Saturday, April 10, 2010

Dixie Carter Dies At 70

Dixie Carter, beloved by gay audiences for her portrayal of Designing Women's Julia Sugarbaker, died today at the age of 70.
"Designing Women" actress Dixie Carter, who used her charm and stately beauty in a host of roles on Broadway and television, has died. She was 70. Publicist Steve Rohr, who represents Carter and her husband, actor Hal Holbrook, says Carter died Saturday morning. A native of Tennessee, Carter was most famous for playing quick-witted Southerner Julia Sugarbaker for seven years on "Designing Women," the CBS sitcom that ran from 1986 to 1993. She was nominated for an Emmy in 2007 for her seven-episode guest stint on the ABC hit "Desperate Housewives." Carter's other credits include roles on the series "Family Law" and "Different Strokes." She had been married to Holbrook since 1984.
Despite Julia Sugarbaker's decidedly leftist bent, in real life Dixie Carter was a relatively far right libertarian who often spoke in support of GOP candidates. But let's forget all that right now and enjoy a couple of classic rants from The Terminator.

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Betty Bowers Names Sarah Palin As Worst Mother Of The Year

"How's that slutty-trashy thing workin' out for ya?"

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Richard Dawkins: I Will Have The Pope Arrested For Crimes Against Humanity

Famed British atheist Richard Dawkins says he plans to have the Pope arrested and charged with crimes against humanity when Ill Papa visits England in September.
Dawkins and Christopher Hitchens, the atheist author, have asked human rights lawyers to produce a case for charging Pope Benedict XVI over his alleged cover-up of sexual abuse in the Catholic church. The pair believe they can exploit the same legal principle used to arrest Augusto Pinochet, the late Chilean dictator, when he visited Britain in 1998. The Pope was embroiled in new controversy this weekend over a letter he signed arguing that the “good of the universal church” should be considered against the defrocking of an American priest who committed sex offences against two boys. It was dated 1985, when he was in charge of the Congregation for the Doctrine of the Faith, which deals with sex abuse cases. Benedict will be in Britain between September 16 and 19, visiting London, Glasgow and Coventry, where he will beatify Cardinal John Henry Newman, the 19th-century theologian. Dawkins and Hitchens believe the Pope would be unable to claim diplomatic immunity from arrest because, although his tour is categorised as a state visit, he is not the head of a state recognised by the United Nations.
(Tipped by JMG reader Robert)

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Afternoon View - Target Marketing

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Photo Of The Day - Papal Proof

The above is Pope Ratzinger's signature on a 1985 letter blocking the defrocking of a California priest convicted of child molestation. The letter, written in Latin, expresses concern "for the universal good of the Church." The Vatican has confirmed the authenticity of the letter.

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Liz Taylor To Marry For Ninth Time

Gossip tabloid Us Weekly reports that Elizabeth Taylor, 78, is engaged to be married for the ninth time.
Dame Elizabeth Taylor may soon be walking down the aisle ... for the ninth time. A source close to the Oscar-winning actress, 78, tells UsMagazine.com exclusively that Taylor recently got engaged to Jason Winters, 49, of Sterling Winters Management. Taylor -- who now predominantly uses a wheelchair -- and Winters -- who recently became Janet Jackson's new manager -- have yet to confirm the news. The screen legend has also gushed about Winters to gossip columnist Liz Smith, describing him as "one of the most wonderful men I've ever known, that's why I love him." He even reportedly bought a house for them. The screen legend has been married eight times -- twice to love Richard Burton. Her last union, to construction worker Larry Fortensky, ended after five years in 1996.
Straight folks can get married again and again and again and again and again and again and again and again. And most of us can't get married once.

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Tears For Ricky Martin

Copyranter reports that a South African ad agency is using Ricky Martin's coming out to plug their line of tear-proof mascara.
Our tactical ad was an immediate response to the high level of local and international coverage given to this piece of showbiz news last week. We wanted to offer young female fans a quirky, tongue in cheek solution to the announcement in a ‘tear proof’ mascara.
It's unclear whether the usage of Martin's name is legal.

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PhoboQuotable - Mike Huckabee

"I think there’s been a real level of being disingenuous on the part of the gay and lesbian community with their goal of civil unions. You don’t go ahead and accommodate every behavioral pattern that is against the ideal. That would be like saying, well, there are a lot of people who like to use drugs, so let’s go ahead and accommodate those who want who use drugs. There are some people who believe in incest, so we should accommodate them. There are people who believe in polygamy, so we should accommodate them.

"I think this is not about trying to create statements for people who want to change the basic fundamental definitions of family, And always we should act in the best interest of the children, not in the seeming interest of the adults. Children are not puppies. This is not a time to see if we can experiment and find out, how does this work?” - Fox News host and former presidential candidate Mike Huckabee, speaking at the College of New Jersey.

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RUSSIA: Anti-Gay President Of Poland Dies In Plane Crash With 96 Others

