Quote Of The Day - Rep. Jim Langevin

"As the debate about same-sex marriage continues in Rhode Island and in Washington, I have taken time to reflect carefully on my own position. Based on my own experiences and my firm belief that all Americans should be treated equally under the law, I am now convinced that affording full marriage equality rights to same-sex couples is the only fair and responsible approach for both Rhode Island and the nation. If our nation expects to provide equal protection to all, then our civic institutions must reflect that noble goal." - Rep. Jim Langevin (D-RI), announcing his change of heart in a Providence Journal essay titled, "Now IS the time to redefine marriage."

Johnny "Tangerine" Boehner

Glenn Beck Exposes Fisting

Morning View - Fort Lauderdale Beach

High winds and rough surf have the water closed for swimming for the third day since I arrived. Otherwise, the weather is sublime.

HomoQuotable - Christopher Doyle

"Putting 'ex-gay' in quotes suggested that such a sexual orientation is not valid, not recognized or both. But thousands of former homosexuals collectively identify themselves as such. The D.C. Superior Court ruled in 2009 that ex-gays are a protected sexual orientation class in the District. Not all persons who experience same-sex attractions choose to live gay lives. Many of us have voluntarily left a homosexual life through therapeutic work or behavioral choice. I did, and I have been happily married to a woman for nearly five years; we have two children. I no longer experience same-sex attraction and have no desire to return to the homosexual life. Please respect this choice." - Christopher Doyle, board member of Parents & Friends Of "Ex-Gays" (PFOX), in a letter to the Washington Post.

RELATED: You might recall that I had a brief encounter with Doyle in the parking lot of last year's evil NARTH convention, where he was supporting a group that spreads the most repulsive lies about gay people imaginable. But don't you dare put "ex-gay" in quotes.

Log Cabin Head Backs Boehner On DOMA

Chris Matthews rips Log Cabin president R. Clark Cooper over his backing of House Speaker John Boehner's plan to defend DOMA.

BRITAIN: Gay Cricket Star Steve Davies Talks To CNN About Coming Out

That's Gay: Defense Of Marriage Act

One of Bryan's best.

HRC Denounces Boehner's DOMA Plan

The Human Rights Campaign has issued a denouncement of House Speaker John Boehner's vow to force the defense of DOMA. Via press release:

“The decision to mount an all-out defense of DOMA is particularly hypocritical given the Speaker’s contention that the President was distracted from focusing on the economy by DOMA,” said Solmonese. In order to defend the constitutionality of Section 3 of DOMA in court, Congress would likely have to make arguments that could include:

· That gays and lesbians have not faced a history of discrimination
· That one’s sexual orientation is in fact relevant to a person’s ability to contribute to society
· That, contrary to the opinion of experts, sexual orientation is something that can be changed
· That, despite widespread laws such as marriage amendments disadvantaging gays and lesbians, they are politically powerful.
· That the federal government is justified in violating the federalist tradition of leaving marriage and family law to the states

“A far right fringe may be calling for a defense of DOMA, but doing so is sure to turn off independent voters,” said Solmonese. “John Boehner should realize that the world has changed since 1996 and fair-minded Americans won’t like what House Republican leaders have to say when trying to justify federal discrimination against some of a state’s lawful marriages.”

Joe Solmonese adds: "House Republican leadership has now shown they’re more interested in scoring cheap political points on the backs of same-sex couples than tackling real problems."

Afternoon View - Lauderdale Intracoastal

BREAKING: Maryland House Judiciary Advances Marriage Equality Bill 12-10

After fighting off a myriad of poison pill amendments put forward by the GOP, the Maryland House Judiciary Committee has just advanced its marriage equality bill to the full chamber. Equality Maryland sends this press release:

“Marriage provides a critical safety net for families. With this favorable vote from the committee on SB 116, we're one step closer to providing not only the same benefits, but also the respect and dignity to the thousands of gay and lesbian couples in Maryland. From every corner of the state, Marylanders have made it clear that a majority favor marriage equality. We remain cautiously optimistic about the upcoming vote on the House floor. Equality Maryland is counting on every person who supports ending the exclusion of loving same sex couples from marriage to contact their delegates and be counted in this fight to bring equality to the Free State."

JMG reader and openly gay House Delegate Luke Clippinger: "This is another important step on the road to marriage equality. I'm proud to be on the Judiciary Committee so as to be able to cast this vote - I'm pleased to be part of passing this important piece of legislation."

Among the failed GOP ploys were amendments allowing polygamous and incestuous marriages. The full Maryland House vote should take place next week.

Concerned Women Are Concernstipated About 80s Pop Stars Getting Married

Or so it would seem from their bizarre image accompanying this message:

So, just like any other despot, Obama decided unilaterally to make the decision for all of us ignorant Americans who support DOMA, and we should be grateful. Shame on him. And shame on us if we just stand by silently and take it. We should not! We must speak out. Truthfully, we have been too silent for far too long. President Obama and Mr. Holder have been actively working against DOMA and, therefore, against all Americans ever since they took office. Even on the cases where they decided to “defend” DOMA, they were actually undermining its reasoning by abandoning the most effective arguments.

DOJ’s mission statement says it is “...to ensure fair and impartial administration of justice for all Americans.” But President Obama and the attorney general have made a mockery of impartiality. They have chosen to side with an extreme, liberal minority and chose to suppress the rights of the majority of Americans. Simply put, if you support DOMA, this president and his administration view you as the enemy who does not deserve the same protections other Americans enjoy. We are on our own.

