Combined Gay News Headlines (T5T-1)

WATCH: A Young Girl's Reasonable Argument for Same-Sex Marriage

We hear Joe Solmonese try to explain to conservatives why same-sex marriage should be allowed. We hear Michelangelo Signorile do it, too. The list of rational folks making the case that gay men and women should be afforded the same rights as heteros is … endless. But there's something truly magical about young people voicing [...]

As the right-wing embraces Carrie Prejean — well, sort of — for her anti-gay stance, one little thing they're forgetting is that Prejean, an UNMARRIED WOMAN!, has been busy pitching herself as a sex object. And not just by appearing on national television in a bikini. And not just by scoring herself some free breast [...]

'Magic Negro' Now a Punchline for Michael Steele

The GOP's joke of a chairman Michael Steele was the first to chastise Chip Saltsman — who also wanted the top party job — when he released a "spoof" CD that included, among other offensive songs, the track "Barack the Magic Negro." Steele said the song just "reinforces a negative stereotype of the party." But [...]

Then I Saw Those Pics, Now I’m a Believer

Food makes a great substitution for sex.

So, as we all know, I’m on a celibacy kick. Consequently I’ve had to fill the vast void in my vagina soul with something. Well, I’ve found that something, much to the chagrin of my gym membership. That’s right, it’s food. Specifically, delicious, nutritious, vegan (except for what I picked off Binx’s meal) Ethiopian food. It’s [...]

GAVIN NEWSOM COMES TO TOWN TODAY!

  Fresno Town Hall with Gavin Newsom Date: April 29, 2009 Time: 6:00PM to 8:00PM Location: Wawona Middle School Gymnasium Street: 4524 North Thorne Avenue City: Fresno, CA 93704 P.S. Sorry for not posting this sooner, got caught up in it all. Maybe a mass email? This guy is our hero after all.

Ann Coulter on CNN: Waterboarding is Nothing More Than Childhood Hazing!

Just where did this woman come from, anyways? Why is she even ON television, let alone asked her opinions?

It seems like "POOF!"- she just sprouted out of nowhere a few years ago and has been like a bad fungal infection or something...

Here's the transcript of this exchange:

BEHAR: The thing about it is the jury is out on everything you're saying right now. We don't really know what's going to happen. What we do know is that the Bush administration did torture a few people and Obama...

COULTER: They did not.

BEHAR: Obama declared very clearly at his press conference the other night that waterboarding is -- is torture.

Now, who are you with, Obama or Dick Cheney, on this?

COULTER: I am with all normal people who have -- who have ever had an older sibling, who have been through a fraternity hazing, who have been on a sports team or who have misbehaved as small children. Nothing we did is in the same universe as torture.

And as I wrote about in my column this week -- I mean my favorite torture was putting a caterpillar in one of the terrorist's cells. I don't think -- I don't even know if that was ever actually done...

BEHAR: What now -- well, what...

COULTER: But they had to evaluate whether they could put a harmless caterpillar in one of the terrorist's cell, you know, out from the caves of Afghanistan, who's afraid of caterpillars.

BEHAR: Well, you're minimizing it. You're minimizing it. I mean they were...

COULTER: No, that actually was one -- one of the -- of the interrogation techniques. And what I'm doing isn't minimizing it, I'm describing it. What you see in the headlines is torture, torture, torture. I actually read the memos. And it's comical and a little bit disturbing that even Dick Cheney was such a wuss.

Oh- so they didn't waterboard KSM 183 times in a month, they teased him with lil fwuffy caterpillers!

EEKS!!!

Anyone ELSE buying this?
In her original column, she also likens the torture tactics employed to that of Monty Python's "Spanish Inquitition" sketch:

The CIA's interrogation techniques couldn't be more ridiculous if they were out of Monty Python's Spanish Inquisition sketch...

If the terrorist manages to survive the non-stinging caterpillar maneuver -- the most fiendish method of torture ever devised by they the human mind that didn't involve being forced to watch "The View" -- CIA interrogators had another sadistic trick up their sleeves.

I am not at liberty to divulge the details, except to mention the procedure's terror-inducing name: "the ladybug."

Finally, the most savage interrogation technique at Guantanamo was "waterboarding," which is only slightly rougher than the Comfy Chair.

Judy Shepard: that was no apology, Virginia Foxx

Judy Shepard appeared on the Rachel Maddow show and made it clear that the CYA non-apology by Rep. Virginia Foxx (Bigot-NC) doesn't fly. (MSNBC):

"Attacks of lesser consequence have been said about Matt since the beginning... but I never expected it to be called 'a hoax,'" said Shepard Thursday on "The Rachel Maddow Show."

