Vogueing Viral Star Becomes Model

Back in October a routine Las Vegas news clip went viral after viewers fixated on a kid that was fiercely posing and vogueing in the background. Since then 15 year-old Brendan Jordan has appeared on chat shows and was surprised by RuPaul with an invitation to a Drag Race taping. And now he's a model. From the text of the above American Apparel ad:

Brendan is from Las Vegas, Nevada. He’s half Peruvan (his dad was born and raised in Peru) and he learned Spanish from his extended family that helped care for him. He enjoys taking photos, shopping and collecting Disney memorabilia. In the future Brendan hopes to have his own TV show and design a clothing line. His biggest inspirations are his great grandmother Lucy and Lady Gaga. we were inspired by Brendan after seeing his fearless act of spontaneity and applaud his efforts with the LGBTQ community. His favorite styles of ours include the Clear PVC Circle Skirt and anything high-waisted.

Right wing sites such as Ben Shapiro's TruthRevolt are already mocking the campaign.

Viral Video Of The Day

1.2M views for an impromptu subway platform dance party led by a little girl. Filmed at the Bedford Avenue station in Williamsburg, Brooklyn.

Tony Perkins Has The Mississippi Gladz

"Not everyone is taking the courts’ stampede to same-sex 'marriage' sitting down. In Mississippi, leaders won a moral victory from the Fifth Circuit Court of Appeals -- which put the redefinition of marriage on ice, at least temporarily. Judges said they want to avoid the 'extreme confusion, uncertainty, and chaos' that is wreaking havoc on states like Utah, where couples can 'marry' while litigation is ongoing. Unlike other states, where irresponsible judges have given the green light to gay licenses, the federal appeals court froze the lower court’s ruling, giving local conservatives a chance to catch their breath. But that doesn’t mean they’re slowing down. Governor Phil Bryant (R) and Attorney General Jim Hood -- who have been outspoken defenders of marriage -- are committed to going to bat for the voters’ will, which was expressed by an amendment to the state constitution 10 years ago." - Hate group leader Tony Perkins, via press release.

TEXAS: MSNBC Follows Up On Survivor In 2012 Hate Crime Shooting

Two years ago a young lesbian was shot and killed and her girlfriend was severely wounded as they visited a south Texas park. Vigils for the pair were held that weekend in several major cities. In June of this year Texas police arrested a suspect. Today MSNBC follows up on the case and the survivor as she struggles with disabilities resulting from the attack.

House Republicans Attempt To Stall Executive Order On Federal Contractors

Earlier this week the Department of Labor issued its final rule on the implementation of President Obama's executive order banning federal contractors from discriminating against LGBT employees. House Republicans are now trying to stall the order's enactment. Chris Geidner reports at Buzzfeed:

House Education and Workforce Committee Chair John Kline, a Republican from Minnesota, and Rep. Tim Walberg, the Republican chair of the Subcommittee on Workforce Protections, made the request for a 60-day public comment period for the rule in a letter to the head of the office responsible for enforcing it. “[W]e understand the public was not afforded an opportunity to submit comments as provided under the Administrative Procedures Act (APA),” Kline and Walberg wrote to Office of Federal Contract Compliance Programs Director Patricia Shiu. “Public comment is essential to all rulemakings.” After laying out their argument, they write, “We therefore urge OFCCP to withdraw its final regulation submitted to [Office of Management and Budget] … so the process for implementing [Obama’s executive order] can be done with the transparency and public participation typically afforded under the APA.” They ask for a response from Shiu “no later than December 17, 2014.”

The Labor Department is reviewing the letter.

MISSOURI: State Files Notice Of Marriage Appeal To Eighth Circuit Court

Four days before a lower court's stay is due to expire, tonight the state of Missouri filed notice that they will appeal the overturn of the ban on same-sex marriage to the Eighth Circuit Court. The initial stayed ruling on the ACLU's case came on November 7th, at which time Missouri Attorney General Chris Koster promised tonight's action. Both Koster and Missouri Gov. Jay Nixon say they support same-sex marriage.

In a separate case, same-sex marriage remains legal in St. Louis and those marriages are recognized statewide. Also this week, GOP lawmakers filed an attempt to gain standing to appeal the ruling that forces Missouri to recognize out of state marriages. There's been no change to Wikipedia's map, but I'm posting it again as the situation in Missouri remains quite confusing. Once filed, Missouri's appeal will be the first same-sex marriage case before the Eighth Circuit Court since Nebraska's Bruning case in 2006.

UPDATE: Wikipedia has regressed Missouri's stripes.

Liberty Counsel Has The DC Sadz

Via press release:

This week, the D.C. City Council trampled on the religious liberty of Christians in Washington, D.C. The council repealed an exemption in the Human Rights Act that allowed private religious schools to practice their faith pertaining to human sexuality. Additionally, the council banned sexual orientation change efforts (SOCE), violating the fundamental rights of counselors, minors, and parents. Liberty Counsel sent a letter in opposition to Bill 20-803 to every member of the DC City Council. Yesterday’s vote by the DC City Council will have a severe impact on religious liberty in our nation’s capital. The unfortunate irony here is that this bill was passed in the name of “human rights.” Liberty Counsel will continue to stand with the churches, schools, therapists, and families of Washington, D.C., in opposition to this restriction of religious freedom.

