MINNEAPOLIS: Muslim Women Stage "Head-Scarf Flash Mob" At RightOnline

On Thursday night, I happened upon the tail-end of an incident outside the SEIU party in which a man was arrested for allegedly threatening Muslim women. I saw the man being handcuffed and though little more of it until tonight when about a dozen headscarf-wearing Muslim women (and their allies) "flash-mobbed" the lobby of the Minneapolis Hilton in reaction to (as yet, unconfirmed) reports that the arrested man was an attendee of RightOnline.

After the women left under hotel security escort, AmericaBlog author John Aravosis fielded increasingly angry questions from RightOnline attendees. Dan Choi, of course, glommed onto the scene and when I left he was still refusing to leave and had begun glad-handing baffled RightOnline attendees as they came off the escalators, shaking their hands and saying "God bless you beautiful Americans! God bless the Fair Tax!" Ugh. Here's my clip.

GLAAD Head Jarrett Barrios Resigns

After enduring weeks of criticism over a letter sent to the FCC supporting the merger of AT&T and TMobile, GLAAD head Jarrett Barrios has resigned. Those critical of the letter pointed out that AT&T is one of GLAAD's biggest annual donors. Other recipients of AT&T donations such as the NAACP and the NEA have issued similar letters.

Rep. Keith Ellison Gets Wellstone Award

Rep. Keith Ellison, the first Muslim elected to Congress, was just given an award in the name of another famed progressive Minnesotan, the late Sen. Paul Wellstone, who died in a plane crash in 2002.

GetEQUAL Glitters Crazy Eyes

I'm not seeing it in this clip, but Michelle "Crazy Eyes" Bachmann was reportedly glittered by GetEQUAL moments ago as she left the stage at the anti-gay hate conference. I'll try to find better video. [Replaced the first video, but it doesn't appear Bachmann was hit by the glitter.]

UPDATE: GetEQUAL has issued a press release.

Shortly after a speech at the RightOnline conference, pro-LGBT activist Rachel E. B. Lang approached Bachmann, threw glitter in the air, and said, “You can run, but you cannot hide! Keep your hate out of our Constitution!” — a reference to the “You Can Run But You Cannot Hide” ministry for which Bachmann has helped raise money [1] and to a proposed ban on same-sex marriage in Minnesota. The ministry, a brainchild of rabidly anti-gay Bradley Dean, charges thousands of dollars to speak at public school assemblies and evangelize young people based on a shocking and offensive anti-gay program.

(Via - Good As You)

I Just Met Sen. Al Franken

I happened to be passing Sam Seder's radio booth when Franken arrived for his interview. Introduced myself, shook hands, got a pleasant (if distracted) "Heyhowareya!" Totally bloggable, though.

Morning View - Wingnut Witch

I was photographing the above Right Online banner at the Netroots host hotel when the woman on the right said, "Hey, he's NETROOTS! He's not supposed to be here." Other wingnuts told her I was allowed to be there.

Tired Old Queen At The Movies #77

1947's Dark Passage with Humphrey Bogart and Lauren Bacall.

Tracy Morgan & The Ali Forney Center

Clip description: "Continuing to make amends for anti-gay comments he made, comedian Tracy Morgan met with LGBT teens in New York. Randi Kaye talks with Jayden Love (homeless teen), Carl Siciliano (The Ali Forney Center) & Elke Kennedy (Sean's Last Wish)."

Tweet Of The Day - NY Sen. Greg Ball

The vote might come on Monday, if the GOP allows it.

