GLBTQ: Combined Gay News Headlines (T5T-1)

MORNING GOODS â€" It makes sense 25-year-old Virginia native Charlz Chalmers is also a modeling scout; the man knows what works in front of the camera. Oh, and answers like this one, when asked if he thinks of himself as attractive: "Attractive can be looked at in many different ways. I have always found it [...]

ON OUR GAYDAR â€" News, notes, clicks, and quips from around the web. • It's a biopic about Chippendales creator Steve Banerjee, but director Tony Scott can't make a movie like that without muscled men in french cuffs. • Speaking of gay-oriented entertainment, there might be a New York version of Real Housewives that's being put together, [...]

It's more than Summer Love for Anderson Cooper! Spotted in June biking with NYC's Eastern Bloc bar owner Benjamin Maisani, it appears the pair are still going strong. (Reader Rick says they began dating in December 2008.) Cooper, who once dated Real World's JD Ordonez, is spending part of the month in Jaipur, India, in [...]

It's an open thread! Pleeeeease feel free to chat, blogwhore, and link-share in the comment thread... Autumn Sandeen

So, my cartoon sockpuppet Bookworm Bob & I had a real hard time with the graphics and links for our top story, so we're giving our Thursday This And That: Open Thread diary for yesterday a real late shove off! So we renamed Early Friday Morning This And That: Open Thread.

So anywho, here's what sockpuppet Bookworm Bob & I have been looking at into this Halloween weekend.

• Kimberly Daniels gives us a take on Halloween on the Christian Broadcasting Networks's (jpeg/cache) and Charisma Magazine's (here): The Danger of Celebrating Halloween:

Halloween --October 31 -- is considered a holiday in the United States. In fact, it rivals Christmas with regard to how widely celebrated it is. Stores that sell only Halloween-related paraphernalia open up a few months before the day and close shortly after it ends. But is Halloween a holiday that Christians should be observing?
The word "holiday" means "holy day." But there is nothing holy about Halloween. The root word of Halloween is "hallow," which means "holy, consecrated and set apart for service." If this holiday is hallowed, whose service is it set apart for? The answer to that question is very easy -- Lucifer's!

The article gets better. Here's just one gem that's included in all versions of the article (emphasis added):

During this period demons are assigned against those who participate in the rituals and festivities. These demons are automatically drawn to the fetishes that open doors for them to come into the lthe lives of human beings. For example, most of the candy sold during this season has been dedicated and prayed over by witches.

I'd just love to know what the reference is for that assertion! (I smell a factoid!) A follow-on paragraph for that on wasn't in the CBN version of the article, but is in the Charisma version (emphasis added!):

I do not buy candy during the Halloween season. Curses are sent through the tricks and treats of the innocent whether they get it by going door to door or by purchasing it from the local grocery store. The demons cannot tell the difference.

Egads! Teh Demons are EVERYWHERE!

Hey, Kimberly Daniels even makes Peter LaBarbera and Matt Barber look sane!

• Baptist Press's Obama signs hate crimes act:

The homosexual movement gained a barrier-breaking victory Oct. 28 when President Obama signed into law a measure extending hate-crimes protections to homosexuals and transgender people.
The president's signature on the 2010 National Defense Authorization Act put into effect not only an annual bill for the U.S. military but enshrined into federal law the most significant legislative advance to date for homosexual activists.
...The hate-crimes language in the new law adds "sexual orientation" and "gender identity," as well as disability, to the current categories -- such as race, religion and gender -- protected from hate crimes. "Sexual orientation" includes homosexuality and bisexuality, while "gender identity," or transgendered status, takes in transsexuals and cross-dressers.
Advocates of freedom of religion and of speech, as well as of the biblical view of sexuality, expressed dismay at the development, even though they oppose violence against homosexuals. They fear the measure, combined with existing law, could expose to prosecution Christians and others who proclaim the Bible's teaching that homosexual behavior is sinful. For example, if a person commits a violent act based on a victim's "sexual orientation" after hearing biblical teaching on the sinfulness of homosexual behavior, the preacher or teacher could be open to a charge of inducing the person to commit the crime, some foes say.

Barrett Duke, vice president for public policy of the Southern Baptist Ethics & Religious Liberty Commission, added this quote:

"I am disappointed that Presid President Obama has signed the hate-crimes bill into law, but I am not surprised. The President has been clear, even before he was elected, that he intends to champion the homosexual agenda. This is merely one of a number of steps he will take in fulfilling that commitment."

