppy and unnecessary error.

(Tipped by JMG reader Todd)

A Stadium For The Price Of A House

Here's a grim indicator for Michigan. The Pontiac Silverdome, which when built was the largest NFL venue in the nation, has sold for 1% of its construction cost.

In a stunning sign of the imploding economy, Detroit is selling its $56 million sports dome for a bargain basement $580,000. The 80,000-seat Pontiac Silverdome, once home to the Detroit Lions, went for 1 percent of the cost to build it 35 years ago. The city of Pontiac owns the stadium, which was valued at $20 million just last year. Analysts say the price is a stark demonstration of the area's economic devastation. “It’s certainly one of the most severe points in history, because of the economic crisis and the falling housing prices,” said a local economics professor. The crisis is not just affecting blue collar workers, but "we're talking about well-paid, white collar professionals" as well, a county foreclosure counselor told the Christian Science Monitor.

A stadium for less than the cost of a house. The new owners plan to refurbish the venue and turn it into the home of a professional soccer team.

Judge Orders Federal Settlement For CA Couple Denied Health Benefits

A federal judge has ordered the government to compensate a couple who were denied employee partner health benefits because they are gay.

U.S. 9th Circuit Court of Appeals Judge Stephen Reinhardt deemed the denial of healthcare and other benefits to the spouse of federal public defender Brad Levenson to be a violation of the Constitution's guarantee of due process and discrimination on the basis of sexual orientation, which is prohibited by California state law. Levenson married his longtime partner, Tony Sears, on July 12, 2008, during the five-month period when same-sex marriage was legal in California. A ballot measure, Proposition 8, was passed a year ago defining marriage as between one man and one woman.

Reinhardt, who is the federal judge responsible for resolving employee disputes in the Federal Public Defenders office within the 9th Circuit, had earlier ordered the Administrative Office of the U.S. Courts to process Levenson's application for spousal benefits for Sears. The federal government's Office of Personnel Management stepped in to derail the enrollment, however, citing the 1996 Defense of Marriage Act that prohibits the recognition of same-sex marriage for the purpose of federal benefits or programs.

Levenson appealed, seeking either an independently contracted benefits package for his spouse or payment of the equivalent value of the coverage denied. Reinhardt ordered the latter, based on a "back pay" provision in the law covering federal defense lawyers' employment. "Considering that the federal government won't give Tony the equal benefits package of other spouses, we are very pleased with this decision," said Levenson. "Is it equal treatment? No. Is it a good remedy? Yes. And we are appreciative of the judge's order."

It's unclear what, if any, precedent this ruling may set.

At Sarah Palin's Book Signing

And these people all have the right to vote.

And Now Wii Pray

JMG reader Victor tips us to this hilarious clip for Mass: We Pray, a Wii-based video game for all the Catholic sacraments! Commenters on YouTube are divided on the "real or fake" issue - I'm voting fake, but then again, there's always Poe's Law.

BONUS: My favorite YouTube comment:

10-2-2 Cheat-
Get to level 10 genuflection
button, sign of cross
move up 2 pews
button, sign of cross
move up 2 pews
button, button
Apparition of Virgin Mary
WIN

Open Thread Thursday

Tell us about your favorite bar, club, nightspot. What makes it special for you? The music, the crowd, the location?

AFA: Gap Stores Support Witchcraft!!!

One day after I wondered if Gap's new holiday ad wasn't a giant "fuck you" to the American Family Association's boycott claim that the company was "anti-Christmas," the AFA has sent out an "action alert" describing the commercial as supporting witchcraft.

Gap has responded to AFA's call for a Christmas boycott of their Gap, Old Navy, and Banana Republic stores with a commercial that takes a cavalier approach towards Christmas.

The video entitled Ready for Holiday Cheer features a group of people dancing and chanting:

Two, Four, Six, Eight, now's the time to liberate
Go Christmas, Go Hanukkah, Go Kwanza, Go Solstice.
Go classic tree, go plastic tree, go plant a tree, go add a tree,
You 86 the rules, you do what feels just right.
Happy do whatever you wanukkah, and to all a cheery night.

Go Christmas, Go Hanukkah, go whatever holiday you wanukkah.

Did you notice it? Gap compares Christmas to the pagan holiday called "Solstice." Solstice is celebrated by Wiccans who practice witchcraft!

Gap also encourages you to "86" or "dismiss" traditions and "do what feels just right."

