Chicane - One Thousand Suns

My favorite act of the 90s is back with a vocal version of an instrumental track first released last year. 

Today In Christian Love

Campus preacher Brother Dean Saxton displayed the above sign at the University of Arizona, telling the student newspaper, "If you dress like a whore, act like a whore, you’re probably going to get raped. I think that girls that dress and act like it, they should realize that they do have partial responsibility, because I believe that they’re pretty much asking for it."  Think Progress notes that Saxton responded to a campus protest about sexual violence on his Twitter account.

Petition Of The Day

Details.

Schlafly: Gays Just Want To Shut You Up

"I do think that the main goal of the homosexuals is to silence any criticism. Most of them aren’t interested in getting married. But I think that’s what they want to do, and they’re starting out by trying it in the schools. If five people on the Supreme Court are able to overturn our definition of marriage, which we’ve had for centuries, we had even before the Pilgrims landed on the Atlantic coast, there’s something wrong with our system. As Abraham Lincoln said in a famous, in his First Inaugural, in describing the Dred Scott case, probably the worst decision in history, and he said, 'Okay, we have to accept what they decided for poor old Dred Scott.' But we don’t have to accept it as a precedent and as something that will rule us forever, and we’re going to get this overturned." - Phyllis Schlafly, speaking on her radio show.

A Gay Marriage Proposal At Google

Via HuffPo:

The entire Google London office recently helped Google employee Shaun Aukland pop the question to his boyfriend, Michael. Aukland wrote on YouTube Friday that he and Michael have been in a long-distance relationship for two years. Aukland lives in San Francisco and works at the Google office there, and Michael lives in London. During one of Aukland's regular trips to London (during which he was working out of the Google London office), he invited Michael to have lunch with him at the company's campus. But Michael didn't know that Aukland had secretly planned a proposal, and that hundreds of other diners in the lunchroom were in on the surprise, too.

Headline Of The Day

A Washington state man called the GOP sponsors of the bill to legalize anti-gay discrimination by businesses.  Via Anna Minard at Slog, here's what one office told him:

During the phone calls, he says he asked staffers some variation of the question "What are rural gays supposed to do if the only gas station or grocery store for miles won't sell them gas and food?" Castro says the staffer at Hewitt's office surprised him with the answer "Well, gay people can just grow their own food." When Castro then asked the male staffer his name, he refused to identify himself, reportedly responding, "I don't have to tell you that," then, "Don't call here again," and hanging up the phone. This happened at around 11:00 this morning.

About an hour after Castro's call, I called Hewitt's office myself to find out if—and more importantly why—government staffers are telling gay people to "grow their own food" if straight Christians don't want to sell them groceries. My conversation was brief, to say the least. When I asked about the bill, the male staffer who answered the phone immediately directed me to a spokesperson for the state Republicans. When I clarified that I was calling to ask about Hewitt's sponsorship of the bill in particular, he said he had no comment.

Return calls to the office were hung up upon.

Annie - Tube Stops And Lonely Hearts

Great track, lousy video from the "Norwegian Kylie.'

LGBT Military Family Group Denounces San Francisco Pride, Others Call For Boycott >>>UPDATE: SF Pride Cancels Bradley Manning As Grand Marshal

The support group for military LGBT families has denounced San Francisco Pride for naming imprisoned WikiLeaks suspect Bradley Manning as one of this year's grand marshals. Via press release:

“Manning’s blatant disregard for the safety of our service members and the security of our nation should not be praised,” said Stephen Peters, president of AMPA. “The LGBT military community is outraged by this decision and we genuinely hope that San Francisco Pride will reconsider their appointment of Bradley Manning as a grand marshal for this year’s celebration. No community of such a strong and resilient people should be represented by the treacherous acts that define Bradley Manning.”

In a separate move, the organizer of the 2011 Active Duty Military March in San Diego Pride (the nation's first-ever pride appearance of uniformed military members) has called for a boycott of San Francisco Pride. Sean Sala emails:

I am appalled, infuriated and sad. San Francisco has spit in the face of LGBT Military by using a traitor to our country as a poster child. They are not using Manning for anything they truly admire, only to boost their attendance and garnish more currency for their parade.  Manning makes Gay military, the Armed Forces and cause of equality look like a sham. He deserves no recognition.  I am calling all LGBT Military and national LGBT news to announce a boycott for San Francisco Pride. Specifically LGBT Military, Active and Veterans of all Branches.

