Saturday, May 07, 2011

TEXAS: Man In Critical Condition After Beating Outside El Paso Gay Nightclub

A 22 year-old man is listed in critical condition today after being beaten by a group of men with a baseball bat outside the popular El Paso nightclub, Old Plantation. Media reports are light with details so far, but two JMG readers from Texas have written to say the attack was a gay bashing.
Police said the man was waiting for a ride outside the Old Plantation Night Club, 301 S. Ochoa, when a verbal confrontation began between the victim and six other males. The verbal confrontation became physical and the six suspects allegedly began punching, kicking the victim. The group allegedly also used a bat to hit the victim. One of the victim's friends, a woman, tried to help and had her vehicle damaged as she tried to do so. A suspect struck her 2003 Jeep Liberty windshield with a bat to stop her from helping the victim. The suspects then fled the area in what appeared to be a van.
I'll update this post when we know more.

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Stop Modernists - Subculture

For a total 80's mashup, here's a cover of my favorite New Order classic with vocals by Pet Shop Boys' Chris Lowe.

(Tipped by JMG reader Jeb)

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Christwire On JMG

Christwire has some fun at my expense.
Rest assured that God’s belly churns and is sickened by every mention of this sacrilege leather daddy who calls himself God and ruler. Every day, Joe writes homosexual erotica that masquerades as journalism, on his website JoeMyGod.com. The very name of the site is smeared in the fecality of homosexual sins, so it is no surprise that it is putridly offensive to the sensibilities of the normal folks of America.
Read the full article.

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Cascada - San Francisco

Sounds more like Katy Perry than Cascada.

(Via - Pop In Stereo)

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NEW JERSEY: Plea Deal For Student Involved In Tyler Clementi Case

One of the Rutgers students involved in the Tyler Clementi case has accepted a plea deal in return for agreeing to testify against Clementi's roommate.
Part of the deal requires Molly Wei, 19, of West Windsor to testify against Dharun Rhavi, the roommate of Tyler Clementi [left] who leaped off the George Washington Bridge last fall after learning he had been spied upon. Clementi, 18, was a Rutgers freshman and promising violinist. Wei pleaded not guilty in Middlesex County Superior Court on Friday to watching the webcast with Ravi and a judge accepted her application into a pretrial intervention program that could drop the two counts of invasion of privacy against her. In exchange for dismissing the charges, Wei must testify against Ravi, complete 300 hours of community service, undergo counseling on cyberbullying and take classes on dealing with people of alternative lifestyles.
Clementi's family approved of the plea arrangement, saying: "Actions have consequences. We wish Ms. Wei will become a person who will make better decisions, will help people and show kindness to those she comes in contact with."

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Tired Old Queen At The Movies #74

1957's Sweet Smell Of Success starring Burt Lancaster and Tony Curtis.

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Friday, May 06, 2011

Dick Coughlan - It's Getting Better

Another classic from YouTube's rant king.

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Queen Elizabeth Sees The Internet

(Source)

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TEXAS: Lawmakers Pass Bill Requiring Sonograms Before Abortions

Today the Texas legislature finalized a bill that requires doctors to take a sonogram and offer to show the image to the patient before performing an abortion. Gov. Rick Perry is expected to sign the bill immediately.
The bill requires a doctor to conduct a sonogram at least 24 hours before an abortion and to give the woman the opportunity to see the results and hear the heartbeat of the fetus. Though the woman can choose not to view the images and hear the heartbeat, the doctor must describe what the sonogram shows, including the existence of legs, arms and internal organs. “This will be one of the strongest pieces of sonogram legislation in the nation,” the bill’s author, Representative Sid Miller, a Republican from Stephenville, told reporters. Mr. Miller predicted the measure would “save numerous unborn lives.” Because the measures passed both houses of the Legislature with a two-thirds majority, it will go into effect as soon as the governor signs it.

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NEW JERSEY: Judge Temporarily Halts Deportation Of Gay Man

A New Jersey immigration judge today temporarily halted the deportation of Henry Velandia, who is legally married to a U.S. citizen. This follows yesterday's move by U.S. Attorney General Eric Holder, who vacated the decision to deport another gay man in the same situation.
Henry Velandia, who faces deportation to Venezuela, is petitioning to be allowed to remain in the U.S. as the spouse of U.S. citizen Josh Vandiver. Judge Alberto Riefkohl granted an adjournment of the case Friday in a Newark immigration court. At issue is who can be considered a spouse under federal law. Velandia is a 27-year-old professional salsa dancer and Vandiver is a 29-year-old graduate student at Princeton University. They were married last year in Connecticut, where same-sex marriage is legal.
GetEQUAL had staged a protest against the deportation outside the Newark courtroom.

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LONDON: Islamists Stage Mock Osama Bin Laden Funeral At U.S. Embassy

Hundreds of Islamists rallied outside the U.S. embassy in London today in a mock funeral for Osama Bin Laden. Riot police had to step in and separate the group from counter-protesters from the neo-Nazi English Defence League. Many more photos at the link.

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PENNSYLVANIA: Constitutional Ban On Same-Sex Marriage Introduced In House

Pennsylvania state GOP Rep. Daryl Metcalfe today introduced a constitutional ban on same-sex marriage. Pennsylvania already bans gay marriage by state statute.
“The institution of traditional marriage has never been under greater attack,” said Metcalfe. “This not only includes the special interests who want to permanently redefine marriage, but unfortunately the executive branch and the federal Department of Justice who have blatantly and recklessly refused to uphold and defend its Constitutionality. Once again, it falls to the responsibility of state lawmakers to restore the rule of law and carry out the will of the people.”
Metcalfe's bill would have to be approved by two consecutive sessions of the state legislature before being placed on the ballot.

