MOSCOW: Female Russian Gold Medalists Kiss On Podium In Defiance Of Law Against "Homosexual Propaganda"

Tonight Kseniya Ryzhova and Tatyana Firova, two members of Russia's women's 4x400 relay team, defied their nation's ban on "homosexual propaganda" when they kissed on the podium during the presentation ceremony for their gold medals at the World Track & Field Championships in Moscow.  Just fantastic! Thank you, ladies, thank you! (Tipped by JMG reader Jude)

RUSSIA: Finnish Official Waves Rainbow Flag At World Track & Field Championships

Finnish Minister of Culture & Sports Paavo Arhinmäki waved a rainbow flag this afternoon during the World Track & Field Championships in Moscow.  The above-linked article is in Finnish. I'll update this post with an English report if it appears that action will be taken by the Russian government.

RELATED:  Arhinmäki ran for president of Finland in 2012 and finished sixth with 5% of the vote.  Here's how a Finnish website recapped his candidacy before the election.

Arhinmäki, 34, is the youngest and the most radical of the candidates. Before entering politics, he was active in a radical group which organised Crash the Party demonstrations in front of the Presidential Palace, packed with VIPs celebrating Independence Day. He has been fined for trespassing in a nuclear power site and when the Asia-Europe Meeting (ASEM) was held in Helsinki he was arrested during the Smash ASEM demonstration. Arhinmäki is Minister for Culture and Sports in the present six-pack government, a six-party coalition, and he chairs the Left Alliance. A sports fan, he caused a minor scandal in autumn 2011 by attending a basketball game instead of the Helsinki Music Centre opening gala. Arhinmäki boasts of being the most anti-NATO candidate of the race and argues the rest of the candidates are in fact pro-NATO. He is known for good oratory and for being a vegetarian. He describes himself as “a green-red democratic socialist”, but not a communist.

MOSCOW: Swedish High Jumper Told To Paint Over Her Rainbow Fingernails

On Thursday, Swedish high jumper Emma Green Tregaro competed at the World Track & Field finals in Moscow with her fingernails painted in rainbow hues in support of the LGBT community. Her gesture sparked international headlines after she was denounced by the Russian pole vaulting world champion, who later backtracked.  Now comes this:

Swedish officials told the 28-year-old her rainbow gesture, which brought international attention as a protest against Russia's new law against gay "propaganda," could be a violation of the competition's code of conduct. She said the Swedish track and field federation asked her to "please respect the rules" and change the colour of her nails. "So I decided to paint them red instead, for love," she said. Green Tregaro said she was surprised the strong reaction to her subtle criticism of Russian law. "It was harder to not paint them in the rainbow than it was to choose to paint them," she said.

Swedish officials say they were warned by the event's governing body before they spoke to Tregaro.

One Million Moms Vs Evolution

"Dear Joe, 1MM is teaming up with evangelist Ray Comfort to distribute Evolution vs. God far and wide, especially to those who reject God, the Bible and creation. Specifically, teams of Christian student groups on some of the nation’s most liberal colleges are in place and stand ready to personally hand this eye-opening DVD to other students. Once you've seen the trailer, I know you'll want a personal copy for yourself. We are offering Evolution vs. God to you for a suggested donation of only $5.00 to 1MM. Then...help us get this DVD into the hands of young people at America's most liberal colleges and universities! When you order your personal copy, you’ll have the opportunity to make an additional donation to purchase DVDs that will reach unbelieving college students. Click on the video and watch liberal professors dumbfounded by God's truth." - Monica Cole, via email.

NEW YORK CITY: Bloomberg Suggests Fingerprinting Public Housing Tenants

Speaking on his weekly radio address, yesterday New York City Mayor Michael Bloomberg suggested fingerprinting the city's public housing tenants.

“What we really should have is fingerprinting to get in. And of course there’s an allegation that some of these apartments aren’t occupied by the people who originally have the lease,” said Mr. Bloomberg during his weekly radio sit-down with WOR’s John Gambling. The mayor noted that, while New York City Housing Authority building house about five percent of the city’s population, they account for about 20 percent of city crime. “We’ve just gotta find some ways to keep bringing crime down there,” he said, arguing that most people who live in the buildings want more police protection. “If you have a stranger walking in the halls of your apartment building, don’t you want somebody to stop and say, ‘Who are you? Why’re you here?’ Because the locks on these doors, with so many people coming and going, you really can’t,” he said.

Democratic mayoral candidates immediately slammed the idea.

Within an hour of Bloomberg's radio appearance, the mayoral hopeful Bill Thompson derided the fingerprinting idea as "disrespectful" and "disgraceful." "Just like stop-and-frisk, this is another direct act of treating minorities like criminals," said Thompson, a former city comptroller, in a statement. "Mayor Bloomberg wants to make New Yorkers feel like prisoners in their own homes." The public advocate Bill de Blasio, who is one of the front-runners in the mayoral race, called Bloomberg "out of touch" and urged the mayor to instead install security cameras within such public buildings, which house more than 400,000 people.

Christine Quinn also issued a statement.

“It’s a completely ludicrous and outrageous notion that NYCHA residents and their guests should have to be fingerprinted to gain access to their own homes and to visit family and friends,” she said in a statement. “Rather than go after law abiding citizens who live in public housing, the City needs to provide residents with the security systems they have been promised for years.”

A spokesman for the mayor dismissed privacy concerns, because...iPhones.

“All security is moving towards biometrics – even the next iPhone will have fingerprint security. Every day the Mayor logs into his computer by placing his finger on the keyboard to login. Why wouldn’t we want to think about providing the highest level of security possible for NYCHA residents?” he asked via email. “You place the strongest security measures on things of most value – what is more valuable than their homes?”