Yesterday Liberty Counsel appealed New Jersey's "ex-gay" torture ban to SCOTUS, the same court that told them to go fuck themselves when they appealed California's ban.

MISSISSIPPI: Fifth Circuit Sets 1/9 Date For Oral Arguments In Marriage Appeal

Yesterday the Fifth Circuit declined to consolidate the Mississippi case with the cases out of Louisiana and Texas, but today the court did schedule Mississippi to be heard on the same day as the other two. Also yesterday the Fifth Circuit granted Mississippi Gov. Phil Bryant an indefinite stay extension while the appeal is being considered. A lower court's stay would have expired next week.

MISSOURI: Lawmakers Seek Standing To Appeal Marriage Recognition Ruling

Via the Moonie Times:

Missouri’s Republican legislative leaders are seeking to appeal a court ruling requiring officials to recognize same-sex marriages performed in other states. Senate President Pro Tem Tom Dempsey and House Speaker Tim Jones have filed a motion asking to intervene in a Jackson County court case so they can appeal it to the state Supreme Court. Judge J. Dale Youngs ruled in October that Missouri must legally recognize same-sex couples who got married elsewhere - even though Missouri has a constitutional amendment prohibiting gay marriage. Dempsey said no taxpayer dollars are being spent on the legislators’ court filings.

The Couch Gag Before Christmas

Tomacco!

Tweet Of The Day - Sam Smith

For the first time ever, Grammy nominations were not announced all at once today and instead they've been trickling out on Twitter since early morning. So far gay crooner Sam Smith has in fact been nominated for five Grammys including Best New Artist, Record Of The Year, and Song Of The Year. The nominations for Album Of The Year, for which Smith is considered a lock, will be announced tonight on CBS at 9PM. See the rest of this year's nominations here.

UPDATE:  Other gays with Grammy nominations.

Principal soloist Harris scored a nod in the Best Musical Theater Album category for Hedwig and the Angry Inch. It will compete with Aladdin, Beautiful: The Carole King Musical, A Gentlemen's Guide to Love and Murder and West Side Story. Cheyenne Jackson is one of the principal soloists nominated for the West Side Story album. Filmmaker John Waters of Hairspray fame is nominated in the Best Spoken Word Album category for the audio version of his book Carsick: John Waters Hitchhikes Across America. Waters has competition from a beloved gay icon, Joan Rivers, who died in September at the age of 81. Rivers is nominated for her audio of her best seller Diary of a Mad Diva.

New Clip From Into The Woods

Not a trailer.

CALIFORNIA: 12 Year-Old Boy Cheerleader Commits Suicide Over Anti-Gay Bullying

A twelve- year-old California boy has reportedly committed suicide following anti-gay bullying because he enjoyed being a cheerleader for his middle school.

Ronin Shimizu, a former student at Folsom Middle School in Folsom, California, took his life on Wednesday afternoon but police are not releasing any further details about his death. The school district has confirmed that the boy's parents, who also have a younger son, complained on multiple occasions that he was being bullied and officials said that they followed protocol. But friends say that the taunting continued. He recently left Folsom Middle School to be home schooled. On Thursday night, friends and their parents gathered outside the Shimizu home to hold a quiet candle light vigil. "I heard that people called him gay because he was a cheerleader," one of his teammates told CBS Sacramento at the vigil. Ronin was the only male cheerleader with the Vista Junior Eagles Cheer Team. Daniel Thigpen with the Folsom Cordova School District said that officials were looking into the complaints made by the boy's family. "Any allegations of bullying related to this specific incident, we're certainly reviewing how we responded to those and we'll use that as an opportunity to always take a look at how we respond to future allegations," he said. Grief counselors are at the school to help students and staff. The Vista Jr Eagles, the team Ronin had cheered for, also released a statement as they shared photos of the young, grinning boy in his cheer uniform.

Many photos are the link above.


(Tipped by JMG reader Roman)

One Million Moms: We Censored Dozens Of Anti-Christian Shows In 2014

Just in via email:  

As we draw near to the end of 2014, I want to express my appreciation for the support you have shown to us. One Million Moms continues to stand up for traditional and Christian values in our culture. The Lord is using ordinary people like you and me to make a huge difference! If we do not say something, then who will? Here is a summary of One Million Moms’ remarkable victories in 2014. One Million Moms protested numerous inappropriate programs by letting the network know why 1MM supporters would not be watching and asking sponsors to pull their support. One of these shows was the blasphemous, profanity-filled show Black Jesus.

