Saturday, September 14, 2013

Kerry Announces Agreement On Syria

NPR has this morning's development:
U.S. Secretary of State John Kerry and Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov said Saturday they have reached an agreement on a framework for Syria to destroy all of its chemical weapons, and raised the specter of a potential U.N. Security Council resolution that could authorize sanctions — even military action — if President Bashar Assad's government fails to comply. The diplomats announced on the third day of intense negotiations in Geneva that some elements of the deal include a timetable and how Syria must comply. Notably, Kerry said they had agreed on grounds under which they might request a Security Council "Chapter 7" resolution — authorizing both military and non-military sanctions.

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Are Those Pennsylvania Marriages Valid?

After a judge ordered Pennsylvania's Montgomery County to cease issuing same-sex marriage licenses, many are wondering about the validity of the licenses already granted.
Montgomery County Register of Wills D. Bruce Hanes said Thursday he was disappointed but would comply with the decision by Commonwealth Court Judge Dan Pellegrini. Hanes said he thinks the 174 licenses he handed out are legally valid. "I believe they are ... but I can't make that decision," he said. Robert Heim, a lawyer for some of the same-sex couples who obtained licenses from Hanes, noted that Pellegrini said the legality of the licenses was not an issue before him. "The 32 couples that I represent are going to have to decide whether they also want to litigate it in the Commonwealth Court, since Judge Pellegrini virtually invited it," Heim said.
One local attorney believe the marriages should stand.
A Norristown attorney says yesterday’s decision by a Pennsylvania Commonwealth judge may have stopped any more licenses from being issued to same-sex couples in Montgomery County, but those that have been issued cannot be taken back. Family attorney Dan Clifford says he is reviewing the decision of Judge Dante Pellegrini, which orders the Montgomery County register of wills to stop issuing marriage licenses to same-sex couples. Clifford adds that same-sex couples who had made marriage license applications but had not received a license are in limbo for the time being.
Some of those 174 couples are regular JMG participants.

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Gay Veterans Marry At Senior Living Home

A gay couple together for 20 years has gotten married at their senior living home for veterans in a first for the facility.
John Banvard, 95, and 67-year-old Gerard Nadeau, who served in Vietnam, said they wanted to have their ceremony among friends, so they chose to have it at the Veteran’s Home, where they’ve lived for the last three years. They decided to get married after the Supreme Court’s actions earlier this year, which allowed same-sex couples to marry. “We were waiting on the Supreme Court to make that decision,” said Banvard. Many of the couple’s friends who live at the veteran’s home attended the small and simple ceremony. “The world is changing, we have to go along with it,” said one guest. Facility director Neal Asper said news of two men getting married at the VA home wasn’t well received by everyone. A town hall meeting was held at the VA home to address concerns from other residents.
There's video at the link.

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Tony Perkins Cheers Pennsylvania

"Isn't it amazing that we live in a time when doing the right thing and upholding the law makes news? Yet that's exactly what happened inPennsylvaniawhen a district judge fought to restore order in a local clerk's office. For the past several weeks, Montgomery County Register Bruce Hanes, has been exercising a power he doesn't have: issuing same-sex 'marriage' licenses. The victory was a crucial one, especially as more state and local officials try to take the marriage issue into their own hands with no respect for the people's will or the law. Hopefully, Judge Pellegrini's decision and Gov. Corbett's persistence will encourage other leaders to take a similar stand for the rule of law. In the meantime, maybe someone could forward Pellegrini's ruling to President Obama and remind him that his culture of lawlessness cannot -- and will not -- stand." - Hate group leader Tony Perkins, in yesterday's email to supporters.

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TRAILER: Generation Iron

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RUSSIA: Video Of Gay Man Raped By Vigiliantes Spreads On Social Media

Radio Free Europe reports:
A video depicting a man being raped with a bottle has surfaced on social media, in what appears to be the latest assault on Russia's beleaguered homosexual community. The series of short clips, making the rounds on the mobile phone application WhatsApp show the victim, who seems to be an ethnic Uzbek, being bullied into confessing that he is gay. He is asked to identify himself and is stripped of his clothes, which are later burned. He is then handcuffed, beaten, insulted, and threatened with a gun. Ultimately, he is forced to sodomize himself by sitting on a bottle, which is then pushed with a bat. The man, visibly terrified, weeps throughout much of the ordeal.
According to a person taking credit for the attack, the victim and the perpetrators are ethnic Uzbeks. He tells the local press: "We did this to protect the dignity of Uzbeks. We live and work here, we are in contact with people of different nationalities. There will be no respect for us otherwise." (Tipped by JMG reader Daniel)

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FRC Prays Against Hawaii & Obamacare

Yesterday prayer of the day from the FRC:
May God stir people His people to righteous action and move Congress to stop Obamacare, with its oppression, abortion, and socialistic, anti-liberty scheme! May God mightily use the 90+ member strong Prayer Caucus to help restore religious liberty in America! (Dt 26:7-8 ; Josh 8:3; 10:7-10; Ps 27:8; 110:3; Mt 10:16; Eph 6:10-20; Rev 12:11) May God stir the Hawaiian Church to act yet again and to prevail over the forces of darkness! (2 Kg 13:15-19; 2 Cor 10:3-6; Gal 6:9; Eph 5:11-18; 2 Th 3:13).

