Ferguson Protesters Wed

Via Buzzfeed:

Alexis Templeton and Brittany Ferrell first met while demonstrating in Ferguson, Missouri, following the death of unarmed Michael Brown and a grand jury’s subsequent decision to not indict the police officer who shot him. The two activists were married Tuesday at St. Louis City Hall — months after meeting while demonstrating in Ferguson. Both Templeton and Ferrell are prominently involved in Millenial Activists United, a youth-led organization that focuses on “educating and empowering” communities.

Brian Brown Has The Missouri Sadz

"Once again we see judges imposing their views of marriage in violation of the law and the overwhelming decision of state voters to preserve marriage in the law as it exists in reality, the union of one man and one woman. In Missouri, we need Governor Jay Nixon to immediately file a motion demanding that the lower court ruling be stayed so that it may be appealed to the Missouri Supreme Court without harm to the public in seeing their marriage amendment ignored by public officials.  It is up to the US Supreme Court to rule on the issue of marriage so that the American people and their elected officials have a clear statement of the Court's view of state marriage laws in order to assess how best to preserve their state laws on marriage. We call on all Americans to urge the US Supreme Court to do their duty and accept a marriage case rather than leave it to individual judges around the country to rule as they wish. This undermines confidence in the judicial system and indeed confidence in government itself." - Hate group leader Brian Brown, in a posting to NOM's blog.

St. Louis Official: Our Same-Sex Marriage Licenses Are Good Anywhere In Missouri

(Via JMG reader Baltimatt)

MISSOURI: Celebration In St. Louis

Marriages Begin In St. Louis

MISSOURI: Ferguson Protesters Disrupt Performance By St. Louis Symphony

Via the St. Louis Dispatch:

Michael Brown protesters interrupted the St. Louis Symphony Orchestra's concert on Saturday night, causing a brief delay in the performance at Powell Symphony Hall. The orchestra and chorus were preparing to perform Johannes Brahms' Requiem just after intermission when two audience members in the middle aisle on the main floor began singing an old civil rights tune, "Which Side are You on?" They soon were joined, in harmony, by other protesters, who stood at seats in various locations on the main floor and in the balcony. The protesters then unfurled three hand-painted banners and hung them from the Dress Circle boxes. One banner listed the birth and death date of Brown, who was shot by Ferguson police Officer Darren Wilson on Aug. 9. The five-minute interruption was met with a smattering of applause from some audience members, as well as members of the orchestra and chorus. Others simply watched as the orchestra remained silent.

MISSOURI: Self-Described "Killer" Cop Who Pushed Don Lemon Suspended After Racist, Anti-Gay Rant Surfaces

CNN reports:

A Missouri police officer involved in maintaining security in troubled Ferguson was put on administrative leave Friday after a video surfaced showing him railing about the Supreme Court, Muslims, and his past -- and perhaps, he said, his future -- as "a killer." The officer, Dan Page of the St. Louis County Police Department, became something of a familiar face to many earlier this month when video showed him pushing back CNN's Don Lemon and others in a group in Ferguson. At the time, CNN was reporting on the large-scale and at times violent protests calling for the arrest of a white Ferguson police officer who shot and killed African-American teenager Michael Brown.

In his rambling remarks on the video, he talks about what he describes as a draft replacement for the U.S. Constitution, the "four sodomites on the Supreme Court," and a visit to Kenya "to our undocumented President's home." He refers to Barack Obama as "that illegal alien who claims to be our President." Page frequently references violence, including nine combat tours in the Army, during which he did "my fair share of killing." Speaking about Muslims, he says pointedly: "They will kill you." On domestic disputes, he opines: "You don't like each other that much, just kill each other and get it over with. Problem solved. Get it done." On urban violence, he predicts that "when the inner cities start to ignite, people are going to start killing people they don't like."

And lastly, Page says, "I personally believe the Lord Jesus Christ is my savior, but I'm also a killer. I've killed a lot and, if I need to, I will kill a whole bunch more. If you don't want to get killed, don't show up in front of me." Belmar, the head of the St. Louis County police department, said all the talk about killing was especially disturbing to him. "As a police chief, that's something I'm not going to be able to endure," Belmar said.

Page's speech was made before the St. Louis chapter of Oath Keepers, which describes itself on its website:

Oath Keepers is a non-partisan association of current and formerly serving military, reserves, National Guard, veterans, Peace Officers, and Fire Fighters who will fulfill the Oath we swore, with the support of like minded citizens who take an Oath to stand with us, to support and defend the Constitution against all enemies, foreign and domestic, so help us God. Our Oath is to the Constitution.

The Southern Poverty Law Center has issued several reports on the Oath Keepers, who were part of the militia showdown at the Bundy Ranch.

VIDEOS: The first report below is from CNN. In the second clip, Memeographs has excerpted some of Page's anti-gay comments. The final clip is the full video, which was found by Crooks & Liars.



RELATED: Another infamous member of the Oath Keepers is the former Pennsylvania sheriff who earned national headlines for his machine-gun-firing tirades while wearing a "Liberals Take It In The Ass" t-shirt.

