Saturday, June 14, 2014

President Obama Gives Nod To Gay Dads In Annual Father's Day Proclamation

"With encouragement and unconditional love, fathers guide their children and help them envision brighter futures. They are teachers and coaches, friends and role models. They instill values like hard work and integrity, and teach their kids to take responsibility for themselves and those around them. This is a task for every father -- whether married or single, gay or straight, natural or adoptive -- and every child deserves someone who will step up and fill this role. My Administration proudly supports dads who are not only present but also involved, who meet their commitments to their sons and daughters, even if their own fathers did not. Today, let us reflect on our fathers' essential contributions to our lives, our society, and our Nation. Let us thank the men who understand there is nothing more important than being the best fathers they can be." - Barack Obama, in his Father's Day proclamation.

Labels: , ,


Author Of Texas GOP "Ex-Gay" Plank Was Member Of Log Cabin Republicans

Via Lone Star Q:
According to Rob Schlein, former president of Log Cabin Republicans of Dallas, Schwab was a member of the group before becoming ex-gay. “He was in LCR for a time and even attended a party at my house with boyfriend,” Schlein wrote. Log Cabin Republican is one of the groups that fought the reparative therapy plank. Schwab claims he became ex-gay in 2009. However, in comments on the blog of former ex-gay leader Warren Throckmorton, Schwab admitted to having gay sex more than a year later."
Shocking, huh?

RELATED: In October 2011 the Log Cabin Republicans dissolved their Dallas chapter after its president, the above-quoted Rob Schlein, appeared on Michelangelo Signorile's radio show where he declared that businesses should have the right to fire people for being black
"Texas is a right-to-work state. So as an employer, which I am, I can fire anybody at will," Schlein claimed. "You cannot fire somebody for being African-American," Signorile objected. "Well, I wouldn’t tell them," Schlein said. "You wouldn’t tell them, but you’d do it anyway?" Signorile asked. "I’d find a reason if I wanted to fire them," Schlein said, defending discrimination against black people while trying to prove an anti-discrimination law would make no difference to LGBT people.
Schlein went on to write a editorial backing Rick Perry for president. In April 2012, Schlein and the former members of the LCR Dallas chapter elected to formally affiliate with the now-defunct GOProud, which welcomed them without comment about the racism scandal.

Labels: , , , , , , , , ,


US Embassy Celebrates Tel Aviv Pride

In what will surely ratchet up the sadz in Teabagistan, the US embassy in Tel Aviv has posted a video of yesterday's gay pride parade with a celebratory message from Dan Shapiro, the US Ambassador to Israel. Early this week the Tea People lost their shit because the embassy had flown the rainbow flag over its Tel Aviv headquarters.

Labels: , , ,


Stray Pride

JMG reader Stray Kat tips us that Sacramento's Front Street Animal Shelter will have a booth at today's gay pride festival.

Labels: , ,


ISRAEL: Trans Pop Star Dana International Causes Stir With Gay Pride Video

Transgender pop star and 1998 Eurovision winner Dana International has caused a furor in Israel with a video that promoted Tel Aviv Pride, which was yesterday. Via the Times Of Israel:
A video promoting Tel Aviv’s Gay Pride Parade featuring Israeli transsexual star Dana International dancing suggestively in a synagogue in front of children has been taken offline after the parents of one of the youngsters claimed they did not provide consent to participate. The family, believing the video to be part of an “innocent” tourism campaign, complained after seeing it on national TV. The two-minute clip featuring Dana’s new single, “Kids Are Much Fun,” had the singer, decked out in a blond wig and long black dress, posing suggestively as a boy meant to be her son reads from the Torah during his bar mitzvah, a holy Jewish rite of passage. The video was filmed in a Tel Aviv synagogue, using 15 boys who were recruited from a religious school in a nearby suburb. The video’s director, Omer Tobi, said the students were picked by a nephew of Dana’s manager who is the main character in the video. While Tobi said the theme of the video was clear from the outset, the parents of one of the boys said they were misled.
The lyrics of the track, which is in Hebrew, appear to condemn the Israeli government for encouraging families to have as many children as possible. Sample verse: "Procreate twelve, why not eighteen, procreate two scores of kids, God will take care, so will the welfare." The clip below is a mirror of the original and may not last on YouTube.

(Tipped by JMG reader Eric)

Labels: , ,


Tony Perkins Defends Gov. Rick Perry, Concedes Homosexuality Is Not A Choice

"Obviously, homosexual attractions are not a 'choice' in the vast majority of cases. But it should be insulting to people with same-sex attractions to claim that they're compelled to act on those attractions. Homosexual or heterosexual, people are responsible for their conduct. Have we come to the point that we are nothing more than our sexual urges? And that's essentially the point Governor Perry was trying to make. But unfortunately for him, there's no room for an honest conversation in Obama's America. Much as liberals despise that little thing called the First Amendment, Governor Perry has the freedom to have that opinion -- even if it isn't politically correct. And there are millions of Americans that are glad he isn't afraid to voice it." - Hate group leader Tony Perkins, via press release.

