REPORT: Married Michigan State Rep Leaked Gay Hooker Scandal About Himself To Hide Affair With Fellow Married Rep

Back in June, I reported that Michigan Tea Party state reps Todd Courser and Cindy Gamrat had introduced a trio of anti-gay marriage bills, two of which would have outlawed all civil marriages. Under their proposed bills, only "a minister of the Gospel, cleric, or religious practitioner” would be allowed to issue marriage licenses and perform weddings. Today the Detroit News has a juicy follow-up:

State Rep. Todd Courser planned the distribution of a fictional email alleging he had sex with a male prostitute in a bid to conceal his relationship with Rep. Cindy Gamrat, according to audio recordings obtained by The Detroit News. Courser, a Lapeer Republican, said on one recording the email was designed to create “a complete smear campaign” of exaggerated, false claims about him and Gamrat so a public revelation about the legislators’ relationship would seem “mild by comparison.” Interviews with former House employees and the recordings show freshman lawmakers Courser and Gamrat, R-Plainwell, used their taxpayer-funded offices to maintain and cover up their relationship. Courser, 43, and Gamrat, 42, rose from the ranks of tea party activism, battled establishment Republicans to win seats in the House last year and formed their own legislative coalition.

Both reps are opposite-married with three children each. From Gamrat's campaign page: "Our nation was built upon a Judeo-Christian foundation and has been blessed by the hand of Providence. I will stand STRONG for religious freedom against any attacks that may come it's way."

More from the Detroit News:

Written using the pseudonym George Rathburn, the sexually explicit email was received by Republicans on May 20 and 21, the two days following Courser’s meeting with Graham. The missive claimed Courser was removed from the House GOP caucus after being caught having “paid male on male sex behind a prominent Lansing night club,” among other claims. During the May 19 meeting, Courser twice read aloud portions of a draft email to Graham. Most of the sentences Courser recited match copies of the email sent to Republicans and obtained by The News. “Nobody’s gonna believe any of that,” Graham said about the draft email. “Correct,” said Courser, who then added: “No, they’ll believe some of it. They’ll believe some of it.” Courser does not explicitly say he wrote the letter, only telling Graham “it’s already written” and that Gamrat “agreed” with sending it.

Hit the second link above to listen to the audio files. (Tipped by JMG reader Rob)

ISRAEL: Posters Praising Jerusalem Killer Appear In Ultra-Orthodox Neighborhoods

The Times Of Israel reports:

Posters praising last week’s deadly attack at the Jerusalem gay pride parade appeared in the city’s ultra-Orthodox neighborhoods Thursday morning. Distributed by an extremist group calling itself “The Faithful Judaism,” the notices applauded the stabbing as an act of holy “self sacrifice.” “May all of the people of God be zealous as you,” one poster read, as its authors expressed hope that similar acts would be carried out in the future. Under the headline “And the Plague Shall be Stopped,” another poster praised the deadly attack as an “act of Phineas,” a reference to an Old Testament priest who personally executed an Israelite man and a Midianite woman while they were together in the man’s tent, by running a spear through them both. His action is thought to have brought an end to a plague sent by God to punish the Israelites for sexual encounters with the Midianites. In another poster titled “Blessed are you Rabbi Yishai,” Schlissel was hailed as an emissary from God; the text on the poster quoted the Old Testament verse “Whoever spills the blood of the wicked is as if he brought a sacrifice.”

Yesterday a judge ordered the killer to undergo an evaluation to determine if he is mentally competent to stand trail.

IOWA: Ted Cruz Hires Anti-Gay Nutters Behind National Billboard Campaign

The Guardian reports:

Republican presidential candidate Ted Cruz has chosen a couple who are aiming to put up 1,000 billboards attacking same-sex marriage to be part of his Iowa leadership team. Betty and Richard Odgaard, who lost a civil case in January after refusing to allow a gay couple to marry at their restaurant, have already erected one anti-gay marriage billboard in Oklahoma. They were added to Cruz’s Iowa team on Tuesday. Announcing their appointment, the Cruz campaign described the Odgaards as “courageous conservatives” who will form part of “a strong leadership team to win the Iowa caucuses”. Rick Tyler, a spokesman for Cruz, said the campaign was aware of the couple’s campaign. “The Odgaards signed on with Ted Cruz and they’re supporters of ours, and when the senator heard their story and visited their property he was moved by it,” Tyler said. “So we’re well aware of their situation and their plight.”

