SAN FRANCISCO: Police Launch Investigation Of Brawl At Gay Pride

San Francisco police have launched an investigation after officers were recorded beating back a crowd of brawling women at last Sunday's gay pride celebration. According to some, the police responded with excessive force. It is unknown if the brawling women are lesbians.

The incident took place about 7:30 p.m. Sunday on Hyde Street near United Nations Plaza, according to police. A video of the altercation, which has been posted on YouTube, shows several people gathered in a narrow sidewalk area, yelling and then being pushed back by police officers. At a certain point, an officer is seen beating someone with a baton. Later, several more officers, including some from the California Highway Patrol, come to assist and several people are detained. Two women are later seen grabbing at a CHP officer's baton, prompting cheering from the crowd gathered to watch. At various times, people can be heard yelling, "F--- the police!" A male voice can then be heard saying, "They're just doing their job, man!" and "You don't punch a cop."

Police spokeswoman Lt. Lyn Tomioka said police initially responded to break up a fight between two women, and then the officers were surrounded and attempted to disperse the crowd. Six women were taken into custody; another was cited and released. Tomioka said the department's internal affairs division is investigating the use of force by the officers. "It's an ongoing investigation, but use of force ... it's why we try to talk to people, but when we have no other option, use of force is required, unfortunately," Tomioka said. "But to the public, it never looks pretty.

Five women were charged with assaulting a police officer and resisting arrest. All have been released and are due in court on August 5th. From watching the tape, it appears to me that the cops performed as well as could be hoped in an outnumbered and out of control situation. Again folks, you do not put your hands on a cop, no matter what the situation. Take that bad arrest (if it IS one) to civil court and get your satisfaction there.

Michael Steele: Afghanistan Is A War Of Obama's Choosing

RNC chairman Michael Steele told a crowd at a Connecticut GOP fundraiser that Afghanistan was a "war of Obama's choosing" and "is not something that the United States has actively prosecuted or wanted to engage in." That may be the final straw for Steele as even Liz Cheney is now calling for his resignation. Not for lying about how the war started, of course, but for suggesting that we can't win.

Obama Vs. Reagan

Thou Shall Not Diss Apple

Remember the iPhone 4 Vs. HTC Evo video? Best Buy wants to fire the kid that made it. Even though it never mentions where he works.

A Best Buy employee has been suspended and may be fired after he created a satirical video and posted it on YouTube. Brian Maupin of Kansas City, Missouri, created the cartoon video about the iPhone 4 versus the HTC EVO phone. The video portrays an electronics store employee trying to convince a customer wanting an iPhone 4 to purchase an HTC EVO 4G phone instead. The video became so popular, more than 1. 3 million views on YouTube as of Thursday, that someone at Best Buy saw it. While most people find the video funny, Best Buy corporate did not. When they realized the creator worked for them, they asked him to take the video down. When Maupin refused to take the video down because it didn't mention Best Buy, he was suspended.

Gadgets site Gizmodo has offered the kid a job.

Silence=Filth

Four mimes teach you about sex. Possibly NSFW.

COSTA RICA: High Court Suspends Gay Marriage Referendum

Costa Rica's highest court has orderd that an upcoming vote on same-sex marriage be suspended because it might violate the nation's constitution.

The Sala Constitucional (Constitutional Court) has ordered the Tribunal Supremo de Elecciones (TSE) to suspend the process of the referendum on same sex marriages that was to have been included in the December 2010 municipal elections. The court order was based on an appeal filed against the referendum. The Recurso Amparo (appeal) was presented by an individual identified only by the last names, Quirós Salazar, alleging that the referendum violates the rights and freedoms of individuals. The referendum was to have let the population decide the fate of a proposal for law that would allow same sex marriages in Costa Rica. Opponents to the referendum have argued that leaving the allowing the majority of the population (93%) which is heterosexual would be a constitutional violation of the 7% of the homosexual population.

Hurray for not allowing votes on minority rights!

Man Smacks

How to hug another dude without looking like a queer.

(Via - Andrew Sullivan)

NEW YORK CITY: Another Abercrombie Store Shut Down For Bedbug Infestation

One day after their Soho flagship Hollister store was shut down due to a massive infestation of bedbugs, today Abercrombie & Fitch has closed their South Street Seaport location for the same reason. Gothamist again has the story.

According to an Abercrombie & Fitch spokesperson, the store was closed to "deal with a similar problem" as Hollister's, i.e. the parasite that dare not speak its name. But don't worry, kids, the company has turned to Mayor Bloomberg for guidance. In a letter to Bloomberg, Abercrombie CEO Michael S. Jeffries asked for “leadership and guidance” on how best to address the problem, the Wall Street Journal reports. We're not trying to upstage the mayor, but it's pretty simple; they just need to wash all their clothes in extremely hot water (120°F minimum). And move.

Bedbugs and rabies. Welcome to New York City!

Central Park Has Rabid Raccoons

New York City's health department has issued an alert about rabid raccoons in Central Park. Over 100 infected raccoons have been trapped or found dead in the park so far this year.

"It's like Central Park in the '70s when you had to be fearful of people - now you have to be fearful of raccoons," said Manhattan teacher Meg McDonnell, 33, who often spots the furry masked critters in the park. "I've always been taught if I see a raccoon in the daytime, they are sick. There are big, fat huge families up there." Despite the striking rise in the number of diseased raccoons, no humans or pets have been attacked since February, when the city launched a two-month program to trap, tag and vaccinate the Central Park raccoons. Animals that appeared ill were euthanized and tested for rabies. Some were found already dead.