Labels: , , , , , , , ,


Alabama Court Strikes Down Sodomy Law

An Alabama appeals court yesterday struck down the state's ban on consensual oral and anal sex. Such acts have been legal nationwide since Lawrence V Texas, but still.
The Alabama Court of Criminal Appeals issued its unanimous ruling in Williams vs. Alabama, the appeal of a Dallas County man who was convicted of sexual misconduct, though the jury found the homosexual sexual encounter was consensual. The Alabama Court of Criminal Appeals said today a portion of Alabama's sexual misconduct statute is unconstitutional. It was referring to code section 13A-6-65, which reads in part, "consent is no defense to a prosecution." The state appeals court noted the legislative commentary for the statute says the consent section "was changed by the legislature to make all homosexual conduct criminal, and consent is no defense."
Sodomy laws remain on the books in many states.

Labels: , ,


Friday, June 13, 2014

BREAKING: Judge Orders Stop To Wisconsin Same-Sex Marriages

Via Chris Geidner at Buzzfeed:
A federal judge issued a final trial court order striking down Wisconsin’s ban on same-sex couples marrying, but she put her ruling on hold pending appeal. “I conclude that Herbert v. Kitchen, compels me to stay the injunction,” U.S. District Court Judge Barbara Crabb wrote, referencing the Supreme Court’s January decision halting same-sex marriages in Utah during the appeal of that case.
Read the full ruling.

Labels: , ,


Tweet Of The Day - God

Labels: , , ,


COMPILATION: Gay News In The 2000s

JMG reader Dave Evans has compiled 40 minutes of gay-related news clips that aired in the 2000s. Among the topics: Lawrence V Texas, the Hate Crimes Act, Massachusetts marriage, Proposition 8, DADT, and DOMA.

PREVIOUSLY ON JMG: Compilations of gay news in the 1970s, gay news in the 1980s, gay news in the 1990s, and the first ten years of HIV/AIDS.

Labels: , , , , , , ,


NOM: Send Us Your Hate March Photos

"The second annual March for Marriage is less than a week away and we are on the clock to get as many marriage supporters to Washington, D.C. as possible. On June 19th, thousands of Americans from all across the country will rally in and take to the streets of our nation's capital with the simple and beautiful message: marriage between one man and one woman is unique and critical for our society because children deserve the love and care of both a mother and a father. In order to show the nation the success of your efforts, NOM has set up a special email address that you can use to send pictures and video of the Rally and March as they happen. The email address is: pics@marriagemarch.org. Feel free to take pictures of the day's events, or even video, and send them to this email address so we can post them on the March for Marriage website. Together we'll demonstrate that across the nation the American people stand for marriage as one man and one woman." - Hate group leader Brian Brown, via email.

Next Thursday would be great time to hijack NOM's #MarriageMarch hashtag on Twitter with several thousand gay pride and gay wedding photos. I'll remind you.

Labels: , , ,


Cochran Didn't Know Cantor Lost

Adding fuel to the "indecent things to animals" flap, some today are truly wondering about Sen. Thad Cochran's state of mind.
Three days after House Majority Leader Eric Cantor became national political news fodder by losing a primary election to tea party challenger Dave Brat, embattled GOP Sen. Thad Cochran has seemingly no idea what happened. To repeat: A sitting U.S. Senator has no idea that the second-most important member of his own party in the U.S. House of Representatives was just unseated in a major primary defeat. During an interview with Fox News on Friday, Cochran was asked whether he believes Cantor’s defeat means anything for his own Mississippi GOP primary runoff election against Tea Party challenger Chris McDaniel. The exchange that followed is… surprising.

Labels: , , , , , , ,


Headline Of The Day

Details.

Labels: , , ,


Democrats Mock Senate Candidate Joni Ernst For "Agenda 21" Conspiracy Theory

Joni Ernst, you may recall, rocketed to crackpot fame with campaign ads that trumpeted her ability to castrate a pig and her promise to literally shoot down Obamacare. Now that she's won the Iowa GOP nomination for the US Senate, Democrats are mocking her belief in the loony tunes Agenda 21 conspiracy theory. Over at Wonkette, Doktor Zoom explains Agenda 21:
Out here in Real World Land, Agenda 21 is a nonbinding international initiative aimed at promoting sustainable development. It was signed by that enemy of private property, George H.W. Bush, in 1992 and includes terrifying suggestions like pursing city planning policies that will produce less garbage and encourage commuting. It has no actual ability to mandate anything, and no enforcement mechanism. In WingnutLand, Agenda 21, like everything else the UN does, is a shadowy plot to destroy U.S. sovereignty, take away your land, exterminate farmers, force errebody to eat tofu, and probably take away your guns, too.

Labels: , , , , , , , ,


Perkins: Obama Has Turned America Into Sodom With Tel Aviv Rainbow Flag



Maybe we should start freeping the call in number for Perkins' radio show, which airs weekdays at 5PM eastern.