Only one of the promised 1000 billboards has been posted.

Ryan Anderson Backs FADA

"The First Amendment Defense Act would prevent the federal government from discriminating against any citizen or organization because they believe marriage is the union of husband and wife. It would ensure that no federal agency will ever revoke non-profit tax-exempt status or deny grants, contracts, accreditation, or licenses to individuals or institutions for following their belief that marriage is a union between a man and a woman. This bill simply continues the practice of the United States for all of our history. It takes nothing away from anyone. It changes nothing. It protects pluralism amid disagreement. America is in a time of transition. The court has redefined marriage, and beliefs about human sexuality are changing. Will the right to dissent be protected? Will our right to speak and act in accord with what Americans have always believed about marriage — that it’s a union of husband and wife — be tolerated?" - Ryan T. Anderson, writing for the National Review. Anderson's piece also denounces the Equality Act because of course.

KENTUCKY: Anti-Gay Clerk Files Religious Discrimination Suit Against Governor

The Liberty Counsel is suing Kentucky Gov. Steve Beshear on behalf of renegade county clerk Kim Davis. Via the Lexington Herald-Leader:

Late Tuesday, Davis filed a lawsuit against Beshear in federal district court. She blamed the governor for instructing all 120 of the state's county clerks to comply with this summer's U.S. Supreme Court decision that legalized gay marriage. Beshear's stance left dissenting county clerks vulnerable to lawsuits, including two that she currently faces, filed by groups of her constituents, Davis said. U.S. District Judge David Bunning is expected to rule in these cases in coming days. "The Commonwealth of Kentucky, acting through Governor Beshear, has deprived Davis of her religious-conscience rights guaranteed by the United States and Kentucky constitutions and laws, by insisting that Davis issue marriage licenses to same-sex couples contrary to her conscience, based on her sincerely held religious beliefs," Davis' lawsuit says.

The suit also names the head of the Kentucky Department for Libraries and Archives, which changed the marriage license forms to gender-neutral.

The Liberty Counsel has issued a press release:

“Governor Beshear is unlawfully picking and choosing the conscience-based exemptions to marriage that he deems acceptable,” said Mat Staver, Founder and Chairman of Liberty Counsel. When Kentucky Attorney General Jack Conway refused to defend Kentucky’s natural marriage laws after “pray[ing] over this decision,” Governor Beshear did not command that he perform his duties, but hired private attorneys to pursue the appeal. “In no uncertain terms, Governor Beshear’s policies and directives are intended to suppress religion—even worse, a particular religious belief,” Liberty Counsel’s complaint points out. “Thus, although Attorney General Conway was given a pass for his conscience about marriage without any threats of repercussion, clerks like Davis are being repeatedly told by their Governor to abandon their religiously informed beliefs or resign.” “Simply put, Governor Beshear is making secularism a litmus test for holding office in Kentucky,” said Mat Staver. “The governor is forcing clerks like Davis to choose between following the precepts of her religion and forfeiting her position, on the one hand, and abandoning one of the precepts of her religion in order to keep her position, on the other,” Staver concluded.

The ruling in the ACLU's suit against Davis is expected next week. (Tipped by JMG reader Allen)

Today On World Net Daily

Via World Net Daily:

He’s the U.S. president who has had flies land on his face numerous times, prompting some to call him “Lord of the flies.” And he has been buzzed by bees. And has had rodents running across his presidential podium while addressing reporters. His face has even been compared to the character of Satan the devil in “The Bible” TV miniseries. And now, a mysterious flash during Barack Obama’s visit to his ancestral homeland of Kenya last month has some people wondering once again about the president’s ties to strange phenomena. The latest case involves video of Obama’s arrival July 24 in Kenya’s capital city of Nairobi, posted by Kenya CitizenTV. As the president smiles and shakes hands with those greeting him at the airport after he descends from Air Force One, a strange image races across the screen from right to left, seemingly directly in front of Obama. “My husband and I were watching this and I told him I saw a demon run by,” a concerned woman told WND. “He didn’t believe until I rewound the video. Please take a look!”

The comments are as you'd expect.