Televised reports have asked dog owners to keep their pets leashed at all times in the park. Earlier this year a dog and two humans were bitten by rabid raccoons, but none were infected. No human has been diagnosed with rabies in New York City since 1953. Raccoons are most active at night, so something something Ramble gay boys careful something.

HRC Launches New Group To Oust Anti-Marriage New York Politicians

The Human Rights Campaign has hired Bloomberg aide Brian Ellner to head a new group to take on New York's anti-marriage state politicians. The Campaign for New York Marriage will do similar work to that of the Tim Gill-funded Fight Back NY.

You may recall that Ellner was recently all but named to replace Alan Van Capelle as head of the Empire State Pride Agenda, but withdrew after some gay rights activists objected to his close affiliation with Bloomberg.

“I view this as an opportunity to build on solid work that has come before, and strengthen and expand the coalition that is necessary to secure marriage equality,” Mr. Ellner said in an interview. The new campaign will seek to re-elect state lawmakers who supported the bill on same-sex marriage last year, and to oust those who voted against it. After passing by a wide margin in the State Assembly, the bill was defeated by an eight-vote margin in the Senate despite a vigorous lobbying effort spearheaded by the Empire State Pride Agenda.

“New York is at a critical tipping point in securing marriage equality, and November’s elections hold the key,” said Joe Solmonese, the president of the Human Rights Campaign. The group would not say how much money it intended to spend to elect candidates in New York who advocate gay marriage, but those familiar with the plans said the group would seek to raise hundreds of thousands of dollars over the next few months. They are likely to focus on a few Democrats who voted against the bill on same-sex marriage last year, including Senators Joseph Addabbo and William Stachowski.

In 2005 Ellner ran unsuccessfully for Manhattan borough president as a Democrat.

Your Daily Minute Of Crazy

Rep. Michele "Crazy Eyes" Bachmann tells the teabagger outfit Newsmax that Obama's handling of BP is just part of his grand plan to socialize all private industry.

Madrid's High Heels Race

Similar to one staged annually in DC.

(Tipped by JMG reader Alja)

India Celebrates First Anniversary Of Decriminalization Of Homosexuality

Celebrations are taking place across India today in recognition of the first anniversary of a High Court ruling decriminalizing homosexuality.

Members of Mumbai's gay community danced, sang, laughed and hugged each other in the city's sprawling Azad Maidan park as speakers recalled the long years of struggle to get Indian courts to change the country's law. On July 2 last year, the Delhi High Court struck down a law — Section 377 of the Indian Penal Code — that made sex between people of the same gender punishable by up to 10 years in prison. While actual criminal prosecutions were rare, the law was frequently used to harass people.

"I'm very excited. It's honestly independence day for us," said Arun Mirchandani, 28, who recently published his first book titled "You Are Not Alone" which deals with being homosexual in India. The rally was part of an event dubbed "365 Without 377" that brought together gays, lesbians and civil rights activists in five cities across India, including New Delhi, Calcutta and Bangalore. Vikram Doctor, an organizer of the event, said the verdict has reduced incidents of police harassment. Other participants said the court's ruling had brought the issue of homosexuality into the open and people were discussing it in public, a dramatic change in conservative India where even heterosexual sex is generally talked about in hushed tones.

Despite the change in the law, some wore masks at the celebrations, fearing their families might see them on the news.

Won't Someone Think Of The Children?

JMG reader Colin sends us this amusing clip of sad protesters outside of Ireland's Dáil yesterday as the legislative body voted to approve civil partnerships. What's the music? So familiar....

Tweet Of The Day - Brett Erlich

(Via - The Daily What)

Rep. Louie Gohmert: Hamas Women Are Having U.S. Babies So They Can Grow Up To Be Terrorists And Kill Us All

And therefore we must do away with the 14th Amendment.

Broadway Friday

- Mark Ruffalo will star in a movie version of Larry Kramer's AIDS drama, The Normal Heart. Other casting and production details have not been announced but reportedly Glee co-creator Ryan Murphy is involved.

- Elf: The Musical (SRSLY) opens at Broadway's Hirschfeld Theater on November 2nd. Tony nominee Casey Nicholaw will direct and choreograph.

- Standing room, rush, and lottery discount tickets for this weekend's Broadway shows are available here.

- Molly, you in danger, girl. A musical version of Ghost starring Laura Michelle Kelly is slated to open on London's West End in 2011.

- Drag queen alert! Liza Minnelli has launched her own line of clothing and jewelery on the Home Shopping Network. The line includes "sequined separates and signature flowy pants." Werq!

- Last month's Broadway Bares XX raised over $1M for Broadway Cares/Equity Fights AIDS. The previous record was 2008's $874K. So far the show has raised over $7.5M to battle HIV.

- James Earl Jones and Vanessa Redgrave have been cast to star in a Broadway version of Driving Miss Daisy, set to begin previews on October 2nd. The Pulitzer-winning play debuted Off Broadway in 1987 starring Morgan Freeman and Dana Ivey.

VIDEO: The orchestra voices from Promises, Promises sing their plea for NBA free agent LeBron James to sign with the New York Knicks. Who doesn't like street meat?

Concerned Women Are Concerned About How Immorality Caused The Oil Spill

The pesky Gulf oil spill wasn't caused by a Republican deregulated oil industry free to pursue profits over safety. According to the Concerned Women for America, it was caused by immoral government employees who were surfing for porn instead of doing their jobs.