Labels: , , , , , , , , ,


HARLEM: Activists Demand City Take Action Against Hate Church

As Harlem's now nationally infamous hate church continues to post racist and anti-gay messages, activists are demanding that the Landmarks Preservation Committee take action for illegal changes that have been made to the building. Leading the charge is Harlem historian Michael Henry Adams.
Among changes for which the church has been issued violations are installing the free-standing sign, replacing portions of the iron gates surrounding the building and removing a balcony and signage, all of which was done without permits. The lighted sign sits on a slab of polished granite with a giant cross atop. The previous sign was smaller. The violations were issued from May 2013 through June 6 of this year. Now Adams and his supporters want the city to take strong action against the church. "I'm doing this as a means of applying pressure to Landmarks," Adams said after his protest. According to LPC rules, if corrections are not made after multiple violation notices and a hearing, civil fines of up to $250 per day, with a minimum of $5,000, can be issued for serious violations such as altering important architectural elements of a building. The LPC can also seek restraining orders and injunctions. The agency also has the authority to seek criminal fines that range from $500 to $15,000 per day.
Pastor James David Manning has taunted the activists to do their best, saying, "Let them take it up with Landmarks."

RELATED: When the above message first appeared in March, lesbian activist Jennifer Louis Lopez rang the church's bell to demand her stoning. They told her to come back later.

Labels: , , ,


DOMINICAN REPUBLIC: US Ambassador Celebrates Pride Month With Husband, Asks "Isn't It Time To Stop Hating?"

Andres Duque writes at Blabbeando:
Through a tweet sent this morning on the official Twitter account of the U.S. Embassy in the Dominican Republic ambassador James "Wally" Brewster and his husband Bob Satawake sent this powerful message to all Dominicans in observance of the month of June as LGBT pride month. Since his nomination to the diplomatic post Brewster has weathered constant attacks from conservative and religious fundamentalist in the United States and the Dominican Republic and, in response, he has not shied away from engaging those attacks head on with dignity and, as this powerful video shows, strength.
It's a great clip. "Isn't it time to stop hating?" Watch this.

RELATED: When Brewster was first nominated to the post last year, the local Catholic cardinal held a press conference during which he called Brewster a "faggot." The following week, Dominican Christians were encouraged to wear black armbands in protest of Brewster's nomination.

Labels: , , ,


Weekend (Funeral) At Bernie's

New Orleans funerals have always been known for being celebrations of a life fully lived rather than somber reflections on loss, but this may be pushing it a bit too far. Via WGNO-ABC:
In life Miriam Burbank loved a cold beer, and an occasional scotch. So it’s only fitting, that it all be captured as part of her home-going. “I didn’t want her to just go, just go. So, I had to do something amazing. So she’s never forgotten,” Kimball said. Burbank’s daughters had a vision and presented it to funeral directors at Charbonnet Funeral Home, located in Treme. “They said they didn’t want a traditional religious type service,” Intern Funeral Director Lyelle Bellard said. “That she was just one of those people that just enjoyed life enjoyed living, just enjoyed people.” Burbank is sitting at a table wearing Saints colors. Her fingernails are even painted black and gold. She’s got her Busch beer and menthol cigarettes. The arraignment has been well received by friends and family members.
This short news clip is going viral.

Labels: , , ,


TIME Magazine: Eat Butter

The story is behind a paywall.

Labels: , , ,


This Is An Ad For Something

Speaking of Tel Aviv Pride...

Labels: , , ,


The Dick Equation Has Been Solved

Via Gizmodo:
Remember that epic dick joke from the season finale of HBO's Silicon Valley? Well, Stanford researchers have run the numbers. And if you'll pardon the pun, it stands up. Says math! It's totally mathematically sound, and it includes further explanations and drawings, in case you were chuckling too hard through the long, elaborate joke to catch the diagram of you know, shaft ratios. This is amazing, and somehow educational.
Hit the link above for the Stanford paper on how long it would take to jerk off 800 men in the audience of a start up presentation. The non-embeddable clip from the show is here. Watch that first. Keywords: mean jerk time, girth similarity, hot swapping, metric for stamina. The clip is not office friendly, obviously.

Labels: , , ,


IOWA: State Supreme Court Reverses Conviction In HIV Criminalization Case

Via press release from Lambda Legal:
Today the Iowa Supreme Court set aside the conviction of Nick Rhoades, an HIV-positive Iowan who was initially sentenced to 25 years in prison, with required registration as a sex offender, after having a one-time sexual encounter with another man during which they used a condom. In reversing the conviction, the Court recognized that HIV-positive individuals who have a reduced viral load as a result of effective treatment pose little risk of transmitting HIV. “We applaud the Court for applying the law in light of current medical understanding of how HIV is and is not transmitted,” said Christopher Clark, Counsel for Lambda Legal. “An individual who takes precautions to prevent transmission should not be considered a criminal for choosing to be sexually active, and we are very pleased that the Court agrees.” Justice Wiggins wrote for the majority opinion: “Based on the state of medicine both now and at the time of the plea in 2009, we are unable to take judicial notice that an infected individual can transmit HIV, regardless of an infected individual’s viral load, when that individual engages in protected anal or unprotected oral sex with an uninfected person.”
RELATED: Last month Iowa reformed its laws on infectious disease exposure and transmission. Deliberate intent to infect the other person must now be proven.

