Saturday, January 29, 2011

USMC Commandant Issues Vow Of Adherence To Repeal Of DADT

From the official USMC YouTube channel:
On December 3, 2010, General James Amos testified that if DADT was repealed, the Marine Corps would step out smartly to carry out the new policy. On January 28, 2011, the Commandant and Sergeant Major of the Marine Corps released this video to the Corps describing the way ahead.
An amazing and welcome message.

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Parking Wars

This winter's record 59 inches of snow has generated an issue seen more frequently in other cities than in New York - parking spot wars over dug out spaces. Some folks say that if they go through the back-breaking work of clearing a spot in front of their building, they are perfectly free to block that space with garbage cans until their return. Others say, bullshit, a space is a space and that there's no such things as "dibs" on a public street. Folks who move the "dibs" markers often return to find that the contents of that garbage can are now on the roof of their car. According to news reports, there have been quite a few fistfights in the last few days.

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Here's The CPAC 2011 Agenda

CPAC has published the agenda for next month's conference, where attendance will be greatly diminished thanks to all the reich-wing groups that won't be seen in the same room as GOProud. (We wouldn't either!) Still, there's a fair representation of evil here, including Crazy Eyes, Harry Jackson, Rick Santorum, and Elaine Donnelly. Meeting topics include how to stop gay marriage and how to stop the repeal of DADT. But remember, GOProud says it's easier to be a conservative at CPAC than it is to be a homocon among gays. So it's interesting that their name appears nowhere on the agenda, innit?

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Twitter On Egypt: The Tweets Must Flow

Twitter has issued a statement which partially references events in Egypt.
Our goal is to instantly connect people everywhere to what is most meaningful to them. For this to happen, freedom of expression is essential. Some Tweets may facilitate positive change in a repressed country, some make us laugh, some make us think, some downright anger a vast majority of users. We don't always agree with the things people choose to tweet, but we keep the information flowing irrespective of any view we may have about the content.

The open exchange of information can have a positive global impact. This is both a practical and ethical belief. On a practical level, we simply cannot review all one hundred million-plus Tweets created and subsequently delivered every day. From an ethical perspective, almost every country in the world agrees that freedom of expression is a human right. Many countries also agree that freedom of expression carries with it responsibilities and has limits.
Their "the tweets must flow" headline reminded me of this, of course.

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GETTING IT RIGHT: Naval Academy Honors Gay Marine's Burial Request

The Naval Academy has honored the final wishes of a gay Marine who had told his husband that he wanted his ashes interred at the USNA Columbarium. John Fliszar was a 1971 graduate of the Academy, but what's so heartwarming is how the Academy treated his husband, Mark Ketterson.
The memorial coordinator asked about his relationship to the deceased. Ketterson said that John Fliszar was his husband. “They were always polite, but there was this moment of hesitation,” Ketterson recalled. “They said they’re going to need something in writing from a blood relative. They asked, ‘Are you listed on the death certificate?’ ‘Do you have a marriage license?’ ” He was and they did, the couple having been married in Des Moines when gay marriage became legal in Iowa two years ago. Ketterson sent a copy of the marriage license. That changed everything.

“I was respected,” he said. “From that moment on, I was next of kin. They were amazing.” The USNA alumni association sent Ketterson a letter expressing condolence for the loss of his husband. The USNA says Fliszar’s interment followed standard operating procedure. “His next of kin was treated with the same dignity and respect afforded to the next of kin of all USNA grads who desire interment at the Columbarium,” said Jennifer Erickson, a spokesperson for the academy. “We didn’t do anything differently.”
There's more to this great story, hit the link.

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FLORIDA: House GOP Speaker Seeks To Enforce Gay Adoption Ban

Even though district courts have overturned Florida's ban on gay adoption, state House GOP Speaker Dean Cannon wants Gov. Rick Scott to enforce the ban still on the state books.
Cannon said the Legislature may reassert its position affirming the prohibition if that becomes necessary, but is awaiting word whether the Scott administration will continue to enforce the ban. “The tactical calculus is to make a change [in the law] would almost imply that you agree that there was some flaw identified by the Third DCA,” Cannon said of the Legislature’s options after the Third District Court of Appeal overturned the law last year. “Because that’s just in one district, it may make sense to wait and see if that Third DCA opinion is eventually brought up with another case and either overturned or affirmed by the Supreme Court,” he said. “Until we know how the governor and DCF secretary are going to apply it, it’s not a foregone conclusion that the Legislature should step in,” he said. “If we think we should, we’re certainly prepared and willing to do so.” Asked if the governor should enforce the law, Cannon replied, “Absolutely.”
Earlier this month Tea Party-backed Gov. Rick "Medicare Fraud" Scott tipped his hand on gay adoption when he appointed an anti-gay adoption activist to head Florida's Department of Children and Families.

(Tipped by JMG reader Robert)

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Taco Bell Fires Back At Ingredients Lawsuit With Superhero Cartoon Series

In response to the lawsuit contending that they don't use what the USDA defines as "beef" in their products, Taco Bell has taken the unusual step of mocking the suit with a series of retro superhero cartoons, a move NPR finds surprisingly amusing.