Take our Poll! Since Gap has now included the word "Christmas" in a television ad, should AFA call for an end to the boycott of their stores?

Did Texas Ban ALL Marriages?

Anti-gay legislators in Texas have an egg on their faces today as others realize that the 2005 ban on same-sex marriages actually bans ALL marriages, depending on who is reading the law's fine print. According to Texas Attorney General candidate Barbara Radnofsky, it does.

Barbara Ann Radnofsky, a Houston lawyer and Democratic candidate for attorney general, says that a 22-word clause in a 2005 constitutional amendment designed to ban gay marriages erroneously endangers the legal status of all marriages in the state. The amendment, approved by the Texas Legislature and overwhelmingly ratified by Texas voters, declares that "marriage in this state shall consist only of the union of one man and one woman." But the trouble-making phrase, as Radnofsky sees it, is Subsection B, which declares: "This state or a political subdivision of this state may not create or recognize any legal status identical or similar to marriage."

Architects of the amendment included the clause to ban same-sex civil unions and domestic partnerships. But Radnofsky, who was a member of the powerhouse Vinson & Elkins law firm in Houston for 27 years until retiring in 2006, says the wording of Subsection B effectively "eliminates marriage in Texas," including common-law marriages. She calls it a "massive mistake" and blames the current attorney general, Republican Greg Abbott, for allowing the language to become part of the Texas Constitution. Radnofsky called on Abbott to acknowledge the wording as an error and consider an apology. She also said that another constitutional amendment may be necessary to reverse the problem.

The anti-gay side says the law is fine as written. Last month a Texas judge ruled that the ban on gay marriage was unconstitutional because it doesn't allow for gay divorce.

Real Bad Does Real Good

Grass Roots Gay Rights West, the non-profit group that produces Folsom Street Fair's Real Bad party, has presented $150,000 to the beneficiaries of this year's event. That's openly gay SF Supervisor (and mayoral candidate) Bevan Dufty on the right, wearing a suit. Behind Dufty is my dear friend Leif Wauters, last year's party honcho.

Four selected LGBT health and community service organizations are sharing the funds raised, which include 100 percent of the money collected from general admission ticket sales. The beneficiary organizations are Dimensions Clinic, which offers medical and mental health services to queer, transgender, and questioning youth, ages 12 to 25; Maitri, one of San Francisco’s most respected and valued resources in providing care to people severely debilitated by AIDS; openhouse, a housing, services, and advocacy organization with a goal to ensure safe housing and support services that are sensitive to the needs of LGBT seniors; and Visual Aid, a nonprofit organization founded to help preserve, present, and promote the work of Bay Area professional artists living with HIV/AIDS, Breast Cancer, and other life-threatening illnesses.

To date the Real Bad parties have donated over $1 million to LGBT-related and other deserving groups. As I've said here before, Real Bad is among the top three most fun and best-run gay events in the nation, along with Miami's Winter Party and NYC's Pier Dance. All three are volunteer staffed. This is not a coincidence.

80's Flashback

Chaka Khan, I Feel For You, 1984. Lots of folks covered this track from Prince's 1979 debut second album, including Rebbie Jackson, the Timberlake-Spears edition of the Mouseketeers, and the Pointer Sisters, whose limp 1982 version was particularly forgettable. But it was Chaka Khan who used the track to rocket out of her post-Rufus doldrums and return to the pop Top Ten for the first time since 1975's classic Sweet Thing, reaching #3 Pop, #1 UK, #1 Dance, and #1 R&B. The opening rap by Melle Mel was famously a studio mistake by producer Arif Mardin, who meant for it to appear at the break. But that mistake provided (what I've read, but cannot document for this post) the only instance of a #1 song on any major chart that begins with the name of the artist. I Feel For You also triggered a years-long run of chart-topping Prince covers by other female artists such as Sheila E, the Bangles, Sheena Easton, and Sinead O'Connor.

Today In Deadly Products...

...the Laptop Steering Wheel Desk.

The Go Office Wheel Mate Steering Wheel Desk is flat for writing and perfect for lunch or a snack. This Go Office Wheel Mate Steering Wheel Desk stores neatly in your car when used with the larger Auto Exec Laptop Car Desk. For safety reasons, never use this product while driving. Easily convert your car into your personal automobile office with the Wheel Mate car desk by MobileOffice.

The customer reviews are on Amazon are a riot.