President Reagan reduced government regulations that were choking the life out of business in our nation. He certainly didn’t lift all regulations so that federal workers could be paid to surf pornography and take gifts from those they were regulating. Given these recent examples of moral license leading to costly burdens on the American taxpayer, fiscal conservatives should rethink their ideas about giving up on the social issues that we at Concerned Women for America, and our half a million members, care about.

(Via - Right Wing Watch)

New From The DNC

PhoboQuotable - Mike Adams

"I can’t stand atheists. And I plan to do something about them. Thankfully, the U.S. Supreme Court has given me a powerful tool to use in my war against the godless. Earlier this week, the Court ruled that a public university may require all student organizations to admit any student as a voting member or officer. The decision applies even to a student who is openly hostile to the group's fundamental beliefs.

"So, when I get back to the secular university in August, I plan to round up the students I know who are most hostile to atheism. Then I’m going to get them to help me find atheist-haters willing to join atheist student groups across the South. I plan to use my young fundamentalist Christian warriors to undermine the mission of every group that disagrees with me on the existence of God. If they don’t like it they can go to hell. That’s where they’re eventually going anyway - Townhall columnist Mike Adams, reacting to the Supreme Court's ruling that California universities do not have to fund or recognize Christian student groups that ban gay students.

Lolene - Rich (Fake It Til You Make It)

You might know her by her club kid name: Miss Foo Foo.

Porn Shaming

If you are found viewing porn on the computers at public libraries in Quincy, Massachusetts, City Councilman Daniel Raymondi wants to shame you by publishing your name in the local newspaper. Via the American Family Association's OneNewsNow:

"We have valuable taxpayer resources, in my judgment, being abused by people who violate a library policy against visiting pornographic sites, and this is no accident," he reports. Daniel RaymondiHe further notes his concern that women, children, and other passers-by might be offended by the practice, so he wants to publish the names of policy violators in the local newspaper as a way of shaming them into stopping. That list, he says, would include people who have violated the policy on more than one occasion but have refused to stop, even after receiving a number of warnings.

Raymondi says he's not worried about libel or slander suits that may arise from his plan.

NY Attorney General Andrew Cuomo: I Can Make Gay Marriage Happen In 2011

NY Attorney General Andrew Cuomo, the favorite to replace David Paterson as governor, says he is confident that he can make same-sex marriage a reality during his first year in office. Via Advocate:

“My opinion, from my policy point of view, it is a priority,” he said. State of Politics reports that, “He also voiced confidence that he could get it done in his first year on the job – something that has so far eluded both Eliot Spitzer and Gov. David Paterson.” City Hall News argues that Cuomo’s discussion of the hot political issue at the press conference marks a departure from the careful way the attorney general has approached marriage equality since being elected to office in 2006. “Asked to clarify why he was comfortable now speaking—at a government event behind a podium with the attorney general seal—on a matter he had specifically avoided discussing previously, Cuomo described the situation as wearing ‘two hats,’” reports City Hall.

The latest polls show Cuomo far ahead of all potential GOP opponents.

Quote Of The Day - Mel Gibson

"You're an embarrassment to me. You look like a fucking pig in heat, and if you get raped by a pack of n***ers, it will be your fault." - Mel Gibson, in a voice mail recorded by the mother of his love child, Oksana Grigorieva.

During a 2006 DUI arrest, Gibson screamed at the arresting officers: "Fucking Jews! The Jews are responsible for all the wars in the world." In 1992 Gibson refused to apologize after making homophobic comments during an appearance on a Spanish talk show. A devout anti-abortion Catholic, Gibson has a total of eight children. He is also a notorious anti-feminist.

BRITAIN: Top Medical Association Declares Conversion Therapy To Be Harmful

The British Medical Association yesterday declared "ex-gay" therapies to be harmful and called for investigating any doctor that attempts to "cure" homosexuality. Via Pink News:

The body met in Brighton yesterday and more than two-thirds of doctors present backed a call for the Royal College of Psychiatrists and other mental health standard-setting bodies to reject the treatments and ban their use in codes of practice. Health departments should also investigate alleged cases of conversion therapy being funded by the NHS, the meeting agreed. Research published last year found that a sixth of registered British therapist and psychiatrists have attempted to "cure" patients of homosexuality. Tom Dolphin, the proposer of the motion and the vice-chair of the BMA's junior doctors committee, said: "Sexuality is such a fundamental part of who a person is that attempts to change it just result in significant confusion, depression and even suicide.

RELATED: In February UK-based reporter Patrick Strudwick went undercover and exposed the abuses of British doctors engaging in conversion therapy.

Tired Old Queen At The Movies #38

1951's The Thing!

Tony Perkins At Elena Kagan's Hearing

What Tony Perkins Plans To Say At Elena Kagan's Confirmation Hearing

The state funeral for Sen. Robert Byrd has delayed Family Research Council head Tony Perkins' testimony at Elena Kagan's Supreme Court confirmation hearing. But Good As You has the text of Perkins' planned remarks. An excerpt:

Her own statements make obvious that Elena Kagan would strike down any marital statute – including the federal Defense of Marriage Act – which defines marriage as being between one man and one woman. At question is not whether Ms Kagan is a good person or even skilled in the law. What is in question is her ability to be an impartial jurist. Her record makes clear she is an impassioned activist that only sees laws and in some cases science as mere obstacles to overcome in pursuit of a far left agenda. We do not need a justice on the Supreme Court who sees it as her life mission to write the homosexual version of Roe v. Wade by striking down one-man, one- woman marriage across America. These positions and the temperament accompanying them make her unfit to sit as an associate justice on the Supreme Court. I urge the Senate to reject her nomination.

