The End Of Stonewall Democrats?

National Stonewall Democrats are going on an indefinite hiatus due to ongoing funding difficulties. Executive director Jerame Davis spoke today to David Taffet at the Dallas Voice.

“A lot of decisions are being made,” Davis told the Voice. “It’s likely our office will be closed for most of this year.”  Davis continues to work as an unpaid volunteer and will use the current office in Washington, D.C., at least through the end of the month. Local and state chapters will continue to operate normally. Stonewall Democrats of Dallas President Omar Narvaez said his group’s regular monthly meeting is Jan 15. He described the Stonewall as very grassroots, operating from the bottom up, and said locally nothing will change.

In an email to members in early December, Davis warned the organization was facing a $30,000 deficit and might be forced to close if the money was not raised. Davis became executive director of National Stonewall Democrats in December 2011 and inherited the organization’s debt. “We’ve never raised enough money out of dues alone to keep the organization going,” he said. Most memberships come from the local Stonewall organizations. When a member pays dues to the local group, $10 is passed along to national. Davis said some groups are not passing along membership money.

You stay classy, Log Cabin.

PFLAG Founder Dies At Age 92

PFLAG mourns its founder today.

Today the world has lost a pioneer: Jeanne Manford, the founder of PFLAG (Parents, Families and Friends of Lesbians and Gays) and the Mother of the Straight Ally movement.

Jeanne was one of the fiercest fighters in the battle for acceptance and equality for lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender (LGBT) people. It is truly humbling to imagine in 1972 - just 40 years ago - a simple schoolteacher started this movement of family and ally support, without benefit of any of the technology that today makes a grassroots movement so easy to organize. No Internet. No cellphones. Just a deep love for her son and a sign reading “Parents of Gays: Unite in Support for Our Children.”

This simple and powerful message of love and acceptance from one person resonated so strongly it was heard by millions of people worldwide and led to the founding of PFLAG, an organization with more than 350 chapters across the U.S. and 200,000 members and supporters, and the creation of similar organizations across the globe.

VIDEO: President Obama paid tribute to Manford last year.

Fischer Prays For Scott Lively

Today hate group spokesman Bryan Fischer issued a prayer that God "sends confusion into the camp" of the Satanists that oppose Scott Lively.

Gays Shop At Crate & Barrel!!!

Somebody call One Million Moms, because two homosexual men are featured in the latest Crate & Barrel campaign, where they can be seen shamelessly flaunting their perversion all over their artfully staged fauxtique home. (Tipped by JMG reader Diane)

One Million Moms Vs Biggest Loser

This just in from One Millions Moms spokeshrew Monica Coles.

Dear Joe,  NBC's "Biggest Loser" is back with a twist. The program, now called "The New Biggest Loser Challenge America," airs on Monday evenings at 8:00/7:00 CT with Season 14's focus on childhood obesity. This season includes three children from thirteen to sixteen-years-old ambassadors that are competing. Viewers welcomed this addition to the show, but the excitement is extinguished almost immediately once the vulgarity and obscenities from trainer, Jillian Michaels, ignite and continue through the entire show. At one point the children are outside the gym with trainer Dolvett Quince, and Jillian is screaming obscenities so loud in the gym that they can hear them outside. The network failed to bleep out this foul language and other choice words the trainer used during the entire program. What a disgrace! The idea of profanity being used is unacceptable and unnecessary. NBC and "The Biggest Loser" should be ashamed of themselves for allowing this type of conduct.

OMM warns that they "own the airwaves" and that they'll work to "yank the FCC licenses" of NBC affiliates that continue to air that potty-mouthed trainer.

Downton Abbey Theme: The Remix

(Via David Mixner)

NEW YORK CITY: Judge Rules NYPD's Stop-And-Frisk Is Unconstitutional

A federal judge today ruled that the NYPD's controversial stop-and-frisk policy is unconstitutional in some circumstances. Under the policy, cops target "suspicious" citizens on the street and search them for weapons and drugs. Unshockingly, white New Yorkers are rarely considered "suspicious."

The lawsuit, Ligon v. the City of New York, is one of three related cases involving stop-and-frisk practices before Judge Scheindlin. The broadest reaching case accuses the police of stopping and frisking hundreds of thousands of people a year solely on the basis of race; Judge Scheindlin granted that lawsuit class-action status in May. The third case challenges police stops at public housing projects.

In the decision released on Tuesday, the judge ordered the police “to cease performing trespass stops” outside the private buildings in the program unless officers have reasonable suspicion, a legal standard that requires police officers to be acting on more than just a hunch.

The fact that a person was merely seen entering or leaving a building was not enough to permit the police to stop someone, “even if the building is located in a high-crime area, and regardless of the time of day,” the judge ruled. Nor was it enough for an officer to conduct a stop simply because the officer had observed the person move furtively, Judge Scheindlin said. (The forms that the police fill out after each street stop offer “furtive” movements as a basis for the stop).