Teabagger Rep. Vicky Harzler (R-MO) Plans Bill Mandating Enforcement Of DOMA

Even though there's no current plan to stop enforcing DOMA, the lying teabaggers are acting like there is. Right Wing Watch tips us to this announcement on the Eagle Forum blog by Tea Party-backed freshman GOP Rep. Vicky Hartzler:

Congresswoman Vicky Hartzler (MO-4) is the lead sponsor of legislation calling on President Obama and his Department of Justice to respect the law and enforce the Defense of Marriage Act (DOMA). “President Obama’s decision to order his Justice Department to stop defending DOMA is not a surprise but it is disappointing,” Hartzler said. “Once we start going down the road of selectively enforcing our laws we are headed for chaos. President Obama took an oath to uphold the laws of the United States and he is breaking his word to the American people.” “The 1996 Defense of Marriage Act was enacted through large majority votes in both the House and Senate and was signed into law by President Clinton,” added Hartzler. “President Obama is subverting the will of the representatives of the people. The good citizens of the 4th Congressional District are expected to follow the law and President Obama should not put himself above the law."

Hartzler is the former spokesbigot for the Missouri Coalition to Defend Marriage.

Anthony Weiner: Justice Clarence Thomas Must Recuse Himself On Health Care Fight

Watch our hero hand the Fox anchor her head.

MARYLAND: House Judiciary Committee Set To Vote On Marriage Bill

Openly gay Maryland House Delegate Luke Clippinger emails us that the Judiciary Committee is now discussing potential amendments to the marriage equality bill and should vote on it this afternoon. Stand by...

Trump: Gays Deserve No Rights At All

We already knew Donald Trump opposes same-sex marriage, but now we learn just how far his animus towards gay people extends.

After indicating to the Des Moines Register that he will compete in next year's Iowa caucus should he decide to seek office, Trump was questioned on his stance concerning same sex marriages. "They should not be able to marry," the Celebrity Apprentice star asserted. Trump also admitted that he hasn't developed a "fully formed" opinion on extending medical and civil benefits to gay couples, but he added: "As of this moment, I would say no and no." The TV personality has suggested that he will announce his final decision on whether to launch a presidential bid in the coming months.

GOProud will be so pleased.

Kylie's Mardi Gras Wish: No Homophobia

(Via - Advocate)

OHIO: Drunk Driving Catholic Priest Offers Blowjobs To Arresting Officers

CALIFORNIA: Teabaggers Heckle And Protest Muslim Charity Event

The UK Guardian reports:

As the video shows, the rhetoric of the protesters became increasingly venomous toward the families and children who came to attend the ICNA Relief fundraising dinner. Protesters shouted invective statements such as "Go home terrorist," "Muhammad is a pervert, Muhammad is a child molester," "Go home and beat your wife, she needs a good beating," at the event-goers.

A local city councilwoman spoke to the protesters: "I know quite a few Marines who would be very happy to help these terrorists to an early meeting in paradise."

(Tipped by JMG reader Russ)

Alzheimer's Patient Wants To Marry While He Still Recognizes His Partner

Californians Ed Watson and Derence Kernik have been together for 40 years, but Ed has been been diagnosed with Alzheimer's and the couple is desperately hoping to marry while he can still recognize Derence. In a totally fucking related development, today the American Family Association denounced attempts to have the stay on Prop 8 lifted, using the headline, "Patience Is Not A Homosexual Virtue."

OHIO: Anti-Union Bill Has Hidden Anti-Gay Provision Against Partner Benefits

On Wednesday the Ohio state Senate narrowly voted to strip state employee unions of most of their collective bargaining rights. And buried in that bill is a clearly unrelated provision that prevents the state from for offering any benefits to the partners of gay employees. Think Progress has the text:

Sec. 3101.01 of S.B. 5: … A marriage may only be entered into by one man and one woman. Any marriage between persons of the same sex is against the strong public policy of this state. Any marriage between persons of the same sex shall have no legal force or effect in this state and, if attempted to be entered into in this state, is void ab initio and shall not be recognized by this state. The recognition or extension by the state of the specific statutory benefits of a legal marriage to non-marital relationships between persons of the same sex or different sexes is against the strong public policy of this state. Any public act, record or judicial proceeding of this state, as defined in section 9.82 of the Revised Code, that extends the specific statutory benefits of legal marriage to non-marital relationships between persons of the same sex or different sexes is void.

Same-sex marriage has been banned in Ohio since 2004, so it's unclear exactly what the aim of the above provision may be.

Father Of Slain Soldier Predicts Gunfire At Future Westboro Baptist Pickets

Bereaved father Albert Snyder, who lost his Supreme Court battle with Westboro Baptist Church earlier this week, says that somebody is inevitably going to open fire on the Phelps family.

"Something is going to happen," Albert Snyder told CNN Thursday. "Somebody is going to get hurt." "You have too many soldiers and Marines coming back with post-traumatic stress syndrome, and they (the Westboro protesters) are going to go to the wrong funeral and the guns are going to go off." "And when it does," Snyder said. "I just hope it doesn't hit the mother that's burying her child or the little girl that's burying her father or mother. It's inevitable." Albert Snyder again slammed the high court justices for not having "the common sense that God gave a goat." "I just can't believe that there was no common sense used in this decision," Snyder said.

Snyder must now pay $116K in court costs to the Phelps.

