ARIZONA: Recall Campaign Launched Against Gay Hero Daniel Hernandez

Right Wing Watch reports:

Daniel Hernandez Jr., the former intern credited with helping to save Rep. Gabrielle Giffords’ life when she was shot in 2011 and now an elected member of a Tucson-area school board, is facing a nasty recall election in which anonymous opponents are attacking him for being openly gay and for his advocacy on behalf of gun violence prevention. The story behind the recall is the kind of byzantine saga found only in local politics. Four of the five members of the Sunnyside Unified School District, which includes parts of Tucson and surrounding areas, are now facing recall petitions – two members who faced recall for their support of an embattled schools superintendent turned around and filed recall petitions on two members who opposed the superintendent, including Hernandez.

(Tipped by JMG reader Lorena)

Winona Ryder On Mel Gibson

"I remember, like, fifteen years ago, I was at one of those big Hollywood parties. And he was really drunk. I was with my friend, who's gay. He made a really horrible gay joke. And somehow it came up that I was Jewish. He said something about 'oven dodgers,' but I didn't get it. I'd never heard that before. It was just this weird, weird moment. I was like, 'He's anti-Semitic and he's homophobic.' No one believed me!" - Winona Ryder, speaking to GQ Magazine.

(Via - Towleroad)

Bruno Cuts Gay Bashing Scene

One year ago today I told you about a cage match stunt pulled by Sasha Baron Cohen in which two wrestlers kissed in the ring, rather than fought, thereby inciting an Arkansas audience into throwing projectiles and screaming homophobic insults. It took security and police 45 minutes to clear the venue as the actors escaped a guaranteed beating via a special tunnel.

I closed that post with this: "I don't know, tricking a rural crowd into displaying violent homophobia might have some value. Maybe. I'll really have to think about this."

As it turns out, that stunt closes the upcoming Cohen film Bruno, but producers have decided to cut the final scene because it made light of gay bashing.

According to writer-director Richard Day (Arrested Development), who saw the film at a screening in February, "The cage-match kiss resulted in a violent attack on the couple. They then cut to a press event where they are announcing their marriage or plans to, I forget which. But the boyfriend is now drooling, seemingly brain-damaged, and in a wheelchair, played for laughs." Day notes that he and actor James Plotnick raised a stink about the ending after the screening and, though he's not sure if their protest had anything to do with the altered ending, it was changed to the less potentially offensive version for one reason or another.

Somebody please explain to me how the now-deleted scene was supposed to have been funny. "Oh, ha ha ha! That kissing faggot has brain damage! Hicks hate homos! Hilair!" Something like that? Really?

I still plan on seeing Bruno because it won't be fair to take part in what will surely be endless post-release dissections if I haven't. But right now I have a feeling I'll agree with GLAAD's nervous read on the film: "Some people in our community may like this movie, but many are not going to be OK with it. Sacha Baron Cohen's well-meaning attempt at satire is problematic in many places and outright offensive in others."

Protest At UK "Ex-Gay" Conference

Yet another "ex-gay" conference, yet another protest, this time in the UK.

More than 100 protesters gathered outside the Emmanuel Centre in Westminster, Central London during a conference on curing homosexuality organised by evangelical Christian group Anglican Mainstream and CARE. The conference was billed as a a Judaeo-Christian event although being held on the Jewish Sabbath, it was unlikely to attract any orthodox Jews; the only Jewish groups that oppose homosexuality. The event was billed as having "a special focus on how religious professionals and friends/relatives can respond biblically and pastorally to those struggling with unwanted SSA (same-sex attraction)". According to the organisers the conference was "ideal for clergy, rabbis, psychologists, therapists, educators and others concerned about the plethora of sexual issues confronting us in today’s society, including mentoring the sexually broken, the sexualisation of culture, pornography, the Bible and sex, and marriage, the family and sex".

(Via - Pink News)

Matt Foreman Rips Into Naugle

Matt Foreman, Executive Director of the National Gay & Lesbian Task Force, spoke at yesterday's Flush Naugle rally, where he issued a blistering call for Naugle to be "shunned" and "not allowed at any gathering where decent people are." Local police estimated the crowd attending the rally at between 800-1000, staggering numbers, particularly for a town that has been been very sleepy regarding gay activism. Watch the video - Matt Foreman fucking ROCKS. Big thanks to Father Tony for providing the video.



UPDATE: Towleroad has a big post up with lots of pics of the rally.

Third Davies Video Out

I'm getting a bit tired of this drawn out drama. Here's Davies' third performance. He cries about being mocked for his weight again, "I can dunk a basketball!" Still, his acting continues to be flawless and the logo is damn funny. Check out the crane shot at the end. This ain't no cheap production.
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More From Donnie Davies

OK, this is driving me slightly mad. Davies' Mona Lisa smile in this latest video make me strongly suspect that he's been having a field day at the expense of the gay blogosphere. But as I've said from the start, satire or not, the entire production has been brilliant pro-gay PR. Today, I'm more leaning towards believing that Davies is the gay LonelyGirl15, but I'm still not sure. Again, brilliance, intentional or not.
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