Religion's Gifts To The World

Fourth in a monthly series.

Sarah Palin At CPAC: My Husband Todd's Got The Rifle, I've Got The Rack

Then a sip from a Big Gulp, because "Bloomberg isn't around."

Anti-Pot GOP Rep Busted For Pot

New York GOP Assemblyman Steve Katz, who is mostly known for his loud opposition to medical marijuana, has had a little run-in with the cops.

In a mailing to constituents, the Yorktown Republican, who serves on the Assembly Alcoholism and Drug Abuse Committee, warned: “Our community has been stricken with an increase in drug use and drunk driving by our youngest citizens.”  On Thursday morning, Katz was ticketed near Albany, accused of speeding and marijuana possession, state police said Friday. Katz, 59, who was first elected to the Assembly in 2010, was pulled over on the northbound Thruway in Coeymans for driving 80 mph in a 65 mph zone, police said. The state trooper noted the smell of marijuana when he approached Katz’s car, police said. Katz turned over a small bag of what appeared to be marijuana, state police spokeswoman Darcy Wells said.

Katz: "This should not overshadow the work I have done over the years for the public and my constituency."  The "issues" page on Katz' website has been deleted.

OMD - Metroland

(Via Jared Braden)

Jimmy LaSalvia Quote Headlines HuffPo

Today's front page headline at Huffington Post comes from GOProud's Jimmy LaSalvia, who appeared at a well-attended CPAC panel titled “A Rainbow on the Right: Growing the Coalition, Bringing Tolerance Out of the Closet.”  Michelangelo Signorile reports:

“I’m embarrassed to call myself a Republican right now,” Jimmy LaSaliva, co-founder and president of the gay conservative group GOProud, said at the Conservative Political Action Conference in National Harbor, Md. At the packed panel, attended by younger CPAC members, including quite a few conservative gays and lesbians, conservative commentators and activists on the panel who support marriage equality, including CNN pundit Margaret Hoover and Washington Post columnist Jennifer Rubin, made the case for gay marriage as conservative value.

Asked why GOProud endorsed candidates like Mitt Romney, who supported an constitutional amendment banning gay marriage, said that was old news. “Mitt Romney is as relevant as Mike Dukakis is now,” he said. “So let’s not talk about the past. I know that it’s embarrassing to call yourself a Republican right now. I’m embarrassed to call myself a Republican right now. The question is, 'Are we going to be able to build new coalition that can win, that includes gay people, or not? Are they going to become the Dixiecrats or are they gong to go on and win elections?'”

Hit the second link for an audio clip of Signorile's interview with LaSalvia.

UPDATE: Here are LaSalvia's opening remarks at the panel.

White Supremacist Rocks CPAC

A CPAC panel on GOP outreach to minorities was upended yesterday by a white supremacist who defended slavery and claimed that white people are being "disenfranchised" by the federal government. The man's comments, which were caught on video, has caused an uproar on right-wing blogs where commenters are predictably claiming that the man was planted by liberals in order to embarrass CPAC.  Think Progress reports:

The exchange occurred after an audience member from North Carolina, 30-year-old Scott Terry, asked whether Republicans could endorse races remaining separate but equal. After the presenter, K. Carl Smith of Frederick Douglass Republicans, answered by referencing a letter by Frederick Douglass forgiving his former master, the audience member said “For what? For feeding him and housing him?” Several people in the audience cheered and applauded Terry’s outburst. After the exchange, Terry muttered under his breath, “why can’t we just have segregation?” noting the Constitution’s protections for freedom of association.

Think Progress notes that the man, who was wearing a Rick Santorum sticker, claims to be a "direct descendant" of Jefferson Davis. They caught up with him after the panel, which was ironically titled "Trumping The Race Card."

When asked by ThinkProgress if he’d accept a society where African-Americans were permanently subservient to whites, he said “I’d be fine with that.” He also claimed that African-Americans “should be allowed to vote in Africa,” and that “all the Tea Parties” were concerned with the same racial problems that he was. At one point, a woman challenged him on the Republican Party’s roots, to which Terry responded, “I didn’t know the legacy of the Republican Party included women correcting men in public.”

Here's the clip.

UPDATE: Terry is defending himself on his blog, Shotgun Barrel Straight.

Paris Nixes Anti-Gay March

Citing security concerns, the Paris police department has denied the permit of anti-gay groups who planned to march down the Champs-Elysées in a massive rally against same-sex marriage.  A previous such march in Paris drew an estimated 300,000 protesters earlier this year.

