Saturday, June 22, 2013

Blondie - A Rose By Any Name

Featuring Beth Ditto!

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Justice Antonin Scalia: Courts Shouldn't Rule On "Moral Issues" Like Gay Marriage

Speaking before a group of North Carolina lawyers, Supreme Court Justice Antonin Scalia yesterday restated his opinion that "moral issues" like homosexuality and same-sex marriage should be left up to a public vote.
In a speech titled “Mullahs of the West: Judges as Moral Arbiters,” the outspoken and conservative jurist told the N.C. Bar Association that constitutional law is threatened by a growing belief in the “judge moralist.” In that role, judges are bestowed with special expertise to determine right and wrong in such matters as abortion, doctor-assisted suicide, the death penalty and same-sex marriage. Scalia said that approach presents two problems: Judges are not moral experts, and many of the moral issues now coming before the courts have no “scientifically demonstrable right answer.” As such, he said, it’s a community’s job to decide what it finds morally acceptable, not the courts’.
While justices are not permitted to comment on pending cases, the Charlotte Observer notes that Scalia "frequently listed homosexuality" among the issues that should not be ruled upon by judges. (Tipped by JMG reader Jim)

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Edward Snowden Charged With Spying

The federal government has formally charged NSA leaker Edward Snowden with espionage and theft of government documents.
Snowden has been charged with three violations: theft of government property and two offenses under the espionage statutes, specifically giving national defense information to someone without a security clearance and revealing classified information about "communications intelligence." Each of the charges carries a maximum of 10 years in prison. Officials said charges against Snowden were delayed because the United States and authorities in Hong Kong have been going back and forth to make certain that whatever charges the U.S. filed would conform to the extradition treaty with Hong Kong. The U.S. has filed a "provisional arrest warrant," formally asking the police in Hong Kong to arrest Snowden. Because the FBI has no jurisdiction outside U.S. borders, U.S. prosecutors must ask local police to make the arrest.
The charges begin an extradition process with China which is expected to take several months. WikiLeaks founder Julian Assange has reportedly been in contact with Snowden's lawyers in an attempt to help him seek asylum in Iceland.

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Ireland Commits To 2014 Marriage Vote

Speaking yesterday at an LGBT event held at Google's Dublin headquarters, Irish Deputy Prime Minister Eamon Gilmore committed to a 2014 national referendum on same-sex marriage.
The Government's own constitutional think-thank voted overwhelmingly in favour of gay marriage earlier this year, pushing it up the political agenda. The Constitutional Convention is due to send its report on gay marriage to the Government soon, and ministers have four months to decide their response to it. The Coalition is likely to agree to a referendum on gay marriage, and Mr Gilmore now says it will happen next year. Coalition sources said the referendum was likely to be held alongside votes on other issues recommended by the Constitutional Convention, such as decreasing the voting age to 16.
At the Constitutional Convention mentioned above, 79% voted in favor of a national referendum on marriage. (Tipped by JMG reader Gerard)

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Alan Chambers On His New Group

"It's just in the dreaming and infancy stage of all of that. We don't have a name. We do have a website that we just quickly put up that is called ReduceFear.org. It's not going to be the name of the organization, but it is one part of a mission statement that we have come up with about what we want to do. We believe that the majority of people, especially people within the church, react out of fear. The majority of our opinions and positions and discussions and debates and arguments are based out of fear, and what we want to do is reduce that fear. We want to help people come to the table and bring people to the table to have intelligent, thoughtful discussions that will focus on building common good." - Alan Chambers, speaking to the Christian Post.

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Christian TV On Exodus Shutdown

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Friday, June 21, 2013

Perkins Stands By Vow To Defy SCOTUS

"After months of holding our breath, the two sides of the marriage debate will finally be able to exhale when the U.S. Supreme Court finally rules on the institution next week. The decisions, two of the biggest in our lifetimes, may fundamentally alter marriage in law, but regardless of the outcome, no court can ever alter marriage. This week, 211 Christian leaders and organizations -- including FRC -- released a statement of solidarity, vowing that no matter what happens in the Court, we stand on the natural and moral definition of marriage.

"'Marriage is the preeminent and the most fundamental of all human social institutions. Civil institutions do not create marriage nor can they manufacture a right to marry for those who are incapable of marriage,' the signers write. 'If the Supreme Court becomes the tool by which marriage is redefined... we will not stand by while the destruction of the institution of marriage unfolds in the nation we love... While there are many things we can endure, redefining marriage is so fundamental to the natural order and the true common good that this is the line we must draw, and one we cannot and will not cross.'" - Hate group leader Tony Perkins, via email.

RELATED: Their impotent "declaration" is here. Nobody can figure out how, exactly, they plan to disobey the Supreme Court.

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Senate Immigration Vote Looks Promising

It appears that there may be enough support in the Senate for the immigration reform bill to pass by the end of next week.
The Senate Gang of Eight edged closer to supermajority support on its immigration bill with Thursday’s breakthrough agreement on border security and other measures meant to attract wavering Republican senators. Negotiators said as many as 15 GOP senators who were on the fence will now be inclined to vote for the landmark bill that revamps the U.S. immigration system and gives a pathway to citizenship for millions of undocumented residents due to the agreement drafted by Republican Sens. Bob Corker of Tennessee and John Hoeven of North Dakota.
Passage in the House remains in doubt. Of course.

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Paula Deen Apologizes

UPDATE: Interestingly, the video was made private moments ago after receiving hundreds of comments at YouTube. I'll repost if it goes live again.  The clip had already been posted on Huffington Post and dozens of other sites.  The New York Times has posted a lengthy recap.