Sala has launched a petition.

UDPATE: San Diego LGBT Weekly reports that San Francisco Pride has canceled the naming of Bradley Manning as grand marshal, saying that his election by a board of former grand marshals was a "systemic failure that now has become apparent and will be rectified." From the statement by San Francisco Pride board president Lisa Williams:

Bradley Manning will not be a grand marshal in this year’s San Francisco Pride celebration. His nomination was a mistake and should never have been allowed to happen. A staff person at SF Pride, acting under his own initiative, prematurely contacted Bradley Manning based on internal conversations within the SF Pride organization. That was an error and that person has been disciplined. He does not now, nor did he at that time, speak for SF Pride.

Bradley Manning is facing the military justice system of this country. We all await the decision of that system. However, until that time, even the hint of support for actions which placed in harms way the lives of our men and women in uniform — and countless others, military and civilian alike — will not be tolerated by the leadership of San Francisco Pride. It is, and would be, an insult to every one, gay and straight, who has ever served in the military of this country. There are many, gay and straight, military and non-military, who believe Bradley Manning to be innocent. There are many who feel differently. Under the US Constitution, they have a first amendment right to show up, participate and voice their opinions at Pride this year.

(Tipped by JMG reader Kathy)

HONG KONG: Activists Launch Video Series Against Anti-Gay Bullying

More clips here.

(Via Gay Star News)

GOProud Leaders Step Down

Co-founders Jimmy LaSalvia and Chris Barron are stepping down as the leaders of GOProud, but claim that the homocon group will go on and thrive without them at the helm.  Chris Geidner reports at Buzzfeed:

"It's time. We don't want it to get stale," LaSalvia said, who along with Barron founded GOProud four years ago as a more conservative, grassroots alternative to the Log Cabin Republicans. "The reason why GOProud has been so successful is because we have brought new ideas and new energy to the arena. At some point, what was the outside-the-box thinking all of the sudden becomes the box, and so now, that's the way that GOProud does things. It's our box. It seems crazy to everyone else, but, for us, it's like standard operating procedure. It's time for someone else to come in and shake things up," Barron added.

Both are remaining on GOProud's board of directors. The group is seeking a new executive director. I'm betting that without the regular news-making asshattery from LaSalvia and Barron, GOProud will just fade away. Another upside: fewer faked hate crimes.

Marijuana Causes Terrorism

"The older brother was a marijuana smuggler, but the younger brother was a pothead and a dealer. The Boston Globe says three people admitted buying drugs from the 19-year-old. Perhaps if the drug laws were being vigorously enforced in liberal Massachusetts, Dzhokhar Tsarnaev could have been picked up by the authorities before joining his brother in the Boston bombing. Perhaps his arrest could have led to his supplier, his own brother. But it looks like drugs were common on campus, and among students, and so everyone just looked the other way. Marijuana is not the harmless drug the media frequently claim it to be. It is a mind-altering substance that can play a role in creating communist or Islamic terrorists." - Accuracy In Media crackpot Cliff Kincaid, quoted by Right Wing Watch.

PREVIOUSLY ON JMG: Kincaid says gay people live a "disease-ridden lifestyle."  Kincaid lectures at Porno Pete's hate academy.  Kincaid says gay people want to give Americans AIDS by donating blood. Kincaid endorses Uganda's "kill the gays" bill.

Adult Cat Finder

One Million Moms would like to remind you that jokes about bestiality make the baby Jesus cry.  From the site: "All joking aside, please look into adopting an adult pet in your area."

Donald Trump Out-Douches Himself

HRC Cheers Four Years Of Iowa Marriage

The Iowa Supreme Court ruled in favor of same-sex marriage on April 3rd, 2009 and the first couples got their licenses four years ago tomorrow. Cute clip.

Twinkies To Return By Summer

Hostess Brands announced yesterday that they will return from bankruptcy and resume production by summer.  The company shut down last year during a union strike that became emblematic of corporate greed.