New From Breitbart's Editor

Today Breitbart is promoting the new book by its editor, Ben Shapiro, who includes Dan Savage in his list of "leftist bullies."  Shapiro writes in today's Breitbart puff piece:

In March 2011, President Obama led a White House conference on the supposed scourge of bullying plaguing America. There hadn’t been an uptick in childhood bullying by any available measure; in fact, bullying was down across the board. But President Obama spoke up loud and strong against bullying. “Bullying isn’t a problem that makes headlines every day,” he boomed. “But every day it touches the lives of young people all across this country.” He launched a website under the auspices of the Department of Health and Human Services to combat bullying. And, of course, he joined forces with the It Gets Better Project.

But Obama wasn’t really against bullying, as I explain in Bullies. When the DHS wasn’t busy running StopBullying.gov, they were busy bullying religious employers into violating their consciences by forcing them to cover contraception for employees. And who headed up the It Gets Better Project? Dan Savage, the thug who screamed at Christian teenagers who had the temerity to walk out on one of his anti-Biblical screeds. Obama isn’t against bullying. Neither is the left more broadly. After all, when someone stands up to a bully – say, Israel standing up to Islamic terrorists, or even George Zimmerman standing up to a young bully pounding his head into the pavement – the left goes berserk.

Shapiro's book only has one review so far on Amazon.  That's a real shame.

Today's Gay Etiquette Question

From Steven Petrow's Civil Behavior column in the New York Times:

Dear Civil Behavior: As the only male grandchild among four — as well as the only gay one — I have watched with chagrin as several generations’ worth of formal dinnerware, silverware and other domestic heirlooms were passed down to my sister and female cousins. Some of these are valuable, some not. But they all hold just as much meaning for me as for the women in my family. I celebrated the same holidays with these heirlooms as they did, and I attach my own memories of my grandmothers to them. I feel churlish speaking up about it, but it seems unfair that the lion’s share of these keepsakes should pass to the distaff (hetero) side. (Besides, my sister and cousins all used their wedding registries to order their own beautiful new china and silver – another tradition denied to me.) Am I being oversensitive to the gendering of heirlooms and just let it pass? Or should I elbow my way in and say, “this queen deserves her Limoges too”? —"A California Fresh Heir”

Give us your answer then hit the link for Petrow's response.

Noah St. John On His Two Moms

Clip description:

"After exploding onto the performance scene by grabbing the Youth Speaks Grand Slam Champion prize, watch as 15-year-old Noah St. John electrifies the Snap Judgment Stage with a stunning performance - winning this year's NPR Snap Judgment Performance of the Year."

Get a tissue. Get two.

(Via Towleroad)

Notre Dame Vs Alabama: A Prophecy

Last night's sportsball thingie was totally a prophetic message from God. First of all, you can find the president's name in Alabama, sort of, if you squint. Then there's this, because Notre Dame lost: "This is a prophecy that Obama's victory over the Catholic bishops will be total and complete. They will seek an accommodation with the government and they will compromise their principles. The true, remnant Church will be forced underground, just as in the catacombs!"

FRANCE: Muslims To Join Catholics In Anti-Gay Marriage Rally

A coalition of French Islamic groups has signed on to join the Catholic Church in a "major" anti-gay marriage rally to take place in Paris on Sunday.

Leaders of almost all main faiths in France have spoken out against the law, but not called on their followers to march in Sunday's demonstration to avoid giving the opposition campaign an overly religious tone. President Francois Hollande and his government clashed with the Catholic Church last weekend, telling Catholic schools not to discuss the law with their pupils and urging state education officials to report anti-gay discussions at Catholic schools.

"We will protest on January 13 by joining a pluralist campaign to preserve the traditional framework of marriage," the Muslim activists' letter said. "We invite all French Muslims to turn out in large numbers." The UOIF statement also urged Muslims to join the "March for All", the Paris protest against the reform the government has dubbed "Marriage for All". "This bill, if it passes, will disrupt family and social structures and civil law dangerously and irreparably," it said. The Muslim activist letter was signed by intellectuals, business leaders and leaders of several grassroots Muslim groups. It accused the government of using the marriage issue "to mask its ineffectiveness in the fight against unemployment".

Previous anti-gay rallies sponsored by the Catholic Church have drawn tens of thousands of participants. Islam is the second-largest religion in France with about five million followers.

Gabby Giffords To Battle NRA

Former Rep. Gabrielle Giffords and her husband have launched a new group and website to battle the gun lobby. From Americans For Responsible Solutions:

Dear fellow American,  Two years ago, a mentally ill young man shot me in the head, killed six of my constituents, and wounded 12 others. Since that terrible day, America has seen 11 more mass shootings – but no response from Congress to prevent gun violence. After the massacre of 20 children and six of their teachers at Sandy Hook Elementary though, it’s clear: This time must be different. Americans for Responsible Solutions will encourage elected officials to stand up for solutions to prevent gun violence and protect responsible gun ownership by communicating directly with the constituents that elect them. Join us today, and tell your elected leaders that Americans are demanding responsible solutions to reduce gun violence.

The Giffords say that they both own guns and support the Second Amendment.

Broadway Week Sales Commence

This is the slowest time of the year for Broadway and the annual two-for-one ticket sale has commenced.  Most of the participating 19 shows have been playing for years and years, so there's probably not much there for the average theater queen.  Your better option might be Off-Broadway Week, which runs January 28th through February 10th and offers the same deal. 