White House Rejects Pfeiffer Claim

Here's how the White House is responding to Communications Director Dan Pfeiffer's claim that the president didn't fill out the 1996 survey in which he appeared to support marriage equality. Via Washington Blade:

The White House is backing off of the comments Pfeiffer made on Friday on Obama’s 1996 statement in support of same-sex marriage. Shin Inouye, a White House spokesperson, addressed the issue in a statement: “Dan was not familiar with the history of the questionnaire that was brought up today, but the president’s views are clear,” Inouye said. “He has long supported equal rights and benefits for gay and lesbian couples and since taking office he has signed into law the repeal of ‘Don’t Ask Don’t Tell,’ signed into law the hate crimes bill, made the decision not to defend Section 3 of DOMA and expanded federal benefits for same sex partners of federal employees.” Inouye didn’t respond to a further question from the Washington Blade to verify whether the White House believes the president in fact filled out the questionnaire in 1996.

AmericaBlog is calling the above a "bizarre non-denial."

Lawrence O'Donnell On Netroots Nation

NETROOTS: White House Rep Denies Obama "Filled Out" 1996 Marriage Pledge

This may be the biggest news to come out of Netroots.

In an interview conducted in front of an audience at the Netroots Nation blogger conference early Friday in Minneapolis, White House Communications Director Dan Pfeiffer claimed a 1996 questionnaire favoring gay marriage, which bears Barack Obama's signature, was "actually filled out by someone else." "If you actually go back and look, that questionnaire was actually filled out by someone else, not the President. There was a long debate about this in the campaign. ... This was litigated in the campaign," Pfeiffer said in an exchange with the Daily Kos' Kaili Joy Gray caught on video.

AmericaBlog was quick with a denouncement.

JMG Reader Meet-Up Tonight At 10PM

After last night's visit to the Saloon, the consensus is to have tonight's JMG reader meet-up at the Eagle/Bolt, which is at 515 Washington Ave South. I'll should be able to get there by 10pm, based on what tonight's Netroots schedule looks like. Hope to meet some of you there!

MINNEAPOLIS: Scumbag Wingnut Liar Andrew Breitbart Tries To Crash Netroots

King of the scumbags (and GOProud backer) Andrew Breitbart, who famously crashed the press conference of Anthony Weiner, was up to his old tricks this afternoon at Netroots Nation.

There will be no Weiner-style gatecrashing from Andrew Breitbart at the Netroots Nation conference here. That is, unless Breitbart wants to pony up $355 for a ticket. With the annual conservative Right Online conference just down the street from Netroots Nation, it was inevitable that some sort of shenanigan would occur in Minneapolis this week. And so it did, early Friday afternoon when Breitbart, camera crew in tow, showed up at Netroots unannounced and uncredentialed.

As he no doubt expected, the conservative blogger was immediately accosted by an angry progressive with a Flip cam when he stepped off the escalators at the Minneapolis Convention Center, where Netroots is being held. The attendee yelled in Breitbart's face, demanding he answer questions like "have you ever used cocaine?" and "why are you so fixated on gay magazines?" Breitbart yelled back at the guy, refusing to answer. Eventually Breitbart's security detail pulled him away and sent him toward the entrance to the conference. He was rebuffed by staffers, who denied him entry because he didn't have a credential.

Talking Points Memo reports that Breitbart left visibly "thrilled" by the incident.

UPDATE: Note how the wingnuts are already spinning this. You might recall escaped mental patient Jim Hoft (below) as the blogger who claimed the Obama administration was using a Jumbrotron to instruct the audience to applaud at the Tuscon shooting memorial.

GOProud Sells Skeletor's Autograph

NEW YORK: Tracy Morgan Meets Homeless LGBT Youth Of Ali Forney Center

ABOVE: "Tracy Morgan listens to Jayden Love, an Ali Forney Center client rejected by her religious family." I can't imagine a more effective remedy for Morgan than meeting the kids of the AFC.

At The Saloon

The Saloon, Minneapolis, Thursday 11pm

After thirty minutes in line for what turned out to be "18 and over" night, I finally handed my ID to the doorman. He looked at me and raised his eyebrows.

JMG: I know, I'm the oldest one here. Hah.
Doorman: Naw, there's one older dude in there tonight.
JMG: (Jokingly) Great! Is he hot?
Doorman: How could he be?