Read the entire script at Good As You.

UPDATE: Perkins is in the chamber, according to his latest tweet. At this moment, pro-Kagan "majority witnesses" are testifying. You can also follow the action on Twitter at #KaganLive or on cable channel C-SPAN3.

UPDATE II: UStream has cut off their coverage. I'll have another live stream here shortly.

UPDATE III: Perkins is taking his seat at the witness table. Watch live here.

UPDATE IV: Perkins read the statement linked above verbatim. Now we wait for his question and answer session.

7500 Pro-Civil Unions Letters Received By Office Of Hawaii Gov. Linda Lingle

Hawaii Gov. Linda Lingle has received an estimated 7500 cards and letters urging to her to support her state's pending civil unions bill. Lingle has until Sunday to decide on whether to veto the bill or allow it to become law without her signature. Two weeks ago she listed the bill among her potential vetoes in order that the legislature prepare for a possible override.

"We have letters and signatures from a broad demographic -- the straight community, the gay community, across the state, across the country," said Michael Golojuch Jr., of the GLBT Caucus of the Democratic Party of Hawaii and Parents, Families & Friends of Lesbians and Gays (PFLAG)-Oahu. "Our online petition has signatures from Venezuela, South Korea, Australia. It's clear that the world is watching how Hawaii decides this issue." Alan Spector of Equality Hawaii said the poll results, letters and petitions delivered yesterday are meant to bolster an already strong case for civil unions. "We've demonstrated to Gov. Lingle that there so many reasons to support this bill -- legal reasons, it's constitutionally required, it makes good economic and business sense, we have support from the faith community -- and we're here to show the governor that we have the support of the majority of Hawaii's residents."

Thank you to all JMG readers who responded to last week's letter request!

Civil Unions Pass In Ireland's Dáil

Ireland's lower legislative chamber, the Dáil, has just passed a civil partnerships bill.

The Dáil has passed without a vote, all stages of the Civil Partnership Bill, giving new legal rights to non-marital couples. Justice Minister Dermot Ahern said 'it was one of the most important human rights pieces of legislation the House had dealt with.' Minister Ahern continued 'to take account of this Bill, the Government would change the tax and social welfare laws.' Labour's Brendan Howlin, said the bill gives real, practical benefits to thousands of people and brings the country further along the road to equality. Environment Minister John Gormley thanked the Justice Minister for his work on this bill, which was part of the Programme for Government. Minister Gormley said the bill was an act of tolerance, and a step forward.

The bill now moves to Ireland's version of the Senate.

Miss Ladyfingers USA To Get Opposite Married In Gay-Boycotted Hotel

Tomorrow Carrie Ladyfingers Prejean will opposite marry NFL quarterback Kyle Boller in San Diego. And in a deliberate final "fuck you" to the gays, she's booked the wedding at Doug Manchester's Grand Del Mar Hotel. Manchester's hotels have been boycotted and picketed by gays and gay-friendly organizations ever since it was revealed that he contributed more than $125,000 to Protect Marriage. Manchester has tried to end the boycott, which has cost him millions in convention business, by offering free rooms and meeting space to LGBT groups, all of whom have refused. Last August, Doug "Sanctity of Marriage" Manchester ditched his wife of 43 years in an ugly divorce that included accusations that he forged her endorsement on an $8.2M tax refund check.

Standing Room

Europe's Ryanair is about to begin testing on their "vertical seating" plane layout. They plan to remove ten rows of seats from the rear of their 250 planes and replace them with fifteen rows of the depicted style.

Budget airline Ryanair is planning to revolutionise air travel by introducing flights where passengers stand up rather than sit down - from £4 per ticket.The airline's flamboyant chief executive Michael O'Leary said safety testing for 'vertical seating' will take place next year when the airline will also introduce a £1 charge to use the lavatory. The budget airline wants to charge travellers for using the toilet in order to 'change passenger behaviour' and fund the cheap 'standing-room only' tickets.

Aviation safety regulators take a dim view of the idea and say they have no current plan to legalize vertical flying. Ryanair says the standing room tickets will initially only be available on flights of less than one hour. Would you be willing to fly like this if it was extra cheap?

Who Will Host The 2012 Dem Convention?

The finalist cities to host the 2010 Democratic National Convention have been announced.

Recognizing that President Barack Obama faces serious challenges in the Midwest he carried not two years ago, the Democratic National Committee on Wednesday picked three heartland cities and just one in the Republican-friendly South to consider for its 2012 nominating convention. The cities are Cleveland, St. Louis, Minneapolis and Charlotte, N.C. A presidential nominating convention brings millions of dollars and intense attention to its host city as well as political good will for the party itself. Obama won Ohio, Minnesota and North Carolina in his 2008 race against Republican John McCain, who won Missouri. With Democrats competing for Senate seats in Ohio and Missouri, the announcement was likely to energize the Democratic base in those states ahead of the crucial midterm elections this year.

The 2012 Republican convention will be in Tampa, which will probably still be ankle-deep in oil.

AZ Immigration Law Training Video

iPhone 4 Vs. HTC Evo

It gets funnier and funnier.

(Tipped by JMG reader Peter)

HomoQuotable - Sen. Lindsey Graham

"I know it’s really gonna upset a lot of gay men — I’m sure hundreds of ’em are gonna be jumping off the Golden Gate Bridge — but I ain’t available. I ain’t gay. Sorry." - Sen. Lindsey Graham, speaking to the New York Times.

