Crazy Eyes Wins Iowa Straw Poll

Rick Perry got 718 write-in votes.

INDIANA: Lawmakers Pressure Hinkle To Resign Over Craigslist Hooker Scandal

Some Indiana state lawmakers are pressuring six term GOP Rep. Phillip Hinkle to resign immediately after allegedly hiring an 18 year-old male prostitute from Craigslist. The most direct calls for Hinkle to step down are coming from his fellow evangelicals and not from the LGBT people he routinely voted against.

"I strongly recommend that Representative Hinkle resign his position," said Marion County Republican Chairman Kyle Walker, "so that he can focus on his family and not have this situation detract from that or the work that needs to continue in his legislative district." Others were less certain, especially until more facts come to light. "It's not for me to say," Daniels said. "It's for him and his constituents." Bosma said the next step is a discussion with Hinkle and to "chart a course from there." And Indiana Republican Party Chairman Eric Holcomb said Hinkle needs to "do the right thing." Asked if that meant the six-term lawmaker should resign, Holcomb said he "would word it differently."

One local station has a blurred-out interview with the alleged hooker, who does not appear in the below clip.

Rick Perry Makes It Official

We're headed for a theocratic Christian sharia-based society if the likes of Rick Perry ever get into office.

Feds With A Sense Of Humor

Australian feds, actually.

Ladybird Shoves CNN's Don Lemon

Caption This

ARKANSAS: Atheists Win Bus Suit

An atheist group seeking to place its message on city buses has won its lawsuit against an Arkansas public transit agency. The agency had demanded payment on a $3M insurance policy in case rampaging Christians decided to vandalize its vehicles in response to the ads.

Judge Susan Webber Wright ruled that the Central Arkansas Transit Authority and its advertising agency should not have denied the group the right to place the ads on 18 publicly-funded city buses during Memorial Day weekend. Washington-based United Coalition of Reason filed a lawsuit on behalf of the Arkansas group in June after the transit authority and its advertising agency rejected an ad that would have read, "Are you good without God? Millions are." "This was a victory for all of us whether you believe in God or not, because it's a victory of free speech," United Coalition of Reason's attorney J.G. Schultz told Reuters. The transit authority and its advertising agency, On The Move Advertising, had required payment of a $36,000 deposit to run the ad. The group then changed that to a $3 million insurance policy in case of bus vandalism by angry Christians.

At Bachmann's Newsweek Shoot

Seattle Mariners - It Gets Better

Quote Of The Day - Michael Bloomberg

"If you want to raise taxes, don't pick one class of people and say, 'I think they have too much money' or 'I don't think they have enough money' or whatever. Raise everybody's taxes one or two percent or whatever. I think the president should literally go out there and say, 'This is what I propose - A, B, C and D.' And I think that should be a combination of revenue enhancements and expense cuts." - Mega-billionaire Michael Bloomberg, who doesn't want his taxes raised unless everybody's are.

BRITAIN: Looters Tell Their Story

What Has Obama Accomplished?

Click here for the answer.

TX Gov. Rick Perry: Social Security And Medicare Are Totally Unconstitutional

"I don’t think our founding fathers when they were putting the term 'general welfare' in there were thinking about a federally operated program of pensions nor a federally operated program of health care. What they clearly said was that those were issues that the states need to address. Not the federal government. I stand very clear on that. From my perspective, the states could substantially better operate those programs if that’s what those states decided to do." - Texas Gov. Rick Perry, speaking to Newsweek.

Church Sign Of The Day

Visit their Facebook page. (Source)

David Guetta - Titanium

I probably only like this because it vaguely reminds me of San Francisco's late 90's sound.

WaPo Poll: Will You Re-Elect Obama?

Via Washington Post:

Support for Obama has softened considerably on the left: In the new poll, 31 percent of liberals say they are certain to vote for Obama next year, down from 46 percent in June. One in five liberals says they “definitely will not” vote for him, while a 43 percent plurality says they’ll considering casting a ballot for Obama. Obama’s 2008 election was fueled by winning majorities of key swing groups, including political independents, women and voters under age 50. But with 15 months left before Election Day, more than three times as many independents say they “definitely will not” vote for Obama in 2012 as say they “definitely will” — 45 percent versus 14 percent. And among women and those under 50, more say they’ll definitely oppose than definitely support Obama next year.

Daily Grumble

Last night Dr. Jeff and I saw Rise Of The Planet Of The Apes. Two tickets, two medium drinks, one large popcorn, Twizzlers: $47. SRSLY. And we saw it at the decidedly downmarket Beekman, whose houses probably haven't been updated since the mid-80s. No 3-D, no stadium seating, regular sound.

INDIANA: State GOP Rep Busted In Craigslist Gay Hooker Scandal

Six-term GOP Indiana state Rep. Phillip Hinkle, a noted anti-gay Christian activist who forced the state to offer an "In God We Trust" license plate, has been accused of hiring a male prostitute from Craigslist's M4M section. Local newspapers have been provided with emails between Hinkle and the alleged hooker.