And still I went in and had a pleasant time.

UPDATE: I should have noted that Saloon was just one stop on the LGBT Netroots bar crawl, otherwise I wouldn't have gone in.

Tweet Of The Day - Melissa Clouthier

The rumbles between Netroots attendees and those here for the anti-gay Right Online conference have begun. According to Twitter, one Netroots attendee was just dragged screaming out of Andrew Breitbart's book signing. The haters booked themselves right into the main Netroots host hotel.

Afternoon View - DNC Chair Debbie Wasserman Schultz Speaks At Netroots

She's somewhat the fiery speaker. Video to come soon, hopefully.

Quote Of The Day II - Albert Mohler

"We've (Southern Baptists) lied about the nature of homosexuality and have practiced what can only be described as homophobia. We've used the choice language when it is clear that sexual orientation is a deep inner struggle and not merely a matter of choice." - Southern Baptists president Albert Mohler, speaking at this year's convention. Mohler also said: "Only the gospel of the Lord Jesus Christ gives a homosexual person any hope of release from homosexuality."

NOTE: It's unclear if Mohler's comments were prompted by the demand for an apology made earlier this week by groups such as GetEQUAL and Truth Wins Out.

Four Minutes Of Hate With Bryan Fischer

Compiled by Right Wing Watch.

Pam's House Blend Joins Firedoglake

At today's Morning News Dump with Lizz Winstead, Pam Spaulding made the big announcement that she'll be folding Pam's House Blend into a subblog on Firedoglake. FDL founder Jane Hamsher:

Pam's House Blend has long been one of the most compelling and influential sites in the blogosphere. Founder Pam Spaulding has used the platform not only to speak out herself as a woman of color and a member of the LGBT community, but also to play host to many other fine bloggers who have worked with her to build PHB into a robust activist community. Pam was also one of my first friends when we were both posting at Daily Kos, before Firedoglake even existed.

So it gives me great pleasure to announce that Pam's House Blend will be joining the Firedoglake family of blogs. I think it's a perfect union - as the task of hosting a blog and performing the tech, legal and security work to keep it up and running becomes more and more complex and expensive, it will free Pam and her fellow bloggers to spend their time doing what they do best, which is blog. It also allows us to feature the work of a really amazing group of writers on FDL, and be tremendously enriched by the PHB community.

We wish her well.

Daily Ungrumble

The other big convention here in Minneapolis is the annual meeting of the International Society For The Study Of Why You Can't Fucking Sleep. (Or something.) I gotta say, some of their seminars down the hall look very interesting.

2005 Flashback

During my 2005 visit to Minneapolis, being a gay man, I was forced by law to pose with the famed Mary Tyler Moore statue. Sadly, I could find nobody nearby willing to be my Hazel Frederick.

UNRELATED: Last night I went to an open bar / karaoke party hosted by SEIU, where the mayor of Minneapolis led the entire crowd in the Mary Tyler Moore theme song. True story.

Netroots Nation Notables

I'll add more photos to this slideshow as the week goes on.

Photo Of The Day

At the Vancouver hockey riots.

Yesterday & Today

The Final Harry Potter Trailer

From The Mind Of Crazy Eyes

More insanity here.

Quote Of The Day - Peter Sprigg

"Advocates of same-sex 'marriage' would have you believe that a majority of Americans are now ready to throw man-woman marriage and mother-father households on the ash heap of history. Don't believe it. Like the voters in 31 out of 31 states that have voted on the issue, this new poll makes clear that a solid majority of Americans still believe that marriage is the union of a man and a woman. I hope the members of the New York State Senate will consider this before they make a foolish decision to redefine our most fundamental social institution." - Family Research Council spokesdouche Peter Sprigg.

NOTE: This new poll Sprigg refers to? It was paid for by the anti-gay Nazis at the Alliance Defense Fund.