Mr. Duke apparently has more faith in the President following though with promised LGBT legislative agenda than the grassroots of the LGBT community does!

• Los Angeles Times' Weird ingredients in hair products; Do beer, hemp and placenta really help hair? We ask two cosmetic chemists:

When it comes to beauty products, sometimes ignorance is bliss. Snake venom, bird droppings, snail serum, cow dung and whale vomit are but a few of the industry's extreme and off-putting ingredients that one might be shocked to know can be slathered about your body.
Hair products are no exception to this somewhat creepy phenomenon. Consumers hoping for a hair miracle are willing to pay extra for deep conditioners and conditioning "treatments" that promise an enviable crowning glory -- even when they contain rather odd-seeming ingredients such as placenta, caviar and hemp. Pushing the limits, Hari's, a well-known "celebrity" salon in London that claims clients including the Rolling Stones and Margaret Trudeau, had the beauty world abuzz earlier this year with owner Hari Salem's Aberdeen Organic bull sperm treatment. The promise was that the protein in the treatment (called "Viagra for Hair" on Hari's website) would repair, restore and brighten hair.
But is there really any reason to go for such exotic treatments?

Go read the rest of the article if you're curious.

• ICanHasCheezBurger's Celebrate National Cat Day!:

Thursday, October 29 iz National Kitteh Day! We know that everyday is Caturday, but on National Cat Day we git to show our kittehs sum extra speshul lurv and give them the much deserved attention they demand.

I always treat Kitty Bon-Bon and Maggie like royalty!

• Our Wiener Story Of The Day: PR Newswire's Hebrew National® Makes a 'Frank' Decision: Free Hot Dogs for Fans The Next Time a Pro Football Player Eats a Sideline Dog:

Inspired by last weekend's famous sideline "hot dog incident," Hebrew National would like to show its appreciation by offering football fans free hot dogs the next time a uniformed professional U.S. football player snacks on a hot dog, anytime during a game this season. The company hopes that a player out there answers its call and boldly takes a bite that could satiate the hunger of thousands of football fans.
"For us here at Hebrew National, it's always thrilling to see a quarterback sneak executed flawlessly -- especially when a hot dog is involved," said Angela Joyner, Vice President and General Manager, Hebrew National. "The next time a player tries this, we hope they'll go for one of our 100 percent kosher beef franks. At least one thing's for sure...if this happens again, every fan in attendance will certainly 'relish' the moment."
To kick things off, Hebrew National will immediately reward all fans who attended last weekend's Oakland game and bore witness to "hot dog-gate" in person...

So anywho...It's an open thread! What are you thinking about today, or what books or articles have you been reading the past few days? Wanna share?

And again, please feel free to chat, blogwhore, and link-share in the comment thread because...it's an open thread! Woo-hoo!

There are only a few days left to vote APPROVE on Referendum 71. If you haven't already, please mark your ballot "approved" on R-71 and mail it in now (but no later than November 3rd). Don't procrastinate! In 2008 over 8,000 ballots in King County alone were not counted because they were postmarked too late! The Approve 71 campaign manager says

This race is still too close for comfort. As we've said from the beginning, this election will be decided by voter turnout. Money is pouring in from out of state to fund our opponents, and they are investing heavily in radio ads. We know the best way to counteract the outrageous lies our opponents are telling is with direct conversations with voters.
You can help us win by phone banking any night of the week between now and the election, canvassing at our Trick or Vote event, and waving signs at intersections to raise visibility for the Approve 71 campaign. It is essential that we each do all we can to get out the vote. Our state-of-the-art system is set up to only call voters who have not voted yet.
To register to phone bank in Seattle, RSVP here<here
To register for Trick or Vote, RSVP here
For a schedule of sign waving events you can register for, click here
Here is a link to a schedule of phone banks, canvassing and Approve 71 sign waving events going on in the Seattle area.
Thank you for all you have done to help ensure gay and lesbian families are treated equally under state law.
P.S. If you have not already joined our Facebook group, join us! Our fan base is growing by more than 100 people per hour! Join us!

Visibility events below the fold.

Related:
* Federal judge rebukes Reject 71 but can't stop wave of Colorado cash
* My vote will be counted. Will yours?
Folks, be sure to print out and fill your pockets with plenty of palm cards to give to people. This is a great reminder for people when they get home and start wondering, "now what was that all about, and how can I get more information?"

Make sure your signs are clearly marked "Approve Referendum 71" besides whatever other messages you wish to write.