America's Bedrock

MARYLAND: House Marriage Waffler Sam Arora Now Says He'll Vote Yes

Maryland House Delegate Sam Arora, who yesterday caused quite the furor over indications that he was going to vote against the marriage bill he cosponsored, now says he's back on board.

I have heard from constituents, friends, and advocates from across the spectrum of views and have thought about the issue of same-sex marriage extensively. I understand their concern—this is a very serious issue, and one that many people feel passionately about. As the vote drew nearer, I wrestled with this issue in a way I never had before, which led me to realize that I had some concerns about the bill. While I personally believe that Maryland should extend civil rights to same-sex couples through civil unions, I have come to the conclusion that this issue has such impact on the people of Maryland that they should have a direct say. I will vote to send the bill to the floor because it deserves an up-or-down vote. On the floor, I will vote to send the bill to the governor so that Marylanders can ultimately decide this issue at the polls. I think that is appropriate.

Yesterday Arora was accused of deleting a January 25th pro-marriage tweet from his Twitter history as sites like AmericaBlog went ballistic. Looks like the pressure worked.

Tony Perkins: Gay Rights Cost Christians Their Freedom To Be Bigots

"In perhaps the greatest irony, this couple was trying to give children what homosexuals cannot--a loving mother and father. But Europe is so enslaved to 'tolerance' that it's willing to leave children homeless to make a point. Meanwhile, believers across the U.K. are stunned. 'Christianity isn't dying,' wrote one. 'It's being eradicated.' And if Americans think the same thing can't happen here, they're mistaken. Every special 'right' or concession we make to the homosexual community, Christians pay for in freedom. That's a major reason why Catholic Charities had to end its adoption program in Massachusetts and Washington, D.C. They never wanted to be in the position of choosing between their faith and their freedom." - Family Research Council spokesbigot Tony Perkins, who says that last week's British court ruling against anti-gay foster parents is a harbinger of what's to come for America.

Crazy Eyes: I Found $105B In Secret Obamacare Funding

"This is legislative fraud that's been perpetrated by the president, Nancy Pelosi, and Harry Reid."

Quote Of The Day - Timothy Dolan

"The Administration’s current position is not only a grave threat to marriage, but to religious liberty and the integrity of our democracy as well. Our nation and government have the duty to recognize and protect marriage, not tamper with and redefine it, nor to caricature the deeply held beliefs of so many citizens as 'discrimination.' On behalf of the United States Conference of Catholic Bishops, I express my deep disappointment over the Administration’s recent decision. I have written of these concerns to the President in separate correspondence, and I pray that he and the Department of Justice may yet make the right choice to carry out their constitutional responsibility, defending the irreplaceable institution of marriage, and in so doing protect the future generations of our children." - Archbishop of New York Timothy Dolan.

Harding University President: Gay Student Website Is Offensive & Degrading

Morning View - Fort Lauderdale Beach

The "no swimming" red flags are out due to the high winds. I'm told the other flag means "dangerous marine life." Jellyfish, I presume, because the sharks are always there.

Wingnut GOP Rep. Steve King Plans To Cut DOJ Budget Over DOMA

Virulent homophobe Rep. Steve King (R-IA) says he will introduce a budget amendment that will cut the Department of Justice's funding by the amount it would have spent to defend DOMA.

"What I intend to do, and there are other solutions that are offered, and I believe that the Speaker is focused on this, as well ... is to offer an amendment on an appropriations bill that would cut the funding to the Department of Justice in an amount yet to be determined that would be equivalent to that amount that they would otherwise use to defend the Defense of Marriage Act," King said Tuesday.

Completely ridiculous grandstanding, of course.

MARYLAND: Former Marriage Backer Now Wants Bill Changed To Civil Unions

Maryland Delegate Tiffany Alston, one of the key needed votes on the House judiciary committee, is backing away from her promise to support marriage equality. Now Alston says civil unions are the way to go.

Delegate Tiffany Alston, D-Prince George's, delayed a vote on the bill Tuesday morning by skipping the session in protest. On Thursday, she said she is researching an amendment that would better reflect a separation between church and state by changing the bill to be about civil unions. "I have a decision that I have to make that's going to satisfy my constituency as well as my conscience," Alston says. Alston says the change she is considering would allow Maryland residents to get civil union licenses if they wished to be married, whether they are heterosexual or homosexual. She says she believes the change would be "a good balance," but does not know if it would receive support from other committee members.

Meanwhile over on AmericaBlog, John Aravosis is eviscerating Delegate Sam Arora, one of the marriage bill's sponsors who is also now walking back his support. Aravosis is calling on donors to Arora's campaign to demand their money back.

Thrice-Married Serial Adulterer Arranged $200K To Protect Sanctity Of Marriage

According to the Los Angeles Times, Newt Gingrich served as middleman for an anonymous donor who gave $200,000 in "seed money" to fund the successful campaign to oust three Iowa state Supreme Court justices.

This year, several potential presidential candidates are vying for attention among religious conservatives. But only Gingrich was instrumental in the most heralded event of recent Christian political activism: The effort last fall to remove the Iowa judges. "It wouldn't have happened without Newt," said David Lane, executive director of Iowa for Freedom, the organization that led the campaign. "Newt provided strategic advice and arranged the initial seed money, about $200,000, which is what got everything started." The money came from an anonymous donor whose contribution was arranged by Gingrich, Lane said. Robert L. Vander Plaats, chief spokesman for the judicial campaign, said the former speaker provided key strategic advice. He said Gingrich had won over pastors in the state with his "open and transparent" approach.