Labels: , ,


MIAMI: Closeted Homosexual Matt Drudge Escorts Ann Coulter To NBA Finals

Via Breitbart: "Toward the end of the first quarter of Thursday's Game 4 of the NBA Championship between the San Antonio Spurs and the Miami Heat, conservative columnist Ann Coulter and editor of the Drudge Report Matt Drudge were caught on ABC's cameras for the game's national broadcast. Mental Floss' Nick Greene had originally spotted the two, who seated behind the net."

Labels: , , ,


ISRAEL: British Embassy Flies Rainbow Flag In Honor Of Tel Aviv Pride

Two days ago America's wingnuts lost their shit over the US embassy's raising of a rainbow flag in Tel Aviv.  Today the British embassy followed suit and upped the ante by changing their Facebook cover photo to a rainbow version of the Union Jack. In the center of the photo below, Matthew Gould, the British ambassador to Israel, poses with a rainbow flag at today's Tel Aviv pride parade. Flanking him are British embassy staffers.

Labels: , , ,


GLAAD Issues World Cup PSA

Also available in English.

Labels: , , ,


Ontario Elects Lesbian Premier

Last January, Kathleen Wynne became the premier of Ontario by a vote of Liberal Party delegates following the resignation of her predecessor, Dalton McGuinty. Yesterday she was elected as premier when her party won a majority of seats in the provincial legislature.
Ontario Premier Kathleen Wynne is going back to Queen's Park with a majority government after Thursday night's stunning election win. After 40 days on the campaign trail, Wynne ran away with a victory and enough seats to form a majority government. Taking to the stage just after 11 p.m. to her campaign theme song, Katy Perry's "Roar," Wynne called the vote a "strong mandate." "You voted for jobs, you voted for growth, you voted to build Ontario up," Wynne said in her victory speech at the Sheraton Centre in downtown Toronto. "We're not going to leave anyone behind." Speaking directly to voters, Wynne promised to respect them. "You have put your trust in us and we will not let you down," Wynne said. "I will work every day to earn and keep the confidence of the people of Ontario." Wynne - the province's first openly gay premier - thanked her wife Jane Rounthwaite who joined her on stage to raise their hands together in victory. The vote is another milestone - it marks the first time the province has elected a female leader to the premier's job.
VIDEO: Here is Wynne's victory speech.

RELATED:  A minor firestorm broke out on Twitter last night after CBC anchor Robert Fischer referred to Wynne's "lifestyle choice."  Fischer reportedly apologized this morning.

Labels: , , ,


Chris Christie Dances On Tonight Show


Labels: , , ,


WISCONSIN: Gov. Scott Walker Continues To Dodge Questions About Marriage

Via the Associated Press:
Gov. Scott Walker has a history of forcefully opposing same-sex marriage in Wisconsin, but in the wake of the state's ban on gay marriages being found unconstitutional the Republican leader said Thursday that his own views about the issue do not matter. Walker, who is running for re-election this year and eyeing a bid for president in 2016, continued to largely duck questions about the state's ban he voted for in 2006, as hundreds of gay couples wed in the last week and polls show public attitudes shifting in favor of allowing same-sex marriages. Walker campaigned strongly in support of the ban nine years ago. Walker joined with 59 percent of voters statewide to add the ban to the state constitution in 2006. Even though he pushed for it to be approved then, Walker now says his position is irrelevant. "My position has been clear. I voted in the past. It really doesn't matter," Walker said in response to questions about the issue following a campaign event Thursday.Walker's reluctance to stick to his hard-line position may be explained by recent polls showing growing public support for same-sex marriages.
As of yesterday, 555 marriage licenses had been issued to same-sex couples in Wisconsin.

Labels: , , ,


NOM Is Selling Hate March Swag

T-shirts, tote bags, yard signs, iPhone cases and more.

Labels: , , ,


Providence Mayoral Candidate Brett Smiley Features Husband In Campaign Ad

Really cute ad. More about him here.

Labels: , ,


Harlem Hate Pastor: Boycott Harlem Businesses Because I Love Black People

Tomorrow Harlem hate Pastor James David Manning says he will "walk the length and breadth of 125th Street" (a staggering two miles) to "consecrate" it in a demonstration of his love for black people, some of whom he recently called "sellout pinch nose negros" [sic]. At the same time, Manning is apparently calling for a boycott of all businesses on 125th Street, which is the retail center of Harlem. And where his church is. Confusing! See if you can figure it out.