The emails, sent from Hinkle's publicly listed personal address, ask the young man for "a couple hours of your time tonight" and offer him cash up front, with a tip of up to $50 or $60 "for a really good time." The email exchange is in response to the Craigslist posting in which the young man -- who lists his age as 20 in the ad but says he is 18 years old -- says, "I need a sugga daddy." The young man told The Star that they met, but that he tried to leave after the man told him he was a state lawmaker. He said the lawmaker at first told him he could not leave, grabbed him in the rear, exposed himself to the young man and then later gave him an iPad, BlackBerry cellphone and $100 cash to keep quiet. When contacted by The Star about the emails, Hinkle, a Republican who represents portions of Pike and Wayne townships, did not contest the emails but said, "I am aware of a shakedown taking place." Asked what he meant by shakedown, Hinkle would not elaborate. He directed further questions to his attorney.

Hinkle is married to a woman and has children. He recently voted in favor of a constitutional amendment banning same-sex marriage and civil unions. According to VoteSmart.org, he also supports a long list of Christianist political goals.

(Tipped by JMG reader Ken)

On Brighton & Hove Gay Men's Chorus

Earlier this week I mentioned that Universal Records has awarded the chorus an unprecedented £1M recording contract. Their album will be released on October 5th in the UK.

NEW YORK: Another Town Clerk Refuses To Sign Same-Sex Marriage Licenses

A town clerk in Ledyard, New York has informed her bosses that due to her personal religious bigotry, she is unwilling to sign the marriage licenses of same-sex couples. She is the third such town clerk in the state to come forward as a bigot.

Ledyard Town Clerk Rose Marie Belforti submitted a letter to the Ledyard Town Board saying that her religious beliefs prevented her from signing marriage licenses for same-sex couples and the board discussed Belforti’s letter at Monday’s meeting, according to John Binns, a member of the town board. When reached for comment Thursday, Belforti said “that’s not your business” before hanging up the phone. Binns confirmed that Belforti submitted the letter, which he said included a request to the board for Belforti to assign a deputy clerk so the deputy clerk could sign same-sex marriage licenses. Binns said Belforti cited a law which, according to Binns, she said allows her to request a deputy clerk to sign same-sex marriage licenses. Binns said he had mixed feelings on Belforti’s request. While he said he believes that it is the clerk’s job to sign marriage licenses, he added that if the law Belforti cited “is something that stands up,” he will “support whatever the laws are.”

Anti-gay hate groups have vowed to provide a free legal defense to any town clerk that wishes to sue the state over their "denied religious freedoms."

Hong Kong Fights "Ex-Gay" Movement

Dan Choi writes on Change.org:

I write with great concern because Hong Kong's Social Welfare Department recently held a workshop for its staff led by a psychiatrist who claims he can "cure" LGBT people by having them take cold showers. The quack doctor, Hong Kwai-wah, is affiliated with Exodus Global Alliance, a discredited group whose work is rejected by every major medical and mental health organization. As the "ex-gay" message fails in America, Exodus is looking to exploit new markets and export hate overseas. Exodus' last global "outreach" was in Uganda, leading to the notorious and deadly Anti-Homosexuality Bill. This is why it is crucial that we stand up today against Exodus' opportunistic spread of homophobic lies in Asia. By signing our petition, you will tell the Social Welfare Department that its endorsement of "ex-gay therapy" is bringing great shame to Hong Kong and making a mockery of the department's mission to empower communities with dignity, harmony, and happiness.

Hit the above link to sign the petition.

Tony Perkins On Bert & Ernie

"Not only do gays want to force their lifestyle on you and me, but they want to enlist felt-faced non-humans in the fight! And this is on top of the demands for a transgender character to join Sesame Street. For years, the same-sex community has insisted that all they want is the "right" to marry their partners. If that's true, then why do they need to indoctrinate kids? Why recruit children and corporate America and public education? Obviously, the goal here isn't to be left alone to do what they want. The goal is to force the whole world--including small children--to celebrate their sexual behavior. Families are already working overtime to protect their children's innocence. The last thing they need to worry about is the ABCs of indoctrination." - Tony Perkins, whose Christianist hate group daily indoctrinates children into their murderous cult.

NOM Loses Another Court Battle

The court-defying criminals at NOM have once again lost a battle to evade state campaign finance laws.

A federal appeals court panel Thursday rejected an anti-gay marriage group’s bid to block its need for compliance with Rhode Island campaign disclosure laws. The National Organization for Marriage had challenged Chief U.S. District Judge Mary M. Lisi’s refusal in October to grant a preliminary injunction that would have allowed the group to avoid disclosing money it spent to support various candidates, in accordance with state election laws. The group, which has launched similar lawsuits nationwide, had argued that Lisi erred when she denied the request. Judge Lisi concluded the disclosure law imposed little burden on the group and had a valuable governmental interest in identifying the people who give more than $100 to a support or defeat a candidate.

Don't expect NOM to bother complying with the above judgment.

IOWA: Anti-Gay Quote Farm

Courtesy of Think Progress, here's a roundup of all the anti-gay crap said at yesterday's GOP debate in Iowa.

Today In Mildly Interesting Trivia

(Source)

NOM's 2012 Hate Tour A Major Bust

Even with appearances by GOP presidential candidates, NOM's hate tour through Iowa has been attracting tens of attendees at most stops, with some locations drawing "only a handful" of interested bigots. They just never learn.

Frothy Mix Attacks Fellow Tenthers

BROOKLYN: Lesbian Sues For Sexual Harassment, Boss Says She's Too Ugly

Openly lesbian real estate worker Priscilla Agosto, 23, is suing her former employer for sexual harassment, saying she'd been physically and verbally humiliated by her coworkers. Agosto's boss responded to the suit by claiming that she is "too ugly" for anybody to have bothered her.