MISSOURI: Four Gay Couples Marry In Office Of St. Louis Mayor, City To Challenge Ban, State AG Likely To Sue City

Yesterday's action in Colorado by the Boulder County Clerk was copied late yesterday afternoon in Missouri, as four gay couples married in the office of St. Louis Mayor Francis Slay.

St. Louis is mounting the first direct challenge of the state ban. The city, which operates as an independent municipality, also performs county functions. The four marriage licenses were signed by an emotional and misty-eyed Recorder of Deeds Sharon Quigley Carpenter, and four wedding ceremonies were held in Slay’s office as the smiling mayor snapped cellphone pictures of the couples. Two men who were married Wednesday have been in a committed relationship for 39 years. “It makes me proud as a citizen and as a mayor,” Slay said.

But the echo of champagne corks popping in the mayor’s office will likely be silenced today with the thud of legal documents as officials get down to less-celebratory business. Missouri Attorney General Chris Koster, who is charged to enforce the state’s constitution, is expected to sue the city, starting what will likely be a long legal battle.

Even with the official marriage documents from the city, the validity of the couples’ unions will be in question. Missouri’s constitution recognizes only marriage between a man and woman and bars county recorders from issuing licenses to same-sex couples. “But, make no mistake about it,” said Slay, “I, and all of us standing here, are doing this to force the issue and to get the law settled for everyone who wants to get married in the state of Missouri.”

NOTE: Missouri is under the jurisdiction of the Eighth Circuit Court of Appeals. Colorado is part of the Tenth Circuit.

(Tipped by JMG reader Tim)

Gay Man & Evangelical Walk Into A Bar

From the Christian Broadcasting Network: "The Journey Church recently rented a nightclub in St. Louis for an evening of calm discussion over the red-hot topic: Marriage. They billed the event: 'A Gay Man and An Evangelical Walk Into a Bar.'"

MISSOURI: Chamber Of Commerce Cancels Speech By Chick-Fil-A President

Responding to complaints from LGBT activists, a St. Louis-area chamber of commerce has canceled a planned speech by Chick-Fil-A president Dan Cathy over his company's affiliation with the Family Resource Institute, an SPLC-certified hate group.

The decision to cancel Cathy's March 18 presentation here was made after PROMO, a statewide organization that advocates for lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender equality, protested his appearance and asked Focus and the Chamber of Commerce to reconsider. Ellen Gale, the head of the chamber, said today that when the groups agreed to co-sponsor Cathy's appearance, they had no idea he held controversial views. We are a pro-diversity culture here and certainly don't want to offend anyone," Gale said. "We didn't know anything about this when he was booked." Focus said in a statement that inclusion and acceptance for all people in the community is a core principal of the organization.

Stand by for the screams of outrage about those damned homofascists.

(Tipped by JMG reader Jeff)

At NOM's Rally In St. Louis

St. Louis' LGBT title, Vital Voice Magazine, covered yesterday's Hate Tour stop in their hometown, where NOM blocked them from attending the rally, probably so all those post-overturn red faces couldn't be recorded.

Who Will Host The 2012 Dem Convention?

The finalist cities to host the 2010 Democratic National Convention have been announced.

Recognizing that President Barack Obama faces serious challenges in the Midwest he carried not two years ago, the Democratic National Committee on Wednesday picked three heartland cities and just one in the Republican-friendly South to consider for its 2012 nominating convention. The cities are Cleveland, St. Louis, Minneapolis and Charlotte, N.C. A presidential nominating convention brings millions of dollars and intense attention to its host city as well as political good will for the party itself. Obama won Ohio, Minnesota and North Carolina in his 2008 race against Republican John McCain, who won Missouri. With Democrats competing for Senate seats in Ohio and Missouri, the announcement was likely to energize the Democratic base in those states ahead of the crucial midterm elections this year.

The 2012 Republican convention will be in Tampa, which will probably still be ankle-deep in oil.

St. Louis: Activists Launch Month-Long Protest Outside Catholic Basilica

The Missouri LGBT activist group Show Me No Hate has launched a month-long protest outside of the St. Louis Basilica in response to the diocese's $10,000 donation to repeal marriage equality in Maine. Via the Catholic News Agency:

According to The Vital Voice, Show Me No Hate has accused the Archdiocese of St. Louis of misusing the funds, saying the Church has neglected the poor, sick and homeless in the city by donating the money to a campaign against gay “marriage.” The organization plans to rally outside the cathedral every Sunday for the duration of the season of Advent. “Following Christ's teaching on marriage does not mean we neglect the poor,” stated Archbishop Carlson in response to the accusations. “In fact, no other private institution in the world does as much for the sick and poor as the Catholic Church.” Archbishop Carlson explained that the funds used for the “Yes on 1” campaign were discretionary, provided by private gifts and sent in response to the request of the Archdiocese of Maine. The archbishop also mentioned that “Yes on 1” succeeded despite the fact that same-sex “marriage” supporters had outraised the campaign by almost $2 million.