Labels: , , , , , , ,


The Odd Couple

This week the New York Senate passed a resolution honoring Tony Danza as part of Italian-American Day. Viciously anti-gay crackpot Sen. Ruben Diaz felt the need to Instagram a photo of them together with the hashtags #whostheboss and #senatorrevrubendiaz.

Labels: , ,


Thursday, June 12, 2014

Quote Of The Day - Sen. Thad Cochran

“[We’d] get back [to the Hattiesburg area of Mississippi] as often as we could because it was fun—it was an adventure to be out there in the country and see what goes on. Picking up pecans, from that to all kind of indecent things with animals.  I know some of you know what that is. The whole point of the story is not just coming here to visit cousins and get to know aunts and uncles better, you absorb the culture and you know what’s important to people here. I feel very comfortable here and have an identity with this area of the state that’s different than any other." - Sen. Thad Cochran (R-MS), in a speech that is being jumped on by Tea Party supporters of state Sen. Chris McDaniel, who will face Cochran in a runoff.

Breitbart wades in:
Cochran’s campaign spokesman Jordan Russell didn’t return a request for comment about specific details on what types of “indecent things” Cochran did “with animals” as a child, but Russell did brush it off to the Daily Caller. “I’ll check with my political correctness department and get back to you,” he told that publication. This could hurt other Republicans, Tea Party News Network’s Scottie Hughes said in an email to Breitbart News. “It’s funny, politicians like Cochran would have been the first to scream foul at this type of comment,” Hughes said. “They would have said he was insensitive, an embarrassment and cruel to animals. Yet do we see those like the senators who raised funds for Cochran at the NRSC this week coming out and denouncing his comments and withdrawing their support? Of course not. Maybe birds of a feather do flock together.”

Labels: , , , , , , ,


FLORIDA: Charlie Crist Endorsed By HRC, Vows To Bring Marriage To State

Former (and possibly future) Florida Gov. Charlie Crist was today endorsed by the Human Rights Campaign and Equality Florida. The above tweet links to his petition page:
Love is love. Rick Scott has said marriage equality is a "non-issue." Republican Attorney General Pam Bondi argued that recognizing same sex marriages performed in other states would "impose significant public harm." Charlie will fight to bring marriage equality to Florida, because love is love. He's proud to have the support of the Human Rights Campaign and Equality Florida in our work. Add your name if you'll stand with him, too.
A poll released yesterday shows Crist tied with incumbent GOP Gov. Rick Scott.

Labels: , , , , , ,


Here's A 2006 Ad For A Dallas Titty Bar Starring The Christian Who Wrote The Texas GOP "Ex-Gay" Plank

Lone Star Q identified the author of the Texas GOP "ex-gay" plank as Jeremy Joel, but his IMDB profile lists him as Jeremy Schwab. Via a JMG reader, watch Joel/Schwab star in the below 2006 ad for the Dallas titty bar The Lodge, where you can play poker while topless women hang upside down from stripper poles - among other things.

UPDATE: Joel/Schwab has responded.

Labels: , , , , , , , , ,


AFA Refuses Donation With Milk Stamp

The Wire reports:
How much do anti-gay groups hate the new Harvey Milk stamps from the U.S. Postal Service? One organization refused to even open a mailed donation to their cause using one such stamp as postage. Staying true to their announcement that they would boycott all mail with the Milk stamps, the American Family Association told The Wire that the organization had mailed back our attempted $5 donation to their anti-gay group unopened. Speaking to The Wire, AFA's Director of Issues Analysis Bryan Fischer said that the very existence of the Harvey Milk stamp was akin to "honoring Jeffrey Dahmer on a postage stamp designed to honor the culinary arts." That's because Fischer and the AFA, citing a line from a biography of Milk, believe that Milk was a sexual predator. "He is not somebody that should ever be honored on a postage stamp," Fischer said.
Maybe the Wire shouldn't have announced the attempt two weeks ago? Focus On The Family and the Family Research Council both processed Milk-stamped donations sent by the Wire.

Labels: , , , , , , ,


Actress Ruby Dee Dies At Age 91

Labels: , , ,


Dan Savage Vs Rick Perry

Labels: , , ,


New "Secure The Borders" Ad

Airing today on CNN is an ad from a group called Americans For A Conservative Direction. On their board is former GOP Mississippi Gov. Haley Barbour and Dan Senor, who was the chief advisor to Paul Ryan's 2012 vice presidential campaign. Note that the ad stresses "no amnesty." I bet it didn't say that two days ago.