Priscilla Agosto ran a gauntlet of sexual humiliation - verbal and physical - in her 14 miserable months at People's Choice Realty, her suit against its three bosses says. No less than seven male employees made lewd advances at her - even after she complained to the bosses, she said in papers filed in Brooklyn Supreme Court. Her male co-workers exposed themselves, rubbed up against her and even asked for oral sex, she alleges. And they even offered $500 to watch her have sex with her girlfriend, she said. "I hope and pray that by sharing my story, anyone who finds themselves in a similar situation will have the courage to speak up," said Agosto. Odelia Berlianshik, the owner of the Williamsburg firm, denied the charges - and launched a shocking attack on Agosto's appearance. "Who would touch her? She's an ugly girl anyway," she said of the former secretary. "She made up a story because she didn't want to work."

Go-Go's Get Walk Of Fame Star

Thirty years after their first hit record, the Go-Go's have been honored with a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame.

DNC Rips Mittens On "Corporations"

With some help from Barbra Streisand.

(Via - Towleroad)

Sesame Street: Bert & Ernie Are Not Gay

Sesame Street officials have responded to this week's petition to allow Bert and Ernie to marry on the show.

"Bert and Ernie are best friends. They were created to teach preschoolers that people can be good friends with those who are very different from themselves. "Even though they are identified as male characters and possess many human traits and characteristics, they remain puppets, and do not have a sexual orientation," Sesame Workshop said in a statement posted on Facebook.

Yesterday's statement echoes those issued in previous years.

GOP Candidates Debate Social Issues

I'll be breaking down some of the responses in separate posts, but here's the bulk of the debate portion that covered social issues.

GHANA: National Clergy Head Warns Of God's "Ferocious" Punishment For Gays

Ghana's Archbishop of the International Council for Clergy today joined in the rising campaign against homosexuals, warning that God's ferocious retribution would be rained down on his nation's gay people. That retribution, of course, will come at the hands of God's Gentle People.

Archbishop Ofori-Atta said the judgment of God was not only upon practitioners, but also on all admirers, encouragers and helpers and therefore warned the Ghanaian authorities especially Parliament not to legalise gay marriages. “Let the Government heed to wisdom and arise in these perilous times and bar the practice of homosexuality. We, as an Ecclesiastical Body, condemn homosexuality and call on the Executive and the Legislature to enact and pass a law that will bar the perpetuation of homosexuality in this Beloved Nation of ours, “he added.

HomoQuotable - Ricky Martin

"My shoulders feel much lighter and straighter and I feel my life is a lot more simple now. I lived with the obsession to be accepted for such a long time. But it was when I held my children in my arms I knew I couldn’t do it anymore. I wanted to teach them to be themselves, to know there is nothing wrong with being gay – because there isn’t. I want them to have self-love, pride and dignity. And that means I had to be transparent." - Ricky Martin, who should teach a celebrity course on coming out.

BRITAIN: Towns Consider Evicting Looters From Public Housing

Star Trek: The Theme Park

Good news: Funding has been approved for a Star Trek theme park. Bad news: It's gonna be in built in Jordan.

Photo Of The Day

The Second Avenue subway continues to sprout giant structures along my block. Whatever this thing is, a huge truck just drove down into it. I'm dragging you poor folks along on this decade-long project!

Romney: Corporations Are People

Especially when they anonymously donate millions to your campaign! I loved the mocking laughter and heckling that followed Romney's nonsense.

CNN Poll: Rick Perry Zooms To Second

CNN reports:

As Rick Perry moves closer and closer to a run for the White House, a new national survey indicates that the longtime Texas governor is close to the top of the pack in the hunt for the Republican presidential nomination. According to a CNN/ORC International poll, 15 percent of Republicans and independents who lean towards the GOP pick Perry as their first choice for their party's nomination, just two points behind former Massachusetts Gov. Mitt Romney, who's making his second bid for the White House. Romney's two point margin over Perry is within the survey's sampling error.

We should see a least a couple of the above names disappear from the race after this weekend's Iowa straw poll. And it's very interesting to see Crazy Eyes tumble to sixth place.

Pat Condell - Britain Is A Riot

Whoa. Stand back.

Christine O'Donnell Reads From Her Book

"They call us 'wackos'! They call us 'wingnuts'! We call us 'we the people!'"

Petition: Let Bert & Ernie Get Married

A petition drive launched on Change.org asks the producers of Sesame Street to allow long-rumored boyfriends Bert and Ernie to marry.

Chicago resident Lair Scott started an online petition at Change.org to pressure the Sesame Street Workshop to "Let Bert & Ernie get married on Sesame Street." The petition reads, "We are not asking Sesame Street to do anything crude or disrespectful…. It can be done in a tasteful way. Let us teach tolerance of those that are different." As of this writing, the petition had collected more than 1,600 signatures. But are Bert and Ernie even gay, never mind ready for the ultimate commitment? Scott clearly thinks so. In an interview with ABC News.com, Scott said, "A lot of people have wondered about Bert and Ernie.... Living in the same bedroom and the same home would make anyone question their sexuality." His aim, he added, is to get 20,000 petitioners to encourage the Sesame Workshop to either marry Bert and Ernie or introduce a gay or lesbian character.