In a statement published on Thursday, the Paris police said that they had notified protest organisers in the past that a demonstration on the Champs Elysée was an "impossibility." “In order to ensure freedom of assembly, preserve public order and protect institutions, the police chief… invited the organisers to get in touch with its services to study possible alternative routes, which was not done,” the statement read. Organisers of the protest have dismissed the police’s stance on the issue, insisting that they should be given the right to march on the Champs Elysées. “We want a symbolic place that will allow the French public and the government to see that we exist en masse,” Frigide Barjot, a figurehead of the anti-gay marriage movement, told the Reuters news agency. “We’re going to continue talking to find a solution,” Barjot added.

The march was scheduled for March 24th as a last-ditch effort to thwart the pending marriage equality bill.  The lower chamber of France's national legislature voted overwhelmingly to approve the bill last month.  The Senate takes up the bill on April 4th and easy passage is predicted.

UPDATE: JMG reader David writes from Paris with a translation of the latest defiant press release from the group planning the march.

At this very moment, a "Manif Pour Tous" delegation is leaving the Paris Police Prefecture. We regret this new refusal of all our proposals and we hope for credible alternative offers from city officials. Negotiations are underway. No official ban on the march has been served as of today. The freedom to hold a protest march is a constitutional right guaranteed to all citizens, one which we shall defend as we defend children’s rights. On this coming March 24th, we will march massively on Paris in a responsible, peaceful, and legal manner. Hundreds of thousands of citizens from every region of France have already organized to travel to Paris to join the demonstration. We will neither silence them nor will we let up. We won’t give up anything!

Photo Of The Day

NBC News reports on today's tribal wedding in Michigan:

Dexter McNamara, chairman of the 4,600-member Little Traverse Bay Bands of Odawa Indians in northern Michigan, wed Tim LaCroix, 53, and Gene Barfield, 60, of Boyne City. After McNamara read the couple's vows and led the ceremony in English, a member of the tribe followed and conducted a tribal ceremony in their language. "How could the world be better? How could the world be better? … I'm just full of joy and happiness and I love my husband," Barfield said. "We’re so unbelievably grateful to the tribe and so full of respect for their position in this.”

The couple met 30 years ago when they were stationed at Orlando's Naval Training Center.

UNRELATED: My family briefly lived on that base when we first moved to Orlando.  I learned to drive on the deserted access road around the base parade grounds, the one place my mother knew I wouldn't crash into other cars. Not long after that, I was dropping swabbies off at the front gate after meeting them at the Parliament House. Good times.

CPAC Attendees Denounce Sen. Portman

(Via Scott Keyes at Think Progress)

Global Warming Is A Hoax Because Obama Wore A Coat At His Inauguration

Christian Group: Sen. Rob Portman's Gay Son Is Going To Get AIDS

"Portman has conveniently ignored the warnings against the sin of homosexuality in both the Old and New Testaments – and is accepting a behavior that may eventually kill his son from AIDS, other sexually transmitted diseases, or oral cancer. Homosexual sex is ultimately just as destructive as cocaine use. Would Portman suddenly call for the legalization of cocaine if his son had announced that he was a cocaine addict? Would that be 'loving' and 'compassionate'? What sort of core values motivate a U.S. Senator to change his mind about a sexually destructive behavior simply because his son is involved in it? What will happen to Rob Portman’s belief system when he discovers that his son is infected with HIV or throat cancer? A person with a same-sex attraction has a treatable condition. No one is 'born gay' and there is hope for those who want to overcome these destructive behaviors." - Government Is Not God-PAC, posting on their website. (Via Right Wing Watch)

This Is A Bronx Subway Station

It may not look like a typical subway station, but if you take the 2/5 to the Bronx Zoo you'll now exit into the above building, which just finished undergoing a $66M restoration. Via Gothamist:

"The building was designed with arches and balconies that give it the distinct look of an Italian villa," said the MTA in a press release today. "On the exterior is a restored plaque topped with the head of Mercury, the Roman god of transportation." Added to the National Register of Historic Places in 1980, the building formerly served as the administration office for the old New York, Westchester and Boston Railway system. The terminal once connected the Bronx with White Plains and Port Chester. In 1940, NYC took ownership of the Bronx portion of the line and tied it into the IRT.

Photos of the interior at the link.

Snork!

Explanation here.