(Tipped by JMG reader David)

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Too Butch For Asylum

American immigration officials examining the cases of gays seeking asylum here are often denying such requests if the applicants "don't look gay enough" to be persecuted in their home countries.
“Judges and immigration officials are adding a new hurdle in gay asylum cases that an applicant’s homosexuality must be socially visible,” said Lori Adams, a lawyer at Human Rights First, a nonprofit group, who advises people seeking asylum based on sexuality. “The rationale is that if you don’t look obviously gay, you can go home and hide your sexuality and don’t need to be worried about being persecuted.” Jhuan Marrero, 18, who was born in Venezuela but has lived — illegally — in New York since he was 4, said the immigration officer at his asylum interview last week challenged him about his macho demeanor. “I was brought up by my parents to walk and talk like a man,” said Mr. Marrero, who volunteers at the Queens Pride House, a gay and lesbian center in Jackson Heights. “The officer said: ‘You’re not a transsexual. You don’t look gay. How are you at risk?’ I insisted that if I was sent back to Venezuela, I would speak out about being gay and suffer the consequences.”
Some asylum attorneys have advised their clients to appear as flamboyant as possible during their hearings. Adding to the problem is a surge in applicants falsely claiming to be gay in order to escape economic problems in their home countries.

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If Posters Told The Truth

More honest posters for all ten of this year's Best Picture nominees are here.

(Via - Boy Culture)

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Ninth Circuit Court Denies Request To Suspend LCR's DADT Lawsuit

Late yesterday the Ninth Circuit Court of Appeals denied the federal government's request that they suspend the Log Cabin Republicans' lawsuit seeking the repeal of DADT.
The opposed motion to hold these appeals in abeyance is denied. The briefing schedule is reset as follows: the government's opening brief and excerpts of record are due February 25, 2011; Log Cabin Republicans' answering brief and supplemental excerpts of record are due March 28, 2011; and the government's reply brief is due 14 days after service of the answering brief. The pending motions filed by proposed intervenor Joseph Zernik shall be addressed by separate order.

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Friday, January 28, 2011

Maddow Alert

Word is that tonight Rachel Maddow will have a big exclusive story on slain Ugandan LGBT activist David Kato. I'll post clips here immediately afterward.

UPDATE: The Uganda story teased earlier today was obviously bumped for breaking developments in Egypt.

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Obama Speaks On Egyptian Unrest

Not exactly the resounding calling-out of Mubarak that many had hoped for, but still some strong words.

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Mubarak: I Won't Step Down

Egyptian president Hosni Mubarak just held a press conference to announce that he will not step down. But he will dissolve the government.
Specifically, Mubarak said that the current government will be forced to resign and he would appoint a new one on Saturday. He gave no indications he himself planned to step down, despite increasing calls for him to do so. The 82-year-old autocrat, who assumed power in Egypt 30 years ago, made the announcement following a day of widespread protests, violence and demonstrations.
CNN reports that Obama administration insiders are not confident that Mubarak will be able to hold power. Meanwhile Egyptian-Americans and ex-pats have begun to hold protest sympathy rallies around the United States, including outside of the White House, where hundreds are gathered at this writing.

UPDATE: Google's usage report shows that internet access in virtually non-existent for Egyptians at the moment.

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HAWAII: Senate Approves Civil Unions!

The Hawaii Senate has just approved its civil unions bill!
The Senate voted 19-6 for the bill Friday, sending it to the state House of Representatives for additional consideration. Hawaii would become the sixth state to grant some of the rights of marriage to same-sex couples without authorizing marriage itself. A civil unions bill also passed the Illinois Legislature last month. Democrats, who control the Hawaii Legislature, have said they plan to approve the bill quickly this year and send it to new Democratic Gov. Neil Abercrombie for his signature. Abercrombie has said he supports civil unions.
Suck it, Tony Perkins!

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New Logo

NBC-Universal has a new really boring logo now that their merger with Comcast has been approved. And reviews are, uh, universally scathing. For you graphics geeks out there, Gawker has launched a "redo the new" logo contest.

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INDIANA: Lambda Legal Settles Prom Lawsuit On Behalf Of Trans Student

Lambda Legal has settled its lawsuit against an Indiana school district after a 2006 incident in which a principal physically blocked the door of a high school prom in order to prevent a transgender student from attending in a dress. Via press release:
"Gary School Corporation's new policies and trainings will help to ensure that other students don't face discrimination because of who they are or what they wear," said Christopher Clark, Senior Staff Attorney in Lambda Legal's Midwest Regional Office in Chicago. "It is unfortunate that Gary School Corporation has spent almost four years defending a discriminatory policy. The message for schools across the country should be clear - they should adopt and follow dress code policies that respect the rights of all students, and they should let all students attend the school prom without discrimination based on gender identity or expression."
The lawsuit was settled for an "undisclosed amount on terms agreeable to all parties." Finally, some good news today!

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BRITAIN: Deportation Reprieve For Uganda's Brenda Namiggade

Ugandan citizen Brenda Namiggade was already being escorted to London's Heathrow airport tonight when word came that Britain's Home Office had granted a temporary reprieve to her deportation. This comes after gay activists earlier today served UK Home Secretary Theresa May with a petition bearing over 40,000 names.

According to the BBC, some in the British government doubt that Namiggade is actually a lesbian and suspect she is using the claim to stay in the country. Namiggade has repeatedly stated that she is gay and that she fears for her life should she be returned to Uganda.
Her lawyer, Abdulrahman Jafar, said he would argue that Ms Namiggade should be allowed to remain in the UK regardless of her sexuality. "The press coverage about her activities certainly expose her to a real risk if she is to be returned to Uganda," he said. Ms Namigadde, who was held at a detention centre just outside London, has told the BBC's Network Africa programme she was "shaking" with fear at the prospect of returning to Uganda. She said she fled to the UK in 2002 after being beaten and victimised because of her sexuality. The United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees, Antonio Guterres, has said people facing persecution for their sexual orientation in Uganda should be given refugee status in other countries.
According to the head of the UK's Border Agency, an immigration judge had previously ruled Namigadde as "not homosexual."

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Scott Lively: How Do We Know David Kato Wasn't Killed By His Gay Lover?

