Dan Choi: McCain Must Have Lost A Screw

Also: Choi has been released from the hospital.

Signorile: It's A Monumental Day For Us

Anti-Gay Christianist Groups Vow To Force Congress To Reverse Repeal Of DADT

Led by the Liberty Counsel, a coalition of anti-gay Christianist hate groups today signed on to a letter vowing to force the next Congress to reverse the repeal of DADT. Liberty Counsel's Mat Staver rants:

"This action will be overturned in the next Congress because it breaks the bond of trust that must exist between the military and those who command in the Pentagon and Congress. Today's vote will prove as costly to its proponents as ObamaCare was to its advocates. We promise a full mobilization of faith-based and policy organizations, veterans, and military families in the states of every Senator who voted for repeal of DADT against the advice of our service chiefs and during a time of war. Those Senators - and the Pentagon leaders responsible for this breach of trust - should understand that they will be the object of concerted political action against them."

Among the groups signing the letter:

National Hispanic Christian Leadership Conference, Teen Mania Ministries, American Association of Christian Counselors, Let Freedom Ring, Southern Baptist Ethics and Religious Liberty Commission, American Family Association, Family Research Council; Liberty Counsel, Liberty Alliance Action, Vision America, The Oak Initiative, The Call to Action, Concerned Women for America, High Impact Leadership Coalition, Campaign for Working Families, Conservative Action Project, Traditional Values Coalition, Renewing American Leadership, Conservative HQ, Constitution Party, Bott Radio Network, Center for Military Readiness.

DADT Vote News Coverage

PhoboQuotable - Jim Robinson

"If you support the homosexual agenda you are anti-constitution and you'll get the zot from Free Republic. Homosexuals already have the same 'rights' as everyone else. God did not grant and the constitution does not guarantee homosexuals any special rights. In fact, the homosexual agenda is a full frontal attack on OUR God-given, constitutionally protected rights to free speech, freedom of religion, freedom of association, Life, Family, Marriage, Pursuit of Happiness, etc. I don't want it on FR and won't have it on FR. Like abortion, if you support the homosexual agenda on FR, your account here will be zotted! Don't like it? Tough frickin Shinola! Get the hell OFF this conservative site!!" - Free Republic founder Jim Robinson.

Afternoon View - Key West Cemetery

Traditional below-ground burials are impossible in Key West due to the high water table, so the island's cemetery consists of above-ground crypts. Family members are often stacked atop each other, as seen here.

Lady Gaga Reacts To DADT Vote

Final DADT Vote: 65-31

Two Republicans switched their "no" cloture votes to "yes" for repeal: Sen. Richard Burr (R-NC) and Sen. John Ensign (R-NV).

Sen. Harry Reid Tweets Lt. Dan Choi

LIVE VIDEO: Final DADT Repeal Vote

UPDATE: The live stream is concluded.

American Family Association: Our Military Has Now Been Permanently Feminized

"The armies of other nations have allowed gays to serve openly in the military. The reason they could afford to do this is simple: they could allow homosexuals to serve in their military because we didn’t allow them to serve in ours. They knew they could count on the strength, might, power, and cohesion of the U.S. military to intervene whenever and wherever necessary to pull their fannies out of the fire and squash the forces of tyranny wherever they raised their ugly heads around the world.

"Those days are now gone. We will no longer be able to bail out these other emasculated armies because ours will now be feminized and neutered beyond repair, and there is no one left to bail us out. We have been permanently weakened as a military and as a nation by these misguided and treasonous Republican senators, and the world is now a more dangerous place for us all." - American Family Association hate group radio host Byran Fischer.

Homocon Tweet Of The Day - Gay Patriot

Quote Of The Day - Tony Perkins

"Today is a tragic day for our armed forces. The American military exists for only one purpose - to fight and win wars. Yet it has now been hijacked and turned into a tool for imposing on the country a radical social agenda. This may advance the cause of reshaping social attitudes regarding human sexuality, but it will only do harm to the military's ability to fulfill its mission.

"It is shameful that the Democratic leadership, aided by Republican Senators, has forced through such a radical change in a lame-duck session of Congress. The 1993 law which is to be repealed was adopted only after months of debate and at least a dozen Congressional hearings. The repeal has been forced through only eighteen days after the Pentagon released a massive report, which raised more questions than it answered on the impact the overturning of this policy will have on our nation's military." - Family Research Council head douchenozzle Tony Perkins, riding in the DADT waambulance.

President Obama Reacts To DADT Vote

Just in via press release.....

Today, the Senate has taken an historic step toward ending a policy that undermines our national security while violating the very ideals that our brave men and women in uniform risk their lives to defend. By ending Don't Ask, Don't Tell, no longer will our nation be denied the service of thousands of patriotic Americans forced to leave the military, despite years of exemplary performance, because they happen to be gay. And no longer will many thousands more be asked to live a lie in order to serve the country they love.

As Commander-in-Chief, I am also absolutely convinced that making this change will only underscore the professionalism of our troops as the best led and best trained fighting force the world has ever known. And I join the Secretary of Defense and the Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, as well as the overwhelming majority of service members asked by the Pentagon, in knowing that we can responsibly transition to a new policy while ensuring our military strength and readiness.

