Saturday, January 18, 2014

Quote Of The Day - Trestin Meacham

"I'm seriously considering moving to Russia in a few years. They have far more economic freedom. And are the only developed nation that actually promotes and fights for traditional values. America has become one of the most oppressive countries on earth. Yes, it has really come to that, I'm considering leaving America for Russia to get away from a Marxist government. Oh how far we have fallen since I was a child. Only if Putin stays in power, because he is the only leader I've seen with the guts to stand up to homo-fascist movement. Anything would be better than what the gay movement is doing in America. If I stay here they will have me jailed and drudged for the rest of my life. They won't stop. I don't think you get how hard it is to be a Mormon in gay America. They simply will not let us breath. We are to their movement what the Jews were to the Nazis, and in time they will be trying to march us into ovens. And if you don't believe me, I have hundreds of message from them to back up that claim. You just don't get it. Try dealing with them for one day, like we do. It really is becoming like Nazi Germany for us. I know Russia has problems, I do, but it and the Muslim countries are about the only place to escape the homosexuals." - Trestin Meacham, whose alleged 15-day fast against same-sex marriage in Utah earned international headlines.

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ABC's Bachelor: Gays Are Perverts

Details(Graphic source)

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CUBA: Cops Arrest Gay-Bashing Russian Fugitive Maxim Martsinkevich

Fugitive Russian gay-basher Maxim Martsinkevich was arrested in Cuba today. Note that the following report is from the official Russian news agency RIA Novosti.
Russia was informed by Cuban police of the arrest of Maxim Martsinkevich through Interpol, the Russian Interior Ministry said in a statement. More widely known under his nickname of Tesak, or machete, Martsinkevich was arrested in absentia by a Russian court last month on extremism charges. Martsinkevich said during a January 8 interview that the criminal charges against him were orchestrated by Russia’s “pedo-lobby,” and that he did not intend to return to Russia, according to Russian tabloid Life News that has close links to the security services. The details of Martsinkevich's extradition were currently being finalized, Russia's Investigative Committee said in a statement Saturday. In a January 9 post on his website, Martsinkevich wrote that he had flown to Cuba from the Ukrainian capital of Kiev, via the German city of Frankfurt. In 2011, Martsinkevich founded the Occupy Pedophile vigilante group, which lured men to abusive meetings with false promises of sex with minors. The encounters were recorded and then posted online. The group was also reported to target gay men, who were subjected to similar abusive treatment.
The above-linked report notes that Martsinkevich, who is also wanted by Ukrainian authorities, has over 130,000 subscribers on the Russian social media site Vkontakte. For more about his history of brutal attacks on gay men, read my earlier reports. (Tipped by multiple JMG readers)

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STUDY: Divorce Rate Of Evangelicals Higher Than General Population

According to a study to be published in the American Journal Of Sociology, "religiously conservative Protestants" divorce at a higher rate than the general population.
Researchers discovered that higher divorce rates among conservative Protestants were tied to earlier marriages and childbearing – factors known to ramp up divorce. Starting families earlier tends to stop young adults from pursuing more education and depresses their wages, putting more strain on marriages, University of Texas at Austin professor Jennifer Glass said. But the study went a step further: Glass and another researcher also discovered that people living in areas with lots of conservative Protestants were at higher risk of getting divorced, even if they weren’t conservative Protestants themselves. County by county, for every 1% increase in the share of conservative Protestants compared with mainline Protestants, the divorce rate increased 0.02%, the study found. Glass argued that community institutions in such areas might encourage early marriage, affecting divorce rates for everyone who lives there.
Save that bolded sentence for the next time you get told that you are destroying traditional marriage. (Tipped by JMG reader Str8 Grandmother)

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Tweet Of The Day - Boy George

I'm not sure I get this.

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Today's Gay Etiquette Question

Usually these posts reference New York Times columnist Steven Petrow's advice on social niceties like how to decline an invitation to a gay wedding. This question, however, was posed to the founder of the gay hook-up app MISTER.
Dear MISTER Carl, About a month ago, I got dumped because I cheated on my boyfriend. I know, I'm a jerk, blah, blah, blah, but my ex decided to get revenge by uploading a bunch of nude pics of me to Tumblr. They were meant for his eyes only, but now they're out there for everyone to see -- and even being reposted on other blogs! I confronted him about it, and he said that's what I get for breaking his heart. I know I was stupid for sending them in the first place, but I feel like this is a case of the punishment far outweighing the crime. Is there anything I can do to get them taken down? I have photos of him, too. Should I give him a taste of his own medicine? -- Karma's a Bitch and So Is My Ex
Give us your answer then hit the link for Carl's response.

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CNN Reports On Russia's Gay-Bashers

The mainstream media is finally waking up to the brutal vigilantes that have been emboldened by Russia's anti-gay laws. Featured in this CNN report is infamous gay-basher Maxim Martsinkevich, who at last report had fled to Cuba.

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LOUISIANA: Trans Woman Dares City Councilman To Stone Her To Death

Via the Advocate:
A City Council member in Shreveport, La., has abandoned his effort to repeal an LGBT-inclusive antidiscrimination ordinance, following outcry from the public, including a transgender woman who dared him to stone her to death. The council passed the ordinance in December by a vote of 6-1, following a successful campaign by a pro-LGBT coaltion known as Be Fair Shreveport. The ordinance, which bans discrimination in housing and employment within city limits on the basis of sexual orientation or gender identity, received its lone "no" vote from Councilman Ron Webb. During the council's debate last December, Webb voiced his opposition, saying, "The Bible tells you homosexuals are an abomination," adding that he does not socialize with LGBT people, according to TV station KSLA.
Fantastic.