(Via - Politico)

California Considers License Plate Ads

In a desperation move to shore up the state budget, California lawmakers are considering a bill that authorizes a feasibility study on digital advertising on license plates.

In addition to being a moneymaker, the high-tech plates also could be used to streamline automobile registration procedures and to quickly tell motorists about hazardous road conditions and Amber Alerts, officials suggest. Critics warn, however, that the ads would distract drivers and add to a growing clutter of roadside digital billboards, freeway message boards and other intrusive signage. Some also fear that the computerized equipment that would control the advertising could be hacked and hijacked by vandals intent on posting rogue messages. Backers of the advertising idea say the digital plates could be programmed to display the ads only after an auto has been stopped for four seconds. The car's license plate number would be visible in small type at the corner of the plate when ads are being displayed, they say. The ads would disappear and the plate numbers would be shown when the car was moving.

Schwarzenegger has promised to veto the bill.

What What Unplugged

Samwell's silly What What (In The Butt) remains one of the biggest viral hits on YouTube, garnering over 29M views to date and a cover version on South Park. Below he performs an acoustic version with Josh Homme of Queens Of The Stone Age, who opines: "What What (In The Butt) is not only a question, but it needs an answer. And the answer is: Let's do it in the butt, OK."

(Tipped by JMG reader Jack)

Oregon Bans Credit Checks By Employers

Oregon has become the third state to bar companies from checking the credit records of potential employees.

Under the new law, Oregon employers will no longer be able to use credit history as a factor in hiring, firing, demoting or suspending employees, unless they can establish that it's substantially related to the job. The law originated from a concern that credit histories could be inaccurate or unfairly represent job seekers down on their luck, said Sen. Diane Rosenbaum, D-Portland,who sponsored the bill. Oregon unemployment is hovering around 10.6 percent, and people don't need another factor standing between them and a job, she said. About 35 to 40 percent of employers nationally check credit scores, Bob Estabrook, a state Bureau of Labor and Industries spokesman, estimated. But the percentage is dropping as other states, including Washington and Hawaii, adopt similar laws. When someone is unable to obtain a job because of a couple of missed rent payments, the credit evaluation is "arbitrary ... and people don't get a chance to explain," Estabrook said. Using credit histories can also lead to inadvertent racial discrimination because African Americans and Latinos generally have lower credit scores, he said.

Oregon's Republicans, of course, opposed the bill. Similar laws are under consideration in many other states. The Governator vetoed such a bill for California in 2008 and 2009.

(Tipped by JMG reader Aaron)

Today In Crazy Teabaggers

France Outlaws Insults

The French parliament has approved a law that calls insults "psychological violence" and makes it a crime to repeatedly insult someone. The law is primarily meant to protect victims of domestic violence.

"We have introduced an important measure here, which recognises psychological violence, because it isn't just blows (that hurt) but also words," Nadine Morano, the minister for family affairs, told the lower house of parliament. Those found guilty of breaking the new law will face up to three years in jail and a 75,000 euro (£60,840) fine. "The judge could (also) take into consideration letters, SMSs or repetitive messages, because one knows that psychological violence is made up of insults," Ms Morano said. Some critics of the new bill say the crime will be very difficult to prove. They also criticise the government for getting involved in private matters like arguments and fights between married or cohabiting couples.

Convictions are expected to be difficult to obtain without physical evidence.

ADAP Waiting Lists Swell

The terrible economy has been especially hard on the ADAP system, the AIDS Drugs Assistance Program that provides life saving medications to the HIV-positive. More people are now on ADAP waiting lists that at any time since the program began.

Eleven states have closed enrollment in the federal program, most recently Florida, which has the nation’s third-largest population of people with H.I.V. Three other states have narrowed eligibility, and two of them — Arkansas and Utah — have dropped scores of people from the program. Last week, because of swelling numbers here in South Florida, the nationwide waiting list surged past record levels set in 2004, to 1,781 people, according to the National Alliance of State and Territorial AIDS Directors. The growth is expected to continue when Georgia starts deferring enrollment in its drug assistance program on July 1. Illinois may soon follow, and New Jersey plans to cut eligibility on Aug. 1, removing 600 of the 7,700 people on its rolls. Louisiana capped enrollment on June 1 but decided against keeping a waiting list. “It implies you’re actually waiting on something,” said DeAnn Gruber, the interim director of the state’s H.I.V./AIDS program. “We don’t want to give anyone false hope.”

In addition to the waiting lists, some states are cutting out drugs that don't directly fight HIV, but treat the many conditions related to the infection. The irony, of course, is that the government will end up paying much more to treat people for opportunistic infections because they don't have access to their meds.

Queen Elizabeth To Become First British Monarch To Visit Ireland In 90 Years

Queen Elizabeth II will visit Ireland next year, making her the first British monarch to step foot on the island since it became independent in 1921.

Confirmation that the event, long discussed between London and Dublin, will take place next year has come from Ireland’s prime minister, Brian Cowen. It is time for “normal courtesies” to be observed between friendly states, explained Cowen, after discussions with his British counterpart David Cameron in London on June 23. Queen Elizabeth’s visit will mark a normalization of relations between the two countries after a century of strife and discord. The last British monarch to come to this part of the Emerald Isle was King George V, who arrived as part of his coronation celebrations in 1911. A decade later the War of Independence forced the departure of British Crown forces. The bitterness of that conflict, plus the forced partition of the island, Ireland’s neutrality during World War II and the use of the British army in the Troubles in Northern Ireland, strained relations for most of the 20th century.