Poland has declared a week of mourning after President Lech Kaczynski and his wife were killed in a plane crash in western Russia this morning. All passengers and crew died in the crash. As mayor of Warsaw, Kaczynski had repeatedly banned gay pride marches and had been quoted as saying that same-sex marriage would bring about the destruction of the human race.
Russian state television reported that the Tu-154 jet crashed about a kilometer short of the runway on its fourth attempt to land in heavy fog at the Smolensk-Severnyi military airport, shortly before 11 a.m. Moscow time. Reports of the number killed in the crash varied. Polish officials put the figure at 88, while Russia's Ministry of Emergency Situations said 97 had died and Russia's Investigative Committee said the total was 132. "We still cannot fully understand the scope of this tragedy and what it means for us in the future," said Foreign Ministry Spokesman Piotr Paszkowski. "Nothing like this has ever happened in Poland." "We can assume with great certainty that all persons on board have been killed." Passengers included the president and his wife as well as other top officials. SlawomirSkrzypek, president of the National Bank of Poland, was also on board. Polish Foreign Ministry spokesman Piotr Pszkowski said that the army chief of staff and Deputy Foreign Minister Andrzej Kremer were also on board the plane. The plane "clipped the tops of the trees, crashed and broke into pieces," the governor of the Smolensk region, Sergei Antufiev, told Rossiya-24 television news network by telephone. "There were no survivors."
In 2008 Kaczynski went on national Polish television to mock the same-sex wedding of two men in Canada. Unknown to him, however, one of the two men whose photos he ridiculed was internationally noted LGBT activist Brendan Fay. Kaczynski's move then backfired when Fay and his husband were brought to Poland and interviewed by national television, something local activists called the greatest visibility for LGBT rights there in many years.

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HomoQuotable - Constance McMillen

"OK whoever is targeting my classmates really need to stop. It's cruel and actually there are a lot of people including my girlfriend that have been receiving messages and having hateful things said about them just because they live in Itawamba county. There are alot of supporters that are getting harassed it shames me and actually it is just making me sad. One of my really good friends just showed up to my house crying because something was said about her. She has been supporting me through this and it is not right what yall are doing is not supporting me let ppl talk their shit about me. I dont care but this is more disgusting than what they are doing to me. I have always said to be respectful of people otherwise you dont get your message across. So yall please please if yall support me please stop doing this. Its not helping anything and it is hurting alot of innocent people." - Constance McMillan, posting to the Facebook group Constance, Quit Yer Cryin'.

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Friday, April 09, 2010

Afternoon View - Intracoastal Marina

Father Tony tells me that the yacht with the dark hull is owned by Richard Branson.

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Newt Gingrich Praises Ideas Of Man Who Calls The President "The Kenyan"

Media Matters reports:
During a "jobs summit" in New Orleans, former Speaker Newt Gingrich allowed an audience member refer to President Obama as "the Kenyan." When the man was finished speaking, Gingrich complimented his contribution to the discussion and instructed his staff to take note of the man's ideas.

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Sean Chapin - Constant

JMG reader Sean Chapin submits his tribute to Mississippi gay teen Constance McMillen. On May 1st, Constance and her girlfriend will be guests of honor at the 33rd annual National Center for Lesbian Rights Celebration, also known as "the lesbian prom."

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Photo Of The Day - Truth Truck

Equality Maryland reports that the evil "Truth Truck" is in Annapolis as anti-gay bigots ramp up their campaign to turn back the decision to recognize legal same-sex marriages from other jurisdictions.
Today, Equality Maryland staff members are on the ground in Annapolis ensuring that in the final days of the 2010 legislative session we halt any last minute attempts to repeal the Attorney General's opinion or chip away at our rights. But we're not the only ones here in Annapolis. "The Truth Truck" is also in our state capital spewing anti-LGBT hatred. It is literally parked in front of the Statehouse with signs that say: "Homosexuality is a Sin - AIDS is Death" and "The Sodomites - He Banished them from the Land."

If you're wondering what we're up against - this is it! Our staff and our legislative allies constantly face this type of vicious ignorance. Pictures say a thousand words, which is why I felt I needed to send this to you. But actions, of course, speak louder than words. You can act today to helps us speak the truth about our families and our lives to lawmakers in Annapolis. You have the power to build our movement with your advocacy, outreach and financial support. If these signs and the hateful rhetoric make you cringe - like me - help us counter these attacks by supporting EQMD's advocacy efforts. I know you receive a number of requests from important organizations, but your generosity really does make a difference in each and every attack on our community and our families. You can donate online by clicking here or by sending a check to us at 1201 Sharp Street, Suite 109, Baltimore, MD, 21230.

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Newt Gingrich: Obama Is The Most Radical President In American History

He says it like that would be a BAD thing.

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ACTIVIST: The Times Of Vito Russo

Here's a just-out documentary about Vito Russo, the famed film historian and ACT-UP activist who succumbed to AIDS in 1990. You should also check out The Celluloid Closet, the film based on Russo's book of the same name.

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Red State Ripoff

The Fourth Branch provides the above graph depicting which states receive more in federal funding than they contribute in taxes. They note that the map rather closely tracks the result of the 2008 election.
There is a very strong correlation, then, between a state voting for Republicans and receiving more in federal spending than its residents pay to the federal government in taxes (the rust belt and Texas being notable exceptions). In essence, those in blue states are subsidizing those in red states. Both red and blue states appear to be acting politically in opposition to their economic interests. Blue states are voting for candidates who are likely to continue the policies of red state subsidization while red states are voting for candidates who profess a desire to reduce federal spending (and presumably red state subsidization). All of this makes current Republican rhetoric frustrating, to say the least. Republicans tolerated spending under Republican presidents for 30 years, accounting for 59% of our total national debt, all the while benefiting from federal spending at the expense of their counterparts in blue states, only to then go bananas when a Democratic president and Congress spend money to rescue a floundering economy.
(Tipped by JMG reader Band)

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Obama Rips VA Gov. McDonnell Over Confederate History Month Debacle

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April 19th In NYC: Ali Forney Center's Broadway Beauty Pageant

The Ali Forney Center's annual Broadway Beauty Pageant takes place Monday, April 19th at Symphony Space in Manhattan. The Ali Forney Center serves NYC's homeless LGBT youth.
Handsome hunks from your favorite Broadway shows competing to raise money for the Ali Forney Center, an organization that provides shelter and services to homeless LGBT youth in New York City. Join host Tovah Feldshuh, and our judges Christine Ebersole, Charles Busch, and Jackie Hoffman as the boys compete for the crown. In true Beauty Pageant style, these sexy stars square off in the interview competition, talent competition, and the ever-popular swimsuit competition. Buy your tickets now! After the show we invite you to mix and mingle with the cast at the Sunburnt Calf (226 West 79th Street). VIP guests will be invited to enjoy an hour long open bar.
Even if you can't attend, you can still help out NYC's homeless gay kids: "By donating toward contestants, you can help choose who's the fairest one of all before the pageant even begins. Each dollar you contribute is a vote for your favorite contestant and goes towards helping the Ali Forney Center provide much needed shelter for homeless gay youth." My review of last year's Broadway Beauty Pageant is here. Fun!