Mat Staver On The Scott Lively Suit

"This lawsuit against Rev. Scott Lively is a gross attempt to use a vague international law to silence, and eventually criminalize, speech by U.S. citizens on homosexuality and moral issues. This suit should cause everyone to be concerned, because it a direct threat against freedom of speech. Like all American citizens, Rev. Lively enjoys a fundamental First Amendment right to engage in nonviolent political discourse anywhere in the world. What SMUG cavalierly labels as ‘crimes against humanity’ – the most heinous of all crimes – is actually nothing more than civil, peaceful, political discourse in the public square on a subject of great public concern. When SMUG sued Rev. Lively in a Massachusetts federal court, it launched a direct assault on the supremacy of the United States Constitution. Rev. Lively did not check his First Amendment rights at the airport before departing for Uganda." - Mat Staver, head of Liberty Counsel, which is defending Lively pro bono.

David Bowie - Where Are We Now?

His first new single in ten years.

Google To Provide Free WiFi To Chelsea

Today Google will announce a project to deliver free WiFi to much of Chelsea, the Manhattan neighborhood that is home to the company's massive New York City headquarters.

The Mountain View, California-based company has been working with New York to foster a technology hotbed in the city. Last year it agreed to donate office space to Cornell University and the Technion-Israel Institute of Technology for an engineering school while the institutions build a permanent home on Roosevelt Island. The new network, which will deliver Internet access over Wi-Fi, is part of an effort to cultivate Silicon Alley, a concentration of startups in Manhattan. Wi-Fi will be available to thousands of New Yorkers between Gansevoort Street and 19th Street from 8th Avenue to the West Side Highway, according to the statement.

Obama Selects Lay Person To Deliver Prayer At Second Inauguration

The widow of murdered civil rights activist Medgar Evers has been chosen to deliver the invocation at President Obama's second inauguration.  Mylie Evers-Williams will be the first woman and the first lay person in history to deliver the prayer.

Obama will privately take the oath of office for his second term on the constitutionally mandated date of Jan. 20, a Sunday. But the public ceremony will be the next day, coinciding with the Martin Luther King Jr. holiday. In a statement issued by the Presidential Inaugural Committee, Evers-Williams said “it is indeed an exhilarating experience to have the distinct honor of representing” the civil rights era at the Jan. 21 event.  This year is the 50th anniversary of the murder of Evers, who was the NAACP’s Mississippi field secretary at the time of his death. Myrlie Evers-Williams spent decades fighting to win a conviction of her late husband’s shooter, and served as chairman of the NAACP in the 1990s.

Wingnuts are already raising a stink that a civil rights activist has been chosen over a preacher. The Washington Post notes that "conservative evangelical" Pastor Louie Giglio has been selected to deliver the inaugural benediction.

Tim Tebow Goes After Dr. Dre

Dr. Dre was named the world's top earning musician last year, primarily due to his hot selling line of  headphones. Tim Tebow wants some of that action and he's in Las Vegas this week to hawk his own headphones at the massive Consumer Electronics Show.  The Tim Tebow Soul Signature Series is available for pre-order at $224.99 each and "they’re also a stylish option for the tasteful traveler looking for superior noise cancelling technology."  Perfect for books-on-tape like the you-know-what.  Further crowding the celebrity headphones field is Snooki, who will also be at the show to plug her blinged-out line.

Gareth Thomas On Dancing On Ice

Openly gay rugby champion Gareth Thomas is a contestant in the new season of Britain's Dancing On Ice.  I can't find a clip of his performance (readers?) but you'll spot him in the opening sequence below. The first to be eliminated this week was Pamela Anderson, whose wardrobe malfunction has turned into a hot internet topic.

Exorcism Of The Day

Possessed by a porn queen from the internet!

Source.

National Geographic's Photo Of 2012

National Geographic has announced the winners in their annual photography contest. The photo above took the grand prize; more are at the link.

ALABAMA: Teen White Supremacist Charged With Plot To Kill Blacks & Gays

An Alabama teenaged white supremacist was arrested yesterday after a teacher found his journal in which he outlined a plan to murder black and gay fellow students.

Derek Shrout, 17, was released Monday afternoon from Russell County Jail on a $75,000 bond after he was arrested for allegedly planning to use homemade explosives in a terrorist attack on fellow students at Russell County High School in Seale, Ala. Russell County Sheriff Heath Taylor said Sunday a search of Shrout’s home Friday found about a couple dozen small tobacco cans and two large cans, all with holes drilled in them and containing pellets. A teacher found the journal, determined it belonged to Shrout and gave it to an administrator who got it to School Resource Officer Tommy Morrison, one of Taylor’s deputies. He recognized the potential for danger, and Shrout was brought in for questioning, Taylor said.  Taylor said Shrout claimed the writing in the journal to be fictitious, but Shrout’s parents, whom Taylor called “very cooperative,” allowed a search of the house and the bomb materials were located.

Raw Story has more.