Over a dozen sponsors pulled their financial support from that program. Other programs that lost financial support after sponsors were contacted by 1MM were: Mistresses, Satisfaction, About A Boy, Moms, Good Luck Charlie, Bad Teacher, Dracula, Dads, The Cleveland Show, The Client List, 2 Broke Girls, My Five Wives, How To Get Away With Murder, and ABC Family Channel shows such as The Fosters, Young and Hungry, and Mystery Girls. Bad Teacher, The Client List, The Cleveland Show, Dads, Mystery Girls and Dracula were all canceled, many surviving only one season. Lack of advertisers played a huge part in the cancellation of these shows. 1MM member activism and pressure on advertisers and networks helped drive the decision to cancel.

One Million Moms is particular proud that Care.com pulled their advertising from the Disney Channel after Good Luck Charlie aired an episode featuring a family with two moms.

REMINDER: When powerful national Christian groups with millions of members call for boycotts, that is a righteous use of the free market in order to preserve morality, marriage, family, and the American way. But when gay folks call for a boycott, THAT is homofascist intimidation, intolerance, bullying, economic terrorism, a stifling of religious liberty, and an attempt to deny the freedom of speech. And don't you forget it.

MAP: Marriage Supporting Pols By State

Via the Washington Post:

About 45 percent of all governors and members of Congress across the country support same-sex marriage, and in all but 10 states there is at least one member of Congress or the governor who does. The percentage of politicians who support marriage for same-sex couples is slightly lower than the percentage of Americans who do. A September Pew poll found that 49 percent of respondents were in favor of gay men and lesbians being allowed to legally marry, while 41 percent were opposed and 10 percent didn’t know. Using information from the Human Rights Campaign and governors’ public statements, the percentage of elected officials who support marriage for same-sex couples was mapped out. Vacant seats were not included in states’ total, and elected officials whose views on marriage were not clear were not counted as being supportive.

Six states are ranked at 100%: Connecticut, Delaware, Hawaii, Massachusetts, Rhode Island, and Vermont. Hit the link for the interactive map.

Linda Harvey: Boycott Macy's

"I have not been inside a Macys since 2011. I used to spend quite a bit of money during the holidays at our local Macys—but no longer. This decision was reinforced as I watched and photographed the huge Macys’ red star balloon flying high above the Columbus 'gay' pride parade in both 2013 and 2014. The banner carried by the Macys’ employee group marchers read, 'Pride and Joy.' The star at Christmas is a compelling Christian symbol, evoking the story that means a lot to many of us this time of year. The wise men followed the Star of Bethlehem and worshipped before the infant Savior, Jesus Christ, and offered him priceless gifts worthy of the King of Kings. This Christmas season, think about the fitting room at Macys and whether you would feel welcome there. If you are a male, would your wife, daughters or mom be safe and comfortable there? Do you agree that this seems highly odd, that Macys would so cavalierly disregard the preferences of the vast majority of the women who shop there? This seems marginally insane, actually. Can businesses be treated for mental illness?" - Hate group leader Linda Harvey, writing for BarbWire.

Bill Donohue: Atheists Are Literally Insane And Suffer Premature Deaths

Kirk Cameron Is America's Top Bottom

Kirk Cameron's Saving Christmas is now the worst-rated movie in the history of IMDB, beating out such cinematic classics as Track Of The Moon Beast and The Incredibly Strange Creatures Who Stopped Living And Became Mixed Up Zombies. I'd kind of like to see that second one. (Tipped by JMG readers Mike and Tom)

ASAP Science: The Science Love Song

Really cute. These guys are gay, you know.

(Tipped by JMG reader Daddy Ray)

Editorial Of The Day

From the Tampa Bay Times:

A federal appeals court in Atlanta ruled on the right side of history by refusing to extend a ban on gay marriage in Florida. The ruling upholds the dignity of every human being regardless of sexual orientation, and it protects the American right to privacy by limiting the government's reach into everyday life. Attorney General Pam Bondi should embrace these same solid values and quit wasting Florida's money and tarnishing its reputation by continuing to stand in the way. Bondi's spokeswoman said Thursday the office is reviewing the order, but it is time to let this go. The state should have heeded the federal court's call for justice — not challenged it, which only drags out the day until committed couples can get on with their lives. A further appeal of Hinkle's stay would have the warped effect of making the winners in this legal battle the losers. That's gone on long enough. There is no reason to wait for the U.S. Supreme Court, as Bondi has proposed. It remains unclear whether the Supreme Court will act, although it has sent conflicting signals. Bondi should drop the state's appeal and allow Floridians to get on with their lives. The new year should bring a new opportunity for gay couples to enjoy the full freedoms to which all Americans are entitled.

Porno Pete Schools Us On Hypocrisy

Peter LaBarbera gets very upset when I use the term "Teabagistan" as I did earlier today. I responded, for the hundredth time, that I'll stop using that expression as soon he stops using homofascist, gaystapo, deviant, and pervert. He responded by calling me a homofascist and member of the "Gay-KK." That'll teach me! LaBarbera then refused to denounce his BFF's claims about "sodomite semen" in Starbucks coffee.