Keeping with his theme of the inherent murderous violence of gay men, today repulsive anti-gay activist Scott Lively issued a statement raising the possibility that Uganda LGBT activist David Kato was killed by another gay man.
Ugandan homosexual activist David Cato was murdered yesterday in his home. To my knowledge, no one has been arrested for the crime so the motive at this time is purely a matter of conjecture. CNN is reporting that money and clothing had been stolen from his house, which would suggest a run-of-the-mill criminal intent. There is also the possibility that he was killed by a “gay” lover, as was the case with another homosexual activist two weeks ago in New York. Carlos Castro was castrated with a corkscrew by his boyfriend and bled to death in his hotel room.
The Boston Globe calls Lively's statement "feeble and callous." And note that not only does Lively (probably intentionally) misspell Kato's name, he fails to express any regret over the murder. As for police claims that the crime was motivated by robbery, here's what Box Turtle Bulletin's Jim Burroway thinks:
Police are attributing David Kato’s murder to robbery. We’ve seen it often enough elsewhere in Europe and America where local authorities are loathe to investigate hate crimes. The mere fact that items are missing doesn’t mean that a hate crime did not occur. If a homophobe is burning a gay man to death, for example, why not take a watch as a trophy and money to party with later? Yet that’s often enough for police to quickly try to eliminate the stigma of a hate crime in the local community. If police in this country are very resistant to investigate crimes as hate crime even when the evidence for those charges are overwhelming, how can we expect anything different in Uganda?

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2010: Soldier Suicides Vs. Combat Deaths

For the second year in a row, last year the number of U.S. soldiers who killed themselves exceeded those killed in battle.
One of the problems hindering the military's attempt to address soldier suicides is that there's no real rhyme or reason to what kind of soldier is killing himself. While many suicide victims are indeed afflicted with Post Traumatic Stress Disorder after facing heavy combat in the Middle East, many more have never even been deployed. Of the 112 guardsmen who committed suicide last year, more than half had never even left American soil. "If you think you know the one thing that causes people to commit suicide, please let us know,” Army Vice Chief of Staff General Peter Chiarelli told the Army Times, "because we don't know what it is."

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IsCharlieSheenDead.com

The internet is a cold cruel place sometimes.

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Obama: Your Granny Is Safe

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LOUISIANA: Gay Man Brutally Beaten With Billiards Cue Stick In Hate Crime Attack

Yesterday a 52 year-old gay man suffered grievous facial injuries after a patron at a Shreveport, Louisiana bar attacked him with a billiards cue stick because he is gay. Witnesses say the two men hadn't even spoken before the attack.
Security personnel at the Sandbar held the alleged attacker, William Payne until police arrived. Payne was arrested and charged with attempted 2nd degree murder and the commission of a hate crime. "It was totally 100 percent a hate crime for this sexual orientation," said Sandbar manager Tim Huck. The bar provided police with video surveillance. Huck says it's disturbing, and shows Payne who is a large man, breaking the cue stick over victim John Skaggs' face with one powerful blow. "His hand was all the way back, and he's swinging like a baseball bat, after three aggressive steps in," said Huck. Shreveport police believe that the video will be powerful evidence of the alleged attack, and management at the Sandbar believes it will also help distinguish between a crime and a hate crime. "At no point in time had he talked to the man that attacked him, bumped him. After watching the video and from witnesses they hadn't even made any form of eye contact or anything," said Huck.
The bar manager says the victim was a regular patron who "never bothers anyone."

(Tipped by JMG reader Rick)

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DOMA AMICUS BRIEFS: Who's Who In
Vile Anti-Gay American Hate Groups

GLAD has posted a round-up of the anti-gay groups who have filed DOMA amicus briefs in their case, Gill v. Office of Personnel Management.
Agudath Israel of America
American College of Pediatricians [FAKE]
Attorneys General of SC, UT, IN, MI, CO
Concerned Women for America
Congressman Lamar Smith
Eagle Forum
Family Research Council
Foundation for Moral Law
Robert George
George Goverman
Liberty Counsel
Massachusetts Family Institute
NARTH
National Legal Foundation
National Organization for Marriage
Pacific Justice Institute
U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops,
The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints
National Association of Evangelicals

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NARTH Files DOMA Amicus Brief

The luggage-lifters at NARTH have the hilarious nerve to file a DOMA amicus brief after their now-disgraced leader went on a ten day European vacation with a lithe young Latino hottie rentboy.

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SF Giants Pitcher Brian Wilson For Xbox

San Francisco Giants pitcher Brian Wilson, who gained positive notice here for his dyed-black World Series beard, appeared on Lopez Tonight yesterday to promote his new Xbox game. Which wouldn't be very interesting except that it's Brian Wilson, who always brings the crazy. Feels like he's angling for a post-baseball career in comedy, yeah? Stick around for the game trailer at the end.

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Tweet Of The Day - Robert Gibbs

As we saw last year in Iran, the roles of Twitter, Facebook and YouTube cannot be underestimated in these things.

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Hillary Clinton Calls For Calm In Egypt, Backs Right Of Protesters To Gather


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EGYPT: Police Battle Protesters With Tear Gas On Bridge Over Nile


UPDATE: In an interesting development since the above video was made, protesters are now embracing and welcoming the Egyptian army, which has just been deployed. This underscores the possibility of the military taking over the government.