Supreme Court Grants DOJ Speaking Time At Proposition 8 Oral Arguments

Chris Johnson has the scoop at Washington Blade:

In court orders on Friday, justices announced the U.S. Solicitor General will be allowed speaking time for oral arguments in the case, which are scheduled for March 26. “The motion of the Solicitor General for leave to participate in oral argument as amicus curiae and for divided argument is granted,” the orders states.

DC Gay Chorus Tackles Xanadu

My second-favorite Broadway show after Drowsy Chaperone, thanks to Cheyenne Jackson and Jackie Hoffman.

Another Slap In NOM's Face

And Good As You blogger Jeremy Hooper scores another win for the good guys. Go give Jeremy his props, folks.  Pretty soon the only "entertainment" at the NOM Hate March will be one old dude with a kazoo.

Sen. Portman Gave Tony Perkins The Sadz

"Regardless of a child's choices, the love of a parent can and should be a guiding beacon in the lives of their sons and daughters.  Unconditional love, however, does not mean unconditional support in choices that are both harmful to them and society as a whole.  This is especially true when we approach public policy.  Our unconditional love for our children should not override the historical and social science evidence which makes abundantly clear what is best for all children and for society - being raised by a married mother and father." - Hate group leader Tony Perkins, in a statement published to the FRC's website.

Eurovision: Azerbaijan's Farid Mammodov

Well, he's not hard to look at. And he's a wrestler. Azerbaijan won Eurovision 2011, prompting activists like Peter Tatchell to warn the contest's massive gay following against attending last year's event because Azerbaijan is "an unsafe destination for gay people." (The winning nation hosts the following year's contest.) No incidents occurred, although the government of Iran claimed that Azerbaijan was hosting a "gay parade" because of all the fans that did attend.

NOM Chairman John Eastman Denies He Said "Adopted Kids Are Second-Best"

"An article by the Associated Press, excised in part by The Huffington Post, grossly misrepresents my views on adoption. I believe that couples who adopt children are heroes and do a great service to society, and to the children they adopt. I strongly believe, based on thousands of years of experience and countless social science studies, that children do best when raised by a mother and a father within the bounds of marriage. I commend all those couples who selflessly give of themselves to raise a child who, through no fault of her own, has been deprived of a mother and father. There is nothing 'second best' about adoption." - NOM chairdouche John Eastman, in a statement posted on his hate group's blog.

FACT CHECK: Let's go to the tape. "Certainly adoption in families headed, like Chief Roberts' family is, by a heterosexual couple, is by far the second-best option."

Brian Brown: We're Going To Win

"We are going to win at the Supreme Court. It will be shown to be the biggest strategic mistake the supporters of same-sex marriage ever have made [to challenge Prop 8]. And the reality is that all of them knew this. All of the major [gay] groups knew this. They knew this was the wrong time. We’re going to find that out. Justice Kennedy is not going to launch another culture war like Roe. He’s not going to have Supreme Court interject and short circuit the Democratic process." - Hate group leader Brian Brown, speaking to Michelangelo Signorile at CPAC.  Hit the link and listen to the full audio, especially the bit when the most famous anti-gay liar in the world claims that "the gay press is making up facts out of thin air."

Atheist Group Sues Congress To Remove "In God We Trust" From Currency

The Freedom From Religion Foundation has filed a lawsuit demanding that "In God We Trust" be removed from all US currency. 

The plaintiffs' claim that the motto is offensive and forces atheists, agnostics, secular humanists, freethinkers and skeptics to bear a religious message they don't agree with, and are thus forced, when using U.S. currency, to make a false declaration regarding their religious views. According to Dan Barker, co-president of the Wisconsin-based FFRF, a nonprofit organization that represents atheists and agnostics, the majority of Americans believe the motto sends a religious message out to everyone who collects or uses U.S. currency.

"[In God We Trust] is indeed considered to be a religious phrase," Barker said in an interview with The Christian Post on Thursday. "The message belongs in churches, private institutions and can be shared by missionaries. But who is the 'we' representing, if not all of us trust in a God?" Barker believes that recent survey responses show one out of every five Americans is not a believer, and the motto is forcing nonbelievers to proselytize for monotheism when they travel overseas and exchange U.S. currency for local money.

This has been tried tree times before. "In God We Trust" was added to currency in 1864 during the Civil War.  In 1956 it replaced "E Pluribus Unum" as the official motto of the United States during the height of the Cold War as a slap against communism. The phrase is thought to have originated in the fourth (never sung) stanza of The Star-Spangled Banner.