Sesame Street has denied that Bert and Ernie are gay ever since the rumors started over 20 years ago. The usual response: "They are puppets. They don't exist below the waist."

Joe Manganiello - It Gets Better

NOM Will Have Trouble Spinning This

According to a just-released poll, a majority of New York voters are either "more likely" to support pro-marriage legislators or simply don't care about the issue.

Pomplamoose - Monster Mask

Manchester Pride To Go On Despite Riots

The organizers of Manchester Pride say this month's events will take place as planned despite the continuing crisis roiling Britain.

Jackie Crozier, festival director of Manchester Pride, said: “What happened last night in Manchester is an absolute disgrace. We live amongst some fantastic people in an amazing city that has grown on its own organically. “We must now stand up for Manchester; business will be going ahead as usual in our gay village and Manchester Pride will be going ahead. We hope to see you all there in a few weeks to celebrate the positive elements of the city of Manchester: its diversity, community and strength.”

Bachmann Institute For Curing Gayness

SAN FRANCISCO: Ruth Brinker, Founder Of Project Open Hand Dies At Age 89

Ruth Brinker, who founded San Francisco's Project Open Hand, has died at the age of 89. Project Open Hand was the world's first charity to provide meals to people with AIDS.

In 1985, having retired from a career in food services, Ruth heard about a neighbor who died of AIDS. She was shocked to discover that malnutrition was as much the cause of her neighbor’s death as the illness itself. She realized that many others living with AIDS were in the same situation and she knew she could do something. Ruth began preparing meals in her kitchen and delivering them to seven people. That number quickly grew and volunteers came to help her cook and deliver hot, nourishing meals all over San Francisco to people living alone and struggling with a devastating illness. “I didn’t think I was doing anything special,” Ruth said. “I did what anyone would have done under those circumstances.” With this simple act of kindness, repeated day after day with compassion and care, Project Open Hand was born.

Gay Couple Loses Deportation Fight

Despite a number of recent wins on this issue.

NEW YORK: Catholic Archdiocese Opposes Sex Education In Public Schools

It may be hard to believe, but sex education is currently not available to all public high school students in New York City. Each school is allowed to decide whether to offer the courses and only about half do. Bloomberg wants to change that, much to the outrage of busybodies from the Catholic Church.

In the first serious challenge to the city’s mandate, which was announced on Tuesday, a spokesman for the archdiocese said the church’s position was that parents, not the schools, should educate children about sex. “Parents have the right and the responsibility to be the first and primary educators of their children,” Joseph Zwilling, director of communications for the archdiocese, wrote in a statement. “This mandate by the city usurps that role, and allows the public school system to substitute its beliefs and values for those of the parents.”

The Catholic League's reliably whacko Bill Donahue weighs in:

There is a sex-education program that could work, and it is one that is similar to the approach being used to discuss smoking. We don't tell kids not to smoke and then instruct them on the proper way to inhale. No, we show them horrifying pictures of a smoker's lungs. We tell them of the physical pain they are likely to endure by smoking. We tell them how it will shorten their life expectancy. We could do the same when discussing sexual experimentation at a young age. We could discuss how abortion affects the psyche of the mother who elects to terminate her baby. We could show pictures of what abortion does to the child being cut up into pieces. We could instruct them on the link between unwed motherhood and poverty. We could inform them of the greater likelihood of acquiring a sexually transmitted disease. In other words, we could teach the negative real-life consequences of sexual experimentation at a young age.

FDA Approves New HIV Med

Yesterday the FDA approved the second all-in-one daily combination pill for the treatment of HIV infection. The first such medication, Atripla, has been on the market for several years.

Complera, a complete single-tablet regimen containing Janssen Therapeutics’ Edurant (rilpivirine) and Gilead Sciences’ Viread (tenofovir) and Emtriva (emtricitabine), was approved August 10 by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA), according to an announcement by Gilead. Complera, the second all-in-one fixed-dose combination tablet for people living with HIV, is approved for those starting antiretroviral (ARV) therapy for the first time.

The new combination pill is not yet available in Europe.

Quote Of The Day - Rep. Allen West

"I like chocolate chip ice cream, and I will continue to like chocolate chip ice cream. So there's no worry about me changing to vanilla. I like to, you know, ride my motorcycle. What do you want me to do? You want me to change my behavior and ride a scooter? I'm not into that. People can change their sexual behavior. And I've seen people do that. I grew up in Atlanta, Georgia, so I've seen a very different perspective on human behaviors. So that's where I'm coming from on that." - GOP Rep. Allen West, speaking to the Fort Lauderdale Sun-Sentinel editorial board.

Open Thread Thursday

What languages do you speak? Which do you wish you did?

Mike Bickle: Demons Have Attacked Me Physically At Least Ten Times

This guy shared the stage with TX Gov. Rick Perry at Houston's prayer rally.

Budget Deficits For Dummies

This is a clear explanation, actually.

Photo Of The Day

Several blocks of midtown Manhattan were shut down this afternoon after a suicidal man (light blue shirt) somehow clambered over the 12-foot glass wall on the 70th floor viewing deck of 30 Rock. Police were able to coax the man to safety after a "very tense hour."

(Photo via - Buzzfeed)

Do Not Freep This AFA Poll

Because ALL of the options are fabulous!

GHANA: 'Human Rights' Commissioner Vows To Keep Homosexuality Illegal

The laughably titled Human Rights Commissioner of Ghana says she was misquoted and would never endorse the decriminalization of homosexuality.

