SAN DIEGO: Bride Surprises Guests By Handing Off Bouquet To Male Friend

See what happens next.

(Tipped by JMG reader Aaron)

UPDATE: One of the men in the video has entered the comments. He writes: "LOL... I'm the guy sitting and crying in the video... how did you get this?! My partner Mark and I have been together for 9 yrs and recently moved to Portland. We came home to San Diego for Stephanie and Tony's wedding and Mark surprised me... I said yes. ;)"

Corgi Beach Day

LAist reports:

Just when you though Corgi Beach Day couldn't get any bigger (and stumpier). So Cal Corgi National hit up Rosie's Dog Beach in Long Beach on Saturday for this season's beach day, and organizers estimate that over 800 corgis were in attendance, even more than the one in April. Not bad, considering they started with only 15 at the first Corgi Beach Day way back in 2012. Once again activities included a corgi kissing booth, costume contest, and the ever-so-popular corgi limbo contest. All proceeds went towards Queen's Best Stumpy Dog Rescue.

Back in the 80s I rescued a Corgi mix puppy from a cardboard box behind a Florida mall. He lived to be a very barky old man of 17.

CALIFORNIA: Top Cop Blasts "Debauched" Obergefell Ruling In Public Letter

A top police official in Stockton, California has published a viciously anti-gay letter in a local newspaper and says he doesn't care if it gets him fired.

Lt.Toby Will, a former Marine and 25-year veteran of the Stockton Police Department, wrote a 282-word letter to the editor of the Stockton Record which was published in Wednesday's edition under the heading "Marriage ruling shuns God." The letter claims those who live according to "vile and sinful passions" will be met with the wrath of God. "...when the highest office in the land publicly declares the legitimizing of homosexuality to be a great victory for the nation, you can be sure that God is giving that nation over to its own destruction," Will wrote. Stockton Assemblywoman Susan Eggman, chair of the lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender caucus, said she was shocked when she read the editorial page Wednesday morning. "I choked on my coffee," she said in her Capitol office. Eggman, who is in a same-sex marriage, believes the now-public views of a high-ranking police official could bring fear to Stockton's gay community. "When you need to call 911, you should feel safe that the person who responds is there to support you no matter who you are," Eggman said

Will insisted that his police affiliation and title be included with his letter. A spokesman for the Stockton police says the incident is under "administrative review."

CALIFORNIA: Gay Porn Actor Found Guilty Of Extorting Telecom Tycoon Donald Burns

Via Courthouse News Service:

A gay porn actor was found guilty Thursday of extorting and attempting to extort $1.5 million from a Florida-based business tycoon. The case ended Thursday afternoon after about two hours of deliberation, with the jury delivering a guilty verdict against defendant Teofil Brank, who performs as Jarec Wentworth, on all six of the government's charges.

Brank, flushed and on the verge of tears, buried his head in his hands after the jurors left the courtroom. His defense attorney Seema Ahmad wept as two U.S. Marshals cuffed and chained Brank, who was dressed in a white-collared blue shirt, gray pants and black shoes. Brank's criminal trial began on Tuesday. He was charged with extorting Florida tycoon Donald Burns.

During trial, jurors heard salacious details, including Burns' bid to have a gay porn movie shoot on his multimillion dollar cliffside estate, lurid testimony about sex parties and Burns' very public relationship with another former gay model and porn star. In a stunning admission, a male prostitute confirmed he was reluctant to talk to authorities because of his relationship with a "powerful" individual. "David Geffen" was the name he uttered on the second day of proceedings.

Efforts to contact Geffen - billionaire philanthropist, founder of Geffen Records and co-founder of Dreamworks SKG - or his representatives were unsuccessful. Brank was arrested in an FBI sting at a Starbucks near LAX as he tried to blackmail Burns for $1 million. By that time, Brank had already persuaded Burns to hand over his Audi R8 sports car and wire $500,000 from a Goldman Sachs account to a Wells Fargo bank account under Brank's name.