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Ron Paul On Legalizing Drugs

At last night's GOP debate, Ron Paul hit one of the few libertarian themes with which we can agree, much to the initial dismay but eventual support of the audience.

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Former Rep. Alan Grayson: Dubya Is Worst President Of My Lifetime

Grayson isn't willing to give Dubya any credit for the killing of Osama Bin Laden. A classically Grayson evisceration.

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Anti-Gay Groups To Ramp Up Spending

The Colorado Independent reports that anti-gay groups are planning to dramatically step up their spending and activities through the 2012 elections. And no one is saying where all the money is coming from. The plan has already earned the endorsement of major GOP officials around the country.
Anti-gay rights groups around the country will see a cash infusion over the next two years through a plan called “Ignite an Enduring Cultural Transformation.” And the groups are remaining mum about who is responsible. The campaign, which largely targets states where Republicans won control of legislatures or governorships, has garnered the support of Republican political superstars such as former Massachusetts Gov. Mitt Romney, Louisiana Gov. Bobby Jindal, House Majority Leader Eric Cantor (Va.), Sens. Marco Rubio (Fla.) and Jon Kyl (Ariz.), and Rep. Trent Franks (Ariz.). The groups intend to pass anti-gay marriage amendments, curtail abortion rights and, in at least one case, ban “transgender bathrooms.”

Family policy councils — a creation of Colorado Springs-based Focus on the Family in the 1980s — have launched the Ignite plan in 15 states. Each family policy council has a three-prong plan to achieve their legislative goals over the next two years: lobbying for legislation, mobilizing pastors and social conservatives and supporting candidates that have backed their initiatives. Each group has used a stock brochure containing nearly identical wording to explain their plan and to solicit funds. In many cases, an Ignite plan was launched with an anonymous matching-grant donor.
Read the full story, which breaks down the spending plans of numerous anti-gay groups.

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Minnesota Paper Comes Out For Marriage

The Minneapolis Star-Tribune has published a strongly-worded editorial denouncing the campaign to place a constitutional ban on same-sex marriage to a public vote.
Opponents of marriage equity say a constitutional amendment is a necessary backstop that would prevent the courts from overturning existing law. In reality, enshrining this form of bigotry in the state's premier governing document would be a step backward. Rather than reinforce an already discriminatory law, core values of equity and fairness should compel Minnesotans to repeal DOMA and extend marriage equity to all. We understand that emotions on this issue run deep. The debate hits numerous religious and moral hot buttons, for secular and sacred reasons. Concurrent with their beliefs, religious organizations may indeed decide who they will marry with their blessings. However, government is not and should not be a church, synagogue or mosque. Marriage under the law is a next-of-kin, legal arrangement that includes important property, benefits, child custody and health care rights. Those legal rights should be available to all couples.
Read the full editorial.

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AFA: Sears Is Selling Porn To Kids

The American Family Association says Sears is selling porn to children because there was no age verification during a recent purchase of an adult DVD.
AFA ordered one of the DVDs to see if it really came from Sears. It did! And unless the company removes the DVD titles in the meantime, anyone – child or adult – can see the explicit promotional photos and descriptive text that Sears uses to advertise this filth. Not only does Sears' website allow children to view its pornographic offerings online, it will sell them to children. During our online check-out process, we were never asked to verify our age.
You have do a search on the word "mature" to even find any of the titles.

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Monday In Albany: Empire State Pride Agenda's Equality And Justice Day

Find more details here.

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Church Sign Of The Day

(Source)

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GMHC Responds To Ruben Diaz

Majorie Hill, CEO of the Gay Men's Health Crisis, has issued a statement directed at NY state Sen. Ruben Diaz, who has again scheduled a massive anti-gay rally on the same day as the AIDS Walk in Central Park.
Sadly, in the mid-afternoon on the 15th, a march against same-sex marriage will be hosted by state Senator Ruben Diaz, Sr. in the Bronx.We are distressed that Senator Diaz would focus his attention on increasing homophobia which is a lethal driver of the HIV/AIDS epidemic. A recent study reported that gay couples who are affirmed in their relationships are less likely to place themselves at risk for HIV. Similar findings by other studies have shown that anti-gay bullying and other forms of homophobia can place lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender individuals at higher risk for HIV.

Research has also shown that same-sex marriage has disproportionately positive effects for gay and lesbian couples of color. From our work each day, we know that homophobia and stigma still affect people living with HIV/AIDS and can create barriers to accessing healthcare and support.GMHC as an organization and AIDS Walk New York as a fundraiser promote social justice, equality and equal access for all. To show support for people affected by HIV/AIDS and solidarity for same-sex couples who will soon have the same human rights as heterosexual couples, New Yorkers are encouraged to join us and walk for AIDS Walk New York."
It sounds a bit like Hill is discouraging counter-protesting at the Diaz event.

(Via - Steven Thrasher @ Village Voice)

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Ron Paul: Get Government Out Of Marriage

And yet he goes on to defend DOMA.

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Quote Of The Day - Donna Lippoldt

"They just sought out some people to run for office, and they ran for office and won. And they actually ran, saying before they got elected, 'We are going to revoke this ordinance.' This just shows you when the body of Christ finally does get alerted, they need to see that they really can make a difference -- and they did make a difference in the election that took place on April 5th." - Kansas Family Policy Council spokesbigot Donna Lippoldt, revealing that a coalition of local pastors worked to install anti-gay Christianists on the Manhattan, Kansas city council, which on Wednesday repealed LGBT anti-discrimination laws.

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Frothy Mix: No Truce On Social Issues

At yesterday's GOP debate, former Sen. Rick "Frothy Mix" Santorum denounced Indiana Gov. Mitch Daniels for calling for a truce on social issues during the coming presidential campaign.

