Putting The Christ In Christmas (And A Cap In Santa's Ass)

Jesus Christ murdered Santa and Rudolph with a shotgun in order to demonstrate the true Christian meaning of Christmas. This, according to a lawn display in California.

Santa is shown dead on the ground with X's over his eyes. Standing over Santa and staring down the barrel of his shotgun is Jesus. And the dead, limp body of Rudolph is strewn over the back of a pickup truck. The video is the work of Ron Lake, who says he's simply trying to make a point about the commercialized holiday. "Christmas isn't about Santa; it's about Jesus," he said. "It's an expression of my repressed creativity." But neighbors don't care what Lake's point is. "It's morbid," said neighbor Karen Clement."It's private property and everybody has a right to it, but then I have a right to stand up and say, 'I don't like it."' Since the display went up on Monday, they've filed multiple complaints to law enforcement and held several conversations with artist himself in an attempt to get the display taken down. One of the biggest points of contention: the location of Lake's property. Just outside of the chain link fence that separates the display from one of the town's main roads is a school bus stop. "I know it's freedom of speech, but it's pretty disturbing and there are lots of children. And that's our main concern," said neighbor Susana Cruz.

The true meaning of Christmas isn't found at the mall, people! It's found at the business end of double-aught!

Quote Of the Day - Jim Robinson

"Let's face it FRiends, if the unconstitutional healthcare bill passes, the socialist coup d'etat will have advanced well beyond the point of no return! There is nothing in the constitution that authorizes this illegal federal power-grab and plenty that forbids it. If the Obama/Reid/Pelosi Marxist attempted coup pulls this off without the people resisting to the hilt, then they'll have no restrictions whatsoever on implementing the rest of their Liberty killing Marxist agenda. America will be no more. The whole idea of our constitution is to severely restrict the federal government to only its dozen and a half expressly listed enumerated powers and to guarantee and protect our unalienable individual rights as well as our sovereign states rights and republican form of government.

"The constitution has not failed, the people have. When the government will not willingly restrain itself within its legal bounds, then its the duty of the people to enforce the constitution and restrain the government. The constitution does not define our rights, it defines the limits on government. Our rights are granted by God not government, and government cannot take them away. Our government was established by and for us and was granted by us certain limited powers and only those limited powers. Our government serves at our pleasure to defend our nation and our rights. It does not RULE over us.

"Obama is not a dictator. Reid, Pelosi, et al, are not our rulers. When they overstep their bounds to the degree they have, then they MUST be brought back down to reality. It's time to jerk their constitutional chains taut! It's time for US to enforce our Constitution and invoke our Bill of Rights!! It's time to assemble for duty, for Liberty!!" - Free Republic founder Jim Robinson, who in July called for the overthrow of our socialist oppressors, shortly before attending a Washington DC teabagger rally in his Medicare-provided wheelchair.

Dems Say They Have The 60 Votes On Senate Health Care Bill

Working overnight in the blizzard, today Senate Democrats announced that they have the necessary 60 votes to approve the health care reform bill. The news came this morning after Sen. Bill Nelson (D-NE) agreed to vote for cloture.

“Change is never easy, but change is what’s necessary in America,” Mr. Nelson said at a morning news conference. “And that’s why I intend to vote,” he said, “for health care reform.” Mr. Obama, appearing on television from the White House, said: “Today is a major step forward for the American people. After nearly a century-long struggle, we are on the cusp of making health care reform a reality in the United States of America.” The blinding snow outside the Capitol added to what had already been a chaotic few weeks for the Senate, which has met every day since Nov. 30 and prepared to work through its third consecutive weekend.

The sergeant-at-arms had four-wheel drive vehicles at the ready to bring lawmakers in for votes. And while senators wore the jackets and ties required on the Senate floor, dress shoes gave way to boots. Mr. Nelson committed his vote after winning tighter restrictions on insurance coverage for abortions, as well as increased federal health care aid for his state. With Senate leaders increasingly confident that they would pass the bill, Mr. Nelson pointedly warned that he would oppose the final version if negotiations with the House, which approved its bill last month, result in changes that he does not like.

No Republicans are supporting the bill, so unless a Democrat retreats, it will be approved by a filibuster-proof 60-40. Last month the House approved its own version of the bill, but progressive members there may resist the changes made by the Senate, including the dropping of the public option.

In place of the public option, the Senate bill would create at least two new national health insurance plans modeled after those offered to federal workers, including members of Congress, and overseen by a federal agency, the Office of Personnel Management. At least one of those new plans would have to operate on a nonprofit basis. The bill includes a new government-run long-term care insurance program. And it imposes tight new regulations on the health insurance industry, barring insurers from denying coverage based on pre-existing medical conditions and limiting how much extra they can charge people based on their age.

Republicans are expected to force a complete reading of the hundreds of pages-long bill into the Senate record, a possibly days-long delaying tactic meant to give wobbly Democrats time to change their mind before the final vote.

Another Heterosexual Pervert Busted For Having Sex With Horses

Emboldened by the widespread granting of "straight" rights, yet another deviant heterosexual has been arrested for bestiality - the next perverted stop on the slippery slope of "tolerance" for these degenerates who will have sex with anyone or any animal, as long as it's an act of opposite-sex "love."

An 18-year-old man was busted for having sex with horses at a Hudson Valley harness track, authorities said Friday. Erick Rivera was charged with five counts each of sexual misconduct with an animal and burglary after a six-month investigation at the Goshen Historic Track in Orange County. Rivera sneaked into the track at night from his nearby rented room and abused the animals, Goshen Village Police Chief James Watt said. Horsemen became suspicious beginning in July when they found the fillies bridled and immobilized in their stalls during morning checks.

We can expect that this revolting case will be defended by the infamous North American Man-Filly Love Association (NAMFLA), whose disgusting motto is "My Mount Is A Mare." America is doomed. Praise His Name!

24 Hour Forecast

I think that will be some kind of record, if it comes true. We've had relatively little snow for so long, I haven't bothered to get new snow boots. A little late, now.

Rugby Star Gareth Thomas Comes Out

Another major sports hero has come out. Yesterday Welsh rugby star Gareth Thomas, a national icon and one of the most praised players of the sport, announced that he is gay.

Rugby star Gareth Thomas has said he hopes coming out publicly will "send a positive message" to the sport. The 35-year-old wants young gay people, particularly those with aspirations in sport, to be reassured after he became the first high-profile player to announce he is gay. The former British and Irish Lions and Wales captain, a supporter of the children's charity NSPCC, said: "If it makes one young lad pick up the phone to ChildLine, then it will have been worth it." Thomas said he became aware of his sexual orientation at the age of 16 or 17 but could not accept it and feared it would affect his playing career. He told the Daily Mail he was "anxious about people's reactions" but "just couldn't ignore it any more". The rugby star, Wales's most-capped player, said he realised in summer 2006 that he could no longer live a lie. He told his wife, Jemma, that he was gay and admitted cheating on her with male partners.