I want to thank Majority Leader Reid, Senators Lieberman and Collins and the countless others who have worked so hard to get this done. It is time to close this chapter in our history. It is time to recognize that sacrifice, valor and integrity are no more defined by sexual orientation than they are by race or gender, religion or creed. It is time to allow gay and lesbian Americans to serve their country openly. I urge the Senate to send this bill to my desk so that I can sign it into law.

Happy Holidays From Glee

DADT Cloture Vote Reactions

GetEQUAL

Wow. After 17 years of living under the discriminatory "Don't Ask, Don't Tell" policy, we're one step closer to repealing the ban on open and honest service for lesbian, gay, and bisexual Americans. Make no mistake -- DADT is not yet repealed. There is still work to do. There is still a long process ahead, but we vow to keep the pressure up until the policy is fully and completely repealed. There are still people -- especially our transgender sisters and brothers -- who are unjustly left behind by this legislation.

Victory Fund

Today I am especially mindful of the brave men and women who have worn the uniform—the ones who lost their jobs to an unjust policy, those who served in silence, and the many active duty and reserve personnel who this year told their superiors that sexual orientation shouldn’t matter in the U.S. military. Everyone who has served to defend our country deserves our profound thanks.

Servicemembers United

"This vote represents an historic step forward for this country, and it will very likely be a life-changing moment for gay and lesbian troops," said Alexander Nicholson, Executive Director of Servicemembers United and a former multi-lingual Army interrogator who was discharged under DADT. "While we still have a long road ahead, including a final passage vote, the certification process, and a yet-to-be-determined implementation period, those who defend our freedom while living in fear for their careers will finally breathe a sigh of relief tonight, and those who have fallen victim to this policy in years past will finally begin to see true closure and redemption on the horizon."

Courage Campaign

Here's the skinny: the Senate vote was the last major legislative obstacle. But even after the President signs this law, no one can serve openly. Certification is first required from the President, Chairman of the Joint Chiefs, and Secretary of Defense. It’s part of a backroom deal cut months ago, and it’s ridiculous. We’ve seen how the Administration has dragged their feet over the past two years on “Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell”. We can’t let that happen again. We have to mount a fight to finish the job, and we need your help.

Servicemembers Legal Defense Network

“Gay, lesbian and bisexual service members posted around the world are standing a little taller today, but they’re still very much at risk because repeal is not final. I respectfully ask Defense Secretary Robert Gates to use his authority to suspend all ‘Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell’ investigations during this interim period. Until the President signs the bill, until there is certification, and until the 60-day Congressional period is over, no one should be investigated or discharged under this discriminatory law. Even with this historic vote, service members must continue to serve in silence until repeal is final. Certification and the 60-day Congressional requirement must be wrapped up no later than the first quarter of 2011. The bottom line: for now, gay, lesbian, and bisexual service members must remain cautiously closeted,” said Aubrey Sarvis, Army veteran and executive director for Servicemembers Legal Defense Network.

National Gay & Lesbian Task Force

"This vote today marks a critical step toward creating a path that could end in lesbian, gay and bisexual people finally being able to serve openly, honestly, and to great benefit of our country. Three-quarters of Americans say ‘Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell’ should be repealed, as do top military leaders. We thank those senators who supported cloture today, and urge the full Senate to pass ‘Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell’ repeal. It’s time to end this costly and discriminatory policy. Until then, the lives and careers of thousands of courageous, qualified and patriotic service members will continue to hang in the balance."

OutServe

OutServe looks forward to the day that repeal of this law is signed by our Commander in Chief and we can all begin to serve openly and honestly. We will remove the cloud that hangs over our gay and lesbian troops and live in a world where constantly worrying about losing everything we work and live for could be in jeopardy will finally end. As we await the implementation of repeal, expected to happen over the next year, OutServe is sensitive to the needs of our active duty troops and will remain a partner in making that transition smooth. There will come a moment when it will finally be completely safe to ‘come out’ and OutServe will be there to support the troops – gay and straight – when that day comes, hopefully soon.

Lambda Legal

"It is time for our country to move forward. An overwhelming majority of the American public supports letting lesbian and gay troops serve openly and with honor. The recent survey of military personnel and their families shows an overwhelming majority - 90 percent - are fine serving alongside a gay or lesbian servicemember. Our military and the security of our country will be strengthened by finally ending "Don't Ask, Don't Tell." "This has been a heroic political battle by LGBT advocates who refused to give up. We congratulate the many lesbian and gay servicemembers who risked or sacrificed their careers to fight for justice; the many LGBT advocacy groups and allies who fought with them; and the members of Congress who voted for justice."

Human Rights Campaign

“Today, America lived up to its highest ideals of freedom and equality. Congress recognized that all men and women have the right to openly serve their country,” said HRC President Joe Solmonese. “Plenty of people had already planned the funeral for this legislation. Today, we pulled out a victory from what was almost certain defeat just a few days ago. We are grateful to President Obama, Majority Leader Reid and Sens. Lieberman, Collins and countless others for their dogged determination to repeal DADT.”