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Al-Qaida Confirms Bin Laden's Death

This won't mean anything to American deathers, of course.
Al-Qaida on Friday confirmed the killing of Osama bin Laden and warned of retaliation, saying Americans’ ”happiness will turn to sadness.” The confirmation came in an Internet statement posted on militant websites, signed by “the general leadership” of al-Qaida. The announcement opens the way for the group to name a successor to bin Laden. His deputy Ayman al-Zawahri is now the most prominent figure in the group and is a very likely contender to take his place. The statement, dated May 3, was the first by the terror network since bin Laden was killed Monday by U.S. commandos in a raid on his hideout in Abbottabad, Pakistan. The statement’s authenticity could not be independently confirmed, but it was posted on websites where the group traditionally puts out its messages.
The statement closes with a call to Pakistanis to "rise up in revolt" in protest of their government conspiring with the United States.

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NOM Warns NY GOP: We'll Spend $1M Against Any Pro-Marriage Senator

NOM's Brian Brown has informed the New York Times that he is ready to spend $1M to oppose the reelection of any GOP state senator that votes in favor of same-sex marriage. NOM has made similar threats in other states.
“We spent over half a million dollars in New York” in 2009, he said, “and we’re ready to spend that and more this time. We are willing to spend a million against any Republican senator who votes for gay marriage.” The group would not say which lawmakers were singled out. But State Senator Joseph P. Addabbo Jr., a Democrat from Queens who has voted against the bill in the past but said he was undecided this time, said, “We’ve gotten about 400 calls and e-mails from voters in the last two weeks, the vast majority of them opposed to the bill.” Mr. Addabbo said he kept count because he planned to cast a vote on the bill that “reflects the will of my constituents.”
Call Sen. Addabbo: (518) 455-2322. Email: Addabbo@senate.state.ny.us.

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Pakistan: Don't Try That Again

The Pakistan government said yesterday that if the United States carries out any more "unauthorized" raids within its borders, it will have to review the relationship with Washington.
Earlier Thursday, Pakistan's Pakistan Foreign Secretary Salman Bashir warned America Thursday of "disastrous consequences" if it carries out any more raids and hit back at international allegations it may have been harboring the al Qaeda chief. But the government in Islamabad stopped short of labeling Monday's helicopter raid on bin Laden's compound an illegal operation and insisted relations between Washington and Islamabad remained on course. With calls from some U.S. lawmakers to cut aid to Pakistan following the raid, the European Union said it would not turn its back on the nuclear-armed nation that is seen by many as key to helping negotiate an end to the war in Afghanistan.

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Camille Paglia On Chaz Bono

Paglia says Bono has "mutilated" his body and is bringing reassignment surgery into the mainstream.

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FCKH8 On "Don't Say Gay"

This group got a lot of criticism from the anti-gay right last year due the potty-mouthed children in their clip. Today they take on the pending Tennessee bill known as "Don't Say Gay."

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The New Bristol Palin

It doesn't even look like the same person to me, but the tabloids are going crazy over Bristol Palin's apparent visit to the plastic surgeon.

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Broadway Legend Arthur Laurents Dies

Openly gay Broadway legend Arthur Laurents has died at the age of 93. Theater Mania reports:
Laurents was best known for his collaborations with Stephen Sondheim, including writing the books for West Side Story and Gypsy (earning Tony nominations for both), Anyone Can Whistle, and Do I Hear a Waltz. Early in his career, Laurents wrote such plays as Home of the Brave and The Time of the Cuckoo. In later years, he wrote and directed the musicals The Madwoman of Central Park West and Nick & Nora. Laurents directed the 1975, 1989, and 2008 revivals of Gypsy, each of which earned Tony Awards for its respective leading ladies, Angela Lansbury, Tyne Daly, and Patti LuPone. He also directed the 2009 Broadway revival of West Side Story.
Laurents was temporarily blacklisted during the McCarthy era after a review of one of his plays was published in the Communist Party USA newspaper.

NOTE: Laurents asked that his obituaries include this line: "He was predeceased by his partner, Tom Hatcher, with whom he had lived in happiness for more than 50 years."

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Thursday, May 05, 2011

Fox Fires Gingrich And Frothy Mix

Fox News has terminated its contracts with Rick Santorum and Newt Gingrich in anticipation of their presidential campaigns. The network had suspended the pair in early March.
Mr. Santorum filed paperwork with the Federal Election Commission this week to officially explore a campaign for the nomination. He was set to participate in a debate in Greenville, S.C., Thursday night hosted by Fox News, the first debate of the 2012 election cycle. Mr. Gingrich announced his intention to form an exploratory committee earlier this year and is expected to formally take that step later this month. Both men have traveled extensively this year to meet with potential supporters in the early primary states.

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Brazil Approves Civil Unions

The Associated Press reports:
Brazil's Supreme Court ruled Thursday night that civil unions between same-sex couples must be allowed in this nation with more Roman Catholics than any other. In a 10-0 vote, with one abstention, the justices said gay couples deserve the same legal rights as heterosexual pairs when it comes to alimony, retirement benefits of a partner who dies, and inheritances, among other issues. The ruling, however, stopped short of legalizing gay marriage. In Latin America, that is legal only in neighboring Argentina and in Mexico City.
The National Conference of Brazilian Bishops argued against the bill before the court.

