These Protect Marriage asshats apparently survived their harrowing ordeal at the hands of violent homofascists outside of the California Supreme Court.Tuesday, September 6, 2011
Via JMG: Photo Of The Day - Prop 8 Asshats
These Protect Marriage asshats apparently survived their harrowing ordeal at the hands of violent homofascists outside of the California Supreme Court.
Via JMG: NCLR's Kate Kendell On Prop 8 Hearing
"It would be an unthinkable blow to California’s democratic system of government if the handful of individuals who sponsored Prop 8 could make decisions for the entire state. Today’s arguments raised critical questions affecting the future of all groups who may be targeted by unconstitutional ballot initiatives, and the California Supreme Court’s decision will determine whether our state can be held hostage by special interests with no accountability to the public. We are hopeful that the Court will affirm that a handful of private citizens representing only their own narrow interests cannot usurp the role of the duly elected officials of the state of California." - National Center for Lesbian Rights head Kate Kendell, in a press release about today's Prop 8 hearing.NOTE: I watched the entire thing. Judging by the way the justices grilled Ted Olson, I'm inclined to think they will grant standing to Protect Marriage.
Monday, September 5, 2011
Via JMG: It's The Gays' Fault!
Grotesco - Det är bögarnas fel - Allsång på Skansen [english subtitles]
During Stockholm Pride, Swedish state television aired this skewering of fundamentalism, which was performed at an audience sing-along festival. If subtitles do not appear, click on the red "CC" button at the bottom right of the player.
Sunday, September 4, 2011
Via JMG: Oh Noes! Hate Group Haz Money Woes!
Focus On The Family, which went through an embarrassing reduction in their hate force just last year, is back on the financial ropes. Squee!
CitizenLink this week sent an email to constituents pleading for $2.3 million in 30 days to avoid a budget shortfall. If the money is not raised, “our ability to act on your behalf will be severely, and perhaps irreparably, hurt,” wrote Tom Minnery, CitizenLink executive director. “The threat is still very real,” Minnery writes. “If we don’t stay vigilant, last year’s victories can AND WILL be taken from us!” Like most nonprofits, CitizenLink has experienced a dramatic drop in donations in recent years. In fiscal 2009, donations were $6.5 million, according to CitizenLink financial records. A year later, donations fell to $5 million. In the run-up to the November 2010 midterm elections, the organization received a sharp increase in donations. But since then, Minnery said Wednesday, giving has fallen off to a worrying degree. CitizenLink’s 2011 fiscal budget is $5.8 million. The $2.3 million shortfall needs to be balanced by Sept. 30.NOTE: CitizenLink is Focus On The Family's recently retitled lobbying arm.
Via JMG: Anti-Bullying Law Passes CA Senate
California's state Senate has approved a comprehensive anti-bullying law requiring schools to investigate the harassment of students. The bill passed in the state Assembly three months ago and Gov. Jerry Brown is expected to sign it. "Seth's Law" is named for Seth Walsh, the 13 year-old California boy who hung himself in his backyard after being bullied for being gay.
"I'm absolutely ecstatic," said Wendy Walsh, Seth's mother. "I am truly honored. Seth would be very honored. I really hope the governor signs it." State Sen. Michael Rubio, D-Shafter, voted yes while state Sen. Jean Fuller, R-Bakersfield, voted no. Fuller said Friday she believes schools are burdened already with too many "one-size-fits-all" state laws, and local districts should be making the calls. "That's why we have school boards and superintendents," said Fuller, former Bakersfield City School District superintendent. A year ago this month, Seth Walsh hanged himself in his backyard. He left a suicide note expressing anger at his school "for bringing you this sorrow." And just more than two months ago, federal officials announced Tehachapi Unified School District failed to investigate or respond appropriately to the bullying of Seth.Expect the "Repeal Seth's Law" campaign.
Saturday, September 3, 2011
Via JMG: Uganda Health Minister: Pray AIDS Away
Uganda's new minister of health claims that prayer cures AIDS. And surprise surprise, she's also a backer of the "Kill Gays Bill" and is supported by American evangelicals. All are complicit in the deaths of any Ugandan who rejects medical treatment for AIDS. In May 2011 Dr. Christine Ondoa was chosen as the new head of Uganda's Ministry of Health. The position will give Ondoa authority over a significant portion of Uganda's foreign HIV/AIDS mitigation funding, which in the year 2010 included over $270 million dollars from the United States. Along with her role as a medical professional, Christine Ondoa also serves as pastor in the Life Line Ministries of apostle Julius Peter Oyet, one of the most powerful clerics leading Uganda's ongoing crusade against gay rights. Since her appointment as Health Ministry head, Ondoa has promoted the claim, an established tenet of Peter Wagner's apostolic movement, also advanced by Oyet's Life Line Ministries, that HIV/AIDS can be cured through prayer.RELATED: Warren Throckmorton reports today: "In a sign that debate is heating up in Uganda over the Anti-Homosexuality Bill, the Family Life Network of Stephen Langa convened a press conference yesterday and initiated the 'Pass the Bill Now' campaign."