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NEW MEXICO: Anti- Gay Wedding Photographer Petitions US Supreme Court

The New Mexico state Supreme Court ruled against them in August, but the wedding photographer whose case has inflamed the wingnuts for years is heading to the US Supreme Court with the backing of Alliance Defending Freedom. SCOTUSblog reports:
An Albuquerque couple who operate their commercial photography business on Christian religious principles will ask the Supreme Court to give them constitutional protection for their views favoring traditional marriage, their lawyers said on Wednesday. The case, if accepted by the Court, would give the Justices a chance to sort out how gay rights laws passed by states are enforced against those who hold the view that marriage is only for a man and a woman. Although the case does not involve state authority to allow or deny same-sex marriage, it could be the first new case related to that issue to reach the Court since its first foray into that constitutional controversy last Term. The case, from the New Mexico Supreme Court, is Elane Photography v. Willock.

Their planned petition to the Supreme Court will seek to convince the Justices that their photographic work is a form of artistic expression that conveys messages, and it will argue that enforcing the New Mexico “public accommodation” law in ways contrary to their views compels them to express messages they do not embrace and interferes with the free exercise of their religious beliefs.  The state law at issue in the case bars discrimination against sexual orientation in providing access to businesses that are open to the public in general.
MSNBC has more:
“We have to guard the right to not be compelled to speak for everyone, especially those who have disfavored points of view, or else the government can compel people to advance messages they don’t agree with,” said Jordan Lorence, an attorney with the Alliance Defending Freedom, the conservative law firm representing Elane Photography. “They also couldn’t force a gay photographer to photograph a wedding at Westboro Baptist.” Could they also refuse to photograph an interracial marriage for religious reasons? “I think that they could,” he added, “because the government cannot force people to communicate messages they don’t agree with.”

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Friday, September 13, 2013

McCain To Pen Op-Ed For Pravda

In response to Vladimir Putin's op-ed in the New York Times, Sen. John McCain semi-joked that he'd like to write for Russia's state-owned newspaper, Pravda. Perhaps surprisingly, they said yes.
"If John McCain wants to write something for us, he is welcome," Dmitry Sudakov, the English editor of Pravda tells The Cable. "Mr. McCain has been an active anti-Russian politician for many years already. We have been critical of his stance on Russia and international politics in our materials, but we would be only pleased to publish a story penned by such a prominent politician as John McCain." When The Cable reached the senator's office with the offer, McCain's communications director Brian Rogers responded within minutes. "On the record: Senator McCain would be glad to write something for Pravda, so we'll be reaching out to Dmitry with a submission."
When asked what McCain would write about, McCain's spokesman called Russia a "target-rich environment" and suggested that McCain would write about Russia's history of human rights abuses. Don't hold your breath for any mention of LGBT rights, of course.

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Amazing New Chipotle Ad

No, really. It's gorgeous. And their name scarcely appears.

(Via Gawker)

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Cher Turns Down Sochi Oympics Gig

Cher, seen above performing in June to 10,000 screaming gay men at the NYC Pride Pier Dance, has rejected an offer to appear at the Sochi Olympics. She tells Maclean's: "I can’t name names but my friend called who is a big oligarch over there, and asked me if I’d like to be an ambassador for the Olympics and open the show. I immediately said no. I want to know why all of this gay hate just exploded over there. He said the Russian people don’t feel the way the government does."

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At Last Night's GLAAD Event

Google has either done away with embeddable Picasa slideshows or hidden the function well enough that I can no longer find it, so click over here for tons of photos of the bold face (mostly) gay-gay-gay names that crowded the red carpet at last night's GLAAD event in Manhattan. Within you'll find Orange Is The New Black cast member Laverne Cox, MSNBC host Thomas Roberts and his husband, a very slim Perez Hilton, 2012 GOP presidential candidate Fred Karger, Carson Kressley,  nightlife queen Susanne Bartsch and gym mogul hubby David Barton, rapper Big Dipper, rapper Cazwell, Broadway hottie Nick Adams, Carmen Carrrera, model Isis King, Christian Siriano, and Mary Lambert, who performed her new hit, She Keeps Me Warm, to huge applause. Plus you find more and better photos of those West Point cadets. [Photo credits: Dr. Jeff Smith]

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Quote Of The Day II - Sean Doherty

"I came to realize that labeling myself as a gay person, albeit a celibate one, wasn’t actually helpful because it restricted me into this identity. The turning point was choosing to believe that my sexual identity was 'male' – and that’s what determines whether I could be married or not. I don’t speak of myself as an 'ex-gay' person. I prefer the term 'post-gay.' You choose to move away from the label of 'gay' altogether, which has come to be associated with a certain lifestyle. I’ve clearly experienced some change in my feelings so that I am attracted to my wife. But it’s definitely not a 180-degree reorientation. All of us will continue to have desires and feelings which aren’t right, until Jesus returns." - Sean Doherty, speaking to Christianity Magazine(Via Christian Nightmares)

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Headline Of The Day

Kudos, as always, to Right Wing Watch.

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Minneapolis Mayoral Candidate: Vote For Me And I'll Stop Going To Strip Clubs

"Wake the fuck up!" OK, then.

(Via Buzzfeed)

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NBA Commissioner Slams Sports World For Staying Silent On Russia And Gays

"I’m gonna behave myself, for the record here, which is unlike me. But you know, the first phone call to the new head of the Olympics was from President Putin, and everyone wants to talk about the Russian law on homosexuality. Think about the opportunities that sports have to make a continuing statement, and the only thing that we’re saying in that context is ‘Shhhh! No one say anything!’" - NBA Commissioner David Stern, speaking yesterday at the Beyond Sports Summit.

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Pet Shop Boys Kick Off US Tour

Last night Pet Shop Boys kicked off their North American tour at Miami Beach's Jackie Gleason Theater where the New Times described the sold-out audience as "mostly elder gay men, with about 20-percent women and music nerds." That seems about right, actually.  Pet Shop Boys concerts are always a giant singalong, as the below clip from last night shows. The duo plays two nights at Manhattan's Beacon Theater next week and other tour dates are here.

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TRAILER: Last Days On Mars

Contagion + 28 Days Later?

