Afternoon View - Bryant Park Rink

There are three skating rinks around midtown Manhattan, but Bryant Park's is the only free one thanks to pervasive corporate branding.

Linda Harvey Wants To Boycott Everybody

Hate group leader Linda Harvey has the super-sadz because so many companies scored highly on the 2013 Corporate Equality Index issued this week by the Human Rights Campaign.  And she's created a boycott letter for her followers to send to, well, everybody.

Dear [name of company]: I am writing to you as a [former or potential] customer, to tell you why I will not be doing business with you, purchasing your products or services, nor speaking well of you to my family and friends. You are highly-rated by the "Human Rights Campaign" as a company supportive of many aspects of the homosexual activist agenda.

I am hoping you have done this out of ignorance about the true nature of both homosexuality and the goals of aggressive homosexual advocacy, such as that promoted by the Human Rights Campaign (HRC).

In businesses that welcome homosexual and transgender people, workers who don't agree with these lifestyles often feel unwelcome and increasingly, encounter a hostile work environment. Some of these workers have been sued on trumped -up charges of "discrimination," just for politely expressing these values, even in their own private lives and on their own time!

In short, these are not my values. I think homosexual activism is doing harm to America. My values are to be kind to everyone, but not to condone or encourage immoral and high-risk lifestyles. By your company's support of homosexual behavior, which is changeable and unnecessary, you have insulted my family and my principles.

I do hope your executive decision-makers will at some point, see the truth and reject this conduct, but in the meantime, I am afraid we cannot patronize your business in any way, and for the present, I am going to recommend to family and friends that they also take their business elsewhere.

Clearly, Linda Harvey is a witch.  How else did this letter appear without the use of all those homo-friendly computers?

Allen West Wins Recount Demand

A Florida county has agreed to Rep. Allen West's demand for a full recount of all early votes.

The St. Lucie County Canvassing Board voted 2-to-1 late Friday in favor of the move in the 18th Congressional District contest, in which Murphy is the unofficial victor. A series of tabulation errors by the county has raised suspicion among West's campaign and its supporters and appeared to motivate the board's favorable vote. It was a victory for West, delivered just after a defeat for the Republican congressman and conservative firebrand in the courtroom. But whether it will change the result in the race, in which Murphy has a lead of 1,907 votes, remained to be seen.

Patrick Murphy, West's opponent, has declared victory and last week attended an orientation session for new members of Congress.

SAN FRANCISCO: Twin Peaks Bar Set To Receive LGBT Landmark Status

San Francisco's Twin Peaks bar in the Castro, which is thought to be the first gay bar to uncloak its windows and allow passersby to see the people inside, is set to be named an LGBT historical landmark by the city.

The Board of Supervisor's Land Use and Economic Development Committee is set to vote Monday, December 10 on adding the Twin Peaks Tavern to the city's list of historical landmarks. Located at 401 Castro Street, it was the first gay bar in the city to have clear glass windows at a time when people could be fired based on their sexual orientation. The San Francisco Historic Preservation Commission voted last month to support the bar's nomination, and gay District 8 Supervisor Scott Wiener has sponsored the ordinance before the board to landmark the bar. It is expected the request will be adopted and signed into law by the mayor. It would become the third LGBT site to win local recognition for being historically important. The others are the camera shop and residence of the late gay Supervisor Harvey Milk (573-575 Castro Street) and the original home of the Jose Theater and the Names Project, which oversees the AIDS Memorial Quilt (2362 Market Street).

Twin Peaks unshuttered its windows in 1972.  Learn more about the bar's history at Castro Biscuit. (Tipped by JMG reader Wayne)

NY Prosecutor Confirms Porn Past

A district attorney in central New York has confirmed that he worked in adult films 40 years ago after a YouTube clip proved his former identity.  Cortland County prosecutor Mark Suben had vigorously denied his porn past until the clip surfaced on Thursday.

"Recently materials have been circulated alleging that I was involved in the adult film industry about 40 years ago in New York. Those allegations are true," he said. "I was an actor in adult films for a short period in the early '70s. I was also an actor in other venues including off-Broadway, soap operas and commercial advertisements." He apologized for his actions and said he used "bad judgment" by acting in porn and by lying about it. He wouldn't take questions, including whether he should resign. On his way out of the news conference, several people said, "You lied to me, Mark." Suben's spokeswoman, Aimee Milks, said Suben will not resign. "This was nearly 40 years ago. It was not illegal. Mark Suben was not yet married. He was not practicing law and he was not a law student," Milks said. "It has nothing to do with his law practice or his current position as the district attorney of Cortland County." "I think the situation is really irrelevant to the campaign," she said. "His record as the DA for the last four years speaks for itself."

Suben just won reelection. His opponent says he is unconcerned with Suben's porn past, but added, "I think the more important part is the lying."  Most of the commenters on the below clip are supportive of Suben.