Putin: America Is Worse On Gay Rights

Vladimir Putin today claimed that the United States treats gay people worse than Russia does because some states still have anti-sodomy laws on the books. From the poorly-written report by the official Russian news agency TASS:

"Russia recognizes and does not infringe on the rights of non-traditional sexual orientation,” he said. “It is a label (of a country violating rights of such people) attached to the Russian Federation by other countries, especially by those which have criminal responsibility for people of non-traditional sexual orientation,” the president said at a meeting with human rights activists. He said in the state of the nation address he mentioned the family is a clear priority in Russia. “This should not be considered as our intention to persecute people of whatever non-traditional orientation,” Putin said. He said among the countries which tried to apply the homophobia label to Russia was, among others, the US, where some states have criminal responsibility for homosexuality, though the law had been suspended by the court decision. “We do not have criminal responsibility of the kind,” he said.

Putin concluded: "We are not punishing anyone. But traditional family, healthy nation — those are our choices. One does not exclude the other, and one does not affect the other. I believe, a balanced approach like this is absolutely correct."

RELATED: Anti-sodomy laws have not yet been formally repealed in these states: Alabama, Florida, Idaho, Kansas, Louisiana, Michigan, Mississippi, North Carolina, Oklahoma, South Carolina, Texas, and Utah. 

TRAILER: Looking: Season 2

IRELAND: Catholic Bishops Campaign Against Same-Sex Marriage Referendum

Via Ireland's Journal:

A statement from Catholic bishops that it would be a “grave injustice” for same-sex marriage to proceed is being distributed to over 1,300 parishes throughout Ireland. The missive was put together by the Irish Catholic Bishops’ Conference and seeks to inform members “in preparation for the debate which will inevitably unfold during the coming referendum.” The 16-page document entitled “The Meaning of Marriage” argues that, “The union of marriage provides for the continuation of the human race and the development of human society." It continues, arguing that “to redefine the nature of marriage would be to undermine it as the fundamental building block of our society.” “Children have a natural right to a mother and a father,” according to the statement.

The referendum is in May and is expected to pass easily. (Tipped by JMG reader Brandon)

Today In Teabagistan

This is a big hit on Twitchy.

Billboard Of The Day

Via the Catholic League:

For the past several years, we’ve been engaged in a battle of the billboards with our atheist foes at Christmastime. The typical venue has been New York City, the media capital of the nation. This year we chose to put our mark on the culture by making a statement in Los Angeles, right outside of Hollywood. The billboard, which will be on display until December 28, is huge and illuminated. It is posted on Pico Boulevard, just west of Fairfax Avenue, in one of the most heavily traveled East-West arteries in Los Angeles. Located in the Miracle Mile district of Mid-City, the billboard targets traffic traveling between Century City and Downtown Los Angeles. No, the Hollywood moguls who disrespect Christians are not the same as radical Muslims who behead us, but both are full of hate. Moreover, both need to be challenged. Christians are fed up with the barbarians abroad and the bigots at home. It’s time all these bullies learned to practice the virtue of tolerance and the meaning of diversity.

MICHIGAN: State House Stalls LGBT Rights Bill After Anti-Gay Speech

The Michigan House yesterday tabled a comprehensive LGBT rights bill after testimony by anti-gay activist Rev. Stacy Swimp. Via Raw Story:

“This proposed legislation is yet another step in the assault on religious freedom,” Swimp opined. “I asked the Commerce Committee today, can you truly define sexual orientation? Do you truly know what you are potentially aligning yourselves with? There’s a comparison between the homosexual allegation of gay rights and black civil rights,” he continued. “And as a minister of the Gospel, and as a black American whose parents participated in the Freedom Rides — my ancestors were slaves in plantations in the state of South Carolina, Arkansas, Tennessee, Indiana and Mississippi — I stand here today rather offended.”

“I ask, has anyone from the LGBT community ever had to stand up or step off of the sidewalk whenever a straight person walked by? Lesbian, homosexual, bisexual, and transgender Americans have never been denied their voting rights, nor have they been denied the right to assemble. No one from the LGBT community has ever had fire hoses turned on them by the police department, they have never had to drink out of an LGBT water fountain. There is no record of LGBT — homosexuals, lesbians being forced to sit at the back of the bus in an LGBT section.”

Watch the full testimony..

The Next Big LGBT Rights Battle

Via the New York Times:

As barriers to same-sex marriage fall across the country, gay rights advocates are planning their next battle on Capitol Hill: a push for sweeping legislation to protect lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender people from discrimination, similar to the landmark Civil Rights Act that President Lyndon B. Johnson signed in 1964. Plans for a so-called comprehensive lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender civil rights bill are still in their infancy, and advocates say the campaign could take a decade or longer. With Republicans taking control of the House and the Senate in January, they say the measure has little chance of passing in the next two years. “This will not be an easy struggle,” said Representative David Cicilline, Democrat of Rhode Island, who intends to introduce legislation this spring. “It forces a much larger conversation about our values as a country. Are we going to be a country in which we prohibit discrimination of any kind against individuals based on their sexual orientation?” [snip]