Sinn Fein plans to protest the visit over Britain's continued "occupation" of Northern Ireland.

SOHO: Bedbugs Shut Down Hollister Store

New York City's neverending battle with bedbugs has gone retail. Via Gothamist:

Hollister, the teen-oriented clothing store that's a subsidiary of Abercrombie & Fitch, was shut down yesterday due to what one employee described as "a massive bedbug outbreak" at the four-story SoHo flagship location. And according to our source, who spoke on condition of anonymity so that he/she wouldn't lose his/her job at the creepy "bedbug breeding ground," the senior management blew off complaints about bedbugs for almost a month.

Gothamist's source says the store now has "three shirtless employees standing outside to tell customers that the store is closed until further notice." Bedbugs only breed at night, leading the quoted employee to speculate that the problem is so bad because the store is "almost completely dark." The Abercrombie on Fifth Avenue is also lit like a nightclub. Hmm.

Open Thread Thursday

Tell us about your experiences with alternative medicine. Homeopathy, herbalism, acupuncture, meditation, yoga, naturopathy, hypnosis, chiropractic treatments, etc.

More Fearmongering From Jan Brewer

Google To Pay LGBT Employees Extra To Cover Tax Inequities

Beginning today Google will cover the added tax charged to LGBT employees whose partners are covered by their insurance plan.

“It’s a fairly cutting edge thing to do,” said Todd A. Solomon, a partner in the employee benefits department of McDermott Will & Emery, a law firm in Chicago, and author of “Domestic Partner Benefits: An Employer’s Guide.” Google is not the first company to make up for the extra tax. At least a few large employers already do. But benefits experts say Google’s move could inspire its Silicon Valley competitors to follow suit, because they compete for the same talent. Under federal law, employer-provided health benefits for domestic partners are counted as taxable income, if the partner is not considered a dependent. The tax owed is based on the value of the partner’s coverage paid by the employer.

Workers with domestic partners on their insurance plans pay an average of $1069 more than married employees whose plans include their spouses. Google will make the payments retroactive to the beginning of this year.

FINLAND: Broadband Access Is A Right

Finland has become the first country in the world to make broadband internet access a legal right.

From 1 July every Finn will have the right to access to a 1Mbps (megabit per second) broadband connection. Finland has vowed to connect everyone to a 100Mbps connection by 2015. In the UK the government has promised a minimum connection of at least 2Mbps to all homes by 2012 but has stopped short of enshrining this as a right in law. The Finnish deal means that from 1 July all telecommunications companies will be obliged to provide all residents with broadband lines that can run at a minimum 1Mbps speed.

About 96% of Finnish households already have internet access.

Sharron Angle: Separation Of Church And State Is Unconstitutional

Happy Canada Day!

Happy Canada Day to our JMG friends in the North. We love to tease you, but you know that we also want to BE you.

ARIZONA GOP Candidate Wants To Cut Off Electricity To Undocumented Immigrants

Arizona GOP candidate Barry Wong wants the state to cut off the electricity of anybody not in the country legally.

“We shoulder and we all share the costs,” said Wong, who is running for a seat on the Arizona Corporation Commission. “Granted they pay for it, but as we use more electricity overall then utilities will have to eventually build more power plants.” If undocumented immigrants have their utilities turned off, Wong predicts it would keep costs down for everyone else. "The [state] constitution gives the Corporation Commission specific authority to deal with rate-making which is setting the price that we pay for the electric, natural gas, telephone service, private water companies," Wong said. Wong, whose grandparents immigrated to the United State from China, said his plan would start off by having utility companies verify the immigration status of new customers. He would then focus on finding existing customers in the country illegally.

Arizona temperatures routinely reach the triple-digits and the lack of air conditioning could mean a death sentence for some.

(Tipped by JMG reader Fritz)

Log Cabin Condoms

Log Cabin Republicans gave these out at Twin Cites Pride, telling the Advocate: "This one was such a no-brainer. With all the national attention with BP and the Gulf of Mexico and the suspension of any deep-water drilling, and Sarah Palin saying those words, it was like the planets coming into conjunction. What a great way to be in the spirit of pride."

Suspect Cleared In Castro Shooting

San Francisco police have cleared the man they had in custody after a fatal shooting at the annual Pink Saturday pride party in the Castro.

Authorities say the .357 revolver found on 20-year-old Ed Perkins was not the weapon used to kill 19-year-old Stephen Powell in San Francisco's Castro district late Saturday. Witnesses did not place Perkins at the scene of the shooting. Perkins initially was arrested on suspicion of murder, but is now only facing charges of possessing a concealed weapon and possessing a loaded weapon. He's scheduled for arraignment Wednesday morning.

Police vowed to continue the investigation: "The San Francisco Police Department is working to apprehend the individual who marred one of our most proud celebrations by bringing deadly mayhem to our streets."

Kagan Asked About Abortion Rights

Kagan seems to be charming even the asshats.

HomoQuotable - Jimmy LaSalvia

"The decision by the leadership of the gay left to support the Arizona boycott over an issue totally unrelated to gay rights shows just how beholden they are to the union bosses. The Arizona boycott is being spear-headed by the Service Employees International Union, and the law at the center of the boycott has nothing even tangentially to do with the rights of gay and lesbian Americans lawfully in this country.