UPDATE II: Raw Story has mirrored the clip.

UPDATE III: Deen has posted a second apology video.

UPDATE IV: Deen has been dropped by the Food Network.
A network spokeswoman said it would not renew Paula Deen’s contract when it expires at the end of June. The Food Network statement did not elaborate on its reasons for dropping her, but a person close to the network said its shows featuring her sons, Jamie and Bobby, would not be affected. Ms. Deen currently has three regular shows on the network, including “Paula’s Best Dishes.”

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July Is "Ex-Gay" Pride Month

From the self-hating homosexuals at PFOX:
We are actively working to receive a Presidential Proclamation from The White House to commemorate Ex-Gay Pride Month and are speaking with members of Congress to recognize and participate in our first annual Awareness Event on the National Mall and Evening Dinner/Reception in Washington, DC. See below for more details on Ex-Gay Pride!

When is Ex-Gay Pride? VoV is strategically holding Ex-Gay Pride Month in July, after June's annual gay pride month, in order to draw attention to the ever-increasing phenomenon of ex-gays or former homosexuals; that is, individuals who formerly had unwanted same-sex attractions and/or lived an LGBT-identified life, but now do not. These individuals may be in heterosexual relationships, pursuing heterosexuality, or living celibate lives as former homosexuals.
A White House proclamation? Oh, my sides. The above was written by PFOX co-founder and now completely butch heterosexual Christopher Doyle, who threw a huge flaming hissy fit at me in Philadelphia a few years ago when I wouldn't stop taking his picture outside the NARTH convention. "Ssssstop it! I don't need thissssss!"
UPDATE: Doyle is ever so pissed that President Obama isn't taking his calls.

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Disney Show To Feature Gay Family

Via TV Guide:
In a first for the Disney Channel, next season an episode of Good Luck Charlie will feature a family with two moms. Producers are currently casting the couple, with production set for next week. The episode will air in early 2014 as part of Good Luck Charlie's final season. Because Good Luck Charlie is coming to a close, the characters are only expected to appear in this one episode. In the storyline, parents Amy and Bob Duncan (Leigh-Allyn Baker and Eric Allan Kramer) set up a playdate for preschooler Charlie (Mia Talerico) and one of her new friends. When the kid arrives, the Duncans learn that Charlie's pal has two moms. That's fine, but the potential new friendship is put to the test as one mom chats with Amy, and the other is stuck listening to Bob's dull stories.
Paging you-know-who....

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Where The Bears Are: Season 2, Episode 4

Featuring Margaret Cho.

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TRAILER: Jobs

A Steve Jobs biopic starring Ashton Kutcher.

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NOM Vows Revenge On Sen. Murkowski

"It is clear Senator Murkowski has fallen for the lies of same-sex 'marriage' activists. Religious freedom is deeply threatened wherever marriage is redefined, with the majority of states that have redefined marriage offering little more than fig leaf religious freedom protections to institutions and individuals who believe in marriage as the unique union of one man and one woman. NOM will be active in educating Alaskan voters about Senator Murkowski's choice to betray marriage and disrespect the convictions of a majority of her constituents." -  Hate group leader Brian Brown, posting on NOM's blog.  On Wednesday Murkowski became the third sitting GOP Senator to endorse same-sex marriage.

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VIRGINA: Democrats Issue Attack Ad Against Gov Candidate Ken Cuccinelli

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Outing Kingpin Mike Rogers Hints At Exposing Closeted US House Member

Outing kingpin Mike Rogers, once known as "the most feared man in Washington," is hinting that he may soon expose a closeted member of Congress.
There's a big difference between outing and reporting. I'm a reporter, I report on hypocrisy," Rogers told U.S. News. "If I have one case that's off, I'm out of the business, [but] I will never be sued for what I do because I'm right." The blogger said he currently knows of three "anti-gay" members of the U.S. House of Representatives who are themselves gay. Rogers refused to say when he might disclose information on these members or what might provoke such a revelation, maintaining that as a journalist he holds some cards close to the vest. But Rogers said he's about to get his hands on concrete evidence that one "anti-gay" member of the House of Representatives engages in gay sex. "Oh, it's going to happen because it has been happening for a long time," he said.
My first guess would be Rep. Aaron Schock (R-IL).

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Exodus Gives Scott Lively The Sadz

"In anticipation of this sad day many former Exodus member organizations broke away months ago and formed a new organization, the Restored Hope Network. RHN will carry on the important work of the church in helping homosexuals to recover from same-sex attraction disorder. I applaud the courage of these men and women to remain true to Scripture in the face of intense hostility and persecution from the 'gay' movement and its many powerful allies. Their ministry will not be made any easier by the triumphal gloating and attacks of their now greatly emboldened detractors. It was this same relentless grinding hostility that undoubtedly contributed to the fall of Alan Chambers (few can bear it for long, just ask the Boy Scouts), but in addition to this 'stick' there was also a 'carrot' that led him astray: an insidious form of 'gay' theology that misrepresents God’s grace as a license to sin, or at least a license to embrace a personal identity defined by a desire to indulge in homosexual sin." - Hate group leader Scott Lively, writing on his blog.

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Teabaggers Turn On Bill O'Reilly

Enjoy the delicious wailing.

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McCain Blasts GOP On Immigration Reform

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Quote Of The Day - Rev. Nancy Wilson

"For decades, Exodus International has been synonymous with the idea that people need to be ‘cured’ or ‘healed’ of homosexuality. This week’s historic apology from Exodus leader, Alan Chambers, for the harm done to LGBT people by Exodus is encouraging. Sadly, nothing will bring back the lives lost to suicide based on pseudo-psychology and corrupt theology. Any apology for past suicides, lost years and damage to families is only as good as real actions to counter the lies spread throughout the world by past Exodus action.

