Open Thread: 2015 Academy Awards

Weigh in with your predictions, reactions, and snark.

2015 Golden Globes Open Thread

Give us your predictions and reactions.

UPDATE: The full list of winners is here.

World Cup Open Thread

Judging by Twitter, many of the nation's offices have suspended work to watch the USA vs Germany match. If you're among those folks, here's an open thread to weigh in, at least on the hotness of the players.

UPDATE: The USA has lost.

State Of The Union: Open Thread

President Obama's State Of The Union address begins at 9pm Eastern. Watch live here and give us your reactions.

UPDATE: The address has concluded. Jason Collins appeared onscreen seconds before the president delivered these lines: "We do these things because they help promote our long-term security. And we do them because we believe in the inherent dignity and equality of every human being, regardless of race or religion, creed or sexual orientation. And next week, the world will see one expression of that commitment – when Team USA marches the red, white, and blue into the Olympic Stadium – and brings home the gold." That was some good directing.

The only other mention of a gay-related issue came early in the address: "Across the country, we’re partnering with mayors, governors, and state legislatures on issues from homelessness to marriage equality." Despite the hopes of some activists, there was no mention of ENDA or of a related executive order regarding companies that do business with the federal government. The fact sheet sent by the White House during the speech contained this paragraph under the heading "Continuing To Work With Congress":

Workplace Equality for LGBT Workers. Today, federal law prohibits employment discrimination based on race, sex, religion, and disability. It’s time to add sexual orientation and gender identity to that list, so that no American worker can lose his or her job simply because of who they are or who they love. The Employment Non-Discrimination Act would provide strong federal protections for lesbian, gay, bisexual, and transgender workers. Last year, a bipartisan majority of the Senate passed ENDA, and the President renews his call for the House to do the same.

UPDATE: The Human Rights Campaign didn't like absence of an ENDA mention.

“The President’s message tonight failed to address the needs of LGBT workers looking for a fair shake in this economy. Not only was there no call for the House to pass a federal law to protect LGBT workers nationwide, President Obama also sidestepped his commitment to take action where Congress has left off, leaving out an order prohibiting discrimination by federal contractors. Unfortunately, President Obama missed a real opportunity to use the State of the Union to improve the lives of LGBT people by taking immediate executive action to address anti-LGBT discrimination for the millions of Americans employed by federal contractors. No federal contractor like ExxonMobil should be able to take billions in taxpayer dollars without safeguards in place to prevent discrimination. The President promised this action in 2007 and we will continue to work with him and Congress to ensure that all Americans can contribute to the economy without fear of anti-LGBT discrimination.”

UPDATE II: And here is the reaction from the Task Force.

"The President is right to urge congress to fix our broken immigration system this year, the creation of more jobs, equal pay for women, and the restoration of the Voting Rights Act. We are also pleased that the President is using his pen like he said he would to move things forward: in this instance by signing an executive order to increase the minimum wage for federal contract workers. However, he must go further and sign an executive order that bans discrimination against the same contract workers who are LGBT. The irony is that some LGBT federal contract workers will get a pay raise but they could still be fired for who they are and who they love. The longer the President waits the more damage LGBT people will face; discrimination is a painful reality that is too often the lived experience of LGBT people. The President has to act when Congress won't."

Tap Tap Tap

So who has to work today?

Open Thread Thursday

Tell us about the last time you went to church.

Open Thread Thursday

The president's second inauguration is almost here. What would you say is the most momentous public event you've attended in person?

Tap Tap Tap

Who's working today? What's the plan for tonight?

Open Thread Thursday

What were you favorite songs of 2012? I'll post my own top ten later today.

Tap Tap Tap

So who's working today? Who's hitting the road?

Election Results Open Thread

I'll keep this post at the top of the blog for the rest of night.  Feel free to trade turnout reports, exit polls, local and state decisions, or whatever other election news you hear.  Cross your fingers, kids.  It might be over soon, but thanks to Ohio we could also be in for another lengthy period with no declared winner.

UPDATE: At this posting, the above is the headline by closet case homocon Matt Drudge.

UPDATE II: The polls close in Maine and Maryland at 8pm. We should have some word on their marriage battles within an hour or so afterward.

Election Day Open Thread

Tell us how things went at the polls.

Pre-Election Day Open Thread

If you early-voted, tell us how that went.  If you're voting tomorrow, tell us about the polling situation in your area: machines vs paper, suppression issues, etc.  And most of all, let's have your predictions for Congress and the presidency.

Tap Tap Tap

Is anybody working today?

Special Open Thread

President Obama's speech. Your reactions?

Tap Tap Tap

Is anybody working today? What's your plan?

Special Open Thread

The decline of gay nightclubs commenced well over a decade ago with the advent of AOL chat rooms. And further spurred both by the rapid gentrification of urban areas that once hosted multiple gay dance palaces and the increased social integration of LGBT youth with their straight peers, the first decade of the new century saw the demise of even more gay-specific spaces. This phenomenon has been heavily discussed here on JMG and elsewhere, but the above image, which is currently being passed around on Facebook, brings the issue to the fore once again. Today's question: How does social media affect your club-going habits? (Image via JMG reader BStewart23)

Open Thread: HBO's Game Change

No point in a "spoiler alert." We know how it ended.

Oscars Results Open Thread

We started today with a "predictions" open thread, so let's wrap it up with an open thread dedicated to the actual results.

UPDATE: Here are the winners.

Oscars Open Thread

Predictions?