ISRAEL: Judge Orders Psychiatric Evaluation For Jerusalem Pride Killer

A Jerusalem judge today ordered pride parade killer Yishai Schlissel to undergo a psychiatric evaluation to determine if he is fit to stand trial. During his arraignment last week, Schlissel declared that he doesn't recognize the authority of the Israeli legal system. Via the Jerusalem Post:

Judge Einat Zinger decided as a result of the hearing to send Schlissel for psychiatric observation. The law states that the suspect must have representation, but the judge added that "in these circumstances, the public defender should be appointed. However, in this situation, I will make due with the public defender's representative being present in the courtroom during the hearing." Zinger said that "the defendant will be checked by a district psychiatrist who will determine if he was responsible for his actions at the time he carried out the attack and if he is fit to stand trial."The judge added that Schlissel should be checked within 48 hours and the results should be available for the court within seven days.."

Yesterday Schlissel's mother apologized to the family of murdered teen Shari Banki.

“We think it’s really a great tragedy, we regret it very much and pray for the recovery of the wounded,” Rivka Schlissel told family members of Shira Banki, 16, who died of her wounds three days after the attack, during a meeting in the studio of the Walla! news website, it reported. Schlissel’s family and members of his ultra-Orthodox community, remain under investigation by the Jerusalem District Police, who are working to discover whether others knew of his intention to attack marchers in the parade, according to Walla. Investigators also are checking calls made to and from his cell phone in the days leading up to the attack.

Harlem Hate Pastor Returns To Daily Show

Quote Of The Day - Paul Hard

"Four years ago, this journey began in grief and pain. I am grateful that the courts have ruled that it will end in justice and equality for couples like David and me. I pray that equality for LGBT Americans continues and need not be won at the cost of sorrow and turmoil. I hope that this decision marks a new day for Alabamians and others in the public’s recognition of my marriage and a love that is equal to any other." - Paul Hard (above right with his late husband), who last week finally won his legal battle against his evil former mother-in-law.

Hard was represented by the SPLC, who announced the closure of the case today. Here's how it all started:

Hard, an assistant professor at a Montgomery area university, and Fancher were married in May 2011 in Massachusetts. Fancher was killed three months later when his car collided with a large truck on Alabama’s Interstate 65. Hard sued the trucking companies in a separate case not filed by the SPLC, and that suit was settled in July 2014. On the morning of the accident, when Hard arrived at the hospital in Prattville, Alabama, a receptionist refused to give him any information about his husband. He was told he was not a member of Fancher’s “family” and that gay marriages weren’t recognized in Alabama. Finally, a hospital orderly told Hard, “Well, he’s dead.” After receiving the traumatic news, a funeral home director cited Alabama law in insisting that the death certificate indicate Fancher was never married – even though Fancher and Hard were legally married in Massachusetts. Likewise, the state would not recognize Hard as the surviving spouse. Fancher’s mother, Pat Fancher, sought to be the sole beneficiary of the wrongful death suit proceeds, even though Hard was due a portion as the surviving spouse.

The mother-in-law was represented by the Foundation For Moral Law, which was founded by Alabama Supreme Court Chief Justice Roy Moore after he was first booted from the bench. Since Moore's reelection the group has been headed by Moore's wife, Kayla Moore. The SPLC has filed unrelated judicial ethics complaints against Roy Moore for his calls to defy the US Supreme Court's Obergefell ruling.

Lively: God Is Punishing America Because Non-Christians Have Religious Freedom

ILLINOIS: Porno Pete LaBarbera To Host Fundraiser For Scott Lively (And Himself)

From the event page:

Scott Lively, founder of Defend the Family International, is the most persecuted pro-family leader in the world on the issue of homosexuality. He will give his thoughts on the new reality of post-Obergefell America (the SCOTUS decision declaring "gay marriage" a supposed Constitutional right). Lively, the author of "The Pink Swastika" and several other books on the homosexual agenda, is the target of a leftist lawsuit accusing him of "Crimes Against Humanity" because he took part in a pro-family seminar opposed to the LGBT agenda in Uganda. Lively will discuss this frivolous lawsuit whose real intent is to silence conservative Christians. You will also hear from AFTAH Founder and President Peter LaBarbera and Grace Gospel pastor John Kirkwood. Refreshments and light snacks will be served. Donations to AFTAH and Lively's organization will be accepted at the event.

The hate soiree will be live-streamed.