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Lady Gaga - Judas

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BREAKING: Brazil Poised To Approve Gay Marriage And/Or Civil Unions

There's no English-language news report to link to yet, but it appears that Brazil's Supreme Court is about to rule in favor of same-sex marriage or civil unions. Or both! JMG reader Andrew is watching the proceedings live on Brazilian television and reports: "It seems like there will be some interpretation about whether same sex civil unions and/or same sex marriage will be recognized; although it is looking like both options will exist. Regardless gay couple will have complete legal parity with rights to adoption, tax breaks, right to pension, etc that hetero married couples have."

Stand by for an update and hopefully, confirmation.

UPDATE: Fellow blogger Andres Duque notes in the comments that the voting happening right now is just about civil unions and not about full marriage.

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Fake Jane Corwin

New York Assemblywoman Jane Corwin is the GOP's pick to replace Rep. Chris "Craigslist" Lee, who resigned from Congress earlier this year after Gawker exposed his online search for women other than his wife. And somebody has had a bit of fun with a fake Corwin campaign site, which will give you a few laughs. The special election is May 24th.

(Tipped by JMG reader Brian)

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AG Eric Holder Vacates Deportation Ruling

U.S. Attorney General Eric Holder has vacated a ruling ordering the deportation of Paul Wilson Dorman, who under Section 3 of DOMA is not entitled to stay in the United States despite being in a legal union with an American citizen. Metro Weekly reports:
Saying the attorney general "has taken [an] extraordinary step" with the decision, attorney Eric Berndt -- the supervising attorney for the National Asylum Partnership on Sexual Minorities at the National Immigrant Justice Center -- told Metro Weekly, "It adds some heft to our requests for prosecutorial discretion in individual cases in which the foreign partner" of a same-sex bi-national couple is seeking a green card because of his or her citizen same-sex partner.
Immigration rights attorney Lavi Soloway: "This development could be a sign that the Obama administration is looking for a way to protect gay and lesbian bi-national couples who are currently barred from the regular marriage-based immigration process by the Defense of Marriage Act."

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Blake Shelton Takes It Back

GLAAD president Jarrett Barrios: "Following outrage from community members and allies, Blake Shelton took the right step in speaking out against anti-gay violence and sending an important message to his fans and viewers of The Voice." RELATED: Shelton's original tweet and GLAAD's demand for an apology are here.

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Ultimate Dog Tease

Y'all can stop sending me this now.

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BRITAIN: Fake Gay Election Leaflets Sent To Muslim Neighborhood

Voters in a Muslim neighborhood in Leicester, England have been sent election leaflets claiming to be from the Liberal Democrats in which the party pledges that it will "force schools to teach that homosexuality is normal." A spokesman for the Liberal Democrats says the leaflets are not from them.
The spokesman added: “Some of this leaflet is completely true and we are very proud of our record in championing gay rights. However, this a fake leaflet maliciously designed to incite hatred. It is disgusting attempt to provoke hate during the last days of a political campaign. It has no place in politics and it has no place in society.”
Earlier this year flyers appeared in London declaring that it was a "gay-free zone" and that people should "fear Allah." Those responsible for the flyers have not yet been identified, although one arrest was made last month. Some gay activists suspect that the fake Liberal Democrats leaflets are a similar attempt by Britain's neo-Nazis to sow discord between the Muslim and gay communities.

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LIVE VIDEO: Obama At Ground Zero

UPDATE: The ceremony has concluded.

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ILLINOIS: Catholic Charities To Defy Civil Unions Law On Gay Adoptions

Catholic Charities of Peoria, Illinois says that it will continue to deny its adoption services to gay people despite the recent failure of a bill that would have exempted them from anti-discrimination laws. Civil unions go into effect in Illinois on June 1st.
"The Catholic Church is not going to be OK with Catholic Charities processing applications from anyone in a civil union," said Trish Fox, who runs Catholic Charities of Peoria. "And all we're asking is that we can continue what we've always done, which is refer cohabitating couples, heterosexual or homosexual, to another agency."
The group says they'll close their doors before complying with the law. Catholic League blowhard Bill Donohue offers his congratulations.
Catholic Charities of the Diocese of Peoria does not discriminate between heterosexuals or homosexuals. It simply defends the institution of marriage. Heterosexual men and women who cohabit are no different from homosexual couples who live together: neither are married and both are therefore disqualified from receiving the sponsorship of Catholic adoption services. They can go elsewhere, and are indeed advised of alternative services by Catholic Charities. But no one has a right to demand that a religion forfeit its doctrinal prerogatives by bowing to the secular creed of the state in matters of marriage and the family. Those who truly believe in diversity will respect the plea for pluralism made by Catholic Charities. If separation of church and state means anything, it means the right of religious bodies to practice their faith without state encroachment.
Except, of course, when religious bodies receive massive public assistance.

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Vampire Babies

Characters from Twilight are dominating the latest list of most popular baby names.

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HomoQuotable - Alan Chambers

"Children all over the world, including my two children are fans of Toy Story and to see a character like that [Woody] endorsing something that at this point children have no need to know about, it’s disappointing. For organizations like Exodus International, which has thousands of men and women like me who have lived a gay life, it obviously didn’t get better living a gay life for them." - Exodus International's head homo Alan Chambers, denouncing Google for airing an It Gets Better ad during Glee.

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Mark Bingham's Mom On Bin Laden

"I am going to miss my son every day of my life but this, the death of Osama bin Laden, seems to be perfect closure for the foul and evil deeds that that man has committed. Bill Clinton made a real effort to root out Osama bin Laden. George W. Bush promised the American public that we will not rest until we have Osama bin Laden in our control, and then Barack Obama was able to make good the promises and efforts of his two predecessors. I'm very grateful to all three men for their strength and their persistence in this project." - Alice Hoagland, mother of openly gay rugby player and 9/11 hero Mark Bingham, speaking to the Bay Area Reporter.

RELATED: The documentary With You, The Mark Bingham Story previews at the Castro Theater on June 18th.