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NYC Radio Star Mr. Cee Un-Resigns After Acknowledging Sex With Trans Prostitute

Yesterday New York City hip-hop radio star Mr. Cee acknowledged having sex with a transgender sex worker in a tearful 30-minute interview on his own station, which then published a statement accepting his resignation and wishing him well. But almost immediately, there was another development.
On Thursday afternoon, following the urging of Mr. Darden during the morning interview, Mister Cee had seemingly un-resigned. He was back in his noon timeslot, playing defiant songs interspersed with grateful ones — Jadakiss’s “The Champ Is Here,” Maino’s “Hi Hater,” AZ’s “I’m Back.” “Let me just live my life/ Just leave me alone,” he rapped along with one Cam’ron song. In between songs, he barked out the details of the clubs he’d be spinning at in the coming days. “The truth will set you free,” he said. “I know it now.”

Near the end of his hour, he switched from hip-hop to classic soul. “If you’re down and out, if you’re struggling, if you think you can’t overcome something, maybe this record may lift you up like it lifted me up last night when I listened to it,” he said before playing Sly and the Family Stone’s “You Can Make It If You Try.” He followed that with the group’s exuberant anthem “Thank You (Falettinme Be Mice Elf Again),” and Mister Cee’s message was clear. He had been supporting others for so long. Now, finally, he was the subject of his own tribute.
The New York Times evaluates:
Mister Cee’s confession comes in the middle of a stretch that has seen the gradual easing of hip-hop’s internalized homophobia. Over the last couple of years Frank Ocean, the soul singer and affiliate of the hip-hop crew Odd Future, openly discussed his love for a man; ASAP Rocky and Kanye West have loudly disavowed homophobia (though Rocky visibly struggled at the MTV Video Music Awards when put on stage next to the openly gay basketball player Jason Collins), and Jay Z voiced his support for marriage equality.

This reflects a generational shift in attitudes, a slight class shift in hip-hop’s mainstream, as well as a broadening of hip-hop’s fan base. Anti-gay sentiment has long played a part in hip-hop, but as hip-hop becomes more central to pop culture,its values are evolving. A decade ago this scenario would have probably been unthinkable. But there was Mr. Darden assuring Mister Cee, “There’s nothing wrong with being who you are,” and at one point encouraging him by exclaiming, “You’re free, Cee!”
Mister Cee has been arrested twice for sex with male prostitutes, most recently in May during an undercover sting conducted by the NYPD.

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Senate Committee Passes Media Shield Bill That Excludes Some Digital Journalists

Yesterday the Senate Judiciary Committee passed a bill that will protect journalists from being forced to testify about their work. But there's something of a catch.
The new legal protections will not extend to the controversial online website Wikileaks and others whose principal work involves disclosing "primary-source documents … without authorization." Sen. Dianne Feinstein (D-Calif.) insisted on limiting the legal protection to "real reporters" and not, she said, a 17-year-old with his own website. "I can't support it if everyone who has a blog has a special privilege … or if Edward Snowden were to sit down and write this stuff, he would have a privilege. I'm not going to go there," she said. Feinstein introduced an amendment that defines a "covered journalist" as someone who gathers and reports news for "an entity or service that disseminates news and information." The definition includes freelancers, part-timers and student journalists, and it permits a judge to go further and extend the protections to any "legitimate news-gathering activities."
USA Today has more:
The question of just who is a journalist and should merit protection has become much more complex in the digital era, in which bloggers and others who are not traditional reporters engage in journalistic activities. Under the committee's compromise, those covered would include someone who has had an employment relationship with a journalism organization for one year within the past 20 years, or three months within the past five years. Also covered are people with "a substantial track record of freelancing" in the past five years and student journalists.
Matt Drudge is furious.
RELATED: I've been on the staff of Pride Magazine for eleven years, so it appears that I might be covered under the "compromise" and therefore would not be forced to reveal the name of a JMG source.

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Quote Of The Day - Phyllis Schlafly

"We must shame and cut off taxpayers' money from the groups that killed the American family, including feminists, judges, legislators, public school teachers and administrators, so-called child protection agencies, professors, psychologists, college courses, government handouts and Democratic politicians who want big-government spending in order to win votes. The problem cannot be remedied by prohibiting same-sex marriage (even by a constitutional amendment) or by telling men to 'man up.' - Phyllis Schlafly, calling for the government to end all funding for everybody, basically.

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Federal Judge Dismisses Suit To Remove "In God We Trust" From US Currency

A federal judge has dismissed a lawsuit that sought to remove "In God We Trust" from US currency.
Judge Harold Baer Jr. of the Southern District of New York ruled Monday that a suit brought by the Freedom From Religion Foundation and others should be dismissed. "The Supreme Court has repeatedly assumed the motto's secular purpose and effect, and all circuit courts that have considered this issue-namely the Ninth, Fifth, Tenth, and D.C. Circuit- have found no constitutional violation in the motto's inclusion on currency," wrote Baer. "Each circuit court that has considered the issue found no Establishment Clause violation in the motto's placement on currency, finding ceremonial or secular purposes and no religious effect or endorsement." American Center for Law and Justice, a conservative legal group, filed an amicus brief in support of the motto on behalf of 41 members of Congress and approximately 90,000 Americans who wanted a dismissal.

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Anita Bryant: The Devil Tried To Kill Me

JMG reader Dave unearthed this 2005 clip of Anita Bryant performing Oklahoma and then telling the audience that the devil has tried to kill her since she was born. "Hey! Does anybody here remember Florida orange juice?"

