Trump: Weiner Is A Psycho

Democrats Vs. Republicans

(Source)

Afternoon View - Coming Soon

It has always annoyed my visitors that the closest Starbucks were an unreasonable (by Manhattan standards) seven to ten blocks away. But not for much longer as the chain just began construction at the massive and long-empty former Citibank space on my corner.

Mitt Romney: I Support Gay Rights But Totally Oppose Same-Sex Marriage

The Worst People In The World

According to a list published in the yearbook of an Arkansas middle school, the worst people ever to exist in the world are:

1. Adolf Hitler
2. Osama Bin Laden
3. Charles Manson
4. George W. Bush
5. Dick Cheney

The local Christianist hate group is outraged. OUTRAGED, I tells ya!

When In Rome

(Source)

Normal Heart Cast For NY Marriage

Tony Perkins: It's My Love For Jeebus That Keeps Me From Choking Homosexuals

10 Commonly Misunderstood Words

But not with THIS crowd, I'm betting.(Source)

BOOK TRAILER: Gay In America

CALIFORNIA: Gay Cop Told Marching In Pride Parade Will "Discredit" The Force

An openly gay police officer from an unidentified California city was reportedly told by his superiors that he would discredit their department if he were to march in a gay pride parade. TMZ reports:

Gloria Allred is repping the California officer, who made a written request to march in uniform with other gay law enforcement officers and citizens. Allred says the Department responded IN WRITING that the march would be a "discredit" to the cop shop. Yes, in writing -- stuuuuupid. Allred will hold a news conference Tuesday at 11 AM PDT in her L.A. office and the cop will appear. We're told the cop will announce he's filing an employment discrimination complaint against the department based on sexual orientation ... though Allred won't reveal which department she's targeting until she takes the mic.

AFA Whines More About Home Depot

But first, some volcanoes.

Quote Of the Day - Dan Savage

"A reporter asks if Weiner was drinking or using drugs—if he has a problem—because only a man who has a drinking problem or a drug problem could get caught up in something like this. Do reporters know what men are like? (And lots of women too?) This desire to pathologize behavior that isn't sick—that is, indeed, very common and human and completely and instantly understandable—is itself pathological. Weiner does not have a problem. He has a computer. The whole world has Weiner's problem: same old horniness, brand new box." - Dan Savage, live-blogging Weiner's press conference.

Toronto Pride Promo Raises Eyebrows

The below promotional clip from Pride Toronto and Tourism Toronto has some complaining that it reinforces gay stereotypes.

In the video, instructor Brody wears skintight shorts to show off his glistening oil-rubbed skin, promoting a gym lifestyle centred on the fact that all gay men and women want is “the best chest.” Amid “sparkle crunches,” a “disco break,” a requisite “bear” appearance and a lesbian who is grossed out by a penis (some may be surprised to note that this woman has a deep voice), we can’t help but wonder how out of touch (or straight?) the person who cooked up Pride Toronto’s painful-to-watch and setting-back-the-movement promotional video was. If gay activism is on the rise, how will the community be taken seriously if the organization that fronts the city’s largest gay celebration backs these old-hat, shouldn’t-be jokes? If they were looking to shoot fish in a barrel, why didn’t the Pride committee just hire Big Gay Al?

Some folks need to lighten up, but it just wouldn't be Pride season without some controversy out of Toronto. Remember all the hoopla about Queers United Against Israeli Apartheid last year?

PhoboQuotable - Randy Thomasson

"Wake up, parents. Public schools are no longer for the public. They're government institutions that think that you're children are their children -- and they are going to turn them into homosexual, bisexual, transsexual political activists. Just wait now until Harvey Milk is on a weekday next year, and it's going to be what? Anything goes. It could be gay pride parades on campus; it could be mock gay weddings on campus; it could be essays, mandatory homework saying why Harvey Milk, a bad guy, was a great guy. I mean, this is in-your-face stuff." - Christianist hate group spokesbigot Randy Thomasson of Save California, who says that Harvey Milk Day will unleash a "tsunami of perversity" in public schools.

More Palin Fun On Wikipedia

(Source)

TRAILER: PBS' Out In America

Airing this Wednesday at 8pm nationwide.

Sen. Ruben Diaz: Off The Rails

Despite the chair begging him to stay on topic (or on ANY topic) noted homophobe Sen. Ruben Diaz continues to ramble about nothing at all. Pity the legislators that have to work with this idiot every day.

SYRIA: Lesbian Blogger Amina Addalla Allegedly Kidnapped In Damascus

Details are sketchy, but here's what's being reported:

As the anti-government uprising in Syria has unfolded, Syrian-American blogger Amina Abdallah has attracted readers and been noticed by The Washington Post, CNN, Time,and The Guardian for her musings on the protest movement and what it's like to be gay in Syria. But her blog--A Gay Girl in Damascus--broached a very different topic today: Someone introducing herself as Abdallah's cousin wrote that Abdallah was seized by three armed men while on her way to meet with protest organizers. The cousin adds that while the family suspects Abdallah was seized by Syrian security forces, all that's known right now is that she's missing.

A Facebook page demanding Amina's release has been launched.

AARP Launches Gay Website

The AARP has launched a new subsite devoted to the issues of retired and senior LGBT folks. Among the topics covered during the launch are vacation destinations for gay seniors and dating tips for those over 50.