[L]awyers for an array of gay rights and civil rights groups — including the A.C.L.U., the Lambda Legal Defense Fund and the Human Rights Campaign — have been meeting for the past six months to work on a proposed bill. The Human Rights Campaign has been convening focus groups to gauge public opinion on the plan. On Thursday, it issued a report making the case that a broad civil rights bill would “make ours a more equal nation,” as Chad Griffin, the president of the group, wrote. The Center for American Progress, a liberal research organization, will issue its own report next week. The push signals a major change in strategy. For the past 20 years, gay rights advocates have tried, unsuccessfully, to pass much narrower legislation banning discrimination only in employment. Now, with analysts predicting that the Supreme Court will soon legalize same-sex marriage in all 50 states, movement leaders have coalesced around the broader approach.

Hit the link and read the full piece.

Orion Launches Successfully

Via the Guardian:

Friday’s launch went smoothly, and cameras mounted on the rocket beamed back stunning pictures of the Earth as Orion blasted into the sky. The mission could have huge implications, despite its brief four-and-a-half-hour duration. Orion will fly farther than any spacecraft made for astronauts has in decades, about 3,600 miles (5,800km) above the Earth’s surface, and is a test case for a capsule that NASA hopes will one day land on Mars. As its second orbit comes closer to the planet, the Orion capsule will separate and re-enter the atmosphere, eventually splashing down into the Pacific off the coast of southern California, from where it will be recovered.

First Circuit Denies Scott Lively's Petition To Dismiss Crimes Against Humanity Suit

The First Circuit Court of Appeals today denied Scott Lively's dismissal demand in the crimes against humanity suit filed against him by Sexual Minorities Uganda. See the ruling at Equality Case Files.

Mississippi Retreats To Goldenrod

As Mississippi no longer has a set date for its marriage stay to expire, the Wikipedia map monitors have retreated its color from cerulean to goldenrod. Or is it brown mustard?

FOTF Has The Florida Sadz

BREAKING: Fifth Circuit Extends Stay On Mississippi Marriage Pending Appeal

On November 26th, Mississippi Gov. Phil Bryant and state Attorney General Jim Hood filed a motion with the Fifth Circuit Court which demanded an indefinite stay extension on the previous day's marriage ruling by a federal district court. The lower court's two week stay was scheduled to expire on December 10th and according to the state's demand, unless an emergency extension was granted, there could be another marriages on/marriages off  "debacle" as was seen in Utah. This afternoon the Fifth Circuit Court granted the state their stay extension. See the ruling at Equality Case Files. Sorry, Mississippi. There won't be any marriages this year.

TRAILER: I Am Santa Claus

Catholic League blowhard Bill Donohue is very angry about this documentary.

CNN executives are very excited that one of their own, Morgan Spurlock, is the man behind “I Am Santa Claus.” To prove how happy they are, they are flagging a supremely positive article about the flick by one of their online columnists, John D. Sutter. The source of their ebullience has nothing to do with the artistic quality of the documentary: it has everything to do with Santa’s homosexuality. They like that a lot. How do we know that Santa is a homosexual? Not by his dress—he looks like a regular Santa. It’s by his behavior: he likes to kiss men and boasts about his job working in a strip joint. Reference is made, of course, to male genitilia [sic]. But at least Santa is prudent: he points to a sign above a food station that warns homosexuals to keep their pants on. This reminds me of San Francisco where homosexuals are told to put a towel below their bottom before sitting down in a restaurant. Warning signs are a thoughtful, if regrettable, gesture. We will know the day when homosexuals are just like the rest of us when they stop stereotyping themselves. Until then, play it safe and “make the yuletide” straight.

MISSISSIPPI: Fifth Circuit Denies Request For Same Hearing As Texas & Louisiana

The Fifth Circuit Court today agreed to have the same panel of judges hear oral arguments in the marriage cases out of Mississippi, Texas, and Louisiana. However the court refused the Campaign For Southern Equality's request to consolidate all three cases. Texas and Louisiana are scheduled to be heard on January 9th. The expedited date for the Mississippi hearing has not been announced at this writing.

UPDATE: It appears that the appellants' final reply brief is due on January 2nd. I'll update this post if we get the date for oral arguments for Mississippi.

TRAILER: Terminator: Genisys

Via The Verge:

The first trailer for Terminator: Genisys has just been released, and it's clear that this fifth movie is a very different kind of Terminator film than what you're used to. It's a reboot of the series, and it's definitely kicking things up a notch (or more) when it comes to action and scale. The film takes place in an alternate universe where Sarah Connor is a total badass even back in 1984 and, for some reason, has a Terminator for a father. It sounds totally insane, and it probably is. Even for how crazy everything looks, it's hard for any fan of the original two movies not to be intrigued by what's going on here.