GOProud

Six Republicans joined 57 Democrats and independents in voting to move forward on repeal of the Clinton-era policy. “GOProud is thankful to every Senator, regardless of party affiliation, who voted for repeal,” said Jimmy LaSalvia, GOProud’s Executive Director. “GOProud is particularly thankful and proud of the votes of Senator Scott Brown (R-MA) and Mark Kirk (R-IL). GOProud was the only gay organization who endorsed and supported both Senator Brown and Senator Kirk in their respective elections.” These Senators joined a chorus of conservative foreign policy leaders like former Vice President Dick Cheney, potential 2012 Presidential candidate Rudy Giuliani, former U.N. Ambassador John Bolton, Liz Cheney of Keep America Safe, and Fox News’ Charles Krauthammer in supporting repeal of this failed policy.

People For The American Way

“Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell is an unjust and ineffective policy, and it has burdened our armed services for far too long. For years, the policy’s proponents have put a far-right social agenda ahead of national security and human dignity, brushing aside studies that prove its harmfulness and ignoring polls that show huge majorities opposing it. The Senate’s vote today marks a triumph of common sense over cynicism and brings us one step closer to a day when all qualified, patriotic Americans can serve our country openly and with dignity.”

DADT Cloture Passes Senate 63-33!!!

The big surprise seems to be Sen. Mark Kirk!

(Screencap via Towleroad)

LIVE VIDEO: Senate DADT Vote

The Senate's cloture vote on the repeal of DADT may come before noon EST. Watch live here.

McCain Predicts DADT Repeal: And The Liberals Will Celebrate In Georgetown

NOM Makes Anderson Cooper's "Ridiculist" Over Their Rainbow Demand

Sen. Bob Corker: If You Bring DADT Up, The GOP Will Walk Away from START

Last night Sen. Bob Corker (R-TN) made a threat to Sen. Harry Reid.

What’s happened is it’s poisoning the well on this debate, on something that’s very, very important….I’m just hoping that saner minds will prevail and that these issues that have been brought forth that are absolutely partisan, political, issues, brought forth to basically accommodate activist groups around this country. I’m hoping that those will be taken down or else I don’t think the future of the START treaty over the next several days is going to be successful, based on what I’m watching.

Sen. Kirsten Gillibrand & Rep. Jared Polis On Tomorrow's DADT Senate Vote

Evening View - Pumps On The Wire

We can only presume there's a drag queen selling drugs nearby.

Cindy Jacobs: The Lord Told Me He's Going To Remove The Unholy From Elected Office

And in tongues, God said: Hemmina babboda baboshka!

Sen. Joe Lieberman: We're On the Verge Of A Historic Breakthrough

Also: "John McCain is unpersuadable."

Family Research Council Vows To "Endorse & Fund" 2012 Primary Challengers To Senators Who Vote To Repeal DADT

Expanding on yesterday's threat against Sen. Olympia Snowe, today the Family Research Council announced that they will "endorse and fund" primary challengers to any Senator who votes to repeal DADT tomorrow. Via Right Wing Watch:

We are pledging today to endorse, and help fund, conservative primary challengers to any U.S. Senator who votes during the lame-duck session to overturn ‘Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell.’ FRC Action PAC will work to remove any U.S. Senator who would place liberal special interests ahead of the priorities of the American people. The U.S. Senate has twice rejected the overturn of ‘Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell.’ Despite this, Majority Leader Harry Reid continues with his obsession while failing to address the essential responsibilities of the federal government. As three of the four service chiefs have made clear, the men and women of the Armed Forces who are engaged in fighting two wars should not be distracted by Congress using them to advance a liberal social agenda.

They are freaking out, folks! This is a good sign.

How The Senate Should Vote

(Via - Andrew Sullivan)

iPhone App Of The Year

OK, this one kinda blows my mind.

(Via - The Daily What)

Homocon Tweet Of The Day - GOProud

Here's what GOProud's hero Sarah Palin says about gays in her latest book: "When it comes to raising good citizens, all 'lifestyle choices' are not equal." Palin is against gay parenting and believes being gay is a choice. Anybody wanna bet GOProud calls her out on that? Anyone?

PhoboQuotable - Porno Pete LaBarbera

"I believe this is the most important congressional vote and national debate on homosexuality in the USA — ever. If we lose, it will usher in a sea-change of pro homosexual political correctness — not just on our Armed Forces, but on the rests of society, as a Brave, New, ‘Gay’-affirming military will be held up as the new 'civil rights' paradigm for the rest of America (God help us). And as sure as New Years Day follows Christmas, the Homosexual Lobby will seize upon this (giant) opening and push for more and more pro-homosexuality policy changes in the military — including same-sex partner benefits, 'married' housing for homosexual Service members, sweeping gay 'diversity' propaganda for our troops, etc. What a Christmas 'gift' for our military men and women! (More like a huge, rainbow-striped lump of coal). - Porno Pete LaBarbera, screeching about tomorrow's DADT vote. And for the third or fourth time, LaBarbera illustrates his post with the above altered version of Good As You blogger Jeremy Hooper's wedding photo.

IOWA: Republicans Draft Bill To Impeach Four Remaining Supreme Court Justices

Unsatisfied with the November retention vote that ousted three pro-equality Iowa Supreme Court justices, GOP lawmakers there are drafting a bill to impeach the remaining four for "malfeasance" because they enabled the legalization of same-sex marriage.