“We are proud to provide diverse, expert voices on topics that are important to all Americans 50+, including members of the LGBT community,” said Hugh Delehanty, SVP & Editor In Chief of AARP’s media properties. “AARP understands that while all Americans 50+ share the same goals of aging with dignity and peace of mind, each of the communities in our lives offers its own challenges, opportunities and contributions towards helping us get there. We couldn’t think of a better way to celebrate national Pride month than to launch this portal, which we hope will help members of the LGBT community and their loved ones get access to important information and relevant insights from experts and each other.

Don't Text At The Movies

TRAILER: Palin, The Undefeated

Tony Perkins Denounces Robert Gates

"It's hard to believe that he made that statement with a straight face. After all the testimony and Pentagon scrutiny, it's incredibly disingenuous to suggest that the military won't be affected by repeal. Some leaders may be on board with the change, but even they recognize that it is change. If this were just business as usual, would the military be wasting hours on training? Would the Pentagon have deflected valuable resources to survey the troops?

"This isn't a change--it's a complete upheaval for the entire force. More than anyone, Secretary Gates should understand the major implications for the two million-plus active duty and reserve personnel. Whether the issue is as broad as religious freedom or as basic as bunks and bathrooms, forcing the military to embrace open homosexuality will have real and devastating consequences for the men and women in uniform." - Hate group leader Tony Perkins, denouncing Defense Secretary Robert Gates for telling an anti-gay Marine to get in line with the repeal of DADT.

Tweet Of The Day - Lizz Winstead

I'd say that day is already here.

Rep. Anthony Weiner Confesses All

At least one of the silliest "scandals" of the year is (mostly) over.

NEW YORK: Anti-Gay Ultra-Orthodox Rabbis Rally Against Civil Rights

The SPLC-certified hate group MassResistance reports that the Ultra-Orthodox Torah Jews for Decency today lobbied New York state senators to oppose marriage equality. I believe this is the same group that stood uncomfortably on Sen. Ruben Diaz' hate stage while speakers condemned anybody who didn't accept Jeebus as their personal savior.

Apple Unveils iCloud

At today's Apple Worldwide Developers Conference, Steve Jobs gave up the details of the company's much-discussed cloud-based music service.

The new iCloud service replaces Apple's MobileMe document-sharing offering, which cost $99 a year. The new iCloud service is free and available now with an iOS 4.3 update, Jobs said. With iCloud, content such as music and documents is stored on large servers instead of on personal hard drives—and is accessible from anywhere through the Internet. Apple will provide 5 gigabytes of free storage for mail, documents and backup. The new iCloud service is Apple's seal of approval of what many experts believe is the next major iteration of the digital world.

TRAILER: I Am Divine

Red Sox To Make "It Gets Better" Clip

At the urging of a very young fan, the Boston Red Sox have agreed to become the third major league sports team to record an "It Gets Better" video. The Advocate reports:

Sam Maden, a 12-year-old Sox fan, petitioned the team via Change.org to create a video for the project, founded by Dan Savage and Terry Miller as a way to fight antigay bullying and teen suicide by letting young LGBT people know that life does get better. Maden conceived his petition campaign as a way to honor an uncle who died unexpectedly in January. About 9,000 people, mostly Red Sox fans from New England, signed Maden’s petition, according to a news release from Change.org. Team executives announced over the weekend that the Sox would make a video.

Last week the San Francisco Giants became the first time to release an anti-bullying video. The Chicago Cubs are due up next.

AFA: Obama's Pride Month Declaration Will Send America Back To Pagan Sexuality

What does that even mean?

That's Gay On The NBA

Quote Of The Day - Robert Gates

"You'll have to complete your enlistment just like everybody else. The reality is that you don't all agree with each other on your politics, you don't agree with each other on your religion, you don't agree with each other on a lot of thing. But you still serve together. And you work together. And you look out for each other. And that's all that matters. If we do this right, nothing will change. You will still have to abide by the same rules of behavior, the same discipline, the same respect for each other that has been the case through all the history of the Marine Corps." - Defense Secretary Robert Gates, essentially telling an anti-gay Marine to shove his bigotry.

Herman Cain Leads AFA Poll

You'll have to embiggen the above for details (or go here) but a just-posted presidential straw poll of over 100,000 members of the American Family Association shows Herman Cain far ahead of the rest of the GOP field. Cain: 24%, Palin: 10%, Ron Paul: 10%. Cain, who says that "gay marriage will destroy the moral fabric of America" and who has vowed to reinstate DADT, is also the favorite of GOProud.

Frothy Mix: WWII Veterans Did Not Storm Normandy For Health Care Reform

CALIFORNIA: Anti-Gay Christianist Hate Group Launches Lie-Filled Website

The Christianist bigots at Save California have launched yet another one of those lie-filled anti-gay sites which quote NARTH and the (totally fake) American College of Pediatrics.

The American Patriot's Bible

Clip description:

With a gift of $100 to Cornerstone TeleVision Network you will receive two beautiful hard cover patriotic books that are essential for the Christian library. "In God We Still Trust" is a 365 day devotional that strengthens your walk in the lord as well as documentation of the founding fathers biblical principals that shaped the United States of Americas Constitution. "The American Patriots Bible", in addition being a NKJ bible, also connects the history of the United States all the way to the present day. The readings are incredibly fascinating and engaging.