Newt Gingrich would like to remind everybody that that marriage is between one man and one woman whom you abandon riddled with cancer on her hospital bed while you fuck the shit out of your mistress whom you later marry and cheat on with a third woman while screaming with Godly moral outrage about the infidelities of the president.

TRAILER: Black Party 2011

The 32nd annual Black Party (NSFW) rolls into Manhattan's Roseland Ballroom on March 19th. Here's the trailer (NSFW) for this year's party, where the theme appears to be human cloning. Sexy human cloning.

Quote Of The Day - Maggie Gallagher

"The fringe cult calling itself Westboro Baptist (a small congregation consisting of close, and possibly incestuous, relatives of Fred Phelps, who calls himself a pastor) first became famous by protesting gay rights events with revolting signs suggesting that God hates gay people. (They used another offensive terms as well). These ugly signs proved irresistible to reporters from the New York Times etc., who like to pretend this sentiment captures religious conservatives' views generally. [snip]

"Only Justice Sam Alito had the common sense to recognize that somewhere in our great Constitution, there has to be a way to let people bury their dead, without becoming the objects of other people's monomaniacal desire to disrupt their grieving for publicity purposes." - Maggie Gallagher, whose supporters never use offensive terms or signs like Westboro.

Atomic Tom - Don't You Want Me

When did Topher Grace get so hawt? By the way, the original Don't You Want Me came out thirty freakin' years ago. Now help Paw-Paw to his rocker.

NEW HAMPSHIRE: House Committee Tables Marriage Repeal Bill For 2011

We won't have to worry about marriage repeal in New Hampshire for the rest of the year.

A House committee voted today to take repeal of the state’s same-sex marriage off the table this year. The 15-0 vote of the House Judiciary Committee effectively means two bills repealing the 2009 law won’t return to the full House of Representatives until early next year.There was no debate in committee about the move. House Majority Leader D. J. Bettencourt, R-Salem, had decided that this divisive issue would distract from GOP priorities to adopt a balanced budget, change the education funding constitutional amendment and alter pension programs. The committee decided to retain the bills (HB 343 and HB 437), which keeps them in its custody until early in 2012 without a further vote of the Legislature. The panel unanimously recommended killing a third bill (HB 569) that would have replaced marriage with domestic unions for all adult partners, be they heterosexual or homosexual couples.

The haters are gonna be furious! Hah.

It's A Tablet World

"Just another 'solution' in search of a need."

(Via - Andrew Sullivan)

Morning View - Fort Lauderdale Beach

I'll be in Fort Lauderdale for the next five days to hang with Father Tony and do some oceanside blogging from his high-rise balcony in between trips to South Beach for Winter Party events. Tough life.

INXS - Don't Change

Yup, same song.

Another Classic Rant From Sen. Sanders

It's a pity no one was there to hear him.

HomoQuotable - Jim Burroway

"This [Westboro] ruling is important for many reasons. First and foremost, it preserves the primacy of free speech in America, which benefits us all. But from a parochial pro-LGBT narrative, it’s equally important to note that it proves the lie to the multiple instances when anti-gay activists falsely claimed that advances in LGBT equality and protections — whether they come in the form of marriage equality or hate crimes protections — will result in the infringement of religious and speech rights. They never have and, if this ruling is any indication, it reaffirms the fact that they never will. So the next time someone claims that marriage equality will result in pastors being prosecuted for hate speech, make a note of it: Snyder v Phelps." - Jim Burroway, writing for Box Turtle Bulletin.

New Book: Germans Invented Gay Rights

According to a coming book by historian Robert Beachy, the genesis of the modern gay rights movement came in 19th century Germany.

Modern conceptions of homosexuality began, ironically, with an anti-sodomy law. When the German empire was unified in 1871, the Imperial Criminal Code included a law prohibiting sexual penetration of one man by another. Questions about what types of activity should fall under the law spurred a sustained public inquiry into the nature of same-sex eroticism and sexuality in general. [snip] This new view of same-sex love was pioneered by German doctors who published early case studies of homosexuals in the 1850s. German psychiatrist Richard von Krafft-Ebing released the first edition of his hugely influential Psychopathia Sexualis in 1886, which included multiple case studies of homosexuals that supported this new position. Through his work, Krafft-Ebing became a vocal opponent of the German anti-sodomy law, stating that homosexuality "should not be viewed as a psychic depravity or even sickness."

Beachy claims the world's first gay rights group, the Wissenschaftlich-humanitäres Komitee (Scientific-Humanitarian Committee) came into being at that time to gather petition signatures to repeal the anti-sodomy law. His book, The German Invention Of Homosexuality, is due out next year.

Canadians Are In Better Shape

Researchers at the CDC say obesity is far less prevalent in Canada than in the United States. And they don't really know why.

About 24 percent of Canadians are obese compared to more than 34 percent of Americans, according to the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention study released Wednesday. Researchers looked at height and weight data taken in surveys in both countries during 2007-09. The two countries have different racial demographics. The United States has more black and Hispanic people, and both have higher rates of obesity. But even looking solely at white people, there was still a big difference — a 26 percent obesity rate in Canada compared to 33 percent in the United States. It's not clear why that is, said study-co-author Cynthia Ogden, an epidemiologist with the CDC's National Center for Health Statistics. "We share this border and many other things. It's a question we need to investigate more," said Ogden, whose co-authors included a researcher at Statistics Canada.