Thomas, who plays for Cardiff Blues, said he felt like his life was "falling apart" as his four-year marriage broke down. The star recounted to the paper how he cried in the changing rooms of Cardiff's Millennium Stadium, after representing Wales in November 2006. He later came out to coach Scott Johnson, who advised he speak to a few of his international colleagues for support. Thomas said: "He told two of my team-mates, Stephen Jones and Martyn Williams, and as I sat in the bar waiting for them, I was absolutely terrified, wondering what they were going to say. "But they came in, patted me on the back and said: 'We don't care. Why didn't you tell us before?' Two of my best mates in rugby didn't even blink an eyelid." The Welsh Rugby Union and the Cardiff Blues backed Thomas after his decision to come out.

RELATED: In October, Irish hurling champion Donal Og Cusack came out.

Guest Post - Carl Siciliano

I get very angry at the hell so many LGBT teens are put through.

A few months ago a man named Anthony reached out to me to tell me a terrible story. He knew of a teen in upstate New York whose family learned he was gay and threw him out. A few days later the boy tried to return home, only to be told that if he returned again his father would kill him and bury him in the backyard. The boy tried to survive in nearby towns eating out of garbage cans and sleeping in parking lots. Anthony was the last person who saw the boy alive; Anthony was the train conductor who slammed on the brakes when the boy jumped in front of his train, ending his life.

When I first began to work with homeless teens in the mid 1990's I met a gay boy who had nowhere to stay. We sent him to what at that time was the one youth shelter in NYC, Covenant House, a large Roman Catholic Shelter. The first night he stayed there he was placed in a dorm with about 15 other kids. After he fell asleep, the other kids in the dorm gathered around him and urinated on him to show their hatred and unwillingness to share their dorm with a gay person. I cannot tell you how many similar stories I have heard over the years, of LGBT kids being gay-bashed, humiliated and abused at Covenant House. Back in the 90's most LGBT kids felt safer sleeping on the streets.

I feel strongly that we, the LGBT Community, who call on each other to come out of the closet, have to be there to protect teens who come out only to be rejected and abandoned. I am very proud of the work that the Ali Forney Center now does to protect these kids and help them heal the trauma they've been put through, and help them rebuild their lives. We offer housing, food, clothing, medical care, mental health treatment, and vocational and educational assistance. We, and the many people who support us and volunteer for us become an extended family, who give these kids the love and support their own families cannot give.

Last month was big for us; we opened a new shelter, increasing the number of youths we are able to house to 58 per night. It actually seems like a miracle when you consider that we were able to expand even though we lost $450K this year in government support. If we have a saint in heaven watching over us, it must be Bea Arthur, who left us $300K in her estate! I was actually frightened we would be forced by the funding cuts to shut down before Bea came to our rescue.

The biggest miracle for me though is seeing our kids thrive. Right now 16 of the kids staying with us are attending college, and over 20 have found jobs. One young woman who has been living with us for two years and is ready to move out on her own is fielding offers to work in the research departments of Stanford and Brown Universities! Over a thousand kids have stayed with us since we opened in 2002, and a great many are now living proudly on their own.

In this hard time of government cutbacks, we need the support of the community more than ever before. Many of you have been very kind to us. I am appealing once more for your generosity and support . (Thanks to all of you who voted for us in the LiquidNet Challenge. We were given a $10K check today!). Together we can help these kids overcome the hatred and cruelty they have endured. Together we can show these kids that they are as worthy as anyone else of being loved.

For more information on making a donation please visit our site: Ali Forney Center.

I hope that all of you have a joyful and peaceful holiday season.

Carl Siciliano
Executive Director
Ali Forney Center

PS: When Joe invited me to write this appeal, he also asked that I send a "woofish" picture. When Joe asks me to do something I say "SIR! Yes Sir!"

New Yorkers Ranked Unhappiest

A study by the CDC that asked 1.3 Americans to rank their satisfaction with their lives found that New Yorkers are the most unhappy with their situations. Objections are pouring in.

The verdict is in, and, when it comes to New Yorkers, they are in a class by themselves. According to a new survey released by the Centers for Disease Control, they are the unhappiest people in the entire country, beating out every one of the other 50 states, CBS station WCBS-TV reports. But just try telling that to a New Yorker. "Why would we be unhappy? What's the unhappy part?" wondered James Pine of the Upper East Side. "Where else would I want to live?" another asked. "I like everything about it. New Yorkers are great people and they're very happy to be here," said Manadou Djoulthe of Harlem. The survey asked a subjective question: How satisfied are you with your life? It compared that answer to objective measures of quality of life, such as access to recreation, commuting distances, and weather. It found the subjective and objective measures were in sync.

According to the survey, the top five happiest states are Louisiana, Colorado, Hawaii, Florida and Tennessee. The complete ranking is here. Roy Edroso at the Village Voice notes exulting by the wingnuts, who claim that "conservative states are the happiest states."

Hyper-regulated and overtaxed New York — the least free state — by some remarkable coincidence comes in dead last, with the rest of greater NYC's Tri-State Area right behind it. Other oppressively liberal states like California, Massachusetts, and Illinois also rank near the bottom. One of the researchers draws this bizarre conclusion: "This suggests that life-satisfaction survey data might be very useful for governments to use in the design of economic and social policies." Rather, Big Government should learn from the data that the more it interferes in our lives through economic and social policies, the less happy we are. Coercive bureaucracies don't make people happy; liberty does.

The Pride Agenda On Hope For 2010

New from the Empire State Pride Agenda:

On December 2, 2009 the New York State Senate rejected a bill that would have allowed same-sex couples to marry. New Yorkers responded to the vote with sadness and anger, but mostly with renewed determination to win. Join the Pride Agenda as we continue fighting for equal rights for all LGBT New Yorkers and our families.

Watch the inspiring video. I see some JMG readers in those angry crowds.

LGBT Groups Score In Chase Bank's Holiday Giving Contest

After Queerty raised the alarm that NOM was on the list of charities for Chase Bank's holiday giving contest, Chase promptly booted them from the competition. Today Chase released the names of the 100-most vote-getting charities, all of whom will receive a $25,000 grant. And woo hoo, there's some LGBT groups on the list: GLSEN, Matthew Shepard Foundation, and The Trevor Project. On January 15th, each of the finalists will submit a "Big Idea" to Chase, after which they'll compete for the $1M grand prize. I'll be back then with links to support the LGBT finalists.