State Reps. Tom Shaw (R-Laurens), Glen Massie (R-Des Moines) and Kim Pearson (R-Pleasant Hill) are working on the legislation that could result in the removal of the four justices — Mark Cady, David Wiggins, Daryl Hecht and Brent Appel. During last month’s judicial retention vote, three justices were removed from the bench after a contentious campaign that saw five out-of-state anti-gay organizations spend nearly $1 million to oust the judges. The impeachment effort got a boost Wednesday when Speaker-elect Kraig Paulsen (R-Hiawatha) said if he thought Iowans wanted the four justices removed, he would not stand in the way. A few days earlier, state Sen. Kent Sorenson (R-Indianola), who will sit on the Senate Judiciary Committee, said he will also push for impeachment proceedings.

RELATED: Last week an anti-gay Christian group filed a lawsuit demanding that the public be allowed to vote on the appointments of all future state Supreme Court justices.

American Family Association Celebrates A Year Of Anti-Gay Religious Bigotry

Afternoon View - The Blu Q

Last year Father Tony and I took the Blu Q's gay sunset cruise and their reef snorkeling excursion. So we waved like idiots this year as they went by. Maybe we were too far away.

Fox News Viewers "Most Misinformed"

A University of Maryland study of the viewers of network and cable news outlets has found that Fox News watchers are by far the "most misinformed." That's as surprising as finding out that Republicans are the biggest liars! Here's some of what Fox News has convinced their audience:

• Most economists estimate the stimulus caused job losses (12 points more likely)
  
• Most economists have estimated the health care law will worsen the deficit (31 points)
  
• The economy is getting worse (26 points)
  
• Most scientists do not agree that climate change is occurring (30 points)
  
• The stimulus legislation did not include any tax cuts (14 points)
  
• Their own income taxes have gone up (14 points)
  
• The auto bailout only occurred under Obama (13 points)
  
• When TARP came up for a vote most Republicans opposed it (12 points)
  
• And that it is not clear that Obama was born in the United States (31 points)

Politifacts' Lies Of The Year

Fact-checking site Politfacts has released their Biggest Political Lies Of 2010 list. Here's their readers' picks. Unsurprisingly, almost all of the liars are Republicans. Surprisingly, Crazy Eyes isn't the #1 GOP liar.

1. ObamaCare is a "government takeover" of health care. -- Rep. John Boehner, R-Ohio; Rep. C.W. Bill Young, R-Fla.; the Republican Party of Florida; Lt. Gov.-elect Rebecca Kleefisch, R-Wis.; and others: 43.9 percent

2. "The president of the United States will be taking a trip over to India that is expected to cost the taxpayers $200 million a day." -- Rep. Michele Bachmann, R-Minn., 19.2 percent

3. "The stimulus has not created one private sector job." -- Gov.-elect Rick Scott, R-Fla., and others: 13.9 percent

4. "Ninety-four percent of small businesses will face higher taxes under the Democrats' plan." -- Rep. Randy Neugebauer, R-Texas, and others: 8.8 percent

5. The ethics report "exonerates me." -- Rep. Charlie Rangel, D-N.Y., 6.7 percent

John McCain's claim that Phoenix, Arizona is "the #2 kidnapping capital of the world" came in at #9.

FLORIDA: Neo-Nazi Gets Life Without Parole For Murder Of Gay Teenager

Yesterday it took a Florida jury less than 30 minutes to decide that John Ditullio, a 24 year-old neo-Nazi, deserved life in prison without parole for stabbing a 17 year-old boy to death because he was gay.

Earlier on Thursday, Ditullio spoke directly to the jury during his sentencing at the West Pasco County Courthouse. "I'm not going to beg you for my life. Do what you do... but the people that just sat up here and testified that they love me, that's what I ask you to render your verdict on. Not me," Ditullio said. Each day during the trial, a makeup artist was paid up to $150 to cover Ditullio's tattoos, which include a Nazi swastika, barbed wire and an expletive. On Thursday, the makeup artist was there, but attorneys told the judge that Ditullio didn't want to wear any makeup. Late Wednesday night, Ditullio was found guilty of first-degree murder and attempted murder. Prosecutors say he broke into a mobile home in New Port Richey of 2006 and fatally stabbed Kristofer King, 17, because he was gay, and injured Patricia Wells because she was friends with a black man.

Ditullio's attorney plan to appeal.

Christmas With Doctor Who

Beyond silly.

Wasted Street Marketing Of The Day

Barked at our Key West foursome on Duval Street: "Gentlemen! Hot naked ladies! And alcohol! Right up these stairs!" Father Tony: "Well, one out of two...."