Bellevue sponsored by Bellevue PFLAG
Saturday, October 31
1 pm - 3 pm

At NE 8th and 112th. That big intersection at 405 and NE 8th Street.
Bring signs with simple statements that drivers can read...Approve Ref 71, Protect All Washington Families, or personal messages. Keep them simple and positive. Even stop by for 30 minutes but be involved...Dress for cold/rain but bring your smiles and be ready to wave!!!

Seattle - RSVP here
Friday, October 30
7:00 am - 8:00 am
4:30 pm - 5:30 pm

Join us at the Madison I-5 overpass between Downtown and Capitol Hill to show our support for APPROVING referendum 71 to the morning commuters.
Millions of Washingtonians drive onto the I-5 weekly and this is our chance to make sure they vote to APPROVE referendum 71.
We will be waving signs and showing our support.

Seattle - RSVP here
Monday, November 2
Tuesday, November 3
7:00 am - 8:00 am

Join us at the Madison I-5 overpass between Downtown and Capitol Hill to show our support for APPROVING referendum 71 to the morning commuters.
Millions of Was of Washingtonians drive onto the I-5 weekly and this is our chance to make sure they vote to APPROVE referendum 71.
We will be waving signs and showing our support.

Tacoma
Saturday, October 31
11:00 am - 4:00 pm

Kelly McDonald:
Where: Corner of South 38th & South Steele, Tacoma (Costco & Borders)
There is one more weekend before the election.
We need YOU this Saturday. The opposition has incredible numbers, and Tacomans must see both sides represented.
If you have an hour or two to give this Saturday, please stop by.
Bring signs and wear green!
Important details:
1) Parking is an issue. It's best to find street parking by the Toyota dealership or in the residential area behind Costco.
2) Enhance our visibility by wearing green
3) Bring signs with you
4) Are you staying a while? Bring a water bottle and a snack (there goes the mom in me!) :)
5) If you cannot make it, invite someone to come on your behalf!
The Rejects WILL be there, per communication made to area businesses from their side. Though tempting, it is NOT effective to engage with them. They will try. We are there to be visible to the public in a peaceful, positive, affirming way.
Looking forward to seeing you there, en masse, and so excited at the amazing effect of Facebook word of mouth!
Kelly

Tacoma
Tuesday, November 3rd
6 am - 9 am
4 pm - 6 pm

Kelly McDonald: Election Day is the final opportunity to generate visibility! We need YOU to sign wave at the Jackson Avenue overpass over Highway 16.

Woodinville sponsored by Bellevue PFLAG
Saturday, October 31st
10 am - 11:30 am

Corner of NE 175th Street and 131st Ave NE right past the railroad underpass in downtown Woodinville (near McLendon's)
Parking is nearby on side streets and there is a small park trail on 131st Ave NE.
Bring signs with simple statements that drivers can read...Approve Ref 71, Protect All Washington Families, or personal messages. Keep them simple and positive. Even stop by for 30 minutes but be involved...Dress for cold/rain but bring your smiles and be ready to wave!!!

You have to read this to believe it. Gary Cass heads up the Christian Anti-Defamation Commission, so you can imagine his response to the passage and signing of the hate crimes bill into law. Hysteria ensues:

"In other nations, like Canada, where hate crime laws have been enacted, it is Christians, specifically conservative Christians who hold to the historic Christian faith and it's values, that become the object of institutionalized, governmental hate."

"Christians who dare to tell the truth about the social, moral, spiritual and health consequences of illicit homosexual acts are accused of hate speech and intimidated into silence with threats of fines or jail."

"The fact the hate bill had to be passed in such an unscrupulous and cynical manner (attaching it to the Defense efense Authorization Act) reveals the depth of President Obama's commitment to a radical, anti-Christian agenda. He will stop at nothing to undermine the will of the majority of Americans to pay back militant homosexual activists who raised millions of dollars for his campaign and worked to get him elected."

"To sign the bill in the Rose Garden is another slap in the face and shows the level of contempt President Obama has for the majority of Americans who oppose the "homosexualization" of marriage and public education."

"The Christian Anti-Defamation Commission will soon be announcing its plans, along with other leading pro-family groups, to defy, counter and challenge this unconstitutional attack on our religious liberty."

Based on this reaction, his head will explode if ENDA passes. I wonder when we will see "the plans?" Check out this endorsement of Cass's organization:

Bill O'Reilly of Fox News agrees-now is the time for a Christian anti-defamation group (see the story here). We are humbled that God has provided us with many distinguished advisory board members, who have endorsed CADC and have agreed to lend their name to our efforts (see the list here).

You know who is on that board?