The Snowman Cometh

Forecasters are predicting at least ten non-AOL inches of snow for most of the NYC area tomorrow, beginning at 7am, with Long Island under a "blizzard watch." If you'd planned on doing some last minute shopping, better break out the skis. Otherwise, stock up on the essentials tonight and plan for a long cozy weekend on the couch. I'll try to wade out to Central Park in the afternoon and get some shots of the beauty.

(Via - Gothamist)

Daily Grumble

A dozen or so times this week, wingnut lackeys have attempted to friend me on Facebook, thinking that I won't just look at their friend list and see their connections to Tony Perkins, "Bishop" Harry Jackson, Matt Barber, etc. Dumbasses. Even though my Facebook page has tons of strangers on it, it's very rare that I get a request from somebody who doesn't have at least ten or twenty mutual "friends" with me. I guess they're trying to catch me saying something on Facebook that they can use against me. Which doesn't make much sense, I can't imagine how I can possibly be more insulting or rude there than I am on this here website thingy. I try, I really try. And why are all these nobodies big-haired women? Seriously, fuck all of you hags. Fuck you right in the ear. How's that?

Iran Hacks Twitter

Angry over the use of Twitter to spread dissent, last night pro-government hackers in Iran brought the service down.

Those who tried to access Twitter were redirected to a site that had a green flag and proclaimed "This site has been hacked by Iranian Cyber Army." The Web site was down for nearly an hour. Representatives from Twitter could not be immediately reached for comment, but the company spoke about the issue on its official Twitter page. "Twitter's DNS records were temporarily compromised but have now been fixed. We will update with more information soon," the company posted at about 2:30 a.m. ET Friday. It was unclear who the group Iranian Cyber Army was and if it is connected to Iran. However, Twitter has had an interesting relationship with Iran. Earlier this summer when Iran's disputed presidential election spiraled into bloody protests, the opposition took to social networking and used Twitter to inform the world. Protesters beamed images from the violent protests at a time when the mainstream media outlets had a hard time getting access to Iran.

Earlier this year the U.S. State Department convinced Twitter to delay a planned maintenance interruption so that protesters of Iran's rigged election could get their messages out.

Shorewood Lip Dub

Shorewood High School was challenged by a rival school to a lipsyncing contest, resulting the below video which was performed to music playing backwards. As the kids walked backwards. I think. I'm a little confused how they did it. Amazing.

(Via - Slog)

Quote Of The Day - Sarah Palin

“In an attempt to ‘go incognito,’ I Sharpied the logo out on my sun visor so photographers would be less likely to recognize me and bother my kids or other vacationers. I am so sorry if people took this silly incident the wrong way. I adore John McCain, support him 100 percent and will do everything I can to support his reelection. As everyone knows, I was honored and proud to run with him. And Todd and I were with him in D.C. just a week ago. Todd and I have since cut our vacation short because the incognito attempts didn’t work and fellow vacationers were bothered for the two days we spent in the sun. So much for trying to go incognito.” - Sarah Palin, canceling the rest of her Hawaiian vacation over wingnut criticism that she'd insulted McCain by blacking out his logo on her hat. Obviously, they do not sell hats in Hawaii.

DC Mayor Adrian Fenty Signs Marriage Equality Bill (In A Church!)

Moments ago, Washington DC Mayor Adrian Fenty signed the city's historic marriage equality bill. Above, Fenty hands openly gay City Councilman David Catania the pen used to sign the bill Catania sponsored.

In a raucous signing ceremony at a northwest Washington church, Mayor Fenty officially legalized same-sex marriage in the District, distributing ceremonial pens among the Council members standing behind him. The law now will go through a period of review consisting of 30 days in which Congress is in session. If the law passes that hurdle -- as is widely expected -- the first gay marriages in the District could take in late winter or early spring of 2010.

The ceremony at All Souls Unitarian Church -- one of many in the city that supported the legislation -- opened with comments by Fenty, Council chairman Vincent Gray, and Council members Phil Mendelson, David Catania and Jim Graham. In his opening remarks, Fenty recalled that when his own parents were married, many states would have refused to recognize their bonds. Fenty's father is black, while his mother is white. "Today an era of struggle ends for thousands of D.C. residents," he said. "Our city is taking a leap forward." Sponsoring Council member David Catania (I-At Large) opened his comments with a little family history recalling how his ancestors had moved from Massachusetts to Kansas to try and swing an election and prevent it from becoming a slave state. "So there's a tradition of troublemaking in my family, and a deep and abiding understanding of civil rights," Catania said.

Congratulations Washington DC! And thank you Mayor Fenty and Councilman Catania!

It's You Girl And You Should Know It

Walgreens, Upper East Side, 7PM

Female Voice On Intercom: Mary Richards, your order is ready for pickup at the pharmacy. Mary Richards.

Clearly Gay Male Voice On Intercom: Mr. Graaaaant, your order is ready at the pharmacy. Mr. Graaaaaant.

Fun With Conversion Therapy

JMG reader BStewart23 directs us to this amusing Current TV clip mocking conversion therapy. "All you need is some lube and you've got a tailgate party!"

Hanukkah Hairy

Last night at the Ali Forney Center's holiday party, Manhattan bon vivant Mike Diamond tipped me to his clip of the Hanukkah Hairy party at the East Village's Eastern Bloc bar (which is co-owned by Anderson Cooper's boyfriend.) You'll see a few JMG regulars in the video.

Prop 8 Trial May Be Televised

The Ninth Circuit Court has authorized televised trials in some cases, leading to the expectation that the Olson/Boies attempt to repeal Proposition 8 will be be viewed nationwide. Guess who doesn't like that?

The Judicial Council of the 9th Circuit authorized television cameras in certain district court proceedings Thursday, reviving a national controversy just weeks before a groundbreaking trial over same-sex marriage is slated to begin in San Francisco. The 9th Circuit currently allows cameras to televise appellate arguments, as does the 2nd Circuit. A private vendor has also recorded a handful of district court proceedings in New York. But under the 9th Circuit's new experimental program -- in which only civil, nonjury trials would qualify -- district courts would be likely to use their own camera equipment, said Circuit Executive Cathy Catterson. The method of distribution would be figured out on a case-by-case basis. "It might be posted later in the day, it could be edited, or it could be live. It would depend on the nature of the case," Catterson said.

