Marriage Equality for All in Massachusetts

It's official: Gay couples from all over America can legally marry in Massachusetts effective now. Today, Gov. Patrick signed the repeal of the 1913 law that prevented out of state gay couples from marrying there. The repeal law included language making it effective immediately. So, Provincetown this weekend, anyone?

This means that no matter what happens with the California ballot initiative to repeal marriage rights, there will remain a place in America where equality reigns.

Elizabeth Taylor on Life Support

The Daily Mail is reporting that Elizabeth Taylor is on life support after suffering congestive heart failure. She was diagnosed with pneumonia a week ago. An unnamed source said that doctors thought they would loose her, and she's still very sick but past the crisis.

Huffington Post.

Death of Hetero Culture

All the Bennigans closed down yesterday. All of them.

Where am I supposed to go for Bud Lite and fried cheese?

Republican Family Values

My very own intrepid Republican Congressman, Pete Sessions, is well known as a brave defender of conservative family values. He voted no on ENDA, yes on banning gay adoption, and yes on "defending the pledge of allegiance" from some GOP invented "threat." What a guy. It turns out that this paragon of virtue holds fundraisers at a strip club in Vegas! What fun! Last year, he held his annual Vegas "fundraiser" at the Forty Deuce Club (NSFW). How about this breathless description from it's web site:

"A blue light silhouettes the sax man as one of the sexy, sensual dancers slowly slinks down the stairs to the stage and leans out over the crowd, holding on with only a handful of the world-famous curtain of pearls! Jaws drop and drinks are ignored as the tempo picks up and the dancer steps up, shedding boa, gown and gloves towards the electrifying finale!"

Whew! I'm hot and bothered just reading that! Not exactly Sunday night at the First Baptist Church. Now, in Pete's defense, he says it's not a strip club, it's burlesque and "she never gets naked." Well, that's a relief. Check out this demure young lady (NSFW). She's not naked, she's an artist, a dancer. Why, she's probably planning the next Republican ladies tea.

It's a good thing the dancers only show off fake nipples (NSFW). It seems that our boy Pete raised quite a stink over Janet Jackson's accidental nipple slip. He bravely said that Jackson and Justin Timberlake were "forcing their liberal values upon the rest of the country." I assume that this lovely lady (NSFW) is expressing her commitment to conservative values through dance.

This year, Pete held his annual Vegas event at a bar owned by Jay Z. I wonder what Pete's fav Jay Z song is? Big Pimpin'?

Back Talk Lakewood/East Dallas
Talking Points Memo

Mass House Votes to Allow Out-of-State Same-Sex Marriages

The Massachusetts House has voted to repeal a 1913 law that prevented out-of-state same-sex couples from marrying there. The Senate had already voted to repeal the law, so it now goes to the Governor who is expected to sign it. As I wrote earlier, the 1913 law was originally passed to keep out of state interracial couples from coming to Massachusetts. When marriage equality came to the state, then-Governor Mitt Romney dug up the never enforced racist law and used it against gay couples in a failed attempt to shore up his support among the far right for his presidential bid.

5.8 Quake Hits LA

Just happened. No word on damage.

The red star is the epicenter.

Update: Downgraded to 5.4

DOJ Turned Into Political Arm of GOP

A new Justice Department report has confirmed what many suspected for a long time, that under Attorney General Alberto Gonzales, the DOJ was thoroughly politicized at the expense of competence and experience and in violation of the law. At the center of the controversy is Monica Goodling, the very young graduate of 4th-rate Regent University law school (Pat Robertson's vanity school) who used her conservative political and religious credentials to rocket to the position of White House liaison for DOJ. She inserted herself into hiring decisions, effectively using a veto power over hirings and promotions for career positions.

It is strictly illegal for politics or religion to play a role in career hirings and promotions, but Goodling brazenly ignored that, commonly asking applicants about abortion and gays and their views on the greatness of President Bush. Goodling was known to write interview notes such as "pro-family and anti civil union" and "pro God in the public sphere," all of these are irrelevant considerations for career attorney positions.

In one case, a prosecutor with a great deal of counter-terrorism experience was passed over for promotion to a counter-terrorism position in favor of one with virtually no experience because his wife was thought to be a Democrat. Protecting America obviously takes a back seat to loyalty to Bush.

In another case, AUSA Leslie Hagen's detail to the Executive Office of US Attorneys in Washington was blocked and she was prevented from obtaining other details because of an apparently unfounded rumor that she was having an affair with a female supervisor. Thus Hagen's career with Justice was ended because Monica Goodling heard rumors that she was a lesbian. The supervisor, Margaret Chaira, was the US Attorney for the Western District of Michigan and was one of the nine US Attorneys fired for vague reasons. Now it appears that Chiara may have been fired because of rumors that she was a lesbian. Let that one sink in a bit. If Monica Goodling thought you were gay, that was enough to get you fired.

This is a typical tactic of the Bush administration and I doubt if it was limited to DOJ. From Lurita Doan requiring GSA employees to attend briefings on supporting Republican Congressional candidates to Heck of a Job Brownie, this administration has infected all executive agencies with its hacks and has done so in a deeper, more profound way than previous administrations. It reflects an indifference to the proper functioning of Government and loathing of the people it serves. Everything is political with Bush, whether it's prosecuting criminals, anti-terrorism, disaster recovery or paper clip procurement. Ideological purity first, competence is at best a secondary consideration.

Culture of Life

President Bush has approved the execution of a soldier convicted of murder and rape. This makes Bush the first president since Eisenhower to do so. The soldier, Pvt Ronald Gray, has not exhausted his appellate rights though, so the execution will not take place anytime soon. When and if it does, it will be the first execution of someone convicted in the military justice system since 1961.