Focus On The Family Has The Sadz

"Many, many, many Christians were praying and we really need to address that issue first: where was God? Because there were these ’40 Days of Prayer,’ there were several of those that took place, where people fasted and prayed for forty days asking the Lord for His intervention on Election Day. We did a program last week where my wife Shirley came in with her vice-chairman John Bornschein and told how three hundred Gideon prayer warriors came to Washington, went to every single office of the House of Representatives and the Senate and prayed for the occupant, prayed for our representatives, went to the White House, went in a vigil to the Supreme Court, which is now at great risk, and went to the Pentagon. People like that were praying all over this country and the Lord said no." - Focus On The Family founder James Dobson, admitting to Concerned Women that the National Day Of Prayer Task Force prayed for God to defeat Barack Obama. But the Lord said "No."

NOM Raised $6.2M In 2011, 75% Of That Money From Just Two Undisclosed Donors

The Human Rights Campaign marched into NOM's Washington office today, demanded their now-publicly due 2011 financial filing, and learned that a massive amount of the hate group's funding last year came from just two undisclosed mega-donors.

The National Organization for Marriage (NOM) saw a steep decline in the amount of money it raised in 2011 – dropping to $6.2 million from the $9.1 million it raised the previous year. Just two donors were responsible for funding 75 percent of the anti-gay group – the organization reported two donations of approximately $2.4 million each. In addition to illustrating that more than $4.7 million of NOM’s total $6.2 million reported came from just two mysterious mega-donors, the documents also reveal some interesting information about NOM’s closest affiliates. For example, NOM paid $870,000 to CC Advertising – a group HRC recently filed an FCC complaint against for spamming unsuspecting cell phone users with anti-gay, anti-Obama text messages. The organization also paid nearly $375,000 to Frank Schubert, their ad guru who makes his living largely off of promoting anti-LGBT propaganda.

Not so much of a "grassroots movement," is it? See the full filing here. And definitely hit the top link for more analysis from the HRC.

Here Come The Ho-Ho Smugglers

Details.

Christie: Do NOT Ask Me About Twinkies

Posted to his official YouTube channel.

Newspaper Ad Of The Day

Details.

GOProud Capitalizes On Labor Woes By Raising Money On Twinkies Demise

GOProud today sent out a fundraising letter blaming those communist unions for the demise of Hostess Brands and offering to send donors a Twinkie in return for a $50 contribution. Chris Geidner has the text:

You know that our staff at GOProud works every day free market principles and freedom for everyone. You may not know about our special emergency response squad. This morning when the news broke, they sprung into action and secured a supply of the coveted snack cakes. We now have a stash of Twinkies in the GOProud vault. You have a chance to take advantage of our quick response to this crisis. We will share our limited supply of Hostess Twinkies with GOProud donors who contribute at least $50 between now and the end of November.

And for an EXTRA $50, Jimmy LaSalvia will personally train you on how to fake an anti-gay hate crime!

UPDATE: As for GOProud's tired and predictable claim about unions, the management of Hostess Brands sure isn't suffering.

BCTGM members are well aware that as the company was preparing to file for bankruptcy earlier this year, the then CEO of Hostess was awarded a 300 percent raise (from approximately $750,000 to $2,550,000) and at least nine other top executives of the company received massive pay raises. One such executive received a pay increase from $500,000 to $900,000 and another received one taking his salary from $375,000 to $656,256.

Walking For A Cause

W Hotels has the deets on their website:

W Hotels of NYC presents the inaugural LOVE hangOVER Ball in support of the American Foundation of Aids Research (amfAR). The LOVE hangOVER Ball forms part of The W Hotels of New York City initiative to support the work of amfAR. The project is part of a series of activities across W Hotels’ four properties in New York, in the run up to World Aids Day December 1st. The initiative includes a mixture of direct donation, on site fund raising and the creation of a unique happening which will bring together New York City’s finest style mavens and voguing houses in a unique ballesque quest to celebrate the city’s place at the heart of LOVE in all its guises.

(Via Queerty)

AUSTRALIA: Catholic Church Funds Legal Defense For Repeat Pedophiles

Melbourne's daily newspaper reports that the Catholic Church is funding the legal defenses of pedophile priests who've already been convicted multiple times.

A Fairfax Media investigation has revealed that at least two Catholic orders have continued to fund the legal defences of some of their religious members as they went to trial for the second, third and even fourth time for the sexual abuse of children. This includes the funding of multiple appeals, hiring top barristers who charge thousands of dollars a day, and hiring private investigators. In some cases the result has been that criminal prosecutions and the victims of abuse are dragged through the courts for many years. "It is extremely offensive and hurtful to victims that Catholic Church orders are continuing to fund the defences of priests and brothers after they have been convicted," said Nicky Davis from the Survivors Network of those Abused by Priests. "We can see what's going on and we can see that it's obscene."

(Tipped by JMG reader Kevin)

Ann Coulter: There Are Too Many Hispanics

"Liberals brag about having won the hearts and minds of America, as if, through logic and argument, they've persuaded people to accept their bankrupt European socialist ideas. Democrats haven't changed anyone's mind. They changed the people. More white people voted for Mitt Romney this year than voted for Ronald Reagan in 1980. Barack Obama lost white voters by 20 points -- the widest margin since 1984. But in 1980, whites were 88 percent of the electorate. In 2012, they were 72 percent of the electorate. Not only that, but the non-white electorate is far more Democratic than it was in 1980. If the same country that voted in 1980 had voted in 2012, Romney would have won a bigger landslide than Reagan did. [snip] The only hope is to run another appealing Republican candidate in four years -- when we're not up against an incumbent president -- and return our immigration policy to one that helps America and not just the Welfare Party." - Ann Coulter, lamenting not that the GOP failed to appeal to Hispanics, but that there are just too many Hispanics.