Cases to be considered for the pilot program, and the distribution details, will be decided by each district's chief judge, in consultation with 9th Circuit Chief Judge Alex Kozinski. In San Francisco it is the Northern District of California's chief judge, Vaughn Walker, who is presiding over the federal challenge to Prop 8. Walker first raised the possibility of a televised broadcast several weeks ago, and lawyers representing pro-same-sex-marriage plaintiffs support the idea. The defendants oppose it, saying anti-gay-marriage witnesses could be subject to harassment and retribution. When the topic arose again this week, Walker alluded to possible 9th Circuit action and asked for another discussion with the parties should authorization occur.

Critics of the idea point to the OJ Simpson trial as an example of how the presence of TV cameras can tend to create grandstanding and non-legal histrionics on the part of lawyers. "If it does not fit, you must acquit."

Michigan Churches End Homeless Services Over LGBT Rights

Three Kalamazoo churches will stop providing meals to the homeless because of the city's recent approval of a law protecting gays from discrimination.

Martha’s Table, through which eight churches have provided Sunday afternoon worship and meals for the needy at First Congregational Church, is losing three of the churches because of the issue of homosexuality, even though the ecumenical ministry takes no position on it, said the Rev. Matt Laney, pastor of First Congregational. “The founding principle of Martha’s Table was that churches would come together and put aside their differences in light of what unites us, which is our common commitment to serve Christ and others,” Laney said. “But now this difference has risen above our common commitment to serving Christ.” Laney said representatives of all three churches have been “very clear” that they don’t want to be “guilty by association” with First Congregational and its inclusiveness of gay, lesbian, bisexual and transgender people, said Laney, who publicly supported an ordinance passed by Kalamazoo voters in November that protects GLBT people from discrimination in housing, jobs and accommodations.

The man who created Martha's Table and whose restaurant provides most of the meals refused to comment on his withdrawal, saying, "“I would just as soon let it go. We are just pulling out. That’s all. We would just as soon take a position of silence.”

(Via - Box Turtle Bulletin)

GOP Senators Pray For Failure Of Health Care Reform With Lou Engle

GOP Senators Jim DeMint and Sam Brownback and Rep. Michele Bachmann prayed with evangelical extremist Pastor Lou Engle and others for the failure of health care reform. The march of American Taliban continues.

PhoboQuotable - Ken Hutcherson

"Many reading this may not understand where I came up with this concept of calling Christians 'the new Negro.' The reason is because there are undeniable similarities. Jim Crow laws were passed to keep me from having my constitutional rights and my rights under the Declaration of Independence of life, liberty and the pursuit of happiness. Even though the Constitution gave me those freedoms, man was smart enough to be able to keep me from living those freedoms by saying I was 'separate but equal.' Today, my constitutional right of freedom of religion is being eroded again by laws such as the Hate Crimes Bill and repeated attacks by the politically correct crowd. Threats that came along as a result of an African American wanting to get out from under Jim Crow laws were formidable and scary and designed to keep African Americans quiet. The same thing is happening to Christians today. [snip]

"If you still don't think Christians are being attacked for our beliefs, consider Pastor Ake Green in Sweden and Pastor Stephen Boisson in Canada and many other men of God around the world who have been jailed and had their nonprofit status threatened because they dare to call homosexuality a sin. The sad commentary is many Christians have backed off our God-given responsibility to tell the truth because secular society has deemed the truth 'political.' Marriage is a church issue, pornography is a church issue, homosexuality is a church issue, and divorce is a church issue. The problem is, as soon as the secular elites named them political, the evangelical church – especially the white evangelical church – retreated and held up the cowardly white flag." - Famed Washington state-based homophobe Pastor Ken Hutcherson, in a rambling World Net Daily piece praising Carrie Prejean and Sarah Palin and criticizing white Christians for not hating enough. Hutcherson has staged several failed shareholder attempts to force Microsoft to repeal its pro-gay employee policies.

Newsweek Predicts For 2010: "Obama Does Nada On Gay Rights"

Newsweek takes a grim outlook on what the president may do for us in 2010:

Patience became the 2009 mantra of the gay rights movement, which generally supports Democrats. Many activists believe that in his heart Obama supports their flagship issues: the ability to serve openly in the armed forces, to be protected from employment in the workplace, and the right to marry (even though he’s on record as favoring civil unions over marriage). But they’ve received almost nothing for their troubles. What the lesbian, gay, bisexual, and transgendered community has learned this year is that the president is ultimately a pragmatist.

Although his very presence in the White House is the stuff of culture wars, Obama himself is reluctant to wade into one. Moreover, if socially divisive policies have the potential to compromise his legislative agenda, Obama has proven that he simply won’t pursue them. Expect this tension to become more acute as the 2010 elections loom—and for gay rights to be shunted aside again. The last thing this pragmatist president will do is hand election-year ammunition to an already energized conservative base that’s venomously opposed to gay marriage.

Al Franken Denies Joe Liebermann Additional Time On Senate Floor

And John McCain does NOT like it.

BBC Apologizes For "Kill Gays" Debate

An executive from the BBC has issued an apology for yesterday's online debate asking if homosexuals should be put to death. It's not much of apology. From the blog of BBC World Service director Peter Horrocks:

The original headline on our website was, in hindsight, too stark. We apologise for any offence it caused. But it's important that this does not detract from what is a crucial debate for Africans and the international community. The programme was a legitimate and responsible attempt to support a challenging discussion about proposed legislation that advocates the death penalty for those who undertake certain homosexual activities in Uganda - an important issue where the BBC can provide a platform for debate that otherwise would not exist across the continent and beyond.

Like many U.S.-based bloggers, I have relied on the BBC for many stories out of non-English speaking countries. I'm going to try and use other sources, when available, in the future. So far, I'm finding their action unforgivable.

AIDS Group Files Petition To Require Condoms In All Porn

California's AIDS Healthcare Foundation will file a petition to amend state law that that would require that male actors in all porn productions wear a condom. The majority of gay porn companies are based in California.

The change would be made to the California Occupational Safety and Health Standards Board's policy on bloodborne pathogens. “Although workers in adult films should enjoy protections under the current phrasing of the regulation, the adult film industry has steadfastly refused to take any steps to protect its workers from diseases spread by bloodborne pathogens, resulting in thousands of employees becoming infected with sexually transmitted diseases," said Michael Weinstein, President of AIDS Healthcare Foundation.

As reported by the Advocate, in August the AHF filed 16 worker-safety complaints with the state over the lack of condom use in porn films produced in California. Perhaps unsurprisingly, porn actors in California have been found to have 10 times the STD rate of the general population.

Should the AHF succeed, it can be expected that the popular barebacking porn companies, whose titles sell very well, would merely move their productions into another state. Some have called for a stricter law that would ban the sale of such new releases in California entirely.