Miami Church Wants Univision Fined For "Obscene Interview" With Ricky Martin

A Hispanic evangelical group plans to protest outside the Miami affiliate of Univision tomorrow because the FCC totally needs to fine the network for airing an "obscene interview" with recently-out Ricky Martin. Andres Duque provides the translation of their press release at Blabbeando:

On November 2nd, 2010, Univision broadcast a program called: Ricky Martin... Without Secrets, in which he spoke of having his first sexual encounter when he was 15 years of age and that, after having slept with women, he had relations with men. Afterward he felt confused until one day when he was being interviewed he felt attracted to the reporter who was interviewing him. To the point of falling in love with that man. Presenting himself as being ultra-successful, showing images of his 10 million dollar house, riding a sport motorcycle through the streets, walking through the beach and then, showing images of his concert, in front of thousands of young folk, he presents himself as the role model to follow for the children who watched the program at the child friendly hour of 7 to 8 pm. As people who valor the principles that gave birth to this nation, we have decided to say 'enough' with these shows that violate the innocence of our kids and promote confusion at a time in which our youth are developing. Univision's complicity in transmitting this message deserves, on our side, our complaints before the FCC - the entity that regulates media in the Unites States - which says that any pornographic, indecent or obscene content can be reported as a complaint.

Got that? Merely interviewing a gay person is obscene and pornographic.

SLDN Announces Senate Gallery Sit-In

Servicemembers Legal Defense Network will be staging a sit-in of the Senate gallery until the chamber votes on the repeal of DADT. Sen. Joe Liebermann will join SLDN at a press conference today announcing the sit-in.

HomoQuotable - Dan Savage

"Let's make a deal: give us our full civil equality—repeal DOMA, let us marry legally in all fifty states, end DADT, pass ENDA, stop torturing gay kids to death—and we'll let you have your fucking rainbows back." - Dan Savage on yesterday demand by NOM that queers stop using the rainbow.

Barney Frank Is Confident About DADT

The Senate vote is tomorrow.

Family Research Council Vows Vengeance on "DADT Turncoat" Sen. Olympia Snowe

Tony Perkins and the Family Research Council say they are going to wreak vengeance on Sen. Olympia Snowe (R-ME) come the 2012 elections after her "turncoat" announcement of support for the repeal of DADT.

Two Republicans, Sen. Olympia Snowe (Maine) and Rep. Jeff Flake (Ariz.), both made stunning decisions to back a bill that could force soldiers to leave their jobs--or be hurt doing them. Despite warnings from General James Amos that overturning "Don't Ask, Don't Tell" would cost Marines lives and limbs, more Republicans are chickening out when the troops need them most. Yesterday, Rep. Flake broke away from the GOP and voted "aye" on the stand-alone repeal. For FRC, who celebrated Jeff's 100% record on our last scorecard, it's a huge disappointment. Only one other Republican that was reelected, Rep. Ron Paul (Texas), joined him. Fortunately, their weakness wasn't the deciding factor in yesterday's 250-175 vote. The House bill was helped along by 63 lame-duckers (emphasis on the lame), who took the easy way out--on their way out.

Fortunately for Maine, Sen. Olympia Snowe's election is forthcoming. In less than two years, the liberal "Republican" will have to answer for her record of extremism, which now includes jeopardizing national security in order to use the military to advance the Left's radical social agenda. Attempting to explain her turncoat maneuver, Snowe said she arrived at her decision after "careful analysis" (which, considering how her state just voted to protect marriage, probably wasn't as careful as it should have been). Still, her announcement is one of the final pieces to the repeal puzzle for liberals, who may have cracked the 60-votes they need to put this gift under the tree for the 3% of America who lobbied for it.

Morning View - Tank Island

Tank Island is part of the city of Key West and was built out of dredge-fill during the Cold War to service submarines patrolling off of Cuba. Today it's a private residential island (owned by Westin) with about 50 luxury homes. Developers have rechristened it as "Sunset Key."

Tweet Of The Day II - James Hartline

Larry King Signs Off After 25 Years

Ron Reagan Jr. On DADT Repeal

Tired Old Queen At The Movies #62

1946's The Razor's Edge starring Tyrone Power, Gene Tierney, John Payne, Clifton Webb, and Anne Baxter.

McCain: DADT Isn't Broke, Don't Fix It

Tweet Of The Day - Kerry Eleveld

Evening View - Key West Sunset

My loyal companion Aaron arrived from NYC this afternoon and with our Key West foursome finally complete, this evening we played uber-tourists and watched the sunset from Mallory Square, where tradition dictates a round of applause for the sun's disappearance over the horizon.

VIRGINIA: Lynchburg Mayor Declares Valentine's Day To Be Day Of Not Fucking

The mayor of Lynchburg, Virginia has signed onto the Liberty Counsel's "Day Of Purity" pledge that unmarried residents will definitely NOT fuck on Valentine's Day.

At this week’s Lynchburg City Council meeting, Mayor Joan Foster announced the Day of Purity Proclamation. As the first city to sign in support of the Day of Purity, Lynchburg joins nearly a thousand schools and organizations across the nation that have supported the Day of Purity. Liberty Counsel is launching preparations now for the eighth annual nationwide campaign on February 14, 2011. This effort mobilizes youth across the nation to publicly celebrate sexual abstinence until marriage for emotional, mental, and physical reasons.

Somebody totally needs to throw a ginormous sex party in Lynchburg that day.
CORRECTION: Lynchburg, VIRGINIA, not Tennessee as I first posted!

Where To Be After The Bomb Drops

The New York Times reports on the latest advice from the feds on what to do in the event of a nuclear bomb.