Fox Mistakes Tina Fey For Sarah Palin

Yesterday Fox News used the above photo of Tina Fey to illustrate a story about this year's major GOP presidential contenders. Whoopsie.

(Tipped by JMG reader Birdie)

Photo Of The Day

This weekend in Fairport, New York, Jason Curtis, 14, counter-protested the red-caped loons of the Society for Defense of Tradition. "I know kids that are gay and I don't want them to be criticized," he said.

[Photo credit: Bethany Young]

The Blumenthals For New York Marriage

Frothy Mix Makes It Official

HomoQuotable - Erica Diaz

"I was so nervous that morning that I threw up. I spoke against him across the street, directly within his view. But then I approached a police officer who escorted me to the podium where he spoke. My grandfather introduced me to the crowd and kissed me on the forehead. 'This is my granddaughter," he said. 'She chose her way of life, but I chose God's way, but I love her.' Grandpa even called me after the rally, to say that he was proud of me for 'respectfully speaking up for what you believe in.' You cannot tell someone that you love them and stay silent when people call for their death. 'Love' is empty when you say someone's life isn't natural. He could quietly vote 'no' if that's what he believes is right. But I want him to know that every word he utters hurts his own blood." - Erica Diaz, openly lesbian granddaughter of NY Sen. Ruben Diaz, recounting her awkward appearance at his Bronx hate rally last month.

Wikipedia Note Of The Day

Andrew Sullivan notes that supporters of Sarah Palin are trying to edit Paul Revere's Wikipedia page so that her gaffe appears to be historical fact. A Wikipedia editor says:

In the article on Paul Revere, someone has added false information in an effort to support Sarah Palin's FALSE claims about Paul Revere. "Accounts differ regarding the method of alerting the colonists; the generally accepted position is that the warnings were verbal in nature, although one disputed account suggested that Revere rang bells during his ride.[8][9]" This must be removed as it is a LIE designed to mislead.

Matt Baume: Marriage News Watch

Crazy Eyes Brags About Her Anti-Gay Past

NEW YORK: Red-Caped Loons Claim Attack By "Pro-Homosexual Advocate"

The red-caped loons of the anti-gay Catholic Society for Defense of Tradition are claiming that a "pro-homosexual advocate" tore up their banner at a street protest in Fairport, New York this weekend. The video of the "attack" looks very, very staged to me. (I'll be calling Fairport police today and see if any report was actually filed.) It's also interesting that the clip is only posted to their own site and not their YouTube channel as they normally do. Watch the video and let us know what you think.

U.S. Army Launches DADT Info Site

Via press release:

In preparation of the repeal of the "Don't Ask, Don't Tell" policy, the Army has launched a new website to provide servicemembers and their families the most up-to-date information about the change. The website features current news articles, key facts, frequently asked questions and additional resources. It is just one of the many training resources the Army implemented to educate the force and minimize misconceptions about the repeal. "It's a way for the Army to provide the latest and greatest information about the repeal to Soldiers, family members and the public," said Lt. Col Timothy M. Beninato, public affairs advisor to the Assistant Secretary of the Army for Manpower and Reserve Affairs and Army G-1.

Sarah Palin: That Paul Revere Question Was "Gotcha" Lamestream Journalism

And not only that, her answer was correct! One if by land and two if by Tea Party, AMIRITE?

Afternoon View - Blast Warning

Massive underground explosions continue to shake my block daily as the Second Avenue subway construction barrels on. I never hear the blast warnings but I do hear the "all clear" whistles after my furniture has stopped moving.

This Week In Holy Crimes

Over the last seven days...

Belgium: Brussels Archdiocese promises to compensate 500 victims of molestation by church workers. At least 13 suicides are thought to have resulted from the attacks.
North Carolina: Pastor John Jackson charged with additional felony counts of embezzling from his church. Last month Jackson was charged with using church funds to insure his five Cadillacs.
Ontario: Pastor Emmanual Animodi charged with sexual assault on a parishioner.
Alabama: Pastor James Hunter and his wife charged with dealing morphine.
New York: Rabbi Saul Kassin let off with two years probation in massive $50M international bank fraud scheme.
New Mexico: Pastor Steven Perez charged with child molestation.
California: Father William Myers placed on leave after following a minor boy into the changing room at a department store.
Texas: Pastor Theodore Baines sued by congregation for threatening them, abusing alcohol, and making lewd comments to young female parishioners.
Minnesota: Pastor David Radtke charged with molesting a foreign exchange student staying in his home.
Missouri: Diocese of Kansas City sued for covering up the actions of Father Shawn Ratigan, who is accused of taking photos of a nude underage girl.
California: Pastor Carlton Hammonds sentenced to four years in prison for child molestation.
Iowa: Pastor Patrick Eduoard charged with multiple counts of sexual abuse.
New York: Molestation trial of Pastor Joe Flowers delayed due to revelation of a second victim.

This Week's Winner
New Jersey: Members of the Walking With Christ sect have pleaded not guilty of causing the death of an eight year-old girl after forcing the child to fast in order to achieve holiness. Pastor Emanyel Kris told followers that even to swallow one's own saliva was a "sin" and a violation of his fasting edict. The victim's mother is charged with aggravated manslaughter. Pastor Kris has not been charged with anything.