Christianists To Appeal New Mexico Wedding Photographer Case

In 2008 a wedding photographer in New Mexico was fined under the state's sexual orientation discrimination laws for refusing to accept a same-sex couple as clients. The case has been used by the Christianists in virtually every battle for LGBT rights as a glaring example of "homofascists" using newly-won rights to throttle people of faith. Today the anti-gay Alliance Defense Fund announced that they are launching an appeal of the photographer's conviction.

"Christians in the marketplace should not be subject to predatory legal attacks for simply abiding by their beliefs," said ADF Senior Counsel Jordan Lorence. "The Constitution prohibits the state from forcing unwilling artists to promote a message they disagree with and thereby violate their conscience. "Should the government force a videographer who is an animal rights activist to create a video promoting hunting and taxidermy? American small business owners do not surrender their constitutional rights at the marketplace gate, nor can the government make people choose between their faith and their livelihood." "The commission's decision demonstrated striking disregard for our client's rights as protected by the First Amendment. We will appeal the trial court's decision to the New Mexico Court of Appeals," Lorence said. In 2006, Vanessa Willock asked Elaine Huguenin, co-owner with her husband, Jon Huguenin, of Elane Photography in Albuquerque, to photograph a "commitment ceremony" that Willock and another woman wanted to hold in Taos. Neither marriage nor civil unions are legal between members of the same sex in New Mexico.

Elaine Huguenin declined because her and her husband's Christian beliefs are in conflict with the message communicated by the ceremony. Willock filed a complaint with the New Mexico Human Rights Commission, accusing Elane Photography of discrimination based on sexual orientation. The commission held a one-day trial and then issued an order in April 2008 finding that Elane Photography engaged in "sexual orientation" discrimination prohibited under state law, ordering it to pay $6,637.94 in attorneys' fees to Willock.

For the last two years, the Holy Triad of Christian Oppression has been the New Mexico photographer case, the Ocean Grove, New Jersey wedding pavilion case, and the case of the Canadian minister fined for hate speech after publishing an anti-gay letter in a local newspaper. Two weeks ago Canadian minister's case was reversed on appeal, but American Talibangelists continue to use it in all of their hate materials.

HomoQuotable - Ellen DeGeneres

"I'm so thankful for the freedoms that we have in this country; the freedom of speech, the freedom to vote and the freedom to love who we want. And I want to say that what's happening in Uganda makes me incredibly sad. There's an "Anti-Gay Bill" that's proposing to jail homosexuals. They are trying to give life sentences to same-sex couples, and the bill even proposes that they jail anyone who fails to report "gay activity" to the police within 24 hours. This is a horrible violation of human rights and I can't believe something like this is being discussed in this day and age. I think we should be grateful for our freedoms this holiday season. Be thankful for the people who fight for them. And let's continue to be an example to the world through our love and compassion." - Ellen DeGeneres, writing on her network fansite.

Keith Olbermann's Special Commentary On Health Care Reform

Last night Keith Olbmann issued one of his classic special comments/rants on the health care reform morass in the Senate. WATCH THIS!

Going Vogue

RuPaul is promoting the second season of her hit LOGO series Rupaul's Drag Race with a dig at Sarah Palin. If you recall, I got ridiculously engrossed in last season's show - to the point where I actually squealed a little bit when I met the out-of-drag Nina Flowers on the dance floor at the Black Party. Season two begins on February 1st.

POLL: Teabagger Party Now More Popular Than Republicans

A Rasmussen poll released last week shows that more conservatives align themselves with the Tea Party than with the Republicans.

Running under the Tea Party brand may be better in congressional races than being a Republican. In a three-way Generic Ballot test, the latest Rasmussen Reports national telephone survey finds Democrats attracting 36% of the vote. The Tea Party candidate picks up 23%, and Republicans finish third at 18%. Another 22% are undecided. Among voters not affiliated with either major party, the Tea Party comes out on top. Thirty-three percent (33%) prefer the Tea Party candidate, and 30% are undecided. Twenty-five percent (25%) would vote for a Democrat, and just 12% prefer the GOP.

When the GOP began its slide into irrelevance in 2008, we all worried that something even worse would replace it. It looks like we may have been right.

Irish Bishop Donal Murray Resigns Over Child Molestation Scandal

Limerick Bishop Donal Murray has resigned in the wake of Ireland's child molestation scandal. Last month the Irish public was shocked by the revelation that the Catholic Church had covered-up the abuse and molestation of thousands of students at its orphanages and private schools. Murray met with Pope Palpatine all this week and today the Vatican issued a brief email announcing the acceptance of his resignation.

The one-line announcement that Bishop Donal Murray had resigned did not mention the scandal. But a statement that Murray read to colleagues and curates in the western Irish city of Limerick left no doubt that he was going because of an Irish government investigation's damning findings about his time as an auxiliary bishop in Dublin from 1982 to 1996. "I know full well that my resignation cannot undo the pain that survivors of abuse have suffered in the past and continue to suffer each day," the 69-year-old Murray said. "I humbly apologize once again to all who were abused as little children."

Murray had been widely expected to resign following last month's report from a government-appointed commission. It ruled that Murray had handled reports of child-abusing priests "particularly badly" - and condemned his failure to crack down on one particular abuser, the Rev. Thomas Naughton, as "inexcusable." Murray transferred Naughton to new parishes despite receiving reports that he was molesting children. Naughton since has been convicted twice of raping altar boys. The investigation found that four other serving bishops and five retired bishops, including Cardinal Desmond Connell, played a role in a decade of cover-up. The report said church leaders in the Dublin Archdiocese failed to inform authorities about sexual abuse by priests, while police failed to pursue allegations because they considered church figures to be above the law.

A 720-page report has revealed that sexual abuses committed by more that 170 Catholic priests have been covered-up in recent decades. Ireland's four other bishops say they have no intention of resigning.

Benefits Bill For Partners Of Federal Employees Headed To Full Senate Vote

Yesterday the Senate Homeland Security and Government Affairs Committee approved a bill authorizing benefits for the partners of federal employees. The bill will now go to the full Senate.

The benefits would include: health care, retirement and disability plans, family, medical and emergency leave, group life insurance, long-term care insurance and access to worker’s comp. Committee Chairman Joe Lieberman (I-Conn.) said he and Ranking Member Sen. Susan Collins (R-Maine) introduced the bill with the purpose of bringing a measure of equality to the federal work force. “I believe this legislation is really on the right side of history, and it, in a sense, is another expression of a concept we believe in, which is equal pay for equal work, and in this case, equal benefits for equal work,” Lieberman said. Lieberman noted that federal employees and their domestic partners would have to abide by existing employment related obligations, such as conflict of interest provisions, anti-nepotism rules and financial disclosure requirements.