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Maggie Gallagher: Ladies, Butt Sex Is The Wrong Way To Please Your Man

"Anal sex is painful, unsanitary, unsatisfying for women, and creates unique risks for serious physical diseases (if you doubt me, go read the Wikipedia entry on the subject) because the anus is not designed for sexual intercourse, increasing the risk of torn flesh and the intermingling of bodily fluids -- blood, semen, fecal matter -- that can spread an astonishing variety of diseases. The female partner is far more at risk than the man in these encounters. This should be a feminist issue. But women are doing it to please their boyfriends. Because we have created a sexual culture that empowers young males (even as it stunts their incentives to grow to become successful, confident and happy family men) and disempowers women." - Maggie Gallagher, in a Real Clear Politics column against abortion.

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BRITAIN: Activists Hold Kato Vigil Outside London's Uganda High Commission

LGBT activists staged a vigil for David Kato outside of London's Uganda High Commission today, after which they delivered a 40,000-name petition to UK Home Secretary Theresa May, demanding that Britain not send lesbian asylum-seeker Brenda Namigadde back to Uganda. Namigadde says she fears that she too will be murdered if forced to return. Add your name to the petition here.

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UGANDA: Pastor Shouts Against Gays At Kato Funeral, Fights Break Out

Hundreds gathered at the funeral for slain Ugandan LGBT activist David Kato today, where fights broke out after the pastor conducting the ceremony raged against homosexuals.
"The world has gone crazy," the pastor told the congregation through a microphone. "People are turning away from the scriptures. They should turn back, they should abandon what they are doing. You cannot start admiring a fellow man." Gay activists, wearing T-shirts featuring Kato's face with sleeves coloured with the gay pride flag, then stormed the pulpit and grabbed the microphone. "It is ungodly," the pastor shouted, before being blocked from sight. An unidentified female activist then began to shout from the pulpit. "Who are you to judge others?" she shouted. "We have not come to fight. You are not the judge of us. As long as he's gone to God his creator, who are we to judge Kato?" Locals intervened on the side of the pastor and scuffles broke out before he was taken away to Kato's father's house to calm the situation.
Villagers then refused to bury Kato's coffin, forcing his gay friends to carry it to the gravesite where they buried it themselves. One activist lamented: "After we had read statements from everybody, including Obama, after all the nice things friends said about David, that this man could stand up and throw dirt at someone who should be resting in peace. It's just disgusting."

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BRITAIN: Two Men Charged Under New Anti-Gay Hatred Incitement Law

Two British men have been charged with violating a new law against inciting anti-gay hatred.
Razwan Javed, 30, and Kabir Ahmed, 27, were accused of handing out leaflets called ‘The Death Penalty?’ outside a Derby mosque. It reportedly said that gay people should be executed and the pair are also accused of pushing it through letterboxes. The pair were reportedly arrested after a tip-off from a member of the public. If convicted at a crown court, they could face up to seven years in prison or an unlimited fine. They will appear before magistrates today. This is the first time anyone has been prosecuted for inciting hatred on the grounds of sexual orientation, the Crown Prosecution Service said.
The new law matched similar legislation against inciting racial and religious hatred.

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CockNBullKid- Hold On To Your Misery

Lots of buzz on this oddly affecting tune from Britain's Anita Blay, aka CocknBullKid. The single is already on sale in the UK and comes out here on March 11th. The UK iTunes page has some great sounding remixes.

(Via - Pop In Stereo)

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FRANCE: Constitutional Court Rules Ban On Same-Sex Marriage Is Legal

This morning France's highest court let stand a ban on same-sex marriage. The case had been brought by a lesbian couple raising four children.
In its decision, the Council noted that lawmakers had agreed that the "difference in situations of same-sex couples and couples made up of a man and a woman can justify a difference in treatment concerning family rights." "It is not up to the Constitutional Council to substitute its appreciation for that of lawmakers," the body said. It noted that its job is to simply rule on whether a measure abides by the rights and freedoms guaranteed by the French Constitution. In this case, it ruled that the articles in question are, indeed, "in conformity with the constitution." Cestino and Hasslauer have sought the right to wed. "It is not so much about getting married, but about having the right to get married," Cestino, a pediatrician, said in an interview this week. "So, that is what we are asking for: Just to be able, like anyone else, to choose to get married or not."
The court's ruling noted that France's parliament is free to make new laws on the issue.

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Riots Worsen In Egypt

The Egyptian government has cut off internet access in Cairo as unrest worsens on the third straight day of rioting.

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25 Years Ago Today

Where were you on this day in 1986?

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Obama Names Open Lesbian Roberta Achtenberg To Civil Rights Commission

Gay rights attorney and former San Francisco Supervisor Roberta Achtenberg has been appointed by the president to the U.S. Commission on Civil Rights.
Achtenberg co-founded the National Center for Lesbian Rights and was elected to the San Francisco Board of Supervisors in 1990. In 1993, she became the first openly gay or lesbian person to be confirmed for a federal appointment when the Senate approved President Bill Clinton's nomination of Achtenberg as assistant secretary of the Department of Housing and Urban Development. She has served on the Cal State Board of Trustees since 2000.
RELATED: In 1995 Achtenberg left the above-mentioned HUD position to unsuccessfully run for mayor of San Francisco. And I voted for her even though her campaign worker totally ruined my bought-that-day suede jacket with a big sticker.

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The Official State Of Utah

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Protect Marriage Maryland Explains "Counterfeit Gay Marriage"

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Lawrence O'Donnell On Utah's State Gun

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Pastor Jim Garlow: This Is What Obama Should Have Said At His SOTU

"I have tragically hastened to destroy the No. 1 preserver of all that is good in society – the family, consisting of a mother and a father. In my need to be politically correct, and my desire to garner more votes from the nuclear family attackers, I was drawn in to their errors and sins of redefining the family. I am ashamed of this. I am sorry. I ask for forgiveness.