Suppose the unthinkable happened, and terrorists struck New York or another big city with an atom bomb. What should people there do? The government has a surprising new message: Do not flee. Get inside any stable building and don’t come out till officials say it’s safe. The advice is based on recent scientific analyses showing that a nuclear attack is much more survivable if you immediately shield yourself from the lethal radiation that follows a blast, a simple tactic seen as saving hundreds of thousands of lives. Even staying in a car, the studies show, would reduce casualties by more than 50 percent; hunkering down in a basement would be better by far.

According to the report, the safest place to be in a big city is inside the core of large building or in an underground parking garage.

TENNESSEE: Jury Rejects "My Daughter Saw Gay Porn!" Lawsuit

You may recall my 2008 post about former Big Brother contestant Kent Blackwelder, who filed a $4M lawsuit against Specialty Publications (a distributor of Titan Media) because his daughter "accidentally opened" one of their promo packages which was mysteriously sent to his house. Blackwelder's suit claimed that a five-second viewing of naked gay men caused his daughter to need counseling for a sudden fear of being kidnapped. (By Titan porn stars, one presumes.) Yesterday a Tennessee jury rejected the lawsuit as nonsense.

The four-woman, four-man civil jury rejected Powell father Kent Blackwelder's bid to hold California firm Specialty Publications Inc. financially responsible for his then-12-year-old daughter's glimpse of a racy advertisement for the gay magazine "Freshmen" in May 2007. "Do I wish it hadn't happened?" First Amendment attorney Richard Hollow asked jurors in closing arguments. "Yes. Do I believe children should be protected? You bet. But it's not up to everybody else to take care of our children." Blackwelder, who appeared on the "Big Brother" reality television show in 2001, wound up on the mailing list after his name and address were used to enter an online contest for a free trip to a "gay-friendly" locale. His daughter later opened a direct-mail brochure with photos of nude men. He sued, claiming the mailer was unsolicited, violated postal regulations and caused his daughter distress. But Hollow countered that the publisher, which has since folded, followed regulations. The mailing was sealed with a "wafer tab" and bore a warning label.

Blackwelder says he was put on the mailing list as an act of vengeance for a different lawsuit claiming he'd been fired from his job because he is white.

(Tipped by JMG reader Lynda)

LCR Responds To Rachel Maddow

The Log Cabin Republicans are stomping their homocon feet over Rachel Maddow's calling out of their support for the opponent of DADT-sponsor Rep. Patrick Murphy.

Log Cabin Republicans recognize the role that Representative Patrick Murphy took on in efforts to end the failed ‘Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell’ policy, however it is a mistake to argue, as some have, that his loss had anything to do with his work for repeal. Such claims are, in fact, dangerous to the equality movement because they send the false message that support for ‘Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell’ repeal is politically dangerous. The truth is Republicans won this year because of our positions on taxes, smaller government and Americans’ frustration with the out-of-touch Democratic leadership in Washington. No majority is ever permanent, and we knew the pendulum was going to swing hard in the GOP’s favor this year, which made it all the more important for Log Cabin to cultivate allies within a Republican Congress. When every other gay rights organization has wedded itself to the Democratic Party instead of working across party lines to build coalitions, pro-equality legislation is only hurt. Our efforts must be about securing support for passage of the legislation we agree upon.

LCR says that Murphy's replacement-to-be, Mike Fitzpatrick, has pledged to support the repeal of DADT too. That promise, of course, is useless, because the issue will never again be voted upon in the coming GOP-dominated House.

Lieberman: DADT Should Come First

Pope Ratzi: Christians Are The Most Persecuted People In The Entire World

Emperor Palpatine says that Christians are persecuted more than any group of people in the world. Gays? Nah. Jews? Huh-uh. Christians.

"At present, Christians are the religious group which suffers most from persecution on account of its faith," the pontiff asserted, and cited Christian communities suffering from violence and intolerance particularly in Asia, Africa, the Middle East and the Holy Land. "This situation is intolerable, since it represents an insult to God and to human dignity" as well as "a threat to security and peace," Benedict wrote in one of the 17-page-long message's strongest passages. He appealed to authorities to "act promptly to end every injustice" against Christians. Benedict didn't cite countries, but in past years church officials have lamented that Christians — most of them migrant workers — are forbidden to worship in Saudi Arabia. He blasted what he called "more sophisticated forms of hostility to religion, which, in Western countries, occasionally find expression in a denial of history and the rejection of religious symbols which reflect the identity and the culture of the majority of its citizens."

(Tipped by JMG reader Mark)

NOM Wants The Rainbow Back

"Proposition 8 was passed by a great grassroots coalition that included people from all across the religious traditions, and also people of every race and color. We are the real rainbow coalition. The gay lobby does not own the rainbow. We can't simply let that go by. Families put rainbows in their children's nurseries. Little Christian preschools will have rainbows...Noah's Ark and all the animals. Those are great Christian symbols, great Jewish symbols." - Jennifer Norse, of the NOM-affiliated Ruth Institute, who says queers have no right to use the rainbow, which is proof of "God's covenant with man."

Winona Ryder On Mel Gibson

"I remember, like, fifteen years ago, I was at one of those big Hollywood parties. And he was really drunk. I was with my friend, who's gay. He made a really horrible gay joke. And somehow it came up that I was Jewish. He said something about 'oven dodgers,' but I didn't get it. I'd never heard that before. It was just this weird, weird moment. I was like, 'He's anti-Semitic and he's homophobic.' No one believed me!" - Winona Ryder, speaking to GQ Magazine.