The Hard Life Of A Homocon

First in a new web series, The Log Jam.

Dems Want You High And Gay-Fucking

"So the idea, friends, is to make sure everybody is committing homosexual acts and they’re high on drugs, and then they vote for Democrats to increase the size of government and provide pretend security for the people high on drugs. That’s the Democratic vision in a nutshell. Somebody write that down, I think that’s worth putting on a poster somewhere. That’s what Democrats do and they do it well." - Pastor Kevin Swanson, who adds that last week's election also proves that "Americans like to kill their kids." (Via Right Wing Watch)

RELATED: We last heard from Pastor Swanson when he announced that God sent Hurricane Sandy to New York City in anger over same-sex marriage.  Swanson has also called for the death penalty for Kermit The Frog over Sesame Street's withdrawal from their partnership with Chick-Fil-A.

UK Bus Driver Strands Passengers, Won't Drive Bus With Pro-Gay Message

The Daily Mail reports:

Passengers spent 20 minutes stranded on a bus after its driver refused to board because of a gay rights message on the side. The unnamed driver would not get on the X78 from Rotherham to Sheffield because it bore a billboard for gay lobby group Stonewall, reading: " Some people are gay. Get over it!" Passengers sat and waited while the driver argued loudly with colleagues and customers. A spokesman for bus operator First Group would not divulge what action — if any — had been taken against the renegade driver."We are aware of an incident involving one of our drivers refusing to drive a bus at Rotherham Interchange. We have spoken to the driver in question and the matter has now been resolved. We would like to apologise to any customers that were affected during this isolated incident."

Eventually another bus came along and that driver took over.

Gay People Can't Have Families

So says Franklin Graham.

SPOILER: American Horror Story

I've been asked to start a spoiler thread on American Horror Story: Asylum, which is out-freaking even The Walking Dead. Stay out of the comments if you've not yet seen the most recent episode. Otherwise, touch yourself and feel his tumescence.

Ruben Diaz: I Won't Leave The Democrats

"Everyone knows that I have always been a Democrat, I am a Democrat, and I will be a Democrat. The only difference is that I am a conservative Democrat. I am a pro-life Democrat, meaning that I am against abortions. I am a traditional marriage Democrat, meaning that I am against gay marriage, and that I believe marriage should be between a man and a woman as God created. That said, you have to understand and I want to make it very clear that if four years ago, when my mission was to stop gay marriage and I did not jump ship and abandon my Democratic Conference, why should I abandon my Conference now that gay marriage has become law in the State – thanks to Dean Skelos and the Republican Party?" - Crackpot NY Sen. Ruben Diaz, apparently responding to suggestions that he follow Sen. Simcha Felder across the aisle.

AFA Issues Naughty Or Nice List

Today the American Family Association issued its annual boycott list of companies that are "against Christmas" because they use the word "holiday" in their advertising. On the naughty list: Banana Republic, Barnes & Noble, Family Dollar, Foot Locker, Gap Stores, L.L. Bean, Limited Brands, Maurice's, Office Depot, Old Navy, Radio Shack, Staples, Supervalue, and Victoria's Secret. Oh, but what's that you say, Chick-Fil-A?  Why does the Cathy family hate Jesus?

Google Launches New Game

Buzzfeed tries to explain it:

Ingress is just a game. A massively multiplayer alternate-reality game, one that that overlaps with the real world — so like you walk to actual places (a museum, or library) with your phone to do things in the game, in which you're on a team with potentially millions of people competing against a rival, equally massive team — but a game nonetheless.

I still don't get it. Pong, anyone?

Oregon's House To Become Fifth State Chamber With An Openly Gay Leader

Oregon's House has elected Rep. Tina Kotek as its first-ever openly lesbian speaker. Via Advocate:

Kotek told the AP that she knows her success as an openly lesbian official has inspired other LGBT people. "We all look for people out there who look like us," she said. "I have had emails and text messages from people who are very excited." Openly gay leaders will control legislative chambers in five states, according to the AP, up from two before the election last week. Senator Ed Murray, who is openly gay, was elected majority leader in neighboring Washington this week, while Rep. Mark Ferrandino was elected Colorado House speaker.

The Twitter War

Observers are wondering if this is the first time that the leaders of an ongoing conflict are also sniping at each other on social media. Twitchy notes that both Politico and Buzzfeed have openly wondered if such threats as those seen above violate Twitter's terms of service.

Christie Slams Romney Over "Gifts" Claim

Christie's march to Wingnut Public Enemy #1 goes on.

USPS Reports $16B Loss

The Postal Service has reported a record $15.9B loss for the year, more than three times last year's loss.

Much of the red ink was due to mounting costs for future retiree health benefits, which made up $11.1 billion of the losses. Without that and other related labor expenses, the mail agency sustained an operating loss of $2.4 billion, lower than the previous year. Postmaster General Patrick Donahoe said the agency has been able to reduce costs significantly by boosting worker productivity. But he said the mail agency has been hampered by congressional inaction on a postal overhaul bill that would allow it to eliminate Saturday mail delivery and reduce its $5 billion annual payment for future health benefits. Earlier this year, the post office defaulted on two of those payments. It is forecasting additional losses next year of roughly $7.6 billion.