"What is needed is true repentance and a conversion to truth telling. The theology of condemnation must be replaced with a theology of grace in the service of God’s good creation—including LGBT people. The trail of emotional, psychological and spiritual damage must be mitigated by evangelistic outreach around the world where the lives of LGBT people hang in the balance at the hands of religious and political leaders who would shed their blood, rape their bodies, and crucify their spirits for their own careers." Rev. Nancy Wilson, moderator of the Metropolitan Community Churches, via email.

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Two Minutes Of British Hate #18

Gay marriage will "poison public discourse."

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NYC Expands Storm Evacuation Zones

In the wake of Hurricane Sandy, New York City has greatly expanded the boundaries of the mandatory hurricane evacuation zones.  Gothamist reports:
The mayor's office says that the new "zones are based on coastal flood risk resulting from storm surge - the 'dome' of ocean water propelled by the winds and low barometric pressure of a hurricane; the geography of the city’s low-lying neighborhoods; and the accessibility of these neighborhoods by bridge and roads." And the new zones "include an additional 600,000 New Yorkers not included within the boundaries of the former zones. The increased number of zones will provide the City with more flexibility in targeting areas to evacuate in advance of a predicted storm.
Exactly where one million people are supposed to go is not explained.

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HPV Vaccine Cuts Infections By Half

Great early news about the HPV vaccine:
The prevalence of dangerous strains of the human papillomavirus — the most common sexually transmitted infection in the United States and a principal cause of cervical cancer — has dropped by half among teenage girls in recent years, a striking measure of success for a vaccine against the virus that was introduced only in 2006, federal health officials said on Wednesday. The magnitude of the decline in HPV infections surprised public health experts because only about a third of teenage girls in the United States have been vaccinated with the full course of three doses. By comparison, vaccination rates in countries like Denmark and Britain are above 80 percent. Even Rwanda, in East Africa, has reached 80 percent. Yet even with relatively low vaccination rates in the United States, infection with the viral strains that cause cancer dropped to 3.6 percent among girls ages 14 to 19 in 2010, from 7.2 percent in 2006, the officials said.
An HPV vaccine for boys was introduced in 2011.

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FAA To Ease Rules On Electronics

The FAA is expected to relax its rules about using electronic devices on flights.
For fliers, the new rules would likely mean an end to familiar admonitions to turn off and stow all electronic devices. Cellphone calls are expected to remain off limits, however. The draft doesn't make any recommendations regarding phone use because the FAA didn't authorize the panel to delve into that particularly controversial area. Details are still being debated by the group and inside the FAA and could change. Still, the draft report reflects a consensus that the existing rules, essentially unchanged since the 1960s, have been overtaken by dramatic changes in technology and passenger expectations.

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Christians Must Be Willing To Go To Jail To Fight Against Same-Sex Marriage

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NOM Has A Pinterest Page

If you're having a hard time finding anti-gay graphics, NOM has created a Pinterest page.

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OMM Vs ABC's The Mistresses

"Dear Joe, Keep up the great work! Almost every single sponsor that One Million Moms contacted in our previous campaign decided to no longer sponsor "Mistresses." Olive Garden, Chili's, Geico, Applebee's and Jergens have pulled their ads from this provocative ABC program. Their ads were not present in the last two episodes. Lexus and Taco Bell (YUM Brands) are the only sponsors that kept their ads running, and we will contact them again this week. The past episode lost no time in letting viewers know what this show is about.

"The episode began with a graphic s*x scene, ended with another p*rnographic display and mixed in a few more explicit scenes throughout the rest of the show.  ABC is making a trend out of selling infidelities as the new normal. Hollywood continually pushes casual s*x with multiple partners as acceptable, but Scripture clearly states it is a sin. As Christians, the Bible also says we must speak up against sin. If we remain silent, we are accepting it and are guilty of sin also. With this in mind, One Million Moms is determined to clean up broadcast airwaves." - Monica Cole, head of One Million Moms, via email.

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Tweet Of The Day - Alex Jones

Even the wingnuts at Twitchy are mocking him. Of course, some of those folks also claimed that President Obama killed Andrew Breitbart with a subsonic death ray fired fired from a low-orbit satellite, so....

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BULGARIA: Sofia Pride Canceled Due To Fears Of Anti-Gay Violence

Tomorrow's gay pride event in Sofia, Bulgaria has been canceled due to fears of anti-gay violence.  Gay Star News reports:
Organizers of Sofia Pride that was scheduled for tomorrow (22 June) say the event has been canceled due to the insistence of city’s municipality and the Interior Ministry. Since peaceful protests against the appointment of a controversial media mogul as national security head began last week, extremist groups have staged counter-rallies, attempting to provoke protesters for freedom of speech and have clashed with them. Local authorities expressed their concern that these extremists groups may violently attack the Sofia Pride parade. Sofia Pride organizer Mihail Vuchkov has told local media that the event is likely to take place early in autumn, but did not specify a date.
Last year a priest in the Orthodox Church issued a call for followers to "throw stones" at pride participants.  At the first Sofia Pride event in 2008, skinheads attacked parade attendees with Molotov cocktails.

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Exodus International Head Alan Chambers Apologizes To Ex-Gay Survivors

From last night's Oprah Winfrey Network special, which was taped before yesterday's announcement that Exodus would be shutting down.