Larry Flynt: I Want Weiner

TMZ reports:

Flynt fired off a letter to Weiner moments after the politician resigned from Congress earlier today saying, "After having learned of your sudden and compelled resignation from your Congressional post, I would like to make you an offer of employment at Flynt Management Group, LLC in our internet group." Flynt insists, "This offer is not made in jest" and says he is "willing to pay twenty percent more than your former Congressional salary, ensuring that your medical benefits would be equal to what you were previously receiving."

Lady Gaga - The Edge Of Glory

TEXAS: Gov. Rick Perry Teams Up With Anti-Gay Haters For State Prayer Rally

GOP Tries More DADT Stall Tactics

Led by GOP Rep. Duncan Hunter, 23 anti-gay members are the U.S. House are seeking to thwart the certification of the repeal of DADT. Chris Johnson reports at the Washington Blade:

The GOP letter to Obama states Congress should have the opportunity to review the new regulations before the president and defense leaders give the OK for “Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell” repeal. “Merely providing ‘training and educational’ briefs to our service members is not enough to justify moving forward with certification when consequential policy and regulatory changes associated with implementation must be reviewed by Congress under its oversight function,” the letter states. “Until those policy changes have been delivered and reviewed by Congress, it would be irresponsible to proceed with the certification process.” Additionally, the letter states that certification at this time would be premature because of “apparent confusion” at the Defense Department in creating new policies for open service.

Penises! Everywhere! Part 3!

Morning View - Tippi Hedren

The Minnesota Walk of Fame features five names. So far.

NETROOTS: Choi Rips Up Obama Flyer

Igor Volsky reports at Think Progress: "Lt. Dan Choi ripped up an Obama For America (OFA) flyer this afternoon during a panel at Netroots Nation when he was confronted by an Obama volunteer who attempted to explain away the President’s opposition to same-sex marriage."

NOTE: The Obama administration is prosecuting Choi for chaining himself to the White House fence during a DADT protest. Earlier this week Choi's trial date was set for late August.

UPDATE: Choi later said to Washington Blade reporter Chris Johnson: “Sometimes love comes in harsh forms. I love my detractors enough to let them know when they are misguided and I only regret that we are both suffering under a second-class citizenship imposed by politicians who smile pleasantly while denying our fight for justice. The harshest treatment would be our acquiescence to the view that we do not deserve equality.”

Tim Pawlenty Gets Glittered

NEW YORK: More Assholery From The Red-Caped Catholic Loons

Gaga Tweets For New York Marriage

She has ten million Twitter followers.

VIDEO: Weiner Resigns

And even on the worst day of his life, he had to endure more heckling from that douchebag from the Howard Stern show.

The Daily Kos Lounge

At the moment I'm blogging from a big comfy floral sofa in the Daily Kos Lounge, an oasis of recliners, couches, and power strips (yay!) that runs down the center of the main hall of the Minneapolis Convention Center. That's my 'puter in the foreground and Good As You's Jeremy Hooper is across from me. I have no idea what the deal is with the kiddie pool.

MINNEAPOLIS: Lesbian Couple Yelled At For Kissing At Twins Baseball Game

Via Minneapolis' City Pages blog:

Taylor Campione and Kelsi Culpepper -- two lesbian women from Minneapolis -- were recently scolded by a Target Field security guard for what they call a "brief kiss." After seeing the quick peck on the lips, the guard told the women that "we don't play grab ass here" and that they must "adhere to the 10 Commandments" while at the stadium. "That ruined our entire evening," says Campione. "We were super upset, we felt super uncomfortable." The security guard has since been reprimanded, but continues to work at the stadium, says Kevin Smith, a spokesman for the Twins. "That behavior just is unacceptable," Smith says of the biblical put-down. "That security guard has received both a verbal and written reprimand that will be put in his personnel file, and he understands that that is not an acceptable behavior."

The couple plans to file a complaint with the Minnesota Department of Human Rights.

Betty Bowers: Histories Of America

Tweet Of The Day - Brian Brown

Even though they've blocked me from their blog, their YouTube channel, and their Twitter feed, NOM still reads JMG.