Haters React To Sen. Rob Portman

A Letter From Dad

(Via JMG reader Dustin)

More Gay Sniping In Venezuela

"If I were gay I'd take ownership of it with pride and shout it to the four winds and I would have no problem loving whoever I had to love with my heart. Because the worst homophobe is one who is gay and discriminates against his own. It's similar to a foreman in a slave-owner's farm. A black traitor who whips an African man's back. That's the worst homophobe: He who denies his identity and discriminates against his equals. We introduced a constitutional amendment to acknowledge their existence and the supreme respect the nation has towards our sexually diverse brothers and sisters - and our opponents and the right called for a vote against that amendment." - Interim Venezuelan President Nicolas Maduro, firing back at homophobia charges by opposition candidate Henrique Capriles by again hinting that Capriles is gay. At the link, Andres Duque points out that Capriles did not oppose the above-cited amendment.  The election is April 14th.

RELATED: Maduro also claims that Hugo Chavez is now "face-to-face with Christ" and therefore influenced the selection of a South American pope.

Bill Gates: Boy Scout Should Lift Gay Ban

(Via Towleroad)

She Does

But don't expect NOM to stop using her music. Visit the pro-gay March 4 Marriage page on Facebook.

Headline Of The Day

Well? Have you? Source.

FRANCE: Researchers Claim Early HIV Drugs Functionally Cures One In Ten

Researchers at France's Institute Pasteur claim that early HIV drug treatment may functionally cure about 10% of the newly infected. Their report follows similar news out of the United States, where an toddler remains HIV-free after robust early treatment as an infant. The French study only involves a small number of patients.

Dr Asier Saez-Cirion, from the Institute Pasteur in Paris, said: "Most individuals who follow the same treatment will not control the infection, but there are a few of them who will." He said 5-15% of patients may be functionally cured, meaning they no longer needed drugs, by attacking the virus soon after infection. "They still have HIV, it is not eradication of HIV, it is a kind of remission of the infection." Their latest study, in the journal PLoS Pathogens, analysed what happened to the immune system of the patients.

Early treatment may limit the number of unassailable HIV hideouts that are formed. However, the researchers said it was "unclear" why only some patients were functionally cured. Dr Andrew Freedman, a reader in infectious diseases at Cardiff University School of Medicine, said the findings were "certainly interesting". "The presumption is that they've started treatment very early and the virus hasn't spread to so many of the long-term reservoirs and that's why it works.

The patients in the study all started anti-retroviral therapy within ten weeks of being infected.  Researchers say they cannot yet conclude that their infections will not rebound. Learning why some people respond in that way may provide clues to an effective cure for all. (Tipped by JMG reader Paolo.)

Portman: I Now Support Marriage But SCOTUS Should Stay Out Of It

"With the overwhelming majority of young people in support of allowing gay couples to marry, in some respects the issue has become more generational than partisan. The process of citizens persuading fellow citizens is how consensus is built and enduring change is forged. That’s why I believe change should come about through the democratic process in the states. Judicial intervention from Washington would circumvent that process as it’s moving in the direction of recognizing marriage for same-sex couples. An expansive court ruling would run the risk of deepening divisions rather than resolving them. I’ve thought a great deal about this issue, and like millions of Americans in recent years, I’ve changed my mind on the question of marriage for same-sex couples. As we strive as a nation to form a more perfect union, I believe all of our sons and daughters ought to have the same opportunity to experience the joy and stability of marriage." - GOP Sen. Rob Portman, writing for the Columbus Dispatch.

More Reactions To Sen. Rob Portman

Human Rights Campaign 

Like countless dads across the country, Senator Portman has made the basic and courageous choice to put parenting before politics. When it comes to marriage equality, all Americans are on the same journey toward recognizing our common humanity. But while 8 in 10 Americans know a gay or lesbian person, it still takes unique courage to speak out publicly for equality. We are very grateful to Senator Portman for his virtuous stand in support of this civil rights cause.

Freedom To Marry Ohio

The honorable U.S. Sen. Portman is the first Republican member of the United States Senate to endorse the freedom to marry, but we believe he will not be the last. We are moved by the love and support U.S. Sen. Portman and his wife are showing their son. We appreciate the fact that the Senator wants his son to be able to marry and form a family to find the same happiness and security as his parents. Each day you can feel the momentum building toward ending marriage discrimination in Ohio. We are going to work even harder with our wonderful volunteers across the state to collect the signatures needed to put this amendment before voters.