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SCOTUS Justice Stevens To Retire

As widely rumored in recent weeks, today Supreme Court Justice John Paul Stevens announced that he will retire this summer. Stevens turns 90 next week.
Stevens began signaling a possible retirement last summer when he hired just one of his usual complement of four law clerks for the next court term. He acknowledged in several interviews that he was contemplating stepping down and would certainly do so during Obama's presidency. Chief Justice John Roberts said in a written statement that Stevens has earned the gratitude and admiration of the American people. "He has enriched the lives of everyone at the Court through his intellect, independence, and warm grace," Roberts said. Stevens informed Obama in a one-paragraph letter addressed to "My dear Mr. President." The court released the letter along with the chief justice's statement on a day when the court wasn't even in session. According to NBC News, a senior administration official says the White House received the letter this morning. The president, traveling back from an overseas trip, was informed aboard Air Force One.
And now we get to go through the Sonia Sotomayor thing all over again.

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NY Sen. Tom Duane: Bring The Space Shuttle To New York City

All three space shuttles will be retired next year. Openly gay NY state Sen. Tom Duane wants to bring one of them to NYC for permanent display in Manhattan onboard the Intrepid aircraft carrier.
“On Thursday, by a unanimous vote, the state senate approved a legislative resolution spearheaded by State Senator Thomas K. Duane that enthusiastically endorses the Intrepid Sea, Air and Space Museum’s application to permanently display one of NASA’s three retiring Space Shuttles on Manhattan’s West Side. The Intrepid Museum is competing for the privilege with more than twenty other institutions across the United States,” said the release. The three ships in the Space Shuttle program – Discovery, Endeavor and Atlantis - will be retired in early 2011. This July, NASA will announce the results of a nationwide competition to find homes for each of the three shuttles.
(Via Julie Bolcer @ The Advocate)

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Sex & The City 2 Trailer

Towleroad tips us to the new trailer for Sex & The City 2, which looks even gayer than the first one. Wait, is that Liza?

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Green Light For Gay Marriage In Portugal

Portugal's Constitutional Court has approved a marriage equality bill recently passed by the nation's legislature. The bill only needs the signature of the president to become law.
Portugal's Socialist-controlled Parliament, led by Prime Minister Jose Socrates, approved the gay marriage bill on February 11. The president still has the option of vetoing the legislation, but Socrates has said he is prepared to overturn the veto. The Vatican has vociferously opposed laws that grant gay couples the right to marry. Pope Benedict has called for the ouster of Socialists in Spain who approved a gay marriage law in 2005, but the church's opposition in the Catholic stronghold of Portugal has been muted. However, Benedict is widely expected to criticize the bill when he visits Portugal next month.
President Silva opposes marriage equality, but his expected veto will likely be overridden.

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Banksy's Exit Throught The Gift Shop

From the coming documentary about British graffiti artist Banksy:
Fiercely guarding his anonymity to avoid prosecution, Banksy has so far resisted all attempts to be captured on film. Exit Through the Gift Shop tells the incredible true story of how an eccentric French shop keeper turned documentary maker attempted to locate and befriend Banksy, only to have the artist turn the camera back on its owner with spectacular results. The film contains exclusive footage of Banksy, Shepard Fairey, Invader and many of the worlds most infamous graffiti artists at work, on walls and in interview. As Banksy describes it, Its basically the story of how one man set out to film the un—filmable. And failed

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Mark Foley, Mayor Of West Palm Beach?

Former GOP Rep. Mark Foley, who resigned in 2006 after it was revealed that he'd sent lewd text messages to male congressional pages, is considering running for mayor of West Palm Beach, Florida.
On Wednesday, Foley confirmed that friends and colleagues have gauged his interest in the wide-open mayoral race that so far has just two official candidates in Commissioners Jeri Muoio and Molly Douglas. Foley said he is still a long way from running for elected office, but he wouldn’t rule out the mayoral run. “I keep hearing the buzz,” Foley said. “But there’s no plan in place.” Foley said he’s not sure what other potential candidates, especially Commissioner Kimberly Mitchell, are planning. Mitchell and Foley are long-time friends, and if she decides not to run, it could open up a spot for Foley. Despite Foley’s baggage from the page scandal that forced him to resign his US Congressional seat in 2007, Foley has reemerged on the political scene as a fundraiser and host of a local radio show.
A refresher of one of Foley's text message exchanges:
Maf54 (8:08:31 PM): get a ruler and measure it for me
Xxxxxxxxx (8:08:38 PM): ive already told you that
Maf54 (8:08:47 PM): tell me again
Xxxxxxxxx (8:08:49 PM): 7 and 1/2
Maf54 (8:09:04 PM): ummmmmmmmmmmmmmmm
Maf54 (8:09:08 PM): beautiful
Xxxxxxxxx (8:09:38 PM): lol
Maf54 (8:09:44 PM): thats a great size
Xxxxxxxxx (8:10:00 PM): thank you
Maf54 (8:10:22 PM): still stiff
Xxxxxxxxx (8:10:28 PM): ya
Maf54 (8:10:40 PM): take it out
Xxxxxxxxx (8:10:54 PM): brb...my mom is yelling