"I have helped to demoralize the military that defends us. I ran roughshod over 59% of the US Marines when I forced my social experimentation upon them, coercing them to accept lifestyles as normative, with no thought of troop readiness and cohesion. I was drawn in to the errors, lies and sins of political correctness, at the expense of truth. I am ashamed of this. I am sorry. I ask for forgiveness." - Manhattan Declaration co-author Pastor Jim Garlow, from his reimagining of the State Of The Union Address, were the president not a Marxist Kenyan friend-to-sodomites.

RELATED: In the past Garlow has announced that Satan loves gay marriage, that God passed Prop 8 because he fasted, and that the nation's Christians should pick up a musket and rise against homosexuals.

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Chris Matthews On Sarah Spudnut

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CDC Issues Interim PrEP Guidance

Last last year researchers announced some success in preventing HIV among gay men who were taking a daily dose of the HIV medication Truvada. The concept of warding off infection by pre-dosing with a medication is known as pre-exposure prophylaxis (PrEP.) But alarmed by the prospect for abuse, yesterday the CDC issued some interim PReP guidance as studies continue.
CDC says it wanted to fend off improper use of pre-exposure prophylaxis (or, more catchily, PrEP) as it and other agencies work on more detailed guidelines, which will take “several months.” It says that the drug should only be used in men who have sex with men, since studies in other high-risk groups such as IV drug users are still underway. And it should be used only in high-risk men (with multiple partners or partners from an area with a high prevalence of HIV infection), who are most likely to benefit. Also, the drug isn’t the equivalent of the morning-after pill for HIV; it’s meant to be taken daily. “Support for adherence to the prescribed medication regimen must be a routine component” of PrEP, the CDC says. (In the study, the risk of HIV infection was reduced just 21% in men whose adherence was less than 90%, compared to a 73% lower risk of infection for those with adherence of 90% or better.) And other preventive measures, such as condom use, should continue to be taken.
The wholesale cost of Truvada in the United States is $1000 for a month's supply, a cost unlikely to be covered by insurance when the drug is used as a preventive. In some countries, Truvada costs as little as $12/month.

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HomoQuotable - Alan Chambers

"The leadership of Exodus international and its member ministries are grieved over the tragic murder of Ugandan gay activist David Kato and we send our sincerest condolences to his family & friends. [snip] Exodus International calls on President & Mrs. Yoweri Kaguta Museveni to lead their government into an era of treating all of their neighbors as they would like to be treated. It is abominable that a nation with Christian leadership would endorse or allow anyone to be brutally murdered. In the words of Jesus Himself, those who are without sin cast the first stone. Exodus International condemns the murder of David Kato and calls for justice to be fairly applied, not covered up, when the murderers are caught." - Alan Chambers, president of Exodus International, whose board of directors member Don Schmierer is one of the three American evangelicals blamed for the explosion in anti-gay violence and legislation in Uganda.

(Via - Box Turtle Bulletin)

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Fred Karger Vs. NOM

Fred Karger's Californians Against Hate have rebranded themselves as Rights Equal Rights as Karger takes his battle against NOM to New Hampshire.

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Thursday, January 27, 2011

Rahm Emanuel Back On Ballot

This afternoon the Illinois Supreme Court ruled unanimously that Rahm Emanuel has met the residency requirements to run for mayor of Chicago.
The justices said Emanuel's opponents did not prove that he had given up residency when he served in the Obama administration in Washington. "Given the record before us, it is simply not possible to find clearly erroneous the (Chicago Board of Elections') determination that the objectors failed to prove that the candidate had abandoned his Chicago residence," the court ruled in a unanimous decision. "We therefore reverse the decision of the appellate court and affirm the decision of the circuit court, which confirmed the Board's decision."
Homocon blogger Kevin DuJan must be positively quivering with rage. Heh.

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Obama Condemns Uganda Murder

"I am deeply saddened to learn of the murder of David Kato. In Uganda, David showed tremendous courage in speaking out against hate. He was a powerful advocate for fairness and freedom. The United States mourns his murder, and we recommit ourselves to David's work. At home and around the world, LGBT persons continue to be subjected to unconscionable bullying, discrimination, and hate. [snip]

"LGBT rights are not special rights; they are human rights. My Administration will continue to strongly support human rights and assistance work on behalf of LGBT persons abroad. We do this because we recognize the threat faced by leaders like David Kato, and we share their commitment to advancing freedom, fairness, and equality for all." - President Barack Obama, via White House press release.

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Jes - Awaken

Lovely solo effort from former Motorcycle vocalist Jes Brieden, whom you may recall from their 2003 smash As The Rush Comes.

(Via - Pop In Stereo)

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Bill Donohue: Gay Activism Gives You AIDS

"The man who made the vile video died of AIDS. Had he followed the teachings of the Catholic Church on sexuality, he would be alive today. Instead, he blamed the Church. [snip] It was not the Catholic Church that killed the artist, David Wojnarowicz: it was gay activists, many of whom are in the artistic community. They were the ones who demanded that the bathhouses be kept open, even as their brothers were dying left and right. To exploit this tragedy any longer is sick. Catholicism is the answer, not the problem." - Catholic League president Bill Donohue, complaining that those Jews at the New York Times are exploiting the Smithsonian censorship scandal.

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AFA: Still Rewriting AP Headlines

Right Wing Watch notes that the American Family Association is continuing its practice of rewriting Associated Press headlines on the news feed it publishes on OneNewsNow.

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MY NAME IS AVA: Tea Party Launches Bizarre Animated News Reporter

Christian Newswire has the press release:
Tea Party News Brief, LLC, headquarters in Des Moines, Iowa, is the nation's first nonpartisan news service for the Tea Party Movement. The Tea Party News Brief launches the News Brief Animated News Show to provide weekly policy analyses on the 112th Congress for the Tea Party Movement. This weekly animated news program can be seen on www.teapartynewsbrief.com. This week's episode is "State of the Union Night."