The Postal Service is the only government agency required to make prepayments into its healthcare plan.

Hostess Brands To Close Over Strike

Anti-union wingnuts are doing cartwheels across the blogosphere at the news that the owners of Hostess Brands, the makers of Twinkies, have decided to go out of business rather than deal with striking union employees.

The closing will result in Hostess' nearly 18,500 workers losing their jobs as the company shuts 33 bakeries and 565 distribution centers nationwide, as well as 570 outlet stores. The Bakery, Confectionery, Tobacco Workers and Grain Millers International Union represents around 5,000. "We deeply regret the necessity of today's decision, but we do not have the financial resources to weather an extended nationwide strike," said CEO Gregory Rayburn in a statement. Hostess will move to sell its assets to the highest bidder. That could mean new life for some of its most popular products, which could be scooped up at auction and attached to products from other companies.

Hostess, with annual sales of $2.5B, produced over 500 million Twinkies every year. Retailers have been advised not to expect new shipments for a very long time even if the brands are sold to other manufacturers quickly. The company's bread line includes Nature's Pride and Wonder Bread.

Liberty Counsel President Has The Sadz

"Romney was like the unwanted suitor at our high school prom. We danced because we didn't want to turn him down and make a scene. Our reluctance was warranted, because as we danced, he talked about his economic plan. Like one of those dolls we had as kids: 'Hello, my name is Chatty Cathy!' Just pull the string to hear the same lines over and over.  Ask Romney about anything and he would say, 'Hello, I know how to run a business.' Many of us would have voted for the Grinch if he was the Republican nominee. Other women felt themselves caught between the devil and the deep blue sea, but they were unwilling to give up their current unhealthy relationship for an uncertain voyage. We believed Romney cared about the economy -- but it was not clear if he cared about anything else that we care about. He lost us at 'hello.'" - Liberty Counsel president Anita Staver (husband Mat Staver is their chairman), explaining why Romney lost the female vote.

NYT Backs "Gays Won It" Meme

On Tuesday the Human Rights Campaign sent out a stats-laden press release claiming that the LGBT vote provided the winning margin for President Obama. Yesterday the New York Times appeared to agree.

While President Obama’s lopsided support among Latino and other minority voters has been a focus of postelection analysis, the overwhelming support he received from another growing demographic group — Americans who identify as gay, lesbian or bisexual — has received much less attention. But the backing Mr. Obama received from gay voters also has a claim on having been decisive. Mitt Romney and Mr. Obama won roughly an equal share of votes among straight voters nationwide, exit polls showed. And, a study argues, Mr. Romney appears to have won a narrow victory among straight voters in the swing states of Ohio and Florida. Mr. Obama’s more than three-to-one edge in exit polls among the 5 percent of voters who identified themselves as gay, lesbian or bisexual was more than enough to give him the ultimate advantage, according to the study, by Gary J. Gates of the Williams Institute at the U.C.L.A. School of Law, in conjunction with Gallup. The results are consistent with earlier research on the number and political beliefs of gay voters.

Commenters on the Times article are split on the idea. One writes:

While this trend certainly helps in the popular vote, does it translate into additional electoral votes? LGBT voters can found throughout the nation, but my guess is that migration (self-deportation???) out of red states to blue states means that the advantage identified in the article results only larger winning margins in states that would have gone for the Democratic candidate regardless: Overwhelming support by LGBT voters in California and New York doesn't get a candidate more electoral votes.

Tim Tebow For Tivo

GOP Eyes MTA Chief For NYC Mayor

Even the harshest critics of the MTA say they are impressed that New York City's sprawling century-old subway system is almost back to normal operations so soon after suffering the worst damage in its history. Some local GOP leaders are now looking to MTA head Joe Lhota as a possible 2013 mayoral candidate. 

The five GOP borough bosses met Wednesday night with former Bronx Borough President Adolfo Carrion, and two of them described him as a unique candidate for the party. A number of prominent Republicans and civic leaders, however, are encouraging Lhota to run, and the five chairmen said they would still want to hear from him. Sources close to Lhota — who served as city budget director and deputy mayor under former Mayor Rudy Giuliani — said the movement is “growing in leaps and bounds.” So far, Lhota is sitting back, watching it all unfold. It’s not clear whether he wants to run, and to do so he’d be required by law to leave his MTA post. But if he does want to run for City Hall, he must move quickly — the numbers game is turning against him. Carrion, who is also a former urban affairs czar in the Obama administration, recently left the Democratic Party and is seeking the GOP line as an independent.

The presumed Democratic candidate is openly lesbian City Council Speaker Christine Quinn.

Ian McKellen Backs UK Bullying Campaign

FRC Announces Post-Election Plans

In their latest money beg, the Family Research Council lays out their post-election priorities.

We ask you to stand with us in three important ways. PRAY - With the re-election of Barack Obama, we now face another four years and simply put - one of the greatest challenges of our lifetime. PERSEVERE - Stand with us. Truth will win out! PARTNER - With your financial support, FRC will redouble our efforts to ...