Crazy Eyes Suffers Final Hilarious Fail

Via Mother Jones:

What happened to her big protest? Bachmann's office did not respond to a request for comment. A TPP spokesman said in an email that the "gathering in Washington is not a Tea Party Patriots event per se, but we are fully in favor of it and have encouraged our supporters in the area to come out if they can." The lackluster response to Bachmann's high-noon call is a far cry from five years ago, when the congresswoman made a similar appeal on Fox for a protest against Obamacare. She asked for tea partiers to hit Capitol Hill and tell legislators "don't you dare take away my health care." And the fledgling tea party movement responded enthusiastically. The Koch-backed Americans for Prosperity dispatched dozens buses full of activists—29 just from New Jersey. FreedomWorks, then headed by former House majority leader Dick Armey, organized more. Glenn Beck promoted the event. Thousands of people showed up, as did the entire GOP House leadership. The momentum generated from that rally helped the GOP in the 2010 midterm elections. Bachmann, after a failed run for the White House, is spending her last days on the Hill writing listicles for BuzzFeed. And even before her final day as a congresswoman, Bachmann, with this non-rally, seems a has-been.

Here's Bachmann's big call for a massive protest, which aired on Fox News on November 20th.

Headline Of The Day

Glenn Beck's readers are ever so pissed. In case you don't know, the Satanic Temple is actually an atheist pranking group.

TRAILER: The Boy In The Dress

Via the BBC:

The Boy in the Dress is the story of Dennis, a 12 year-old boy who lives in an ordinary house, in an ordinary street, in an ordinary town, but he feels different,. His mum has gone off with a roofer and he lives with his dad and brother - everything is boring and grey. Dennis feels like he wants to escape to some sort of magical world, and discovers it in the most unexpected place - Raj's newsagent. A chance view of Kate Moss on the cover of a fashion magazine introduces Dennis to a whole new world of colour and creativity. Thankfully he has an ally in Lisa (Temi Orelaja), the coolest girl in school who decides to teach him everything she knows about the world of fashion and clothes. Dennis is enthralled, and after a little persuasion from Lisa tries on a dress she has created, soon they decide to try and pass Dennis off as 'Denise', Lisa's French pen pal. But can a boy wear a dress, and what will the headmaster Mr Hawthorn, his Dad, best friend Darvesh (Aaron Chawla) and his school football team-mates think if they find out?

HomoQuotable - Christopher Doyle

"Tuesday’s unanimous decision by the D.C. Council is a victory for gay pedophiles everywhere, but especially in the District. Now that sexually abused and confused minors will no longer have the ability to see a licensed mental health provider in the District to help them reduce unwanted same-sex attractions due to sexual molestation, there will be less reports of sexual abuse by D.C. children, because they will increasingly be indoctrinated by D.C. -based organizations, such as HRC, that they are born gay and may not seek out treatment for their homosexual feelings brought on by pedophiles such as HRC’s Terry Bean. The real torture that is occurring is a life-time of hopelessness that a sexually abused child will have to undergo after they are raped by the likes of HRC’s Terry Bean. No wonder HRC was one of the key supporters of this bill. Their headquarters are in Washington, D.C. and they need to ensure access to as many young boys as possible to keep their leadership satiated. Now we have a better idea as to what Terry Bean may have been doing for those ten hours per week that he is listed as 'serving' on HRC’s Board of Directors." - Christopher Doyle, head of the "ex-gay" crackpot group Voice Of The Voiceless, via press release.

NEW JERSEY: Liberty Counsel Appeals "Ex-Gay" Torture Ban To SCOTUS

After losing twice before the Ninth Circuit Court, in late June the Liberty Counsel was smacked down by SCOTUS in their attempt to overturn California's ban on "ex-gay" torture. But they are trying again, this time in New Jersey. Via press release:

Today Liberty Counsel filed its Petition for a Writ of Certiorari in King v. Christie, Liberty Counsel’s case on behalf of licensed mental health professionals who are providing, and families who are receiving, counseling to overcome their unwanted same-sex attractions, behaviors, or identity. The Third Circuit upheld New Jersey’s ban on change counseling, but its discussion of the law created a circuit split on the issue of the appropriate level of scrutiny applied to regulations of professional speech and also on the issue of whether counseling in this area constitutes speech at all. Liberty Counsel is asking the High Court to resolve those critical questions on the rights of licensed professionals. “If counseling regarding change is banned today in New Jersey, tomorrow a different legislature with an opposite political agenda could ban affirmation and allow only counsel regarding change,” said Mat Staver, Founder and Chairman of Liberty Counsel. “The state thwarts self-determination when it interferes with the counselor-client or doctor-patient relationship,” Staver concluded.

As in their losing California appeal, the New Jersey appeal was filed on behalf of NARTH. Read today's filing.

RELATED: This week the Washington DC City Council voted unanimously to ban "ex-gay" torture.

Jon Stewart On Eric Garner

Via Gothamist:

Sharing the same outrage that many felt after an NYPD officer was not indicted for choking Eric Garner to death, a disgusted Jon Stewart appeared on The Daily Show last night. He said, "I honestly don't know what to say. If comedy is tragedy plus time, I need more fucking time. But I would really settle for less fucking tragedy to be honest with you." He also pointed out there's video with Garner's death, whereas with Michael Brown's death in Ferguson, Missouri, there were conflicting witness accounts and forensics, "None of the ambiguities of the Ferguson case exist here in the Staten Island case... the guy's not acting threatening, and we know that not through witness testimony, unreliable bystanders, but because we are fucking watching it."