"I did not advocate that homosexuality should be decriminalized. My view is that, it currently isn’t clear whether it is even criminal and that if the view of the society is that it should be then, there should be a debate about that. In my view I don’t think as a society we are ready to give homosexuals, lesbians the whole category of people any of those kind of rights."

Sex between men is illegal in Ghana. The law makes no mention of lesbians.

RELATED: Yesterday Ghana's Presbyterian church announced plans to open "ex-gay" centers for the de-gaying of the nation's homosexuals.

WISCONSIN: Priebus Celebrates Union Loss- We Need More Makers, Not Takers

RNC chair Priebus is thrilled that the Koch Brothers got their way in the special election to recall Wisconsin's anti-union legislators. The teabaggers won't be happy until every labor union in the nation is dismantled.

HomoQuotable - R. Clark Cooper

"Ann Coulter is not a serious part of the conservative movement -- her positions are a throwback and do more harm than anything else. Her remarks endorsing the widely outdated and profoundly harmful idea of 'reparative therapy,' alleging that one can 'pray the gay away,' are not only demeaning to gays and lesbians, but are offensive to all people of faith. While her position on this matter is off base, it is exacerbated by her claim that the armed forces should bring back 'Don't Ask, Don't Tell,' a failed policy which impedes military readiness. Servicemembers who put their lives on the line deserve respect, not such clownish behavior." - Log Cabin Republicans head R. Clark Cooper, reacting to the GOProud/Coulter story.

O'Donnell On Frothy's Napkin Metaphor

Conde Elevator

A newly viral Twitter account taken verbatim from the elevator at Conde Naste.

Joy Behar On Newsweek Cover

With openly gay panelists Judy Gold and Howard Bragman.

Matt Barber On Coulter/GOProud

"Unfortunately I think she really is putting herself in a position here where she could marginalize herself and do damage to her conservative credentials, if you will. GOProud, of course, is a radical, pro-homosexual, activist organization, a socio-liberal organization that is libertarian in some of their policies in support of some conservative and libertarian policies, but certainly they are socio-liberal. There is nothing conservative about the radical homosexual activist agenda which seeks to impose, under penalty of law, sexual anarchy." - Liberty Counsel spokesdouche Matt Barber, on Ann Coulter joining GOProud.

Bradlee Dean On Maddow Lawsuit

CHILE: President Pushes Civil Unions

Yesterday Chilean President Sebastian Pinera proposed a bill to legalize same-sex civil unions.

"All forms of marriage deserve respect, dignity and the support of the state," said President Sebastian Pinera, who signed the proposal and sent it to Congress. "This puts opposite-sex and same-sex couples on the same footing, because in both cases it is possible to develop love, affection and respect." Pinera, who brought conservatives to power after 20 years of center-left rule in the country, grated on his own election campaign when he announced his intention to legalize civil unions for gay couples. He said two million people in Chile live together without marrying. But the president has repeatedly stressed his opposition to gay marriage. "I deeply believe that marriage is by nature between a man and a woman, but that conviction does not prevent me from recognizing that other forms of affective relationships exist," he said.

Barton: Hang The Bloody Scalps Of Those Traitorous Men Over The Senate Rail

"I want to see pro-family guys scared straight that are squishy on this issue, and if we can’t take out these four Republicans and the Majority Leader in New York, we will have opened a huge door for Melhman and his kind to come in and start rewarding these guys for going against pro-family stuff, and you just can’t let that happen.No disrespect to our Native American friends, but this is where you hang a bloody scalp over the gallery rail. You hang these four Republican scalps over the Senate rail and every other Republican senator looks up and sees those scalps and says, ‘my gosh, I’ll be hanging up there beside them if I don’t stay with this pro-family stuff.’ And that’s exactly what has to happen." - Dominionist David Barton, on NOM's plan to unseat pro-marriage New York state senators.

Jessie J - Who's Laughing Now

Pop In Stereo tips us to this anti-bullying single from openly bisexual British pop singer Jessie J., who first came to American notice as the author of the Miley Cyrus smash, Party In The USA.

MSNBC's Dan Ratigan Rants On Political Corruption & The Debt Crisis

Yeah, I'd say this can be filed under "epic."

The Ladybird Cure

(Tipped by JMG reader Will)

Riots Close British Gayborhood

Birmingham's gay village was shut down yesterday due to widespread looting and fires. ZONE Magazine reports:

The London riots have spread beyond the capital to Birmingham, including the Gay Village. Popular gay bars Missing, The Loft Lounge, Equator, Purple Bar and The Angel Bar were all closed on the advice of police at around 9pm last night. The police have confirmed that at least 35 arrests have already been made. The Birmingham Hippodrome theatre, which is located on the edge of the gay village in the Southside area of Birmingham, was on a 'lockdown' with up to 2,000 theatre-goers locked inside watching We Will Rock You. Following the performance, police escorted patrons to the safety of their cars in the Arcadian Centre.

There was widespread looting in the city centre, including the Armani shop in The Mailbox. Kevin Breese, General Manager of Birmingham's Harvey Nichols shop, confirmed that the ajacent Armani shop has been completely looted. 'They were very well organised youths, with wirecutters and concrete blocks,' he said. West Midlands Police continued to tackle the disorder occurring in Birmingham last night. Several premises were attacked, with some shop windows smashed and property stolen in various locations in the centre, as well as some surrounding areas.