RELATED: The city is about to retrofit 20 public housing towers with hotel-style key cards that will replace standard locks. That project is costing $11M.

Gary Bauer: Judicial Terrorists On Supreme Court Are Outlawing The Bible

"Five liberal justices on our Supreme Court committed an act of judicial terrorism that struck at the very foundation of our constitutional republic. The court's liberal majority accepted a radical redefinition of marriage and imposed its morality on the rest of society. In doing so, five unelected judges rejected thousands of years of Judeo-Christian understanding, as well as congressional statutes, and set the stage for invalidating the will of the people in more than two-dozen states that have voted to maintain the traditional definition of marriage. Does the consent of the governed matter at all anymore? It seems as though America is on the verge of criminalizing the Book of Genesis." - Failed GOP presidential candidate Gary Bauer, in a message to his group, the Campaign For Working Families.

CALIFORNIA: Anti-Gay Group Launches Bid To Repeal Transgender Student Rights

The anti-gay Capitol Resource Institute has launched a referendum drive to place a repeal of California's just-approved transgender student rights bill to a public vote.

"We respect that some students are struggling with their own sexual identity, but we ask for respect for the other students who will be humiliated when a boy walks into the girl's locker room," said Karen England, Executive Director of Capitol Resource Institute. "This is a privacy issue, a safety issue, and a common sense issue."  California law allows the public to vote out objectionable measures passed by the Legislature and signed by the Governor, but the proponents of a referendum are required to gather more than 500,000 signatures within 90 days from the signature of the Governor. "It seems unbelievable that this bill would ever have made its way through the Legislature and signed into law by the Governor. Many people have contacted our office asking if this is a mistake or a joke," said England. "Others have said that they will be taking their students out of public schools, some even saying they are planning to move out of State."

UPDATE: Equality California reacts.

This is a predictable move by fringe groups that oppose all pro-equality measures and that historically have lacked the capacity to successfully execute similar efforts. AB1266 is an historic civil rights bill ensuring all students have the opportunity to participate and succeed in schools, including transgender students. EQCA and our partners will remain vigilant about monitoring the situation

Email Of The Day - Eugene Delgaudio

"Dear Joe,  The nominations of homosexual activists Todd Hughes to the U.S. Court of Appeals and James 'Wally' Brewster as the ambassador to the Dominican Republic are both fraught with dangerous implications. Hughes would almost certainly overturn any pro-Family legislation if installed as a judge on the Appeals Court. And the majority-Christian Dominican Republic has been outraged and offended by Brewster's nomination. As a Public Advocate supporter, I am asking you to help me stop these radical nominees from holding office. Will you please call the U.S. Capitol switchboard at 202-224-3121 to speak to your senators and demand that they force roll call votes to oppose Obama's nominations of Homosexual activists to important offices? President Obama has refused to appoint pro-Family and Christian Americans within the government’s ranks. Instead, he has thrown his full support behind the radical Homosexual Agenda. Won't you please consider chipping in $5 or $10 to help Public Advocate fight Obama's hand-picked nominees from the Homosexual Lobby?" - Disgraced hate group leader Eugene Delgaudio, via email.

New Wall Street Journal-NBC Poll

From the Wall Street Journal:

With nine candidates on the Democratic primary ballot, there is next to no chance anyone will win the contest outright, and so the top candidates have focused their efforts on securing a spot in the runoff. While Ms. Quinn has spent most of the race as the front-runner, the poll showed she will be the underdog in a runoff, Mr. Miringoff said. In a hypothetical face-off with Mr. de Blasio, he leads against Ms. Quinn 44% to 42% among registered democrats. If the runoff were between Mr. Thompson and Ms. Quinn, he leads 44% to 43%. Mr. de Blasio would also beat Mr. Thompson in a runoff, 44% to 36%, the poll showed. The margins in all three cases were slightly wider among likely voters.

The primary is in three weeks.

Tweet Of The Day - Rep. Joaquin Castro

Religion's Gifts To The World

Ninth in a monthly series.

SAN ANTONIO: Councilwoman Secretly Recorded Making Homophobic Comments

From the My San Antonio news site:

“So disgusting!” That exclamation escaped the lips of District 9 Councilwoman Elisa Chan on May 21 in her City Hall office, where she was meeting with members of her staff to discuss the city's proposal to update its nondiscrimination ordinance, adding protections for sexual orientation and gender identity. In the course of the conversation, Chan expressed her unvarnished views on homosexuality, which range from befuddled to intolerant. She revealed that she believes being gay is a choice and that gay people should not be allowed to adopt children, and she voiced revulsion toward the LGBT community. Unbeknown to the councilwoman, an aide, James Stevens, was secretly recording the meeting on his iPhone. (He's now a former aide; Stevens, 28, quit this week.)

The most disgusting comments come from Chan's former chief of policy, Jeff Bazan, who backpedaled furiously today: "I was basically explaining the viewpoint that some people have on the gay marriage issue. What I said was wrong and I deeply regret it."

UPDATE: I've removed the audio player posted here as it was borking the template. I recommend you click over to Gawker and listen to the clip, if you can bear it.

HomoQuotable - Thomas Roberts

"Reince Priebus, when I got engaged, congratulated me at the White House Correspondents' weekend. Last year, Sean Spicer congratulated me on getting married to my husband. Yet they incorporate into the platform of the RNC their stance against marriage equality. It's odd, because why congratulate me? I didn't bring it up, I didn't say give me a congratulations, but they offered it. So it's odd, because then they'll go out and drumbeat that they're against marriage equality. It's weird." - MSNBC host Thomas Roberts, speaking today on Morning Joe. Spicer, who is the RNC's communications director, emailed Politico to respond: "Believing marriage is between one man and one woman and being polite, courteous and respectful are not mutually exclusive."