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West Point Cadets Attend GLAAD Event

Last night GLAAD held a fundraiser in Manhattan, where the usual coterie of stars from television, movies, fashion, and nightlife worked the red carpet. But the real buzz in the press pit was over the attendance of a group of West Point cadets and their officer handlers. I pulled aside GLAAD's Seth Adam to congratulate him on the nice surprise. Adam said, "Joe, they're here on their own and bought their own tickets!" What a difference a couple of years can make.  In the center rear above is Major Howie Titzel, the head of Spectrum, West Point's gay-straight alliance. In the rear on the left is John Pendergast, who teaches Russian at West Point and is a longtime JMG reader. (I'll have a proper slideshow later today from JMG photographer Dr. Jeff, but this photo is from my little digicam.)

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Facebook Graphic Of The Day

Source.

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CBS Developing Show About Trans Teen

Deadline reports:
The CW is taking on a controversial subject with ZE, a drama project centering on a transgender teenager. Written by Brooklyn-based writer-playwright Kyle Jarrow and executive produced by Michael London (Milk), ZE is described as a raw, quirky family drama about a FTM (female-to-male) teen and his family. A personal choice takes on controversial public significance when a Texas teenager announces she is transgender and will be living life as a boy.

As his dysfunctional family spirals into identity crises of their own, he discovers that he might be the most well-adjusted of them all. CBS TV Studios is producing ZE, whose title represents a non-gender-specific reference (like he or she). While there have been a handful of transgender characters on broadcast series, most notably one played by Rebecca Romijn on ABC’s Ugly Betty, this is the first time a transgender person would be the lead of a primetime show.
I cannot wait for you-know-who to begin screeching.

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TRAILER: Mandela: Long Walk To Freedom

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Brian Brown Cheers Pennsylvania

"This is a victory for marriage. We are pleased that Judge Pellegrini reiterated that Pennsylvania law expressly defines marriage as the union of one man and one woman. The people of Pennsylvania should be grateful to Governor Corbett for his leadership on this issue. As the chief executive of the state, he properly used his office to uphold the law and stop the potential spread of these rogue actions. Now we ask that he use the influence of his office to have the 'marriage' licenses that were issued declared invalid." - Hate group leader Brian Brown, cheering yesterday's ruling that stopped the issuing of same-sex marriage licenses in Montgomery County.

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Pelosi: I Hope Putin Thinks Gays And Lesbians In Russia Are God's Children Too

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AUSTRALIA: National Capital Territory To Legalize Marriage By End Of Year

Australia's equivalent of Washington, DC, the Capital Territory, is set to legalize same-sex marriage by the end of the year.
The Labor administration of the territory will put forward a bill that will enable gay marriage, following a decade-long attempt to legislate in the area. Seven years ago, the John Howard-led government used its federal powers to overturn an ACT move to allow same-sex civil unions. The ACT has since reinstated civil unions.  The legislation is set to be an early test for the prime minister elect, Tony Abbott, who has consistently opposed same-sex marriage but has held out the prospect of a vote on the issue at some time in the future. [Chief minister Kathy] Gallagher told Guardian Australia that she didn’t expect the Coalition to intervene to prevent gay marriage in the ACT. “We’ve been pretty clear on this issue for some time now and there’s overwhelming community support for this,” she said.
Gallagher added that she expects the ACT's action to cause a domino effect across the country. The anti-gay Australian Christian Lobby reacted: "Mr Rudd’s bullying of Christian pastor Matt Prater on Q&A [in the week before the election] has caused many people to worry about freedom of speech and freedom of belief should the law on marriage be changed. There are many Australians who for reasons of conscience will always believe that marriage is between a man and a woman and will want to teach their children this."

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Thursday, September 12, 2013

TRAILER: August: Osage County

New trailer and more Oscar buzz for Streep.

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Quote Of The Day - Lady Gaga

"I like girls. I've said that (before). I know people think I just say things to be shocking, but I actually do like pussy. It just depends on whose pussy it is. It's similar to how I feel about guys. I like them because I find lesbians to be way more daring than straight men, when it comes to coming on to you. And I really like that. And it wasn't until I found a guy that could come onto me as strong as a lesbian that I fell in love." - Lady Gaga, on last night's episode of Andy Cohen's Watch What Happens Live.

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Home Depot Gay Proposal Flash Mob

Clip description:
Dustin arrived at the Home Depot in Salt Lake City thinking he was there to help his roommate pick out some lighting for a party. When he was taken to the lumber aisle, what he found waiting for him was a mob of friends and family as his marriage proposal unfolded to the song, "Somebody Loves You" by Betty Who. Spencer and Dustin would like to thank all of our amazing family and friends for their continued love and support!
Points for choosing gay-friendly Home Depot, of course.

RELATED: I should note that this was sent to me by Betty Who's publicist. However, the track was first published to YouTube back in January, so the proposal likely isn't a veiled commercial.

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Tony Perkins: Boycott Betty Crocker

During his daily show on Christian radio, today hate group leader Tony Perkins asked his listeners to join NOM's hilariously failed boycott of General Mills.  Because Betty Crocker is a homo-loving purveyor of anti-Christian cake mix.
At Betty Crocker, the only thing they're mixing up is their priorities. Hi, I'm Tony Perkins of the Family Research Council in Washington, D.C. If you ask conservatives, Betty Crocker's latest promotion is a recipe for disaster. This summer, the famous dessert line decided to jump on the same-sex "marriage" bandwagon-and bring cakes to celebrate. In Minnesota, where parent company General Mills is headquartered, Betty Crocker decided to donate wedding cakes to the first homosexual couples who exchanged vows on the first day that counterfeit marriage was legal. "Betty celebrates all families," said manager Laura Forero. "We don't want to be old fashioned," the company explained. Unfortunately for General Mills, the majority of Americans think natural marriage is anything but old fashioned. And they've made it tough on companies like Target, Starbucks, and JC Penney who disagree. Know where your money is going. When you're at the store, think outside the Betty Crocker box! For a full list of products that are undermining marriage, check out DumpGeneralMills.com.
REMINDER: When anti-gay Christianist hate groups call for nationwide boycotts of LGBT-friendly companies, that is a righteous use of the free market in order to preserve morality, marriage, family, and The American Way. But when GAY groups use or threaten the use of a boycott, THAT is homofascist intimidation, intolerance, bullying, and a "mafia-style" attempt to deny the freedom of speech. (Hello, Oregon!) Just so we're clear.