Brank faces six to nine years in federal prison. He will be sentenced in September. (Tipped by JMG reader TJ)

California: Now More Latino Than White

Via the Los Angeles Times:

The demographers agreed: At some point in 2014, Latinos would pass whites as the largest ethnic group in California. Determining when exactly that milestone would occur was more of a tricky question. Counting people isn't like counting movie ticket receipts. The official confirmation had to wait until new population figures were released by the Census Bureau this summer. The new tally, released in late June, shows that as of July 1, 2014, about 14.99 million Latinos live in California, edging out the 14.92 million whites in the state. The shift shouldn't come as a surprise. State demographers had previously expected the change to occur sometime in 2013, but slow population growth pushed back projections. In January 2014, the state Department of Finance estimated the shift would take place at some point in March. Either way, the moment has officially arrived. California is now the first large state and the third overall — after Hawaii and New Mexico — without a white plurality, according to state officials. The country's Latino population is now 55.4 million. California and Los Angeles County have the largest Latino populations of any state or county in the nation, according to the new figures.

For some reason Breitbart has illustrated their anger about the report with a photo of a very buff wrestler.

CALIFORNIA: AG Shoots Down Another Attempt By Gay Death Penalty Advocate

Yesterday California Attorney General Kamala Harris rejected another attempt to place the Sodomite Suppression Act on the 2016 ballot. This time Christian activist Matt McLaughlin tried a different angle.

In his first public comments since proposing the original “Sodomite Suppression Act” in February, Matt McLaughlin expressed outrage that Harris’ office, which is charged with preparing ballot measures, summarily dismissed his latest offering, the “Sodomite Suppression Mandate.” “What I’m proposing is not murder,” McLaughlin said in a telephone interview with The Sacramento Bee. “I’m proposing the laws as they’ve ever been. The Bible doesn’t change.” McLaughlin said he purposely didn’t defend his first ballot proposal, a statute law, when Harris asked a judge for permission to keep it from the ballot. He said he devised his second as a constitutional amendment, which he thought she would have to clear for signature gathering. McLaughlin said that for centuries, homosexuality was a crime, often punishable by death, but as gays and lesbians won legal and political battles for their rights, “I feel mine were attacked. I’m a Bible believer.” Christian supporters of gay rights have noted that Jesus never spoke about homosexuality.

McLaughlin says he is considering a lawsuit against Harris.

JMG reader Mike points us to what appears to be McLaughlin's blog. From the current top post:

Harris’ office wants to pretend that she doesn’t even have to consider the brand new initiative I filed – she unilaterally claims the right to apply the court’s default judgment regarding the “Sodomite Suppression Act” to the new “Sodomite Suppression Mandate” initiative proposal that was filed on June 24. Of course, that is blatantly dishonest. The first initiative only sought to change the Penal Code, but the second one seeks to amend the state’s constitution – that makes them radically different proposals. The dishonesty of this slippery lawyer Kamala Harris can be compared to her obtaining a default judgment to repossess your car, and then she brings it your front door and tries to use it to foreclose on your home.

This seems to be McLaughlin's 1988 yearbook photo.

CALIFORNIA: AG Kamala Harris Wins Battle Against Sodomite Suppression Act

Yesterday the California Assembly approved a resolution which denounces the Sodomite Suppression Act, the proposed 2016 ballot measure to have all gay people put to death. The Assembly's move is now moot as a Superior Court judge has approved Attorney General Kamala Harris' request to strike the measure before petition signature gathering can begin. The court's ruling comes despite the position taken by some legal experts who say ballot items cannot be challenged until after being approved by voters. In early May, Sodomite Suppression Act author Matt McLaughlin vowed to have a court force his item directly onto the ballot if he is not allowed to gather petition signatures.

RELATED: Still potentially on the 2016 California ballot is the Intolerant Jackass Act, which was green-lighted to begin collecting signatures earlier this month. The Intolerant Jackass Act was filed in response to McLaughlin's measure and would require him to attend LGBT sensitivity training. McLaughlin has reportedly demanded an apology from the author of the Jackass Act. Seriously.