"The decision to participate in this boycott, over the objections of local groups like the Greater Phoenix Gay and Lesbian Chamber of Commerce, puts the interests of organized labor over those of the gay and lesbian Arizonans hurt by this protest. Whether it’s current boycotts, like the Arizona boycott or the boycott of the Manchester Hyatt in San Diego, or previous boycotts, like the boycott of Coor’s Brewing – Gay, Inc. is always willing to do the bidding of the big union bosses, regardless of its impact on gays and lesbians." - GOProud executive director Jimmy LaSalvia, via press release.

Both the Human Rights Campaign and the National Gay & Lesbian Task Force have endorsed a boycott of Arizona.

TORONTO: Chief Of Police Heckled By Gay G20 Protesters At Pride Party

Angry about their treatment by city police at last weekend's G20 Summit, a group of gay anti-globalists heckled the Toronto chief of police yesterday as he attempted to enter a cocktail party at the headquarters of Pride Toronto. Demonstrators denounced Pride Toronto as a "disgrace and a sellout" for hosting the police at their party. If it's not one thing, it's another for beleaguered Pride Toronto. Things get really heated at times in the below clip.

Kagan Asked About Gay Marriage

Considering that she will likely be hearing the Proposition 8 case in the next couple of years, Elena Kagan had to pull her punches when asked about states' rights and same-sex marriage.

Tweet Of The Day - Maggie Gallagher

Slaggie blogs:

A new study by a Spanish gay rights group reports that about 10,000 gay marriages have taken place since Spain legalized gay marriage in 2007. Spain has about 30 million people in 2008 over the age of 15. If 3 percent of the population is homosexual, that would be about 900,000 gay and lesbian adults. So 20,000 gay people have chosen to marry so far -- about 2 percent of gay adults. Why so few?

Theories abound regarding the low rate of gay marriages in places where it's legal. A populace not emotionally trained to expect the possibility of marriage, a distaste for the heteronormative institution itself, etc etc.

Republicans Renew Attempt To Repeal Health Care Reform

Today the top two GOP members of the House will announce their plan to attempt to force a vote on a bill to repeal health care reform.

House Minority Leader John Boehner of Ohio and Minority Whip Eric Cantor of Virginia plan to announce Wednesday that they’ll support two discharge petitions — one from Rep. Steve King (R-Iowa) to repeal a portion of the law and a forthcoming petition from Rep. Wally Herger (R-Calif.) to repeal the entire law — and encourage other Republicans to follow suit. “Either course of action would begin to implement the will of the people with respect to Obamacare,” Boehner and Cantor said in a joint statement. “Accordingly, we will be signing both discharge petitions and encouraging our colleagues to do the same.”

Nobody expects the bill to pass, of course, but election year grandstanding is what the GOP does best.

Jeb Bush To Obama: It's Not Dubya's Fault

"It’s kind of like a kid coming to school saying, 'The dog ate my homework.' It’s childish. This is what children do until they mature. They don’t accept responsibility. This would break his heart, to get advice that applies some of the lessons of leadership my brother learned, because he apparently likes to act like he’s still campaigning, and he likes to blame George’s administration for everything.

"But he really seems like he’s getting caught up in what people are writing about him. I mean, good God, man, read a book! Go watch ESPN! The issue to me is what we do now. Who cares who’s to blame?" - Former Florida Gov. Jeb Bush, speaking to the New York Times.

Although Jeb keeps saying he isn't interested in running for president in 2012, some GOP strategists say he might.

Florida Gov. Charlie Crist: Dive Right In, The Oil Is Only A Nuisance

Concerned about his state's plummeting tourism, Florida Gov. Charlie Crist says that there's no need to be concerned about "the toxic nature" of swimming in the Gulf waters. "It's not detrimental to anybody. It's much more of a nuisance than anything else at this point. It is safe." Anybody buying that?

(Tipped by JMG reader David)

Auto-Tune Gets Jeopardy Category

And Alex Trebek "sings" the clues. Stop the madness.

Swan Dive!

I freakin' love these ads. Remember the hawt last one?

(Via - Towleroad)

Must See TV

"I've got a very, very graphic scene coming up that I shot with a man. I'm not a prude. I'm from Sweden, and it's different there. If it makes sense, I'll do nudity, and it's made sense every single time I'm naked on the show. And I love to be naked. It's kind of liberating." - True Blood star Alexander Skarsgard.

Lt. Dan Choi & Capt. James Pietrangelo Subpoena Obama Over White House Arrest

Ben Smith reports at Politico:

The gay soldiers arrested outside the White House protesting "Don't Ask, Don't Tell" will announce today that they're demanding that President Obama testify in their trial on minor civil disobedience charges. Their novel argument: Obama himself called on gay rights advocates to pressure him, so they were just following orders. "Don't Ask" has energized gay rights activists frustrated with the White House's deliberate pace, even as Democratic leaders are frustrated with continued protests, as repeal is on track for next year.

Read a statement from their lawyers here. An excerpt:

The subpoena of the President is necessary for the defense to prove that Defendants were following and obeying lawful orders or directives by their President and Commander in Chief, and were therefore under an obligation and authority to act as they did in order to pressure him - in a non-violent, visible way - on this important public issue. In addition, these statements support the contention that Defendants were acting out of necessity, in order to prevent discrimination and greater harm to gay servicemembers now serving.