Afternoon View - Right Wing Watch

Folks, meet Right Wing Watch bloggers Brian Tashman and Kyle Mantyla. Between the two of them, they probably provide more JMG video and hate-quote content than any other site I regularly reference. Big props and snaps to them both!

Asshat Of The Day - Dov Hikind

New York state Assemblyman Dov Hikind says that approving marriage equality means "we take the Torah, God forbid, and throw it in the garbage." He also seems to believe we'll all be forced to wear telephones on our heads.

Football Star Reveals Anti-Gay Bigotry

Christianity Changes Your DNA

Literally, apparently.

Rep. Anthony Weiner To Resign

According to the New York Times, Rep. Anthony Weiner is going to resign today.

The top Democratic official said Mr. Weiner called Representative Nancy Pelosi of California and Representative Steve Israel of New York last night while they were at the White House picnic to inform them he had decided to resign on Thursday. Mr. Weiner plans to resign in Sheepshead Bay, Brooklyn, at 2 p.m. , at the spot where he announced his first campaign for City Council in 1992, according to two people told of his plans. The news comes as Democratic leaders prepared to hold a meeting on Thursday to discuss whether to strip the 46-year-old congressman of his committee assignments, a blow that would severely damage his effectiveness.

A damn fucking shame.

Morning View - Pam & Lizz Winstead

Pam Spaulding kicked off the first official day of Netroots Nation 2011 by appearing on the radio show of Lizz Winstead, which broadcast from the main floor of the Minneapolis Convention Center.

An Anti-Gay Christian Anthem

Daily Grumble

You'd think that at a giant convention for thousands of blogger/journalists there'd be ample and easy internet access. If you thought that at last year's Netroots in Vegas, you were wrong then too.

Open Thread Thursday

What childhood book most influenced your tastes in reading today?

Vancouver Riots Over Hockey Loss

Mugshot

Quote Of The Day - Joseph Farah

"Bible prophecy may have a bad name in the light of Harold Camping's misguided date-setting, but the biggest sign of the end may have been overlooked in all the rapture hysteria of the May 21st weekend. Once again, we saw the U.S. hit with a series of deadly superstorms following Barack Obama's pledge to return Israel to pre-1967 borders. Just days after Obama insisted Israel must give up lands it won through military victory with its enemies, some 200 people were killed by a tornado in Joplin, Mo. There's a pattern here. We saw it in Katrina, when George Bush forced Israel's withdrawal from Gaza. In fact, as everyone from Israeli rabbis to U.S. senators have noted, it seems to happen every single time the U.S. pressures Israel to divide the land." - World Net Daily founder Joseph Farah, saying that Obama caused the Joplin tornadoes.

WWII Veteran For New York Marriage

Tony Perkins On New York Senate

"In the last 24 hours, another shoe dropped in the sprint to redefine marriage in New York. A second Republican has now come forward, promising to vote in favor of same-sex unions. Now that Roy McDonald has crumbled, the senate is just one vote shy of breaking down the door on marriage and redefining the family in one of the most pivotal states in the union. Earlier today, our sources on the ground said that the vote could come as early as tonight. Either way, the bill's fate rests in the hands of the state's Senate Majority Leader Dean Skelos (R), who will make the final decision on whether to bring the legislation to the floor.

"Your involvement is crucial. Our only hope for stopping this runaway train is if New Yorkers call their senate offices today. In particular, reach out to Greg Ball (Putnam County), 518-455-3111; Joe Griffo (Utica), 518-455-3334; Mark Grisanti (Buffalo, Grand Island, Niagara Falls), 518-455-3240; Andrew Lanza (Staten Island) 518-455-3215; Betty Little (Plattsburgh to Glens Falls), 518-455-2811; and Jack Martins (Nassau County/Garden City) 518-455-3265. If you can't get on the phone, please get on your knees. Ask the Lord to intervene in the hearts and minds of these leaders that they would recognize the profound and lasting consequences of this moment." - Hate group leader Tony Perkins.