The World's Highest Paid DJs

From Forbes' just-released 2013 rankings:

1. Calvin Harris ($46 million)
2. Tiesto ($32 million)
3. David Guetta ($30 million)
4. Swedish House Mafia ($25 million)
5. Deadmau5 ($21 million)
6. Avicii ($20 million)
7. Afrojack ($18 million)
8. Armin van Buuren ($17 million)
9 (tie). Skrillex ($16 million)
9 (tie). Kaskade ($16 million)
11. Steve Aoki ($14 million)
12. DJ Pauly D ($13 million)
13. Diplo ($13 million)

Keep in mind that these guys make the bulk of their money not at nightclubs, but at gigantic dance festivals and "concert" events that can draw up to 100,000 attendees. Several months ago I went to the Swedish House Mafia's sold out show at Brooklyn's Barclays Center. (My friend works for the label, so free tickets, plus I wanted to see the new arena.) Aside from the fact that we were pretty much the oldest audience members there by three decades or more, I quite enjoyed it, especially the truly astounding visual effects.  The clip below will give you a sense of where all these millions come from.

NEW YORK CITY: Bloomberg Files Appeal To Fight Stop-And-Frisk Ruling

Earlier this week a federal judge ruled that the NYPD's infamous stop-and-frisk policy is unconstitutional.  Today the Bloomberg administration filed a notice of appeal of that ruling.

Speaking Friday on his weekly radio show, Bloomberg blasted U.S. District Court Judge Shira Scheindlin, who earlier this week ruled the tactic was unconstitutional. “What does she know about policing? Absolutely zero,” Bloomberg said. “Your safety and the safety of your kids is now in the hands of some woman who does not have the expertise to do it.” Bloomberg and other officials have credited the policy in part for a pronounced drop in the homicide rate. The city averages one homicide a day currently, compared with six in 1990. “We think the judge could not be more wrong. The Supreme Court has ruled, we follow the rules,” he said. “This would be a disaster for the city.”

With today's notice to the court, the city now has 90 days to file their formal brief.

UPDATE: Just in from Christine Quinn.

Despite our urging Mayor Bloomberg not to appeal Judge Scheindlin’s decision in the stop, question and frisk case, the Administration has announced that they will move forward with their appeal. Communities across the City have suffered long enough under unjust, unfair and unconstitutional practices. There should be no further delay to long-needed reforms to stop, question and frisk. That’s why we will file declarations in the Courts to oppose any motion for a stay. My office will fight any attempt to prevent these reforms from being implemented. In addition, we will work closely with the plaintiff in this case to oppose any stay pending the appeal and to urge the Second Circuit Court to uphold the district court decision.”

CLAIM: Apparel Chain Forever 21 Cuts Staffing Hours To Evade Obamacare

Jezebel has some details:

According to the letter, an unnumbered but significant amount of employees will no longer receive paid time off, will not be allowed to work more than 29.5 hours a week and will no longer have health insurance. The company has been inundated with numerous comments on their Facebook page from angry customers who say they will never shop at Forever 21 again and who are blaming the change on aforementioned ACA requirements. The ACA has already kicked a number of companies, retail or otherwise, into overdrive with concerns about the cost of paying employees.

The California-based chain has 480 outlets. Its owners, Do Won Chang and his wife Jin Sook, are multi-billionaire born again Christians who "reportedly attend church at 5:20 a.m. on weekdays, keep bibles in the office, and print John 3:16 on the bottom of each bag." (But no health care for their employees because Jesus, presumably.) Forbes reports that Forever 21 has been sued more than 50 times by other apparel chains for copyright infringement.

Groupon Endorses Illinois Marriage

Groupon's world headquarters is in Chicago.

USOC Clarifies On Russia

More on this at Buzzfeed.

CIA Declassifies Area 51

Another blow to the conspiracy theorists.

A newly declassified CIA history from 20 years ago spills the story about Nevada's Area 51 and its secret mission — which was not to study UFOs, but to test the U-2 and other spy planes. The CIA's story about the legendary test site is contained in "The Central Intelligence Agency and Overhead Reconnaissance: the U-2 and Oxcart Programs." The document was approved for release in June, with just a few remaining redactions, in response to a Freedom of Information request filed by George Washington University's National Security Archive back in 2005. The Groom Lake facility was also used for development of the U-2 spy plane's successors, including the Lockheed A-12 Oxcart and the D-21 Tagboard. Later on, Area 51 served as a test site for the F-117 stealth fighter. To this day, the area surrounding the facility has been closely guarded, and the airspace is off-limits to civilian air traffic. Such high levels of secrecy, combined with the occasional sightings of strange aircraft, have fueled UFO tales for decades.

Oh, well. There's always chemtrails.

Dems Fire Back At GOP Resolution

Earlier today the Republican National Committee approved a resolution calling for GOP presidential candidates to boycott CNN and NBC in 2016 because both networks are working on documentaries about Hillary Clinton.  The Democrats have fired back:

“After last year’s electoral losses, the RNC pledged to do a better job reaching out to the voters they had systematically alienated – like women, African Americans, LGBT Americans, Hispanics, and more. But instead of modifying their policies to actually present smart solutions for middle class families, the only thing the GOP can unite behind is a plan to continue to limit the audiences—and voters—to whom they will communicate.

"Now with reports that they are looking to have Rush Limbaugh, Sean Hannity and Mark Levin moderate their debates, it raises questions about whether the RNC will ever be serious about outreach, or if they will continue to speak to -- and for -- the fringes of their party.