Labels: , , ,


Bush Senior Parachutes On 90th Birthday


Labels: , ,


WISCONSIN: AG Warns That Clerks Could Be Prosecuted Over Marriage Licenses

Wisconsin Attorney General J.B. Van Hollen today warned that county clerks could be prosecuted for issuing same-sex marriage licenses.
"You do have many people in Wisconsin basically taking the law into their own hands and there can be legal repercussions for that," Van Hollen said. "So, depending on who believes they're married under the law and who doesn't believe they're married under the law may cause them to get themselves in some legal problems that I think are going to take years for them and the courts to work out." He said he did not believe same-sex couples could be prosecuted but that county clerks risked that happening. "That's going to be up to district attorneys, not me," he said. "There are penalties within our marriage code, within our statutes, and hopefully they're acting with full awareness of what's contained therein."
Dane County Clerk Scott McDonell shrugged off the threat, adding that Van Hollen "needs to call off the dogs and turn off the fire hoses." (Tipped by JMG reader Matthew)

Labels: , , ,


VATICAN CITY: Pope Francis Holds Private Mass With President Of Viciously Anti-Gay Manif Pour Tous

Pope Francis today held a private mass with Ludovine Rochere, the president of France's viciously anti-gay Manif Pour Tous, which held many massive and often violent rallies during the battle for same-sex marriage.  From the right wing newspaper Le Figaro (via Google Translate):
The Pope "listened very carefully," according to the president of Manif Pour Tous, Ludovine Rochere, in a statement she made on Thursday morning in Sainte Marthe in Rome, where she was invited to participate in a private Mass with the Pope. "I was placed in the middle of the meeting," said Rochère, "but someone picked me before the start of the Mass, wondering if I was the president of the Manif Pour Tous, to put me at the forefront of the faithful along the aisle, just behind the priests."

This protocol detail is not unimportant. Especially during this Mass, where only thirty people are allowed. It clearly means that the Pope wanted to honor this non-denominational movement since he did invite its principle representative.

After Mass, Pope Francis gave an interview to Rochère, who told him that she was there "on behalf of hundreds of thousands of French who mobilized against the law for gay marriage." She also told him that they were currently advocating on the issue of medically assisted procreation (MAP) and surrogacy. Although the language barrier did not favor the exchange that lasted about five minutes (the Pope understands but does not speak French), he promised that he "would consider" the best way to send a message to the French.
In the photo above you'll see that Rochere presented Pope Francis with a Manif Pour Tous sweatshirt. According to Le Figaro, she handed it to him with a warning: "In France, the police will arrest you for wearing this." (Tipped by JMG reader Str8 Grandmother)

RELATED: Manif Pour Tous has been supported by France's neo-Nazis and American hate groups such as NOM, whose president Brian Brown attended one of their anti-gay rallies. Last year homocon Voldemort horcrux Robert Oscar Lopez spoke at a massive Manif Pour Tous rally.

NOTE: In the above excerpt from Le Figaro, I have paraphrased several times from the clunky text provided by Google Translate. French speakers - please correct any errors I may have made.

Labels: , , , , , , , , , ,


One Million Moms Vs Hotwire

I've changed the headline because you-know-who is already wailing about this ad. Just in via email:
Joe, Hotwire.com is in hot water with conservative families over their newest commercial. Consumers should be aware of the offensive ad because there are many other travel sites to choose from if parents are warned about this indecent ad. The commercial is about a couple going away for their anniversary while the grandparents take care of their kid for the night. But while one partner is dreaming of sleep and says, "It's all about sleep," the other partner says disappointedly, "Not all about sleep!" The dialogue goes on to say, "For me it is." And the reply is, "Lucky me." A commercial should not discuss what does or doesn't happen in bed, plus the couple consists of two men. Hotwire is obviously not concerned about the message they are sending our children. TAKE ACTION: Please send Hotwire.com an email letter asking them to pull their "Lucky Me" commercial immediately.

Labels: , , , , , , , , ,


NORTH DAKOTA: Another Marriage Suit

Via the Associated Press:
A second lawsuit has been filed in federal court challenging North Dakota’s ban on same-sex marriage. The 33-page complaint filed by Jan Jorgensen and Cindy Phillips, who live in Fargo and were legally married in Minnesota, says the couple is treated as “legal strangers” in their home state. Last week, seven couples filed a complaint to make North Dakota the last state with a challenged same-sex marriage ban. Jorgensen and Phillips are represented by the national gay rights group Lambda Legal. Attorney Kyle Palazzolo says the couple approached Lambda about legal action because of the marriage momentum around the country.

Labels: , ,


Radio Shrieker Dana Loesch Poses With Sandy Hook Gun On New Book Cover

For her new book cover, wingnut radio shrieker Dana Loesch poses with the same style of gun used to murder 20 children in Sandy Hook. Glenn Beck's The Blaze says the cover "will drive liberals crazy."
In the book, the co-founder of the St. Louis Tea Party and 2012 winner of Accuracy in Media’s Grassroots Journalism Award — not to mention fearless enemy of progressives — provides readers with a comprehensive guide to why the founders created the Second Amendment, the disastrous consequences of anti-gun legislation — particularly on women — and what citizens can do to protect themselves against a government and complicit media hell-bent on violating such rights. Having gone toe-to-toe with leftists on the issue many times, Loesch’s book further serves as a “how-to” guide for defeating the arguments parroted by the mainstream media and its champions.
The AR-15 was also used this week in Oregon's school shooting. Dana Loesch:
“Gun control is the ultimate war on women. Firearms are the equalizer between the sexes. Sam Colt made us equal, indeed. This book explores that, the racist roots of gun control, and debunks the biggest arguments made by anti-gun extremists. The AR is on the cover because it is the most vilified, misunderstood rifle in America, responsible for the fewest crimes. Education is the antidote to ignorance. Consider this book the medicine.”
I'm sure the parents of all those murdered children will appreciate having their misunderstanding corrected by Dana Loesch.