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Dubya Snubs Ground Zero Ceremony

According to the New York Daily News, Dubya declined to join President Obama at Ground Zero today because he feels he didn't get enough credit for taking down Osama Bin Laden.
Bush's visit to the rubble after the 9/11 attacks was the emotional high point of his presidency, but associates say the invitation to return with his successor was a non-starter. "He doesn't feel personally snubbed and appreciates the invitation, but Obama's claiming all the credit and a lot of other people deserve some of it," the source added. "Obama gave no credit whatsoever to the intelligence infrastructure the Bush administration set up that is being hailed from the left and right as setting in motion the operation that got Bin Laden. It rubbed Bush the wrong way." Bush spokesman David Sherzer said Bush "appreciated the invite, but has chosen in his post-presidency to remain largely out of the spotlight." Associates familiar with his thinking say Bush does not believe Obama or his handlers wanted to exploit his presence. But the tag-team idea "was for the benefit of Obama, and Obama withheld credit from people Bush believes deserved it," a source said.
Since leaving office, Bush has maintained the presidential tradition of declining to criticize his successor.

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House Rejects Resolution Honoring Soldiers Who Got Osama Bin Laden

The GOP-dominated U.S. House has rejected a resolution honoring the soldiers who killed Osama Bin Laden. Yesterday the Senate unanimously approved a similar resolution.
The decision by GOP leaders follows new rules they enacted in January scrapping the tradition of congratulatory measures, which they complained clogged up the House floor. [snip] The lack of House action drew criticism from some Democrats, who said an exception to the new rules was more than warranted for the killing of America’s No. 1 enemy. “I don’t know why we’re not. Certainly we’ve passed a lot of resolutions for a lot less important things,” said Rep. Jerrold Nadler (D-N.Y.), whose district includes Ground Zero in lower Manhattan. “I think we ought to pass a resolution honoring the military and the president. How often do you get unadulterated, unabashed, absolute good news about something really important in this country, or any country?”

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Fischer: GLAAD Hates 1st Amendment

Last week American Family Association radio host Bryan Fischer appeared on a Houston Fox affiliate to declare that viewing Glee will turn kids gay and eventually give them AIDS. That prompted GLAAD to launch a campaign calling on the Fox station to apologize for hosting the hate group spokesman. But no dice.
Bryan Fischer is an extremist with no qualifications to offer the discussion apart from his bigotry. This a man whose disdain for diversity is evident in his track record of making statements such as calling Muslim student associations "parasites" and a "toxic cancer." FOX Houston gave Fischer a platform in the nation's fourth largest city, and one of its top ten media markets, to broadcast his anti-gay rhetoric. And rather than challenge him, the host, Damali Keith, contributed her own uninformed and anti-gay commentary. After receiving complaints about this FOX Houston program, GLAAD contacted the station to demand that they issue an apology. Broadcasting anti-gay speech is dangerously irresponsible, and the station must be accountable. In conversations with GLAAD, a representative of the station implied that an apology was in order and should be expected. However, no apology has been issued, and in an abrupt reversal, representatives of the station now maintain that they stand behind this content.
Yesterday Fischer responded to the furor.
GLAAD, which stands for the Gay & Lesbian Alliance Against Defamation, has taken umbrage with me for saying on Fox that homosexual behavior "is conduct that bears enormous psychological and physical risk to those that engage in it" and "is just as risky and just as dangerous as injection drug use." GLAAD put almost immediate pressure on the Fox affiliate to apologize for giving me any air time at all, being the fans they are of the First Amendment and all, and according to GLAAD, Fox at first said they would. But subsequently, the Fox station has had an apparent change of heart and has yet to issue the promised apology. Perhaps it’s because Fox did some research and found out I was telling the truth.
Fischer headlined his post, "GLAAD Hates The First Amendment."

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Email Of The Day - Eugene Delguadio

"Dear Joe, With Mother’s Day fast approaching, I am constantly reminded how grateful I am that Sheila agreed to marry me. You probably know this, but it deserves repeating. Sheila deserves most of the credit for my success in stopping the radical homosexuals. Sheila and I thought we knew what we were getting into and we both expected a life of sacrifice. But neither of us expected it to turn out to be a life of danger.

"You see, instead of standing up and fighting me the way real men would, the radical homosexuals and their allies have acted like terrorists attacking my family. I’ve probably told you before about the men in black vans taking pictures of my children and stalking my wife. There’s also a homosexual lobbyist on Capitol Hill that asks by name 'how is your son doing?' He never asked about my daughters. And then there’s the death threats on my answering machines both at work and at home. And every year the radical homosexuals grow stronger." - Sterling County, Virginia Supervisor Eugene Delgaudio, asking his followers to send Mother's Day cards to his wife.

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RHODE ISLAND: Civil Unions Vs. Full Marriage Equality Divides Activists

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Brigette Fontaine - Dancefloor

Pop In Stereo tips us:
Avant-garde poet, singer and writer Brigitte Fontaine has once again collaborated with musical icon Grace Jones on an amazing new single titled “Dancefloor.” The single is from the forthcoming album L’un N’empeche pas L’autre.

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CALIFORNIA: Lawmakers Reject Bill To Give Prop 8 Backers Legal Standing

The California state Senate Judiciary Committee yesterday refused to advance a bill that would give private citizens the right to defend ballot measures in court. The bill, which was authored by Tea Party activist Sen. Tom Harman, failed 3-2 along party lines. The Sacramento Bee reports:
"California voters deserve to have their position defended when an initiative is challenged in court and the State refuses to defend it," GOP Sen. Tom Harman, author of the bill and a former primary candidate for attorney general, said in a statement. Harman introduced a similar bill in 2009 that also failed to make it through the Legislature. Opponents, including representatives from gay-rights group Equality California and the National Center for Lesbian Rights, argued during yesterday's committee hearing that the proposed change would conflict with the court's existing power to decide who can intervene in a case. They also argued that law would undermine the constitutional responsibilities delegated to the state attorney general.
RELATED: In February, Harman authored a similar bill which would force the state to defend all voter-approved ballot measures.