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Rep. Bart Stupak (D-MI) To Retire

After weeks of attacks from both the right and the left over his changing position on health care reform, Rep. Bart Stupak (D-MI) has decided not to seek reelection.
Stupak negotiated with Democratic leaders down to the eleventh hour for stricter abortion language in the health care bill, but he ultimately voted for it after President Obama agreed to sign an executive order assuring the new laws will keep taxpayer dollars from funding abortions. That prompted the conservative Tea Party Express to launch a $250,000 ad campaign against Stupak this week. The group also scheduled a handful of stops on its bus tour in Stupak's district. On the left, the abortion rights group NARAL Pro-Choice America has been working to defeat Stupak and instead elect his Democratic primary challenger Connie Saltonstall. Like many other congressmen, Stupak received violent threats from citizens after his health care vote. However, the Michigan Democrat came under particularly intense scrutiny because of his role in the abortion debate.
RELATED: Check out the site of Stupak's potential replacement, Connie Saltonstall.

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PhoboQuotable - Lou Sheldon

"In the next few weeks, President Obama, Speaker Pelosi, and their homosexual and transgender allies will attempt to ram through the so-called Employment Non-Discrimination Act (ENDA). What you may not know is that ENDA normalizes and provides special federal protection for 30+ bizarre sexual orientations listed by the American Psychiatric Association – the so-called 'Dirty 30.' These 30+ fetishes include behaviors that are felonies or misdemeanors in most states.

"ENDA’s 'Dirty 30' includes such bizarre criminal acts as incest, pedophilia, prostitution, beastiality, and cross-dressing. If we don’t act today, Obama and Pelosi will normalize these disorders by federal law on April 21! In a moment of candor, liberal Rep. Alcee Hastings (D-FL) openly admitted on the House floor that the 'Dirty 30' would be covered by federal law. In fact, he wants the Dirty 30 to be given special protection! In his own words: 'all of these philias and fetishes and isms that were put forward--need not live in fear because of who they are.'

"If Obama, Pelosi, Hastings and the Congressional Democrats pass ENDA, co-workers will be forced to work alongside individuals with these bizarre sex fetishes. Christian businesses will be directly impacted by ENDA. They would be forced to hire or retain cross-dressers and individuals who engage in these sinful behaviors. Students will be indoctrinated that 'alternative lifestyles' are no different than traditional lifestyles. Young children will be forced to learn about these bizarre sexual fetishes – and you will have no say in the matter." - Traditional Values Coalition director Rev. Lou Sheldon, reviving the outrageous lies used against the Matthew Shepard Act.

And of course, the above-cited quote from Rep. Hastings actually comes from his mocking and disbelieving reading of a proposed anti-gay poison pill to the Matthew Shepard Act. Sheldon knows that, but he depends on his Christianist followers to buy the lie.

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Morning View - Fort Lauderdale Beach

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Thursday, April 08, 2010

Your Daily Minute Of Crazy

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Malcolm McLaren Dead At 64

The greatest culture appropriator in pop music, Malcolm McLaren, died of cancer in NYC today at the age of 64.

UDPATE: The location of McLaren's death was actually Switzerland, not NYC as was first reported.
“He had been suffering from cancer for some time, but recently had been full of health, which then rapidly deteriorated,” McLaren’s spokesman Les Molloy told The Independent. Molloy confirmed McLaren died in New York this morning; his body will be moved to London for burial in Highgate Cemetery. An icon of the punk movement that swept Great Britain in the mid-Seventies, McLaren got his start as a fashion designer who opened up a clothing shop with Vivienne Westwood called Let It Rock. While in New York City to start up a new boutique, he became the New York Dolls manager, a role he held until their breakup in 1976. After working with the Dolls and returning to London, McLaren wanted to start up his own band — the misfit group of punks would later be inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame as the Sex Pistols.
While I did and do still adore the Sex Pistols, with all the nonsense and hype laden upon them by McClaren, some of my favorite songs of all time are from his solo work. A sampling is below.

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Marching Orders

Anti-gay groups are issuing their final directions for Christian students to walk out of any school that participates in this year's GLSEN Day Of Silence next Friday. The below is a joint message to parents from evil twin vipers Laurie Higgins (Illinois Family Institute) and Linda Harvey (Mission America).
Explain to your children why you’re taking a stand:
a. Homosexual behavior is not an innate identity.
b. No matter what factors may influence homosexual feelings, freely chosen homosexual behavior is immoral and should be resisted.
c. Homosexuality is not equivalent to race.
d. Disapproval of homosexuality is not equivalent to racism; nor is it hatred; nor is it bullying; nor does it constitute an incitement to violence. It is permissible and ethical to express disapproval of homosexuality. Just because someone may feel bad when hearing that someone disapproves of homosexuality does not mean that disapproval is cruel or wrong.
e. No school should support a view of homosexuality that is unproven and controversial, and that is physically, emotionally, and spiritually destructive to individuals and society.
f. No school should allow instructional time to be politicized.

Encourage your church leadership to follow the bold example of Pastor Ken Hutcherson who vocally opposed “Day of Silence” in his community in Redmond, Washington. He led the Walkout in his community, and over 600 out of 1,400 students were called out of school on the Day of Silence. Let your light shine by spreading the word to your church and neighbors. Explain that school districts lose money for every absence, which may help convince administrations and school boards that it is not merely unethical but fiscally irresponsible to allow the classroom to be used for political purposes.