PFLAG President David Horowitz

Thank you Senator Portman. I do not quote Ronald Reagan often but he once said 'All great change in America begins at the dinner table' and as a PFLAG Dad, I could not agree more. By publicly sharing his son’s and his own coming out journey, the Senator has opened the door to changing the hearts and minds of millions about our lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender (LGBT) loved ones. Senator Portman simply wants for his son what every parent wants for their child: a loving and committed relationship that brings him joy and security. As the President of PFLAG National, an Ohioan--and most of all a parent who loves his child--I applaud the senator for sharing his personal story.

I'll add more reactions to this post as they come in.

Log Cabin Praises Sen. Rob Portman

"If there was any doubt that the conservative logjam on the issue of civil marriage for committed gay and lesbian couples has broken, Senator Portman's support for the freedom to marry has erased it. Senator Portman's evolution on this issue highlights how personal it is for Americans — whether they're the Junior Senator from Ohio or your next-door neighbor, all Americans have a gay friend, colleague or family member, and understand them to be as deserving as their straight counterparts of the inalienable rights of life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness that are the promise of the United States." - Log Cabin Republicans head Gregory Angelo, via press release.

Sen. Rob Portman Comes Out For Marriage

Saying that his relationship with his gay son has given him a change of heart, GOP Sen. Rob Portman (OH) has come out in support of same-sex marriage. He is the first sitting GOP Senator to do so. Chris Geidner reports at Buzzfeed:

"During my career in the House and also the last couple of years here in the Senate, I've taken a position against gay marriage, rooted in part in my faith and my faith tradition," he said. "I had a very personal experience, which is that my son came to Jane, my wife, and I and said he was gay and that it was not a choice, and that's just part of who he is and he'd been that way for as long as he could remember." After Will, who is now 21, came to him, Portman said he went through "a process of changing my position on the issue," concluding, "I now believe that [gay] people ought to have the right to get married." The Columbus Dispatch reported that Portman had "informed Republican presidential nominee Mitt Romney about Will when Portman was being interviewed last year as a potential vice-presidential nominee."

Previously Portman supported DOMA and a federal constitutional amendment to ban same-sex marriage.

CPAC Has Been Infiltrated By Muslims

It's Sharia-compliant!

Where Will You Be?

Visit United For Marriage for a list of events and rallies in your hometown.

TODAY: Michigan To See First Legal Gay Wedding On Tribal Land

Last week I noted that the Little Traverse Bay Bands of Odawa Indians had legalized same-sex marriage.  Today Michigan will see its first such wedding.

Planning a wedding in less than a week doesn't bother either Tim LaCroix or Gene Barfield. Arrangements still undecided -- what to wear and who to call since there is no time to mail invitations -- seem not to bother the couple. "We ordered some wedding cupcakes and that is about it," LaCroix jokes. For 53-year-old LaCroix and 60-year-old Barfield both of Boyne City, their wedding Friday will be about finally having their 30-year relationship recognized. It will also be a historic statement. The couple will be the first legal same-sex marriage in Michigan under the amended Little Traverse Bay Bands of Odawa Indians marriage statute, which is expected to be signed at 10 a.m. Friday. Tribal sovereignty will protect their marriage from both a 2004 Michigan constitutional amendment and the federal Defense of Marriage Act -- being debated in the U.S. Supreme Court -- defining marriage as between one man and one woman.

LaCroix is a tribal member and left this comment on last week's JMG post:

Just wanted to let everyone know that if and when the Tribal Chairman signs this into law that my partner and I have already obtained our marriage license and application. We have been together for 30 years and we are both veterans who met while we were in the service. We have been waiting for Michigan to pass it and hopefully they will do it soon. Luckily my tribe is ahead on this issue.

We wish them the best!

Hashtags For Facebook

The Wall Street Journal reports:

Facebook is testing whether to follow Twitter's lead and allow users to click on a hashtag to pull up all posts about similar topics or events so it can quickly index conversations around trending topics and build those conversations up, giving users more reason to stay logged in and see more ads. Instagram, which Facebook acquired last year, already uses hashtags, allowing users to sort photos by the symbol. Facebook's work on a hashtag is a sign of the heightening battle between Facebook and Twitter, as both compete for mobile users and fight for advertising dollars.

I guess it could be #useful.

Pogo - Kenya Chords

Another gorgeous entry from the looping/mixing king.