“We expect to be making and selling in July,” Michael Cramer, executive vice president of Hostess Brands LLC, told NBC News. “Probably the later half of the month before the product hits the stores.” The old Hostess company was dismantled and its assets sold off. Two hedge funds, Apollo Global & Metropoulos & Co., bought the best-known of the company’s snack brands and launched a new company, Hostess Brands LLC.

The new company will not be unionized. How utterly unshocking.

Country Legend George Jones Dead At 81

Country music legend George Jones has died at the age of 81. Jones landed more than 150 hits on the country chart during his decades-long career.

Mr. Jones, who was nicknamed Possum for his close-set eyes and pointed nose, and later No-Show Jones for the concerts he missed during drinking and drug binges, was a legendary figure in country music. His singing, which was universally respected and just as widely imitated, found vulnerability and doubt behind the cheerful drive of honky-tonk. With a baritone voice that was as elastic as a steel-guitar string, he brought suspense to every syllable, merging bluesy slides with the tight, quivering ornaments of Appalachian singing. In his most memorable songs, all the pleasures of a down-home Saturday night couldn’t free him from private pain. His up-tempo songs had undercurrents of solitude, and the ballads that became his specialty were suffused with stoic desolation. “When you’re onstage or recording, you put yourself in those stories,” he once said.

I loved Jones' duets with his wife Tammy Wynette, with whom he continued to record after their divorce.  We're Not The Jet Set, which was memorably covered by John Prine and Iris Dement, is my favorite Jones/Wynette track.

OREGON: Ninth Circuit Court Judge Calls Same-Sex Marriage Ban Unconstitutional

Ninth Circuit Court Judge Harry Pregerson yesterday ruled in favor of an Oregon lesbian who has been denied federal health benefits for her partner. The judge's ruling does not overturn Oregon's 2004 ban on same-sex marriage.

Pregerson ruled on a narrow personnel case in which Alison Clark appealed the denial of benefits for her partner, Anna Campbell, under the Federal Employees Health Care Benefits program. Clark, a public defender in Portland, married Campbell in British Columbia on June 23, 2012. But when the couple returned to Oregon and applied for health benefits, they were denied under the federal Defense of Marriage Act, which also defines marriage as between one man and one woman. The state of Oregon did not recognize their marriage, under Measure 36. Clark appealed the decision about her benefits, and Pregerson ruled in her favor. “The denial of Clark’s request for spousal FEHB benefits was based on Clark’s sexual orientation, and thus violates the plan’s prohibition of discrimination on the basis of sexual orientation.”

Activists are working place a repeal of the ban on the 2014 ballot. (Image via Memeograph)

Who's Next For Marriage?

The Associated Press recaps the states most in play:

• Delaware: The state's House approved a bill Tuesday legalizing same-sex marriage on a 23-18 vote. The bill now moves to the Senate. It has the support of Democratic Gov. Jack Markell. Delaware approved same-sex civil unions last year.
• New Jersey: The Democratic-led legislature is expected to attempt to override Republican Gov. Chris Christie's veto of gay marriage legislation a year ago. But there aren't enough Democrats to guarantee an override, and Christie has suggested putting the question before voters.
• Oregon: Gay marriage advocates hope to place a proposed constitutional amendment on the 2014 ballot that would reverse a ban on gay marriage passed by voters in 2004. The effort has the support of Gov. John Kitzhaber.
• Minnesota: Hundreds of gay marriage supporters gathered at the state Capitol this month to urge lawmakers to vote for gay marriage. Legislation has cleared committees in both the House and Senate.
• Illinois: The state's Senate approved gay marriage legislation on Valentine's Day. Supporters in the House say they're still a few votes short but hope a vote is held before the General Assembly adjourns this spring. Gov. Pat Quinn supports the bill.

Image via USA Today.

My Robot Friend - It's Raining Cats

The silliest thing ever.  And probably a daylong earworm. You might recall My Robot Friend from their wonderful 2002 track, We're The Pet Shop Boys, which was later covered by Robbie Williams and the Pet Shop Boys themselves. I still play the original often.

Bryan Fischer Vs Bryan Fischer

The non-evil Fischer's Twitter profile: "Father, web designer, nerd, game designer/publisher, Catholic. Co-founder of Nevermore Games."