(Tipped by JMG reader Homer)

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Pope Benedict Defrocked 400 Priests In Two Years For Sexually Molesting Children

According to Catholic Church documents obtained yesterday, near the end of his reign Pope Benedict defrocked almost 400 priests over two years for sexually molesting children.
The statistics for 2011 and 2012 show a dramatic increase over the 171 priests removed in 2008 and 2009, when the Vatican first provided details on the number of priests who have been defrocked. Prior to that, it had only publicly revealed the number of alleged cases of sexual abuse it had received and the number of trials it had authorized. While it's not clear why the numbers spiked in 2011, it could be because 2010 saw a new explosion in the number of cases reported in the media in Europe and beyond. [snip]

The document was prepared from data the Vatican had been collecting and was compiled to help the Holy See defend itself before a U.N. committee this week in Geneva. By 2011, with the new streamlined laws in place, the number of defrocked priests rose dramatically: 260 priests were removed in one year only, while 404 new cases of child abuse were reported. In addition to those defrocked, another 419 priests had lesser penalties imposed on them for abuse-related crimes. In 2012, the last year for which statistics are available, the number of defrockings dropped to 124, with another 418 new cases reported.
The above-linked Associated Press report notes: "The maximum penalty for a priest convicted by a church tribunal is essentially losing his job: being defrocked, or removed from the clerical state. There are no jail terms and nothing to prevent an offender from raping again." (Graphic source)

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Acrophobics Beware

Not acrophobia so much as idiophobia.

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And She Named The Baby "Francis"

Seriously. (Tipped by JMG reader Bill)

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TRAILER: Elaine Stritch: Shoot Me

The film played many festivals in 2013 and opens in limited release on February 21st.

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Retiring Democrat Joins 36 GOP House Reps In Backing Bill To Ban Feds From Recognizing Out-Of-State Marriages

Rep. Mike McIntrye (D-NC) announced his retirement this week so he figures he's got nothing to lose by joining 36 teabaggers in cosponsoring Rep. Randy Weber's laughably doomed bill that would limit the federal government to only recognizing same-sex marriages that are legally conducted in the state where the married couple resides. McIntyre has a 10% rating from the HRC, so this parting "fuck you" isn't exactly a surprise.

RELATED: Counting McIntyre, the bill has picked up ten more cosponsors since its introduction last Friday. Among the latest signees is Rep. Scott "Sanctity Of Marriage" DesJarlais (R-TN), who in November 2012 was exposed for having affairs with at least six women. Two of the women were patients under the care of Doctor DesJarlais. Praise! Glory! Gangbang!

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Friday, January 17, 2014

Utah Needs Ten Extra Days To Figure Out Why Same-Sex Marriages Are Icky

One day after hiring out an outside law firm to represent the state, Utah today requested a ten-day extension of the deadline to file their marriage appeal with the Tenth Circuit Court.
The state asked for a 10-day extension of the Jan. 27 filing deadline set by the court to ensure it has adequate time to prepare a "fulsome, detailed and quality" brief on the significant constitutional questions the case raises. In its motion, the state said the case has implications not just for Utah but for all states and residents within the 10th Circuit’s jurisdiction — in particular Oklahoma, where a federal judge this week struck down an identical amendment — and even throughout the country. It said the move by the U.S. Supreme Court to grant "a relatively rare" stay of the Dec. 20 decision legalizing same-sex marriage in Utah signals the high court’s interest in the case and its desire that the appeal "be handled in an orderly way befitting the important issues being addressed."
Attorneys for the plaintiffs say they will oppose the extension request.

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ITALY: Local Manif Pour Tous Wing Stages Rome Rally Against Hate Crimes Bill

The Italian Senate is considering an expansion of its hate crimes laws to include LGBT citizens. This week the new Italian wing of France's neo-Nazi affiliated Manif Pour Tous held a rally in protest. Via the anti-gay LifeSiteNews:
A large rally was held in Rome against the bill organized by the recently formed Manif Pour Tous Italia, a civil liberties association that is concerned that such laws curtail human rights, rather than defending them. Opponents have been vocal in their concerns that the bill will threaten Article 21 in the Italian constitution that guarantees freedom of thought and opinion and the safeguards of the natural family in Articles 29, 30 and 32 that specify that marriage can only be between a man and a woman. Monsignor Ignacio Barreiro, whith degrees in secular law and theology and the head of the Rome office of Human Life International attended the rally and spoke about it to LifeSiteNews.com.

He said that the threat of the law is two-fold. First, the bill will “make a crime of homophobia,” which he said is defined so broadly in the legislation that it can be used as a weapon against anyone the homosexual movement dislikes. But second, Msgr. Barreiro said, it is intended to smooth the way forward for the imposition of “gay marriage” or civil union legislation that is already in the works. The bill has been approved by the lower chamber of Italy’s parliament and Barreiro said, “there is a serious risk that it will pass.” Simply put, he said, the law will likely “be used to persecute the Church, priests who say homosexuality is a vice.”
Also attending the Rome hate rally were members of France's allegedly "ex-gay" group, Homovox, who appeared in national ads against France's same-sex marriage bill. Italy's proposed hate crimes bill is also opposed by some local LGBT rights groups, who complain that it has been rendered "toothless" by religious exemptions.