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Thursday, June 20, 2013

Christian & Anti-Gay Groups Issue Joint Statement Vowing To Defy Supreme Court On Same-Sex Marriage Rulings

In anticipation of the coming Supreme Court rulings, a coalition of Christianist and anti-gay hate groups have jointly issued yet another blah blah fucking blah blah declaration that they will never bow to Obama's police state and obey laws regarding same-sex marriage. An excerpt:
Experience and history have shown us that if the government redefines marriage to grant a legal equivalency to same-sex couples, that same government will then enforce such an action with the police power of the State. This will bring about an inevitable collision with religious freedom and conscience rights. We cannot and will not allow this to occur on our watch. Religious freedom is the first freedom in the American experiment for good reason.

The Supreme Court has no authority to redefine marriage and thereby weaken both the family and society. Unlike the Legislative Branch that has the power of the purse and the Executive Branch which has the figurative power of the sword, the Judicial Branch has neither. It must depend upon the Executive Br anch for the enforcement of its decisions.

As Christians united together in defense of marriage, we pray that this will not happen. But, make no mistake about our resolve. While there are many things we can endure, redefining marriage is so fundamental to the natural order and the true common good that this is the line we must draw and one we cannot and will not cross.
Signing the above threat to defy the Supreme Court are Tony Perkins (FRC), Matt Barber (Liberty Counsel), Penny Nance (Concerned Women), James Dobson (Focus On The Family), Richard Land (Southern Baptists), Judith Reisman (NOM), Linda Harvey (Mission America),  Bill Donohue (Catholic League), Don Wildmon (AFA), Andrea Lafferty (Traditional Values Coalition), Janet Porter, Porno Pete, Ralph Reed, Gary Bauer, "Bishop" Harry Jackson, Michael Brown, Rep. Sally Kern, self-hating homosexual Greg Quinlan, and about a hundred more minor league vicious bigots. 

Today announcement mirrors the same old impotent threats found in the years-old Manhattan Declaration which all of the above have surely signed.  That they felt the need to retread this garbage today only tells us how they are completely convinced that an epic and delicious (for us) case of the sadz is coming.

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Weiner Responds To "Dyke" Incident

"Let me make it clear that when I heard the person make a remark, it was in a scrum of literally dozens of people around me on a street corner. When I heard that woman make that remark, I immediately admonished her not to say anything further I have no memory of saying anything beyond that to the woman."

"Let me make it very clear that any other incidence of any type of slur against any community, I won’t tolerate. I think I’ve got a very long record going back to my first days running for Congress in a conservative district, endorsing gay marriage in 1998. I feel very strongly about these issues and I did admonish the woman and if there was something else that was said that was anyway interpreted as anything else, that was wrong. I admonished the woman and I don’t believe she should have said what she said.

"I worked my entire career to–in an often very conservative environment, in a district that had a heavy Orthodox Jewish and religious Catholic constituency–to embrace the ideas of civil liberties for all people. I was one of the earliest endorsers of gay marriage in the New York congressional delegation. And I think that what was said was wrong and I said it at the time. Any other impression that might have been left was wrong. I admonish it." - NYC mayoral candidate Anthony Weiner, speaking today to reporters.

BACKSTORY: Weiner was responding to criticism for telling a woman, "It's OK. It's not your fault," after she referred to Christine Quinn as a "dyke."  The Victory Fund, the Empire State Pride Agenda, and openly gay New York legislators Brad Hoylman and Deborah Glick have all denounced Weiner's handling of the incident. All have endorsed Christine Quinn.

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Rick Wiles: Viewers Of MSNBC Are Demon-Possessed Fans Of The Anti-Christ

"I discovered that MSNBC's socialist news commentator Rachel Maddow played a soundbite of me on her program last night. Thank you, Rachel. I appreciate the publicity even though there aren't that many people watching MSNBC, but I'll take all the publicity I can get. The people who do watch it, however, have a visceral hate for Jesus Christ and Christians. In fifteen years of full-time ministry, I have never read or heard such ugly, hateful, threatening, vulgar, obscene, blasphemous messages in my life. Ever. I won't even repeat them because some of the things that they said about our lord and savior Jesus Christ is so vulgar, so blasphemous, that it only could be uttered by people who are demon-possessed. The spirit of Antichrist is loose in America." - Televangelist Rick Wiles, speaking on his radio show.

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Facebook Copies Vine

Facebook-owned Instagram will now support very short video clips just like the Twitter-owned Vine.
Instagram’s Kevin Systrom said video clips on Instagram will be 3 to 15 seconds long and include new shaky hand video stabilization technology called Cinema. Instagram now has 130 million users. Systrom: "The frame shown to people is typically the first frame. We think that’s silly. It should be the frame you want to show your friends. You can now choose which frame you want to show up on the Instagram feed. “It’s the same Instagram we know and love. But it moves.”
Instagram clips will not loop endlessly like Vine clips do to the annoyance of many.

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AFER: How To Get Ready For SCOTUS

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NYT Ponders Legacy Of Ken Mehlman

The New York Times is wondering what Ken Mehlman's legacy will be regarding LGBT rights.
Mr. Mehlman, 46, remains the hyper-intense, guarded strategist he was in his Bush days, with the same habit of looking past people instead of meeting their eyes. He shuns most interviews and still deflects personal questions, as he did back when rumors about his sexuality swirled. “I have a happy life today, and I had a happy life before,” he said. Freed of the burden of secrecy, he lives in the gay-friendly Chelsea neighborhood and summers in the Hamptons. Another friend called him “more and more comfortable in his skin.” He dates, but said he was not ready to marry.