SF Pride Grand Marshal: Bradley Manning

Imprisoned WikiLeaks suspect Bradley Manning has been named one of this year's grand marshals for San Francisco Pride.

Pride's electoral college, which is made up of former grand marshals, has selected Army Private First Class Bradley Manning as its choice for grand marshal. Manning has admitted to leaking 700,000 classified U.S. government documents to WikiLeaks and is facing court-martial. He is currently in custody and will not be attending the parade, although he will have supporters appearing on his behalf.

The Bradley Manning Support Network issued a press release this morning.

PFC Manning, awaiting trial for three years behind bars, cannot attend the Pride celebration in-person. However, Pentagon Papers' whistleblower Daniel Ellsberg will attend in his stead, and hundreds are expected to march in support of PFC Manning in the parade. In past years, Manning pride contingents have marched in New York City, Chicago, Washington D.C., Boston, San Diego, and Los Angeles. Even wider national support is expected this year, in anticipation of his summer court martial.

In late February, PFC Manning plead guilty to 10 charges concerning unauthorized use and disclosure of classified information, explaining his desire to promote “debates, discussion and reforms” concerning U.S. foreign policy. Those 10 charges alone would carry a maximum prison sentence of 20 years; nonetheless the U.S. military continues to pursue a life sentence in prison for “aiding the enemy through indirect means.” Supporters argue that without evidence of any damage done to U.S. national security, this is primarily an attempt to frighten other would-be military whistleblowers.

A spokesperson for the support group added: "The LGBT community is unique in that being a member requires a willingness to disclose the truth about ourselves to the benefit of those around us and society as a whole. As a longstanding Manning supporter, I’m thrilled to see our community publicly embrace his courage in disclosing classified truths about the war in Iraq and other facts which empower the American public to promote smarter future policy."

The Boehner Family Goes To Pot

House Speaker John Boehner's future son-in-law is a furriner. With waist-length dreadlocks.  And one misdemeanor nothing pot arrest that the Freepers are going nuts over.  The happy couple is registered at Williams-Sonoma. There's no part of this story that isn't funny to me and I feel bad about that.

Russian Paratroopers And Priests Deploy Inflatable Orthodox Church

Secondary use: Bouncy Castle.

Source.

Mormon Church Backs Gay Scouts

The Mormon Church has posted a statement in which they back the Boy Scouts USA plan to allow openly gay Scouts, but not gay leaders. Here is the statement in full:

Over the past several weeks BSA has undertaken the difficult task of reviewing its membership standards policy. In their own words, this undertaking has been ‘the most comprehensive listening exercise in its history.’

While the Church has not launched any campaign either to effect or prevent a policy change, we have followed the discussion and are satisfied that BSA has made a thoughtful, good-faith effort to address issues that, as they have said, remain ‘among the most complex and challenging issues facing the BSA and society today.’

The current BSA proposal constructively addresses a number of important issues that have been part of the ongoing dialogue, including consistent standards for all BSA partners, recognition that Scouting exists to serve and benefit youth rather than Scout leaders, a single standard of moral purity for youth in the program, and a renewed emphasis for Scouts to honor their duty to God.

We are grateful to BSA for their careful consideration of these issues. We appreciate the positive things contained in this current proposal that will help build and strengthen the moral character and leadership skills of youth as we work together in the future.

The Mormon Church is a major sponsor of local scouting troops around the nation. The Boy Scouts are expected to vote on the resolution next month. Tony Perkins is going to be furious.

Ms. Magazine Cheers Brian Sims

"If you didn’t already know that Sims was the first openly gay member elected to the Pennsylvania General Assembly, in 2012, you might have guessed it from that remark. After all, shouldn’t it be the straight males in the Pennsylvania House, who care most about women’s reproductive health? But no: Those men helped pass House Bill 818, which would ban health plans set up in the state insurance marketplace (under the Affordable Care Act) from offering abortion coverage. Thank you, Rep. Sims, for realizing the intersectionality among oppressions—whether it’s sexism, racism, classism or homophobia." - Ms. Magazine, quoting Sims' denouncement of the above-cited bill.