"It seems that Republicans don't get it. If they truly want to connect with a broader audience, they need an agenda that fights for the middle class and is inclusive. Sadly, it appears that with today's vote, their approach is to actually speak to even fewer voters. While the Republican Party and the RNC continue to have side-show debates, Democrats will continue to fight for a better bargain for middle class Americans.”

Chat Show Caller On Stop-And-Frisk

I don't even know how to properly set this clip up, so maybe you should just watch it. The host totally slams Christine Quinn at the end of the call. More about this at New York Magazine.

Just In From The NYPD

New York City Council Speaker Christine Quinn has issued a statement via press release:

This kind of an anti-gay attack is unacceptable anywhere, but for it to happen in Chelsea which has such a large LGBT population is particularly shocking. And what's worse is that this is happening after a summer of repeated attacks on members of the LGBT attack just because of who they are. People who commit hate crimes are cowards. This is not who we are. We are a city that knows that diversity is our greatest strength and we need to show that by helping the police by apprehending these attackers. We need to send a message that this type of hate crime is not acceptable, will not be tolerated, and needs to come to an end. We thank the NYPD’s Hate Crimes Task Force for taking immediate action to investigate this incident, and urge anyone with any more information on these sketches to contact the Crime Stoppers Hotline at 1-800-577-TIPS.

Singer Robin Thicke Sues To Protect Blurred Lines From Marvin Gaye's Estate

Robin Thicke's Blurred Lines is the biggest hit of 2013, remaining at #1 on Billboard's Hot 100 for the ninth consecutive week today, giving him the longest run at the top for a male solo artist in five years.  But ever since the track debuted, many critics have noted its striking similarities to Marvin Gaye's 1977 disco smash, Got To Give It Up.  Yesterday Thicke filed a preemptive lawsuit against Gaye's estate, just in case.  The Hollywood Reporter has the story:

According to the suit, a copy of which was obtained by The Hollywood Reporter, "Plaintiffs, who have the utmost respect for and admiration of Marvin Gaye, Funkadelic and their musical legacies, reluctantly file this action in the face of multiple adverse claims from alleged successors in interest to those artists. Defendants continue to insist that plaintiffs' massively successful composition, 'Blurred Lines,' copies 'their' compositions." The suit claims the Gaye family is alleging that "Blurred Lines" and Gaye's "Got to Give It Up" "feel" or "sound" the same, and that the "Gaye defendants are claiming ownership of an entire genre, as opposed to a specific work." As for Funkadelic, there's said to be claimed similarity between Thicke's hit and Funakedlic's "Sexy Ways."

Here's a mash-up of the two tracks. 

RELATED: Moby has denounced Blurred Lines as misogynist.

Because Hillary Clinton

UTAH: Former NFL Star Steve Young To Keynote Conference For Gay Mormons

NFL Hall Of Fame inductee Steve Young and his wife will keynote the convention of Affirmation, an organization for gay Mormons.  Hank Plante reports at USA Today:

Steve and Barbara Young released a statement to the Salt Lake City Tribune confirming they'll be keynoters at the conference, saying it is "where they hope to lend their voices to the healing work of making our families, our society and our church more welcoming places for our LGBT brothers and sisters." And, indeed, there are signs that the church is softening its political opposition to gay rights, with church members no longer taking the lead in opposing gay marriage cases. Still, having Hall of Fame quarterback Steve Young take such a prominent role in welcoming lesbian and gay church members is bound to push the issue even farther down the field.

Young, who is a direct descendant of Brigham Young, made news in 2008 when he and his wife placed a "No On Prop 8" sign in their front yard.

Bryan Fischer: Obama Was Photoshopped Into That Famous Bin Laden Raid Photo

Fischer is joyously tweeting out links to all the websites mocking his claim today.

Icelanders Prank Franklin Graham

A lot of Icelanders were unhappy to hear that notoriously anti-gay evangelist Franklin Graham (son of Billy) was coming to speak at a religion conference. Here's what they did about it:

Graham is set to appear Sept. 28-29 at the Festival of Hope, which he reportedly organized at the request of Icelandic churches. The event is free, but, according to the website, attendees may reserve as many as four tickets in advance. They may also make special requests for groups of 20 or more. Shortly after tickets became available Wednesday, users on Facebook, Twitter and Reddit began spreading the word that protesters were reserving seats for the event, but not planning to show up. Protesters say the goal is to leave the controversial Graham with an empty venue when he appears at Reykjavík’s Laugardalshöll arena next month. One Icelandic software developer, Elvar Thormar, wrote on Facebook that he’d reserved 500 tickets. According to the Icelandic ticketing website Midi.is, the event was already sold out Friday, when all available tickets had already been reserved.

You may recall that Graham was a vocal supporter of North Carolina's Amendment One.

Pro Wrestler Stone Cold Steve Austin Endorses Same-Sex Marriage

Good As You tips us that six-time WWF champion Steve Austin has endorsed same-sex marriage in a rather hilariously profane string of comments made during an internet radio interview. It's a big week for wrestling news around here, huh?

Anti-Gay Group Sues DOJ Over Cost Of "Government-Funded Gay Pride Events"

The anti-gay Judicial Watch has filed a Freedom Of Information lawsuit against the Department Of Justice, demanding to know how much the DOJ paid Melissa Etheridge to appear at a June gay pride-related event attended by hundreds of DOJ lawyers.  Here's their press release:

Judicial Watch has sued the United States Department of Justice for refusing to turn over information related to the Lavender Law society, a group of gay and transgender Justice Department lawyers. PJ Media reported on “Gay Day at DOJ” in June 2013 when the Justice Department brought singer and “human rights activist” Melissa Etheridge to hold a concert at the Great Hall at the Justice Department building in Washington. Such an event certainly cost the American taxpayers tens of thousands of dollars, even though only a few hundred DOJ lawyers were in attendance.