Below are videos from the Rome hate rally. It looks like they've latched onto an Italian version of Frigide Barjot. The music in the first clip is Run Boy Run by French pop star Woodkid, who had an international hit with the single last year. 

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Linda Harvey: God Wants Children To Be Grossed Out About Homosexuality

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NIGERIA: Gay Man Lashed 20 Times

The BBC reports:
A Nigerian man has received 20 lashes after an Islamic court in the northern city of Bauchi convicted him of homosexual offences. Under Islamic law, courts can punish homosexual acts by stoning to death. But the judge said he took into account that the Muslim man, Mubarak Ibrahim, 20, carried out the acts seven years ago, and had stopped the practice. Mr Ibrahim told the BBC he was relieved that Judge Nuhu Muhammad had been lenient on him and had not sentenced him to death. The BBC's Ishaq Khalid was in court when Mr Ibrahim was lashed with a whip, made of animal skin smeared with oil. Mr Ibrahim, who had pleaded guilty to the charge, was ordered to lie on a bench, and an official whipped his back in front of a packed courtroom, our correspondent says. Mr Ibrahim screamed in pain while being lashed, but was able to walk afterwards, he adds.
Dozens of men have been arrested since Nigeria super-criminalized homosexuality earlier this week.

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One Million Moms Vs ABC's The Fosters

 Just in via email:
Joe - ABC Family's show "The Fosters" is about two women attempting to redefine marriage while also raising foster, adopted and biological children. New episodes will continue to air on Monday evenings at 9:00pm ET/8:00pm CT. In addition, frequent promos are airing for this series during primetime and during G rated programs on multiple channels. These promos include the two women nude in bed together while hugging and kissing, teen with a bloody face and teen bashing in a car windshield with a baseball bat. Unacceptable content in the season premiere included: Lesbians on their honeymoon lying naked in bed together while hugging and kissing. Grandmother admits to staying with a past boyfriend she did not really like only because she loved his bed. Engaging in casual conversation with prostitutes and asking for their help. Female teen shares a bed with a guy at a hotel. Teen steals with the goal of getting arrested. Runaway teen.Teen breaks probation.
The email closes with the usual demand to petition all of the show's advertisers.

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Put On Your Shocked Face

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This Week's TIME Magazine

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Putin: Gays Won't Be Bothered At Sochi As Long As They Leave Children Alone

Via the Associated Press:
Russian President Vladimir Putin says gays should feel welcome at the upcoming Winter Olympic Games in Sochi, but they must "leave the children in peace." Putin told volunteers Friday that gays visiting Sochi "can feel calm and at ease," and vowed that there would be no discrimination at the games. But he emphasized that, according to a law banning homosexual "propaganda" among minors, gays cannot express their views on gay rights issues to anyone underage.
So protesting to adults will be allowed?

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Headline Of The Day

Details. (Tipped by JMG reader David)

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Porn Studio Digitally "Erases" Condoms?

Via press release:
Legendary gay film producer Falcon Studios has decided to use some decidedly new tech to compete with bareback studios. For it's latest release, California Dreamin', the San Francisco-based studio used advanced Photoshop techniques to remove condoms from the final film. While the film itself was shot using condoms, the final result appears as condomless. The move comes in response to two trends in the industry — increasing financial pressures from consumers who want to see films without condoms, and state regulatory agencies that have fined adult film producers for going without. In an interview with the consumer-facing blog, GPB, director Tony Dimarco described it as “a throwback to the classic, pre-condom Falcon poolside movies from the 70′s and 80′s.” Falcon itself has used condoms in all its features since the late 80s.
Extremely not office safe examples are here.

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NIGERIA: Dozens More Arrested

Via the Associated Press:
Activists say that dozens more people have been rounded up, arrested and questioned across Nigeria for being perceived to be gay just over a week after the president signed a law criminalizing gay organizations and meetings as well as same-sex marriage. Ifeanyi Kelly Orazulike, Executive Director of the Nigeria-based International Center for Advocacy on Right to Health, said Friday that over two days more than 30 people have been detained. He says 12 people have been arrested in Oyo state in the southwest, six in Imo state in the southeast, eight in central Abuja and six in Anambra state in the southeast.
(Tipped by JMG reader Akim)

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Obama Slams Edward Snowden

"I’m not going to dwell on Mr. Snowden’s actions or his motivations. I will say that our nation’s defense depends in part on the fidelity of those entrusted with our nation’s secrets. If any individual who objects to government policy can take it into their own hands to publicly disclose classified information, then we will not be able to keep our people safe, or conduct foreign policy. Moreover, the sensational way in which these disclosures have come out has often shed more heat than light, while revealing methods to our adversaries that could impact our operations in ways that we may not fully understand for years to come." - President Obama, in today's speech announcing "major reforms" at the National Security Agency.

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HomoQuotable - Johnny Weir

"I've come under so much hate and scrutiny from within my own LGBT community for my views on the Olympics. But as somebody who watched my parents sacrifice everything so that I had at least one chance of making the Olympics, I could never boycott the Olympics whether they be in Pyongyang (in North Korea), in Uganda, in Iran or Mars. I would have competed there because my whole life has been about going to the Olympics. Being gay isn't something that I chose, being gay is something I was born into. But being an Olympic athlete was something that I chose and something I worked hard for and I'll see it to any necessary end. The entire Olympic team is not made up of LGBT people. It's people who've sacrificed their livelihoods, it's people who've sacrificed their parents' finances and health and sometimes even marriages to get that one chance at glory. As an athlete who's lived it, I could never turn my face to that. While equality is necessary all over the world, the Olympics is not the place for me to make a stand."- Johnny Weir, speaking to Reuters.

