Via JMG: NEW MEXICO: Tea Party-Backed GOP Lawmaker Introduces State DOMA Bill

Yesterday Tea Party-backed GOP state Rep. Nora Espinoza introduced a state-level version of DOMA. Equality New Mexico reports on their Facebook page:

This very concept of creating less equal classes of people has been fought against for generations in New Mexico and is contrary to our state’s proud traditions of providing equal protection and opportunity for her citizens from every background and community. Similar legislation was defeated last year when it was tabled in the Senate Rule Committee. This year, however, promises greater challenges given the much more conservative make up of both our state legislature and governor’s office.

New Mexico residents are urged to contact their state representatives and demand their opposition to Espinoza's bill.

VIDEO: Here's Espinoza's speech at Tea Party event last summer in which she screams the usual teabagger talking points.

Labels: bigotry, DOMA, New Mexico, teabaggers

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Via JMG: It Gets Better - The Book

Pre-orders are now being taken.

UPDATE: Profits from sales of the book go to the Trevor Project, the Gay & Lesbian Straight Education Network, and the ACLU.

Labels: books, bullying, Dan Savage, LGBT youth

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Via JMG: Naples News Boots Pamela Grothaus

The Naples Daily News has finally booted hate-blogger Pamela Grothaus after she posted a nasty attack on PFLAG over the group's inclusion at a "religious freedom day" at Collier County, Florida public high schools. Last month Grothaus proudly declared that she was hoping to be named "JMG Bigot Of The Year" for her attacks on LGBT rights. That prompted many of you to contact the Naples Daily News and probably contributed to their decision to shitcan her ass. On her personal blog, Grothaus is complaining that the newspaper "didn't even have the decency" to tell her she was fired. So sad, too bad.

Labels: assholism, Bloggers, Florida, journalism

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Told You So - 2011 Doritos Superbowl Commercial Ad

Via JMG: Gay Hero Daniel Hernandez To Attend State Of The Union With Michelle Obama

Openly gay Arizona shooting hero Daniel Hernandez and his father will be seated with the First Lady at Tuesday's State Of The Union address.

"I'm both honored and excited to have the opportunity to travel to our nation's Capitol for a once in a lifetime event. Also the chance to bring my father along for his first trip to Washington, D.C. The State of the Union is a pivotal moment because it is our opportunity to find where we are and where we will be going as a nation in this upcoming year," Hernandez said.

Tuesday is also Hernandez' 21st birthday. That's quite a present.

Labels: Arizona, Barack Obama, Gabrielle Giffords, Gay American Heroes, Michelle Obama

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Via JMG: How (Not) to Be a Gay Dad: That's Gay

God hates Figs

Via JMG: Coming Out Begins At Home

Via Copyranter, the above is an ad from the National Association Of GLBT In Israel.

Labels: advertising, coming out, Copyranter, Israel, parenting

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The Sauna - 2011 Doritos Superbowl Commercial Ad

Via JMG: Dan Savage Lands MTV Pilot

Entertainment Weekly reports:

Savage Love may be coming to MTV. Columnist Dan Savage is working on an advice show for the network. MTV has ordered a pilot that follows Savage as he tours college campuses giving his brand of brutally honest (and sometimes graphic) sex and relationship advice. In the format, Savage takes questions from an auditorium audience (similar to his recently completed college tour).

No start date for the show has been revealed.

Labels: Dan Savage, MTV, television

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A Preview of National Marriage Fights: This Week in Prop 8 for January 24, 2011

Via JMG: Robert Gibbs Nearly Ends Press Conference Over Obama's Position On Marriage

White House press secretary Robert Gibbs today nearly cut his press conference short after Washington Blade reporter Chris Johnson pressed him about the president's 1996 support of same-sex marriage, a position Obama later reversed. Gibbs resumed taking questions after other reporters complained. Johnson has been relentless on LGBT issues with Gibbs for the last couple of weeks.

Labels: Barack Obama, marriage equality, Robert Gibbs, Washington Blade

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High School Senior "Comes Out" in Assembly

Via Utne: Are Gays Greener?

Why Are Gays Greener?

Why is the gay agenda such a green agenda?

Read More >>

 

Via JMG: HomoQuotable- Dan Savage

"I’m not an idiot: Now that the Republicans hold the House, only wishful thinkers and the deeply delusional expect to see any movement on the lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender legislative agenda this year or next. Nevertheless, President Obama should address gay rights in his State of the Union speech this week, and he should tackle the biggest, most meaningful right of them all: the right to marry. [snip]

"He can assure the lawmakers that, yes, there’s something in it for Americans who disapprove of homosexuality too. Social conservatives long to raise their children in a country where they don’t have to hear about homosexuality every time they turn on the news. I’d like raise my son in a country like that too. And guess what? In countries like Canada — where the fight over gay rights is essentially over, where there is gay marriage, open military service and employment protections — homosexuality hardly ever makes the front pages of newspapers. There’s nothing much to report. Conservatives can’t get rid of us, but they can hear less from and about us. They just have to bend toward justice." - Dan Savage, in an editorial in today's New York Times.

Labels: Barack Obama, Dan Savage, HomoQuotable, marriage equality

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Dan Savage NYT op ed calls on Obama to endorse marriage in the SOTU

A snippet:

I’m not an idiot: Now that the Republicans hold the House, only wishful thinkers and the deeply delusional expect to see any movement on the lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender legislative agenda this year or next. Nevertheless, President Obama should address gay rights in his State of the Union speech this week, and he should tackle the biggest, most meaningful right of them all: the right to marry.

The community is quickly propelling towards marriage, while politicians keep convincing themselves that if they just move forward on enough of everything else short of marriage, the community will be mollified. It clearly won't. Whether the Democrats like it or not, the gay community has its eyes set on marriage, and Democrats had better too. 

make the jump here to AmericaBlog

Via Kate Clinton: Double Dunce

Vua JMG: HomoQuotable - Elton John

"I think I have it all. I have a wonderful career, a wonderful life. I have my health, I have a partner of 17 years, and now I have a son. I don't have everything because I don't have the respect of people like the church or like politicians who tell me that I'm not worthy, that I'm lesser because I'm gay, well FUCK YOU!" - Elton John, speaking after performing at an AFER fundraiser in Los Angeles. The event raised $3M for the overturn of Proposition 8.

Labels: AFER, Elton John, HomoQuotable, Los Angeles

posted by Joe

Via JMG: DADT Cost $200M Since 2005

According to a just-released report from the federal Government Accountability Office, in the last five years almost $200M was spent on ejecting gay troops. Most of that money went to training replacements.

That means the average expulsion under DADT cost taxpayers $52,800, partly because a significant number of those discharged held a "critical occupation or important language skill," the GAO reported. At least "1,442 (39 percent) of the servicemembers separated under the policy held critical occupations, such as infantryman and security forces, while 23 (less than 1 percent) of the servicemembers held skills in an important foreign language, such as Arabic or Spanish," the report reads. "Seven separated servicemembers held both a critical occupation and an important foreign language skill."

Labels: DADT, federal government, military

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