Snopes Rating: Probably True

Above is the first page of a "science" test reportedly give to a fourth grade class at a Christian school in South Carolina.  After receiving an email from a man claiming to be the father of the student, Snopes has rated the story as "probably true."  The father says he won't identify the school until June, after which he says his daughter will change to a different school. Hit the link for the second page of the test. (Tipped by JMG reader Kevin)

Brian Brown Vows Revenge On RI GOP

"Dear Marriage Supporter: The news this week is tough. I'm not going to sugar coat it. In Rhode Island, all five Republican state senators joined the Democrats in the state senate to pass a same-sex marriage bill. It now goes back to the House which had previously passed a gay marriage bill and the governor has promised to sign it. The Rhode Island bill does not create a new category of marriage for same-sex couples. Rather, it completely redefines marriage for all people in Rhode Island.  For the politicians who refused to let the people of Rhode Island vote on marriage, this is not over! We intend to make sure that every Rhode Islander knows how their policymakers voted on this critical issue. We will hold the politicians accountable for their votes. Republicans, especially, will have to answer for abandoning marriage—a core position of the GOP platform." - Hate group leader Brian Brown, writing for NOM's blog.

NYC Tabloids On Anthony Weiner

Broadway Cares Easter Bonnet 2013

The show was actually this week:

The 27th Annual Easter Bonnet Competition raised a staggering $4,250,542 -- eclipsing the previous high of $3,734,129 set in 2007. The grand total was announced April 23, 2013, after six weeks of intensive fundraising for Broadway Cares/Equity Fights AIDS by 47 Broadway, Off-Broadway and national touring companies. With a standing-room-only audience filling Broadway's Minskoff Theatre, two Easter Bonnet shows featured original presentations, songs, dances and 19 intricate, custom-made bonnets.

This year's edition included special appearances by Tom Hanks, Cyndi Lauper, Harvey Fierstein, Reeve Carney, Victoria Clark, Deborah Cox, Robert Cuccioli, Katie Finneran, Shalita Grant, Ann Harada, Harriet Harris, Cady Huffman, Andy Karl, Ron Kunene, Nathan Lane, Tshidi Manye, Constantine Maroulis, Andrea Martin, Marin Mazzie, Christopher McDonald, Judy McLane, Mark Nelson, Christine Pedi, Billy Porter, Seth Rudetsky, Peter Scolari, Holland Taylor and Michael Urie.

The show has raised $53M since 1987.

Stubble Makes You Sexier

Heavy stubble, that is. According to one study.

Men may now think twice about reaching for a razor. A new study shows that facial hair says a lot about a man and that attractiveness peaks at the "heavy stubble" phase. Researchers photographed 10 men at four stages of beard growth: clean shaven, 5-day "light" stubble, 10-day "heavy" stubble (shown), and fully bearded. Three hundred and fifty-one women and 177 heterosexual men viewed the photos and rated each face for attractiveness, masculinity, health, and parenting ability. Women ranked heavily stubbled faces as the most attractive. Participants said that the clean-shaven men looked about as healthy and attractive as those with a full beard, but rated the bearded men higher for perceived parenting skills. Light stubble got the short end of the stick, garnering low scores across the board from both men and women.

(Tipped by JMG reader Nicholas)

WASHINGTON: GOP Introduces Bill To Legalize Anti-Gay Business Discrimination

In response to the lawsuits against a local florist, the Washington state GOP yesterday introduced a bill that would allow businesses to refuse any customer on the basis of "sincerely held religious beliefs."

The measure would not apply to the denial of services to people under a protected class under federal law, such as race, religion or disability. [Sponsor Sen. Sharon] Brown said the measure seeks to protect people or religious organizations from legal persecution. "There's a glaring lack of protection for religion in state law," she said. Also signing on to the bill were Sens. Janea Holmquist Newbry, Mike Hewitt, Jim Honeyford, Don Benton, Barbara Bailey, Mike Padden, John Braun, John Smith, Ann Rivers, and Linda Evans Parlette. The bill has not yet been referred to a committee or scheduled for a public hearing, and is not likely to before the regular legislative session ends on Sunday. However, if a special session is called, as expected, the bill could be heard during that time.