Labels: , , , , , , ,


GOP Meme Fail

Labels: , ,


At Google's Manhattan HQ

Google has altered the sign on its massive Chelsea headquarters. Every year several hundred "Gayglers" march in New York City's pride parade. Source.

Labels: , , ,


Angry Cab Drivers Gridlock Major European Cities In Protest Over Uber App

Via the Guardian:
Several major European cities ground to a halt on Wednesday as licensed taxi drivers took to the streets in mass protests against the smartphone taxi app Uber. Demonstrations in London, Paris, Madrid, Barcelona, Berlin, Milan and Rome caused travel chaos and long tailbacks, as taxi drivers protested against the app, which they argue is unregulated and threatens their livelihood. In London, Trafalgar Square and Whitehall were jammed from the start of the planned "go slow" at 2pm, as thousands of black cabs gathered honking their horns, bringing total gridlock to the centre of the capital, while supporters waved banners and started occasionally chanting: "Boris, out!" A spokeswoman for Uber, the US start-up which links minicab drivers to passengers via a GPS-based smartphone app, said the protests had boosted new users in London by 850%, as people tried to cope with the gridlock.

Labels: , , ,


Anderson Cooper Confronts Texas State Rep Over GOP "Ex-Gay" Party Plank

Cooper does a great job. Watch this.

(Via Raw Story)

Labels: , , , , , , , ,


TEXAS: "Ex-Gay" Plank Was Proposed By Man "Cured" With The Help Of NARTH

Lone Star Q reports that the "ex-gay" plank inserted in into the Texas GOP party platform last week was proposed by a local man who renounced his homosexuality with the help of NARTH.
His name is Jeremy Joel, according to his Facebook page, and he’s the founder of an ex-gay ministry called Joel 2:25 International. Joel, who lives in Dallas, isn’t using his full name in media interviews — due to fear of retaliation, according to KRLD — but it’s readily available online. Joel tells the Fort Worth Star-Telegram’s Bud Kennedy that the GOP platform amendment he initially proposed to Cathie Adams, president of the Texas Eagle Forum, is being distorted by the media. In a post on his “My Journey” blog on Tuesday, he explains further. “There are many of us who experience Same-Sex Attraction, but do NOT want to embrace the modern ‘Gay’ label and have moral beliefs that mean Gay Relationships are NOT an option for us at all,” Joel writes. Joel goes on to argue that reparative therapy is not harmful and can be effective — despite the conclusions of the American Psychological Association.
Joel claims that NARTH founder Joseph Nicolosi referred him to the infamous Journey Into Manhood retreat, where he reduced his attraction to men by 50% in just one weekend. Uh huh. Here's how straight reporter Ted Cox reported the "touch therapy" at his undercover visit to Journey Into Manhood:
At one point, the staff members all sang out in unison, their voices filling the high walls of the camp lodge. Somewhere in the room, a man sobbed over the sound of the music. It was the first night of “Journey into Manhood,” a 48-hour weekend retreat designed to help gay men become straight. In that room, about fifty men — some thirty “Journeyers” and fifteen staff members — sat on the carpeted floor of a ranch lodge two hours outside of Phoenix, Arizona. Most of the men, except for a few of the staff members, struggled to overcome their attraction to other men. Sometime during all that holding and touching and singing, while I was cradled in the Motorcycle position, I felt it: the unmistakable bulge pressing through his tight jeans. It was the first time in my life I had a felt another man’s erection.
Jeremy Joel's website is here.

Labels: , , , , , , , , ,


The Hottest Lesbian Kiss Ever

Cuter than you would think.

(Tipped by JMG reader Chris)

Labels: , ,


Pastor John McArthur: If Your Kid Comes Out, Turn Him Over To Satan

If your child comes out but refuses to repent, he must be isolated, disowned, and turned over to Satan.

Source. (Tipped by JMG reader Gregory)

Labels: , ,


Rick Perry: Gays Are Like Alcoholics

At an appearance in San Francisco, yesterday Texas Gov. Rick Perry said he doesn't know if "ex-gay" therapy works. And then he compared homosexuality to alcoholism.
The Texas Republican Party this month adopted a platform supporting access to "reparative therapy" for gays and lesbians, a widely discredited process intended to change sexual orientation. In response to an audience question about it Wednesday night, Perry said he did not know whether the therapy worked. Commonwealth Club interviewer Greg Dalton then asked him whether he believes homosexuality is a disorder. "Whether or not you feel compelled to follow a particular lifestyle or not, you have the ability to decide not to do that," Perry said. "I may have the genetic coding that I'm inclined to be an alcoholic, but I have the desire not to do that, and I look at the homosexual issue the same way." The large crowd gathered at the InterContinental Mark Hopkins hotel on Nob Hill included many Perry supporters. But the comment still drew a murmur of disbelief.
Let's see if he walks this one back. (Tipped by JMG reader Arthur)