COURT: Uber Drivers Are Employees

Via USA Today:

In a ruling that could significantly raise costs for ride-hailing companies like Uber and Lyft, the California Labor Commission ruled this week that a driver who filed a complaint against Uber Technologies was an employee, not an independent contractor. The driver, Barbara Berwick, was awarded a mere $4,152 — chump change for Uber. But the technology giant is appealing the ruling because it could significantly increase the $40 billion startup's costs.  Uber currently saddles its drivers with major vehicle costs — including the vehicle itself, maintenance, insurance and gas — by labeling its drivers independent contractors rather than employees. If Uber is forced to treat drivers as employees, it could bear a greater share of those costs, which will eat into its profits.  Uber has consistently held its global fleet of drivers at arms length by claiming it is merely matching drivers with riders. But the California Labor Commission this week said Uber also maintains a good deal of control over its drivers, which makes it more of an employer than "a neutral technological platform, designed simply to enable drivers and passengers to transact the business of transportation."

Uber plans to appeal the ruling, which they say is "non-binding and only applies to one driver."

CALIFORNIA: GOP Assembly Member Blames Drought On Legalized Abortion

"Texas was in a long period of drought until Governor Perry signed the fetal pain bill. It rained that night. Now God has His hold on California." - California GOP Assemblywoman Shannon Grove, speaking before an anti-abortion group. After her quote made national headlines, Grove followed up with some limp damage control:

"I believe - and most Americans believe - that God’s hand is in the affairs of man, and certainly was in the formation of this country. The Founders put God in the center of this nation by recognizing Him as a giver of our rights. Is this drought caused by God? Nobody knows. But biblical history shows a consequence to man’s actions; we do know for sure that California’s water shortage crisis has been compounded by liberal politicians’ poor decisions -  not properly managing our water resources and refusing to build water storage for decades."

Grove's district includes much of Kern County and even local anti-abortion activists are embarrassed. Here's how the head of Pro-Life Kern County reacted: "You can be proudly pro-life and not be a national joke. But comments like this make you a joke and undermine her position on abortion." The above-linked article notes that thunderstorms rolled across Grove's district this week.

CALIFORNIA: "Intolerant Jackass Act" Backers Can Start Collecting Signatures

Via CBS San Francisco:

While the status of a “Sodomite Suppression Act” proposed state ballot initiative remains in limbo, proponents of a rival “Intolerant Jackass Act” initiative were cleared by state Secretary of State Alex Padilla to begin collecting signatures Wednesday. The rival initiative would force the filer of the Sodomite Suppression Act or any similar initiative to attend sensitivity training and donate $5,000 to a pro-gay or pro-lesbian organization. When Huntington Beach attorney Matt McLaughlin filed the Sodomite Suppression Act earlier this year, which would make homosexuality punishable by death, it set off a nationwide backlash for its evident hatred and dubious constitutionality. Attorney General Kamala Harris sought a court injunction rescinding her obligation to prepare a title and summary for the initiative, a necessary step before proponents can begin gathering the 365,880 signatures necessary to get it on the ballot.

The Intolerant Jackass Act was filed by activist Charlotte Laws in late March. Last month the California Assembly approved a bill that would raise the referendum filing fee from $200 to $8000. The measure has not yet been heard by the state Senate.

CALIFORNIA: State Senate Votes To Raise Cigarette Buying Age To 21

Via the Los Angeles Times:

The state Senate on Tuesday approved a bill that would raise the minimum legal age for buying cigarettes and other tobacco products from 18 to 21 as part of an effort to reduce smoking by young people. Sen. Ed Hernandez (D-West Covina) said he introduced the bill, SB 151, out of concern that an estimated 90% of tobacco users start before age 21. Raising the minimum age will mean that fewer teenagers pick up the habit, said Hernandez, an optometrist. He cited a study done by the Institute of Medicine for the federal Food and Drug Administration that concluded that raising the smoking age to 21 would cut smoking by 12% more than existing control policies. “It’s time to stop allowing tobacco companies to make the deadly product so readily available to our youth,’’ Hernandez said.

A similar age 21 requirement was approved by the Hawaii legislature in late April and awaits the governor's signature. Four states have set their cigarette purchasing age at 19: Alabama, Alaska, New Jersey, and Utah. New York City raised the buying age to 21 in late 2013.