Hit the above link for live updates on the situation.

Local Iowa News On NOM's Hate Tour

There are more media than supporters in that "crowd."

(Via - Good As You)

Army Approves Atheist Concert

With the Army's approval, there will be an "atheist concert" at Fort Bragg. I have no idea what an atheist concert would be like.

"You know those goosebumps you get when your favorite song hits that sweet spot? I got those," said Sgt. Justin Griffith, main organizer of the event and the military director of American Atheists, in an email. "I was overcome with joy and a sense of vindication." The plan is to hold the event on March 31 at the main parade field at Fort Bragg, where the Christian-themed Rock the Fort concert was held. Famed atheist Richard Dawkins is scheduled to appear, along with musicians, speakers and other entertainment. "This just might be the turning point in our struggle for acceptance," Griffith said. "I mean it. I get letters daily from service members asking for advice on how to `do something like what's going on at Fort Bragg'."

The concert is being staged partially in response to recent Christian rock concerts approved by the Army.

Red-Caped Catholic Loons Brainwash Next Generation Of Anti-Gay Zombies

The red-caped loons of the Catholic hate group Tradition, Family, & Property run an all-boys summer camp where activities include chainmail swordfights and recreations of the Crusades. TFP and their marching teen zombies have appeared at virtually all anti-gay hate rallies over the last year.

Frothy Mix: Gay Marriage Is A Napkin

"I can call this napkin a paper towel. But it is a napkin. And why? Because it is what it is. Right? You can call it whatever you want, but it doesn't change the character of what it is. So when people come out and say that marriage is something else — marriage is the marriage of five people, five, 10, 20. Marriage can be between fathers and daughters. Marriage can be between any two people, any four people, any 10 people, it can be any kind of relationship and we can call it marriage. But it doesn't make it marriage. Why? Because there are certain qualities and certain things that attach to the definition of what marriage is." - Rick Santorum, speaking to a tiny crowd of supporters in an Iowa cafeteria.

ZIMBABWE: Police Arrest Five Men On Charges Of "Sexual Immorality"

More bad news out of Africa.

Five men have been arrested in Domboshava near Harare on allegations of being gay and committing acts of sexual immorality, state controlled ZBC News reported on Tuesday. The five men include a 55-year-old white and 4 black men whose ages have not yet been released, they are currently detained at Domboshava Police Station awaiting trial. The incident happened when a bottle store owner suspected that something was wrong after seeing the young black men spending money in an unusual manner leading him to alert the police.

Note how the story obeys Scott Lively's mythology about wealthy white men corrupting local blacks.

London's Mayor Heckled Over Riots

Crazy Eyes Loves Pro-Slavery Book

According to one of the three books on Michele Bachmann's "recommended" list, blacks enjoyed a more wonderful life back when they were the slaves of gentle, loving Christians. An excerpt:

Northerners were often shocked and offended by the familiarity that existed as a matter of course between the whites and blacks of the old South. This was one of the surprising and unintended consequences of slavery. Slavery, as it operated in the pervasively Christian society which was the old South, was not an adversarial relationship founded on racial animosity. In fact, it bred on the whole, not contempt, but, over time, mutual respect. This produced a mutual esteem of the sort that always results when men give themselves to a common cause. The credit for this startling reality must go to the Christian faith.

The book concludes that abolitionism was "not the best answer" for its day.

IOWA: NOM's Hate Bus Tour Begins

The latest edition of NOM's summer hate bus tour kicked off today in Iowa with doomed GOP presidential candidate Tim Pawlenty. Good As You has the list of the anti-gay hate group leaders featured in the above photo. It appears that this year's tour is drawing the same tens of supporters as last year's laugh-fest did.

Teabaggers Cheer S&P Downgrade

"Objectivizing"?

Photo Of The Day - Volunteers Take To London's Streets For Clean-Up

Now that is the Britain I know and love.

LONDON: Rioters Mug Injured Man

This clip has reportedly gone viral today on British TV.

Ann Coulter Joins GOProud

From GOProud's press release:

Coulter’s official title will be “Honorary Chair and Gay Icon.” “Ann Coulter is a brilliant and fearless leader of the conservative movement, we are honored to have her as part of GOProud’s leadership,” said Christopher Barron, Chairman of GOProud’s Board. “Ann helped put our organization on the map. Politics is full of the meek, the compromising and the apologists – Ann, like GOProud, is the exact opposite of all of those things. We need more Ann Coulters.” “I am honored to serve in this capacity on GOProud’s Advisory Council, and look forward to being the Queen of fabulous,” said Coulter.

Coulter opposes same-sex marriage, ENDA, hate crimes laws, the repeal of DADT, and pretty much any LGBT rights legislation. Therefore, she's a perfect fit for the kapos at GOProud.

Family Research Council Issues Lie-Filled Attack On GLSEN

The "little black book" referred to by Tony Perkins was not a GLSEN publication (and Perkins knows this) and was accidentally left at a GLSEN meeting one time (and Perkins knows this.) Yet that one little incident from years ago is continuously cited by the liars at the Family Research Council as cold proof of GLSEN's "real agenda."

BRITAIN: £1M Record Deal For Gay Chorus

Britain's Brighton and Hove Gay Men's Chorus has inked an unprecedented £1M deal with Universal Records.