RELATED: Yesterday Pogo also posted an earnest video plea for help as Homeland Security has banned him from entering the United States for ten years due to a visa violation that does appear to have been his fault. He's blaming his booking agency and has launched a petition.

Pet Shop Boys Leave EMI After 28 Years

After spending their entire career with EMI's Parlophone Records, the Pet Shop Boys have jumped ship and this June will release a new album with the relatively unknown Kobalt Label Services.

“This is a very exciting point in our careers," said Neil Tennant and Chris Lowe in a statement. “We are hugely proud of the new album and are very pleased to be working in conjunction with Kobalt. We’d like to thank everyone we’ve worked with at Parlophone over the last 28 years both in the UK and abroad. When we signed to the label in 1985 we had no idea how long and successful a relationship we were embarking on. However it is also exciting now to commence a new phase working with a new team in a new business structure and we look forward to a creative and equally fulfilling relationship with Kobalt.”

With Parlophone, the Pet Shop Boys scored four UK #1 singles and 42 UK Top 30 hits. Kobalt allows its artists to own their own masters, which is probably what the change is really about. Below is a teaser snippet of the coming album.

Tens Attend NOM Panel At CPAC

Via Chris Geidner's Instagram feed comes this photo of the CPAC panel featuring NOM's Brian Brown, nasty anti-gay activist Cleta Mitchell, and Breitbart editor Ben Shapiro.  Speak up! We can't hear you in the back!

UPDATE: From NOM's Twitter account, here's their take on the same panel. Stop pushing! There's room for everybody! Snork!

Count The Lies In NOM's New Ad

As we learned long ago, NOM doesn't care if their lies are broadcast across thousands and thousands of blogs and progressive websites, they just keep repeating the same discredited bullshit. Count the lies in this new ad for their DC hate march. If you miss any, Jeremy Hooper has fisked the entire clip moment-by-moment.

Jimmy LaSalvia At CPAC

NOTE: GOProud remains banned from sponsoring or attending CPAC as a group, but Jimmy LaSalvia did wrangle an invite to sit on a panel from a homocon-friendly organization.  His presence has some attendees pulling out their hairplugs, so there is that.

HomoQuotable - Bruce Carroll

"Now that I think about it, there are words that I shouldn't have used, that I wouldn't use as an official Senate candidate, and I don't use them a lot, but everyone zeroes in on the one thing that they find. And, they'll probably find that. I can't do that as a Senate candidate, but I don't think I should sap my personality for the sake of running for public office because that's an appeal. I can't hide my personality. I can refine my delivery a little bit, and I have the ability to do that, but I am who I am." - Gay Patriot blogger and just-resigned GOProud board member Bruce Carroll, speaking to Buzzfeed's Chris Geidner about his "maybe I will" plan to run against Sen. Lindsey Graham in 2014.

RELATED: In the above-linked article, Geidner notes that Carroll would "have to account" for his words on Twitter and his blog. Here's just a few recent examples that would provide easy ammo for opponents. I have many, many more in the archives.

Rubio At CPAC: I'm Not A Marriage Bigot

Just because you believe that the government should be able to deny gay people the full civil equality guaranteed them under the Constitution does not make you a bigot. So said Sen. Marco Rubio today to enormous teabagger applause.

(Via Think Progress)

On Lesbian Queens

"What happens if we have a lesbian queen in a same-sex marriage who conceives using an egg implanted with donor sperm? The law should be clear, but this is a question that has not been thought through in the bill. As same sex marriage becomes part of the settled life of our kingdom, as the Prime Minister intends, the law [on successions] will inevitably evolve. This may seem fanciful or long in the future, but I believe Parliament should reflect on it. I believe the question will inevitably arise." - Tory House Of Lords member Nicolas True, speaking about a debate on changing the rules of royal succession. (Tipped by JMG reader Chris)

CPAC Tweet Of The Day

Speakers at CPAC are again beating the teabagger drum to eliminate the Department of Education. Book lernin iz the badz! Teachers iz commies! INDOCTRINATION!

Rand Paul T-Shirts At CPAC

Looks a lot like the Anonymous logo, except you do get an outline of Rand Paul's terrible, terrible wig. Source.

UPDATE: The remixes are already starting.  

NOM: Judge Roberts' Kids Are Second-Best

THAT will score them some points with the Court. Visit the pro-gay March 4 Marriage page on Facebook.

UPDATE: We've been passing around the above graphic on the activist back channel to get it tons of visibility and Huffington Post just came through in a big way. 