CALIFORNIA: Gay Death Penalty Advocate Vows To Have Court Force Ballot Measure

It turns out that there was more to that letter from Matt McLauglin than I reported early this morning. Via CBS San Francisco:

In a bizarre legal twist in a jaw-droppingly hateful proposal that calls into question the entire California ballot initiative process, the author of a bill proposing murdering California’s gays may ask a court to place his proposal on the ballot without gathering a single signature other than his own. In a letter quoted in the San Francisco Chronicle, Matt McLaughlin writes to the state attorney general, “Take notice that if your office and the California secretary of state refuse to clear the Sodomite Suppression Act for signature circulation, I may demand as remedy that it be placed on the election ballot directly.”

Judge Steven Rodda in Sacramento agreed to give the attorney general until June 25 to prepare an official title and ballot summary for the initiative, which would amend the California penal code to make sex with a person of the same gender an offense punishable by “bullets to the head or by any other convenient method.” The attorney general plans to move then to have her original request to quash the measure granted by default. Her office said in its appeal for more time that the Orange County lawyer who paid $200 to submit the initiative, Matthew McLaughlin, has not attempted to defend his so-called Sodomite Suppression Act in court.

It's not clear from the above-linked report if a court can indeed force the issue onto the ballot without the approval of the state or gathering the required signatures. (Tipped by JMG reader Benjamin)

CALIFORNIA: Court Grants AG More Time To Quash Sodomite Supression Act

California's infamous Sodomite Suppression Act, which would ask voters to approve of executing all gay people, was due to enter the petition-gathering stage next week. Yesterday a state court granted Attorney General Kamala Harris more time to quash the referendum.

Harris asked a state court in late March for permission to reject the measure, calling it obviously unconstitutional and "utterly reprehensible." But since a judge has not yet acted on the unusual request, she said in legal papers filed Wednesday that she would be legally bound to clear the initiative's author on Monday to start pursuing the 366,000 signatures needed to put the law before voters in November 2016.

Judge Steven Rodda in Sacramento agreed to give the attorney general until June 25 to prepare an official title and ballot summary for the initiative, which would amend the California penal code to make sex with a person of the same gender an offense punishable by "bullets to the head or by any other convenient method."

The attorney general plans to move then to have her original request to quash the measure granted by default. Her office said in its appeal for more time that the Orange County lawyer who paid $200 to submit the initiative, Matthew McLaughlin, has not attempted to defend his so-called Sodomite Suppression Act in court.

McLaughlin sent Harris a letter in early April in which he declared, "Costly litigation is not something that you may require me to incur prior to exercising my rights under both the California Constitution and the initiative statute." He has not yet responded to any inquiries from the press and we still don't even know what he looks like.

Pro-LGBT Church Sign Vandalized

From the Marin Journal:

“Jesus had two dads and he turned out just fine,” read the sign outside Mt. Tamalpais United Methodist Church in Mill Valley — at least, until it was vandalized, with the words “two dads” and “Church” painted over with white paint. “We put it up on the day of the argument about marriage equality with the Supreme Court,” said Kim Smith, pastor of the church, referring to the arguments conducted the last week of April with regard to same-sex marriage. Days later, on Sunday night, the sign was vandalized. The pastor noted that the message wasn’t original; another Methodist church in a different part of the country came up with it, she said. “As a reconciling church we are proud to accept members of all beliefs. Unfortunately, even in Marin and Mill Valley, bigotry can raise its ugly head,” said Chris Hubbard, a member of the church.

Smith says she's gotten over 150 messages of support for the sign since it was vandalized. The paint was scrubbed off within hours by a "Boy Scout family" that belongs to the church. (Tipped by JMG reader Bob)

Catholic Site Launches Money Beg To "Defend" Archbishop Salvatore Cordileone

Via Catholic Vote:

A massive media campaign funded by millionaire “Catholics” in San Francisco is gaining ground. Their goal: take control of the Catholic schools and remove Archbishop Cordileone. Meanwhile lawyers are circling, with lawsuits expected soon. Archbishop Cordileone needs the help of every faithful Catholic right now. Can you chip in $20 to help the Archbishop? This support fund has been created by lay Catholics who support Archbishop Cordileone in his efforts to uphold the values of the Catholic Church in Archdiocesan schools. All collected proceeds will be given to the Archdiocese of San Francisco, for the express purpose of assisting the Archbishop with public relations, legal fees and any other costs directly associated with his efforts. CatholicVote.org has learned that PR mudslinger Sam Singer is now behind a massive effort to destroy the Archbishop. According to sources, Singer is using cooperating parents to paint a phony picture of discrimination and harm everywhere in the media.