Food Stamps For Fast Food

The parent company of Taco Bell, KFC, and Pizza Hut is lobbying the Kentucky government to allow the use of food stamps in their stores.

Currently Kentucky's Food Assistance Program provides money to those in need to buy food -- but that does not include fast food. Yum! says the elderly, disabled, and homeless should be able to use food stamps to buy hot meals, especially those unable to cook. But members of the African-American Think Tank disagree, as Rev. Gerome Sutton explains: "What that will ultimately do is, it will affect the health and well-being of our community and drive up the cost of health care for the state."

ILLINOIS: More Catholic Adoption Groups Close Doors Rather Than Comply With Law

Two more Catholic adoption agencies in Illinois have decided to close their doors rather than comply with the state's new civil unions law. They'd rather see children go without families. 



Glenn Van Cura, executive director of Catholic Charities of the Diocese of Joliet, told The Advocate that his office is not accepting applications for new foster care or adoptive parents pending further clarification from the governor and attorney general's office. "What we want to make clear is that according to our beliefs, with any cohabitating couple, whether homosexual or heterosexual, we don't refer to licensing. It's just part of our social teaching," Van Cura said. Single individuals, whether gay or straight, have been eligible to become foster or adoptive parents, however. "We don't ask, nor is it any of our business," Van Cura said of a single applicant's sexual orientation. In a letter this week to the Illinois Department of Children and Family Services, Catholic Charities of Peoria CEO Tricia C. Fox wrote that the suspension could be lifted if the state amended the civil unions law to allow religious services to refer same-sex couples elsewhere.

ORLANDO: Christianist Hate Group Flies Anti-Gay "Warning" Over Disney World

Gay Days is in full swing in Orlando and the Florida Family Association is letting everybody know about it.

A Christian group is protesting the annual "Gay Day" by flying a banner plane over Disney World with a warning message for visitors. The six day celebration for gay pride is a 20 year celebration, held in Orlando, FL, with Saturday spent at the Walt Disney's Magic Kingdom. "It's just about people being proud of who they are here," said Gay day participant, Floyd Benefield. With the 160,000 people visiting central Florida to celebrate, Florida Family Association is boycotting and spending $7,000 to fly banners for two full days near Disney, warning unsuspected families of the festivities.

Coldplay - Every Teardrop

Your favorite band to hate is back. Naturally, there's already a controversy about the song which interestingly (to me) contains "elements" of Peter Allen's classic I Go To Rio.

Cubs To Make "It Gets Better" Clip

The Chicago Cubs have announced their intent to follow the lead of the San Francisco Giants and create an It Gets Better clip.

The Cubs will be the second professional sports team to participate in the "It Gets Better" campaign following the San Francisco Giants who released their video earlier this week. "The Cubs applaud the Giants for their stand against anti-LGBT bullying. Bullying of anyone for any reason is unacceptable," said Laura Ricketts, Cubs owner and board member. "We are proud to join the Giants in taking a stand against bullying and encourage other professional sports organizations to do the same.

Last year the Cubs had a float in the Chicago Pride Parade.

Tired Old Queen At The Movies #76

1933's Dinner At Eight starring Jean Harlow.

John Edwards: I Didn't Break The Law

Edwards pleaded not guilty today to charges that he diverted campaign funds to cover up his affair.

James Arness Dies At Age 88

The Associated Press reports:

Matt Dillon, the mythical marshal of Dodge City, stood tall — all 6 feet, 6 inches of him — on "Gunsmoke" from 1955 to 1975. He outlasted dozens of other Western heroes while making history on TV's longest-running dramatic series, a record that held until NBC's "Law & Order" tied the CBS Western's record in 2010. Through all those gunslinging years, James Arness, who died Friday, kept Marshal Dillon righteous, peace-seeking and, most of all, believable.

I was never a fan of Gunsmoke, but I do fondly recall Arness for playing the monster in The Thing From Another World.

Dan Savage For Pride Magazine

This gorgeous image was taken by famed photographer Marius Bugge for my Pride Magazine 2011 cover story on Dan Savage. (Marius also shot our last two covers with Dan Choi and Rachel Maddow.) This year's issue of Pride will begin appearing in the usual locations this weekend and I'll post an excerpt from my interview shortly. By the way, I had to flee back inside the studio when Dan leapt up on that 18th floor railing for this shot, which embiggens nicely.

SAN FRANCISCO: "Foreskin Man" Comic Riles Opponents Of Circumcision Ban

Opponents of San Francisco's proposed ban on circumcision say a comic book being using to promote the ballot referendum is anti-Semitic. The comic is being sold on the website of Matthew Hess, the bill's chief author and proponent. It features a muscular blond superhero fighting off rabbis who are attempting to complete a circumcision.

Saunders asked Hess if his comic is anti-Semitic. His answer: "A lot of people have said that, but we're not trying to be anti-Semitic. We're trying to be pro-human rights." He told her the "next issue will deal with a different kind of circumcision."Meantime, Hess is pushing his political effort with other dark, threatening images of Jewish characters. His "Foreskin Man" card set being sold through Cafe Press feautures the terrifying-looking "Monster Mohel." The astounding description of a person qualified to perform the Jewish rite of circumcision: "Nothing excites Monster Mohel more than cutting into the infantile penile flesh of an eight day old boy."