SAN ANTONIO: Openly Gay Disabled Iraq Vet Eric Alva Booed By Christian Protesters At LGBT Rights Forum

Openly gay USMC veteran Eric Alva was the first American soldier injured in the Iraq War and anti-gay Christian protesters actually booed him when he spoke yesterday in support of San Antonio's proposed LGBT rights ordinance. Via the Dallas Voice:

At a prayer vigil outside City Hall before the meeting, about 300 people protested the proposed addition to San Antonio’s nondiscrimination law that would add protections for sexual orientation, gender identity and veteran status. “Let them vote ‘no’ to this ordinance, and ‘yes’ to the reign of the kingdom of God,” Pastor Charles Flowers said at the rally. About 200 people signed up to speak at the City Council meeting for and against the ordinance. Alva, a Marine staff sergeant who became the first U.S. soldier injured in Iraq when he stepped on a landmine, was booed by the crowd when he spoke in favor of the ordinance. Alva lives in San Antonio.

Image via Dallas Voice.

WWE Star Darren Young: I'm Happy Now

"I've been suppressing these feelings for so long in my life that - I'm going to be 30 on November 2nd - I just need to be happy."

Coca-Cola And McDonald's: The Olympic Games Should Remain In Russia

In statements obtained by Pink News and Buzzfeed, Coca-Cola and McDonald's expressed support for the LGBT community, but both corporations agree that the Olympic Games should remain in Russia.

From Coca-Cola:

We have long been a strong supporter of the LGBT community and have advocated for inclusion and diversity through both our policies and practices. We do not condone human rights abuses, intolerance, or discrimination of any kind anywhere in the world. As a sponsor since 1928, we believe the Olympic Games are a force for good that unite people through a common interest in sports, and we have seen firsthand the positive impact and long-lasting legacy they leave on every community that has been a host.

From McDonald's:

There’s no room for discrimination under the Golden Arches. McDonald’s welcomes 69 million customers around the world every day representing different races, nationalities, religions, genders, ages and sexual orientations. McDonald’s supports the spirit of the Olympic Games and its ability to unite the world in a positive and inspirational way. We’ve been a proud sponsor of the Games for 37 years. Regarding the recent Russian legislation, we support the International Olympic Committee’s belief that sport is a human right and the Olympic Games should be open to all, free of discrimination, and that applies to spectators, officials, media and athletes.

Yelena Isinbayeva: I Was Misunderstood

"English is not my first language and I think I may have been misunderstood when I spoke yesterday. What I wanted to say was that people should respect the laws of other countries particularly when they are guests. But let me make it clear I respect the views of my fellow athletes, and let me state in the strongest terms that I am opposed to any discrimination against gay people on the grounds of their sexuality." - Russian world champion pole vaulter Yelena Isinbayeva, who yesterday slammed a Swedish high jumper for wearing rainbow fingernails at the World Track & Field finals in Moscow.

UPDATE: Here's video of her first comments yesterday.

NEW YORK: Meningitis Outbreak Subsides

The aggressive meningitis vaccination campaigns by the state and New York City appear to be working.

The outbreak cast a pall over gay night life in the city, and raised fears among gay men traveling to and from New York that they might catch the casually transmissible and highly lethal disease. Twenty-two men have been infected and about a third of them — seven — have died since 2010, with the numbers accelerating last fall and early this year.

But the last case was in mid-February, the longest interval without a new case since January 2012. City health officials feared that the infection, which attacks the lining of the brain and spinal cord and can be transmitted through kissing and even sharing a glass, might flare during crowded gay pride events in late June. But that did not come to pass.

“We think that because we’ve had no cases in six months, we have to conclude that enough of the population has been vaccinated to provide protection at least for now,” Dr. Jay K. Varma, the city’s deputy commissioner of disease control, said this week. “Whether or not this provides protection for several years is something that we’ll have to see.”

Vaccinations will be available through pharmacies in November.

Dragons Really Existed

Forget the fossil record, the Bible says so.

Tweet Of The Day - Seattle Police Dept

Printed on the back of the bags is a listing of what is allowed under Washington state's marijuana laws.

Nine Inch Nails - Copy Of A

Another track from the coming Hesitation Marks has leaked out online, but you might like the live version that NIN opened their Lollapolooza set with two weeks ago. And whoa, Trent's arms.

Hate Group Marriage Map

The grey states: "States or territories vulnerable to a redefinition of marriage." Embiggen or go here to read the other descriptions.

CALIFORNIA: Preacher Files Wacky "Religious Liberty" Referendum Proposal

Apparently because a couple of street preachers got arrested for disturbing the peace, a California pastor has proposed a ballot measure to make it illegal to do so. And a whole lot more.

Pastor Allen Esses of YesJesusIsLord.org has proposed an amendment to Section 4 of Article I of the California Constitution, which guarantees “free exercise and enjoyment of religion without discrimination or preference.” It has been cleared for circulation by the Attorney General. Under Pastor Esses’ amendment, a clause that exempts “acts that are licentious or inconsistent with the peace or safety of the State” would be struck from the constitution, essentially allowing any view to be protected so long as it’s expressed in the name of God. This would include sermons and projects aimed to disenfranchise or libel specific demographics.