Contact: Linda Harvey,
614-442-7998 begin_of_the_skype_highlighting 614-442-7998 end_of_the_skype_highlighting begin_of_the_skype_highlighting 614-442-7998 end_of_the_skype_highlighting
lpharvey@missionamerica.com;

Laurie Higgins,
847-948-7889,
hlaurie@illinoisfamily.org
Feel free to contact Evil Power Twins Linda & Laurie and let them know how you feel about their endorsement of anti-gay bullying and harassment.

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Sons Of The Confederacy: Slavery Was Not A Cause Of The Civil War

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Elective Rectal Cleansing

Portfolio points us to a new Fleet disposable douche campaign targeted at gay men. Fleet's new product is for "elective rectal cleansing."
“We’ve always known that some of our consumers were using Fleet enemas for reasons other than to relieve constipation, so we wanted to develop a product that would meet the needs of those users and provide them with a safe way to cleanse and frequently if desired,” [Fleet brand manager Emily] Klopp said. Fleet sells about $30 million in enemas annually and dominates the market, Klopp said. It’s unclear the exact size of the market because Wal-Mart and other stores sell private-label brands and do not disclose their sales. The new version hits shelves at CVS drug stores and Target this month, followed by Walgreens next month and Rite-Aid in June. Wal-Mart is the only major retailer so far to balk at carrying it, Klopp said.

The company commissioned polling firm Harris Interactive last year to research the market potential and found that 3.7 percent of the general population had used an enema to “electively rectally cleanse” in the prior year. A study focusing specifically on gay and bisexual men found 21 percent of them had done so. Yet Harris found the two populations do so for different reasons: 80 percent of the general population said they used an enema for “health and well-being” while 87 percent of gay and bisexual men said they did so as a precursor to “anal intimacy.” About 38 percent of the general population said they used enemas for “anal intimacy”; respondents were permitted to select more than one answer.
Fleet Naturals contains no laxative and the tip has a condom-safe lubricant, so clearly they've done their homework. Hit the link for more info and for other images from the campaign. And we should definitely send a case to New Hampshire Rep. Nancy "Wriggling In Excrement" Elliot.

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CNN's Kyra Phillips: Richard Cohen Wasn't Appropriate Choice For Gay Cure Segment

Today CNN's Kyra Phillips offered an apology for featuring "ex-gay" whacko Richard Cohen on a segment about repealing a California law requiring the state to search for a "cure" for homosexuality, saying that Cohen wasn't the "appropriate choice." Phillips also complained about hate mail she received after the segment aired. After Elton's Michael Jenson:
Interestingly, at one point Phillips says she has a female friend whose parents are using the Bible to attack her sexuality. She also acknowledges that Richard Cohen was not the most appropriate person to discuss the issue, but she never explains why he wasn't. The end of the segment has Phillips discussing the reaction she received over her remarks and while I think it's unfortunate and wrong anyone would say anything hateful, discussing it here seems a little disingenuous. Nonetheless, I appreciate the fact that Phillips and CNN revisited the issue and at least set the record "straight" on conversion therapy.
This time CNN hosted a legitimate expert from the American Psychological Association.

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Photo Of The Day - Matthew Mitcham

Australian Olympic gold medalist diver Matthew Mitcham dressed as an abs-tastic unicorn for a local Lady Gaga concert. The Advocate reports that he was too shy to use his name to try and get backstage to meet her, even though winning the gold and meeting Gaga have been his "only two wishes in life." That outfit doesn't really scream "shy" does it?

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Wisconsin DA: I'll Arrest Any Teacher That Attempts Sexual Education

Juneau County, Wisconsin District Attorney Scott Southworth is threatening teachers with arrest if they attempt to teach sexual education in their classrooms, as is required by a new law.
The state law, called the Healthy Youth Act, took effect in March. Starting this fall, it requires schools with sex-education courses to teach students medically accurate, age-appropriate information, including how to use birth control and prevent sexually transmitted diseases. It also requires the classes to include information about how to recognize signs of abuse and how alcohol can affect decision making. Parents will be permitted to remove their children from sex-education classes, as they could under previous state law. Schools also will be allowed the choice of whether to offer sex education, but must notify parents if they decide not to.

In his letter, Southworth told school district leaders the new law promotes sexual assault of children, and warns that teachers who follow the law could be charged with misdemeanor or felony delinquency of a minor, with maximum punishments ranging from nine months in jail to six years in prison. "For example, if a teacher instructs any student aged 16 or younger how to utilize contraceptives under circumstances where the teacher knows the child is engaging in sexual activity with another child -- or even where the 'natural and probable consequences' of the teacher's instruction is to cause that child to engage in sexual intercourse with a child -- that teacher can be charged under this statue," Southworth wrote. "Moreover, the teacher could be charged with this crime even if the child does not actually engage in the criminal behavior," he wrote, adding, "Our teachers should never be put in this position."
Unsurprisingly, Southworth identifies himself as an evangelical.

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And When You Flip The Car, The iPad Screen Conveniently Auto-Rotates

Somebody's already mounted their iPad on their dashboard.

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KKK Repudiates Westboro

Blogger Jake Garland turned up the following: "NOTE: The Ku Klux Klan, LLC, has not or EVER will have ANY connection with the 'Westboro Baptist Church.' We absolutely repudiate their activities." Uh, yay?

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Pixels Destroy NYC

Gothamist tips us to this clever depiction of NYC being destroyed by old school video games. What, no Asteroids?

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Palin/Crazy Eyes 2012

That'd be one way to guarantee Obama's second term.