AFER's Case For Marriage Equality

The Science Of Balding

This seems a logical follow-up to yesterday's shrinkage post.

Quote Of The Day - Father Tony Adams

"Because there are no overtly gay-friendly cardinals on earth, when the 115 voting-age scarlet princes glided into the Sistine chapel to select from their ranks a new pope, hopes were slim that gay Catholics would benefit from the conclave. When the chosen one stepped out onto the balcony of Saint Peter’s basilica, it was clear that the haze of white smoke over the crowd in the piazza was laced with carbon monoxide smuggled in from Argentina and lethal to gay Catholics.  Unless the new Pope Francis does some serious backpedaling from his anti-gay words and record in Buenos Aires, the 'Extra Omnes' [Everybody out!] that is intoned when the doors to the conclave are locked will never be an exhortation to gay Catholics to feel free to come out of their closets and to share love openly." - Father Tony Adams, writing for South Florida Gay News.

Read the full essay.

In Town For CPAC? - 27 (DC)

CPAC only started a couple of hours ago and the homocon ads are starting to pop up on Craigslist.  An excerpt from the second link: "Since most of the guys reading this ad are liberals, I'd be happy to explain why the conservative agenda is more pro-gay than liberalism." Oh, do tell darling.

UPDATE:  Here's another one. "Clean cut prep type in town for CPAC...Lookin to mess around w/ hot tops while I'm here. Can sneak away anytime for fun in my hotel room. White discreet guy here look for tall in-shape studs w/ big cocks. Ages 21-30. Send pics & stats. Two tops cool too."

Loser Allen West At CPAC

As with the Nazis, America will triumph over President Obama.

20% Of Americans Have "No Religion"

According to a just-released biannual survey, the number of Americans who say they have "no religion" has almost quadrupled to 20% in the last 40 years.

On American attitudes toward religion, UC Berkeley researchers found that 20 percent of a nationally representative group reported no religious preference. That's a jump from 1990 when all but 8 percent of Americans polled identified with an organized faith. "This continues a trend of Americans disavowing a specific religious affiliation that has accelerated greatly since 1990," said Hout, lead author of the study. Hout and Fischer are authors of the General Social Survey study that in 2002 first identified a rise in the number of "unchurched." They are careful to distinguish the survey category of "no religion," which means individuals who are not part of an organized religion, from "atheists," who do not believe in God and made up just 3 percent of those interviewed last year. Meanwhile, just 8 percent of those surveyed said they were raised with no religion.

More from the analysis: "Liberals are far more likely to claim 'no religion' (40 percent) than conservatives (9 percent). Men are more likely than women to claim 'no religion' (24 percent of men versus 16 percent of women). More than one-third of 18-to-24-year-olds claimed "no religion" compared to just 7 percent of those 75 and older."  That last line is especially encouraging.

It's International Pi Day

Make mine Boston Creme.

Chris Hayes Replaces Ed Schultz At MSNBC

Next month Chris Hayes will take over the 8PM weekday slot at MSNBC as the network moves Ed Schultz to the weekends.  The New York Times reports:

Mr. Hayes, a liberal intellectual who has hosted a well-regarded weekend morning program on MSNBC for the past 18 months, is a protege of Rachel Maddow, the highest-rated host on the channel. He will become the lead-in for her 9 p.m. program, “The Rachel Maddow Show.” The change is predicated on the belief that MSNBC can win a wider audience with Mr. Hayes than it did with Mr. Schultz, a champion of the working class whose bluster didn’t always pair well with Ms. Maddow and the channel’s other prime time program, “The Last Word with Lawrence O’Donnell.” Mr. Hayes, on the other hand, is just as wonky as Ms. Maddow and Mr. O’Donnell, and is a regular contributor to both of their programs.

At 34 years old, Hayes will become the youngest prime time host on any cable news network.

Another Violent Mugging In The Castro

The Castro continues to be plagued by a string of violent muggings, many of which involve the theft of personal electronics. Castro Biscuit reports on the latest:

Around 9PM, Dalton Huckaby, popular personal trainer and 2013 Bare Chest Calendar participant, was on his way home from work walking down 17th Street near Noe St speaking to a friend on his iPhone 5 when it was cruelly torn from his hand by a thief who ran off with the phone at a break neck pace. [snip] Before he’d taken a few steps however he found himself attacked by a second, unseen assailant from behind, who blindsided and knocked him forcefully to the ground . Mr Huckaby slammed the pavement hard suffering bad scrapes and bruises to his face and hand.