• Prevent radical homosexual activists from further harming the U.S. military
• Compel the Department of Justice to enforce the Defense of Marriage Act
• Challenge the provisions of ObamaCare which undermine families
• Stop the Employment Non-Discrimination Act (ENDA)

FRC needs your support now more than ever. Your gift before will help us continue to identify harmful policy, identify and embolden allies on the Hill and maintain God-given religious freedoms.
Thank you for your generosity at this challenging time for our country.

Note that three out of four items are anti-gay.

PBS Covers "Occupy Sandy"

Perkins Slams Petraeus

"Think about it. The man running our nation's top clandestine organization couldn't keep his own affair secret. And he's one of the best people we have in public service? If General Petraeus will compromise here, what's to say he won't or didn't compromise elsewhere? This idea that character doesn't matter runs completely counter to God's instructions for choosing leaders. Apart from what Scripture says, consider where a lack of moral standards in government has led. The breaches of integrity in Europe are almost epidemic--and look where those countries are: in complete economic, political, and spiritual turmoil. That didn't happen because the 'best people' were in charge. It happened because the truly good people didn't hold them accountable." - Hate group leader Tony Perkins, still pissed because Gen.  Patraeus backed the repeal of DADT.

Church Sign Of The Day

Source.

How Cable News Covered Marriage Wins

Equality Matters adds that Fox only mentioned Sen. Tammy Baldwin's win once and did not include the fact that she is lesbian.

Obama Tours Sandy-Ravaged Queens

The president visited NYC today and toured the hurricane damaged areas of Queens, where he vowed more federal assistance in the recovery efforts. Obama toured central New Jersey with Gov. Chris Christie before the election, but today was his first time in New York since the storm.

Catholic Church Gave $2M To Feed The Homeless Fund Hatred & Fuel Bigotry

NOM Exposed takes note:

Taking up where the Mormons left off in 2008, the Catholic Church – and its affiliate, the Knights of Columbus – have made considerable investments in the marriage fights in Minnesota, Maryland, Washington State and Maine this election cycle – spending nearly $2 million. In addition, a close ally of the Church and past co-conspirator, the National Organization for Marriage, spent more than $5.2 million this cycle. Final campaign figures for Maryland and Maine will be available by the end of the month.

Marriage equality opponents across the four states raised $11.3 million. The Catholic Church’s contributions make up 17 percent of that total figure. When you add in the contributions of Church ally NOM, the reality of the coordinated effort becomes clear: the Catholic Church, the Knights of Columbus and NOM are responsible for funding nearly 65 percent of all anti-equality efforts in Minnesota, Maryland, Washington State and Maine.

That's $11.3 million that didn't go to pay molestation settlements.  Time for some more parishes to declare bankruptcy!

GOP Rep. Scott "Sanctity Of Marriage" DesJarlais Exposed As Serial Adulterer

Rep. Scott DesJarlais (R-TN), who swept into Congress in the 2010 Tea Party wave, has been exposed as an adulterer many, many times over. DesJarlais is an ardent supporter of "God-given traditional marriage." His campaign website adds "AND PROUD OF IT!" Today's news comes via his just-released divorce files.

Obtained by the Chattanooga Times Free Press, the couple’s 2001 trial transcript also confirms DesJarlais had sexual relationships with at least two patients, three coworkers and a drug representative while he was chief of staff at Grandview Medical Center in Jasper, Tenn. During one affair with a female patient, DesJarlais prescribed her drugs, gave her an $875 watch and bought her a plane ticket to Las Vegas, records show. DesJarlais spokesman Robert Jameson did not respond to requests for comment. The attorney for the congressman's ex-wife said that at this point she does not have any comments to issue on her ex-husband's testimony. The transcript corroborates accounts given to the Times Free Press in October by one of the patients who had a sexual relationship with DesJarlais. The newspaper continues to grant her anonymity, along with all the women due to the nature of the testimony.

The bigger news, for most people following this story, is that the (publicly) strongly anti-choice DesJarlais supported his ex-wife's decision to get two abortions before they married. He also, allegedly, pressured one of his mistresses to do the same. Some are speculating that he may resign.

MISSOURI: Westboro Baptist Church To Picket "Fag Enabler" Bruce Springsteen

The last time we reported on Westboro, they were getting their asses kicked, literally, by veterans at a military funeral. The inevitable lawsuits from that incident will likely fill Westboro's cauldron. Let's hope Springsteen's fans can avoid the same trap.

Matt Barber: Gay Marriage Is Intended As A Weapon To Destroy Free Speech

NEW YORK: Democrats Seek To Expel Renegade State Sen. Simcha Felder

As I noted yesterday, newly-elected Democratic state Sen. Simcha Felder has announced that he will caucus with the GOP, imperiling the chance of Democratic control of the chamber for the first time in many years, not to mention jeopardizing the long overdue Gender Non-Discrimination Act, which has languished for a decade. Now the Democrats say they are exploring how to expel Felder from the party.