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MINNESOTA: Teacher At Catholic High School Fired After Coming Out

A teacher at a Catholic high school in Minnesota has been fired shortly after coming out to other staffers.
After enduring the Catholic school version of “don’t ask/don’t tell” for several years, Totino-Grace High School English/religion teacher Kristen Ostendorf unexpectedly came out to her colleagues at the 47–year-old Catholic school in Fridley on Aug. 21. “I’m gay, I’m in a relationship with a woman, and I’m happy,” Ostendorf blurted out to a roomful of 120 fellow teachers at a workshop. She was asked to resign the next day. She didn’t, the school terminated her, and in a matter of moments the 43-year-old Ostendorf had become the second Totino-Grace educator to part ways with the school over sexual identity this summer (president Bill Hudson resigned in July after acknowledging he is in a committed same-sex relationship).
She worked there for 18 years.

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Russian TV Network Warned Over Musical

Radio Free Europe reports:
A popular television channel in Russia has been warned for allegedly propagating same-sex relations. Russia's Federal Service for Supervision of Communications, Information Technology, and Mass Media announced on September 12 that it had warned the EvroKino television channel for airing the 2007 French musical "Les Chansons d'Amour" (Love Songs). The agency said the film contains "propaganda of nontraditional sexual relations." The film was directed by Christophe Honore and stars Louis Garrel, Ludivine Sagnier, Clotilde Hesme, and Chiara Mastroianni. It was one of 20 films selected for the main competition at the 2007 Cannes International Film Festival and won France's Cesar national film award in 2008.

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Icona Pop - All Night

Drag ball realness. Stereogum recaps:
“All Night” is probably the best non-”I Love It” song we’ve yet heard from Swedish dance-pop screamers Icona Pop. Its new video, from director Dori Oskowitz, takes the song’s kineticism and really does something with it. The video works as a sort of mini-documentary about New York’s ridiculously photogenic vogue-ball culture, showing the two members of Icona Pop performing at a club showdown, and it feels like a sports movie waiting to happen.

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Brian Brown Cheers Australia

"Dear Joe, 'Sank Like a Stone' — that's how same-sex marriage faired in Australia this past week. Australia held elections for Prime Minister the other day, but it was as much a referendum on whether the Aussies would redefine marriage or not. You may remember I had traveled to Australia in August for the World Congress of Families, and I could not be happier for the friends I made on that trip and our pro-marriage and family allies there.

"It's a great victory for marriage, and a win worth celebrating across the globe. It also serves as a reminder that when people are given the right to vote on marriage, they invariably vote to preserve the true and intrinsic nature of marriage as an institution binding one man to one woman for life in order to love and care for one another and for any children born of their union.

"To cement this great victory, the people of Australia should insist on the right to a national referendum to preserve marriage. That's the best way to capitalize on the momentum of the victory, and only an amendment will protect marriage from the unceasing efforts of gay-'marriage' activists and the politicians who rely on them for support. It's the only way to ensure that the people — and not politicians or judges — control the definition of marriage in Australia." - Hate group leader Brian Brown, via email.

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NEW YORK CITY: Popular Radio DJ Resigns Over Sex With Trans Prostitute

BET reports:
DJ Mister Cee was a guest on Hot 97 Thursday (Sept. 12) morning addressing the latest rounds of sex allegations, and admitted to being "in denial" about rumors that he solicited oral sex from men. "I never had actually sexual intercourse with another man, and vice versa," Cee said in the nearly 30-minute interview. But he did admit to accepting sexual "favors" from a "transsexual person." He also acknowledged the recorded encounter with Bimbo Winehouse, a male he reportedly picked up for a sexual exchange. Cee said the run-in with Winehouse went down last year. The BK native denied being gay but broke down in tears several times, exposing his fear of not being "looked at the same way," and shaming his West Indian family. "I just feel like I let a lot of people down," Cee explained, adding that he needs time to deal with "who," and "what" he is.
Mister Cee has been arrested twice for sex with male prostitutes, most recently in May during an undercover sting conducted by the NYPD.  Hot 97 has issued a statement:
"We feel that this is in the best interest of both HOT 97 and Cee’s personal well-being. While we do not endorse the alleged activities, he is clearly facing a personal dilemma that is for him and only him to comment on. We are saddened by his departure; his contributions here at HOT 97 were great and we know him as a friend, a caring individual and significant hip hop advocate. We wish Mr. Cee the best and will always consider him a family member of HOT 97."
(Tipped by JMG reader Tee Jay)

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PA Judge Orders Montgomery County To Stop Issuing Same-Sex Marriage Licenses

Breaking news from ABC's Philadelphia affiliate:
A Pennsylvania judge is stopping a suburban Philadelphia court clerk from issuing marriage licenses to same-sex couples, saying it was a clear violation of his legal authority. Commonwealth Court Judge Dan Pellegrini on Thursday issued an order that said Montgomery County Register of Wills Bruce Hanes didn't have the power to decide on his own whether the same-sex marriage ban violates the state constitution. Hanes issued four more licenses to same-sex couples on Wednesday, bringing the total number to 174.
Some of those couples are JMG participants. I'll update this post as more information comes in. (Tipped by JMG reader Ed)

UPDATE: Here's the full ruling.