AGAIN: Palin Mangles U.S. History

Quote Of The Day - Bob Marshall

"The Richmond Fed’s endorsement of costly, anti-social, immoral behavior is rejected by 6,000 years of Western Religious and moral teaching. You want the American people to trust your [judgment] in economic matters when your spokesperson celebrates an attack on public morals?" - Virginia state Delegate Bob Marshall, claiming that by flying the rainbow flag in observance of Pride Month, the Federal Reserve is celebrating an act that is a Class Six felony.

RELATED: The off-his-Jeebus-rocker Marshall has previously called on Virginia to issue its own currency, and has claimed that God punishes women who have abortions by giving them deformed children. And after the DADT repeal bill passed in December, Marshall tried to have gays banned from the Virginia National Guard.

Rep. Vicky Hartzler Compares Gay Marriage To Incest, Polygamy, And Pedophilia

Before being elected to Congress, Hartzler headed the Coalition to Protect Marriage in Missouri, which in 2004 backed the successful campaign to install a statewide constitutional ban on same-sex marriage.

Catholic Conference Denounces "Hate Purveyors" Attacking NY Sen. Ruben Diaz

The New York State Catholic Conference has issued a statement backing state Sen. Ruben Diaz, who is all over the net this week making unsubstantiated claims of receiving death threats from gay activists.

It is now reported, in a popular political blog that all policy-makers read in Albany, that the “F*** Ruben Diaz Festival” will be held soon in Brooklyn, where winners of the “F*** Ruben Diaz: Gay Erotica Featuring NYC’s Number One Bigot” writing contest will entertain themselves reading their dirty stories to each other, mocking this minister of the Gospel. And this is all known to the press and in the halls of the Capitol. So where is the outrage in the media? Where is the cry for tolerance and justice for Rev. Diaz against these hate purveyors? The answer, sadly, is that there is no outcry.

Are they saving it for after something truly awful happens to this good man? Until the hate that is being incited boils over into violent behavior? We are unjustly called “haters” and “bigots” by those who have carefully framed their advocacy strategy. The entire campaign to enact same-sex marriage is conducted under a banner of acceptance, and equality and respect for others. Yet behind that banner of tolerance is another campaign – of intimidation, threats and ugliness.

Uh yeah. "This good man" is the same one who stood beaming on the Bronx hate rally stage while his invited speakers called for the deaths of homosexuals.

TRAILER: Beginners

Subtitle: "A son's love letter to his gay father." Based on the filmmaker's real life story. It looks wonderful.

Crazy Eyes: I Will Repeal "Obamacare"

At today's Faith & Freedom Coalition Conference.

George & Farid Want To Marry

Via press release from Freedom To Marry:

“Farid and George have been in a loving, committed relationship for over 10 years, doing the hard work of marriage – in addition to the hard work of owning a successful restaurant business together – yet without the support and respect marriage would provide,” said Evan Wolfson, Founder and President of Freedom to Marry. “They have wanted to marry for years, but with a baby on the way, they feel even more strongly the need for the critical safety-net that marriage brings. New York couples like Farid and George want the freedom to marry, a super-majority of New Yorkers want them to have it, and the New York state legislature should pass the marriage bill - now.”

GERMANY: Catholic Doctors Group Selling Homeopathic "Treatment" For Gayness

Germany's Union of Catholic Doctors is selling a homeopathic "treatment" for gayness on their website.

The religious association, which calls itself the "voice of the Catholic medical community," writes on its website that while "homosexuality is not an illness," a host of treatments are available to keep such "inclinations" at bay. Possibilities include "constitutional treatments with homeopathic tools … such as homeopathic dilutions like Platinum," "psychotherapy," and "religious counseling." Among homeopathy's controversial treatments are the prescription of "Globuli," tiny pills that consisting mostly of sugar. "We know about a number of people with homosexual feelings who find themselves in a spiritual and psychological emergency and suffer greatly," UCP head Gero Winkelmann told SPIEGEL in a written statement. "If someone is unhappy, ill or feels they are in an emergency, they should be able to find options for help with us."

Homeopathy and religion, two crazy ideas meant to be together!

CHINA: Teen Sells Kidney For iPad

A teenager in China reportedly sold one of his kidneys on the black market in order to buy himself an iPad.

The 17-year-old, identified only as Little Zheng, told a local TV station he had arranged the sale of the kidney over the internet.The story only came to light after the teenager's mother became suspicious. The case highlights China's black market in organ trafficking. A scarcity of organ donors has led to a flourishing trade. It all started when the high school student saw an online advert offering money to organ donors. Illegal agents organised a trip to the hospital and paid him $3,392 (£2,077) after the operation. With the cash the student bought an iPad 2, as well as a laptop. When his mother noticed the computers and the deep red scar on his body, which was caused by the surgery, Little Zheng confessed.

Crazy Eyes: Obama Is My Only Competitor

AFA: Home Depot Blew Us Off

The American Family Association is whining that Home Depot executives gave them a "cool" reception when they delivered anti-gay petitions to the company's board of directors.

"We presented to the shareholders and to the chairman and the board of directors over 470,000 signature petitions asking them to remain neutral in the culture war, specifically when it addresses gay marriage and homosexual activist groups," Sharp tells OneNewsNow. The reception was cool, adds the AFA spokesman. Blake thanked AFA for the petitions but again, as in the past, reiterated the company's support for "diversity," which includes same-gender "marriage." Sharp adds: "We're disappointed that The Home Depot continues to close the door and not listen to the millions of customers who are offended that they are engaging in the culture war and taking a position in favor of gay marriage."