He will not talk about any guilt he might feel for serving as the 2004 campaign manager, when Mr. Bush, courting Christian evangelicals, called for a federal ban on same-sex marriage and conservatives marched to the polls. Mr. Mehlman was rewarded with the chairmanship of the Republican National Committee, a job he held until 2006. Some who once taunted him now praise him, saying coming out is difficult and anyone can change. “If you’re going to have an epiphany, do it like Mehlman,” said John Aravosis, a gay blogger. Others are still furious. “I doubt Ken Mehlman will ever be anything more than a bitter footnote in the history of our movement,” said another blogger, Joe Jervis.
As these things usually go, I was interviewed for twenty minutes and only one sentence from me was used.  Here's what I had hoped would make it into the article: "I'm not the right person to ask. You should be talking to the millions of gay people living in the 21 states that enacted marriage bans under Ken Mehlman's direction."  Hit the top link and read the full article and the comments. Most readers aren't very forgiving either.

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At Yesterday's Tea Party Rally

Wingnut sites are blaming the incident on "leftist infiltrators." Because no Tea Party member would EVER yell something like that. Yeaaaah.

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Boy George - Coming Home

Boy George has made a string of really lovely tracks in the last few years. You might also enjoy his 2010 single Amazing Grace, which I still play often.

(Tipped by JMG reader Bill)

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NYC Woman Tells Anthony Weiner That She Won't Be Voting For "The Dyke"

The Washington Post reports on an exchange between Anthony Weiner and a woman voter at a shopping center:
“You a registered Democrat?” he asked an elderly woman wheeling a shopping cart by him. “I am,” she said. “And I’m not voting for uh, what’s her name? The dyke.” “Okay. I just need you to sign the petition to get me on the ballot,” said Weiner, who then noticed the incredulous reaction of a reporter and added, “and you really shouldn’t talk that way about people.” “Oh, I’m sorry,” the woman said. “It’s okay,” Weiner responded. “It’s not your fault.”
Victory Fund head Chuck Wolfe is quite unhappy with Weiner's response.
"No, Anthony, it’s not okay. If he can’t stand up to these repugnant views as a candidate, he certainly won’t do it as mayor. LGBT New Yorkers should demand that Weiner categorically reject these views no matter what audience he’s in front of, especially when people use slurs to refer to the only openly gay candidate in the race.”
RELATED: The Victory Fund notes that both Weiner and former NYC Comptroller Bill Thompson failed to call out NOM endorsee Erick Salgado for anti-gay comments he made in their presence at a June 4th forum.

NOTE: The Victory Fund has endorsed Christine Quinn.

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A Warning From Oda Mae

Image by my pal NYC DJ Corey Craig.

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Hate Groups Cheer End Of Exodus

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Bidding Now Open For Ali Forney Center's Shred Of Hope Celebrity T-Shirt Auction

Bidding is now open for the Shred Of Hope celebrity t-shirt auction to benefit the Ali Forney Center. Posing with their creations above are Scissor Sisters guitarist Babydaddy, Tony winner Jeff Whitty, REM lead singer Michael Stipe, former Ali Forney client Isis (who has appeared on America's Next Top Model), Oscar winner Dustin Lance Black, and Marvel Comics illustrator Phil Jimenez.

T-shirts have also been created by B-52s frontman Fred Schneider, pop star Adam Lambert, Golden Globe nominee John Cameron Mitchell, rock star Bob Mould, AFC founder Carl Siciliano, and many others including yours truly.  Hit the first link, click on "designers," and help the homeless LGBT kids of New York City. Fly, my winged monkeys, FLY!

RELATED: Tonight Nasty Pig will host a VIP launch party for the auction. I'll be there trying not to have the usual fanboy freakout that happens whenever I'm around Fred Schneider. Lots of photos tomorrow!
UPDATE: The Shred Of Hope site has crashed under high traffic. You can view and bid on the shirts directly on eBay.

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Nothing From SCOTUS On Marriage Today

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Quote Of The Day - Sen. Ted Cruz

"I am thankful for the support of my colleagues in passing amendments that are important to the State of Texas and the entire country, prioritizing the needs of our servicemen and women who daily sacrifice their lives to promote and defend our nation’s freedom. As this legislation is debated before the full Senate, I will work to ensure these measures are prioritized and included in final legislation." - Tea Party hero Sen. Ted Cruz, whose defense spending amendment to allow Christian troops to harass gay soldiers passed 19-7 in the Senate Armed Services Committee. A similar amendment sponsored by Rep. John Fleming passed last week in a House committee.  President Obama has threatened to veto the bill. Hate group leader Tony Perkins yesterday issued a press release claiming credit for Cruz' amendment.

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Is There A Chance The Track Could Bend?

Yesterday NYC mayoral GOP longshot and billionaire grocer John Catsimatidis announced his plan to build a monorail alongside the Long Island Expressway.
“Not subway, ABOVE-way,” he said, dismissing the possibility of expanding the existing underground rail system as a pipe dream. He expressed a wish to see “monorails going down the middle of the streets," in keeping with his role as the fearless ideas man in the field. Former Bronx borough president Adolfo Carrion, the independent candidate seated to his right, expressed support for alternatives to growing the subway system, though he did not explicitly get on the monorail bandwagon.
Catsimatidis has built monorails for Brockway, Ogdenville, and North Haverbrook, and by gum it put them on the map.

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Here We Go Again

Today the Supreme Court will hand down some rulings and the marriage cases might be among them. SCOTUSblog begins its live coverage at 9AM and the ruling are expected by 10AM.

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Miley Cyrus - We Can't Stop

Five million views since yesterday.