Here's the full text of the proposed amendment:

We, the People of the State of California, grateful to Almighty God for our freedom, in order to perpetuate His blessings do submit that it is not a crime, hate crime or unlawful for a person to use any part of the Bible's content as authority: and do submit that a person using any part of the Bible's content as authority may freely speak, pray, write, discuss, publish, preach, teach, hear, share his or her faith to proclaim Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father, engage in street witnessing, distribute written material or otherwise communicate any views on salvation, heaven, or abortion, adultery, alcoholism, anti-Semitism, astrology, bestiality, bigamy, bisexuality, blasphemy, civil unions, coarse jesting, cohabitation, coveting, cross-dressing., cults, drugs, drunkenness, extortion, euthanasia, evil, evolution, fornication, gay marriage, gender identity, hell, heresy, homosexuality, idolaters, idolatry, incest, lying, marriage, murder, necromancy, other religions, pornography, psychics, rape, reviling, sex, sexual immorality, sexual orientation, sodomy, sorcery, stealing, transgender, trans-sexuality, witchcraft, yoga, or sin at any public or private gatherings, school, church, or other place of worship, Bible Study group or sidewalk or in any communicative medium, the internet, satellite, television, film, theater, radio, videos, recording, newspapers, magazines, music, and periodicals or by means of a computer, electronic devise, telephone, cell phone or fax machine.

The initiative appears on the website for state Attorney General Kamala Harris, but is not on the list of cleared initiatives posted by the California Secretary of State. If it has indeed been approved for circulation, as the first linked source states, they have until December 3rd to raise the 807,000 signatures needed to place it on the 2014 ballot.

NY Assemblyman Daniel O'Donnell Calls On State To Divest Russian Assets

Openly gay New York state Assemblyman Daniel O'Donnell today called on the state comptroller's office to divest its pension funds from all Russian interests.  Via press release:

"These issues are very personal for me, both as a gay man and as an elected official who has fought against intolerance and bigotry in my work in the New York State Assembly. New York has made steady progress in this area, including through bills I sponsored, like the Marriage Equality Act and New York’s new anti-bullying legislation. In light of this advancement, it is particularly hard to stomach sending tax dollars—my and other New Yorkers’ tax dollars—overseas to a place that is moving backwards in this respect, where I would not only fear bullying or the disregard of my marriage to my husband, but actual violence or state-sanctioned arrest because of who I am. For this reason, I urge you to cease future investment of any portion of the Common Retirement Fund in Russia, and to move toward the full divestment of any assets the Common Retirement Fund has in that country until this discriminatory and dangerous law has been repealed."

RELATED: Openly gay California state Sen. Mark Leno made a similar demand of his state last week.

Brian Brown Has The Prop 8 Sadz

"The way that activist judges have dealt with Proposition 8 is a travesty of justice and undermines the rule of law and the democratic process itself. The legitimate votes of 7 million Californians, and their fair-minded, reasonable position that marriage should be defined as the union of one man and one woman, have been trampled underfoot by derelict politicians and activist judges. However, this is not the end of the debate. No judge or politician can redefine what God has created. NOM and our allies will work to make sure the people of California, and other states where marriage has been redefined have a voice speaking for true marriage. So-called same-sex 'marriage' is a political creation; it doesn't exist in reality. Eventually it will fall, and we will restore natural marriage in California." - Hate group leader Brian Brown, in his tenth case of the super-sadz in the last twelve months.

Whiner Of The Day - Randy Thomasson

"At the beginning of the interview, the liberal host calls the woman who is a transsexual activist ‘sir,’ and refers both to her and I as ‘gentlemen.' But at the end of the interview I say ‘good to talk to you ladies,’ because both the host and my bearded opponent are indeed biological females. Of course, the bearded Masen Davis didn’t like this fact at all and she’s complaining to CNN about me. How tyrannical and anti-free-speech! But the homosexual, bisexual, transsexual activists and their supporters can’t be bothered with facts, can they? Instead, they engage in ad hominem arguments and personal attacks." - Save California douchebag Randy Thomasson, making a personal attack while whining to World Net Daily about criticism directed at CNN for inviting a hate group leader to speak on transgender rights.

PREVIOUSLY ON JMG: Last month Thomasson called on California's county clerks to defy the Supreme Court on Prop 8. Earlier this year Thomasson called for Christian parents to keep their kids home on the Day Of Silence. Last year Thomasson had a hissy fit over the renaming of a San Diego street for Harvey Milk. In 2011 Save California head Randy Thomasson claimed that Harvey Milk Day would  "unleash a tsunami of perversity" that would include "mock gay weddings" at public schools. In 2010 Thomasson claimed that Harvey Milk Day would include "cross-dressing contests" and that Milk endorsed pedophilia. In 2009 Thomasson claimed that Harvey Milk Day would mean that California had passed Massachusetts in the "sexual indoctrination of children."

Frank Bruni On Hand-Holding

"After all the education that we Americans have had and all the relished progress we’ve made, being gay does mean feeling constrained in situations where most people aren’t, scared in circumstances that wouldn’t frighten others in the least, self-conscious when you shouldn’t have to be. Like when you’re holding someone’s hand. It’s the sweetest, most innocent and most natural of gestures: to interlock your fingers with those of a person for whom you’re feeling a sudden rush of affection. A person you maybe love. And yet when my partner takes my hand in public in New York City, I look at the sidewalk ahead. I note how many pedestrians are coming our way, and how quickly, and whether they’re male or female, young or old, observant or distracted. And I sometimes take my hand back, wishing I were braver, wishing our world didn’t ask me to be." - Frank Bruni, in a New York Times essay which refers to yesterday's gay-bashing in Chelsea.

New From Southern Equality

Taking a cue from Pennsylvania's Montgomery County:

We're rolling out the next phase of the WE DO Campaign, using a new strategy. We are actively seeking a local elected official in the South who will grant a marriage license to a LGBT couple because it's the right thing to do. Please visit www.southernequality.org for more info and couples applying for marriage licenses in North Carolina and across the South.