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Opus Dei Buys $7.5M Manhattan Home

The secretive Catholic group Opus Dei has purchased a $7.5M townhouse near their opulent headquarters in Manhattan's posh Murray Hill.
The house was bought by the Rosemoor Foundation, whose Web site says it funds "cultural centers and activities whose origin and mission are inspired by the Catholic Prelature of Opus Dei." The foundation bought the place from hedge-funder Albert J. Fitzgibbins III, a founder of Stonington Partners. A neighbor told us, "There were fears they would use it as a halfway house for the rehabilitation of pedophile priests." But a spokesman for Opus Dei -- which was scandalized in what many considered an inaccurate portrayal in "The Da Vinci Code" -- said the house would be used "as a residence for women where they would be offered philosophical, theological and spiritual guidance." Calls to Rosemoor and Fitzgibbins were not returned.
Opus Dei interior designers plan a gut renovation to make room for the self-flagellation stations and blood drains. Hardwood floors and granite countertops throughout!

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Friendly Voices - Colin Farrell

"I can't remember much about the years of physical and emotional abuse my brother Eamon suffered. I was very small. The thing i do remember though, quite literally, is blood on his school shirt when he came home in the afternoon. The beatings and taunting were very frequent for my him and a constant part of his school years. I didn't understand at that time the concept of 'difference'. Back then, as now, he was just my big brother. If I did understand what difference was I understood it in the most pure and unaffected childlike way. To me then, as a child, difference meant being left out. Joy and laughter came with being included, being embraced , and BELONGING to.

"People are often afraid of difference. They feel that anything that causes fear, should be turned away from. My brother represented fear for so many people, but caused joy in my life. From a very young age he made me laugh with his intelligence and wit, made me aspire to his strength and goodness. He was to be embraced. To many of the students of his school however he was to be feared. He was to be turned away from. I didn't understand it then, and I still don't know. As a race we humans are united and divided by emotions. The mother and father of all emotions, the queen and king are love and fear. Love unites, it brings us closer to an understanding of the possibility of beauty amidst all the confusion and pain that life can bring. Hate is a disease. It is fear's messenger and it makes us do terrible things in a shadow of our better selves, of what we could be." - Actor Colin Farrell, in a statement of support to an Irish LGBT youth support group.

(Tipped by JMG reader Gerald)

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Quote Of The Day - Bernando Alvarez

"There are 13 year old adolescents who are under age and who are perfectly in agreement with, and what’s more wanting it, and if you are careless they will even provoke you." - Tenerife Bishop Bernando Alvarez, blaming child molestation on the victims. Alvarez' comments have ignited a firestorm of condemnation in Spain.

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DOMA Challenge Scheduled For May

Gay & Lesbian Advocate and Defenders (GLAD) announced today that their challenge to the Defense of Marriage Act (DOMA) has been scheduled to begin on May 6th. Via press release:
On Thursday, May 6, 2010, the Federal District Court in Boston will hear oral arguments on the constitutionality of the federal Defense of Marriage Act (DOMA), in the case of Gill v. Office of Personnel Management, brought by Gay & Lesbian Advocates & Defenders (GLAD) in March 2009. The hearing will address the central issue of the case – is DOMA constitutional? –six years after the first same-sex couples in the country started marrying in Massachusetts, the result of GLAD’s groundbreaking marriage case, Goodridge v. Department of Public Health.

Arguing before U.S. District Judge Joseph L. Tauro on behalf of seven married same-sex couples and three widowers will be Mary L. Bonauto, GLAD’s Civil Rights Project Director. Bonauto was the lead attorney in Goodridge. As a result of DOMA, passed by Congress in 1996, plaintiffs in GLAD’s lawsuit have been harmed in various ways, including denial of survivor benefits on a deceased spouse’s pension; denial of health insurance coverage for a spouse on a federal family plan; denial of Social Security death and widower benefits; and the payment of extra federal income taxes due to the inability to file jointly as married.
More on the case here. Here's GLAD's 2009 video explaining their suit.

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Jon Stewart Vs. Muppet Michael Steele

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VA Gov. Bob McDonnell Apologizes Over Confederate History Recognition

After enduring blistering national criticism for removing language about slavery from his declaration recognizing Confederate History Month, yesterday Virginia Gov. Bob McDonnell issued an apology and amended the language in the declaration.
A day earlier, McDonnell said he left out any reference to slavery in the original seven-paragraph proclamation because he wanted to include issues he thought were most "significant" to Virginia. He also said the document was designed to promote tourism in the state, which next year marks the 150th anniversary of the start of the Civil War. However, Wednesday afternoon the governor issued a mea culpa for the document's exclusion of slavery. "The proclamation issued by this Office designating April as Confederate History Month contained a major omission," McDonnell said in a statement. "The failure to include any reference to slavery was a mistake, and for that I apologize to any fellow Virginian who has been offended or disappointed."
McDonnell's amended declaration adds the sentence: "Slavery was an evil and inhumane practice that deprived people of their God-given inalienable rights and all Virginians are thankful for its permanent eradication from our borders."

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Activist Fred Karger Mulls Presidential Bid

In 2008, Fred Karger founded Californians Against Hate, the activist group that has led successful boycotts of anti-gay businesses and forced investigations of the Mormon Church and NOM. Yesterday Karger issued a press release announcing that he is considering a 2012 run for U.S. president. As an "independent Republican."
I would be the first openly gay candidate to seek the nomination of a major political party as its Presidential candidate. I would discuss issues important to the gay and lesbian community such as: ending Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell, pass the federal Employment Anti-Discrimination law, eliminate the federal Defense of Marriage Act, make Gay Marriage the law of the land and make finding a cure for HIV / AIDS and a vaccine to prevent HIV a new national priority. Shirley Chisholm captivated the nation when she ran for President as this country’s first serious black and female candidate in 1972. Her campaign paved the way for Jesse Jackson’s Presidential campaigns in 1984 and 1988, and the election of Barack Obama as our 44th President in 2008. Our nation is facing tremendous challenges right now. I pledge to put new effective leadership in place to end our nation’s economic crisis. I will work tirelessly to bring back the spirit in every man, woman and child to help remake America the land of opportunity and equality for all.
I say go for it!