Good for Home Depot. Again.

Dr. Jack Kevorkian Dies At 84

Assisted suicide advocate Dr. Jack Kevorkian has died of a pulmonary thrombosis at the age of 84. Kevorkian claims to have helped over 100 terminally ill patients end their lives. He spent eight years in prison for doing so.

AUSTRALIA: Safer Sex Activists Act Out Actual Anti-Gay Letters To The Editor

How Geeks Meditate

(Source)

Huckabee: I'm Open To VP Nomination

Even though he pulled the plug on his own presidential campaign, Mike Huckabee now says he's totally open to being vice president, should anybody select him to be their running mate.

"You know, everything is still open. I mean, I haven’t closed doors. I found long ago that that’s not the smart thing to do,” he told reporters following a speech at the Clinton Presidential Center in Little Rock, Ark. GOP presidential candidates are likely to seek Huckabee's support. He finished first in the 2008 Iowa caucuses and came in second to Sen. John McCain (R-Ariz.) for the Republican Party's nomination, but he decided to sit out the 2012 campaign.

RUSSIA: Popular Comedy Show Covers Gay Pride Battle With West Side Story Skit

The Moscow Times reports:

Channel One’s mock news show “Yesterday Live” imagined what might have happened if City Hall had permitted the [gay pride] march and the two sides had gotten together to celebrate, in a surprisingly tolerant comedy sketch. A news reader in a satin jacket reads from a pink page against a gay rights flag. “It would be curious to see gays and border guards marking their holiday on the same day,” he says. The sketch shows stereotypically mincing gay activists in Village People outfits and boas fraternizing with the swaggering border guards in stripy vests. “We’ve waited 17 years for Luzhkov to leave,” one says, referring to the openly homophobic mayor, sacked in September. The two sides join for a “West Side Story”-style dance routine to the tune of the song “America” with a joke about the sexual orientation of the pop singers at the traditional concert for the border guards. At the end, the two groups separate, but one border guard confusedly stays with the gay group, before running back to his brothers in arms with a scream of alarm.

Courtesy of Blabbeando, here's the skit. The audio is unfortunately out of sync.

FRC's Prayer Of The Day

The Family Research Council is asking its followers to pray that President Obama realize the inherent evil in his LGBT Pride Month proclamation, which "endorses the behavior that leads to AIDS."

Pray that God will protect America from the spiritual effects of this evil Presidential Proclamation. May Christians -- who will be targeted by HRC's smear campaign -- enjoy God's protection. And may this administration's efforts to promote homosexuality overseas be resisted and defeated at home and abroad! (Ps 16:1; 25:19-21; 27:5-6; 121:7-8; Ps 119:126; 140:1-13; Eph 6:10 ff; 2 Tim 3.

The Gay Who Wasn't Gay Enough

Chris Christie Pays Up

New Jersey Gov. Chris Christie has reimbursed the state for his helicopter ride to his son's baseball game.

The unapologetic governor on Thursday reimbursed the state $2,100 himself and $1,200 from the state Republican Party to cover the cost of two helicopter flights to see his oldest son, Andrew, star in two baseball tournament games. “Afterwards, he said to me, ‘Dad, thanks for coming,” Christie recalled at a news conference in Denville. Democrats had a less heart-warming response when learning of Christie’s use of a month-old, $12.5 million state police helicopter to shuttle him from the Statehouse to the ballpark. They have called for hearings to look into the governor’s personal use of the perk and called Christie a hypocrite for wasteful spending.

Olivia Newton-John - Magic

Remix and video done as a cancer fundraiser.

Tony Perkins On Illinois Civil Unions

"The so-called Religious Freedom Protection and Civil Union Act has already done more harm to religious freedom than good. The Roman Catholic diocese in Rockford has announced that it will close its doors on the church's adoption program before subjecting children to placement in homosexual homes. Like it did in Massachusetts and Washington, D.C., the Catholic Church refused to violate its convictions. Unfortunately, it's only a matter of time before other dioceses follow suit. For the church, this is an act of self-defense. Without a religious exemption, the law makes programs like this one vulnerable to lawsuits or state budget cuts. Much to the frustration of the bill's own sponsor, the state refused to carve out special protections for the religious organizations like this one. And now the state's neediest children will be paying for it." - Tony Perkins of the Family Research Council.

Rick Perry: God Caused The Bad Economy So We'll Return To Biblical Principles

So says the governor of Texas.

What Was GOProud Backer Andrew Breitbart's Real Role In "Weiner-gate"?

According to Salon and The Smoking Gun, the person who appears to have hacked Rep. Anthony Weiner's Twitter account may have been in prior contact with GOProud backer (and notorious liar) Andrew Breitbart, who first "broke" the story. Hit the links, it's all verrrry interesting.

Robyn - Call Your Girlfriend

(Via - Pop In Stereo)

The Non-Witch Gets Off

The Federal Elections Commission has dismissed the complaint against failed U.S. Senate candidate Christine O'Donnell. The complaint, which had been filed by the Delaware Republican Party, alleged that O'Donnell broke FEC rules by collaborating with the Tea Party Express on fundraising and advertising.