George Arzt, a spokesman for the Kings County Democratic Leader, told me Democratic party officials are looking at "both the Kings County and state Democratic Party rules" to see if Felder could be ousted from the party. "If they do not have provisions, they will propose ways of expelling members for actions of this type," Arzt said. Already, Assemblyman Nick Perry, also of Brooklyn, wrote on Twitter that Felder "should be removed from [the] Dem[ocratic] Party. Let the GOP have him." In a statement this evening, the Brooklyn Democratic County Leader Frank Seddio, said, "Felder's entire campaign was a lie." "Every elected Democrat has an moral obligation to support the leadership of the party in the Legislature, but Felder has elected to betray that trust, not to mention the sacred trust of voters," Seddio said.

Felder was elected from Brooklyn's newly-drawn and heavily Orthodox Jewish district. His campaign was supported by Democratic state Assemblyman Dov Hikind, one of New York's nastiest opponents of LGBT rights. (During the 2011 marriage battle Hikind said that if New York were to approve same-sex marriage, "We take the Torah, God forbid, and throw it in the garbage.") Responding to the ouster threats, Felder said yesterday, "The Democratic party doesn’t sound very democratic today."

MINNESOTA: Catholic Church Denies Confirmation To Teen After Pro-Gay Marriage Facebook Post

A Catholic church in Minnesota denied confirmation to a 17 year-old student after seeing the above photo on his Facebook page.

The decision by the Rev. Gary LaMoine to deny the religious rite of passage for Lennon Cihak in mid-October shocked his mother, who said her son has gone to church every week and volunteered around the community in preparation for his confirmation this year. “You kind of know the Catholic beliefs, but I never thought they would deny somebody confirmation because you weren’t 100 percent. I guess that’s what shocks me,” Shana Cihak said. Lennon said fellow students in his confirmation class “liked” the photo on Facebook, but they were still allowed to be confirmed. “I just thought it was wrong to single him out,” Shana said. Her husband, Doug Cihak, agreed. “(LaMoine) was talking about ‘God doesn’t believe in this.’ Well, God created Lennon,” said Doug, adding that he was baptized and raised in the same church. But now the family is not allowed to participate in Communion there, Doug said, and he’s worried as to how far the sanctions will go, expressing concern about being able to be buried alongside his parents.

Confirmation is one of the seven sacraments of the Roman Catholic Church.

White House Petition Of The Day

I'm not sure what "crystal weed" might be, but this makes pretty much as much sense as the secession petitions.

Mrs. Betty Bowers Is Heaven's Realtor

And the Lord said, "Let there be recessed light."

Famed NYC Eatery Settles Sexual Harassment Suit Brought By 22 Waiters

Manhattan's Sparks Steak House has agreed to pay $600K to male employees who complained that they were sexually harassed by the posh eatery's male manager. Via press release from the EEOC:

According to the EEOC's lawsuit, filed in the Southern District of New York, 22 male waiters were subjected to harassment based on their sex, chiefly by one male manager, over a nearly eight-year period. The misconduct included the manager groping the buttocks of the male waiters, making lewd sexual comments and attempting to touch their genitals. Many of the waiters complained to other managers and Sparks’ owners, but the harassment did not stop. Some victims of harassment suffered retaliation for complaining by being given more difficult work assignments and/or ultimately being suspended. Sexual harassment and retaliation for complaining about it violate Title VII of the Civil Rights Act of 1964. The EEOC filed suit after first attempting to reach a pre-litigation settlement through its conciliation process.

The EEOC adds that it is "very serious" about protecting employees from same-sex harassment.

Hate Group Leader Bradlee Dean To Appeal Defamation Loss To Rachel Maddow

As we expected, rather than obey the judge's order to pay Rachel Maddow's legal fees after the dismissal of his $50M defamation suit against her, hate group leader Bradlee Dean is filing an appeal of the case. Via a World Net Daily:

An appeal is being prepared in a case that alleges MSNBC personality Rachel Maddow defamed a Christian minister by maliciously asserting he advocated the execution of homosexuals, after a judge who was accused of being biased against the plaintiffs went ahead and dismissed it. Attorney Larry Klayman told WND today that the judicial behavior could be characterized as “unethical” after the judge, Joan Zeldon, praised Maddow’s attorneys as “distinguished” but denigrated Klayman. Then she went ahead and dismissed the claim brought on behalf of Bradlee Dean and his You Can Run But You Cannot Hide International ministry. Klayman said there are several grounds for the appeal, including the fact that Zeldon ordered the plaintiffs to pay $24,000 in legal fees for the defendants without any discovery or hearing on exactly what those fees were for. “Rachel Maddow should not take any satisfaction,” Klayman told WND. “This is just round one. The case has not been adjudicated on its merits.” He explained that “clearly, what they did was defamatory, and it put the life of Bradlee Dean and the lives of his family and colleagues in danger.”

Given Larry Klayman's track record, don't expect the appeal to get anywhere either.

Rahm Emanuel Is Killing Tony Perkins

Ron Paul Delivers Farewell Speech

Rep. Ron Paul, as you probably know, did not run again for his House seat this year in order to pursue the presidency. Yesterday he delivered a million-word farewell address to the appropriately empty House chamber. Let's just hope the news cameras are there when the people of his home planet send their spaceship for the return voyage.

UPDATE: I failed to mention that during his 12 terms in Congress, Ron Paul introduced 620 (almost entirely) wackadoodle bills.  Only four of the bills sponsored by Ron Paul ever got to a floor vote. And exactly ONE passed. 