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Disclosure - Grab Her

A new video from their Best Dance Grammy-nominated album.

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GOP Sen. Tom Coburn (OK) To Retire

Sen. Tom Coburn (R-OK) has announced that he retire this year before the 2016 conclusion of his term. He has been battling prostate cancer.
Coburn’s decision could set off a major scramble among Republicans hoping to replace him. U.S. Reps. Tom Cole, R-Moore; James Lankford, R-Oklahoma City; and Jim Bridenstine, R-Tulsa, will likely consider the race, along with Oklahoma Attorney General Scott Pruitt. Coburn timed his resignation so his replacement could be elected during the regular ballot process this year. It will be a very compressed time frame for a statewide race, particularly for those who don’t have statewide name recognition. Both U.S. Senate seats will be on the ballot in Oklahoma; U.S. Sen. Jim Inhofe, R-Tulsa, is running for reelection.
Coburn has a 0% rating from the Human Rights Campaign. During the health care reform battle in 2009, Coburn suggested praying that the bill's Senate supporters be unable to attend the vote. Some interpreted that remark as a wish for accidents or illness.

UPDATE: Gawker has posted a recap of "godawful things said by Coburn."  Here's one from the list: "Lesbianism is so rampant in some of the schools in southeast Oklahoma that they'll only let one girl go to the bathroom. Now think about it. Think about that issue. How is it that that's happened to us?"

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Barbara Bush: Family Dynasties Should Not Dominate The White House

Barbara Bush appeared on C-SPAN yesterday to say that while she feels Jeb is the most qualified person to be president in 2016, the same three families (Kennedys, Clintons, Bushes) should not dominate American politics.
"I think this is a great American country, great country, and if we can’t find more than two or three families to run for high office, that’s silly, because there are great governors and great eligible people to run. And I think that the Kennedys, Clintons, Bushes, there are just more families than that. [snip] But there are a lot of ways to serve. And being president is not the only one. And I would hope that someone else would run, although there’s no question in my mind that Jeb is the best qualified person to run for president, but I hope he won’t, because I think he’ll get all my enemies, all his brother’s, all — and there are other families. I refuse to accept that this great country isn’t raising other wonderful people."
Jeb Bush subtweeted his reaction to the interview.

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Michelle Obama: "I'm Fifty And Fabulous"

Today is the First Lady's 50th birthday.
Michelle Obama's not just embracing her half-century milestone, she's relishing it. Describing herself as "50 and fabulous," the "Let's Move" creator is getting ready to move herself on Saturday -- as in show off some dance moves -- with a big birthday celebration at the White House. And when asked if she has peaked at 50, she joked that first lady is "pretty high up," but said she's always felt her life is "ever-evolving." "I've got to keep figuring out ways to have an impact, whether as a mother or as a professional or as a mentor to other kids," said Obama, who has made talking with teens and increasing the college graduation rate among her major issues during her husband's second term as president.
I do not recommend reading the comments on any article about the First Lady's birthday.

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HRC Demands US Action On Nigeria

The Human Rights Campaign has written to Secretary of State John Kerry, demanding a "strong and proactive American response to the humanitarian crisis" in Nigeria. From the list of suggested actions:
Directing the U.S. Embassy in Abuja to perform in-country refugee processing for LGBT Nigerians who are being targeted for arrest under the newly passed law. Recommending that President Obama evaluate removing Nigeria from the list of countries currently eligible for assistance under the African Growth and Opportunity Act. The law requires the President to determine on an annual basis which countries are eligible based “on progress in meeting certain criteria, including progress toward the establishment of a market-based economy, rule of law, economic policies to reduce poverty, protection of internationally recognized worker rights, and efforts to combat corruption. ”Suspending bilateral engagements between the United States and Nigeria that are of particular importance to the Federal Republic of Nigeria, such as suspending Nigeria’s participation in the Young African Leaders Initiative. Using any regulatory, administrative, or statutory means in your arsenal to combat implementation of this law.
Read the full letter.

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GOP Appoints Climate Change Denier To Head House Environment Subcomittee

The GOP has appointed climate change denier Rep. David Schweikert (R-AZ) to head the House Science subcommittee on the environment.
Schweikert will replace Rep. Chris Stewart (R-Utah), who moved to the House Appropriations Committee. He said he plans to use his new post to target the Obama administration's regulatory agenda. "Too often, this Administration has tried to bypass Congress and impose its will on the American people through regulatory fiat,” Schweikert said Thursday in a statement, The Hill reported. “We have a responsibility to provide a check-and-balance to ensure there is fairness and openness in the process and that taxpayers are not being subjected to onerous and unnecessarily burdensome rules and regulations." A main component of the Obama administration's environmental work is new limits on power plants' greenhouse gas pollution. Schweikert has argued that the idea of man-made global warming may be "folklore."
Democrats react: "By putting a climate change denier in charge of a subcommittee on the environment, congressional Republicans are further cementing the fact that their only real priority is protecting special interests and their big oil backers." (Tipped by JMG reader Joe)

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This Is An Ad For Something


(Tipped by JMG reader Win)

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OKLAHOMA: Alliance Defending Freedom Files Appeal Of Gay Marriage Ruling