NOTE: Please do use the numbers provided above!

Crazy Eyes' Unrivaled Extremism

NY Assembly Approves Marriage

Openly gay New York state Assemblyman Daniel O'Donnell has shepherded his chamber to an approval of marriage equality for the fourth time. Gay City News reports:

While State Senate Republicans on June 15 dragged their heels on moving a marriage equality bill to debate and a vote, the Assembly, having waived the three-day hold on newly introduced legislation, rushed Governor Andrew Cuomo’s measure through committee and to the floor, where it passed by an 80-63 vote Wednesday evening. This was the Assembly’s fourth vote on marriage equality, each one of them successful, since 2007. Upper West Side Assemblyman Daniel O’Donnell, an out gay Democrat, is the lead sponsor. On the heels of two Republican senators pledging their “yes” votes in recent days, the majority in that chamber met behind closed doors for more than four hours on Wednesday morning, only to announce they would pick up the discussion again the following day. Senators who have yet to firmly commit to one side or another refused comment or stuck to their noncommittal positions. The public count of Senate supporters stands at 31, one vote shy of a majority.

Wingnuts To "Crash" Netroots Nation

A long list of repulsive anti-gay scumbags will gather here in Minneapolis this weekend "in defiance" of the Netroots Nation convention. Confirmed to attend: Andrew Breitbart, Michelle Malkin, Michele "Crazy Eyes" Bachmann, Tim Pawlenty, Herman "Gays Are Sinners" Cain, Virginia AG Ken Cuccinelli, and GOProud's Jimmy LaSalvia. GOProud won't be allowed to actually participate, of course, but they'll be holding a happy hour in one of the Netroots host hotels. (This one, in fact. Hmm, about that JMG meetup...)

Crazy Eyes: Horrible Lesbian Activists Held Me In The Ladies Room Against My Will!

Today the Daily Beast reports on a 2005 incident in which Michele Bachmann called the police when lesbian activists spoke to her in a ladies room.

A few dozen people showed up at the town hall for the April 9 event, and Bachmann greeted them warmly. But when, during the question and answer session, the topic turned to same-sex marriage, Bachmann ended the meeting 20 minutes early and rushed to the bathroom. Hoping to speak to her, Arnold and another middle-aged woman, a former nun, followed her. As Bachmann washed her hands and Arnold looked on, the ex-nun tried to talk to her about theology. Suddenly, after less than a minute, Bachmann let out a shriek. "Help!" she screamed. "Help! I'm being held against my will!"

Arnold, who is just over 5 feet tall, was stunned, and hurried to open the door. Bachmann bolted out and fled, crying, to an SUV outside. Then she called the police, saying, according to the police report, that she was "absolutely terrified and has never been that terrorized before as she had no idea what those two women were going to do to her." The Washington County attorney, however, declined to press charges, writing in a memo, "It seems clear from the statements given by both women that they simply wanted to discuss certain issues further with Ms. Bachmann."

As the above-linked story notes, just before Bachmann's ladies room encounter, she'd been exposed by the local press for hiding in the bushes (with a bodyguard) to observe a gay rights rally at the Minnesota capitol building.

MSNBC On Prop 8 & NY Marriage

Third Grader Bait

NY Assembly Votes Today

That vote is a done deal, of course. Meanwhile today state Senate Republicans met for four hours to discuss allowing a vote in their GOP-dominated chamber. The meeting ended with no decision.

UPDATE: Gay City News reports on the Senate.

The New York State Senate Republican majority conference emerged from a closed-door meeting today having failed to reach agreement on whether to allow a floor debate and vote on Governor Andrew Cuomo's marriage equality bill. "We have reached no conclusion," Dean Skelos, the Long Island Republican who is the majority leader, told reporters as he came out of the meeting. "Members have asked me to keep these discussions in confidence, and we will conference again on it tomorrow."