SWITZERLAND: Catholic Bishop Vitus Huonder Says Bible "Unambiguously" Calls For Executing Homosexuals

Swiss Info reports:

Vitus Huonder, the controversial Catholic bishop of Chur in eastern Switzerland, has once again attracted criticism for quoting homophobic Bible passages and denouncing non-traditional family models. At the “Joy in Faith” forum in the German city of Fulda, he quoted a passage from the Bible which said homosexuals should be punished by death. In his 50-minute address on Friday, titled “Marriage – a gift, sacrament and order”, Huonder quoted various passages backing up his views. He also slammed gender theory, divorce, sex education and gay marriage. Regarding homosexuality, the 73-year-old bishop quoted two verses from the book of Leviticus, including Leviticus 20:13: “If a man also lie with mankind, as he lieth with a woman, both of them have committed an abomination: they shall surely be put to death; their blood shall be upon them.” In response to applause, he continued: “Both of these passages alone suffice to clarify unambiguously the church’s position on homosexuality”. In his opinion, the passages also had implications for the definition of marriage and the family. “There is no diversity when it comes to marriage and family models, although a book has just come out in my bishopric called ‘Family Diversity’,” he said. “Even speaking of family diversity is an attack on the Creator.”

The Swiss LGBT rights group Pink Cross says it is looking into having Huonder charged under hate speech laws. Pink Cross: "It was in the name of these same Bible passages that a Jewish extremist stabbed six people.” Yesterday Huonder released a statement in which he expressed regret that his words were interpreted as "contemptuous."

RELATED: Sanctions against hate speech made on the basis of sexual orientation or gender identity were approved by Switzerland's national legislature in March 2015.

ISRAEL: Thousands Attend Funeral For Teen Murdered At Jerusalem Pride

Via the Jerusalem Post:

Thousands attended the Monday night funeral of 16-year-old Shira Banki, who died on Sunday after being stabbed at last week’s Gay Pride Parade in Jerusalem. Banki, a high school student from Jerusalem, was buried at Kibbutz Nahshon cemetery, near Beit Shemesh. In an emotional eulogy, Banki’s parents, Milka and Uri, spoke of their daughter’s compassion, intelligence, and vitality. “We had four wonderful children, all of whom are intelligent, beautiful, kind, and especially, good friends to one another,” said Uri. “Now we are left with three children – with the pain, longing and shock that every parent would rather die than feel.” Invoking their daughter’s legacy of tolerance, her parents emphasized that they do not blame the ultra-Orthodox community for a crime carried out by one individual. “We want to say that we have no quarrel with the [ultra-Orthodox] people,” Uri said. “Our quarrel is with intolerance – with hatred – and achieving goals at the painful expense of others.” Banki’s parents said they will rebuild their shattered lives, while not capitulating to the unbridled hatred that took their daughter’s.

It doesn't appear that Israel's top political leaders attended the funeral. On Sunday Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu denounced the attack on social media and at his weekly cabinet meeting.  Last night President Reuven Rivlin honored Shira's memory during a speech to students in Haifa.

HOUSTON: Anti-Gay Pastors Sue Mayor

Via Houston's CBS affiliate:

A group of pastors fighting Houston's equal rights ordinance has filed a lawsuit against Mayor Annise Parker, claiming she tried to deny voters' rights and intimidate clergymen opposing her. The legal action comes at the beginning of what's likely to be a passionate campaign leading up to a referendum on the ordinance in November. "She violated and trampled the voting rights of over a million people in the fourth largest city in the United States of America," said Andy Taylor, the attorney representing the clergymen, at a news conference with his clients. "Are you with me? Can you believe it? Is that what happened?" The clergymen who filed the suit have fought the ordinance from the beginning, focusing on its protections for gay and transgendered people. They're among the leaders of a petition drive that called for a referendum to repeal the ordinance.

Last month the Texas Supreme Court ruled that Houston must either repeal its LGBT rights ordinance or place it to a public vote. Parker has vowed to win at the polls.

RELATED: Next month the above-pictured pastors will take part in an anti-gay forum titled The Texas Response.

ALABAMA: Committee Advances Bill To End All Marriage Licenses Statewide

Via the Associated Press:

A state Senate committee has approved a bill to take Alabama probate judges out of the wedding license business following the U.S Supreme Court ruling legalizing gay marriage. The Senate Finance and Taxation General Fund Committee on Monday approved the bill to do away with state-issued marriage licenses. Instead, spouses would file a signed marriage contract at probate offices. Several Alabama probate judges have shut down marriage license operations rather than give licenses to same-sex couples. Sen. Greg Albritton, the bill’s sponsor, says the bill could be a solution to lingering disputes over gay marriage. Lawmakers are in special session to deal with a budget shortfall. Bills outside the governor’s call for a special session have a slimmer chance at passing because they require a two-thirds vote.