Billboard Of The Day

Steve Barnes at the Albany Times-Union reports:

A prominent billboard urging a local politician to vote for same-sex marriage has a restaurant source: Bombers Burrito Bar. The billboard, on I-787 south between I-90 and the Clinton Avenue exit, is addressed to Republican Roy McDonald, who voted against gay marriage while in the Assembly and, in 2009, as a state senator representing parts of Rensselaer and Saratoga counties. As my colleague Jimmy Vielkind reported last week, McDonald, who has been mum on the issue lately, is one of a handful of senators of both parties whose votes are uncertain.

Bombers Burrito Bar is owned by Matt Baumgartner, who owns several other restaurants across New York state.

Mittens Makes It Official

VIRGINIA: Christianist Hate Group Upset Over Rainbow Flag At Federal Reserve

The American Family Association is upset that the Federal Reserve Bank in Richmond, Virginia is flying the rainbow flag in recognition of Pride Month.

The Mississippi-based American Family Association has received a complaint from a Federal Reserve employee who objects to the flag and what it represents. In reference to the "gay pride" flag flying just below the American flag, the employee wrote in an email: "For the past five or six years, the homosexual agenda has been pushed down our throats. [The bank president and vice president] have initiated this agenda. This offends me as a Christian." According to Cobb, more than just bank employees are offended. "We know of businesses that are actually housed within the Federal Reserve building that I [bet] are very unhappy today," she suggests. "So it's going to be interesting to get the feedback from them." But aside from the workers, she says the flag flies in the face of most Virginians. "In Virginia, this is not a stand that should be taken. We've as a state said we are not going to support gay marriage, for example, in our constitution, and we've been very clear on issues of gay rights," the pro-family advocate notes. "So it's disappointing to see such a large flag flying, as if it's something that this commonwealth supports."

A Federal Reserve spokesperson has essentially told the AFA to drop dead.

Seems About Right

(Source)

MSNBC Interviews Ben Cohen

NY Sen. Ruben Diaz Defends Comparing Homosexuality To Bestiality

Blabbeando blogger Andres Duque has transcribed NY Sen. Ruben Diaz' appearance on Pura Politica, some of which I excerpted here yesterday. In the below clip, host Juan Manuel Benitez plays a 2009 interview segment in which Diaz compares being gay to having sex with animals, a position Diaz then defends. Start at around 6:00.

LGBT History: San Francisco & HIV/AIDS

Technically, this is an ad for the San Francisco AIDS Foundation. Interesting, nonetheless.

(Via - David Mixner)

AFA Launches Anti-Gay Phone Campaign To Local Home Depot Store Managers

Via press release:

Home Depot is having its annual shareholder meeting this week. Many shareholders are upset with Home Depot's sponsorship of numerous gay pride events and support for homosexual marriage. Shareholders will be addressing the board of directors personally this week and plan to make sure the board of directors know they need to end the boycott! But...they need YOUR support. Your local store manager is the closest personal contact you can have with the company. They are the "eyes and ears" of the company and can make sure your concerns get to the right people. Today, call your local Home Depot store and ask to speak to the manager. You can find the number to your local store here (click "Store Finder" at top of page) or in your local phone book. Politely let him know you are boycotting his store until the company agrees to remain neutral in the culture wars and stops supporting homosexuality.

Do call your local Home Depot and personally thank the manager for their support of their LGBT customers.

Today In Christian Love™

"If children start to believe it is okay to be gay, they will think it's okay to be a pedophile or have sex with animals. It's a slippery slope. This gay pride nonsense is an abomination. God does not want to see homosexuals in our parks." - Pastor Ronald Ferguson, objecting to a planned gay pride picnic in a Harlem park.

FLORIDA: Gov. Rick Scott Signs Bill Requiring Drug Test To Receive Welfare

Tea Party hero FL Gov. Rick "Medicare Fraud" Scott has signed a bill requiring welfare recipients to pass a drug test before receiving any checks. Applicants must pay for their own tests. The ACLU isn't having it.

"The wasteful program created by this law subjects Floridians who are impacted by the economic downturn, as well as their families, to a humiliating search of their urine and body fluids without cause or even suspicion of drug abuse," said Howard Simon, executive director of the ACLU of Florida. "Searching the bodily fluids of those in need of assistance is a scientifically, fiscally, and constitutionally unsound policy. Today, that unsound policy is Florida law."

I'm betting that the governor also has his fingers in the companies that would be providing these millions of drug tests.

Quote Of The Day - Sen. Rand Paul

"I’m not for profiling people on the color of their skin, or on their religion, but I would take into account where they’ve been traveling and perhaps, you might have to indirectly take into account whether or not they’ve been going to radical political speeches by religious leaders. It wouldn’t be that they are Islamic. But if someone is attending speeches from someone who is promoting the violent overthrow of our government, that’s really an offense that we should be going after — they should be deported or put in prison." - Supposedly libertarian Sen. Rand Paul, who presumably includes revolution-minded teabaggers among those who should be imprisoned.

Regular Folks For New York Marriage

The Human Rights Campaign gives us a break from all the celebrity endorsements.

Gov. Chris Christie, Fiscal Conservative

This is how New Jersey Gov. Chris Christie, the fiscal hero to conservatives, attends his son's baseball games.