UPDATE: The clip has been pulled. Watch it here.

Chess Boxing: It's A Thing

Terry Bean Pleads Not Guilty

Yesterday HRC co-founder Terry Bean pleaded not guilty at his arraignment on charges that he had sex with a 15 year-old boy that Bean and his then-partner met on the hook-up site Grindr.

Bean, 66, was arraigned Wednesday morning in Eugene. Both he and his ex-boyfriend, 25-year-old Kiah Lawson, were arrested last month and charged with two counts of third-degree sodomy and one count of third-degree sexual abuse. Lawson pleaded not guilty to all counts in late November. In a statement, Bean’s attorney Kristen Winemiller said, “Terry absolutely did not have sex with a minor. As we’ve said before the circumstances behind this are not what they appear to be. Terry Bean is a principled and esteemed citizen of the state … He’s eager to share the truth with the public and with all of his supporters. He has been the victim of a series of crimes perpetrated by a group of men that include his so-called ex partner and now co-defendent Kiah Lawson. “Out of respect for the court today we will not comment on the specifics, but we are eager for the opportunity to represent the facts to the court and we look forward to clearing Terry’s name.”

RELATED: Yesterday right wing shrieker Michelle Malkin published a column in which she accuses the New York Times of ignoring the story to protect President Obama.

Consider this: Harry Reid has taken to the Senate floor to repeatedly demonize GOP donors and upstanding businessmen Charles and David Koch for exercising their First Amendment rights. Hollywood celebrities Alec Baldwin, Kathleen Turner, Jason Alexander and Stephen Colbert have all targeted conservative Citizens United for its historic role in protecting political free speech. All are mute on a powerful Democratic donor actually accused of heinous sexual abuse crimes against a child. While The New York Times has spilled gallons of ink on the campus rape epidemic, the GOP’s Mark Foley underage page scandal and the Catholic Church’s pedophilia problem, it has remained silent the past six months on the alleged child rape scheme of one of the Democratic Party’s most prominent campaign contributors and activists. On Tuesday, the paper saw fit to run a 652-word A-section story on an obscure GOP aide who was forced to quit her job after criticizing Obama’s daughters on her Facebook page. Nothing on Terry Bean.

OHIO: Judge Mistakenly OK's Gay Divorce

Via the Columbus Dispatch:

An Athens County judge approved the county’s first same-sex divorce last week, but not intentionally. Athens County Common Pleas Judge George McCarthy, who approved the divorce on Nov. 25, said the next day that he was unaware that both parties were women when he signed the judgment. “Ohio goes through great pains to make things gender-neutral (in documents),” he said. This week, he said he plans to hold a hearing in the next few weeks so the two women have a chance to tell their story and he can offer his reasoning for why he likely will vacate his ruling on their divorce. He cited a federal appeals court decision last month that upheld Ohio’s statewide ban on same-sex marriage. McCarthy said that decision likely invalidated his judgment to grant a divorce to the former couple.

(Tipped by JMG reader Delmer)

Local Haters Have The Florida Sadz

"Today, we grieve. We grieve for the children who now have no chance of growing up with both a mom and a dad. We mourn the loss of a culture and its ethical foundation. We mourn for a culture that continues to turn its back on timeless principles. The state has an interest in defining, protecting and promoting natural marriage and as long as we have breath, even if it takes 20, 30 or 50 years, we will never give up on this issue. e may grieve today, but we will not despair. We will not throw in the towel. We will not give up. Natural marriage will never be on the wrong side of history because it's rooted in the human experience." - John Stemberger, head of the Florida Family Policy Council, who has said that same-sex marriage is an issue "worth dying for."

House Panel Rejects ENDA

Last night a GOP-dominated House panel rejected a last minute attempt to pass ENDA before Congress adjourns for the year. Chris Johnson reports at Washington Blade:

Rep. Alcee Hastings (D-Fla.) introduced the amendment on behalf of Jared Polis (D-Colo.), who’s gay and chief sponsor of ENDA, during House Rules Committee consideration of the fiscal year 2015 defense authorization bill. Polis is a member of the Rules Committee, but was absent when the amendment came up for a vote. The panel, which is heavily stacked in favor of Republicans, rejected the amendment 7-3 without discussion by a party-line vote. Had the Rules Committee accepted the amendment, it would have made ENDA part of the defense spending measure before it headed to a vote on the full House floor.