JROTC 1st Sgt. David White recalled that Shrout was often seen giving Nazi salutes while at school. “In the hallway, at breakfast, at the lunch tables, after school where we have our bus parking lot, he’d have his big old group of friends and they’d go around doing the whole white power crazy stuff,” White said. “Why would you want to go to a school and blow it up? You know you’re going to hit somebody else; you’re not just going to, in particular, hit one person. You’re going to injure more than one.” ABC News reported on Monday that Shrout’s targets included five African-American students, one student who he believed was gay and one African-American teacher.

ITALY: Former Prime Minister Berlusconi Claims To Support Gay Marriage

Former Italian Prime Minister Silvio Berlusconi, who has a long track record of vile homophobic statements, has promised to support same-sex marriage if he is returned to power. LGBT groups, unsurprisingly, are skeptical. Via Gay Star News:

Monday Berlusconi said: "I’m in favor of granting legal status to couples who live together, including gays, if there is a majority that makes it possible to change the civil code." But Italy’s gay groups are expressing concern and "disillusion." Fabrizio Marrazzo, Gay Center’s leader, said: "The three governments Berlusconi led between 1994 and 2011 did nothing for LGBT people. Concrete proposals are certainly necessary." Leading LGBT association Arcigay’s president Flavio Romani said: "I have legitimate suspicions about such a sudden change of course. Berlusconi should put his pledge in black and white." Enrico Oliari, president of a right-wing LGBT association, welcomed Berlusconi’s remarks: "Berlusconi’s opening-up over the recognition of gay couples is a piece of news you cannot fail to take account of."

Berlusconi resigned in November 2011 amid Italy's debt crisis.

Quote Of The Day - Rush Limbaugh

"There is a movement on to normalize pedophilia, and I guarantee you your reaction to that is probably much the same as your reaction when you first heard about gay marriage.  What has happened to gay marriage? It’s become normal — and in fact, with certain people in certain demographics it’s the most important issue in terms of who they vote for. So don’t pooh-pooh. There’s a movement to normalize pedophilia. Don’t pooh-pooh it. The people behind it are serious, and you know the left as well as I do. They glom onto something and they don’t let go." - Rush Limbaugh, adding that he's "not picking on gays" on yesterday's radio show. (Via Politico)

Piers Morgan Vs Alex Jones

Wingnut conspiracy theorist Alex Jones appeared on CNN last night to defend his petition to have Piers Morgan deported over his support for gun control. Mediaite provides a recap:

Jones said the point of the petition was to bring attention to the fact that United States has a bunch of foreigners bragging about taking away the guns of Americans while the gov’t amasses more weapons for themselves. He said that the Second Amendment isn’t for “duck-hunting,” it’s to protect us from “tyrannical government.” He raised his voice to declare to Morgan, “1776 will commence again if you try to take our firearms!”

Morgan attempted to explain that the United States has significantly more gun murders than England, but Jones dismissed the argument outright. He called England a “police state,” telling Morgan he “fled” to the United States, going so far as to call Morgan a “hatchet man of the New World Order.” Morgan tried to patiently walk through the finer points of the gun control debate with Jones, but he went on tirade after tirade on an ever-angrier series of tangents. Jones repeatedly criticized Morgan for trying to trip him off with “little factoids” instead of getting to the heart of the gun debate.

This will be the craziest thing you'll see today, guaranteed.  Part 2 of the "interview" is at the link.

TODAY: Texas Rallies For Independence

Texan secessionists will stage a rally today on the Capitol steps in Austin.

We are calling on every Texan who supports the freedom and independence of Texas to rally up on the north side. Bring signs, Texas flags and flags from the Texas Revolution to show that we want our freedom and independence and we want the Legislature to answer the call of the people.

WE MUST BRING OVERWHELMING NUMBERS!

The TNM has attempted for months to obtain sponsorship for an OFFICIAL rally on the South Steps of the Capitol. However, due to the reluctance and hesitation of the "conservative" members of the Texas Legislature, the TNM and other groups that support Constitutional principles have been blocked out.

The video should prove amusing.

World Net Daily Calls For Revolution

"We no longer have a free nation! We no longer have a functional republic! What choice is there when the executive, legislative and judicial branches of government fail and refuse to take into account the profound grievances of the 'We the People' and instead walk off to feather their own corrupt establishment nest? Thus, the profound and moving words and self-evident truths contained in the Declaration of Independence ring even more true today than in 1776. They read just in part, '… when a long train of abuses and usurpations, pursuing invariably the same Object evinces a design to reduce them (meaning ‘We the People’) under absolute Despotism, its is their right, it is their duty, to throw off such Government, and to provide new Guards for their future security.' The time has come after a long line of 'abuses and usurpations' for us to rise up and demand that our current so called rulers leave 'Dodge City,' or suffer the consequences as King George III was forced to do." - Larry Klayman, writing for World Net Daily.

RELATED: Klayman is the lawyer who represented hate group leader Bradlee Dean in his losing libel suit against Rachel Maddow.

ACLU WINS: Vets Discharged Under DADT To Get Full Separation Pay

Some service members discharged until DADT will finally receive their full separation pay thanks to a class action suit won today by the ACLU.  Windy City Times reports:

"There was absolutely no need to subject these service members to a double dose of discrimination by removing them from the armed forces in the first place, and then denying them this small benefit to ease the transition to civilian life," said Laura Schauer Ives, managing attorney for the ACLU of New Mexico. "This decision represents a long-delayed justice to these veterans."