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Facebook Meme Of The Day

Source.

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Daily Caller: Obama Gives You Meth-Face

Teabagistan's always classy and erudite Daily Caller (owned by Tucker Carlson) today published a before-and-after slideshow of prominent Democrats with the above headline.
Back in 2008 it was fun. Daring. Exciting. The rush was unbelievable. The visuals? Man, this dope is like the best parts of coke and acid. Plus all the cool kids were doing it, but, like, for real — not in a cliche way, ya know? Young guys and pretty girls from Silicon Valley. All the actors and stuff. Hell, it even made old fogies like Kerry and Reid feel young. We all remember how hard it was to convince Hillary to give it a try, but after she’d had a hit, man, it was like she was flying. Just untouchable. But things turned south quick. The high was fleeting. It just couldn’t take anyone to those soaring heights anymore. We were all left chasing the hit, never quite catching it.
According to Daily Caller, Jesse Jackson, Hillary Clinton, Harry Reid, John Kerry, and US Ambassador to the United Nations Samantha Power (above) all have meth-face after five years of Obama.

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Linda Harvey: GLSEN Is Pure Evil

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Microscope Photography

IO9 has posted a stunning collection of photographs taken through powerful microscopes. Above is common household dust "with cat fur, long hair, twisted synthetic and woolen fibers, a pollen grain and insect remains." I posted the least gruesome example.

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Rosie O'Donnell: 9/11 Truther

Rosie O'Donnell spent yesterday's anniversary arguing 9/11 truther conspiracy theories on Twitter. 

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Correction Of The Day

From the Village Voice:
Correction: An earlier version of this article misidentified John Phillips as the former Executive Director of the Human League. Phillips was the Executive Director of the League of Human Voters.
They're only human. Rim-shot.

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Christie Launches First Campaign Ad

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CALIFORNIA: Liberty Counsel Appeals Loss Over Bill That Bans "Ex-Gay" Torture

As expected, the Liberty Counsel has filed an en banc appeal with the Ninth Circuit Court, demanding that the full Court reconsider the slap down given them by a three-judge panel of the same Court in their bid to block California's ban on the "ex-gay" torture of minors.
Mathew Staver, chief counsel of Liberty Counsel, said the minors he represents “do not want to act on same-sex attractions, nor do they want to engage in such behavior.” “They are greatly benefiting from this counseling. Their grades have gone up, their self-esteem has improved, and their relationships at home are much improved,” he said  Staver said legislators and judges in California “have essentially barged into the private therapy rooms of victimized young people and told them that their confusion, caused by the likes of a Jerry Sandusky abuser, is normal and they should pursue their unwanted and dangerous same-sex sexual attractions and behavior, regardless of whether those minors desire their religious beliefs to trump their unwanted attractions.”  The petition for rehearing notes that the circuit court judges had found that the California law banned treatment but not speech, which poses a conflict. Licensed counselors who are not medical doctors can help their clients only through speech, the petition contends.
Liberty Counsel has vowed to take the case to the US Supreme Court if necessary.

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Simian Vaccine Shows Promise For HIV

The Independent reports:
A vaccine designed to tackle SIV, the monkey equivalent of HIV, may have successfully cleared the virus from infected animals, paving the way for research into a HIV vaccine for humans. It was previously thought that both the human and simian immunodeficiency viruses could be managed with antiretroviral therapies, but not eradicated. However, a study published in the science journal Nature showed that of 16 monkeys exposed to the virus who were injected with a vaccine, nine appeared to be able to clear their body of the disease. US researchers from the Vaccine and Gene Therapy Institute at Oregon Health and Science University are now hoping to use a similar approach to test for a vaccine equivalent in humans. The team examined a strain of the virus called SIVmac239, which is up to 100 times more deadly than HIV.
Researchers are now looking into why the vaccine only worked for some of the monkeys.

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Open Thread Thursday

Where did you go to school?

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Jon Stewart Vs The Three Tea Stooges

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Aging Simulation

Via Huffington Post:
Watching it never grows old. Anthony Cerniello's aging simulation video (above) is blowing minds across the Web not only for its haunting effect -- but for his painstaking process to achieve it. Cerniello used his friend Danielle as a model and turned her into a composite by combining photos of her relatives, young and old, who have the greatest facial resemblance, thisiscolossal.com reported. Then animators and a 3D specialist helped bring the subtle transitions to life.

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FLORIDA: Pastor Terry Jones Busted

Pastor Terry Jones was arrested in Florida yesterday just as he was about to burn thousands of kerosene-soaked copies of the Koran.
The pastor had said he was planning to burn 2,998 of the Muslim holy books— one for every victim of the Sept. 11, 2001, terrorist attacks. Sheriff's deputies in Polk County, Fla., arrested Pastor Terry Jones, 61, and his associate pastor, Marvin Sapp Jr., 44, each on a felony charge of unlawful conveyance of fuel. Jones had said he was heading to a nearby park in Mulberry to burn the Qurans on Wednesday, the 12th anniversary of the attacks. Sheriff's officials said that Jones was also charged with unlawful open-carry of a firearm, a misdemeanor, and that Sapp faces a charge of having no valid registration for the trailer. Both were being booked Wednesday night into the Polk County jail, according to Sheriff Grady Judd.
Previous stunts by Jones have resulted in riots and deaths in Afghanistan.

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Doug Strahm - Better This Way


(Tipped by JMG reader Steven)

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Wednesday, September 11, 2013

Left & Right React To Putin/NYT

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Vladimir Putin Writes For New York Times

Russian President Vladimir Putin has penned an op-ed for the New York Times.  His title is A Plea For Caution From Russia.  He begins:
Recent events surrounding Syria have prompted me to speak directly to the American people and their political leaders. It is important to do so at a time of insufficient communication between our societies. Relations between us have passed through different stages. We stood against each other during the cold war. But we were also allies once, and defeated the Nazis together. The universal international organization — the United Nations — was then established to prevent such devastation from ever happening again.