(Via - Towleroad)

Afternoon View - Mirror Blogging

From this end of the Island House bar, I can totally blog and still watch the waiter hotties in the mirror.

Ed Shultz On Gohmert's DADT Nastiness

Sen. Scott Brown Backs New DADT Bill

Sen. Scott Brown (R-MA) says that he will vote for the Senate's stand-alone DADT repeal bill, bringing the number of probable pro-repeal votes in the Senate to 61. For now, anyway.

“Sen. Brown accepts the Pentagon’s recommendation to repeal the policy after proper preparations have been completed. If and when a clean repeal bill comes up for a vote, he will support it,” said Brown spokesperson Gail Gitcho. Brown’s backing means that – on paper – supporters of the repeal have 61 senators in favor of the bill. On Wednesday Republicans Olympia Snowe of Maine and Lisa Murkowski both announced their support for the stand-alone repeal. The House passed the clean repeal on Wednesday and Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid has vowed to bring it to a vote in the Senate before the end of the year.

Everything now hinges on the dwindling time in the lame duck session.

The Dangers Of Nude Modeling

One of the pitfalls of nude skank modeling is one day you might end up in a bathtub at a Diddy release party with your hair on fire while some douchebag rapper wannabe drones on about his fly lifestyle.

(Via - Gothamist)

Army Birther Convicted On All Counts

Lt. Colonel Terrence Lakin, the Army birther who said he didn't have to obey the orders of his "illegitimate" commander in chief, has been found guilty on four felony counts of military disobedience at his court-martial.

"I am extremely sorry for everything that has come of this," Lakin said during unsworn testimony in the sentencing phase of his trial. "As a military member, I was wrong." Lakin faces as much as 42 months in prison, forfeiture of pay and retirement benefits, and dismissal from the service after being convicted of four felonies. The court-martial panel found him guilty of two counts of disobeying orders to report to his commanding officer, one count of failing to report to his new unit, and, most seriously, missing the movement of an airplane that was to take him to his new post. Lakin will be sentenced tomorrow.

Lakin says he continues to believe the president is not a U.S. citizen, but that he shouldn't have allowed that opinion to affect the orders of his immediate superiors.

Lady Gaga's Meat Book

Copyranter notes that Lady Gaga's biography is being promoted in Australia's meat cases. OK, then.

Sarah Palin's New Book Is Tanking

Rachel Maddow Slams Log Cabin

"Behold what is supposed to be a gay rights movement, siding against [DADT sponsor] Rep. Patrick Murphy."

Colorado May Consider Civil Unions

Openly gay Colorado state Sen. Pat Steadman plans to introduce a civil unions bill early next year.

Sen. Pat Steadman, D-Denver, said he believes the majority of Coloradans support civil unions and oppose gays being treated unfairly. Steadman, who is gay, said he expects his proposal to pass the Democratic-controlled Senate, but he's not sure what kind of reception the idea will get in the Republican-controlled House. It could be a frosty one, said the speaker-elect, Rep. Frank McNulty, who noted Coloradans rejected a similar proposal four years ago. "I think that kind of bill would be of concern with the vast majority of the members of our caucus," the Highlands Ranch Republican said. But Rep. Kevin Priola, R-Henderson, who will be the speaker pro tem next year, said he supports civil unions "in concept, precisely because they are not gay marriage." However, he added, he would have to read the bill before he decides where he stands.

Colorado-based Focus On The Family says they plan to oppose the bill, surprise surprise.

FDA Approves One-Minute HIV Test

The FDA has approved an HIV test that provides results in one minute.

“We believe the speed, accuracy, and unique technology of our 60-second HIV test will make the testing and early treatment of HIV/AIDS more efficient in all patient settings, including hospital emergency rooms and public health clinics,” said bioLytical Laboratories president Philip Bligh in a press release. “Additionally, our high-volume, automated manufacturing capability makes INSTI one of the most cost-effective solutions available for providers of HIV rapid testing.”

Got a minute? Get tested.

PhoboQuotable - Tony Perkins

"How many brave men and women are liberals willing to sacrifice so that homosexuals can flaunt their lifestyle? The only reason for changing the present policy is if it would help the military accomplish its mission. So far, no one has produced a single reason how it would. Until then, the Senate has to ask itself: Do they want the blood of innocent soldiers on their hands just to appease the political base of Sen. Harry Reid (D-Nev.) and Nancy Pelosi (D-Calif.)? If they can live with that, then they're unlike any human beings I've ever met." - Family Research Council head Tony Perkins, in a post agreeing with USMC Commandant James Amos.

Staff Sgt. Eric Alva On USMC Gen. Amos

Morning View - Bed Intruder

One of the Island House toms likes to climb in my window in the mornings.

The #1 Bigot Of Yesterday's House Debate

Rep. Louie Gohmert won that prize easily with this.

Open Thread Thursday

The complaint box is open. Vent. Rant. Rage.

Flying Into Key West

Father Tony's husband took this on his way to join us today.