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Tweet Of The Day - Blake Shelton

Blake Shelton, Country Male Vocalist of the Year and judge on The Voice, will likely be hearing from GLAAD today.

UDPATE: GLAAD reacts.
This is one of the judges on what’s so far been one of the most gay-friendly reality shows on television. For him to make a joke to his 300-thousand-plus followers about leaving a gay man ‘beaten, bleeding and heaving’ is completely unacceptable. One has to wonder how Shania feels about seeing her anthem about strong women and female empowerment turned into a violent threat. Blake Shelton is from Ada, Oklahoma – just a few hours south of where Phillip Nelson was robbed, assaulted and beaten last year. Nelson’s crime? Being gay. We have already called the show’s producers asking them to take action. But right now, Blake Shelton needs to recognize that violence against the LGBT community is not a laughing matter, and he needs to apologize to his fans, and to fans of The Voice, for his comments.

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Third Grader Bait

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Bill Clinton For New York Marriage

"Our nation's permanent mission is to form a ‘more perfect union’ - deepening the meaning of freedom, broadening the reach of opportunity, strengthening the bonds of community. That mission has inspired and empowered us to extend rights to people previously denied them. Every time we have done that, it has strengthened our nation. Now we should do it again, in New York, with marriage equality. For more than a century, our Statue of Liberty has welcomed all kinds of people from all over the world yearning to be free. In the 21st century, I believe New York's welcome must include marriage equality." - Bill Clinton, via press release from the Human Rights Campaign.

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The Mayday Bus Is Ready

The Family Research Foundation is proudly posting photos of their Mayday For Marriage bus, which as we learned yesterday will be touring New York state for the rest of the month.

(Via - Good As You)

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Ken Cuccinelli On Bin Laden

I don't get it.

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Crazy Eyes - God Will Run My Campaign

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Open Thread Thursday

Sunday is Mother's Day. Tell us your favorite mom story.

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Wednesday, May 04, 2011

NEW YORK: Anti-Gay Group Launches "Mayday For Marriage" Statewide Tour

Having learned nothing from NOM's disastrous bus tour last summer, the anti-gay Christianists at the Family Research Foundation have announced a "Mayday For Marriage" RV tour around New York state.
By the time you read this, our ministry team will be on the road taking the debate over same-sex marriage to legislative districts across the Empire State. We’ve packed our bags, loaded up an RV wrapped in marriage messaging and will be stopping at various press conferences, marriage rallies and visits with legislators from Buffalo to Binghamton, Syracuse to Staten Island, and Lackawanna to Long Island. May 22nd will be “Mayday for Marriage” Sunday. NYFRF is encouraging the 5,000 churches on our mailing list to focus on marriage during worship services on this particular day. We are asking pastors to publicly pray for marriage in New York State, preach on the biblical definition of marriage, encourage congregants to contact their elected officials on this issue, and finally to take up a special love offering to help underwrite NYFRF’s marriage defense initiative.
Counter-protesters can find the Mayday bus by following their Facebook page.

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Charlie Crist Has A New Gig

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Tweet Of The Day - Sarah Palin

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NEW YORK: Leading Spanish-Language Paper Endorses Marriage Equality

The most widely-read Spanish-language newspaper in New York has published an editorial endorsing same-sex marriage. Capitol Confidential sees a jab at Sen. Ruben Diaz in the second (translated) paragraph below from El Diario.
New York needs and is ready for this change. Our gay population is bigger than the seven nearby jurisdictions (six states plus the District of Columbia) that have legalized same-sex marriage. And close to 60 percent of New Yorkers support gay marriage.

Governor Cuomo’s campaign merits all the the support of the Latino community, including those who are opposed for religious reasons. Officials in this position should remember that they were elected to serve the public (independent of its sexual orientation) under American laws, which were established with a clear distinction between church and state. Latinos should also remember our collective fight is against discrimination and marginalization.

Homosexuality is a human reality. The majority of New Yorkers have a friend, colleague or relative who’s gay. It’s time to give these people the opportunity to develop families and build communities. Our government shouldn’t be in the business of telling the people who to love or who to marry.
(Tipped by JMG reader Larry)

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TEXAS: Teacher Suspended For Taunting Muslim Student About Bin Laden

A Texas high school teacher has been suspended for taunting a Muslim girl about the death of Osama Bin Laden.
He allegedly told a 9th grade Muslim girl in his algebra class "I bet that you're grieving" on Monday following the death of Osama bin Laden. According to one parent at Clear Brook High School in Houston who spoke about the incident to a local ABC affiliate, the teacher also said, "I heard about your uncle's death." The parent said the student "understood that he was referring about Osama bin Laden being killed and was racially profiling her." The name of the alleged victim of the comment has not been released. She is being described as an "American-born girl of Muslim faith."
According to a witness, when the girl began crying, the teacher laughed and walked away.

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Smithsonian: 30 Years Of HIV/AIDS

On June 3rd, the Smithsonian's National Museum of American History will launch an exhibit and website devoted to examining the 30-year history of the AIDS pandemic.
“HIV and AIDS Thirty Years Ago” will look at the public health, scientific and political responses in the early phase (1981-87) of the global pandemic. This showcase will be located in the museum’s “Science in American Life” exhibition, which focuses on the connections among science, culture and society in American history. The display will feature photographs, magazine covers and other graphics plus equipment that Dr. Jay Levy used to isolate the virus in his lab at the University of California, San Francisco, a copy of the Surgeon General’s 1986 report presenting the government’s position, samples of the drugs AZT and Retrovir and public health information pamphlets from AIDS service organizations. The website will be available at here.