BROOKLYN: Hasidic Jews Get Vodka Ads Yanked From City Buses

The MTA has caved to pressure from Brooklyn's Hasidic Jews and yanked the ad campaign from a vodka company that features a woman's butt in a bikini. An MTA rep tells Gothamist:

"At the request of community leaders, the Georgi vodka ads were removed from buses that are likely to serve Brooklyn's Hasidic neighborhoods. It has been our longstanding practice, when and where possible, to be sensitive to neighborhood concerns about potentially suggestive advertising. Although it is not always practicable, we try to limit more suggestive ads upon neighborhood request."

Last year Brooklyn's Hasidics protested the creation of new bike lanes because "provocatively dressed female bikers" might ride through their neighborhood.

PhoboQuotable - Rev. Lou Engle

"If we’re struggling with a homosexual, same-sex desire, LET THE BIBLE KILL YOU, rather than make it easier for you, and say well, there must be a better scriptural answer to this … Brothers and sisters, let the Bible kill you rather than you twist the scriptures! And in that killing, it will break you so that you can find a redeemer and a savior! Oh, I believe there are those struggling with same-sex desires who will stand, having done everything to stand, and maybe they won’t find the deliverance they’ve been looking for, but they refuse to let the world dictate their theology; they’re gonna stand on the Bible. And they may go for thirty years in an agonizing struggle, but they go into heaven because they stood with God rather than standing with the ideologies of this world." - Dominionist preacher Lou Engle, in a speech recorded by Evan Hurst at Truth Wins Out.

Engle, who has supported Uganga's "kill gays" bill, is traveling the country with his ministry TheCall, exhorting young people to help his campaign to overturn democracy in the United States and institute a government based on "Biblical truth." Read Evan Hurst's report.

DOERS TV: 21-Channel Online Christian Television Network Launches

A 21-channel online Christian television network called DoersTV has launched. Interestingly, the network says it will never ask for donations, charge for subscribing, or air any fundraising telethons.

"I truly believe, as disciples of Jesus Christ, all Christians (especially those in the media) have a responsibility to present the Gospel without cost," Pastor David Wright, CEO of DoersTV.com, said recently. "When Jesus laid the principle of freely you have received, freely you give; I believe He meant it. Everyone should be able to receive the Gospel free of charge. I do realize that there are major expenses involved in running a television network and bills must be paid, however, we must find creative ways to raise these funds without selling the Gospel."

That "creative way" they will raise funds is via the Christian Shopping Channel, which is already running on DoersTV channel 9. A casting call for CSC posted last month in Orlando notes that the hosts will receive "no pay." BTW, I've clicked around on DoersTV via their remote control function and the interface is pretty slick. Instant start, slick menus. The major networks could take a clue from them. Here's a clip from CSC.

Quote Of The Day - Sarah Palin

"This is Reagan country, and perhaps it was destiny that the man who went to California's Eureka College would become so woven within and interlinked to the Golden State." - Sarah Palin, speaking to a graduating class at California State University. Slight problem. Reagan did attend Eureka College. In Illinois. There is no Eureka College in California.

FLORIDA: Doctor Treats Pregnant Women With Drug To Prevent Gay Babies

Last night Dan Savage emailed us with the tip that a doctor in Florida is treating pregnant women with a drug she hopes will prevent babies from being born lesbian. Savage:

Pediatric endocrinologist Maria New—of the Mount Sinai School of Medicine and Florida International University—isn't just trying to prevent lesbianism by treating pregnant women with an experimental hormone. She's also trying to prevent the births of girls who display an "abnormal" disinterest in babies, don't want to play with girls' toys or become mothers, and whose "career preferences" are deemed to "masculine." Unbelievable.

From the Bioethics Forum:

“Gender-related behaviors, namely childhood play, peer association, career and leisure time preferences in adolescence and adulthood, maternalism, aggression, and sexual orientation become masculinized in 46,XX girls and women with 21OHD deficiency [CAH]. These abnormalities have been attributed to the effects of excessive prenatal androgen levels on the sexual differentiation of the brain and later on behavior.” Nimkarn and New continue: “We anticipate that prenatal dexamethasone therapy will reduce the well-documented behavioral masculinization...” It seems more than a little ironic to have New, one of the first women pediatric endocrinologists and a member of the National Academy of Sciences, constructing women who go into “men’s” fields as “abnormal.” And yet it appears that New is suggesting that the “prevention” of “behavioral masculinization” is a benefit of treatment to parents with whom she speaks about prenatal dex. In a 2001 presentation to the CARES Foundation (a videotape of which we have), New seemed to suggest to parents that one of the goals of treatment of girls with CAH is to turn them into wives and mothers.

Dan Savage:

Two things: Gay people have been stressing out about a day arriving when scientists developed treatments to prevent homosexuality. You can read about the preventing gay sheep freak out here, you can read about Twilight of the Golds here, and I recall—but can't quickly find a link for—a "fellow" at the Family Research Council or the American Family Association who backed in-utero hormone treatments to prevent homosexuality. Well, here we are—the day appears to have arrived. Now what are we going to do about it?

And will the Republicans on the Judiciary Committee invite Maria New to testify at Elana Kagan's confirmation hearings? New could argue that Kagan—childless, unmarried Kagan—is unfit to serve on our highest court because her "low maternal interest" pegs her as abnormal, well outside the "maternal mainstream." Maybe GOP senators would be mollified if Kagan knocked back a few bottles of dex during her confirmation hearings?

Larry King Stepping Down At CNN

Last night CNN host Larry King announced via Twitter that he will be ending his nightly CNN show this fall after 25 years. King, 76, said that despite falling ratings, he was not pressured into this move. He also said that he plans to continue at CNN with occasional specials.