Hooray! Joe Lieberman did something right! The wingnuts are already screaming that the bill is "DOMA destroying legislation" intended to be a "backdoor" (har) end-run around the anti-gay law. From the American Family Association:

Peter Labarbera, executive director of Americans for Truth About Homosexuality, says the Lieberman-Collins bill severely undermines the Defense of Marriage Act (DOMA), which defines marriage as the union of a man and a woman. "This appears to be a violation of the spirit and the law of DOMA. DOMA was intended to encourage marriage, the recognition of marriage by the federal government, and this is the repudiation of that," Labarbera contends. "This is giving marital benefits to both homosexuals and heterosexual 'shack-up' couples. It's very bad public policy for the federal government to de-incentivize people getting married...and that's exactly what this legislation would do."

Clinton On Gay Rights Abroad

Speaking at Georgetown University, on Tuesday Secretary of State Hillary Clinton responded to an audience member's question about the safety of gays in other nations. Clinton said she is "deeply disturbed" about the situation for gays in Iran and the "violation of human rights in Uganda." She added, "It's important for the United States to stand against that and enlist others to join us."

One-Oh Arrives In Times Square

The numbers for the new year arrived in Times Square yesterday via pedicab in preparation for the ball drop two weeks from today. You can pose for photos with One and Oh in front of 1540 Broadway for the next week.

(Via - Gothamist)

GOP's Secretive "Family" Condemns Uganda's "Kill Gays" Bill

In what may be their first public statement ever, the GOP's secretive "Family" has issued a condemnation of Uganda's "kill gays" bill. Rachel Maddow is stunned.

North Carolina Politician Mocks AIDS Death Of Colleague's Son

Mecklenburg County, North Carolina Commissioner Bill James is under fire for mocking the AIDS death of a fellow commissioner's son during a debate on adding same-sex partner benefits.

Toward the end of an emotional, two-hour debate on the topic, James leaned over to commissioner Vilma Leake and asked: "Your son was a homo, really?" Leake responded: "You're going to make me hurt you. Don't do that to me. Don't talk about my son." Leake had just finished speaking about her personal connection to the debate, including mentioning her son's 1993 death from AIDS. "To be insensitive to that is completely inappropriate," Roberts said Wednesday. "I think he does owe her an apology." But James said he won't apologize, and said he was only asking Leake to clarify an earlier comment she made about her son's death and his lifestyle.

James first denied having made the comment, but when faced with news media clips of the exchange, he posted this insulting editorial WSCO-TV's site.

Vilma is a religious hypocrite. She was married to a Bishop in the AME Zion church. A church that has historically opposed homosexuality. She used her son's 'lifestyle' and his death from HIV-AIDS to justify in public voting for benefits to allow more individuals to use tax dollars to engage in the very behavior that resulted in her son's death. It is akin to someone whose son is an alcoholic and died from the disease, using his death from drinking as justification to have the taxpayers pay for more booze. Her position was that her 'faith' demanded that she do this to support her son and his 'lifestyle' which she acknowledges killed him. Since she didn't define what 'lifestyle' she was referring to I asked her.

Asking the question is completely legitimate since she used him as the basis for explaining her public vote. Her response to me was threaten violence. This is also nothing new for Vilma as she did that on the School Board as well. Leake: "Don't make me hurt you. Don't do that to me. Don't talk to me about my son." Well, with all due respect to Ms. Leake - if she didn't want to talk about her son then why did she use his death from his 'lifestyle' contracting HIV/AIDS as the public justification for spending tax dollars to support the very behavior that killed her son.

Despite James' assholery, the bill passed 6-3. In 2011, Mecklenburg County will become the seventh in the state to offer same-sex partner benefits to its employees. An online petition calling for the resignation of Bill James is here.

NYC Gay Men's Chorus Sings The Wendy Williams Theme Song

That's a headline I wasn't expecting to write today.

Adam Lambert Tones It Down

Adam Lambert returned to live television on last night's season finale of So You Think You Can Dance. This time there was no wardrobe gay sex malfunction, other than a little male back-on-back rubbing, but that move is a rock-n-roll staple anyway. There was, however, a little bit of guyliner malfunction.

Please Pay Comcast Negative Five Cents

My loyal companion Aaron notes from his self-exile in Portland that Comcast wants the immediate payment of negative five cents for his many months-ago discontinued Jersey City account. If he doesn't negative pay them at once, they'll disconnect him even more and send him to negative collections. Or something.

Your Fingers Under The Blanket No Longer Interest Me

Open Thread Thursday

I did some long overdue housekeeping on my blogroll last week, taking out a few dead sites and a dozen others that haven't been updated in several months. Newly added are some great sites that I recommend you check out.

New Civil Rights Movement - By David Badash, a NYC-based activist and the creator of the Great Nationwide Kiss-In. LGBT news, politics, opinion, and activism. And very smart.

Lez Get Real - Driven by activist Paula Brooks, a group lesbian blog featuring pop culture, LGBT news, politics, opinion and activism. Great digest-style layout.

Queer New York - Moderated by our own Father Tony and populated by JMG regulars such as Eric Leven and Little David, on this group blog you'll find NYC-centric photography, personalities, pop culture, and activism.

The Awl - Co-founded by former Gawker editor Choire Sicha, a group pop culture blog with a slant towards LGBT news and entertainment. Gawker, but gayer. If that's possible.

Waking Up Now - By activist Rob Tinisai, whose hilarious and instructional YouTube videos on LGBT equality got noticed all over the web. Opinion, rants, news, activism, and lots of funny.

Check out the above. And tell us what sites you've been checking out lately.

UNBELIEVABLE: BBC Asks Readers "Should Homosexuals Face Execution?"

This is unfuckingbelievable. In reference to the Uganda "kill gays" bill, the BBC asked their readers if they agreed that gays should be put to death. From the Guardian:

The talkboard post asked users to send in their views to the programme, which goes out on the World Service and is also available online. "Has Uganda gone too far? Should there be any level of legislation against homosexuality? Should homosexuals be protected by legislation as they are in South Africa? What would be the consequences of this bill to you? How will homosexual 'offences' be monitored?," the post added.

Premoderated posts included one from Chris, Guildford, posted at 8.59am, which attracted 51 recommendations of support. He wrote: "Totally agree. Ought to be imposed in the UK too, asap. Bring back some respectable family values. Why do we have to suffer 'gay pride' festivals? Would I be allowed to organise a 'straight pride' festival? No, thought as much!! If homosexuality is natural, as we are forced to believe, how can they sustain the species? I suggest all gays are put on a remote island somewhere and left for a generation - after which, theoretically there should be none left!" Another, from Aaron in Freetown, said: "Bravo to the Ugandans for this wise decision, a bright step in eliminating this menace from your society. We hope other African nations will also follow your bold step."