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Clinton Condemns Uganda Murder

Secretary of State Hillary Clinton has issued a lengthy condemnation of the murder of Ugandan LGBT activist David Kato.
We are profoundly saddened by the loss of Ugandan human rights defender David Kato, who was brutally murdered in his home near Kampala yesterday. Our thoughts and prayers are with his family, friends, and colleagues. We urge Ugandan authorities to quickly and thoroughly investigate and prosecute those responsible for this heinous act. [snip] This crime is a reminder of the heroic generosity of the people who advocate for and defend human rights on behalf of the rest of us -- and the sacrifices they make. And as we reflect on his life, it is also an occasion to reaffirm that human rights apply to everyone, no exceptions, and that the human rights of LGBT individuals cannot be separated from the human rights of all persons. Our ambassadors and diplomats around the world will continue to advance a comprehensive human rights policy, and to stand with those who, with their courage, make the world a more just place where every person can live up to his or her God-given potential. We honor David’s legacy by continuing the important work to which he devoted his life.
The Advocate has the complete statement.

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Teabaggers Go Nuts In PA House

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Anti-Gay Activist Denies Hand In Murder: I'm The One Being Bludgeoned

As I noted here, Exodus International board of directors member Don Schmierer was part of Scott Lively's three-day conference in Uganda, where Schmierer advised Ugandans on how to turn their gays kids straight. But don't go blaming David Kato's murder on HIM, he was only trying to help. In fact, HE is the victim here.
On Thursday, Don Schmierer, one of the American evangelicals who visited in Uganda in 2009, said Mr. Kato’s death was “horrible.” “Naturally, I don’t want anyone killed but I don’t feel I had anything to do with that,” said Mr. Schmierer, who added that in Uganda he had focused on parenting skills. He also said that he had been a target of threats himself, recently receiving more than 600 hate mails related to his visit. “I spoke to help people,” he said, “and I’m getting bludgeoned from one end to the other.”

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Thomas More Law Center Issues Nasty Video Against DADT Repeal

Good As You points us to this new clip from the Thomas More Center, which encourages viewers to support GOP Rep. Duncan Hunter's campaign to block the implementation of the repeal of DADT.

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BACKGROUND: Evidence Of Scott Lively's Complicity In The Murder Of David Kato

Yesterday Ugandan LGBT activist David Kato was bludgeoned to death in his home just weeks after his photo was emblazoned on the cover of a local newspaper with the accompanying headline "HANG THEM!" The newspaper articles and Kato's murder came after months of international outrage over Uganda's proposed and still-pending "kill gays" bill, legislation that orders the death penalty for homosexuals in some cases and life imprisonment in others.

The inspiration for Uganda's gay death penalty bill, and surely, Kato's murder, arises from the work of American evangelists, chief among them the repulsive anti-gay activist Scott Lively, whose infamous book The Pink Swastika blames the rise of the Nazi Party and the Holocaust on gay men. One year ago, the New York Times profiled Lively's hand in Uganda's burgeoning pogrom against homosexuals, which began after Lively hosted a three-day meeting attended by thousands of Ugandan police, teachers, and politicians.
The three Americans who spoke at the conference — Scott Lively, a missionary who has written several books against homosexuality, including “7 Steps to Recruit-Proof Your Child”; Caleb Lee Brundidge, a self-described former gay man who leads “healing seminars”; and Don Schmierer, a board member of Exodus International, whose mission is “mobilizing the body of Christ to minister grace and truth to a world impacted by homosexuality” — are now trying to distance themselves from the bill.

“I feel duped,” Mr. Schmierer said, arguing that he had been invited to speak on “parenting skills” for families with gay children. He acknowledged telling audiences how homosexuals could be converted into heterosexuals, but he said he had no idea some Ugandans were contemplating the death penalty for homosexuality. “That’s horrible, absolutely horrible,” he said. “Some of the nicest people I have ever met are gay people.”

Mr. Lively and Mr. Brundidge have made similar remarks in interviews or statements issued by their organizations. But the Ugandan organizers of the conference admit helping draft the bill, and Mr. Lively has acknowledged meeting with Ugandan lawmakers to discuss it. He even wrote on his blog in March that someone had likened their campaign to “a nuclear bomb against the gay agenda in Uganda.” Later, when confronted with criticism, Mr. Lively said he was very disappointed that the legislation was so harsh. Human rights advocates in Uganda say the visit by the three Americans helped set in motion what could be a very dangerous cycle. Gay Ugandans already describe a world of beatings, blackmail, death threats like “Die Sodomite!” scrawled on their homes, constant harassment and even so-called correctional rape.
Yesterday Scott Lively's "nuclear bomb" against Ugandan gays went off in the form of the iron bar which crushed the skull of David Kato. In some countries, it's possible that Lively would be under arrest today. Also complicit in this murder is Peter LaBarbera, who for years has worked to publicize and praise Scott Lively's evil agenda. Then there's Tony Perkins and the Family Research Council, who last year paid lobbyists $25,000 to convince members of Congress to block a planned resolution denouncing Uganda's gay death penalty bill. And let's not forget Pastor Rick Warren, who supported, funded, appeared with, and publicized the work of Uganda's leading anti-gay activist, Pastor Martin Ssempa.

Today we mourn David Kato, a brave LGBT activist who paid the ultimate price in defense of his brothers and sisters. But we've also got start looking at some serious legal remedies to the actions of American anti-gay activists in other countries. Outside of the United States, many legals systems are not so constrained by the American concept of freedom of speech. What can we do to leverage that difference to end this madness? Lawsuits? The Hague?