MOSCOW: Swedish Athlete Competes With Fingernails Painted In Rainbow Colors, Draws Condemnation From Russian Pole Vaulting World Champion

At the World Track & Field championships in Moscow, Swedish high jumper Emma Green Tregaro competed today with her fingernails painted in rainbow hues in a gesture of solidarity for the LGBT community, drawing condemnation from Russia pole vaulter Yelena Isinbayeva.

“If we allow to promote and do all this stuff on the street, we are very afraid about our nation because we consider ourselves like normal, standard people,” Isinbayeva, a two-time Olympic champion, said in English. “We just live with boys with woman, woman with boys. “Everything must be fine. It comes from history. We never had any problems, these problems in Russia, and we don’t want to have any in the future. It’s unrespectful to our country. It’s unrespectful to our citizens because we are Russians. Maybe we are different from European people and other people from different lands,” Isinbayeva told reporters. “We have our home and everyone has to respect (it). When we arrive to different countries, we try to follow their rules.”

American runner Nick Symmonds, who yesterday dedicated his silver medal to his gay friends at home, slammed Isinbayeva.

“I want to say to Yelena, ‘You understand a very large portion of your citizens here are gay and lesbian people. They are standard people, too. They were created this way. For you to tell them that they’re not normal and standard, that’s what we’re taking an issue with.’ That’s why we have to continue to demonstrate and to speak out against the ignorance that she’s showing.”

Isinbayeva has set 28 world records and won gold medals at the 2004 and 2008 Olympics. According to the Washington Post, she was part of the team that won Russia the right to host the 2014 Games. Cheering on Isinbayeva's bigotry is NOM's Damian Goddard.

WWE Stars Support Darren Young

In case you missed this morning's news, WWE star Darren Young has come out. The WWE has issued a statement to GLAAD: "WWE is proud of Darren Young for being open about his sexuality, and we will continue to support him as a WWE Superstar. Today, in fact, Darren will be participating in one of our Be A Star anti-bullying rallies in Los Angeles to teach children how to create positive environments for everyone regardless of age, race, religion or sexual orientation."

UPDATE: WWE superstar John Cena applauds:  "Good for him. That's fantastic. I know Darren personally. Darren's a great guy. That's a very bold move for him. And congratulations for him for actually finally doing it. It's all about being professional, and Darren Young is a consummate professional. For us, it's entertainment, and if you're entertaining you shouldn't be judged by race, creed, color or sexuality ... as long as you're entertaining."

Quote Of The Day - Ana Maria Ortiz

"Marriage should only be considered as those relationships in which the members have sex facing each other, which does not occur between homosexual couples." -  Ana Maria Ortiz, of Mexico's right wing National Action Party, speaking at a marriage equality forum in the state of Puebla. Ortiz went on to declare that research shows that the adopted children of gay couples are more likely to become addicted to drugs. She is the chairperson of the Special Committee On The Family in the Puebla state legislature. Puebla is about the size of Maryland and has a population of six million.

Book Trailer: Impeachable Offenses

Published by World Net Daily, of course.

The Great Cross

The American Jesus writes:

When my friend first showed me the website for The Great Cross Alliance I thought it was a parody. I mean, seriously, if someone showed you this picture and said a 3,000 ft long, nearly 2,000 ft wide, and almost 200 ft high cross was going to be built in the middle of the Nevada desert would you believe them? Ok, it is America and it is Nevada and stranger things have happened out in that desert. And for the low, low price of only $4,000 you can reserve a space for your future coffin in the giant cross of death!! Or if you’ve got some extra change laying around in your couch cushions, you can get a primo spot right in the center of the cross for only $25,000!!

From the description of the below clip:

The Great Cross Alliance is a world-wide community that will construct the largest Christian monument in the world dedicated to Jesus Christ. It will be built of columbarium and mausoleum vaults that are available for purchase for you and your family. Let us show a unity and alliance through Jesus Christ to create a lasting memorial to Him.

(Via Christian Nightmares)

New Toshiba Ad Called "Homo-Queasy"

Buzzfeed's Copyranter writes:

The commercial, titled “Math Notes,” is one of three new not-that-funny “funny” ads via Toshiba Canada aiming directly at the college boy market. As David Gianatasio at AdFreak points out, the spots “gotcha” moment relies on what GLAAD has dubbed the “Homo-queasy” advertising linchpin. My first reaction was: ‘that ain’t funny.’ My second reaction was: ‘that ain’t right.’ Maybe I’m overreacting. Sherry Lyons, vice president of corporate and marketing communications at Toshiba of Canada, told AdFreak: “Toshiba would never intentionally set out to offend our customers. We do not feel that the ‘Math Notes’ video is offensive or cliché.”

HomoQuotable - John Amaechi

"Asking for a boycott is a very principled thing to do. I am with Stephen [Fry] in that the sentiment is absolutely correct – I just don’t think it’s practical – and I want to be clear…it’s a sad thing that it’s not practical because it means that people with great power have somehow lost sight of their lofty principles. It should be practical because if you look at the Olympic Charter and the seven principles of Olympianism which speak of things like human dignity; which speak of things like not allowing discrimination for any reason – if you look at those principles the Olympics shouldn’t even be in Russia in the first place." - Retired NBA player John Amaechi, speaking on British radio.

Web Graphic Of The Day

Via Memographs.

Out Boxer Orlando Cruz Gets Engaged

USA Today has the news:

Featherweight Orlando Cruz made headlines last October when he announced he was gay. By making the announcement, in which he declared himself a “proud gay man,” he became the first openly gay male professional boxer. Cruz also grabbed the public’s attention this week, or at least the attention of his followers on Facebook, when he proposed to his longtime boyfriend José Manuel with a video message posted to the social media site. Cruz will fight for the vacant WBO featherweight world title on October 12 against Orlando Salido in Las Vegas. Manuel responded to the video with a heartfelt video of his own, in which he accepted the proposal.