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Family Feud Contestant Disses Ellen

Ellen DeGeneres had her own category on a recent episode of Family Feud. "Name something that everybody knows about Ellen." The contestant family's patriarch stunned all with his response.

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Utah Senate Delays Ryan White Act: "Doesn't Obamacare Pay For This?"

Yesterday the Utah Senate delayed approval of a long-running federal grant providing assistance to people with HIV, the Ryan White Act. Utah Senate president Michael Waddoups said coldly, "Doesn't Obamacare pay for this?"
The grant program is named after Ryan White, a teenage hemophiliac who died from AIDS complications in the 1980s after contracting the HIV virus during a transfusion to treat the blood disorder. "Doesn't Obamacare pay for this?" asked Waddoups, referring to the new health insurance reform package passed by Democrats in Congress and signed two weeks ago by President Barack Obama without a single Republican vote.Waddoups said he would not vote for the grant, which has never been questioned in previous years, until all his questions were answered. Waddoups noted that voicing his concerns should not be read as intending harm or preventing necessary medications from being delivered to Utahns who receive them under the grant. The earliest the grant will be considered is at the committee's next scheduled meeting in May. State Department of Health administrators did their best to answer the questions, noting that they had received no prior notice that lawmakers would be asking questions about that grant or any others on the list. The inaction puts the health department, already pinched by two years of budget cutbacks, in the position of finding the $420,000 from other areas in agency programs to cover the cost of providing the services through April.
Last month, the largely Republican Utah legislature resolved to put roadblocks into any implementation of the health care reform bill. By coincidence, today is the 20th anniversary of the death of Ryan White.

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Strange New Ad From Tiger Woods

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Tired Old Queen At The Movies #26

Tyrone Power in The Rains Came.

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Wednesday, April 07, 2010

Open Thread Thursday

So how did things go at YOUR prom?

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Your Daily Minute Of Crazy

OK, Rep. Michelle "Crazy Eyes" Bachmann isn't in this one, but it's from a rally with her, so it counts. And extra points for the crazy ladies behind Palin.

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Teabagger Arrested For Making Death Threats To Nancy Pelosi Over HCR

The FBI has arrested a California man for making telephoned death threats to House Speaker Nancy Pelosi over her backing of the health care reform bill.
Charges against the man have yet to be disclosed, but they are expected to be filed in federal court in California. Several federal officials said the man made dozens of calls to Pelosi's homes in California and Washington, as well as to her husband's business office. They said he recited her home address and said if she wanted to see it again, she would not support the health care overhaul bill that since has been enacted. One official said the man is believed to have spoken directly with Pelosi at least once. The officials spoke on condition of anonymity because they were not authorized to discuss the case publicly. A call to the FBI office in San Francisco was not immediately returned, nor was a call to a spokesman for Pelosi.
Yesterday another arrest was made for similar threats made against Sen. Patty Murray (D-WA). Last month a mentally ill Philadelphia man was arrested for two year old YouTube threats against Rep. Eric Cantor as the GOP desperately scrambled for any proof that they too were being targeted.

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GLAAD Vs. CNN

GLAAD has issued a call to action over yesterday's CNN segment asking "Does homosexuality need a cure" which featured the famously insane "ex-gay therapist" Richard Cohen.
We have spoken extensively to key producers and publicity representatives at the network this afternoon and they indicate that they understand the seriousness of our complaints. They are scheduling a meeting with GLAAD and key bookers at CNN so that this type of mishap can be avoided moving forward. In the meantime we’ll be keeping a close eye on future reporting and calling on our members to speak out about faulty reports. Please contact CNN Newsroom and voice your concerns about the platform extended to the discredited Richard Cohen and CNN’s failure to consult credible scientific authorities before proceeding with this report.
GLAAD invites you to complain directly to CNN yourselves via their feedback form.

UPDATE: GLAAD reports that they had been invited by CNN to refute yesterday's segment in a broadcast scheduled to air this morning, but CNN canceled at the last minute today.
After extensive conversations with CNN producers and publicity representatives yesterday afternoon and following our blog and twitter action, CNN called GLAAD in the evening, telling us they had received numerous complaints about the segment and inviting us to appear on this morning’s broadcast with Kyra Phillips to discuss our concerns. GLAAD then scheduled a representative to go on CNN but received a phone call from the network at 7 A.M. today telling us they had decided to cancel the segment. They also issued this statement: "By bringing this story to the fore, we engage various advocates from all sides. This story does not end here and CNN will continue to explore other views and positions." Just like the segment itself, CNN’s statement misses the mark and provides no explanation for its actions. GLAAD urges you to help us hold the network accountable.

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Anti-Gay Liberty Counsel Peddles Fake Anti-Gay Pediatricians Group