Interestingly, the difference in childhood obesity rates in the two nations is "statistically insignificant."

Eurovision 2011: Ireland's Jedward

Hair inspired by the late John Sex? They're identical twins.

ARKANSAS: Christian College Kids Launch Gay Zine, School Blocks Its Website

Yesterday a group of students at Harding University in Arkansas launched an online zine meant to "give voice to the experiences of gay and lesbians" on campus, but the school immediately blocked the site from campus by listing it on its porn filter. Read the students' stirring manifesto, The State Of The Gay.

RELATED: Harding alum and JMG reader Brett blogs his reaction.

Facebook Owners

This list is mostly notable to us for the presence of whackadoodle billionaire Peter Thiel, the GOProud money man who hosted Ann Coulter in his NYC home for their Homocon 2010 fundraiser. Thiel wants to create floating oceanic city-states which are exempt to annoying trifles like taxes and international banking rules. A libertarian's paradise! At sea! Forever!

(Source)

Sydney Mardi Gras: Lifeguard Rehearsal

Now Back To Your Diversions...

Trump: I Offered To Build The White House A $100M Ballroom And They Said No

Yesterday prospective 2012 GOP presidential candidate Donald Trump told Rush Limbaugh that he offered $100M to the Obama administration to build a "magnificent White House ballroom" instead of those "rotten tents" put up on the South Lawn for special occasions. Trump claims White House officials blew him off because he's a Republican.

Huckabee: Obama Knows Madrassas, The Rest Of Us Know Rotary & Boy Scouts

"And I have said many times, publicly, that I do think he has a different worldview and I think it is, in part, molded out of a very different experience. Most of us grew up going to Boy Scout meetings and, you know, our communities were filled with Rotary Clubs, not madrassas. - Mike Huckabee, following up on his Monday claim that the president grew up in Kenya.

Blücher!

The lawyer for a Connecticut man who was arrested for fisting a female horse (SRSLY) is asking the court to show his client lenience because he's a devout Christian without a previous criminal record.

“Mr. Wegiel has never been arrested for any crime before this, and I think he is eligible,” Crozier said. Crozier said Wegiel denies abusing the horse. Crozier said Wegiel is a “decent human being,” who has been “churchgoing all his life.” Crozier said he has dozens of letters from people who wrote in support of Wegiel, such as friends and fellow parishioners. Wegiel is due back in court March 11, when a judge will decide if he should be allowed into the program. It is for first-time offenders, and it is generally not permitted in serious cases. Christine Flannery of Shelton, whose family owns three horses, including Indiana, which Wegiel is accused of abusing, attended the court proceeding. Afterward, she said she objects to Wegiel being allowed into the program. “It would be a slap on the wrist,” Flannery said. “He deserves more punishment.”

Police were called when Flannery found Wegiel with "his hand and arm inside the horse's vagina." Wegiel says that was totally an accident. The above-linked story observes that the two male horses in the corral were not touched. Cuz that'd be gay, dude.

Rep. Trent Franks (R-AZ) Calls For Obama's Impeachment Over DOMA

RELATED: Before he was a member of Congress, Franks was the founder of the Arizona Family Research Institute, an offshoot of Focus On The Family. He later chaired Arizonans For Common Sense (anti-abortion) and Arizonans For An Empowered Future (school vouchers). Shortly after the Giffords shooting, he can out against a ban in high-capacity gun clips.

Caption This

(Source)

MARYLAND: Marriage Bill Back On Track?

After two days of delays and some minor panic due to two wayward Democrats, marriage equality backers in Maryland now think the bill will advance out of the House judiciary committee tomorrow. But it will be a squeaker.

Delegates Tiffany Alston, Prince George’s County Democrat, and Jill Carter, Baltimore city Democrat, said Wednesday that they are ready to cast votes on the bill, which is in House’s 22-member Judiciary Committee. Mrs. Alston said she missed the scheduled vote Tuesday morning because she needed more time to consider the issue. Mrs. Carter said she wanted to “leverage” her vote to bring attention to proposed state budget cuts to Baltimore city education and to a bill on child custody and welfare that she is sponsoring. Committee members think Mrs. Alston and Mrs. Carter would cast the 11th and 12th votes needed to advance the bill to the House floor.

One of the bill's backers says that if the vote doesn't happen by Thursday afternoon, "you can write the obituary."

Sen. Daniel Akaka (D-HI) To Retire

Sen. Daniel Akaka (D-HI) announced tonight that he will not run for reelection in 2012, making him the fifth Senate Democrat to declare their retirement at the end of the current term. Akaka was first appointed to the Senate in 1990 after Sen. Spark Matsunaga died of prostate cancer.

After months of thinking about my political future, I am announcing today that I have decided not to run for re-election in 2012. As many of you can imagine, it was a very difficult decision for me. However, I feel that the end of this Congress is the right time for me to step aside. It has been a great honor and privilege to serve the people of Hawaii. In 2006, the people of Hawaii gave me an opportunity to continue my service in the United States Senate and I fully intend to serve the last two years of my term in office.

I guess it's time for another look at the below worrisome map. Democrats have 23 Senate seats up for election in 2012, the GOP has only ten.

NOM's Maryland Mailers

The Washington Blade has the story.