The Africa Have Your Say programme aired at 4pm today. By 5.30pm, the headline of the discussion had been changed to "Should Uganda debate gay execution?". Liliane Landor, the BBC World Service acting head of Africa region, defended the radio programme and talkboard post, saying it allowed gays and lesbians from Uganda, whose voices have never been heard in the UK, to talk with dignity about the impact the legislation would have on their lives. The show also included the opinion of those who supported the anti-homosexual legislation, including religious leaders, she said. "The programme was a dignified exchange between people who have differing beliefs," Landor added.

Unreal. The BBC will be living this down for a LONG time.

Sad Face: Mike Lux - 45%, JMG - 26%

Well, crap. Mike Lux over at OpenLeft has zoomed past me. If only I had a mailing list with thousands of names, dangit. But that's fair and square and he's a great voice in the progressive blogosphere. Voting ends at 5PM tomorrow, so who knows, maybe somebody out there has their own mailing list to put me and Pam on. (And here's the voting link for that list. Snork)

UPDATE: OK, now they are just fucking with me. Thanks to all of you that Facebook'd and Tweeted the contest link, but that Air America page is now gone. Annoying! I've updated the above links. Here's the new one.

UPDATE: Well, that link went dead too. Here's new old link that works for now. I changed the above ones again too. Blah.

Surviving The "Ex-Gay" Industry

How blatantly bizarre and predatory does "ex-gay reparative therapy" have to be for even the mental cases at Exodus International to disavow you? Here's some of what their "therapist" at their Lansing, Michigan affiliate did to young Patrick McAlvey.

“He asked how large my penis was. He asked if I shave my pubic hair. He asked what type of underwear that I wore. He wanted me to describe my sexual fantasies to him and the type of men I’m attracted to. On one occasion, he asked me to take my shirt off and show him how many push-ups I could do, which I did not do.”

Truth Wins Out reports:

Truth Wins Out (TWO) revealed today that the nation’s largest “ex-gay” organization, Exodus International, officially cut ties with its Lansing affiliate Corduroy Stone after charges were made by an ex-gay survivor that the sessions included harmful and bizarre therapy. In August, Patrick McAlvey made the charges against Corduroy Stone’s Mike Jones in a Truth Wins Out video, yet it took Exodus until December to take action. Exodus’ dithering in the face of scandal cost precious time and may have placed additional youth in harm’s way, according to Truth Wins Out.

VIDEO: Patrick McAlvey talks about his Exodus International predator.

TIME Names Federal Reserve Chairman Ben Bernanke Person Of The Year

Via Los Angeles Times:

Federal Reserve Chairman Ben Bernanke was named "Person of the Year" by Time magazine today for leading the "most-powerful, least-understood government force shaping our lives," Managing Editor Richard Stengel said. Bernanke, 56, was picked for his efforts to shepherd the U.S. out of the biggest economic slump since the Great Depression, Stengel said while announcing the choice on NBC's "Today" show. "He was the great scholar of the Depression, and he saw what looked like another depression coming and he decided he would do whatever it takes to forestall that," Stengel said. "And I think he did. It could have been a lot worse; there were things he could have done better. One of his responsibilities is to put full employment in society and he hasn't really stepped up on that. But in terms of influence and how the economy went this year, Bernanke was the guy."

The finalists for Person Of 2009 were: "President Obama; House Speaker Nancy Pelosi; Steve Jobs, Apple Inc.'s co-founder and chief executive officer; the Chinese worker, an 'increasingly influential group'; General Stanley McChrystal, the top U.S. and NATO commander in Afghanistan; and Jamaican sprinter and Olympic gold-medalist Usain Bolt."

Pre-Trial Hearings In Olson/Boies Prop 8 Challenge Begin Today

The Olson/Boies challenge to Proposition 8 gets its official start today in a pre-trial hearing in a San Francisco federal court. Karen Ocamb at LGBT POV reports:

Today may mark the beginning of the end of the ugly Prop 8 as attorneys Ted Olson and David Boies lay out their federal case for why the California constitutional amendment is unconstitutional. The pre-trial evidentiary hearing starts at 10:00am in the San Francisco courtroom of District Court Judge Judge Vaughn R. Walker. Olson and Boies will argue that the case should go to trial. Walker has already set a trial date of Jan. 11 and some reporters and bloggers, such as Patrick Range McDonald at the LA Weekly, want the trial to be televised. Walker will consider that issue today, as well as others such as scheduling motions on evidence and witnesses.

Ocamb has posted a detailed analysis of the issues before the court today. The judge has indicated that he wants a speedy trial, evidence perhaps, that he is eager for the case to move to a higher court.

Sorry About That, Bill

I have a friend or two that have pulled this and gotten the response they feared.

It's A Lady Gaga Xmas

The parodies keep coming. This is one of the better ones.

(Via - Towleroad)

NY Gov. Paterson Bans Anti-Trans Discrimination In State Agencies

This morning NY Gov. David Paterson appeared at the NYC LGBT Community Center to sign an executive order banning discrimination against transgender citizens in all state agencies. This order affects public employees only as New York is not one of the 12 states with full transgender protections. The NGLTF thanks our always supportive governor:

"New York and the rest of the country benefit when good, competent workers are allowed to do their jobs free from discrimination. The governor's action today will help ensure this happens. People should be judged on their performance, not their gender identity or expression, period. We thank Governor Paterson for this important advance," says Rea Carey, executive director of the National Gay and Lesbian Task Force.

Activists continue to pressure the NY legislature to pass GENDA, the Gender Expression Non-Discrimination Act, which has been on the table for years and years.

David Mixner's Rules For Giving

Activist/author and former Clinton White House adviser David Mixner has posted five rules on political giving.

1. Do not contribute to Democratic party committees like the DNC, DSCC and DCCC. They will use the funds to not only elect our allies but also Blue Dog Democrats. Even if they set up a 'special committee' for us that will enable them to loosen funds for candidates who are opposed to our freedom.
2. Contribute directly to only those candidates who have proven by either by vote or sponsorships of legislation their commitment to our issues.
3. Contribute to LGBT candidates who most often know how to fight like hell for us. The Gay and Lesbian Victory Fund is one of the most effective groups in Washington,DC.
4. Contribute to our own community and its battles for freedom especially as our young resort to more traditional civil rights tactics.
5. Contribute to defeating our enemies at the local level which is a very powerful message to send those that oppose us.

Mixner: "Do not be charmed by fancy appeals, hot parties, invites to special places and personal attention. Hold strong and let them know your five guidelines for giving. For nearly two decades we have poured money into the political process only to be ignored or betrayed time and time again."