Greg Ball, the Putnam County Republican who has for weeks raised concerns about the need for religious exemptions, continued talking about that issue as he left the room. Earlier in the day, Ball released a letter spelling out requirements for language he would need to see in the bill in order to support it. One of those requirements is that religious organizations be exempt from providing services to which they object on religious grounds -- a demand that would seem to go well beyond the carve-outs already existing in New York law that Cuomo incorporated into his marriage equality program bill.

Afternoon View - MSP Bike Share

Minneapolis has a groovy public bike sharing system similar to the one I fell in love with in Montreal.

NY Post: No To Same-Sex Marriage

From an editorial published by the New York Post today.

Gov. Cuomo yesterday ratcheted up the pressure in favor of same-sex marriage in New York, sending his own bill to the Legislature while arm-twisting lawmakers on its behalf. That's a pity. Sure, politics drives everything in Albany, but some topics properly are a matter between legislators, their constituents and their consciences. We would include same-sex marriage on that list. Cuomo isn't the only one big-footing the issue. Conservative Party Chairman Mike Long has warned that no legislator who endorses same-sex marriage will be listed on his party's ballot line -- no small matter for many Republicans. There is no denying that same-sex marriage could become law this year. This reflects a seismic shift in society's attitudes on the issue -- and a growing acceptance of gays in general. Still, the question is vexing.But if we had a vote, it would be no. Marriage as an institution has fallen on hard times in recent years. But that's no excuse for weakening it further.

The entire thing seems to have been ghost-written by Maggie Gallagher.

Freep This El Paso Times Poll

You know what to do.

Today In Christian Love™

Unbelievable.

Activists in Kentucky are planning a peaceful response after two gay men with developmental and intellectual disabilities were kicked out of a public pool. A maintenance technician reportedly cited the Bible while telling the two men they couldn't swim at The Pavilion, a government-funded recreational facility in Hazard, Kentucky. "We own this place and can tell you to leave if we want to," the couple was told, according to the Kentucky Equality Foundation. "The Pavilion staff immediately entered the pool area and asked my clients and their staff to leave the Pavilion," Mending Hearts Executive Director Shirlyn Perkins recalled. "My staff asked The Pavilion staff why they were being asked to leave, and they were informed that 'gay people' weren't allowed to swim there."

Fake Lesbian Bloggers Get Animated

El Paso Restores Partner Benefits

Last year a too-broadly worded anti-gay ballot referendum not only rescinded domestic partner benefits for El Paso city employees, it ended insurance benefits for some retired cops and firefighters. Yesterday the city council reversed the ballot measure.

After hearing spirited arguments from members of the public on both sides of the issue, the council split 4-4. Mayor John Cook, who proposed the ordinance restoring benefits, broke the tie in favor of it despite a ballot initiative in November ending them. City Reps. Beto O'Rourke and Rachel Quintana, who will leave the council in two weeks, voted in favor of restoring the benefits. Quintana's replacement, Michiel Noe, on Tuesday said he would not have voted the way she did. "Although I think everyone should have benefits, I would have respected the will of the voters," Noe said. "Now, if the courts had decided that was illegal, then I would have voted according to what the ruling said. But they said that the vote was legal, so again I would respect the will of the voters."

Pastor Tom Brown, the author of the original measure, says he will launch a recall drive against the city council members who voted to restore the benefits.

Fran Drescher & Her Gay Ex-Husband

Netroots 2011 LGBT Conference Begins

Mike Rogers is at the podium kicking off today's Netroots 2011 LGBT Conference. In the room: Pam Spaulding, Jeremy Hooper, Michael Crawford, Rod McCullom, Jillian Weiss, Jarrod Chlapowski, Jerame Davis, Fred Sainz, Corey Johnston, Chris Johnson, Phil Reese, and about 100 more hard-working LGBT activists.

Chris Christie: Gays Aren't Sinners

The wingnut fallout from this will be delicious.