Days after one of their lawyers testified in support of Indiana's proposed constitutional ban on gay marriage, the hate group Alliance Defending Freedom has filed an appeal of this week's ruling in Oklahoma. The appeal was filed on behalf of the Tusla County Clerk's Office.
Tulsa County Court Clerk Sally Howe Smith [PHOTO] filed the appeal Thursday with the U.S. 10th Circuit Court of Appeals. Toby Jenkins, executive director of Oklahomans for Equality, said Thursday. "We at Oklahomans for Equality are disappointed that tax payer dollars will continue to be used to fund something that is unconstitutional and has already been decided in multiple courts." Alliance Defending Freedom senior counsel Byron Babione, representing Smith, issued a statement Tuesday stating in part that "Marriage expresses the truth that men and women bring distinct, irreplaceable gifts to family life. Understanding that truth, the voters of Oklahoma approved a constitutional amendment to define marriage as the union of a man and a woman." The Alliance Defending Freedom defines itself as "an alliance-building, non-profit legal organization that advocates for the right of people to freely live out their faith."
Alliance Defending Freedom made international headlines last year when one of their attorneys was sentenced to 40 years in prison for producing child pornography featuring her daughter. (Tipped by JMG reader Matthew)

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Rosanne Cash On Letterman

Cash is a strong ally of the LGBT community and last year released a song about an "elderly gay couple in Chelsea who were very dear to me." Proceeds from that single went to homeless LGBT youth and AIDS programs of St. Luke In The Fields in the West Village.

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UTAH: Homocon Robert Oscar Lopez And NOM's Brian Brown To Host Hate Rally

(Via JMG reader Dave)

UPDATE: There will be a pro-gay rally on the same day and at the same location.

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CALIFORNIA: Court Tosses Ticket For Driving With Google Glass

A California court yesterday threw out the first-ever ticket for driving while wearing Google Glass, saying that there was no proof that the device had been in actual use. Advocates for the device had launched a social media campaign in support of the driver.
Southern California resident Cecilia Abadie appeared in San Diego traffic court on Thursday for speeding and for wearing Google Glass while driving. It is considered the first time someone has been cited for wearing the face-mounted technology while driving. Commissioner John Blair threw out both charges, stating there wasn't enough evidence to prove beyond a reasonable doubt that the Google Glass was turned on at the time. It is only illegal to wear the device while driving if it is operational. Abadie was pulled over in October for speeding by the California Highway Patrol. The officer then cited her for wearing Google Glass under California vehicle code 27602, which prohibits operating a video-display in front of the driver's head rest where it can distract the driver. The law was originally drafted to keep people from watching TV while driving.
Three states specifically outlaw using the device while driving: Delaware, West Virginia and New Jersey. A similar bill was introduced in New York earlier this week. 

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DC Gays Rally For Hillary 2016

On Wednesday the Ready For Hillary PAC staged its first-ever LGBT-specific fundraiser in Washington DC. Justin Snow reports at Metro Weekly:
Equipped with a photo booth that included a cardboard cutout of Clinton, Wednesday's LGBT fundraiser, proposed by D.C. activist Lane Hudson, marked the first of many. Ready for Hillary staffers say 2014 will see an increase in grassroots organizing by the super PAC. According to Lisa Changadveja, who was named Ready for Hillary's LGBT Americans director in September, the group will be at more than 30 Pride festivals during the next year. "We're going to be where the LGBT community is. Our organization knows the LGBT community is a very important community to organize," Changadveja told Metro Weekly, noting Ready for Hillary's first five hires are focused on black, young, Latino, LGBT and women voters. "We know it's important to organize these constituents early because that's how Obama did it in 2008 and 2012 — he organized from the ground up.”
Ready For Hillary PAC has raised $4M since its creation in January 2013.

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Houston Mayor Annise Parker Marries

From the official press release issued by Houston:
Mayor Annise Parker and her long-time partner, First Lady Kathy Hubbard, were joined in marriage today in a sunset ceremony held at a private home in Palm Springs, California. A small gathering of family and friends, including the mayor’s mother and Ms. Hubbard’s sister, were on hand for the exchange of vows, which were presided over by the Reverend Paul Fromberg, a family friend from San Francisco. Two other close friends from Houston, Judge Steve Kirkland and Mr. Mark Parthie, served as the attendants and formal witnesses. Mayor Parker and the First Lady selected January 16th for their wedding because it marks the 23rd anniversary of the start of their lives together. “This is a very happy day for us,” said Mayor Parker. “We have had to wait a very long time to formalize our commitment to each other. Kathy has been by my side for more than two decades, helping to raise a family, nurture my political career and all of the other ups and down and life events that come with a committed relationship. She is the love of my life and I can’t wait to spend the rest of my life married to her.”
The press release notes that Hubbard has her own insurance "and will, therefore, not participate in the new policy granting city health insurance benefits to the spouses of legally-married city employees." (Tipped by JMG reader James)

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Jon Stewart On Marriage In Red States

Josh Feldman recaps:
Jon Stewart was admittedly surprised Thursday night at the gains gay marriage is making even in strongly red states like Utah and Oklahoma, even if in one of those cases people are stuck in a complex Schrodinger’s marriage paradox. Utah officially recognized gay marriage, except that it then decided not to, but then the federal government stepped in, so they’re sort of married, but not fully, and… well, Stewart couldn’t really make heads or tails of it.

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Petition Of The Day

Details.