The bill has the backing of the anti-gay Washington Family Policy Institute. Openly gay state Sen. Ed  Murray reacts: "What they're really going after is civil rights legislation from decades ago that settled the question of who gets to sit at a lunch counter and who doesn't get to sit at a lunch counter. It's a wake up call to gays and lesbians. The fight doesn't end. It's like choice. It's always under attack. Gay and lesbians are in the same situation."

NFL Won't Ask About Sexuality

Thanks to a deal with New York Attorney General Eric Schneiderman.Via Capital New York:

Under an agreement reached with the NFL and the Player’s Association, the league’s collective bargaining agreement will be expanded to protect newly recruited players from being asked questions such as whether they like women or have a girlfriend. Schneiderman’s office was concerned the questions were designed to determine whether a player is gay and potentially block them from being drafted. At the same time, posters will be added to locker rooms directing players to call the Player’s Association if they suspect there is discrimination. “These interviews determine the future course of their lives… We’re just making sure the non-discrimination applies to everyone,” Schneiderman said in the interview.

Image via Memograph.

Man With A Batcave

Rep. Aaron Schock: No Run For IL Gov

Totally straight Rep. Aaron Schock has announced that he will not be running for governor of Illinois.

Schock, 31, from Peoria, ultimately decided he could do more good politically for the state by staying in the Republican-led House than by seeking the governor's office, said Steven Shearer, Schock's chief of staff. "It's been up and down," Shearer said of Schock's decision-making for 2014. "He really has strongly considered all aspects of it." Schock's decision removes from the potential field a youthful former state legislator with a demonstrated ability to raise money.

Now in his third term, Schock is the second-youngest member of Congress. He intends to run for a fourth term in 2014.

DE Sen. Brian Bushweller Backs Marriage

"As you may know, HB 75 passed the House of Representatives on April 23 and will now come to the Senate for consideration.  When the roll is called in the Senate, I will be voting yes. Where I disagree with the opponents of HB 75 is that I believe same sex, civil marriage is not a threat to the family.  Rather, it can help strengthen the family.  As I stated when the General Assembly passed the civil union bill two years ago, to the extent we can encourage longevity, stability and commitment in relationships as described above, marriage and families will benefit.  We should be promoting these kinds of relationships, not denying them." - Delaware Sen. Brian Bushweller, in a letter to his constituents.  Bushweller's support may push the Senate over into the win column for marriage equality. (Tipped by JMG reader Steve)

Mariela Castro Denied US Visa

Cuban LGBT rights activist Mariela Castro, the niece of Fidel and daughter of president Raul Castro, has been denied a visa to attend a gay rights forum in Philadelphia.

Equality Forum Executive Director Malcolm Lazin said in a press release that Mariela Castro, executive director of the Cuban National Center for Sex Education (CENESEX,) several months ago accepted an invitation to speak on a panel at the University of the Arts on May 4. She was also scheduled to accept an award at the group’s annual dinner that will take place later that same day at the National Museum of American Jewish History.

Lazin said the State Department issued a visa to Castro that allowed her to attend meetings at the United Nations in New York City. He said the U.S. government refused to allow her to travel to Philadelphia to attend Equality Forum that will highlight Cuba. Lazin told the Washington Blade on Thursday the Cuban government attached Equality Forum’s invitation to its application for a visa that would have allowed her to attend the event.

The State Department has declined to comment.

Jimmy McMillan - Rent Is Too Damn High

He's running for NYC mayor again. The song isn't half bad.

20 Years Ago Today

Twenty years ago today I joined hundreds of thousands of LGBT Americans for the 1993 March On Washington, the event that changed me forever, turning me from a stereotypical early 30s clubbing-crazed party boy/casual activist into whatever it is I am today. While South Beach certainly had no shortage of gay mega-clubs at the time, I'd never been in such a gigantic crowd of my people. Heck, before that March On Washington I'd never even attended a major city gay pride event, unless you count Tampa Pride 1985. Which I don't, no offense to Tampa.

But ascending that dizzying Dupont Circle subway escalator as cheers poured down upon every wave of new arrivals, well, let's just say I still get goosebumps thinking about that moment.  Bill Clinton had just taken office after twelve relentlessly depressing years of Reagan/Bush and the sense of optimism and possibility consumed every one of us.  I know that I still attended all of the huge dance parties which initially drew to me DC that weekend, but today I can't recall one minute of them, not even where they were held.