In “Archiving the History of an Epidemic: HIV and AIDS, 1985-2009,” the museum’s Archives Center will show how individuals and society were affected by the epidemic through a selection of archival materials from its collections, including posters for the 1993 movie Philadelphia with Tom Hanks and Denzel Washington and the 1989 film Longtime Companion; brochures, photographs and other popular culture materials; and quotes from oral histories of people affected by the epidemic.
Quilt panels from the Names Project will be part of the exhibit.

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Obama: No Bin Laden Death Photos

The White House just announced that it will not be releasing the reportedly gruesome death photos of Osama Bin Laden. Right-wing news outlets have been clamoring for the photos to be published, both as evidence of Bin Laden's actual death and for their potential use to intimidate other terrorists. Others have argued that the photos could inflame anti-American sentiment and endanger U.S. soldiers and civilians living abroad.

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MASSACHUSETTS: Open Lesbian Barbara Lenk Confirmed To State Supreme Court

After enduring ugly anti-gay attacks from Christianists during her nomination hearing, open lesbian Barbara Lenk has won confirmation to the Massachusetts Supreme Court.
The Governor’s Council confirmed Lenk on a 5-3 vote. She is Governor Deval Patrick’s fourth appointment to the seven-member SJC, which issued the landmark 2003 ruling that made Massachusetts the first state to legalize same-sex marriage. Lenk, who married her partner, Debra Krupp, after the ruling, has 18 years’ experience on the bench, a degree from Harvard Law School, and a doctorate in political philosophy from Yale. Patrick nominated her to replace Justice Judith A. Cowin, who is retiring. Lenk's confirmation hearing last week lasted more than seven hours, and was often contentious.
Lenk is the first openly gay justice to be seated on the state's highest court.

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KANSAS: Bigots Force Rights Repeal

A few month ago, I made a big deal of the news that Manhattan, Kansas had voted to become only the second town in the state with LGBT anti-discrimination protections. Not so fast.
The Manhattan City Commission has voted to repeal a controversial ordinance that added sexual orientation and a new definition of gender identity to its anti-discrimination policy. The vote Tuesday was 3-2 and a second reading must be approved before the ordinance is officially repealed. The previous commission had passed the ordinance in February, making Manhattan the second city in the state to protect people from discrimination based on sexual orientation. But new council members were elected in April and opponents of the ordinance continued to push for its repeal.

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Gay Mormon Contestant Comes Out To Father On The Voice

"My father does not know that I'm gay. I haven't actually told him yet. I guess he knows NOW."

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CALIFORNIA: Supreme Court Rejects Catholic Battle Against San Francisco

In 2006 the San Francisco Board of Supervisors approved a resolution denouncing the Vatican as an "insulting and ignorant" foreign country "hatefully" meddling in the right of gay Americans to adopt children. That didn't go over so well with the local Catholic Church, who sued the city for violating the separation of church and state. Oh, the irony.

Last year the Ninth Circuit Court of Appeals ruled that the Church had no standing to sue the city, sending them running to the U.S. Supreme Court, who yesterday rejected the case. Catholic League blowhard Bill Donohue says he's disappointed, but that the lawsuit still had the effect of "taming" anti-Catholic sentiment in San Francisco. Hunky Jesus might disagree.

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Quote Of The Day - Pat Trueman

"We know from the brain science research that men will start out with adult pornography and move to more deviant and harder material, and many deviate down to child pornography. So by not prosecuting the adult pornographers, we're in essence creating child pornographers." - Morality In Media spokesman Pat Trueman, calling on Attorney General Eric Holder to enforce existing obscenity laws.

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NEW YORK: Marriage Coalition Launches Site And Statewide Ad Campaign

New Yorkers United for Marriage, the new coalition of major LGBT rights groups, has launched a joint website and the below television ad, which will air statewide. The coalition is taking donations to keep the ad running.

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30% Of Republicans Remain Birthers

Even after the release of his long-form birth certificate, 30% of polled Republicans say they don't believe the president is a U.S. citizen.
Sixteen percent of all voters and 30% of Republicans do not believe President Barack Obama has proven he was born in the U.S., even after release of his long-form birth certificate, a new IBOPE Zogby interactive survey finds. These results are from an IBOPE Zogby interactive poll conducted April 29-May 2, which was after Obama released the birth certificate and addressed the news media on the topic. Demographic groups besides Republicans expressing the highest levels of doubt about Obama's birth in the U.S. are conservatives (34%), and those without a college degree (21%) vs. those with a degree (11%).

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GOP Rep. Trey Gowdy Compares Gay Marriage To Incest And Polygamy

Via Igor Volsky at Wonk Room comes the below clip of Rep. Trey Gowdy (R-SC) telling Attorney General Eric Holder that prohibitions against same-sex marriage are just as valid as bans on incest and polygamy. The GOP really has nothing new to say, do they?

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Chris Crocker On Femme Vs. Butch

Early YouTube superstar Chris Crocker (who's looking quite different these days) delivers a rant about the tension between masculine and feminine gay men.