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Thursday, January 16, 2014

UGANDA: President Blocks Life Sentence Anti-Gay Bill On Procedural Grounds

The Ugandan press reports tonight that President Yoweri Museveni has blocked last month's bill which calls for a life sentence for homosexuals. Musveni says that the legislature lacked a quorum when the bill was approved.
“Some elements, however, insisted and even without quorum of Parliament, passed it,” the President said. “How can you pass law without the quorum of Parliament after it has been pointed out? What sort of Parliament is this? How can Parliament be the one to break the Constitution and the Law repeatedly?” But Parliament spokesperson Helen Kawesa yesterday said if there was no quorum, “that can be established by the relevant bodies in Parliament,” adding that several Bills were passed between October and December last year, and with similar numbers in the House.
Musceveni went on to ponder the "proper" punishment for homosexuality.
While in the Bill passed by Parliament there is no provision for killing homosexuals; the President said, “The question at the core of the debate of homosexuality is; what do we do with an abnormal person? Do we kill him/her? Do we imprison him/her? Or we do contain him/her?” While the President said homosexuality is an abnormal condition that can be cured, he disagreed with the position of Western countries that homosexuality is an “alternative sexual orientation”. “You cannot call an abnormality an alternative orientation. It could be that the Western societies, on account of random breeding, have generated many abnormal people,” he said, adding that his acid test for rejecting Western position is that nature is purposeful.

The President said apart from the people who are abnormal, it seems there is a group of those that become homosexual for “mercenary reasons”—they get recruited on account of financial inducements. He said this is a group that can be rescued and that many of the youth fall in this category. As for lesbians, the President said apart from those born abnormal and those ones that may become lesbian for mercenary reasons, there may be those that go into the practice because of “sexual starvation” when they fail to get married.
Musceveni said he would support a life sentence for those that "lure normal youth into these disgusting behaviours." The future of the bill as written is unclear.

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UTAH: Attorney General Selects Outside Law Firm For Same-Sex Marriage Appeal

Via the Salt Lake Tribune:
The Utah Attorney General’s Office has hired Gene C. Schaerr [PHOTO] to lead a team of attorneys in the state’s defense of its constitutional amendment prohibiting same-sex marriage. Attorney General Sean Reyes said Schaerr, a Utah native, is an "elite" appellate and Supreme Court expert and "understands our unique history and community." Schaerr, a graduate of Brigham Young University and Yale law school, has handled more than 100 cases in federal and state appellate courts. He was a law clerk for U.S. Supreme Court Chief Justice Warren E. Burger and Justice Antonin Scalia, and spent two years as associate counsel to former President George H. W. Bush. "Mr. Schaerr has spent a long and distinguished career as a leader at some of the world’s largest law firms," Reyes said Thursday. "We are pleased that he is so eager to represent our state and that he would leave his firm so he can focus on this case exclusively." According to a press release from the AG’s Office, Schaerr had an 80 percent win rate in the 10th Circuit Court and a 75 percent win rate for dozens of federal appeals argued in the past five years.
The law firm has agreed to cap their total fees at $300,000.

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The Professor Dies At Age 89

Russell Johnson, the professor on Gilligan's Island, has died at the age of 89.
Johnson, who played Professor Roy Hinkley, died of natural causes at his home in Washington. Dawn Wells, who played Mary Ann, just posted on Facebook, "My 2 favorite people are now gone. The professor past (sic) away this morning. My heart is broken." The other person who died is Bob Denver, who played Gilligan. He died in 2005. Johnson was on the show from 1964 to 1967. Johnson was not in the original opening of the show. He and Mary Ann were referred to as "The rest." But Denver insisted that they be included and that happened later.
In his later years Johnson became a full-time fundraiser for AIDS research. His son died of the disease in 1994.

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Email Of The Day - Eugene Delgaudio

"Dear Joe, This may be the hardest letter I’ve ever written. My family’s been stalked, I’ve been threatened, assaulted and called every manner of vile name. My little children became targets. The threats were unspeakable. But God called me to this place, and I’ve stood my ground, not just my ground, the Family’s ground, our ground. But now I wonder. Is it true you and other God-trusting Americans no longer care? Do we now in 2014 just let the liberals, the media elites, judges, political insiders and homosexual activists declare two men 'husband and husband' and two women 'wife and wife' or some other perversion of our language and law?  I know some will bravely contribute $35. Some even $50 or $100. A few will give even more. So if you can afford a substantial donation of $35, $50 or even $100 or more, I hope you will contribute it today. But if for you a lesser gift of $320 is a sacrifice, you have my promise that I will be a faithful steward of every contribution."- Eugene Delgaudio, who promises to deliver eleventy bajillion anti-gay petitions to Congress.

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Millions Abandon Duck Dynasty

3.3 million fewer people watched last night's season opener for Duck Dynasty than watched the premiere episode of the previous season. Entertainment Weekly wonders: "Maybe there IS such as thing as bad press?" Graphic via Memeographs.

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Oklahoma Attorney General: The 14th Amendment Doesn't Apply To Gay People

Oklahoma Attorney General Scott Pruitt says the 14th amendment doesn't apply to gay people.
Pruitt expressed the hope that the case will eventually be overturned by the U.S. Supreme Court because of one question. “Is there really a Constitutional right? Is there cases that support that individuals sexual orientation should be the heart of equal protection under the 14th Amendment? And that’s just not the case.” Pruitt says courts have previously ruled that the 14th amendment wasn't written for gays and lesbians, but rather to protect people from discrimination based on characteristics of race or gender, not behavior. “When you look at where the Equal Protection Law came from, the 14th Amendment, the right to be treated equally under the laws, it came after the Civil War.”