Republicans outnumber Democrats by 87-51.

FRC Staffer Craig James Sues Fox Sports For Anti-Christian Religious Discrimination

Former New England Patriots running back, failed US Senate candidate, and current Family Research Council staffer Craig James has filed an employment discrimination lawsuit against Fox Sports, alleging that the network fired him as a commentator over his Christian stance on same-sex marriage. Yahoo News reports:

In 2013, Fox Sports Southwest fired James two days after it hired him upon learning of a statement he made in 2012 while running for the U.S. Senate. During a debate that involved Dallas Mayor Tom Leppert and Ted Cruz, James said that being gay is a choice and that “right now in this country, our moral fiber is sliding down a slope that is going to be hard to stop if we don’t stand up with leaders who don’t go ride in gay parades. I can assure you I will never ride in a gay parade.” Fox Sports Southwest Senior Vice President of Communications Lou D’Ermilio took issue with the comments. “We just asked ourselves how Craig’s statements would play in our human resources department. He couldn’t say those things here.” The suit, which was filed Monday morning, claimed James was fired “because of his religious beliefs about marriage and his expression of those beliefs.”

James' suit claims that he "shows love and kindness to all those around him" including his LGBT friends and family members. That claim might come as a surprise to his LGBT friends and family members who happened to be listening as he guest-hosted on Tony Perkins' radio show in December, when he told a caller that he wasn't really sure whether gay people should be executed.

Gary Bauer: America Needs Sanctuary Cities For Conservative Christians

"What if there were sanctuary cities for religious conservatives? Imagine if some city in red-state America – perhaps Little Rock, Arkansas; Dallas, Texas; or Bowling Green, Kentucky – decided to be a refuge for unborn children and refused to grant business licenses to abortion clinics. What if a city decided that it was going to be a sanctuary city for the Ten Commandments and displayed them in schools, libraries, and the county courthouse? What if a city decided that it was important for children to have mothers and fathers, declared itself a sanctuary city for traditional marriage, and refused to issue marriage licenses to same-sex couples? Remember when liberals said that illegal immigrants needed to be granted legal status in order to bring them 'out of the shadows' of society? Remember when liberals insisted that gays needed to be given full marriage rights so that they could step out of the closet? Well, these groups may have emerged from the shadows and stepped out of the closet. But those places won’t stay empty for long. Christians, if liberals have their way, will soon fill them." - Gary Bauer, writing for American Thinker.

ISRAEL: Hundreds Hold Memorial Vigil For Teen Murdered At Jerusalem Pride

Shira's Last Song

From the Jewish Standard:

Shira Banki was a student at the Hebrew University High School. She was 16 and attended the Jerusalem Pride Parade as an ally of the LGBTQ community, and to show support for friends of hers. She was killed by a stab wound inflicted by a Hareidi-religious Jew that had attacked the same parade ten years before, and just completed his prison term. Banki was a pianist and this video of her playing is making the rounds online as people search for more information about her life, after it was ended so tragically.

Shira's performance begins at 1:00.

(Tipped by JMG reader Mike)

NEW YORK: Dozens Of Catholic Churches Close As Archdiocese Consolidates

Reuters reports:

Teary-eyed and angry Catholic parishioners across New York attended final mass services on Friday in some of dozens of churches closing or stopping regular worship services. The closures follow an announcement by the Roman Catholic Archdiocese of New York in November that it would consolidate 368 parishes into 294, reflecting a national trend of parish closures in the United States caused by low attendance, a shortage of priests and financial troubles. Parishioners expressed sadness at the shuttering of churches like Our Lady of Peace, a red brick church with an ornate interior on Manhattan's Upper East Side that is more than 100 years old. "It's like a death in the family," said Manhattan resident Lola Skaro, a retiree in her late 70s, who became emotional when talking about the church she had visited everyday since her retirement.

The Daily News notes that workers were changing the locks at some of the nearly two dozen closing churches in New York City as the final mass took place. (Tipped by JMG reader Jerald)