The ACLU's class action lawsuit represented approximately 181 honorably discharged veterans who had their separation pay cut in half because of the discriminatory policy. The total amount of separation pay withheld from those veterans is approximately $2.4 million. The lead plaintiff in the case is Richard Collins, a former staff sergeant in the Air Force who served for nine years until he was discharged under "Don't Ask, Don't Tell." Collins was stationed at Cannon Air Force Base in New Mexico before being seen by a co-worker exchanging a kiss with his boyfriend in their car while stopped at an intersection off-base.

The settlement covers veterans who served at least six years and is retroactive to November 2004. The statute of limitations prevents payments to those discharged earlier.

MASSACHUSETTS: Federal Judge Reviews Scott Lively's Motion To Dismiss

U.S District Court Judge Michael Ponsor today heard hate group leader Scott Lively's motion to dismiss the crimes against humanity lawsuit brought by Sexual Minorities Uganda.

Ponsor said the lawsuit filed by Sexual Minorities Uganda against the Springfield minister poses a test of Lively’s free-speech protection and the rights of sexual minorities to equal protection under the law. But the judge said the plaintiffs needed to show a connection between Lively’s anti-gay advocacy in Uganda and illegal acts committed against gays in the country. “I’m frankly struggling to see what behavior beyond expressive behavior” of Lively violated federal law, the judge said during the hearing attended by about 150 people, including a prominent Ugandan activist.

The plaintiffs, the judge added, “needed to show a more concrete example of misbehavior to justify continuation of the lawsuit.” But the judge also expressed skepticism about Lively’s request to dismiss the case before trial, noting that the courts have set a high legal threshold for throwing out cases. The plaintiff's lawyer, Pamela Spees, said that Lively both advised and encouraged homophobic activists in Uganda to deprive sexual minorities of their rights.

The Center for Constitutional Rights says that they remain optimistic about their case.  The judge gave no timeline for issuing his ruling.

VIDEO: MassLive.com was outside the courthouse today.

Bill Donohue: Kathy Griffin Causes STDs

"Perhaps the biggest story related to Kathy Griffin’s salacious stunt on CNN’s New Year’s Eve broadcast with Anderson Cooper was the almost deadening silence it engendered from any quarter. Does it matter what Griffin did? To put it more generally, does what we see and hear have any effect on our behavior, particularly the behavior of young people? Does it matter? According to the Centers for Disease Control, even though the risk of transmitting HIV through oral sex is much lower than from other forms of sexual behavior, 'numerous studies have demonstrated that oral sex can result in the transmission of HIV and other sexually transmitted diseases (STDs).' In other words, people can get chlamydia, gonorrhea, genital herpes, genital human papillomavirus, syphilis, and other STDs by having oral sex. This is important because numerous studies have shown that many young people still think they cannot get an STD this way." - Catholic League blowhard Bill Donohue, on Griffin's fleeting pretend blowjob.  Donahue closes by saying that Griffin isn't really causing STDs, despite his previous fifteen paragraphs claiming that she is.  He and Griffin have been trading jabs for several years.

Bette Midler To Return To Broadway

Bette Midler returns to Broadway this spring for the first time in over 30 years to star in a new one-woman show about casting agent Sue Mengers titled I'll Eat You Last. Via press release:

Sue Mengers was an American original. She was the first female “superagent” at a time when women talent agents of any kind were almost unheard of. She came from near poverty, a refugee from Hitler's Germany, and worked her way up through pluck, charm, and a legendary wit. In that uniquely American way, she invented herself; and when the career she wanted didn't exist, she invented that as well: “Superagent.” It was a term Hollywood all but coined for her. By the 1970's, she represented almost every major star in Hollywood and went on to become the town’s most renowned hostess.

The show will be directed by multiple Tony winner Joe Mantello. Opening day is April 24th at a Schubert theater to be announced. Ticketing has not yet commenced. Midler last played Broadway with a limited engagement of her Divine Madness show in 1980.

Photo Of The Day

Secretary of State Hillary Clinton returned to her Washington DC office today where her colleagues presented her with a football helmet to protect against future concussions.

Deputy Secretary of State Thomas Nides handed Clinton a box, saying, "As you know, Washington is a contact sport." "Inside was a football helmet with a State Department seal, lots of good padding and also a football jersey that said Clinton on the back and on the front it says #112 which symbolizes the number of countries she visited as secretary of state," Nuland said. "She loved it. She thought it was cool. But then being Hillary Clinton she wanted to get right to business."

(Via Towleroad)

Obama Nominates Hagel & Brennan

UPDATE: The White House press office sends us this statement about Chuck Hagel:

President Obama has come to know and trust Senator Hagel over nearly a decade, dating back to their time together in the Senate. Together, they travelled to Afghanistan and Iraq in the summer of 2008, and they share a commitment to end the war in Afghanistan responsibly. Senator Hagel has been a strong supporter of the President's approach to national security, and as Secretary of Defense, he will support and execute the President's vision for our military. That includes continuing the President's historic support for gay and lesbian service members, and overseeing the continued implementation of the full repeal of "Don't Ask, Don't Tell." The President is fully committed to ensuring that all of our service members and military families are treated equally. He is confident that, as Secretary of Defense, Senator Hagel will ensure that all who serve the country we love are treated equally -- no matter who they love.