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Sarah Palin: We Don't Need A Sputnik Moment, We Need Spudnecks

No, I have no clue what a "spudneck" is either.

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Robert F. Kennedy For NY Marriage



RELATED:
A new poll release this morning shows that 56% of New Yorkers now support marriage equality. Freedom To Marry reacts via press release:
Today’s poll is yet another confirmation that a strong majority of New Yorkers believe that loving and committed same-sex couples should share in the freedom to marry. New Yorkers, like all Americans, see their gay neighbors, co-workers, and family members and realize that their commitment and families deserve the same fairness, the same treatment, and the same respect under the law as everyone else’s. The Assembly has passed a freedom to marry bill three times. Governor Cuomo has urged and promised action to end this exclusion. It is indeed time to act. Both chambers should swiftly send a marriage bill to the governor’s desk so that New York can move forward together, as New Yorkers want and deserve.”

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Pastor Sean McDowell: Parents Who Accept Gay Kids Make A "Costly Mistake"

Never heard of this guy before, but he and his father are apparently well known evangelists. Reactions to this clip are here, here, and here.

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Quote Of The Day - Jerzy Buzek

"David Kato was a man that fought for the rights of people to live freely regardless of their sexual orientation in Uganda. David Kato suffered a violent death and I send my condolences to his family. I call for the perpetrators of this crime to be brought to justice. He was a remarkable human rights defender. I regret that Uganda is a country where homosexuality is still considered a criminal act. David Kato's battle was to improve tolerance and encourage tolerance of divergent views of sexuality and defend the rights for lesbians, gays, bisexual, and transgender persons and protect vulnerable minorities." - European Parliament President Jerzy Buzek, responding to yesterday's murder with a renewed call for Uganda to decriminalize homosexuality.

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United States Of Awesome

The follow-up to yesterday's United States Of Shame. (Source)

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Tired Old Queen At The Movies #67

1953's From Here To Eternity.

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Iowa GOP Narrowly Loses Senate Bid To Vote On Same-Sex Marriage Ban

This morning Iowa GOP state Sen. Kent Sorensen called for a suspension of chamber rules in order to force a vote on a constitutional ban on same-sex marriage. His motion was narrowly defeated along party lines.
Sorenson asked all 50 senators to call up Senate Joint Resolution 8, a bill that would amend the Iowa Constitution to specify that marriage between one man and one woman is the only legal union valid or recognized in the state. Senate President Jack Kibbie (D-Emmetsburg) said “no,” but agreed to allow a vote on whether to suspend the rules and override his objection. Twenty-six Democrats voted “no” and 24 Republicans voted “yes.” The motion was defeated. Danny Carroll, chairman of the controversial Christian organization The Family Leader, told supporters in an e-mail Wednesday night that Sorenson was planning to “file numerous amendments and use any other tactic at his disposal” in order to force a vote on same-sex marriage. Senate Majority Leader Mike Gronstal has vowed to never allow such an amendment to come up for debate.
Gronstal: “It’s clearer than ever that Republicans will stop at nothing to take away the constitutional rights of Iowans. I hope that Republicans will join our efforts and focus their energy on helping Iowans recover from the worst national recession since World War II.”

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Sharron Angle Mulls Run For President

Wingnut teabagger loon Sharron Angle says she's thinking about running for president. SRSLY.
Asked if she was planning a run for the White House, Angle, who lost to Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid in a tightly contested race in November, appeared unwilling to close any doors. "I'll just say I have lots of options for the future, and I'm investigating all my options," Angle responded, according to the Des Moines Register, before asking the organizers to "Please, just invite me back."
I'm dreaming of a three-way explosion of crazy at an Angle-Bachmann-Palin debate. Please please please please....

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Tony Perkins Calls On Hawaiians To Rise Up Against Proposed Civil Unions Bill

"Hawaiians are dealing with the same onslaught of bad bills they have become accustomed to in the last several years. A proposal to legalize civil unions, much like the one two years ago, barely passed its first big test in the Senate Judiciary Committee after almost three hours of debate. Like the 2009 fight, this one could hinge on how involved voters and churches are in defeating the legislation. People on both sides of the debate say a pro-marriage rally that drew 10,000 people was the turning point two years ago. Hundreds more showed up at the committee meeting and stayed until 3 a.m. After weeks of church phone calls and emails, the bill's sponsor killed the legislation herself. Let's hope history repeats itself! If you live in the islands, it's time to start making waves on marriage!"- Family Research Council head Tony Perkins, referencing 2009 but conveniently failing to mention that a civil unions bill actually passed in both Hawaiian chambers last year.

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Catpacks?

According to Buzzfeed, the latest silly trend in Brooklyn is the catpack - a meshed backpack for carrying your kitty around town. Sometimes I feel bad that Shelley never gets out of my tiny apartment, but I'm very confident that if I tried this with her, the screaming would be heard from here to Harlem. Maybe these are just for trips to the vet?

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Dan Choi Refuses To Pay Army

Lt. Dan Choi has issued a public letter to the president in which he says he will not pay a $2500 debt the Army claims he owes as a result of being discharged early under DADT. Embiggen the above image for the complete letter.

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China To Create World's Largest City

Chinese urban planners will join nine large cities near Hong Kong into one sprawling 16,000 square mile city which will be 26 times larger than London. With 42 million people within its boundaries.
The new mega-city will cover a large part of China's manufacturing heartland, stretching from Guangzhou to Shenzhen and including Foshan, Dongguan, Zhongshan, Zhuhai, Jiangmen, Huizhou and Zhaoqing. Together, they account for nearly a tenth of the Chinese economy. Over the next six years, around 150 major infrastructure projects will mesh the transport, energy, water and telecommunications networks of the nine cities together, at a cost of some 2 trillion yuan (£190 billion). An express rail line will also connect the hub with nearby Hong Kong.
The project includes 3100 miles of new high-speed rail lines. By the end of the decade, China plans to create even larger mega-cities with populations of 50 - 100 million.