...Judy Shepard, who was present when Foxx made the remarks, was unconvinced by the clarification. "It's apologizing for semantics but not her sentiment, her insensitivity or her ignorance," she said on MSNBC.

..."Everyone knew Matthew's murder was a hate crime, but it couldn't be prosecuted as a hate crime. We couldn't call it a hate crime. Getting this bill passed in the House brings gay rights up to the level of equality," said Shepard.

You know Foxx has no intention of giving a real apology for this.

Rep. Foxx: "The bill was na med after a very unfortunate incident that happened, where a young man was killed, but we know that that young man was killed in the commitment of robbery. It wasn't because he was gay. The bill was named for him, the hate crimes bill was named for him, but it's, it's really a hoax, that that continues to be used as an excuse for passing these bills."[House Floor Speech, 4/29/09]

She needs to resign, but it won't happen. What would be meaningful was if she could meet with Judy Shepard in private, look her in the eye, and tell her that her son's death as a hate crime is a hoax. That would be taking responsibility for her statement. These bigots are great at lobbing the charges out there, and cowards when they are called out and confronted one-to-one.

Happy birthday, Kate...

Enjoy the day, my love. Thank you for being my wife.

emcees announced for STRUT!

We’ve just confirmed that radio personality Tara Dublin of 94.7 and local Portland starlet Katie O’Grady will be emceeing’ve just confirmed that radio personality Tara Dublin of 94.7 and local Portland starlet Katie O’Grady will be emceeing this year’s STRUT! With talent like that on the stage (in addition to our FABU designers), this year’s show is going to be the best yet.  Coming up on Saturday, May 16th at Luxe Autohaus, STRUT is [...]

Choosing between love and country

Tim and Mike may very well be perfect for each other. They both like classical music and good films. They can talk for hours or just be together in silence. But they’ve got one little challenge: Mey can talk for hours or just be together in silence. But they’ve got one little challenge: Mike lives in Oregon and Tim lives 4,600 miles away in Edinburgh, UK. They met online, and through the miracle of SKYPE, got to know one another really well. Tim says, "We hit it off early on, had an instant connection. We have plans to stay together in the long term." And so this week, Tim made the big trek to visit Mike in person here in Oregon. While in town, Tim stopped by Basic Rights Oregon’s Portland office to tell his story. Tim told us, "We’ve looked at our options to figure out how to live together permanently. Because we are a same-sex couple, we can’t just get married and then apply for immigration status. I can apply for a permanent work visa. But this is a complicated and cumbersome process -- you have to have your job lined up and have the employer sponsor your application. Even if we were lucky, this would only get us a couple years together. Eventually, I would have to leave the country." He and Mike aren’t alone. Immigration Equality estimates that there are roughly 40,000 binational same-sex couples -- where one partner is a U.S. citizen and the other partner isn’t. They considered getting on Oregon domestic partnership. But their lawyer told them that this could create a problem with immigration in the long run. It’s crazy to think that our laws are set up to prevent them from committing to take responsibility for each other. Although 19 nations around the world allow their citizens to sponsor their same sex partners for immigration benefits, the United States does not recognize same-sex relationships for immigration purposes. And because of the Defense of Marriage Act, which defines marriage as between a man and a woman, even same sex couples who have been legally married in the four US states that uphold the freedom to marry will not be able to immigrate. Every day caring and committed couples are forced to choose between the partner they love and the country they love. But there is a solution. The Uniting American Families Act (H.R. 1024 / S. 424) would provide a way for gay and lesbian couples to sponsor their partner for immigration. If you want to help make sure that Tim and Mike and other binational couples can build a life together, call Congress today and encourage your Representative and Senators to support HR 1024 / S 424. You can reach the Congressional switchboard at 202-224-2131.

Maine Senate votes for marriage equality!

Outstanding news from Maine’s Senateâ€"they’ve just voted to approve LD 1020, a marriage equality bill, by a 20-15 vote!

The bill now goes to the House of Representatives, which has adjourned until Tuesday, and so will make no vote until at least next week. [Bangor Daily News]

If approved, the bill will move on to Governor John Baldacci. Governor Baldacci hasn’t publicly stated whether he intends to sign or veto the bill, but has hinted that he may support it.

Best of luck to Equality Maine as they work with the House and the Governor!