The 30-strong Brighton & Hove Gay Men's Chorus will release its debut album later this year after signing a deal, said to be worth around £1 million. The choir is working on its repertoire of alternative rock songs in an effort to get away from cliched gay anthems. The deal with Universal Records - also home to U2 - is thought to be the first major label contract for a gay men's choir. Also among their repertoire are songs by David Bowie, Ian McCulloch of Echo And The Bunnymen and The Enemy.

The group's first album will be released in the UK in October.

GHANA: "Ex-Gay" Centers Proposed

As renewed anti-gay sentiment festers in Ghana, the local Presbyterian church has proposed establishing "ex-gay" centers for the de-gaying of the nation's homosexuals.

The Presbyterian Church of Ghana (PCG), is to establish therapy centres for homosexual victims for counselling and rehabilitation in the various communities. The church has therefore called on the government to come out with a clear position on homosexuality in the country, to enable the church to offer the necessary support in helping to reduce the spread of the practice in the society. The Moderator of the General Assembly of the PCG, Right Reverend Professor Emmanuel Martey said this at the commissioning of 36 Ministerial Probationers of the church at the Ranseyer Congregation, at Abetifi. He said homosexuality was spreading fast in the society and urged the country’s leaders and Ministers to put up effective measures to check it and transform the destiny of the country.

(Tipped by JMG reader Mitch)

The Tea Party Downgrade

Voiceover by DC Douglas.

Some States Still Criminalize Sodomy

Equality Matters notes:

In Lawrence v. Texas (2003), the U.S. Supreme Court ruled 6-3 that Texas’ sodomy statute was unconstitutional, marking a major legal victory on the path towards LGBT equality. With the remainder of state sodomy laws technically invalidated by Lawrence, the LGBT community began to shift its focus. [snip] Eight years later, however, eighteen states still refuse to rewrite their laws and take these anti-gay relics off their books, with countless LGBT Americans continuing to feel their devastating effects as a result. Several state legislatures and courts have exploited loopholes in the Lawrence decision, while others have simply refused to acknowledge the decision altogether.

In some states, gay men are still being arrested for "crimes against nature." Hit the link for much more.

Linda Harvey: Ban Gay Teachers

"Kids should not be put in the confusing position of having a teacher they like and respect in many ways who’s also known to be practicing homosexual behavior. Of course that’s where many of our children in public schools today find themselves because the National Education Association not only allows but applauds and defends openly homosexuality and even transvestite teachers. The fact is that no homosexuality should be in our schools, period. When people leave that behavior behind, then they might be qualified for a job involving children. Out and proud homosexuals should not have jobs that involve children. I know that’s not the current policy in many schools but it should be." - Linda Harvey of the SPLC-certified hate group Mission America.

Rioting Spreads Across Britain

British Prime Minister David Cameron reacts:

Speaking outside his office and residence at 10 Downing Street, Mr. Cameron said lawmakers would be called back from their summer recess for one day on Thursday and the number of police on the streets would be increased to 16,000 on Wednesday night from 6,000 on Tuesday. He said the authorities would “do everything necessary to restore order to Britain’s streets.” “This is criminality pure and simple and it has to be confronted and defeated,” Mr. Cameron said. He said the violence had produced “sickening scenes” and that the country needed “even more robust police action” to confront the unrest. There would be “many more arrests in the days to come,” he said. Mr. Cameron’s comments came after violence also erupted overnight in several other cities, including Liverpool, Nottingham and Bristol, as well as in three towns in the county of Kent, southeast of the capital. An enormous fire consumed a large warehouse of Sony electrical goods in the Enfield section of London after an equally ferocious blaze ripped through a furniture store in Croydon.

NOW Denounces Newsweek

The National Organization of Women has come to the defense of Michele Bachmann.

NOW, an organization that has received some criticism for its deafening silence when prominent conservative women like former Alaska Gov. Sarah Palin are lampooned in the national press, has come out strongly against the depiction of Rep. Bachmann as the “Queen of Rage.” “Who has ever called a man ‘The King of Rage?,’ NOW president Terry O’Neil told TheDC. “The ‘Queen of Rage’ is something you apply to wrestlers or somebody who is crazy. They didn’t even do this to Howard Dean when he had his famous scream.”

Skeletor: Gay Are My Biggest Fans (Even Though I'm Sick Of Hearing About Them)

"I don't think these angry gays were even born gay, I think they just hate their fathers."

Dow Jones Nosedives

Satan Created The Fossil Record

From the parenting website, Baby Center.

My neighbor gave my 8-year-old toy dinosaurs. I am a little shocked. She says she is a Christian, but the Bible doesn't say anything about dinosaurs. Should I let him keep them, as long as he understands that dinosaurs aren't real? Even the PBS shows that he watches talk about dinosaurs and evolution, and how the scientists found these "bones" but the Bible doesn't say that God ever created them, and the earth is only 6,000 years old, not old enough to have "bones" that they say are MILLIONS of years old! I know that Satan tries to trick us in many ways, and this is one way that he tries to fool man into believing that there isn't a God who created the universe. How can they be bones when they are made out of ROCKS? I told my son that dinosaurs are one of Satan's many ways of tricking man, and he must talk to God before he plays with them. Am I handling this right? My first 3 were all girls, and I adopted boys, and lots of mothers tell me that boys are often attracted to these dinosaurs. So I don't know what to do. Is this just harmless fantasy play for him, or should I be worried that he may go on to believe in things like evolution?