Recently, some in the LGBT community have expressed concerns about Senator Hagel's past comments. In response, Senator Hagel issued a statement in which he apologized for comments that he made in the 1990s, and affirmed both his commitment to LGBT civil rights as well as his support for open service and the families of gay and lesbian service members. One of the great successes of the LGBT civil rights movement is that it provides the space and opportunity for people to change their hearts and minds, to right past wrongs, and, over time, to evolve. The President believes Senator Hagel's statement of apology, and his commitment to ensuring that all service members and their families are treated equally. The President would not have chosen him unless he had every confidence that, working together, they will continue to ensure that our military and DoD civilian workforce are as welcoming, inclusive, and respectful as possible.

ARIZONA: Sheriff Joe Apaio Sends "Armed Posses" To Public Schools

What could possibly go wrong?

Maricopa County Sheriff Joe Arpaio's armed volunteer posses are set to begin patrolling areas around Phoenix, Ariz. schools on Monday, more than a week after the plan drew national attention in the wake of the deadly mass shooting at an elementary school in Newtown, Conn. Arizona's 3TV reports that Arpaio's volunteer force is comprised of around 3,000 members, some of which have criminal pasts.

According to CBS5, Arpaio's office has provided a list of more than 50 schools in unincorporated Maricopa County that will be patrolled by the posses, which are in charge of providing all of their own weapons and equipment. The volunteers will not actually be posted on school campuses, but will instead monitor the areas around the facilities. Posse member Jerry Johnson told 3TV that they'd be ready to fight crime if they felt they were needed.

Arpaio was sworn in for a sixth term this morning.

HuffPo Vs Log Cabin Republicans

From the front page of Huffington Post. (Tipped by JMG reader TommyTune)

Log Cabin Slams Hagel On MSNBC

Just as the president was holding the press conference to nominate Chuck Hagel, Log Cabin interim head Gregory Angelo was on MSNBC to denounce Hagel's selection.

Matt Baume: Marriage News Watch

This week: "An exciting start to the year, with a win and a setback in Illinois. Two brand new marriage bills are on the fast track in Rhode Island. And a Congressional bill to repeal DOMA has picked up two more Republican endorsements, but one of them doesn't quite count."

Scott Lively Arrives Clutching Bible

 

Hate group leader Scott Lively arrived at the federal courthouse in Springfield today clutching a bible as activists held a press conference outside. Photos by JMG reader Roger.

NEW JERSEY: Commuter Train Escalator Reverses At High Speed

Gothamist reports that this morning at PATH's Exchange Place station in New Jersey, hundreds of commuters were riding the escalator when it suddenly reversed direction at high speed. Several dozen people reportedly landed in a pile at the bottom and five injuries are reported. The below clip begins just as the stairs begin to slow down.

SCOTUS Marriage Action Announced

Log Cabin Republicans Publish Full-Page Anti-Hagel Ad In Washington Post

After a similar full-page ad was published last week in the New York Times, Log Cabin refused requests to disclose the funding source of their campaign against Hagel.

Log Cabin: We Still Hate Hagel

"At Chuck Hagel's request, we looked into the 'totality' of his public record on gay rights, and it did nothing to assuage our concerns that his anti-gay record makes him the wrong choice to oversee the ongoing integration of gays and lesbians in the military. Until his name surfaced as a potential nominee for Secretary of Defense, he has stood firmly and aggressively against not only gay marriage, but also against gay people in general. Log Cabin Republicans helped lead the charge to repeal Don't Ask, Don't Tell and is extremely invested in seeing that we don't lose any ground due to a lack of sincere commitment to gay people and their families on the part of the incoming Defense Secretary." - Gregory T. Angelo, conveniently overlooking Log Cabin's own endorsement of Mitt Romney, who vowed to enshrine anti-gay hatred into the U.S. Constitution.

WWJW?

Product description: "Jesus of Nazareth's Mix n' Match magnetic wardrobe. What will Jesus wear? You decide. Stick this magnetic Jesus on your fridge and dress him up for Easter Sunday, casual Friday and 5 other mix-and-match looks. The Jesus figure measures approximately 8” tall. This magnetic set includes approximately 25 magnetic clothes and accessories. $13.95."  Source.

COUPON DAY: Trade Your Homosexuality For A Free Chick-Fil-A Sandwich

They got their sandwiches!

Pastor Martin "Eat Da Poo Poo" Ssempa Begs Rick Warren To Support Scott Lively

Ssempa's bottom tweet is directed at the Center for Constitutional Rights, which represents Sexual Minorities Uganda in today's case.

PHOTOS: Outside The Scott Lively Trial

JMG reader Roger is sending us photos from outside the federal courthouse in Springfield, Massachusetts, where anti-gay hate group leader Scott Lively will today attempt to have the crimes against humanity lawsuit against him dismissed.  Follow the action on Twitter at the hashtag #StopTheHate.