Labels: , , ,


Another World Cup Jesus Flap

This time it's an Italian company.
The Brazilian Catholic Church has threatened to sue after Italian broadcaster Rai digitally draped Rio de Janeiro’s Christ the Redeemer statue in a soccer jersey to promote its coverage of the 2014 FIFA World Cup. A church lawyer for the Archdiocese of Rio compared the “blasphemous” move to making a commercial in which “mulatto girls engaged in lewd behavior with the gladiators of the Coliseum.” "The Archdiocese is deeply offended," Rodrigo Grazioli told O Globo, confirming that the church is considering slapping Rai with a $5.4 million lawsuit. If they win, the church promises to give the money to a charitable organization.
The commercial is at the link.

Labels: , , ,


Open Thread Thursday

What's your favorite gay bar? Past and present.

Labels: , ,


Wednesday, June 11, 2014

OREGON: School Shooter Details Emerge

Jared Padgett, the 15 year-old Oregon high school student who yesterday marched onto campus and murdered a classmate, had exactly the interests you would expect.
Police Chief Scott Anderson revealed that Padgett was armed with a legally owned AR-15 rifle, which he stole from his home and used to open fire and kill Emilio Hoffman, 14, and wound coach Todd Rispler. Police also revealed that Padgett arrived for his shooting spree on the school bus and was heavily armed, with nine loaded magazines, holding several hundred rounds carried in a guitar case - raising the possibility that he planned on committing mass murder. On Padgett's Facebook page, the 15-year-old liked two tactical knife companies, M4 assault rifles and political pages such as "Conservative American Military Veterans Against Barack Obama" and "We WILL NOT Be Disarmed."
Several hundred rounds. 

Labels: , , ,


Rep. Louis Gohmert: It's The Job Of Christians To Tell Non-Christians That They Are Totally Going To Hell

Via Raw Story:
Rep. Louie Gohmert (R-TX) on Tuesday grilled a pastor who supports the separation of church and state, asking him why he did not share the “good news” that non-Christians were going to Hell. At a House Judiciary Committee hearing about religious freedom on Tuesday, Gohmert told the Rev. Barry Lynn, who serves as the executive director for Americans United for the Separation of Church and State, that the Founders of the country — and Franklin Roosevelt — had often mentioned religion in their writings. “Do you believe in sharing the good news that will keep people from going to Hell, consistent with Christian beliefs?” the Texas Republican wondered. Lynn, however, disagreed with the congressman’s “construction of what Hell is like or why one gets there.” “So, you do not believe somebody would go to Hell if they do not believe Jesus is the way, the truth, the life?” Gohmert pressed.
You are going to spend eternity writhing in a lake of fire because God loves you so fucking much. And any law that stops somebody from screaming that to you at your government workplace? That law was written by Satan. 

Labels: , , , , , , ,


David Brat Campaign Scrubs Facebook As Media Digs Into His Staff And Statements

Tip of the iceberg, I guarantee it. Details. (Tipped by JMG reader Glenn)

Labels: , , , , , , ,


God Reflects On The Virginia Primary

Labels: , , ,


Dave Brat: I Won Because Jesus

Labels: , , , , , , , ,


Editorial Of The Day

From the Milwaukee Journal-Sentinel editorial board:
Attorney General J.B. Van Hollen feels obligated to try to block Friday's federal court ruling overturning Wisconsin's constitutional ban on same-sex marriages, so he asked two federal courts to stay the decision. Instead, Wisconsin authorities should follow the lead of Pennsylvania, where a Republican governor last month said he would not appeal a similar ruling in that state. Gov. Tom Corbett had wanted to fight the ruling but then decided that he likely would lose an appeal. Attorney General Kathleen Kane, a Democrat, already had declined to appeal the ruling, saying the state's ban was unconstitutional. Van Hollen and Gov. Scott Walker should realize how rapidly the sand has shifted under their feet on this issue. In fact, the debate is nearly over, and their side is losing it.

Labels: , ,


Retweet If You Agree

Labels: , , ,


Cantor To Resign As Majority Leader

The biggest upset of the year just got even more upset-y.
Eric Cantor, the second-ranking Republican in the House, will step down from his post as majority leader after losing his primary bid Tuesday night, sources tell NBC News. Aides say they expect Cantor to tell his colleagues he will resign from the position at a meeting of House Republicans at 4 p.m. ET. The decision, first reported by the Washington Post, is sure to send shockwaves through Capitol Hill as members of the conservative and establishment wings of the Republican Party jockey to fill the influential post. Cantor had previously been discussed as a potential successor to Boehner if the current speaker stepped down.
Leading the buzz to replace Cantor is Texas Rep. Pete Sessions.

Labels: , , ,