Arch Homophobe Sally Kern Rides The Waambulance In New Book

Oklahoma state GOP Rep. Sally "Gays Are Worse Than Terrorists" Kern has self-published a book about her horrible treatment at the hands of those awful, awful homofascists. From the Amazon description of The Stoning Of Sally Kern:

In January 2008, the pastor’s wife and former high school teacher gave a speech to a Republican club in Oklahoma City explaining that the founding fathers believed Christian principles would lead to a civilized society, individual self-government, good citizens, the elevation of learning, and a cohesive value system. While explaining the fifth benefit, a cohesive value system, she told of a group of wealthy homosexual activists who threatened the nation’s moral fabric by attempting to unseat seventy conservative politicians who opposed their agenda. Clips from the speech later were posted on YouTube, generating more than 2 million hits and leading to what she describes as a media “stoning.” That didn’t stop her from winning re-election or from continuing her calls for America to return to the conservative principles that made it great. In this book she warns that there is danger ahead if social conservatives don’t preserve the nation’s foundations of morality, truth, and tolerance. She issues a cry for conservatives to stand for their freedom now before they no longer have the right to do so.

Kern's book has already been tagged with some fun labels. Add your own reviews.

(Via - Good As You)

Afternoon View - 70th & Second

The MTA just installed eight double-stacked construction trailers at the end of my block, meaning shit's about get real for our section of the coming Second Avenue subway. The street has already been torn up here for about three years and at least a dozen shops have gone under within a block of my corner. But hey, I'll have a stop right there in...2017. Maybe.

Living Without Religion

A new campaign from the Center For Inquiry.

(Via - Atheist Media Blog)

Steve Jobs Unveils iPad 2

Fox News Suspends Gingrich And Santorum Over 2012 Presidential Plans

Fox News has suspended the contracts of paid commentators Newt Gingrich and Rick "Frothy Mix" Santorum over the pair's plans to run for the GOP 2012 presidential nomination.

Dianne Brandi, the network's executive vice president of legal and business affairs, said in an interview that the channel made the move because Gingrich aides told Fox News executives that the former House speaker is stepping up his exploration of a presidential bid. While Gingrich is not expected to announce that he is forming a federal exploratory committee this week, he is expected to say in Georgia on Thursday that he is meeting with advisors to explore seeking the 2012 Republican presidential nomination, a Gingrich aide said. Santorum, a former senator from Pennsylvania, has indicated that he plans to participate in Republican primary debates, Brandi said, "so that leads us to believe he is seriously considering running." Brandi said the network acted out of journalistic principle. "We can't have Speaker Gingrich on our payroll while he is in the midst of an exploratory committee to see if he's going to run for office," she said. "It's a clear conflict."

Fox said they'll deal with Sarah Palin and Mike Huckabee if and when either of them forms an exploratory committee for 2012.

Ken Mehlman Speaks To GOProud

Just posted to GOProud's YouTube channel is this clip of the repulsive Ken Mehlman speaking at Saturday's fundraiser in the DC home of former Cheney staffer Mary Matalin. Mehlman: "We must follow the tradition of what GOProud is doing, which is to say, 'We will define conservatism by what your mind tells you, not by arbitrary characteristics that you were born with that you can't help."

Eurovision 2011: Estonia's Getter Jaani

First time I've seen a magic trick in one of these clips.

Sarah Palin On Westboro Ruling

Perkins: Friends Don't Let Friends Be Gay

"The biggest trophy that gay activists now seek is the redefinition of marriage. Currently, only five states allow same-sex marriages. How can a team leading 45-5 be losing? Where the people have decided, 31 out of 31 states have upheld marriage as a male-female union. A 31-game winning streak rarely signals a losing season.

"If family members saw that I engaged in behavior that put my physical health at risk, I would expect them to warn me. If my closest friends believed I was in a harmful relationship, I would want them to help me escape it. If I were falling into sin, I would want other Christians to call me to repentance. We will continue to speak the truth (even hard truths) with love (sometimes tough love). But we will not be silent." - Family Research Council spokesbigot Tony Perkins, in a letter published by USA Today.

NOM Appeals Maine Disclosure Ruling

As we expected, NOM is refusing to comply with last week's ruling by a federal judge that it must disclose the names of the people who funded its successful campaign to repeal same-sex marriage in Maine. Today they kicked their appeal upstairs to the First Circuit Court, their last stop before SCOTUS.

Lawyers for the National Organization for Marriage filed their notice of appeal with the 1st U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals in Boston, which already is considering another constitutional challenge of Maine's campaign finance law by the Virginia-based organization. The National Organization for Marriage, or NOM, sued after the state ethics commission found that it could be required to disclose the identities of its donors. Last month, U.S. District Judge D. Brock Hornby granted a summary judgment upholding Maine's campaign disclosure laws as they pertain to ballot committees. Maine law says groups that raise or spend more than $5,000 to influence elections must register with the state and disclose their donors. NOM donated $1.9 million to Stand for Marriage Maine, a political action committee that helped repeal Maine's same sex marriage law.

Hansen & Tornero - DOMA

"I'm not the world's most sensitive guy, but it does me good to see conservatives whine over DOMA. D-D-D-DOMA." Sung from the president's perspective with a clever reference to death panels thrown in. I bet the Kinks would approve.