Castro Biscuit notes that the city has responded to the latest crime wave with public meetings, town hall forums, and by posting notices that warn against displaying electronic devices while walking alone. Last week The Bay Area Reporter observed that the SFPD has posted "LGBT Safe Zone" notices at their stations to assure residents that their reports will be taken seriously in the event that muggings involve "hook-ups."

The police chief’s LGBT community advisory forum has spearheaded the campaign, which was touted at the panel’s meeting Monday, March 4. Law enforcement officials have acknowledged people may be reluctant to report incidents, especially those involving hook-up crimes. Those cases often involve someone being drugged, robbed, or attacked during a sexual encounter with a person they met in a bar or online. Police have said they want people to report incidents because it helps them spot patterns, distribute resources, and prevent future crimes.

When I was in San Francisco in October, I met with a JMG reader who volunteers with the Castro Patrol, a gay citizens group that walks the neighborhood in orange vests to hand out whistles and help police identify possible problems.  Locals should consider helping them out; I still have their whistle on my keychain. 

Inside The Chrysler Building Spire

To get to the very top of the Chrysler Building's spire, you must climb over 100 feet of ladders after reaching the top floor.

GLAAD Bans NY Post From Event

The 2013 GLAAD Media Awards take place in Manhattan on Saturday, where Madonna will present Anderson Cooper with the Vito Russo Award.  Not in attendance will be the New York Post, whose press pass request has been denied due to the paper's history of nasty references to transgender people. GLAAD writes:

GLAAD was founded in 1985 to challenge The New York Post's blatantly anti-gay coverage of the HIV/AIDS crisis. More than 27 years later, the paper continues to defame the LGBT community with its sensational framing of transgender stories and its disgraceful practice of referring to transgender people with vulgar slurs. "The Post has been digging its feet in the ground for too long on this issue," said GLAAD President Herndon Graddick. "Transgender people, particularly those who are victims of crime, deserve more than the vile slurs and underhanded 'jokes' with which the Post describes them. Until this paper changes its ways and apologizes for the damage done, GLAAD has no interest in supporting their work."

Just last week a Post headline used the word "she-male" to describe the victim of an assault by a New York City fireman.

Eurovision: Israel's Moran Mazor

Reality show winner Moran Mazor will compete for Israel in Hebrew with Rak Bishvilo, which translates as Only For Him. The last non-English entry to win Eurovision was in 2007 when Serbia made its contest debut as an independent nation. Israel last won Eurovision in 1998 when transgender pop star Dana International broke a long string of English-language winners with the Hebrew version of her club smash, Diva.  Israeli conservative groups were so angry about Dana International's selection that she required continuous police protection during the contest, which that year was held in the UK. 

The Next Issue Of TIME

VENEZUELA: Opposition Candidate Slams Homophobia As "Absolute Fascism"

As the contest to succeed late Venezuelan president Hugo Chavez heats up, leading opposition candidate and Miranda state Gov. Henrique Capriles (left) is firing back at interim president Nicolas Maduro, who has has publicly hinted that Capriles is gay.  Andres Duque has a translation of Capriles' statement at Blabbeando:

I'd like to send a respectful and considerate message in rejection to the homophobic remarks made by Nicolás [Maduro] today. It's not the first time. I believe in a society without exclusion and that's the way I express it to the country. A society where no one feels excluded based on the way they think, their race, their creed, their sexual orientation. People should go out and reject it. That's fascism. Absolute fascism. From the extreme right. If that's how you want to attack me, let it be. But from here on I will always demand respect for all Venezuelans. Because the society that we want to build in Venezuela is a society without exclusion. You cannot talk of inclusion if there is exclusion. There should be overwhelming rejection of something like that.

The election is April 14th. When Chavez was reelected last year, he won with 8.1M votes and Capriles finished with 6.6M. A breakdown of the candidates and parties can be found here.

Pam Geller's Latest SF Muni Campaign

"Americans need to understand the threat they're facing. That is the point of our ads. The slaughter of Christians in Nigeria, Bangladesh, Ethiopia, Malaysia, Algeria et al -- that doesn't warrant a statement, let alone a press conference from San Francisco authorities, but my ads do. Think about that. Hundreds of thousands dead, but it would be blasphemy to talk about. The slaughter in the cause of jihad is OK, but my talking about it is the problem." - Pam Geller, on her latest ad campaign on San Francisco public transit.  A spokesman for Muni says the agency is donating Geller's ad payment to the Human Rights Commission.