HRC Issues 2013 Corporate Equality Index

Via press release:

In the 2013 CEI, released today, a record 252 businesses achieved the top rating of 100 percent, earning the coveted distinction of "Best Places to Work for LGBT Equality." As a point of comparison, 13 businesses earned a 100 percent in the inaugural CEI 11 years ago, demonstrating that a new normal has arrived. The policies, benefits and practices businesses must implement to earn a perfect score are best-in-class demonstrations of corporate commitments to LGBT workers.

While basic protections for LGBT employees have become the norm, record numbers of American businesses have also updated their larger benefits packages, adding "soft benefits" for LGBT workers, including things like retirement benefits to domestic partners and relocation assistance. With benefits accounting for roughly 20 percent of an employee's compensation, companies recognize this as a matter of equal pay for equal work.

Over the past 11 years, the CEI has become the gold standard for corporate policies and practices related to LGBT employees and their families. The CEI rates companies on 40 such policies and practices. A total of 889 businesses have been rated in the 2013 CEI, including the entire Fortune 500. This year a record 293 of the Fortune 500-ranked businesses have an official CEI rating, with the other 201 rated based upon publicly-available data.

View the full report.

What's The Single Of 2012?

As Billboard approaches the cutoff date for its year-end charts, today they published the above recap of how many weeks each of this year's most popular singles have held the top spot. There have been relatively few #1 singles in 2012 due to four hits holding the pinnacle for nearly eight months in total. Maroon 5's One More Night is still #1 and appears to be headed for Single Of 2012, but Billboard's complicated system sometimes provides a surprise winner.

Atheist Group Asks Obama To Omit "So Help Me God" From Oath Of Office

The Freedom From Religion Foundation has written a letter to the president asking him to omit "so help me God" during his second inauguration oath. Via the Christian Post:

"When you stand to reaffirm your oath, do so using the language of the Founders. Eliminate the religious verbiage. While you're at it, why not place your hand on the Constitution instead of a bible?" FFRF attorney Andrew L. Seidel wrote in the letter. The words "so help me God" are not included in the oath as prescribed by the Constitution, the organization argues. The Constitution also does not require the president to place his hand on a Bible when taking oath, FFRF adds. FFRF argues that "so help me God" violates the Constitution as it alienates the nonreligious, which the organization believes is the future of America.

The FFRF adds that since the president is no longer "beholden to any future constituency" he risks nothing by changing his oath.

NOM's Thomas Peters: The Future Of The Anti-Gay Marriage Movement Is Bright

NOM's blogger Thomas Peters appeared on PBS Newshour to declare that he is optimistic that his theofascist organization has a bright future.

President Obama Nominates Out Black Judge To Federal Bench

Yesterday President Obama nominated Judge William Thomas to the United States District Court of Southern Florida. If approved, Thomas will become the first openly gay black man to serve on the federal bench. Chris Geidner has more:

Thomas is the first out LGBT black judge to be nominated by Obama, but, if approved by the Senate, he would be the second out LGBT black judge. The first, Judge Deborah Batts, also was the first out LGBT federal judge. She was nominated by President Clinton and sat on the Southern District of New York bench. She took "senior status," a near retirement, earlier this year. It is unlikely, due to the time nominations take to proceed in the current Congress, that Thomas, currently a state-court judge in Florida, would see a vote on his nomination in this Congress.

Geidner adds that the president has now nominated seven openly LGBT judges to "lifetime-tenured positions."

Smoking Gun Finds Elmo's Accuser

The Smoking Gun has revealed the identity of the young man who accused Sesame Street actor Kevin Clash.

The mystery man who accused Elmo puppeteer Kevin Clash of engaging in an underage sexual relationship--only to recant the allegation a day later--is a struggling 24-year-old model/actor who was once arrested for the knifepoint robbery of $250,000 in jewelry from a music manager for whom he interned, The Smoking Gun has learned. Sheldon Stephens, who did not respond to e-mail and Facebook messages, describes himself as an “Entrepreneur, Student, Model, Actor” on his Twitter account, which is protected. His Facebook page’s “About” blurb notes, “I like to consider myself a rare breed. I'm very spontaneous and random…I'm determined and goal oriented. My destiny is laid on a solid gold brick pathway....... MY FUTURE IS BRIGHT and never will it dim.”

There's much more to the story at the above link and many photos are here.

Who's Posting Those Petitions?

The press has begun looking into the authors of all those secession petitions. The results are unsurprising.

“Derrick B.,” the man who started a petition seeking Alabama’s withdrawal from the U.S., is a truck driving, knife collecting former owner of a topless car wash who describes himself as “an absolute Libertarian.” Derrick Belcher, 45, of Chunchula, said in an interview late Monday that secession may be the only way to save working Americans from crushing debt, burdensome federal regulations and rising taxes. Belcher said he believes secession can work if states band together to support each other. “I don’t think any one state can stand alone. But if we’ve got 20 of them, then that starts to be something ,” Belcher said. “If you look at a map of the red states, we have all of the oil and we produce all of the food. We’re the ones that are carrying the rest of the nation.” Belcher said he is a Libertarian and that he supported Ron Paul as a candidate for president. He said President Barack Obama won re-election last week because of voters who are dependent on the federal government.