Tweet Of The Day - Chris Barron

Outside Yesterday's NYC Hate Rally

Notes From Netroots

My blogging schedule may be somewhat erratic all this week as I attend the various lectures and seminars at Netroots 2011. Today I'm attending Mike Rogers's LGBT pre-conference, where most of your favorite activists, bloggers, and writers will gather. You can follow the goings-on on Twitter at the hashtag #NN11LGBT. By the way, I have very fond memories of the Minneapolis gay bar scene and we'll definitely put together a JMG meetup somewhere for this Friday night. I'm thinking Saloon?

Dan Choi's Trial Set For August

Yesterday a federal court set August 28th as the date that Dan Choi will be tried for DADT-related civil disobedience at the White House. Chris Geidner reports at Metro Weekly:

Former Lt. Dan Choi was in federal court today, the lone individual still facing charges from any of the 2010 "Don't Ask, Don't Tell" protests that took place at the White House. He also was in uniform, a reminder of the symbol for repeal that Choi and other active servicemembers became during the course of the 2010 debate over ending the 1993 policy and instead allowing out gay, lesbian and bisexual service in the U.S. Armed Forces. Sitting at the defense table in Courtroom 7 of the E. Barrett Prettyman Courthouse, Choi was silent throughout today's brief conference where U.S. Magistrate Judge Alan Kay set an Aug. 29 trial date for Choi on federal charges of violating a federal regulation prohibiting "interfering with agency functions," specifically disobeying a lawful order of the National Park Service.

Cyndi Lauper For New York Marriage

Party Town

This year's Netroots Nation is shaping up to be very different from last year's in Las Vegas.

UPDATE: Before the locals get TOO bent out of shape, here's my review of MSP from my 2005 visit for the InterPride convention.

Bill Maher On Tracy Morgan

PhoboQuotable - Timothy Dolan

"Last time I consulted an atlas, it is clear we are living in New York, in the United States of America – not in China or North Korea. In those countries, government presumes daily to “redefine” rights, relationships, values, and natural law. There, communiqués from the government can dictate the size of families, who lives and who dies, and what the very definition of 'family' and 'marriage' means. But, please, not here!

"Our country’s founding principles speak of rights given by God, not invented by government, and certain noble values – life, home, family, marriage, children, faith – that are protected, not re-defined, by a state presuming omnipotence. Please, not here! We cherish true freedom, not as the license to do whatever we want, but the liberty to do what we ought; we acknowledge that not every desire, urge, want, or chic cause is automatically a 'right.' And, what about other rights, like that of a child to be raised in a family with a mom and a dad?" - New York Archbishop Timothy Dolan, writing on his personal blog.

Ben Cohen On Gay Times Cover

(Via - Towleroad)

Morning View - Netroots Boys

The first familiar faces I ran into here in Minneapolis were Washington Blade staffers Chris Johnson and Phil Reese.

The Sissy Boy Experiment, Part 4

A follow-up with Box Turtle Bulletin blogger Jim Burroway.

Tony Perkins On New York Marriage

"New York's legislative session isn't the only thing that ends next Monday--so could the state's definition of marriage. After a frantic month of lobbying, the state senate is teetering dangerously close to passing a same-sex "marriage" law. Two years after voting the measure down, homosexual activists are back. And this time, they have the support of four senators who helped kill the bill the last time around.

"Three Democrats and one Republican (Sen. James Alesi of Rochester) say their opinions have 'evolved' and now pledge to make New York the sixth--and largest state--to legalize counterfeit marriage. Part of the reason for that 'evolution' is the grassroots involvement. According to local leaders, the Left has been pumping calls into their offices. In 2009, Sen. Joseph Addabbo said that values voters had overwhelmed his phone lines with opposition. This month, he told the New York Times, there was no contest. More than 4,830 anti-marriage activists asked him to vote in favor of it." - Family Research Council head bigot Tony Perkins, via press release.