DADT Repeal Passes House 250-175

Sen. Olympia Snowe To Support Repeal

Mariah Carey - Auld Lang Syne

Not terrible, but the classic disco version is this one.

White House Comments On DADT Bill

The White House just issued the below comment on the stand-along DADT repeal bill, which is being debated in the House at this writing.

The Administration strongly supports House passage of the House amendment to the Senate amendment to H.R. 2965, which would repeal the statute underlying "Don't Ask, Don't Tell" after the President, the Secretary of Defense, and the Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff certify that implementation of the necessary policies and regulations related to the statutory repeal is consistent with the standards of military readiness, military effectiveness, unit cohesion, and recruiting and retention of the Armed Forces. Congressional enactment of this legislation would allow a repeal to be implemented under terms and a timetable that would be informed by the advice of our military leadership.

The recently-released comprehensive study by the Department of Defense shows that overwhelming majorities of our Service members are prepared to serve with Americans who are openly gay or lesbian; it concludes that overall, and with thorough preparation, there would be low risk associated with the repeal. The existing statute weakens our national security, diminishes our military readiness, and violates fundamental American principles of fairness, integrity, and equality.

The House version of the bill is expected to pass easily.

HomoQuotable - USMC Staff Sgt. Eric Alva

"He pretty much spit on me, my Purple Heart, and my 13 years of service. I would definitely ask Amos for a meeting to explain his comments, and I’d bring my Purple Heart with me. I wish Obama would invite [Amos] to the White House and fire his ass on the spot." - Former USMC Staff Sgt. Eric Alva, responding to USMC Commandant General Amos' comment that repealing DADT would cost Marines their limbs due to the "distraction" of all those homo soldiers. In 2003 Alva became the first Marine to be injured in Iraq when he lost his leg due to a landmine.

Ill Papa Enjoys Stripping Acrobats

Innnnteresting, innit?

(Via - Andrew Sullivan)

American Family Association: The SPLC Belongs On Its Own Hate Groups List

Liberal radio host David Pakman interviews AFA nutbag Bryan Fischer, who declares that the SPLC belongs on their own hate list for "telling lies about homosexuality." Watch Pakman throw Fischer's own lies back in his face. Some Fischer quotes from the clips:

-“We're the ones telling the truth about the link between homosexuality and pedophilia.”
-“Active participation in the homosexual lifestyle will deprive a male of anywhere between 8 and 20 years of his life expectancy”
-“There is ‘no such thing as a monogamous homosexual relationship’”
-“The rectal wall is one cell thick”
-“We need to take our cue from gay porn actors”
-“Those homosexual activists that are so intent on normalizing homosexual behavior...they must be harboring some deep seated longing to be straight”
-“Homosexual activists must be latently heterosexual”

Quote Of The Day II - Jimmy Carter

"Step-by-step, we have realized that this issue of homosexuality has the same adverse and progressive elements as when we dealt with the race issue 50 years ago, or 40 years ago. So I would say that the country is getting acclimated to a president who might be female, who might, obviously, now, be Black, and who might be as well a gay person." - Former President Jimmy Carter, in a video commentary on Big Think.

The Bitches Of The House

Island House, poolside, Key West, 2PM

A new arrival shows off his colorful thong to his friends...

Friend 1: Oh, honey! Don't ask, don't TEAL!
Friend 2: Yes, that thing needs some cloture in the back.
Thong Man: Bitches of the House, I move we suspend this debate.

House DADT Stand-Alone Debate

Watch it live on C-SPAN.

Liberty University Choir Covers Gregory Brothers' The Bed Intruder Song

The weekend the choir at the Jerry Fawell-founded Liberty University covered The Bed Intruder Song as part of their holiday program. Bee-zarre. Aside from the oddity of a Christian university covering a song in which an openly gay man complains about the attempted rape of his sister, they actually do a pretty funny job of it. However, note the replacement of "raping" with "taking." And don't even try to tell me that conductor isn't family.

Maddow On John Boehner's Crying Jags

Last night Rachel Maddow noted that John Boehner's crocodile tears are often for both sides of the same issue. "I'm against that!" he sobbed! "I'm FOR that (same thing I cried about being against)!" he sobbed.

Facebook Founder Mark Zuckerberg Named TIME Magazine's Person Of The Year

The two runners-up were WikiLeaks founder Julian Assange and the Tea Party. TIME says about Zuckerberg:

At 26, Zuckerberg is a year older than our first Person of the Year, Charles Lindbergh — another young man who used technology to bridge continents. He is the same age as Queen Elizabeth when she was Person of the Year, for 1952. But unlike the Queen, he did not inherit an empire; he created one. (The Queen, by the way, launched a Facebook page this year.) Person of the Year is not and never has been an honor. It is a recognition of the power of individuals to shape our world. For connecting more than half a billion people and mapping the social relations among them (something that has never been done before); for creating a new system of exchanging information that has become both indispensable and sometimes a little scary; and finally, for changing how we all live our lives in ways that are innovative and even optimistic, Mark Elliot Zuckerberg is TIME's 2010 Person of the Year.

Elmo Visits The White House Kitchen

Yeah, yeah Elmo, school lunches, whatevs. Moving on, how about that adorbs White House chef Sam Kass?