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Chris Salvatore - What You Do To Me

He's on Out Magazine's 100 Most Eligible Bachelors list.

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UTAH: State Allows Joint Tax Filing

Via the Salt Lake Tribune:
Utah same-sex couples legally married in the Beehive State or any other state may file joint state income tax returns, the Utah State Tax Commission announced Thursday. It is the latest — and apparently final — tax guideline on the issue, at least for 2013 returns. Previously, the Utah Tax Commission had issued a policy statement saying it would not allow joint filing of state returns by gay or lesbian couples married legally in any other state. That was before a federal judge struck down Utah’s ban on same-sex marriage but after the Internal Revenue Service had announced it would allow joint filing by same-sex couples married legally anywhere, regardless of their state of residence. The Utah tax agency did not immediately explain its reversal Thursday.
Read the full decision.

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OHIO: Attorney General Appeals Ruling That State Must Recognize Same-Sex Marriages On Death Certificates

Back in July, a federal judge ordered the state of Ohio to recognize the marriage of James Obergefell and John Arthur on Arthur's death certificate. The couple had flown to Maryland by air ambulance to marry as Arthur was terminally ill. He has since died. Last month the same court ruled that Ohio must recognize same-sex marriages on all death certificates. Today Ohio Attorney General Michael Dewine appealed to the Sixth Circuit Court even though the lower court expressly stipulated that its ruling only applies to death certificates.
(Via Equality Case Files)

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Joseph Farah: Ted Cruz For President

"With all this heavy-duty investigative journalism and newfound faux enthusiasm for the Constitution suddenly on display, it’s obvious the No. 1 fear among the elite media is that Ted Cruz might actually run for president. They fear him not because he was born in Canada. They fear him not because of any concern for the U.S. Constitution. If anyone has the right and the duty to weigh in on Ted Cruz’s eligibility, it’s me – even though no one is asking. My answer is, 'I don’t care.' I don’t care because the Constitution was not written and ratified to be applied to some and not others. If no one cared about Obama’s questionable eligibility, despite his shocking lack of transparency and thin paper trail, then they have no business questioning Ted Cruz – who has released his birth certificate, renounced his Canadian citizenship [JMG: LIE!] and upheld every provision of the Constitution to the best of his ability throughout his life." - Joseph Farah, World Net Daily founder and birther-in-chief.

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NIGERIA: Eleven Muslim Men On Trial, Face Stoning To Death For Homosexuality

The BBC reports:
An Islamic court in Nigeria's northern state of Bauchi has put on trial 11 Muslim men accused of being homosexuals in violation of their religion, a religious leader has told the BBC. A 12th person arrested - a Christian - would be tried under secular law, a BBC reporter says. Under Islamic law, a person can be sentenced to death by stoning if convicted of homosexuality. It is also illegal to have gay sex in Nigeria, according to its secular laws. Jibrin Danlami Hassan, the commissioner of Bauchi state's Sharia Commission, said the alleged homosexuals were arrested by residents of Bauchi city. They were handed to the Islamic police force, which interrogated them, he said. "They accept that they are doing that dirty game," Mr Hassan said. Ms Aken'Ova said some of those arrested had been beaten up and tortured, but Mr Hassan denied this. The BBC's Ishaq Khalid in Bauchi says the Sharia Commission confirmed to him that a Christian had been arrested with the 11 Muslims, and would be tried in a "conventional court".
There have not yet been any confirmed "death by stoning" executions in Nigeria, although several such sentences have been handed down.

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USOC Warns Athletes: Don't Protest

"At the end of the day, the International Olympic Committee is very clear that what's great about the Olympic experience is that it brings people with different points of view together. They're there to compete. They're not there to talk about their politics or their religion or anything else. So for us, we really just want the attention focused on our athletes and their great competitions. We're hoping that our athletes feel very comfortable speaking their minds before they go to the Games. But when they get to the Games, that's really the time to focus on sport." - Scott Blackmun, CEO of the United States Olympic Committee, speaking to ESPN.

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Evangelical Film Gets Oscar Nomination

Via Daniel Walber at Film.com:
Every year Oscar nomination morning rolls around and there’s least one feature film nominee that elicits reactions of “Wait. What on earth?” More often than not it’s the Best Original Song category, and this year we got ourselves a doozy. “Alone Yet Not Alone” is the film, and the nominated song takes the same title. It’s the story of two little girls kidnapped by Native Americans on the frontier of Western Pennsylvania in 1755, who survive the experience as a result of their devout Christian faith. It’s one of those very low-budget Christian films that are made by and marketed entirely to an Evangelical audience. According to Wikipedia, the film – which you may never have heard of – “was released on September 27, 2013 in 9 cities and was the number 1 movie for theaters in Knoxville, Tenn.; Raleigh, N.C.; Colorado Springs, Colo.; Grand Rapids, Mich.; and San Antonio, Texas.” The movie is formally endorsed by people like Rick Santorum and anti-gay hate group activists like Dr. James Dobson.

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RNC: Obama Es Un Mentiroso

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NEW YORK CITY: Queer Nation Heckles NBC's Matt Lauer And Brian Boitano

Via their Facebook page: "Queer Nation NY paid a visit to NBC News Today Show studio in Rockefeller plaza this morning to say hi to Matt Lauer. Our message: Human Rights Are Not A Game! Putin's Lies Kill!" More photos are at the link.