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New York Times Denounces Campaign Against Judge Vaughn Walker

The New York Times has published a blistering editorial denouncing the attempt to nullify Judge Vaughn Walker's Prop 8 ruling because he is a gay man.
After the trial, Judge Walker said he is gay and involved in a long-term relationship. Last week, Proposition 8’s lawyers argued that the ruling should be tossed out because he had had a duty to recuse himself, or at least disclose the relationship at the start of the case. The claim is bogus. It is well established that personal characteristics, like race, sex, ethnicity, religion or sexual orientation, do not by themselves invoke the rule that judges must step aside if their “impartiality might reasonably be questioned.” Our justice system relies on trusting members of the nation’s diverse bench to put aside their personal characteristics and abide by their duty of even-handedness. Any other approach would invite foolish and unacceptable results — female judges being kept from hearing rape or sexual discrimination cases, or black judges from hearing cases involving racial bias or civil rights.
Read the full editorial.

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It's Star Wars Day

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Virtual Kissing Machine

I don't see this one catching on.

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California AG Kamala Harris Files Brief Against Standing Of Prop 8 Backers

In another move in the seemingly unending Prop 8 battle, California Attorney General Kamala Harris has filed a brief declaring that private citizens do not have standing to defend the statute in court.
In it, she argued that only public officials exercising the executive power of government have authority to represent the state when laws passed by voters or the Legislature are challenged. “California law affords an initiative’s proponents no right to defend the validity of a successful initiative measure based only on their role in launching an initiative process,” Harris wrote. [snip] Lawyers for the coalition of religious and conservative groups that qualified the gay marriage measure for the ballot and campaigned for its passage have argued that initiative proponents need to be allowed to advocate for laws in court to prevent elected officials from effectively vetoing measures by not defending them in court. Harris contended in her brief that rather than empowering citizens, granting the sponsors of initiatives the ability to overrule the governor and attorney general’s judgment “would rob the electors of power by taking the executive power from elected officials and placing it instead in the hands of a few highly motivated but politically unaccountable individuals.”
The state Supreme Court is expected to hold a hearing on Prop 8 "sometime before the end of the year."

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Rachel Maddow Rips The Deathers

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Queerty Relaunches "Without Snark"

Several weeks after announcing its own demise, Queerty has relaunched this morning with the below promise.
While we are committed to maintaining the best of Queerty, we also recognize that you have demanded change. In recent months the Queerty patented wit devolved into predictable snark, eviscerating everyone and everything in its path. Some of the comments simply piled on. We will maintain the independent voice at all cost, going after with a vengeance the powerful, the hypocritical and the just plain foolish. But now we’ll also strive for a better sense of journalistic balance and fairness. In other words we’re going to keep afflicting the comfortable; only now we’ll take care to comfort the afflicted as well.
More on the relaunch from departing owner David Hauslaib.

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Two Gay Dads, Twelve Adopted Kids

Go read this amazing story from the Arizona Republic.

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Safer Sex Park

Copyranter tips us to this possibly NSFW animated safer sex clip from France's AIDES.

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Heather Knows Punctuation

From the New Yorker. Tipped by JMG reader Sean.

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Tuesday, May 03, 2011

Google Airs Fantastic "It Gets Better Project" Ad During Glee

Major whopping props to Google for airing this amazing ad during tonight's episode of Glee. Somebody hand me a tissue.

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Glee Spoiler: Rumours

Stay out of the comments if you've not yet seen tonight's episode. Otherwise dive in and dish, Honey Badger.

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Cuomo: I'm Optimistic On Gay Marriage


(Via - Towleroad)

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The Rise Of The Deathers

Spreading fast all over the wingnut-o-sphere.
A multitude of different inside sources both publicly and privately, including one individual who personally worked with Bin Laden at one time, told us directly that Osama’s dead corpse has been on ice for nearly a decade and that his “death” would only be announced at the most politically expedient time. That time has now come with a years-old fake picture being presented as the only evidence of his alleged killing yesterday, while Bin Laden’s body has been hastily dumped into the sea to prevent anyone from finding out when he actually died.
Among the prominent promulgators of this nonsense is GOProud backer Andrew Breitbart, whose Big Government site now features death conspiracy posts. Breitbart says he's not a "friggin' deather," he just wants to promote "open debate." Uh huh.

UPDATE: JMG reader Russ points out this Breitbart quote: "If anyone can prove that I believe American special forces did not kill Osama bin Laden, I will donate one million dollars to ThinkProgress." And yet there's this on Breitbart's Big Peace:
The free world, particularly the United States, has a right to make sure Osama bin Laden is really dead. Every American has a right to walk right up to bin Laden’s corpse and view it. We are entitled to know for a fact that the witch is dead. No shroud for dignity’s sake, please – bin Laden’s naked, bullet-riddled corpse should be put on display in lower Manhattan for all the world to see. The entire body should be digitally scanned, inside and out – and made available for everyone to take his or her own picture.

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OKLAHOMA: Sally Kern Votes To Approve Her Own Reprimand For Racism

After facing calls for her resignation by GLAAD and the NAACP, Oklahoma lawmaker Sally Kern has voted to approve her own reprimand by the state House for racist remarks made last week. Kern preceded her vote with another apology, this one delivered to the full chamber.
"Last Wednesday night while debating a bill, I said some words that were not well thought out and that offended many African Americans and many women," said Kern, who fought back tears and quoted several Bible passages during her apology. "That was not my intent, but sadly it happened, and I take full responsibility for it and I'm truly sorry. While my words were not expressed well and implied things I did not mean, they were not spoken with any contempt or malice."
The meaningless reprimand then passed 76-16.

UPDATE: Here's Kern's apology.

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Tony Perkins: Gay Activists Are Intolerant Hateful Vile Pawns Of Satan

Last week Perkins said we are also terrorists and cowards. All this from a man who loudly denies his hate group classification.

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Tweet Of The Day - Matt Barber

Even more than most wingnuts are, Matt Barber is really losing his shit over the praise for the president. Heh.

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