JAMAICA: Police Beat Patrons In Bar Raid

Last week Jamaican police raided a Montego Bay gay bar, severely attacking its patrons. Rex Wockner reports at Bay Windows:

Around 20 officers kicked in doors, shouted anti-gay slurs, beat and pistol-whipped patrons, and made everyone leave, J-FLAG said. As the customers fled, patrons of nearby straight clubs pelted them with bottles and rocks, J-FLAG said. Ten of the raid’s victims sought medical treatment for injuries sustained in the attack, according to J-FLAG. There was a similar raid in early February at a gay club in Kingston, the capital. Officials have provided no explanation for either incident.

Following the raid, local LGBT activist Maurice Tomlinson received an emailed death threat which he forwarded to police "in case anything happens to me."

Russell Simmons For New York Marriage

WISCONSIN: State GOP Senator Calls Union Protesters "Smelly Slobs"

NEW YORK CITY: National Gay & Lesbian Task Force Joins Battle Against Walmart

As I've reported here for months, Walmart is engaged in a pitched battle with unions and city leaders in their attempt to bring an outlet to New York City. Today the National Gay & Lesbian Task Force came out against the retail giant.

“With the expansion of Wal-Mart stores comes the expansion of antiquated employment policies,” the Task Force said in a statement, “that provide little to no protections for, and at times even hostility toward, their LGBT employees.” The Task Force criticized Wal-Mart for denying employee benefits to same sex-partners and for failing to prohibit discrimination based on gender identify. By comparison, the group said two other chain stores with a strong presence in New York, Costco and Walgreens, did much better. “It may be a local debate for New York City, but Wal-Mart is a largest private employer in country,” said Rea Carey, the executive director of the Task Force. “To have Wal-Mart as a substantial employer there, and an employer that lacks these basic protections, then a lot of people who need work, who seek work, simply won’t feel comfortable.”

Walmart contends that it does treat its gay staffers fairly and points to the existence of its long-running LGBT employees group.

PhoboQuotable - NC GOP Pol Bill James

"The purpose is not just to prevent Massachusetts people coming down. It's also to put a big letter of shame on the behavior. We don't want them here. We don't want them marrying. If you're going to do it in San Francisco, it's your own business. Bet it will pass with over 60 percent. The public in my opinion knows the difference between perversity and diversity." - Mecklinburg County Commissioner Bill James, predicting easy passage of North Carolina's pending constitutional amendment banning same-sex marriage.

James has a long track record of outrageously homophobic statements, including his regularly-spouted claim that gays are "sexual predators" who are "7 to 11 times more likely to molest children." In December 2009 he mocked the AIDS-related death of a fellow legislator's child, saying to her, "You son was a HOMO? Really?" You can contact him here.

Same-sex marriage has long been banned in North Carolina by state statute, but a constitutional amendment has been swatted down for almost a decade by a Democrat majority legislature. Last year the GOP swept into power in both state chambers.

Supreme Court OK's Westboro Protests

The Supreme Court today ruled 8-1 to overturn a $5M judgment against Westboro Baptist Church, saying that the First Amendment protects their right to picket the funerals of military members. Chief Justice John Roberts wrote: "Speech is powerful. It can stir people to action, move them to tears of both joy and sorrow, and– as it did here– inflict great pain. On the facts before us, we cannot react to that pain by punishing the speaker."

KENTUCKY: State GOP Rep Wants To Legalize Bullying By Christian Students

Tea Party-backed Kentucky state GOP Rep. Mike Harmon wants to make it legal for Christian students to bully gay kids about their sexuality. And he's filed an amendment to a pending anti-bullying bill that says so.

Harmon has filed an amendment that would allow students to condemn other students' sexual preferences as long as that expression of a religious belief does not include physical harm or damaging property. "If someone, just in conversation, said, 'You know, I think homosexuality is a sin,' well we don't want that child to be bullied because they have a certain moral or religious belief," said Harmon, "And we don't want them, certainly don't want them to be labeled a bully just because they have that particular belief."

The Democrat who sponsored the bill responds: "I would ask Mike Harmon, 'What would Jesus do?' Would He bully people based on religion? I don't think so."

Quote Of The Day - Sen. Kirsten Gillibrand

"Dear Mr. Speaker, In a letter to you last week, the Attorney General advised that the Administration has concluded that Section 3 of the Defense of Marriage Act (DOMA) is unconstitutional and therefore will cease to defend the statute in pending litigation. It is in the best interests of taxpayers and the constitution for you to refrain from appointing special counsel to defend this law. A decision to appoint special counsel would be an unnecessary cost to taxpayers, and would detract from our shared goal of cutting wasteful spending and creating jobs.

"The executive branch’s responsibility to defend federal laws is not absolute, particularly in instances such as the present case, where the federal law is in direct conflict with the confines of the Constitution. At this critical economic juncture in our nation’s history, it is imperative that we as legislators do not devote resources to defending an antiquated and unconstitutional law."- Sen. Kirsten Gillibrand, in a letter sent today to House Speaker John Boehner.

Iran Threatens Olympic Boycott Over Logo

Iran says that the logo for the 2012 London Olympics secretly spells out the word "Zion." And if the Brits don't change it, they're going to boycott.

The logo, a jagged representation of the year 2012, has been said by its critics to resemble many things, from a swastika to a sexual act, but the Iranian government argues it represents a veiled pro-Israeli conspiracy. In a formal complaint to the International Olympic Committee, Tehran has called for the graphic to be replaced and its designers "confronted", warning that Iranian athletes might otherwise be ordered to stay away from the London Games. According to the state-backed Iranian Students News Agency, which is frequently used to convey official pronouncements, the letter says: "As internet documents have proved, using the word Zion in the logo of the 2012 Olympic Games is a disgracing action and against the Olympics' valuable mottos. "There is no doubt that negligence of the issue from your side may affect the presence of some countries in the Games, especially Iran which abides by commitment to the values and principles."