The Liberty Counsel has issued an alert that the so-called American College of Pediatricians has sent a warning to the nation's educators to be on the lookout for students "experiencing same-sex attraction or gender confusion."
The letter reminds school superintendents that it is not uncommon for adolescents to experience transient confusion about their sexual orientation and that most students will ultimately adopt a heterosexual orientation if not otherwise encouraged. For this reason, schools should avoid developing policies that encourage nonheterosexual attractions among students who may merely be experimenting or experiencing temporary sexual confusion. Such premature labeling can lead some adolescents to engage in homosexual behaviors that carry serious physical and mental health risks. There is no scientific evidence that anyone is born homosexual. Therefore, the College further advises that schools should not teach or imply to students that homosexual attraction is innate, always life-long, and unchangeable. To the contrary, research has shown that therapy to restore heterosexual attraction can be effective for many people. It is not the school’s role to diagnose or attempt to treat any student’s medical condition, and certainly not the school’s role to “affirm” a student’s perceived personal sexual orientation. The “Facts About Youth” website counters the propaganda published by the pro-homosexual pamphlet called “Just the Facts,” which is riddled with inaccuracies.
The above is obviously really about GLSEN's coming Day Of Silence, although they slyly don't say so. But there's one more little problem. The American College of Pediatricians (ACPEDS) isn't real, as was exposed earlier this week by Box Turtle Bulletin's Timothy Kincaid.
Despite the name, ACP is not a institute of higher learning. Nor is it a professional organization for pediatricians. This is an advocacy group dedicated to political goals which is using an authoritative sounding name to fool the unaware. Yes, their officers and their board are all pediatricians (usually older gentlemen in the South), but their “Pediatric Psychosocial Development Committee” reads like a members roster of the virulently anti-gay National Association for Research and Therapy of Homosexuality (NARTH).
Kincaid goes on to show that the 15 doctors listed as ACPEDS members are either part of the famously discredited NARTH or otherwise part of the anti-gay lie machine. ACPEDS, Focus On The Family and the Liberty Counsel are boldly lying to the nation's teachers and school administrators, knowing that few of them would be able to discern a legitimate doctors organization from the fake one they've cooked up in their relentless campaign to endorse the beating, bullying, torture and harassment of gay youth.

Kincaid notes that the real pediatricians group, the 60,000 member American Academy of Pediatrics, is actually quite gay-friendly and has endorsed gay parenting. Read Box Turtle Bulletin's excellent dissecting of this entire fraud being perpetrated by shameless Christianist liars.

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Rep. Alan Grayson Continues To Rip "No Obama Voters" Doctor

Rep. Alan Grayson is trying get the sanctions imposed on the Florida doctor who says he doesn't want to treat anybody who voted for Obama. The doctor is now a teabagger hero.

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Houston Pastors Want Mayor Annise Parker's Non-Bias Order Rescinded

Last month openly lesbian Houston Mayor Annise Parker issued a sweeping non-bias order granting employment protections to LGBT workers "at every level of municipal government." Predictably, the city's Christianists are screaming about men in dresses.
“Forcing women in particular using city facilities to be subjected to cross-dressing men invading their privacy is beyond the pale and offensive to every standard of decency,” said Pastor Steve Riggle, senior pastor of Grace Community Church and an Executive Committee member of the Houston Area Pastor Council (HAPC). “This is not only morally wrong it exposes the city and therefore the taxpayers to endless litigation and expenses,” added Pastor Hernan Castano, senior pastor of Iglesia Rios de Aceite and a member of the HAPC Executive Committee. “It is irresponsible and indefensible.” Notably, however, supporters of the executive order are insisting that it remains unlawful for men to go into the women’s restroom.
The Houston Area Pastor Council says Parker's move should have been expected because she's a dirty dyke: "We are appalled but not surprised that this mayor has so early in her administration proven that we were right in asserting before the election that her sexual preference is central to her public policy."

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Bristol Palin's PSA On Teen Pregnancy: Pause Before You Play

Bristol Palin's is making the morning show rounds to promote her new anti-teen pregnancy campaign, which is funded by the shoemaker Candies. Palin says the new campaign isn't about abstinence per se, but she does encourage that whole "no sex until marriage" thing. HuffPo has the PSA.

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Rupert Murdoch: Fox Shouldn't Be Supporting The Teabaggers

Fox News owner Rupert Murdoch says his network "shouldn't be supporting the Tea Party or any other party." I guess he doesn't watch his own shows. At this same interview, Murdoch was asked if he could name any Democrats working for him. He couldn't.

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Spring? What Spring?

I thought I could put off replacing my apartment's ancient A/C for at least a month. Guess not.

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PhoboQuotable - Tony Perkins

"The law should count for something when the Census Bureau counts America's population, but apparently it doesn't on President Obama's watch. The President's Commerce Department is actively encouraging people to ignore U.S. marriage law and invent new definitions for their relationships. What kind of government actively lobbies citizens to lie on their forms?

"When it comes to advancing the extreme homosexual agenda, this White House has no limits, not even the facts. The Defense of Marriage Act forbids the federal government from recognizing same-sex relationships as 'marriages.' If this video were honest, it would state, 'If you are a same-sex couple, you should mark the box that says 'unmarried partner,' even if you are legally married according to the laws of the state in which you reside.'" - Family Research Council head Tony Perkins, complaining about yesterday's release of official Census Bureau videos urging LGBT Americans to identify themselves on census forms.

VIDEO: Here's another of the seven clips, this one is from the HRC's Harry Knox, who directs their Religion & Faith program.

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GOP Flacks Call For Steele To Resign

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The Taiwanese Male Whitney Houston

The UK's Daily Mail reports that there's a new Susan Boyle out of Taiwan.
Susan Boyle needs to look out - there's another YouTube singing sensation shooting up the popularity charts. Lin Yu Chun is short, fat, has a bowl-cut hairstyle and wears a red bow tie, but the Taiwanese youngster sings exactly like Whitney Houston. Which explains why a clip from the karaoke TV show Super Star Avenue has become a massive hit on YouTube and Twitter. His pitch-perfect rendition of the Whitney Houston/Dolly Parton mega-hit 'I Will Always Love You' blew a panel of judges away. The amazing performance recalled the way Susan Boyle surprised Britain's Got Talent judges with her version of 'I Dreamed A Dream'. But now it seems Lin is ready to take her crown as the year's most unlikely music star and he is the bookies' favourite to win the talent contest. The grand prize on Super Star Avenue is almost as jaw-dropping as Lin's performance - the chance to release an album, as well as $1million (£650,000).
He's pretty good, but like with Susan Boyle, one has to wonder if it's not the disconnect between image and voice that makes it interesting.

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