Via JMG: CALIFORNIA: Newly Seated Pro-Gay Justice Likely To Hear Prop 8 Arguments
Newly seated California Supreme Court Justice Goodwin Liu, who has expressed support for same-sex marriage, is expected to hear Prop 8 arguments next week when the issue of standing is represented to the Court. Anti-gay groups have loudly called for Goodwin to recuse himself from the case based on his past statements. That, apparently, will not be happening. And as you'd expect, the Family Research Council is ever so pissed. Fantastic. JMG Asshat Of The Day - Rep. Duncan Hunter
Rep. Duncan Hunter has failed several times in legislative attempts to thwart the repeal of DADT. Now he wants to pass a bill making it legal for straight troops to harass gay ones. SRSLY. The draft bill prepared by Rep. Duncan Hunter, R-Calif., an Iraq and Afghanistan veteran who served as a Marine Corps officer before being elected to Congress, does not prevent repeal of the military’s “don’t ask, don’t tell” policy by the end of September, but it would require the services to “ensure that a member of the Armed Forces under their jurisdiction is not pressured to approve of another person’s sexual conduct if that sexual conduct is contrary to the personal principles of the member.” Essentially, this would mean that military people have to accept the presence of gays in the military but they would not have to like it, said an aide familiar with the legislation.And by "not have to like it," he means "totally free to abuse gay soldiers without fear of reprimand from superiors."
Via JMG: LONDON: Openly Gay Former Police Chief Brian Paddick Nominated For Mayor
Britain's Liberal Democrats have nominated former cop Brian Paddick as their choice for mayor of London. Until he left the force, Paddick was the highest-ranked openly gay police officer in Britain. Tonight, Mr Paddick said: “I hope to visit every local party in London, to meet the activists whose support we rely on year after year and to raise as much money as possible for the campaign ahead. I know from personal experience how tough the GLA [Greater London Assembly] Elections are for us as a party and next year will be no exception. I promise to devote myself full-time between now and May to securing the best possible result for the Liberal Democrats and with your help, we can deliver the best result we have ever had in the history of the GLA elections.”Paddick finished a distant third in the 2008 mayoral election. Paris, Berlin, and Houston are the biggest cities in the world with openly gay mayors currently in office.
Via AmericablogGay: Marriage, it’s not gay
John Aravosis (DC)
I find myself on the blog struggling for what word to use. Joe often prods me to change "gay" marriage to "same-sex" marriage. I'm not convinced it's much better. I've at times used "marriage equality," but I sometimes fear that it's code that non-gay people won't get. The thing is, it's quite clumsy when you try to write around the phrase "gay marriage." I'm open to suggestions, but you really need to look at a sentence the phrase is already in and then try to rewrite it.
From The New Civil Rights Movement:
There are lots of reasons I want to get married, and none of them are because I am gay. I don’t want a gay marriage. I don’t want a different kind of marriage; I want the same kind of marriage as my married neighbors have. I want a marriage with all the rights and privileges and responsibilities that everyone else who is married has. I am told there are 1,138 benefits that federally recognized marriage would bring us, and I would like those, too.From The New Civil Rights Movement:
But most of all, I want to marry the man I have loved for almost 34 years – a real marriage legally recognized everywhere we go.
Related posts on AMERICAblog Gay:
Via JMG: Chicago burbs making big bucks from hosting gay softball tournament
Lesson to the wise for other towns. Invite gay conferences and tournaments, and make money.
Elmhurst, along with St. Charles and Schaumburg, is hosting the 2011 Gay Softball World Series, organized by the North American Gay Amateur Athletic Association (NAGAA), and benefiting from the influx of visitors.
As the largest gay sporting event in the world, 150 teams — made up mostly of players who are gay, as well as some who are bisexual and straight — qualified for the games from gay softball leagues in 41 cities across the United States and Canada.
In total, the tournament is expected to bring about $5 million to the area, according to Ted Cappas, president of the local tournament planning board.
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