Nobody knows what "internal document" Iran is talking about. The logo conspiracy theory has been floating around on YouTube for months.

Family Research Council Files FOIA Request Over DOMA/Prop 8 Connection

The Family Research Council is convinced that the Obama administration "conspired" with Ted Olson and AFER over the same-day timing of last week's announcements on DOMA and Proposition 8. Yesterday they filed a Freedom of Information Act request to prove it. Here's Tony Perkins' letter to the feds.

"Less than three hours after Attorney General Holder's announcement, litigants seeking to strike down California's traditional marriage definition enacted by Proposition 8 filed a 'Motion to Vacate Stay' in the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Ninth Circuit. On pages 7 of 23 and 10 of 23 the Motion cited to and quoted from the Attorney General Letter.

"As the president of the Family Research Council (FRC), an organization that has filed amicus briefs defending both Proposition 8 and DoMA, I am troubled by the lightning-fast integration of concepts and actual language from the Attorney General Letter into the Motion to Vacate Stay. Let me repeat: the Motion was filed within two-and-one-half hours of Attorney General's press conference. Consequently, I am deeply concerned that officials at the Department of Justice were collaborating with the litigants in the Proposition 8 case. Even the appearance of collusion between the Department of Justice and litigants is highly damaging to the rule of law in America."

That Fox Reporter That Got "Punched"?

Never happened.

Index Of Potential Unrest

(Source)

Sassy Gay Friend - Great Expectations

Gillibrand Launches RepealDOMA.com

Just launched by Sen. Kirsten Gillibrand (D-NY). Via Huffington Post:

We must repeal this discriminatory law. There is no reason same-sex couples should be denied the same rights that my husband and I and so many other straight Americans enjoy. For me it comes down to the very simple principles that every American should be able to marry the person they love, and that discrimination against LGBT Americans is unconstitutional and wrong. The law as it currently stands denies federal benefits to thousands of legally married couples -- more than 1,100 federal rights and privileges enjoyed by straight couples, including hospital visitation, inheritance and some health care benefits. It discourages states from recognizing these legal marriages and it denies millions more Americans the right to marry the person they love. This is wrong.

Gillibrand has also pledged to cosponsor Feinstein's coming repeal bill.

Sarah Palins Slams Obama On DOMA

"I have always believed that marriage is between one man and one woman. Like the majority of Americans, I support the Defense of Marriage Act and find it appalling that the Obama administration decided not to defend this federal law which was enacted with broad bipartisan support and signed into law by a Democrat president. It’s appalling, but not surprising that the President has flip-flopped on yet another issue from his stated position as a candidate to a seemingly opposite position once he was elected." - Sarah Palin, as triumphantly quoted today by Maggie Gallagher.

Union Workers Defend Their Rights As GOP Goose-Steps For Tea Party Billionaires

CALIFORNIA: Attorney General Kamala Harris Demands Lift In Prop 8 Stay

California Attorney General Kamala Harris today filed a request with the Ninth Circuit Court of Appeals, demanding that they lift their stay on the overturn of Proposition 8 and immediately allow the resumption of same-sex marriages.

Attorney General Harris said it is unlikely that an appeal will succeed in overturning Judge Walker's ruling that Proposition 8 is unconstitutional. The appeal's likelihood of success has been substantially diminished, Attorney General Harris said, "both by the United States Attorney General's conclusion that classifications based on sexual orientation cannot survive constitutional scrutiny and by this Court's certification order to the California Supreme Court, which seriously questions the Court's jurisdiction to decide the merits of the case."

In addition, Attorney General Harris said, "there is no injury that the proponents of Proposition 8 will suffer if same-sex couples are permitted to enter into civil marriages in California." But as long as the stay on same-sex marriages remains in effect, Attorney General Harris said, the due process and equal protection rights of same-sex couples will continue to be violated, perpetuating unconstitutional discrimination and making a stay of Judge Walker's ruling legally inappropriate.

Former Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger also filed a brief today with the same request.

Phyllis Schlafly: "Obamacare" Is The Centerpiece Of His Plan For Socialism

Former Sen. Larry "Wide Stance" Craig Is Trolling Halls Of Congress As A Lobbyist

Now that his two year post-Senate "cooling off" period is over, totally not gay toe-tapper Larry Craig is once again trolling the halls of Congress, but this time it's as a lobbyist.

Craig's firm, New West Strategies, wouldn't actually confirm lobbying was now part of his portfolio. "I didn't say that," said Mike Ware, a principle at New West, adding, with emphasis, that "the cooling off period IS over." But the mere spotting of Craig back on the Hill was enough to raise alarms from those good-government groups who see danger in the coercive influence former members can have on old colleagues. "This is sort of the way of Washington right now. It is not the exception to the rule but more or less a rule itself," said Dave Levinthal, Communications Director at the Center for Responsive Politics. "When you get out of federal office you think about how you can cash in that experience you gained from working in the public sector by going into the private sector."

Former members of the House and Capitol Hill senior staffers are only required to wait one year before that revolving door grants their corporate clients access to the very legislation their new emissaries once authored. According to the above-linked story, so far this year 90 former members of Congress and former Hill staffers have already registered as lobbyists.