TODAY: SiriusXM At 2:30PM

Today at 2:30pm I'll be on Michelangelo Signorile's SiriusXM show to talk about some of the latest LGBT-related news items. The gays are on channel 108 and you can listen live online if you sign up for a freebie account. What are your top five gay news items of the last week?

SAN FRANCISCO: Anti-Israel Protest Brings Turmoil To Castro Shop

On Friday the Bay Area Reporter discussed a Christmas Eve protest at Cliff's Variety, which is arguably the most beloved retailer in the Castro.

A small but spirited group of demonstrators held informational pickets outside Cliff's Variety on Castro Street last week after some of them were forcibly removed by employees for loudly protesting inside the store on Christmas Eve. The cause of the dispute is an at-home soda machine, Sodastream, which is manufactured in an illegal Israeli settlement in the West Bank that is disputed by the Palestinians.

Some of the protesters filed assault complaints with San Francisco police after the incident. They and others distributed literature to passersby in front of Cliff's December 26 and 28 about the Christmas Eve flash mob while the store's manager said that a protester also hit one of their staff and pushed a stroller-pushing customer. Store manager Terry Asten Bennett said her staff wasn't "emotionally or mentally prepared" for the two-minute adaptation of "Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer" December 24.

Similar protests have been held by Code Pink at Bed, Bath & Beyond. The above-linked reports notes that a follow-up vigil staged outside of Cliff's several days later resulted in verbal taunting from supporters of the store.  Below is video taken inside of Cliff's on Christmas Eve.  As of yet, no charges have been filed against anyone.

TODAY: Obama To Nominate Hagel

Politico reports that President Obama will formally nominate former GOP Sen. Chuck Hagel as Secretary of Defense today.

The choice of Hagel, who opposed his party on the Iraq War as a senator, is likely to ignite a raucous confirmation battle because several Democratic interest groups and prominent Republicans have voiced strong opposition since Hagel’s vetting for the job was reported five weeks ago. Obama, who arrived back in Washington on Sunday morning, is expected to announce his nomination of Hagel on Monday as his first public appearance after the continuation of his Hawaii vacation.  Within a few days, and perhaps at the same time as the Hagel announcement, the president is likely to name his successor for former CIA Director David Petraeus. The candidates are John Brennan, White House homeland security and counterterrorism adviser, or Mike Morrell, acting CIA director.

Hagel is opposed both by homocons and the religious right.

Exorcism Of The Day

Clip description: "Some generations ago, a blood covenant was made -- giving Chaunte the Curse of Witchcraft -- her mother was into Voodoo -- she also was abandoned by her father. Watch as Bob takes Chaunte's ring that was her mother's ring, and 'cancels' any curses that were put onto it!"

Michael Savage: Time For "Nationalist" Party With A Charismatic Leader

"We need a nationalist party in the United States of America. You have the rudiments of a new party in this country called a Tea Party. They need to restructure their party. They need a charismatic leader, which they don’t have. When you say Tea Party no one knows who the leader is because there is no leader. No man has stepped forward who can lead that party. The Tea Party is the rudiment of the new nationalist party. Somebody has to bring them all together, unite them like King David did the ancient tribes of Israel. And there is no King David out there. Who’s the King David? Tell me who is going to do it?" - Wingnut blowhard Michael Savage, who says he's too old for the job.

RELATED: Since 2009 Savage has been barred from entering the UK as they consider him a person likely to incite violence against Muslims and homosexuals.

Quote Of The Day - Dick Armey

"The arrangement was simply FreedomWorks paid Glenn Beck money and Glenn Beck said nice things about FreedomWorks on the air.  I saw that a million dollars went to Beck this past year, that was the annual expenditure. I put it down now as basically as paid advertising for FreedomWorks by Beck." - Dick Armey, adding to Media Matters that the payment to Beck was a "mistake" as FreedomWorks only took in $1.3M from the deal and from a similar arrangement with Rush Limbaugh.  Armey left FreedomWorks last month with an $8M golden parachute.

WND: Neil Patrick Harris Is Mocking Christianity With His Super Bowl Ad

According to World Net Daily, "homosexual actor" Neil Patrick Harris is mocking Tim Tebow, and by divine extension, Christianity itself with the above promo for the Super Bowl.

New York Jets quarterback Tim Tebow won’t be playing in this year’s Super Bowl. But CBS, the television network airing the big game this year, is now using an outspoken homosexual actor to mimic Tim Tebow’s style of trumpeting messages in eyeblack on his face. During Sunday’s matchup between the Indianapolis Colts and Baltimore Ravens, the network broadcast several spots promoting the network’s upcoming Super Bowl coverage in New Orleans. Tim Tebow, known for his Christian faith as well as football, became world famous for proclaiming Bible verses such as John 3:16 on his eyeblack, especially when he played for the University of Florida Gators before going pro. One football fan who watched the CBS promo Sunday made the connection between Harris and Tebow, saying, “They’re pushing a gay agenda by using him, and they’re mocking Christians at the same time.”

WND goes on to reveal the shocking news that four years ago Harris won an award from the Trevor Project.  Which is horrible!  The top response in a readers poll attached to the story calls for a boycott of the Super Bowl and its advertisers.