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PhoboQuotable - Imam Abdallah Adhami

"An enormously, overwhelming percentage of people struggle with homosexual feeling because of some form of violent emotional or sexual abuse at some point in their life. Again, not necessarily in their childhood. A small, tiny percentage of people are born with a natural inclination they cannot explain. You find this in the animal kingdom on some level as well." - Imam Abdallah Adhami, the newly-hired senior adviser for the mosque proposed to be built near Ground Zero. Hit the link for video and reactions from David Mixner and Gay City News editor Paul Schindler.

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Snow Closes NYC

NYC Mayor Bloomberg this morning announced the closure of all city offices and made the very rare move of announcing a snow day for public schools after almost two feet of white stuff clobbered the city in the last 24 hours. By the way, thundersnow sounds rilly, rilly weird.
"New York City almost never takes a snow day, but today is one of those rare days," the mayor said in a statement. This storm was the eighth-largest in city history. Central Park received 19 inches of snow overnight, in addition to the four inches that fell on Wednesday. Other totals include 18 inches in Pelham Parkway House in the Bronx; 13 inches in Sheepshead Bay, Brooklyn; 17.3 inches in LaGuardia Airport and 10.3 inches in John F. Kennedy Airport in Queens; and 16 inches in Eltingville, Staten Island. All parking rules have been suspended for Thursday as a result of the storm. As fast-falling snow clogged city streets, the MTA suspended bus service throughout the five boroughs at 12:25 a.m. The MTA's decision came on the heels of numerous reports throughout the city of buses being stuck in the hard-to-navigate snowy conditions.
Some subway lines are running with local service only and bus service is expected to resume in some parts of Queens this morning. With 39" so far, this is now the snowiest January in NYC history. The previous record from 1927 was 27.4 inches. If you're home today, Gothamist has a list of where to go sledding.


[Photo Via]

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Joy Behar On Crazy Eyes' SOTU Response

Behar and her panel have a field day.

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INDIANA: Chick-Fil-A Booted From College Campus Over Anti-Gay Donations

Indiana University's campus in South Bend has removed Chik-Fil-A as a food vendor over reports that the company backs anti-gay hate groups. Chick-Fil-A did not have a physical on-campus South Bend store and only sold meals one day a week.
News of the ban spread quickly, prompting Chick-fil-A's president to release an online statement defending his company. "Providing food to these events or any event is not an endorsement of the mission, political stance or motives of this or any other organization,” said Chick-fil-A President Dan Cathy. “Any suggestion otherwise is just inaccurate." Some IU South Bend students don't see things the same way. "Providing food is equal to donating money,” said IU South Bend junior Erin Rempala. “So you must believe in the cause to donate the food."
Dan Cathy is, of course, lying, as has been extensively documented by Jeremy Hooper at Good As You. Chick-Fil-A still has two full restaurants operating on IU campuses in Indianapolis and Bloomington.

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Rachel Maddow: Tea Party Express Is A Secret GOP-Funded Astroturf Group

And she hands CNN their heads for airing Bachmann's speech.

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Anderson Cooper On Harps Story

"This is a learning moment for everybody."

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Open Thread Thursday

By reader request, tell us your favorite Valentine's Day wins and fails. You've got two weeks to figure something out.

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Wednesday, January 26, 2011

A Match Made In Heaven

Porno Pete and GOProud's Chris Barron have forged a Twitter love affair tonight over their mutual hatred for the "gay left Taliban."

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UGANDA: Gay Activist David Kato Murdered After Outing By Local Paper

Weeks after his face was outed on the cover of a Uganda newspaper, LGBT activist David Kato has been found beaten to death in his home.
"David Kato's death is a tragic loss to the human rights community," said Maria Burnett, senior Africa researcher at Human Rights Watch. "David had faced the increased threats to Ugandan LGBT people bravely and will be sorely missed." Witnesses told police that a man entered Kato's home in Mukono at around 1 p.m. on January 26, 2011, hit him twice in the head and departed in a vehicle. Kato died on his way to Kawolo hospital. Police told Kato's lawyer that they had the registration number of the vehicle and were looking for it. Kato was the advocacy officer for the organization Sexual Minorities Uganda. He had been a leading voice in the fight against the Anti-Homosexuality Bill, which has been before Uganda's parliament since October 15, 2009.
Uganda's "kill gays" bill and the subsequent newspaper articles, where headlines screamed "HANG THEM!" next to photos of Kato and others, followed visits by American evangelicals such as Scott Lively, who encouraged locals to take a "strictly biblical" attitude towards homosexuals. Lively and his American evangelical co-conspirators have the blood of David Kato on their hands. There's no other way to see it. They enabled this murder.

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Press Release Of The Day

My click-tracker tells me that over 1700 of you hit the Harps contact page link I posted at the beginning of the day. It's a tiny victory to be sure, but it's also a message to all the nation's retailers. Nice work, everybody.

UPDATE: Appreciative positive reinforcement would be a nice thing for us to do.

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Pointless, Abused, Faked Terrorism Threat Level System To Be Abolished

Remember in 2009 when former Homeland Security Director Tom Ridge confessed that he'd been pressured to raise the terrorism threat level in order to help Dubya's 2004 campaign? And how that totally worked? Today Homeland Security announced that they are doing away with the color-coded system, effective in March. The new system will only announce known threats to specific locations, so they say.

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