And Now, Rwanda

Perhaps inspired by Uganda, Rwanda is now moving to criminalize homosexuality.

Rwanda's lower house will reportedly vote today on a revision to the penal code which would criminalise homosexuality. According to the International Gay and Lesbian Human Rights Commission, the proposed Article 217 of the draft Penal Code Act will criminalise "[a]ny person who practices, encourages or sensitises people of the same sex, to sexual relation or any sexual practice." It would impose prison sentences of between five and ten years for those convicted of homosexual acts. The "encouraging and sensitising" aspects would mean a ban on counseling and could impact on health services for gays and lesbians.

If today's vote is successful, the Rwandan Senate will take up the bill early in 2010.

The Senate Alimentary Canal

Poll: 47% Of New Yorkers "Disappointed" That Marriage Equality Failed

According to a new Sienna poll (PDF), 47% of New Yorkers are disappointed by the Senate's vote on same-sex marriage. Most interestingly, 40% also say that their Senator's position on the issue will be the deciding factor on whom they choose to support for re-election.

Forty-seven percent of voters were disappointed that the Senate rejected the bill to legalize same sex marriages in New York, compared to 41 percent who were pleased by the Senate’s vote. Liberals, young voters, Democrats and Jewish voters were most disappointed. Conservatives, Republicans, older, and African American voters were most pleased with the Senate vote. In August, 50 percent of voters told Siena that they supported the Senate passing the same sex marriage bill, with 44 percent then opposing Senate passage.“New Yorkers remain fairly evenly divided on the issue of same sex marriages, with a small advantage for those supporting it despite the Senate’s defeat of the legislation,” Greenberg said. “Overall, 40 percent of voters – 42 percent of those who were disappointed in the Senate action and 47 percent of those who were pleased – said that their Senator’s vote on the issue would be a deciding factor in their vote for State Senator next years.”

(Via - New Civil Rights Movement)

The Decade In LGBT Rights

Matt Foreman, director of Gay and Immigrant Rights at the Evelyn & Walter Haas Fund, points us to a just-released report (PDF) called A Decade of Progress on LGBT Rights. The report is a joint project of Foreman's group and the LGBT Movement Advancement Project (MAP). The extensive report lists the advancements and challenges in LGBT rights over the last ten years. Positive developments:

• Discrimination Based on Sexual Orientation: The number of states outlawing discrimination based on sexual orientation increased 83 percent, from 12 to 22, between 2000 and 2009. The percentage of the U.S. population living in states banning discrimination based on sexual orientation soared from 24.5 percent to 44.1 percent, an 80 percent increase. In other words, today 134 million Americans are now living in states where discrimination based on sexual orientation has been outlawed, an increase of 65 million over the decade. (When local nondiscrimination laws passed by cities without statewide protections are included, the figure is over 50 percent of the U.S. population.) Fortune 500 companies that protect workers based on sexual orientation grew from 51 percent to 88 percent.
• Discrimination Based on Gender Identity: There was an even more remarkable increase in states outlawing discrimination based on gender identity and expression, which rose from just 1state in the year 2000 to 14 states representing nearly 30 percent of the population in 2009. The percentage of Fortune 500 companies that protect workers based on gender identity jumped even more, from just 0.6 percent to 35 percent.
• Relationship Recognition: Similarly exceptional gains were made in the area of family recognition. In 2000, no state extended the freedom to marry to same-sex couples; one state gave broad recognition to same-sex relationships and one offered limited recognition. Now in 2009, five states extend marriage to same-sex couples (with New Jersey and the District of Columbia pending at press time), six offer broad recognition, and seven offer more limited recognition. Overall, the number of Americans living in a state that offers some protections to same-sex couples nearly tripled, from 12.7 percent to 37.2 percent.
• Protection from Violence: The 2009 Matthew Shepard and James Byrd, Jr. Hate Crimes Prevention Act is the first federal law to specifically protect LGBT people.
• LGBT Elected Officials: The number of openly LGBT elected officials in America rose 73 percent between 2000 and 2009, from 257 to 445.
• Public Opinion: The percentage of the public supporting the right of openly gay and lesbian people to serve in the military grew from 62 percent to 75 percent. Support for marriage equality has grown from 35 percent in 2000 to 39 percent today; there has been an even larger increase in support for relationship recognition that involves many of the rights of marriage, from 45 to 57 percent.
• Safer Schools: In 2000, only one state had a safe school law that specifically cited sexual orientation and gender identity/expression for protection; by 2009 that rose to 13states. The number of Gay-Straight Alliance Clubs in high schools grew from 700 to 4,700, a nearly six-fold increase.

Negative developments include the successful movement to ban same-sex marriage in 31 states, the increased incidence of homophobic harassment in public schools, the rise in HIV rates, and the near-doubling of military expulsions due to DADT. Embiggen the image at the left for a numerical look at the overall state of the movement. MAP also provides an interactive overview of 12 critical LGBT issues tracked in each state.

The New Ben Cohen Calendar Is Out! The New Ben Cohen Calendar Is Out!

Our pal Jimbo notes that the Ben Cohen 2010 Calendar is on sale. Has been for a month, dammit. More pics from the photo shoot are here.

HomoQuotable - Peter Tatchell

"It is with great regret and reluctance that I am standing down as the Green Party parliamentary candidate for Oxford East. My brain injuries from the Mugabe and Moscow bashings mean that I would not be able to campaign effectively in the general election or do the duties required of an MP, if I was elected.

"The brain damage caused by Mugabe’s thugs in Brussels in 2001 and by neo-Nazis in Moscow in 2007 has been compounded by head injuries in an accident while I was campaigning in Devon in July. A bus on which I was travelling swerved and braked sharply. I was thrown forward, hitting my head on a metal handrail. The injuries don’t stop me from campaigning but I am slower, make more mistakes, get tired easily and take longer to do things. My memory, concentration, balance and coordination have been adversely affected. I can’t campaign at the pace I used to." - World's most noted LGBT activist Peter Tatchell, who has been beaten by anti-gay and government thugs at several protests around the world.

Quote Of The Day - Howard Dean

"This is essentially the collapse of health care reform in the United States Senate. And, honestly, the best thing to do right now is kill the Senate bill and go back to the House and start the reconciliation process, where you only need 51 votes and it would be a much simpler bill. The American people don't care how we get this, as long as we get a decent process. The Republicans in the Senate will moan and groan, but they're out of touch with where America really is. You have the vast majority of Americans want the choices, they want real choices. They don't have them in this bill. This is not health care reform and it's not close to health care reform." - Former DNC Chairman Howard Dean, speaking to Vermont Public Radio.