Right before the lineup cards were being exchanged on the field, a noise from above distracted the spectators as the 55-foot long helicopter buzzed over trees in left field, circled the outfield and landed in an adjacent football field. Christie disembarked from the helicopter and got into a black car with tinted windows that drove him about a 100 yards to the baseball field.During the 5th inning, Christie and First Lady Mary Pat Christie got into the car, rode back to the helicopter and left the game. During a pitching change, play was stopped for a couple of minutes while the helicopter took off.

Despite a media outcry, today Christie's spokesman defended the helicopter trip as "appropriate" and said the governor would not be reimbursing the state for its cost.

Grenade Or Aid?

A massive version of the above chart can be found here.

Wingnut Author: Sesame Street Has Liberal Bias And Turns Boys Into Prom Queens

HomoQuotable - Chris Barron

"Let’s be honest, the left doesn’t hate me because I am mean or brash or too aggressive – the same label can be applied to many of my critics. No, the left hates me because I have the audacity to stand up to them. They hate me because I am a conservative who happens to be gay. They hate me because I won’t be bullied by them. They hate me because I have dared to wander off the liberal plantation, because I refuse to play the victim card, and because I have rejected their failed big government agenda. So if the left is looking for an apology for things I say on twitter or the things I write on my blog or for statements I make on TV, they won’t get one. Indeed, they can expect more of the same." - GOProud chairman Chris Barron, writing on his personal blog.

Fischer: Gay Activists Will Commit Virtual Genocide Against Christian Soldiers

Open Thread Thursday

The complaint box is open.

New White House Site: Winning the Future, Obama and the LGBT Community

The Obama administration today launched a new official subsite titled "Winning The Future: President Obama & the LGBT Community." Chris Geidner reports at Metro Weekly:

In addition to the fact sheet and email sign-up page, the LGBT home page contains links to the administration's "It Gets Better" videos; White House blog posts relating to LGBT issues; LGBT-related news releases from the administration; and links to resources, including StopBullying.gov, AIDS.gov and the Defense Department's "Don't Ask, Don't Tell" repeal page.

The two-page, "The Obama Administration's Commitment to Winning the Future for the LGBT Community" fact sheet contains many bullet points of accomplishments -- similar to but more expansive than Tuesday's 2011 LGBT Pride Month proclamation from Obama -- and three bullet points about future progress. The "progress" points all relate, at least in part, to relationship recognition -- a topic absent from Tuesday's proclamation.

Tim Pawlently: I'm Still A Big Douchebag

Newt Gingrich For Liberty Law School

Newt Gingrich has recorded the below commercial endorsing the law school at Dead Jerry Falwell's Liberty University, where students are given failing or bad grades if they fail to cite "God's law" as having precedence over American civil laws. Like that one against kidnapping.

Religion Shrinks Your Brain

From Scientific American:

In this study, Owen et al. used MRI to measure the volume of the hippocampus, a central structure of the limbic system that is involved in emotion as well as in memory formation. They evaluated the MRIs of 268 men and women aged 58 and over, who were originally recruited for the NeuroCognitive Outcomes of Depression in the Elderly study, but who also answered several questions regarding their religious beliefs and affiliation. The study by Owen et al. is unique in that it focuses specifically on religious individuals compared to non-religious individuals. This study also broke down these individuals into those who are born again or who have had life-changing religious experiences. The results showed significantly greater hippocampal atrophy in individuals reporting a life-changing religious experience.

Italics are mine. Heh.

San Francisco Giants - It Gets Better

Lady Gaga Sells 1.1M In First Week

The first week of sales for Lady Gaga's Born This Way are the highest for any release in the last six years.

Lady Gaga's "Born This Way" album debuts at No. 1 on the Billboard 200 chart with 1,108,000 copies sold in its first week, according to Nielsen SoundScan. It's only the 17th album to sell a million in a week since SoundScan began tracking sales data in 1991, and the highest sales week since 2005. "Born This Way" also marks Gaga's first No. 1 album -- "The Fame" debut peaked at No. 2, while "The Fame Monster" EP reached No. 5 and dance effort "The Remix" hit No. 6. "Born This Way's" bow reaps the largest sales week of any album since 50 Cent's "The Massacre" did 1,141,000 in its first week, in March of 2005. The last time we had a million-plus frame was when Taylor Swift's "Speak Now" premiered at No. 1 with 1,047,000 in November of 2010. The SoundScan-era record week is held by NSYNC's "No Strings Attached," when it debuted at No. 1 with 2,416,000 in 2000.

Crazy Eyes Vs. Sarah Palin

Crazy Eyes says "there is plenty of room" for lots of teabaggers in the 2012 GOP presidential field.

HIV Map Of America

Wired Magazine reports:

With HIV’s 30th anniversary around the corner, a new interactive map reveals U.S. data on the disease down to individual counties and, for some cities, even zip codes. The nonprofit mapping effort, called AIDSVu, isn’t a perfect representation of the disease in the United States. The visualization is based on 2008 data, some states didn’t contribute county or demographic information that others did, and the map shows only diagnosed rates and cases. An estimated 1 in 5 HIV carriers in the U.S. are undiagnosed. Despite these limitations, it may be the most thorough geographical depiction of HIV ever created.

(Tipped by JMG reader Nicholas)