The United Nations’ founders understood that decisions affecting war and peace should happen only by consensus, and with America’s consent the veto by Security Council permanent members was enshrined in the United Nations Charter. The profound wisdom of this has underpinned the stability of international relations for decades.
Putin gets to his main point six paragraphs later:
No one doubts that poison gas was used in Syria. But there is every reason to believe it was used not by the Syrian Army, but by opposition forces, to provoke intervention by their powerful foreign patrons, who would be siding with the fundamentalists. Reports that militants are preparing another attack — this time against Israel — cannot be ignored.

It is alarming that military intervention in internal conflicts in foreign countries has become commonplace for the United States. Is it in America’s long-term interest? I doubt it. Millions around the world increasingly see America not as a model of democracy but as relying solely on brute force, cobbling coalitions together under the slogan “you’re either with us or against us.”

But force has proved ineffective and pointless. Afghanistan is reeling, and no one can say what will happen after international forces withdraw. Libya is divided into tribes and clans. In Iraq the civil war continues, with dozens killed each day. In the United States, many draw an analogy between Iraq and Syria, and ask why their government would want to repeat recent mistakes.
He concludes:
If we can avoid force against Syria, this will improve the atmosphere in international affairs and strengthen mutual trust. It will be our shared success and open the door to cooperation on other critical issues.

My working and personal relationship with President Obama is marked by growing trust. I appreciate this. I carefully studied his address to the nation on Tuesday. And I would rather disagree with a case he made on American exceptionalism, stating that the United States’ policy is “what makes America different. It’s what makes us exceptional.” It is extremely dangerous to encourage people to see themselves as exceptional, whatever the motivation. There are big countries and small countries, rich and poor, those with long democratic traditions and those still finding their way to democracy. Their policies differ, too. We are all different, but when we ask for the Lord’s blessings, we must not forget that God created us equal.
Read the full essay. Obviously the international media will have a LOT to say about both Putin's argument and that he used the New York Times to present it.

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New DC Metro Map


The Washington Post reports:
After more than a year in the making, Metro will unveil a new map Thursday that includes the future 23-mile Silver Line in Northern Virginia. It is the first time the iconic 37-year-old map, featuring all of Metro’s rail lines has undergone a major facelift. Metro officials kept the new map under tight wrap for more than two years while original designer Lance Wyman worked on the update. It shows not just the Silver Line, but added features such as connections to airports and other rail systems.
The trains aren't always in the best shape, but DC's subway stations are the nicest in the country. And hey, there's finally gonna be a train to Dulles! Probably about the same time the Second Avenue subway finally opens.

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Broadway Flea Market: September 22nd

Broadway Cares/Equity Fights AIDS will hold the 27th annual Broadway Flea Market & Grand Auction on September 22nd in Times Square.
Free and open to the public, the annual event takes place from 10 AM – 7 PM in the heart of the theatre district along West 44th Street (between Broadway and Eighth Avenue) and in Shubert Alley. One of the most popular stops at Broadway’s "one-day sale" is the Autograph Table & Photo Booth. Fans have the opportunity to get autographs and pose for pictures with their favorite stars from Broadway and Off-Broadway in exchange for donations to Broadway Cares.

The celebrities in this year's line-up have collectively won 27 Tony Awards and received 74 Tony nominations. Among those schedule to appear are Tony winners Len Cariou, Gabriel Ebert, Harriet Harris, Shuler Hensley, Cherry Jones, Aaron Lazar, Judith Light, Debra Monk, Donna Murphy, Bebe Neuwirth, Bernadette Peters, Billy Porter, Faith Prince and Alice Ripley, as well as other Broadway favorites including Laura Benanti, Robert Cuccioli, Santino Fontana, Jeremy Jordan, Jan Maxwell, Lindsay Mendez, Julia Murney, Rory O’Malley, Laura Osnes, Christopher Sieber, Matthew James Thomas, Patrick Wilson and more.
There will be more than 50 tables of Broadway memorabilia available and the casts of many currently-running shows will be on hand for photos and autographs.

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Catalonia Rallies For Independence

Hundreds of thousands of independence activists today attempted to create a 250-mile human chain across Spain's Catalonia region.
The human chain was planned on a traditional regional holiday that last year saw more than one million people come out in protest in Barcelona, the largest show of separatist sentiment since the 1970s. The chain, named the Catalan Way, was due to link 86 towns and villages along the coast to push for a referendum on political self-determination for Catalonia in 2014. Catalonia is a wealthy industrial region in northeastern Spain that accounts for a fifth of the country's economic output. The protest aims to generate international media coverage of the referendum drive, which is resisted by the central government in Madrid. Artur Mas, Catalonia's regional leader, has promised to hold an independence referendum in 2014, but has been unable to get the Spanish government's approval.
VIDEO: Ex-pats and supporters in San Francisco created their own human chain too.

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Scott Lively: How Russia Can Beat The Gays At The Sochi Olympics

"The rainbow belongs to God and was created by Him as a symbol of His authority over creation. However, with a simple judo move, the Russians could catch the 'gays' in their own trap, and at the same time rescue God’s rainbow from being dragged through the mud. Imagine the Russian Olympics taking place under a giant rainbow banner declaring that the rainbow belongs to God! And rainbow symbols incorporated in virtually every aspect of the games and the celebrations surrounding them. The scheme to display rainbows as a rebellious act by Hollywood celebrities, and left-leaning Olympic contenders would be rendered impotent. The 'gay' movement would be thwarted in its attempt to steal for itself what belongs to God and to all of us as His children. And, best of all, the entire world, including the 'gays,' would be reminded of the truth of the Bible: that God gave us the rainbow as a reminder not only that He judges sin, but that He forgives and heals those who repent." - Crackpot hater and Bigot Of 2013 nominee Scott Lively, writing on his blog.