Belcher blames the government for the loss of his topless car wash, which was closed eleven years ago after he was arrested and charged with obscenity.

Romney: Obama Won Because Of "Gifts"

“With regards to the young people, for instance, a forgiveness of college loan interest was a big gift. Free contraceptives were very big with young, college-aged women. And then, finally, Obamacare also made a difference for them, because as you know, anybody now 26 years of age and younger was now going to be part of their parents’ plan, and that was a big gift to young people. They turned out in large numbers, a larger share in this election even than in 2008.

"You can imagine for somebody making $25,000 or $30,000 or $35,000 a year, being told you’re now going to get free health care, particularly if you don’t have it, getting free health care worth, what, $10,000 per family, in perpetuity — I mean, this is huge. Likewise with Hispanic voters, free health care was a big plus. But in addition with regards to Hispanic voters, the amnesty for children of illegals, the so-called Dream Act kids, was a huge plus for that voting group." - Mitt Romney, yesterday telling his biggest donors that President Obama won reelection because of all the "gifts" promised to minorities.

Uruguay Considers Marriage

Uruguay, which already has civil unions, began this week considering a move to full marriage equality.

The proposed "marriage equality" law would change Uruguay's nearly-century-old civil code and give married gays and lesbians all the rights and responsibilities of heterosexual married couples, including the possibility of adopting children. It was drafted by gay rights activists in the so-called "Black Sheep Collective" and now has the support of lawmakers in the ruling Broad Front coalition, which decided Wednesday to debate the measure next week in the House of Deputies' constitutional commission. "Today's society is much broader than the heterosexual, and the civil code should reflect this: a marriage institution that applies equally to all," Federico Grana, a member of the collective, told The Associated Press on Wednesday. "This goes well beyond homosexuality — it's a law that gives all the same rights and responsibilities."

The Science Of "Morning Wood"

(Via Buzzfeed)

Open Thread Thursday

Tell us about your Thanksgiving. What's on the menu?

Scott Lively: I May Run For MA Governor

SPLC-certified hate group leader, Nazi conspiracist, and pedophile employer Scott Lively says he may run for governor of Massachusetts. From the third-person "press release" posted on his blog:

Pastor Scott Lively of Springfield today announced the formation of a committee to explore the possibility of a run for the governorship of Massachusetts. A fifth generation Bay Stater, born and raised in the Village of Shelburne Falls, Pastor Lively was for many years a Christian missionary and social activist in various parts of the world, based primarily in Oregon and California. In 2008, following a year-long speaking tour through eight countries of the former Soviet Union, he and his wife Anne moved back to Massachusetts to start a mission to the poor and disadvantaged in inner-city Springfield. They bought a home in the heart of the troubled McNight neighborhood and opened a church and ministry center called Holy Grounds Coffee House, strategically located on State Street between the Downtown and Mason Square areas, to serve the homeless and street populations of the city.

This should be quite entertaining. (Via Box Turtle Bulletin)

RELATED: Lively is being sued for crimes against humanity by Sexual Minorities of Uganda, who brought the case in a Massachusetts court over what they say was Lively's incitement of the murder of homosexuals in their nation.

Chris Kluwe: Salon's Sexiest Man Of 2012

Vikings punter and delightfully foul-mouthed LGBT ally Chris Kluwe has been named by Salon as the sexiest man of the year.

Chris Kluwe knows how to write an angry letter. After Maryland delegate Emmett C. Burns Jr. attempted to silence an NFL player’s same-sex marriage activism, the Minnesota Vikings punter responded with a profanity-laced missive in which he referred to the politician as a ”narcissistic fromunda stain.” He also sarcastically reassured Burns that legalized same-sex marriage won’t “magically turn you into a lustful cockmonster.” The letter wasn’t just hilariously inappropriate: It deftly took the pol to task for homophobia, hypocrisy and disrespect of free speech. Kluwe even name-checked COBRA and Social Security benefits. But let’s be honest: He had us at “lustful cockmonster.”

The rest of Salon's fascinating Top Ten contains a few men that some might not consider classically handsome. Definitely worth a look.

How To Throw A Stylish Baptism

Whatever you do, don't be boobalicious.

(Via Christian Nightmares)

Boise Considers LGBT Protections

Last night the city council of Idaho's capital met to debate the passage of an LGBT anti-discrimination bill. Dozens of city residents spoke in support of the measure.

Though support was overwhelming Tuesday night, at least one person spoke in support of “traditional marriage” and warned of the dangers of sodomy. Boise resident Curt Vieselmeyer urged the council to reject the ordinance, saying it infringes on his religious freedom and is not necessary.  “I do not believe this is an issue in our city. I believe that this is a stirring of the pot,” Vieselmeyer said. The council is scheduled to vote on the ordinance Dec. 4. If it’s approved, Boise will be the second city in Idaho to prohibit employers, housing agents and other businesses from discriminating against employees, renters, leasers or customers because they’re gay or transgender. Religious organizations are exempt, and the ordinance includes penalties for false reporting.

The only other Idaho municipality with LGBT protections is the tiny far-northern town of Sandpoint.  The GOP has thwarted attempts to pass a statewide ordinance. (Tipped by JMG reader Javier)