Lawmakers who voted against the amendment were House Rules Committee Chair Pete Sessions (R-Texas), Rep. Virginia Foxx (R-N.C.), Rep. Tom Cole (R-Okla.), Rep. Rob Woodall (R-Ga.), Rep. Richard Nugent (R-Fla.), Rep. Daniel Webster (R-Fla.) and Rep. Michael Burgess (R-Texas). Voting in favor of the amendment were Reps. Louise McIntosh Slaughter (D-Calif.), James McGovern (D-Mass.) and Hastings. Rep. Ileana Ros-Lehtinen (R-Fla.) is one of eight House Republican co-sponsors of ENDA and a House Rules Committee member, but she wasn’t present during the committee session to vote on the amendment.

The Senate approved ENDA late last year. There is little chance of the bill moving forward again once the new Congress is seated next month.

Sen. Rand Paul Blames Cigarette Taxes For The Death Of Eric Garner

(Via Igor Volsky at Think Progress)

Open Thread Thursday

Have you ever been arrested during a protest? How were you treated? Did the record of that arrest affect you in the future?

Tomorrow's New York Daily News

Eric Holder To Launch Justice Department Probe Into Death Of Eric Garner

Via The Hill:

Attorney General Eric Holder announced Wednesday night that the federal government is launching a civil rights investigation into the chokehold death of Eric Garner, a black man who was killed by a white police officer in July. A New York grand jury decided earlier in the day that it would not charge the officer. “Our prosecutors will conduct an independent, thorough, fair and expeditious investigation,” the outgoing attorney general said. The Justice Department had been monitoring the case since Garner was killed in July, Holder noted, but waited to initiate a probe until the local investigation concluded. Federal investigators will also review the material used by local law enforcement in the case. Holder said that he had spoken to Garner’s widow, New York Mayor Bill de Blasio, and President Obama about the investigation. A statement from Sen. Chuck Schumer (D-N.Y.) indicated that Loretta Lynch, Obama’s nominee to replace Holder and the U.S. Attorney for the Eastern District of New York, would lead the probe.

Obama Reacts To Garner Decision

De Blasio Urges Calm As Protests Over Garner Decision Are Planned Citywide

From his press release:

“Today’s outcome is one that many in our city did not want. Yet New York City owns a proud and powerful tradition of expressing ourselves through non-violent protest. We trust that those unhappy with today’s grand jury decision will make their views known in the same peaceful, constructive way. We all agree that demonstrations and free speech are valuable contributions to debate, and that violence and disorder are not only wrong – but hurt the critically important goals we are trying to achieve together. The grand jury is but one part of the process. There will still be an NYPD internal investigation. And we know the US Attorney is continuing her investigation. Should the federal government choose to act, we stand ready to cooperate."

Protests will take place tonight in Times Square, Union Square, and other areas with more planned for tomorrow. De Blasio has elected to skip tonight's tree lighting ceremony at Rockefeller Center where the police presence has been "significantly strengthened."

UPDATE: A die-in is underway at Grand Central.

JAMAICA: Mat Staver To Headline Event To Keep Homosexuality Criminalized

Miranda Blue writes at Right Wing Watch:

American Religious Right leaders Mat Staver and Judith Reisman are scheduled to be featured speakers at a conference in Jamaica this weekend hosted by a group that has been working to preserve the country’s criminal ban on consensual gay sex. The annual conference, hosted by the Jamaica Coalition for a Healthy Society, will focus on how “[c]ontemporary society has become increasingly hostile to the traditional definitions of marriage and family” and Staver, the head of Liberty Counsel, will discuss “global legal trends impacting the institution of the family.”

JCHS’s conference has drawn prominent American anti-gay activists before. In 2012, two top lawyers for the Alliance Defending Freedom spoke at the conference, one of whom defended Jamaica’s anti-sodomy law, calling homosexuality “harmful not only spiritually and psychologically, but also physically.” Last year, Americans For Truth About Homosexuality’s Peter LaBarbera made an appearance at the conference, urging Jamaicans: “Do not be like us, do not be like Britain, do not sit idly by as so-called ‘LGBT activists’ manipulate words and laws to achieve dominance in your country.”

The Jamaica Observer is calling the conference "an international human rights rally." Their article begins:

Dr. Judith A Reisman, former consultant to the United States departments of justice, education, health and human services -- whose daughter's life story was made into the 2004 movie Kinsey — will be one of the two international presenters at the International Human Rights Day Conference on Saturday at the Jamaica Conference Centre. The other speaker will be Matthew Staver, founder and chairman of Liberty Counsel Action, an international non-profit litigation, education and policy organisation dedicated to advancing religious freedom, sanctity of life and the family. The conference, to be held under the theme 'International Law, Development and the Family: The Family as a Strategy for Development', is one of two events being planned to commemorate International Human Rights Day by the Jamaica Coalition for a Healthy Society (JCHS) in collaboration with Jamaica CAUSE

It probably doesn't matter that Alfred Kinsey died 58 years ago, before Reisman's daughter was even born, and therefore Kinsey is definitely not her "life story." But hey, it's not like Reisman hasn't made a career out of deranged and debunked claims and lawsuits regarding the work of Alfred Kinsey.

BREAKING: 11th Circuit DENIES Request To Extend Stay On Florida Marriages

Read the denial. Suck it, Pam Bondi!