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Today's Gay Etiquette Question

From Steven Petrow's Civil Behavior column in the New York Times comes this question:
Q. Dear Civil Behavior: I’d like your advice in coming out as H.I.V. positive to friends and colleagues. I’m married to a wonderful man, 51, and have lived quite well with the virus for 15 years. I believe it’s important for the many others still finding out they are H.I.V. positive to see people like me who are living well and openly with the infection. While I’ve never specifically hidden the fact of my serostatus, it’s always been a bit of work to tell others. I find there’s concern that I’m sick. Some people fear I have a potentially life-threatening disease, others say they are “sorry” (what are they sorry for?), while still others imply that my behavior led to my infection (“he should have known better”). From your perspective, what’s your advice on how (or if) people who learn that they’re H.I.V. positive should tell others (I’m not asking about dating situations). And, how do you recommend that those I tell respond to my disclosure?” — Timothy Rodrigues, Healdsburg, Calif.
Give us your answer then hit the link for Petrow's response.

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Matt Alber - Tightrope (Reddfield Remix)


There will be a supporting video next month.

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Dallas Pride Institutes Dress Code

The organizers of Dallas Pride have notified parade participants that nudity and lewd behavior will not be permitted at this year's event.  John Wright reports at the Dallas Voice:
Michael Doughman, executive director of the Dallas Tavern Guild, which puts on the parade, called the controversy “much ado about nothing” and said the reminder came from law enforcement, not his organization. But a co-commander over security for the Pride parade and festival did little to quell the controversy when he warned that those who violate indecency statutes in front of children can be charged with felonies.

Daniel Cates, North Texas regional coordinator for GetEQUAL, brought the controversy to many people’s attention when he posted a scathing critique on Facebook of the “new rules,” which he alleged were fueled by an “increasing number of attending heterosexuals and corporate sponsorship[s].”

“The ‘queer’ is effectively being erased from our Pride celebration in favor of the most polished, heteronormative representation of our community as possible,” Cates wrote. “It should be noted that the rioters at the Stonewall Inn fought to break OUT of the damn closet! Our movement was built of sex positivity and our desire to BE WHO WE ARE! I urge you ALL to openly DEFY the Tavern Guild!”
The openly gay Dallas Police Department liaison to the LGBT community says that decency standards will be monitored during the parade's line-up period. Those who fail to comply with the new standards before reaching the parade route risk being charged.

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Headline Of The Day

From The Australian:
In the midst of answering a question from The Australian about the imminent challenges of the Rio 2016 preparations immediately after his election, Bach was interrupted to take an important phone call. It was the Russian president Vladimir Putin. "Yes it was Mr Putin, " confirmed Bach, stressing "we did not discuss the law". That law, the recently passed Russian anti-Gay propaganda legislation is one of the pressing issues Bach faces before next February's Sochi Winter Olympics. Bach confirmed that the "highest sources in Russia" had assured the IOC the Olympic Charter preventing discrimination would be upheld but Bach confirmed the IOC would clarify the interpretation of the charter's rule 50.
The IOC's Rule 50 forbids political demonstrations during the Games.

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Turkey Bans Grindr

Turkish LGBT rights group Kaos GL reports on its website:
Dating app Grindr, used by gay, bisexual and curious men, has been censored in Turkey. The app cannot be accessed since yesterday evening. İstanbul Anatolia 14th Criminal Court of Peace blocked off Grindr as a “protection measure.” Kaos GL Association's Lawyer Hayriye Kara said it is very likely that the decision might be related to "general morality", an ambiguous term used often against trans sex workers.

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Quote Of The Day - Alexei Zhuravlev

"We view Europe as Sodom and Gomorrah. Europe must not tell us how to live. The Europeans can live any way they like, but they mustn’t tell us what to do. Of course [a gay mother] should definitely be deprived of her rights to the child. Homosexuals must not raise children. They corrupt them. They do them much more harm than if the child were in an orphanage. I am deeply convinced of this." - Russian MP Alexei Zhuravlev, who last week introduced a bill which authorizes the government to seize the children of gay parents.

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Matt Barber Has The Ginsburg Sadz

She's brought shame upon the Supreme Court!

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JMG World Exclusive: Donna Summer's
Hot Stuff (Frankie Knuckles & Eric Kupper As Director's Cut Signature Mix)

Verve Records has selected JMG to host the exclusive world premiere of the latest release from their Donna Summer tribute remix package, which you can now pre-order at iTunes in advance of the official October 22nd release.

Here's the full track listing.

Love to Love You Donna:
01 Love to Love You Baby (Giorgio Moroder ft. Chris Cox Remix)
02 Dim All The Lights (Duke Dumont Remix)
03 Hot Stuff (Frankie Knuckles and Eric Kupper as Director's Cut Signature Mix)
04 I Feel Love (Afrojack Remix)
05 Love Is in Control (Chromeo & Oliver Remix)
06 Sunset People (Hot Chip Dub)
07 Working The Midnight Shift (Holy Ghost! Remix)
08 Bad Girls (Gigamesh Remix)
09 MacArthur Park (Laidback Luke Remix)
10 I Feel Love (Benga Remix)
11 On the Radio (Jacques Greene Remix)
12 Last Dance (Masters at Work Remix Short Version)
13 La Dolce Vita (Donna Summer & Giorgio Moroder)

"Exclusive world premiere." Fancy!

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