And from last night, via press release:
Two members of Queer Nation confronted three-time Olympian Brian Boitano tonight, demanding he speak out against Russia’s recently enacted anti-LGBT laws when he represents the U.S. at the Olympics next month. Boitano, who is one of three openly gay men and women chosen by President Barack Obama for the U.S. Olympic delegation, was appearing at New York’s Rubin Museum of Art in Chelsea as part of “Brainwave: Mind Over Matter,” an ongoing series that pairs men and women prominent in their various professions with psychologists, psychiatrists, ​and ​neurologists to discuss how the mind and brain work.

During his introduction of Boitano, Tim McHenry, the Rubin’s director of public programs and performance, spoke with admiration about how Brian Boitano had become “a courageous champion of human rights and artists.” "When did he do that and what is it that he said?" shouted Duncan Osborne, one of the protesters. "He's going to a country with a record of abusing human rights, especially the rights of gay men and women, and he has yet to speak out about it,” Osborne continued.

Boitano has as yet said nothing against Russia’s anti-LGBT laws, instead insisting that athletes and spectators respect the laws of the country they will be visiting. Tennis great Billie Jean King, who has also been chosen to represent the U.S. in Sochi, has been somewhat vocal about her disapproval of the Russian laws. “Stand up and tell us what you are going to do what are you going to say in Russia,” yelled Jamie Bauer,” the other protester from Queer Nation. Boitano remained seated and silent and refused to acknowledge the protesters.
Audience members booed the protesters.

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Open Thread Thursday

The 2014 Oscar nominations are out. Tell us about your moviegoing habits these days.

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VIRGINIA: "Ex-Gay" Survivors Sought For Testimony In Support Of Ban Bill

If you are a Virginian survivor of "ex-gay" torture, activists need your help. Via Box Turtle Bulletin:
Virginia is attempting to join the list of states which ban ex-gay therapy on minors.  Text of the bill can be found here.  Legislative action is going to happen between now and the end of February and Virginia based survivors of ex-gay therapy are urgently needed to speak in favor of the bill.  Anyone interested can testify in person or send a written testimony to be read. The bill is being sponsored by Delegate Patrick Hope and the Alliance for Progressive Values (APV). The APV is especially interested in anyone who was forced to undergo therapy as a minor.  Interested parties should contact Victoria Bragunier of the APV at 804-517-5206
(Tipped by JMG reader Jutta)

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KENTUCKY: Christians Rally Against Small Town's LGBT Rights Ordinance

Via the Central Kentucky News:
Danville is considering joining other Kentucky cities that have passed so-called fairness ordinances, making it illegal to discriminate based on sexual orientation or gender identity in cases of employment, housing or public accommodations. The Cornerstone Assembly of God Church in Danville included an insert in its Sunday bulletin urging its congregation to contact commissioners and attend the commission meeting Monday. The insert provides 15 reasons why the church believes Danville should not adopt a fairness ordinance. The insert further contends “it could require business owners to do things against their consciences and have the intimidating effect of requiring business owners to prefer gays over other people to avoid legal action.” “This is also headed towards hate crime speech like they have in Canada,” said Lane. “Up there a pastor said that homosexuality was a sin and he was arrested for a hate crime by preaching in his pulpit.”
Danville has a population of 16,000. Graphic source.

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Sally Kern Has The Oklahoma Sadz

"Homosexuality is not a civil right. It's a human wrong. Homosexuals are saying this is who we are. This is how we're born. You tell a lie long enough, people start to believe it." - Oklahoma state Rep. Sally Kern, speaking to Tulsa television. Kern, you may recall, used the tenth anniversary of 9/11 repeat her infamous claim that homosexuality is a "greater threat to the United states than terrorism or Islam." Kern told the media that she was receiving emailed death threats after those remarks, but Oklahoma State Bureau of Investigations review her inbox and declared that she was full of shit. Kern's husband, Rev. Steve Kern, recently led local protests against the gay-themed play about Jesus, The Most Fabulous Story Ever Told.  Rev. Kern has said that he will run for the Oklahoma state senate this year.

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Property Brothers For NOH8

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ARIZONA: State GOP Rep Introduces Bill To Legalize Anti-Gay Discrimination

Arizona GOP state Rep. Steve Yarborough yesterday introduced a bill that would legalize discrimination against LGBT people on the grounds of religious beliefs.
SB 1062 would allow businesses sued in a civil case to claim they have a legal right to not provide service to an individual or group because it would “substantially burden’’ their freedom of religion. Sen. Steve Yarbrough, R-Chandler, said the measure is aimed specifically at preventing what happened in New Mexico, where courts said a gay couple could sue a photographer who refused to take their wedding pictures. But Yarbrough said his legislation could also be interpreted to allow motels with vacant rooms to refuse to rent to gays. Yarbrough acknowledged there may be individuals who have religious beliefs about serving or employing unmarried women, or employing people who do not share their same beliefs. The legislation seeks to navigate between religious rights and the general prohibition against discrimination in public accommodations. Yarbrough, an attorney, said that can extend beyond restaurants and hotels to any business that offers its services to the public, which is how it ended up being used in New Mexico against the photographer. Yarbrough said it’s possible his proposed legislation would allow a hotel owner to turn away a gay couple without fear of suit simply because there are other nearby facilities they could turn to.
According to the above-linked source, a similar bill was approved last year but was vetoed by Gov. Jan Brewer as punishment to lawmakers who had not yet approved a budget. (Via JMG reader Homer)

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