Cruz' boxing nickname is The Phenomenon. (Via Towleroad)

WISCONSIN: Victims Group Wants Judge Tossed In Milwaukee Archdiocese Case

Late last month a Wisconsin judge ruled that the victims of pedophile priests and other creditors should not have access to the millions that then-Archbishop Timothy Dolan moved to a cemetery fund after telling the Vatican that he was doing so for the "improved protection of these funds from any legal claim and liability." Now that group wants the judge to recuse himself after they learned that he has at least nine relatives buried in the Archdiocese's cemeteries.

In motions filed Monday — one to set aside the ruling and the other asking Randa to recuse himself — the creditors said they "discovered that at least nine of Judge Randa's relatives (including his mother, his father and his wife's parents) are buried in cemeteries owned and operated by" the archdiocese. "This fact alone creates the appearance of partiality," the motion states. They add that Randa, by purchasing burial rights for his parents, entered into a contract with the archdiocese, further supporting the call for him to step down from the case. "Judge Randa should have disqualified himself from presiding over any aspect of this adversary proceeding. Yet, he did not do so," the motion reads. "Nor did he disclose the facts to the parties at any time during the case."

The petitioners contend that if the cemetery funds were to be turned over to claimants, the judge could be forced to pay for the upkeep of his family's plots out of his own pocket.

Alliance Defense Fund Has Prop 8 Sadz

"Elected officials should enforce the law. Though the current California officials are unwilling to enforce the state constitution, we remain hopeful that one day Californians will elect officials who will. It is unfortunate that the California Supreme Court chose not to decide the important, still-unresolved questions about the enforcement of Proposition 8, the law of the land in California. Regrettably, an executive branch that has turned a blind eye to the enforcement of its state's constitution has silenced more than 7 million Californians who clearly expressed their views about marriage. The court's decision today, however, does not end the debate about marriage in California." - Austin Nimrocks, senior counsel for the anti-gay Alliance Defense Fund.

NEW YORK CITY: Six Thugs Attack Hand-Holding Gay Couple In Chelsea

NBC New York reports:

Two gay men who were holding hands as they left a movie theater in Chelsea were attacked by a group of men who hurled anti-gay slurs, and one was hurt so badly he needed seven stitches on his face. Peter Nortman and his boyfriend, Michael Felenchak, had left the Chelsea Cinemas just after midnight early Wednesday when they were confronted by two men on West 24th Street, according to police. One said "what are you looking at, you faggots." The attackers then started punching the victims while hurling anti-gay slurs. Police say four more men approached, who were believed to be friends of the suspects, and joined in the assault.

REPORT: NBC To Produce New Tina Fey Show Set In Fire Island

Deadline Hollywood reports that NBC has signed a deal for a new Tina Fey-produced show that appears to have its setting in a Fire Island bar.

The project, said to be in the vein of Cheers, is a character-driven workplace comedy where a young woman in search of reconnecting with her father finds a new home and family on Fire Island. This marks the first project from Fey’s Little Stranger production company under the four-year deal she inked with Uni TV last fall.

It should be noted that there are a dozen towns on Fire Island and that the two gay hotspots, Fire Island Pines and Cherry Grove, are not mentioned in reports about the show. Still, this is Tina Fey, so...

LGBT Sports Group Calls On Athletes To Hold Hands At Sochi Olympics

Noting that all demonstrations involving pins, flags, and other items are strictly banned by the IOC, yesterday an international LGBT sports group launched the "Same-Sex Hand-Holding Initiative."

The campaign is simple: Pride House International is calling on everyone present in Sochi – athletes, staff, media, officials, spectators, sponsors, vendors, and fans – to take every opportunity to hold hands with a person of the same sex. “There are extreme restrictions on the uniforms and other items worn by athletes at any Olympic Games. Flags, badges, or pins are not allowed without IOC approval, a near-impossibility, and wearing something as seemingly innocuous as pink socks or shoelaces is very difficult for athletes to do, and complex to organise for other participants and spectators,” said the Federation of Gay Games’ Les Johnson. “But everyone can hold hands with their neighbour. Indeed, raising your rivals’ hands in camaraderie is an image we see on every podium at every sporting event.”

Pride House cautions that any hand-holding should be done with as many witnesses as possible.

WWE Star Darren Young Comes Out

I almost put a question mark in the headline because with pro wrestling, you never know. Here's what TMZ says:

WWE superstar Darren Young just dropped a bombshell, telling TMZ, he's gay ... and no, this isn't part of the act. Darren was at LAX Wednesday when we asked whether a gay wrestler could succeed in WWE, and Darren laughed, saying, "Absolutely. Look at me. I'm a WWE superstar and to be honest with you, I'll tell you right now, I'm gay. And I'm happy. I'm very happy." For the record, Darren is now the first openly gay wrestler ever at WWE ... and the first headlining wrestler ever to come out while still signed to a major promotion. Other pro wrestlers have been rumored to be gay, but that's it ... just rumors. Bottom line: this is big, big news. For all its chauvinism and testosterone-driven bravado, coming out in WWE is tantamount to coming out in the NFL.

Sporting news site the Bleacher Report reacts:

The news is initially jarring, but perhaps it shouldn't be in this day and age with tolerance at an all-time high for alternative lifestyles. Perhaps even more surprising than Young's announcement was the nonchalant manner in which he made it. There were no bells and whistles involved as Young didn't call for a news conference or anything of that nature. TMZ is infamous for its ambush interview style, and it appears as though Young's interview was no different. It seemed like a spontaneous decision on Young's part, and he should be commended for it.