SPOILER: Downton Abbey

Stay out of the comments if you've not yet seen last night's season premiere. Otherwise dive in and dish the intrigue.

Son Of Sen. Rand Paul Busted At Airport For Drunk And Disorderly Conduct

The 19 year-old son of Sen. Rand Paul (R-KY) was arrested at the Charlotte airport yesterday on charges of drunk and disorderly conduct.

William Hilton Paul arrived in Charlotte, N.C., on a U.S. Airways flight from Lexington, Ky., where his father is a U.S. senator. According to Lt. Blake Hollar with the Charlotte-Mecklenburg Police Department, Paul was intoxicated when he arrived at the airport and said "he was possibly served alcohol on the flight." The teenager was arrested by police and booked into the Mecklenburg County Jail, charged with three misdemeanors: underage consumption, disorderly conduct, and being intoxicated and disruptive. While in the custody of the Mecklenburg County Sheriff's Office, reports say William Hilton Paul identified himself as the son of Sen. Rand Paul.

The younger Paul, who is a student at the University of Kentucky, was taken into custody shortly after his flight landed around 11AM.  At this writing there have been no reports regarding his behavior on the plane.

A spokesperson for Sen. Paul has issued a statement: "Senator Paul is a national public figure and subject to scrutiny in the public arena, however, as many parents with teenagers would understand, his family should be afforded the privacy and respect they deserve in a situation such as this."  Yesterday Sen. Paul acknowledged that he is considering a presidential run in 2016.

Tweet Of The Day - Pastor Mark Driscoll

This is latest from Seattle's Pastor Mark Driscoll, whom you may recall recently declared that male masturbation is totally gay because it's sex with a man. Source.

Heart - Stairway To Heaven

At last month's Kennedy Center Honors, Heart performed a gorgeous version of Led Zeppelin's Stairway To Heaven as the band looked on tearfully from the honorees' box. On drums is the son of the late Led Zeppelin drummer John Bonham and that's Shane Fontayne on lead guitar. The show was broadcast last week and since then the raves for Heart's performance have poured in. Full-screen is called for here. 

(Tipped by JMG reader Aaron)

Oh Land - Perfection

Danish artist Oh Land performed this concert with the Danish National Chamber Orchestra last spring and it was posted to her YouTube channel this week. She now lives in Brooklyn and I met her backstage a couple of years ago after she opened for Deluka at Rockbar, the erstwhile bear bar in the West Village. (And by "backstage" I mean in the club's grungy little basement.) I think you'll agree that she's somebody to watch.

(Tipped by JMG reader Brian)

TOMORROW: Anti-Scott Lively Rally At Springfield Federal Courthouse

Local activists are calling for in-person support at their rally against hate group leader Scott Lively, whose trial for anti-gay crimes against humanity opens tomorrow at the federal courthouse in Springfield, Massachusetts.  From the Facebook event page:

WHAT: Pack the court for oral argument on Defendant’s Motion to Dismiss in SMUG v. Lively before before Judge Michael A. Ponsor.

WHEN: You are advised to arrive at 9:00am. The hearing is at 11:00am, however, word is that Lively's people have been advised to arrive at 9:30am. It also takes one hour in advance to allow time for going through courthouse security. After the argument, there will be a press conference and rally in front of the courthouse, organized by CCR and the Stop the Hate and Homophobia Coalition of Western Massachusetts.  

You can follow tomorrow's action online at the Twitter hashtag #StopTheHate.

Jake Shears Vs Azealia Banks

 

 

Yesterday former Scissor Sisters frontman Jake Shears took on his one-time collaborator Azealia Banks over her "faggot" attack on Perez Hilton.  GLAAD also responded yesterday on their blog:

Our society knows that "fa**ot" is a derogatory word for gay men, and in this case it was used to attack someone in a very public altercation with hundreds of thousands of fans and young people following. It is an ugly, archaic word that was used to stigmatize a population of people who suffer high rates of violence both here in the U.S. and abroad. As far as we’ve come in this society, seeing it used by an artist many young people may look up to is painful, but even more so for those young fans, many of whom GLAAD has heard from. GLAAD has reached out to Banks’ representatives, and is working to compile stories of fans and teens who wanted to respond to the word and let others know what it feels like when they hear it.

AFA Opposes Hagel Too

Log Cabin Republicans say they oppose Hagel because he's anti-gay. The American Family Association says they oppose Hagel because he's pro-gay.

GOP Rep. Steve King Introduces Bill To End Birthright Citizenship

Tea Party hero Rep. Steve King (R-IA) has introduced a bill that would deny American citizenship to the children of undocumented immigrants.

The bill would amend section 301 of the Immigration and Nationality Act to clarify those classes of individuals born in the United States who are nationals and citizens of the United States at birth. It's generally thought that the 14th Amendment provides a constitutional guarantee of citizenship for anyone born in the United States -- known as "birthright citizenship" -- but King told Hotsheet last year that he does not interpret the 14th Amendment that way. So far, King's bill has three co-sponsors listed: Reps. Phil Gingrey (R-Ga.), Gary Miller (R-Calif.) and Rob Woodall (R-Ga.).

This is just more teabagger grandstanding.