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SAN FRANCISCO: Newspaper Publisher Cancels Michelle Shocked Concert

The Michelle Shocked concert scheduled for pride weekend in San Francisco won't be happening. Via the San Francisco Chronicle:
In a statement, San Francisco Examiner Publisher Todd Vogt said: "I am officially canceling the plan to have Michelle Shocked come to San Francisco and perform a free concert and apologize for her recent anti-gay comments. I had hoped that her concert and apology would have held the performer accountable and shine a light on hatred and bigotry, but, unfortunately, it has not. Having Ms. Shocked stand in front of a San Francisco audience and perform her music was intended to help heal, but has only further angered and offended the community. "I sincerely apologize to all."
Some believe that Vogt could not find a venue willing to host the show.

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Open Thread Thursday

Where will you go when the SCOTUS rulings come down?

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Homocon Blogger Kevin DuJan Does "Intel" At Gay Protest Of Catholic Church


UPDATE: DuJan has a new fan at NOM.

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ARIZONA: Gov. Jan Brewer Signs Bill Effectively Barring Third Party Candidates

Laurie Roberts writes for Arizona Central:
This afternoon, Gov. Jan Brewer signed an elections bill that basically wipes out Libertarian and other third-party candidates, boosting their signature requirements to unattainable levels. Green Party candidates would actually have to collect more signatures than they have party members.

Wasn’t it just a few months ago that our leaders were oh so concerned about making sure that voters had choices? Who can forget their collective whine that last year’s top-two primary initiative would virturally assure that no third-party candidate would ever again appear on a general-election ballot? Now they’ve guaranteed it.
Roberts notes that the bill's GOP sponsor calls her measure an "election integrity bill." (Tipped by JMG read Homer)

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NYC Man Sues Gym After Slipping On "White Substance" In Steam Room

A midtown Manhattan location of Bally's is being sued by a man who claims he broke his shoulder after slipping on a "white substance" in the steam room.
Marc Moskowitz claimed in court papers that managers at the Bally Total Fitness gym on E. 55th St. were aware that gay "cruising and lewd behavior" is "commonplace at the steam room, sauna and locker rooms." "As a result of the aforementioned activities, there was bodily fluids and other evidence of sexual activity wherever it occurred throughout the gym," according to Moskowitz's suit in Manhattan Supreme Court. Instead of having staffers clean the areas, Bally simply "left a hose and liquid soap" for people to clean up themselves, the papers state. As a result, Moskowitz claims, he took a tumble last August and needed surgery to repair his shoulder.
Moskowitz, who says he is not gay, also claims to know that gay sex is "prevalent at Bally's across the country." His lawsuit does not specify how much he is seeking in damages.

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Interactive SCOTUS Rulings Map

The New Yorker has published an interactive map that demonstrates the potential results of the coming SCOTUS rulings on marriage. Click around and see the possibilities.

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Alan Chambers Apologizes

"Please know that I am deeply sorry. I am sorry for the pain and hurt many of you have experienced. I am sorry that some of you spent years working through the shame and guilt you felt when your attractions didn’t change. I am sorry we promoted sexual orientation change efforts and reparative theories about sexual orientation that stigmatized parents. I am sorry that there were times I didn’t stand up to people publicly 'on my side' who called you names like sodomite—or worse. I am sorry that I, knowing some of you so well, failed to share publicly that the gay and lesbian people I know were every bit as capable of being amazing parents as the straight people that I know. I am sorry that when I celebrated a person coming to Christ and surrendering their sexuality to Him that I callously celebrated the end of relationships that broke your heart. I am sorry that I have communicated that you and your families are less than me and mine." - Exodus International head and "ex-gay" crusader Alan Chambers, in a lengthy apology published shortly before announcing the closure of his organization.

RELATED: Tonight the Oprah Winfrey Network will air their special on Exodus at 10pm.

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BREAKING: "Ex-Gay" Group Exodus International Announces It Will Shut Down

Following a lengthy apology from its head Alan Chambers, tonight the world's largest "ex-gay" organization, Exodus International, announced that it will shut down. Founded in 1976, at its peak Exodus had over 100 chapters in the United States and over 150 affiliates worldwide. From the group's website:
“Exodus is an institution in the conservative Christian world, but we’ve ceased to be a living, breathing organism,” said Alan Chambers, President of Exodus. “For quite some time we’ve been imprisoned in a worldview that’s neither honoring toward our fellow human beings, nor biblical.”

Chambers continued: “From a Judeo-Christian perspective, gay, straight or otherwise, we’re all prodigal sons and daughters. Exodus International is the prodigal’s older brother, trying to impose its will on God’s promises, and make judgments on who’s worthy of His Kingdom. God is calling us to be the Father – to welcome everyone, to love unhindered.”

For these reasons, the Board of Directors unanimously voted to close Exodus International and begin a separate ministry. “This is a new season of ministry, to a new generation,” said Chambers. “Our goals are to reduce fear (reducefear.org), and come alongside churches to become safe, welcoming, and mutually transforming communities.”
Truth Wins Out reacts:
Alan stated in his talk tonight that he doesn’t want to see another “ex-gay” organization fill the void left by Exodus’s closing, but called on the Church to actually become a safe place for gays and lesbians. Of course, the Restored Hope Network is having their conference in Oklahoma City, featuring the biggest quacks in the “ex-gay” industry, so they’ll fight tooth and nail to make sure that Alan’s vision of the Church being a loving place will never come to pass. Thus, our work must continue. Exodus was a large pillar in the “ex-gay” world, but this fight is far from over. We wish Alan Chambers all our best and look forward to a day when we can truly consider him an ally.
You can expect celebratory messages from anti-gay groups as Exodus has become one of their most hated enemies ever since Chambers began making conciliatory gestures towards the LBGT community that he so horribly hurt. It remains to be seen what this new "Reduce Fear" group is going to really be about.