What I do remember is my visit to the NAMES Project display, meeting Michael Callen, my purchases from the many t-shirt and button vendors, coming home every day covered with stickers, our straining to hear the speakers from what felt like miles from the stage, and the long, hot, fun afternoon waiting to step off with the Florida contingent, which included a marching band playing Be My Guest from Beauty And The Beast. (They played it a LOT.)

VIDEO: The first clip features Callen singing his classic Love Don't Need A Reason. Callen died of AIDS several months after the March. The second clip includes a visit to the AIDS Quilt.

FRC Posts Shooting Video

The Family Research Council has spent the last day issuing press releases that renew their claim that the Southern Poverty Law Center is directly responsible for the shooting that took place at their office last August.  In a post on World Net Daily yesterday, the FRC revealed that they have demanded that the federal government no longer work with the SPLC.

A key leader of the Washington-based Family Research Council, the pro-family organization attacked by “gay” terrorist Floyd Lee Corkins, II, last year, says he is asking the government to stop utilizing the organization that likely influenced Corkins’ decision to attack innocent workers at FRC’s Washington office. Retired Lt. Gen. William G. “Jerry” Boykin, the executive vice president of FRC and also a member of the board of WND.com, also is asking the U.S. news media to stop citing reports, statements and claims from the Southern Poverty Law Center, which he said legitimizes the organization. The reason is that Corkins, who has pleaded guilty to a charge of domestic terrorism, confirmed to the FBI that he obtained information about the FRC from the “hate group” listing posted online by the SPLC, and that’s how he picked his target.

To bolster the above anti-SPLC campaign, today the FRC released the previously unseen security footage of the shooting.

Chick-Fil-A To Host Medieval-Themed Mother-Son "Date Knight" At 50 Locations

An what seems to be a take on Purity Balls, about fifty Chick-Fil-A locations will host a medieval-themed "date knight" for mothers and sons.

During this special medieval-themed evening, moms and their sons are encouraged to spend some time together while they enjoy dinner, great conversation and several special activities,” the company said in a press release. “Every Mother-Son pair will also receive a place mat with fun questions and topics to get the conversation started, and a take-home booklet that provides ideas for future dates and questions that both moms and their sons can ask each other.” The “special activities” are free, but diners still have to pay for the food. “One of Chick-fil-A’s goals is to promote community connections and enrich the lives of everyone we come in contact with,” Erik Amick, a Chick-fil-A franchise operator, said in a statement.

Presumably those "fun questions" on the place mat will be about the Crusades. Reservations are already full at some locations. (Tipped by JMG reader Blair)

Anthony Weiner: I Sexted With Way More Women Than You Know About

"It’s not 20 and it’s not 100. I did it with more than one person. It was wrong. I was doing it for some time, and I’m glad it’s behind me If reporters want to go try to find more, I can't say that they're not going to be able to find another picture or find another person. The basics of the story are not going to change. "I'm going to spend a lot of time and a lot of days saying I'm sorry to people. And say I'm sorry to people watching this interview. But first and foremost I'm spending a lot of time saying I'm sorry to my wife still." - Anthony Weiner, telling reporters that he sexted with many more women than has already been reported.

What's French For "Snork"?

Details.

Philly Approves Sweeping LGBT Health Bill

The Philadelphia City Council today approved a sweeping LGBT health bill that may include stipulations seen in no other large city. Via Philadelphia Gay News:

Bill 130224, which passed with a 14-3 vote, would not only give a tax credit incentive to businesses that offered employee health plans that would include same-sex partners and children, but it would also include a substantial amount of benefits to the transgender community as well. The bill would revamp the city’s health care plan to ban discrimination against non-union transgender city employees and would instate a Transgender Health Tax Credit that would allow companies to offer healthcare specific-needs to the transgender community. City buildings would also be required to provide gender-neutral bathroom and would also ban employment discrimination in the city’s non-discrimination law.

Delaware Senate Vote Looks Tight

According to the blog Delaware Liberal, the marriage equality vote in the Delaware Senate looks very tight. Can anybody here fisk this chart and give us a report? (Scroll down at the link for the most recent version of the above graph.)