-Wow is this thing great! I use it as a "mini-bar" when the friends and I go out to the bars. I can quickly fix multiple shots of tequila for myself and the friends as we drive from one bar to the next. We also discovered that if you place a pillow on top of it and turn on the cruise control you can catch quick naps on the interstate. If you swerve to the left or right the rumble strips on the road wake you up in plenty of time before you get into trouble. I can now take longer trips without being tired!

-As a new mom, let me tell you it can be difficult to comfort a crying newborn while driving. Trying to reach behind me for the baby takes my eyes off the road. But with the laptop steering wheel desk I no longer have this problem! Now I can place my baby on the desk and make giggly faces at my newborn to keep her smiling and happy all while driving. You can imagine the stress relief this brings of no longer hearing her scream. The only problem is that there is no strap to keep the baby on the desk so sometimes she slides off when I'm making a U-turn and bumps her head. She has only sustained a few lumps and bruises though. Therefore, I highly recommend this product to all new moms!

-Do you have any idea how hard it is to read Braille books while driving? Every time I'd hit something my book would slide off my lap onto the floor and I'd lose my place. Problem solved...Thanks Laptop Steering Wheel Desk.

The customer supplied images aren't quite so funny.

Illinois Family Institute Calls For Boycott Of Scholastic Books Over Gay-Friendly Title

The vile Illinois Family Institute, best known as the one-time home of Peter LaBarbera and for their relentless crusade against anti-bullying legislation, is calling for a national boycott of Scholastic Books because they will include a gay-friendly book in their middle school book fairs. Luv Ya Bunches, by Lauren Myracle, features a character with lesbian parents.

IFI is urging parents to notify your children's schools that because Luv Ya Bunches is listed in the Scholastic Book Club catalogue, the catalogue is not to be distributed to your child and that you will not be ordering any books from Scholastic Books. (Click HERE for a sample message that you can edit, customize, print and send.) In addition, notify your children's school that if Luv Ya Bunches will be included at the Scholastic Book Fair, your child is not to be taken to the fair during or after school hours. Finally, call the Scholastic Books feed back line and send emails to Scholastic Books management to inform them that as long as they are carrying books that affirm homosexuality as moral, you will not purchase books from them. To leave an email message, contact Investor Relations. or call:

Jeanie Salgado, Scholastic Book Fairs: (407) 829-8265
Scholastic Book Group: (212) 343-4731
Scholastic Books feedback line (212) 343-6834.

The IFI is listed by the Southern Poverty Law Center as an anti-gay hate group. In April of this year they produced an outrageous anti-bullying legislation video so offensive, it staggered even the battle-worn readers of this blog. Please consider calling Scholastic yourselves and offering support and appreciation for their inclusion of Luv Ya Bunches as a book fair selection. Gay parents, your voices are the most important.

Photo Of The Day

Santa Kong and the Rockettes shared a photo-op atop the Empire State Building. This post is just an excuse to complain about the incredibly annoying earworm jingle for the Radio City Xmas Spectacular, which has been running about every three minutes on every station for the last month.

(Via - Gothamist)

Shocking Report Shows That Buttery Food And Soda Is Fattening

According to the Center for Science in the Nanny State, everybody should stop eating movie popcorn immediately.

CBS reports on a study by the Center for Science and Public Interest that analyzed nutritional makeup of movie popcorn; the results are eye-opening. Consuming a medium size popcorn and soda is the equivalent of eating three Quarter Pounders from McDonald's, along with 12 pats of butter. The concessions from Regal, the country's biggest movie chain, have 1,160 calories and three days worth - 60 grams - of fat. Regal said that the medium popcorn had 720 calories and the large had 960, but CSPI's tests found those numbers to be understated. A small popcorn at Regal had 670 calories - the same as a Pizza Hut Personal Pepperoni Pan Pizza. Even if you share a small popcorn - it's still about a day's worth of saturated fat per person, according to CSPI.

They'll get my buttered popcorn when they pry it from my cold dead artery-clogged hands.

HUMOR: Sarah Palin's Book Goes Rogue, Shoots Rachel Maddow

Maddow: Religous Wingnuts Ramp Up Calls For President Obama's Death

Last night Rachel Maddow covered the spreading wingnut meme currently being sold on mousepads, bumper stickers, and even teddy bears. The meme? A recitation of Psalm 109: "Let his days be few; and let another take his office. Let his children become fatherless; and his wife become a widow." Frank Schaeffer, a one-time evangelical leader, tells Maddow that this latest Bible-quoting campaign is nothing short of "trawling for assassins."