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DELAWARE: Transgender Rights Bill Signed Into Law By Gov. Jack Markell

This afternoon Delaware Gov. Jack Markell signed a transgender rights bill into law hours after it was approved by the state Senate.  The Washington Blade reports:
Delaware Gov. Jack Markell on Wednesday signed a bill that will add gender identity and expression to his state’s anti-discrimination and hate crimes laws. “Discrimination on basis of gender identity is inherently wrong,” he said. “Legislation to prohibit it is inherently right.” The state Senate by an 11-9 vote margin earlier in the day approved an amended version of Senate Bill 97 that passed in the Delaware House of Representatives on Tuesday.
The Task Force reacts via press release:
Until today, Delaware was one of five states in the nation that had nondiscrimination protections on the basis of sexual orientation but not on the basis of gender identity. The other states still left are Wisconsin, New Hampshire, Maryland and New York. The Task Force is committed to ensuring protections in those states as well as passing the Employment Non-Discrimination Act to provide federal employment protections.
The HRC reacts via press release:
“The Delaware Legislature sent a clear message today that transgender residents deserve to be treated equally and protected under the law,” said HRC President Chad Griffin. “Delaware advocates and lawmakers are standing up and ensuring that the First State is one which welcomes all people, and provides the same protections and opportunities.” “Equality Delaware is so grateful for the support and expertise of HRC in helping us pass the Gender Identity Nondiscrimination Bill,” said Equality Delaware President Lisa Goodman. “HRC stayed on the ground in Delaware through the entire process and was invaluable in helping us attain these protections for transgender Delawareans.”
RELATED: An updated version of New York state's transgender rights bill, GENDA, was introduced three days ago. The bill has passed in the state Assembly six times, but continues to faces challenges in the state Senate. Supporters say they are optimistic about the bill's chances this time.

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Wednesday, June 19, 2013

Special Swag

Courtesy of the Karpel Group, tonight we've got three copies of Summer Horns,  the new album by openly gay jazz superstar Dave Koz. Summer Horns is now on sale nationwide.
Enter to win Summer Horns from Dave Koz! Concord Records presents SUMMER HORNS, the brand-new album from Grammy-nominated saxophonist DAVE KOZ with a little help from his friends: Gerald Albright, Mindi Abair and Richard Elliot. Featuring sax-driven classics made famous by Tower Of Power, Chicago, EW&F, James Brown, Sly & The Family Stone and others! Go to SummerHorns.com and use Code HORNS23 for 20% discount on the new Dave Koz And Friends Summer Horns CD…plus INSTANT download of “Got To Get You Into My Life” with purchase! Available now!
Enter to win by commenting on this post. Please remember to leave an email address in your comment. Entries close at midnight on Friday, west coast time.

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James Gandolfini Dies At Age 51

Actor James Gandolfini has died of an apparent heart attack at the age of 51.
Gandolfini was on holiday in Rome, said Mara Mikialian, HBO's vice president for program publicity. The actor was scheduled to make an appearance at the Taormina Film Fest in Sicily this week, according to the festival. Gandolfini won three Emmy Awards for his portrayal of Tony Soprano, the angst-ridden mob boss who visited a therapist and took Prozac while knocking off people. "The Sopranos" aired from 1999 to 2007. He got his start on Broadway, with a role in the 1992 revival of "A Streetcar Named Desire" with Jessica Lange and Alec Baldwin. Gandolfini's big screen debut came in the role of a heavy in the bloody "True Romance" in 1993. His breakthrough came on the small screen in 1999 with the role of Tony Soprano. "He was a genius. Anyone who saw him even in the smallest of his performances knows that," David Chase, who developed "The Sopranos," said in a statement. "...A great deal of that genius resided in those sad eyes."

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NYC Teachers Union Endorses Former Comptroller Bill Thompson For Mayor

Democratic mayoral candidate and former NYC Comptroller Bill Thompson, who lost to Bloomberg by only four points in 2009, tonight received the endorsement of the city's 200,000-member teachers union. Tonight all seven declared Democratic mayoral candidates will debate at Hunter College on the Upper East Side. The debate will be carried live by NY1 and should prove quite lively.

RELATED: City Council Speaker Christine Quinn received the endorsement of the Teamsters Union earlier this week.

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FLORIDA: Activists Gear Up To Place Same-Sex Marriage Ban Repeal On Ballot

Saying they have no confidence that the coming Supreme Court rulings will change things for Florida, activists there say they are gearing up to place a repeal of that state's constitutional ban on the ballot. They've got a tough battle ahead of them.
"We think it's going to be a wake-up call for a lot of people who are thinking that the Supreme Court is going to rule and the next day they can finally get married," said Equality Florida executive Nadine Smith. It would take 60 percent of the state's voters to repeal the amendment. And to even get on the ballot it would require either action by the Legislature — which won't happen while both chambers are nearly two-thirds Republican — or a petition drive that would require the signatures of 683,149 registered voters. Smith said she believes a majority of Floridians now support same-sex marriage. "All of us know people who have gone from a place of staunch opposition to actual support and we're seeing more and more of that," Smith said. Still, the 60 percent threshold is a concern. The group plans to use rallies, T-shirts, bumper stickers and celebrities and elected officials who do support same-sex marriage to garner support for the idea.
Florida's ban on marriage passed in 2008 by margin of less than 2% after have been endorsed by then GOP Gov. Charlie Crist, who has since become a Democrat and flipped on the issue.