Delaware Church Sign Of The Day

Jesus is greater than equality. (Via Good As You)

UPDATE: The pastor of Glasgow Church has released a statement.

Homosexual sin is no different than heterosexual sin in God’s eyes. Both kinds of sins are defined in the Scriptures and both can be forgiven at the cross. The recent sign posting was not intended to offend anyone in the gay community. We apologize if it did. It was only meant to say that the cross of Jesus Christ is greater than any political position one might hold on this matter. My desire is that our church will welcome any and all people, regardless of their politics and/or sexuality, who wish to attend. We will treat the professed homosexual with the same dignity and respect with which we treat the heterosexual.

Robertson: Planned Parenthood Founder Inspired Hitler & Wanted Black Genocide

Robertson is repeating totally debunked crapola, of course.

Headline Of The Day

Details.

Log Cabin Publishes "Big Tent" Ad

Log Cabin explains via press release:

Make no mistake: as Log Cabin Republicans, we want to win elections, and if the Republican Party wants to do the same it needs to take a stand against anti-gay rhetoric in its ranks and welcome the increasing numbers of Republicans who support the freedom to marry. Our ad today in Politico should be a wake-up call to Republicans and a reminder of the words of President Reagan, who, in describing his ‘big tent’ conservative philosophy, declared, ‘It is not your duty, responsibility or privilege to tear down, or attempt to destroy, others in the tent.’ Let’s make the tent bigger. Let’s get the Republican Party back on a path to victory.

WASHINGTON: Man Accused Of Gay Rape After Growlr App Crime Spree

A Washington state man has been arrested and charged with rape after victimizing several gay men he met on the Growlr dating app.

Accused in a gunpoint rape, Leverne Lee Maxwell is currently jailed on seven felony charges related to the purported crime spree. The most serious allegations center on the April 7 sexual assault, which Maxwell is alleged to have perpetrated against a man he contacted through the GROWLr website and mobile phone app. According to charging papers, Maxwell, 32, met and robbed several men via the site, which is frequented by strapping, hairy gay men often called “bears.” He is alleged to have raped one of the men in Seattle after holding him at gunpoint.

Gay Star News has more.

The charging papers further allege he used a phone belonging to the mother of his two-year-old child to contact the men. Maxwell, an 11-time felon, denies raping the men, robbing them or using a gun but maintains they had consensual sex. He is accused of first-degree rape, three counts of first-degree robbery, two counts of unlawful gun possession and one count of first-degree burglary. He remains jailed on $750,000 bail. He is expected to appear on 6 May at King County Superior Court at Seattle.

Bill Clinton Sends First Tweet

Amazon To Launch Streaming Video Device

Amazon is readying a new video streaming device similar to Roku and Apple TV.

The e-commerce giant is planning to introduce a device this fall dedicated to streaming video over the Internet and into its customers’ living rooms, according to three people familiar with the project who aren’t authorized to discuss it. They say the box will plug into TVs and give users access to Amazon’s expanding video offerings. Those include its à la carte Video on Demand store, which features newer films and TV shows, and its Instant Video service, which is free for subscribers to the Amazon Prime two-day shipping package. The Amazon set-top box will compete with similar products, such as the Roku, Apple TV, and the Boxee Cloud DVR, along with more versatile devices such as the Playstation 3 and the Xbox. An Amazon spokesperson declined to comment.

Amazon is expected to enable Netflix and Hulu on the new device.

Barbara Bush Doesn't Want Jeb To Run For President: "We've Had Enough Bushes"

Dubya: No Comment On Marriage

Former President George W. Bush dodged a question on same-sex marriage in an interview with CBS.

In an interview that aired on "CBS This Morning," Charlie Rose asked Bush about his one-time support for a constitutional amendment banning marriage equality. "Yeah, well, I'm not, I'm not weighing in on these issues, as you know, because I've made the decision to get off the stage," Bush replied. "And so I'm off the stage." Bush, however, really isn't off the stage anymore. In recent days, he's made a flurry of media appearances to promote the opening of his presidential library.

Bush had no problem, however, weighing in on the issue of immigration during the same interview.