According to the above-linked money beg, "hostile teachers" are planning to sue the archdiocese for employment discrimination.

TRAILER: Folsom Forever

Clip recap:

In 1984, a scrappy little neighborhood in San Francisco – home to many low-income tenants and the heart of the gay male leather scene – faced destruction from the bulldozers of redevelopment and the AIDS crisis. The Folsom Street Fair was started to call attention to gentrification and raise money for AIDS charities. Folsom Forever tells the story of how this small street fair grew into the biggest outdoor kink and fetish event in the world, and managed to do a lot of good along the way. Coming to DVD and VOD June 9, 2015.

Possibly not work-friendly.

Dennis Prager And Glenn Beck: An Angry God Totally Caused California's Drought

CALIFORNIA: Hate Group Files Anti-Trans "Bathroom Bill" Ballot Measure Proposal

Via press release:

Privacy advocates have taken the first step to prohibiting unwanted intrusions in California bathrooms, showers and locker rooms. Privacy For All has submitted language to California elections officials to place the Personal Privacy Protection Act on the 2016 ballot. If approved by California voters, the Personal Privacy Protection Act requires that individuals "use facilities in accordance with their biological sex in all government buildings". The proposed initiative does not require private businesses to maintain sex separated facilities, but protects these businesses from legal action if they do require employees and patrons to "use facilities in accordance with their biological sex." "We have great compassion for any person that is uncomfortable in traditional, sex separated facilities. But we also want to protect the privacy that most of us expect when we are in public bathrooms, showers and dressing areas" said Gina Gleason, a proponent of the initiative.

See the ballot proposal.

PREVIOUSLY ON JMG: Last year Privacy For All failed in their attempt to force a public vote to repeal a California a law that protect transgender students, but they nearly succeeded in gathering enough petition signatures. Privacy For All leader Karen England has organized public school walkouts over the anti-bullying Day Of Silence. In 2009 England filed a failed federal lawsuit to overturn California's bill protecting LGBT students from bullying. In 2010 she tried to get then-California Lt. Governor Abel Maldonado to file an appeal of the overturn of Prop 8 while then-Gov. Schwarzenegger was out of the country. She then ran an unsuccessful campaign for Maldonado's job. In 2011 she launched a campaign to block transgender adults from changing their birth certificates. England was also one of the louder bigots against the repeal of DADT.

Rep. Louis Gohmert: Intolerant Gays Are Persecuting Christians All Over America

CALIFORNIA: State Seeks To Place Statue Of Sally Ride In US Capitol Building

Via the New York Times:

If California legislators succeed, a statue of Sally Ride, astronaut, physicist and educator, will be enshrined in the nation’s Capitol. But first they will have to remove an impediment: the statue of the Rev. Junipero Serra, an 18th-century Catholic priest who established California missions and is about to be canonized by Pope Francis. In the Capitol’s National Statuary Hall Collection, there is not room for both. Since 1864, Congress has invited every state to install two statues. In 2000, a new law allowed states to swap an old sculpture for a new one, which is how California dispensed with Thomas Starr King, a minister and politician, for Ronald Reagan.

A likeness of Dr. Ride in her NASA flight suit could join other notable Americans, including George Washington, Barry Goldwater, Will Rogers, Robert E. Lee, Brigham Young, Helen Keller and Dwight D. Eisenhower. Dr. Ride would be the first acknowledged gay person honored with a statue in the collection. There is bipartisan support for replacing the statue of Father Serra — which has been on display in the Capitol since 1931 — with one depicting the first American woman in space. The statue of Reagan, installed in 2007, is not eligible; the law requires statues to remain for at least 10 years.

The current collection of statues can be viewed here.