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Breach - Jack

Furrily freaky.

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The Advent Of The Lesbian Bridezilla

Today's Toronto Star features a story about how a lesbian bride reacted to a wedding gift basket.  As JMG reader David notes via email, perhaps the most interesting part of the story is how the bride's sexual orientation isn't even mentioned other than in a passing reference to her bride.
Consider this: you attend the wedding of a casual acquaintance. You opt for your go-to gift — a basket filled with fancy salsas, oil, biscuits, marshmallow spread and more. You sign the card, “Life is delicious — enjoy!” Later, you get a text from the bride — “I want to thank you for coming to the wedding Friday,” it begins. “I’m not sure if it’s the first wedding you have been to, but for your next wedding … people give envelopes. I lost out on $200 covering you and your dates plate . … and got fluffy whip and sour patch kids in return. Just a heads-up for the future.”

It sounds like a Miss Manners hypothetical, but this was the drama that played out at a recent Hamilton wedding. Kathy Mason and her boyfriend gifted a food basket to Laura (who declined to give her last name) and her bride. When Laura suggested Mason poll “normal functioning people” about her basket-giving blunder, Mason brought the question to The Spectator and the Burlington Mamas Facebook group, where it garnered more than 200 responses in less than 24 hours. Even those who agreed cash was a more appropriate gift thought the bride’s reaction was rude.
A poll at the newspaper's site shows that by a 9-1 margin, readers feel the bride was in the wrong.  Readers are evenly split as to whether the gift itself was tacky.

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From Ming, The Erotic Adventurer

One of the more interesting pitches to hit the JMG in-box this week....

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CALIFORNIA: Wingnuts Call For Small Town To Repeal Pride Month Proclamation

And they want July to be Heterosexual Pride Month.

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BRITAIN: Palestinian Activists Call For Pet Shop Boys To Cancel Tel Aviv Concert

Pro-Palestinian activists are planning to picket a Pet Shop Boys appearance in London tonight in protest of the dance duo's gig scheduled for June 28th in Tel Aviv.  From the protesters' website:
The Pet Shop Boys - Neil Tennant and Chris Lowe, recognised as the most successful duo in UK music history, are scheduled to perform in apartheid Israel to a segregated audience in Tel Aviv’s Nokia Arena on 23rd June, 2013. We are asking them to open their eyes to the ugly reality of apartheid Israel, to cancel their concert and stand with the oppressed Palestinians. Join the multitude of artists who are respecting the Palestinian call to boycott Israel. We will be picketing their appearance at the screening of Battleship Potemkin at the British Film Institute (BFI) on the Southbank in London on 19th June.
Pet Shop Boys vocalist Neil Tennant has responded on their own site:
I don't agree with this comparison of Israel to apartheid-era South Africa. It's a caricature. Israel has (in my opinion) some crude and cruel policies based on defence; it also has universal suffrage and equality of rights for all its citizens both Jewish and Arab. In apartheid-era South Africa, artists could only play to segregated audiences; in Israel anyone who buys a ticket can attend a concert. Neil x

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MN "Ex-Gay" Therapist Sentenced For Sexual Assaults On Male Clients

A Minnesota court has sentenced Pastor Ryan Jay Muehlhauser to jail for sexual assaults he made on male clients seeking "ex-gay" therapy. According to court documents, God's earthly representative told the victims that their sexual encounters were "blessings."
Muehlhauser, 55, of Cambridge, had been an Isanti County pastor serving the community for more than 20 years when he was charged in November 2012 with eight counts of felony, fourth-degree criminal sexual conduct with two adult males seeking spiritual counsel. Muehlhauser pleaded guilty to two of those counts Feb. 28. Under the plea agreement, Muehlhauser will serve 160 days in Isanti County Jail, remain on supervised probation for 10 years and register as a predatory offender. The other six counts were dismissed. Under state sentencing guidelines, a prison sentence can’t be ordered for fourth-degree criminal sexual conduct.
The totally not-gay pastor worked for Outpost Ministries, who still has this message on their website:
Outpost Ministries exists to help the sexually and relationally broken find healing and restoration through relationship with Jesus Christ. Outpost was formed over 30 years ago to meet the needs of men and women making the decision to break away from gay life. We strive to deal with individuals as whole persons, not merely sexual beings. We offer teaching, encouragement and support to individuals, families and the Church. Outpost emphasizes obedience to God's Word, which begins the healing process. As we grow in our submission to Jesus Christ, we also grow in friendship with Him. It is in relationship with Jesus that we are healed and transformed.
At the sentencing, the judge said: "If the state sentencing guidelines allowed, I would send you straight to prison without the blink of an eye. Sir, you are a criminal, and these are sexual criminal acts you performed. And what’s most egregious about this, is these were young men struggling with their own sexuality and spirituality and you took advantage of both. I can’t think of a more egregious offense than that."

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Apology Of The Day

From the London Sun.

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New Muppet Has Imprisoned Dad

Sesame Street has introduced a new Muppet whose father is in prison. From today's New York Daily News:
The popular children’s television series hasn’t shied away from tough topics in the past, and has introduced a new muppet named Alex as a way to talk about the stigma of having a parent in jail. “I just miss him so much,” the fuzzy blue-haired muppet says of his locked-up dad, adding, “Sometimes I just feel like I want to pound on a pillow and scream as loud as I can.” The sensitive subject is being featured in an online teaching kit called, “Little Children, Big Challenges.” The clips featuring Alex aren’t actually being aired on television, and he isn’t being introduced as a regular character on the show.
Hit the link to see a clip. (Tipped by JMG reader Win)

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