It's totally worth your time to read the hilarious responses.

(Tipped by JMG reader Salsa Bear)

NEW ORLEANS: Anti-Gay Hate Groups Infest Annual Astroturfing Convention

This week in New Orleans, hundreds of conservative lawmakers from around the country gathered for the annual American Legislative Exchange Council (ALEC) convention, where lobbyists from the nation's largest corporations issue their marching orders on which big business-friendly bills they expect to see passed. Think Progress reports that this year's event featured the distribution of vicious and lie-filled anti-gay propaganda from Christianist hate groups.

Among the materials handed out to every attendee were anti-LGBT pamphlets from the Family Research Council, including the “Top Ten Myths About Homosexuality” and the “Top Ten Harms Of Same-Sex ‘Marriage’”. The supposed myths included “people are born gay,” “sexual orientation can never change,” “homosexual conduct is not harmful to one’s physical health,” and “homosexuals are no more likely to molest children than heterosexuals.” In its second pamphlet, the FRC told conference-goers that expanding marriage to include same-sex couples will somehow mean “fewer people would marry,” “fewer people would remain monogamous,” and polygamy will soon result.

Think Progress notes that convention rent-a-cops assaulted two of their reporters and illegally confiscated their cameras.

Pat Robertson: Rick Perry Governs Texas According To The Bible

And, presumably, we can expect even more Christian sharia if he gets elected president.

(Via - Right Wing Watch)

Perry To Make It Official On Saturday

Even though this weekend's prayer rally was TOTALLY unpolitical (snork!), Texas Gov. Rick Perry is wasting no time in following it up with his official entry into the presidential race. According to Politico, by timing his announcement for this Saturday, Perry-related chatter in the media will "upend" whatever the result may be from the Iowa straw poll.

Debate Rages On Newsweek's Bachmann Cover: Did They Do It On Purpose?

The best line from Mediaite's story on the controversy: "Newsweek subscribers, upon receiving this issue, will probably scratch their heads trying to remember when they signed up for a trial subscription to It Puts The Lotion In The Basket Weekly."

Huntsman Rejects NOM's Hate Pledge

And says he supports states' rights on marriage. Huntsman isn't remotely a contender, but NOM is still pissed.

Only (Born) Women Bleed

According to this stupendously dumb British ad for Always menstrual pads, "There are some people who'd just LOVE to have a period." Like transwomen and/or drag queens, apparently. (In cause you're under 50 years old, the title of this post is a reference to this.)

(Via - Copyranter)

IOWA: Bachmann Holds Slim Lead

According to a Rasmussen poll released today, Michele Bachmann has a one-point edge over Mitt Romney for Saturday's Iowa straw poll.

IOWA: Crazy Eyes Attends Anti-Gay Church Service Supporting "Ex-Gay" Movement

Last June while doing a YouTube search on the term "ex-gay", I came across a video so outrageously ridiculous that it quickly went viral after its posting here on JMG. Here's what I wrote that day.

Adam Hood says gays must be quarantined or else "they'll bring their gangrene into heaven." Supposedly Hood became "ex-gay" after "finding God in the Castro" in the midst of a heroin binge. (Ever notice how we don't really hear from any successful, sober, otherwise happy people who suddenly become "ex-gay"?) This clip is so out there, I kept expecting the satire to become suddenly apparent. Sadly, no.

Today MSNBC reports that this weekend Rep. Michele Bachmann attended a church service that played this very insane video as part of a presentation denouncing homosexuality.

Republican presidential candidate Michele Bachmann yesterday attended a church here in Iowa, where the pastor called homosexuality "immoral" and "unnatural," and later showed a testimonial video from a man who claimed to have been gay before having a conversation with God. Before the sermon at Point of Grace Church -- a non-denominational congregation near Des Moines -- Bachmann stood with her husband, Marcus Bachmann, before a crowd of about 100 people, clutching her personal copy of the Bible. When Bachmann and her husband returned to their seats, Mullen began a half-hour presentation on his church's beliefs. Reading verses from the Bible to support his case, Mullen said, "We inherently know that homosexual behavior is immoral and unnatural." “God shows his anger from heaven against all sinful, wicked people, who suppress the truth by their wickedness,” Mullen said, reading from the book of Romans.

Here's the legendary clip one more time.

RELATED: Since the above clip is now more than a year old, it would be interesting to hear what Adam Hood is doing today. Email me if you know.

NYC Picks Honeymoon Winners

New York City's official tourism agency has chosen one couple from each of the five boroughs as the winners of a honeymoon package. The winners were selected from the more than 650 couples who tied the knot on the first day of legalized same-sex marriage. And it turns out that one of the winning couples is straight.

Sacha Jessamy and Sharif Allen, a straight couple whose wedding website says they first said ‘I do’ at the Astoria World Manor on October 24, 2009, were among the throngs of couples who took the leap on Sunday, July 24th. Nearly all of the 659 couples who received a marriage license in the five boroughs on that history-making day were gays and lesbians but a handful of straight couples joined them. And one of those couples is walking away with swag. Jessamy and Allen are among five couples — one from each borough — who were selected from a lottery to get a honeymoon package from the city’s tourism agency, NYC & Co.

SPOILER: True Blood

Stay out of the comments if you haven't seen last night's episode. Otherwise, dive in and dish!