Murderer Motivated by Hatred of Gays, Liberals

You probably read about Jim Adkisson who opened fire at a Unitarian/Universalist Church in Knoxville, Tennessee yesterday. He killed two and injured 7. It turns out he was motivated by his hatred of gays and liberals. A letter was found in his vehicle expressing hatred of “Liberals in general, as well as gays.” Basically, he was a pathetic looser who couldn't find a job and couldn't take responsibility for his own shortcomings and focused his rage at others.

The targeted church was known for supporting progressive causes and for being gay affirming. They had recently put out a "gays welcome" sign and hosted PFLAG meetings.

When fundamentalist preachers and Republican politicians demonize gays continuously, this is the result.

Update: A longtime acquaintance of the murderer has said that he hated "blacks, gays and anyone different from him.'' Plus, his ex-wife was a long time member of the Unitarian Church.

Monday's Man: Matthew Goode

The impossibly handsome English actor is currently starring in the remake of Brideshead Revisted with Emma Thompson.

You'd think the combination of Emma Thompson, the gorgeous Mr. Good and a classic story of love and lust and repressed longing would would add up to a can't miss movie. You'd think that but you'd be wrong. It was a crushing bore with all the sex and life drained out of it. Thompson was fantastic, though.

Maybe more costumes like this would have helped.

Do Ask, Do Tell

Watch Congressman Patrick Murphy elegantly take apart ignorant hack Elaine Donnelly, self-appointed protector of the military from the homo menace. Donnelly, who is not a veteran, gave testimony was astonishingly bad, even by the standards of the anti-gay right. Iraq veteran Murphy had little patience for her.

Only Buy the Best

The Hedonistic Pleasureseeker has some of the best shopping advice I've ever read. An excerpt regarding shoes:

"Unless the shoes in question are high end, extraordinary, comfortable and at least 70% or more off retail I just pet them and whimper, then leave them behind at the store. They also have to fill a gaping hole in my wardrobe, and I must have the CASH on hand to pay for them."

Go read more.

SC is Still So Gay

Remember the South Carolina is So Gay advertising campaign I wrote about recently? It was blamed on a "low level official" who has since been fired. Not surprisingly, there's more to the story. Somebody might just be lying. Apparently it was approved at a much higher level and nobody cared until a conservative blogger raised a stink. Typical. Nobody cared until Republican voters found out, then politicians started spouting off pious blather. That's how the Republicans always deal with gays. They don't have any problems with us as long as we're quiet and know our place.

(Kenneth in the 212)

Monday's Man: Special Thursday Edition: Wesley Nault

Cuter than cute Wesley was voted off Project Runway far too early. I was just about to develop a crush on him when Heidi auffed him.

My favorite part of the show is the weekly beefcake flash. Let's just hope Junior got a screen shot of Wesley ironing shirtless.

Update: He's come out about his romance with Daniel. That's a lot of cuteness!

Fantastic

I thought you might like a peak at model Nathaniel Shuker courtesy of Fantastics Mag. Be sure and click on the pics. Just do it. What, you've never heard of Fantastics Mag? By all means, go check it out now.

Face of the SC GOP

More sophisticated intellectual discourse from the South Carolina Republican party. This is a screen shot from the blog of State Senator Kevin Bryant. Bryant was interviewed by Nico Pitney of Huffington Post and demonstrated his deep, nuanced grasp of the issues and his impressive command of the English language:

"Does he think Obama actually has terrorist ties? "I don't think he's tied to terrorists, no. I do think he's probably more sympathetic to nations that allow terrorism than I would prefer. And that's why I posted it. Am I saying that him and Osama work together? No, I'm not saying that at all."

And what religion does Bryant think Obama practices? "That's a good question. I don't know."

Bryant has taken it down from his blog, although he's still providing a link. Click here to go to his blog if you can stomach it. Naturally he plays the victim saying "I refuse to cower to the cultural police who evermore seek to censor our political discussion." Yeah right, buddy, that picture was all about "political discussion."

These right wing "warriors" who are always whining about censorship should 1) look up the word censorship and 2) realize that nobody is trying to censor them, they can say whatever they like, but their expressions have consequences. In other words, grow up.

By the way, Bryant represents Anderson County where a man recently tried to beat "the demon of homosexuality" out of his teenage son for attending a gay pride event. With a baseball bat. Just saying.
Update: the Anderson County teen has been charged with filing a false report. Authorities found no evidence that the beating actually happened.

Estelle Getty Dead

Estelle Getty, the Emmy winning star of the Golden Girls has died at the age of 84. She had suffered from advanced dementia for a number of years. In addition to the Golden Girls, she played Harvey Fierstein's mother on Torch Song Trilogy on Broadway.

In 1991, when her nephew in North Carolina was in the final stages of AIDS and near death, she flew him to Los Angeles and arranged for all his care. He died in 1992.

Rest in peace, Sophia.

Americans: End DA/DT

The latest Washington Post-ABC News poll shows 75% of Americans favor allowing gays to serve openly in the military. 75% is overwhelming and across the board. Tomorrow, Congress is holding hearings on repealing Don't Ask/Don't Tell and SGT Eric Alva, who lost his leg in Iraq, will be testifying.

Of course, McCain and the rest of the fossils in the GOP are still holding on to the position that homosexuality in the military is an "unacceptable risk." This despite the fact that 75% of military members are comfortable with gays and one in five knows a gay person in they're serving with. Where's the risk?

Dobson Flip Flops On McCain

James Dobson, the light in the loafers fuhrer of Focus on the Family and outer of Spongebob, has changed his position and opened up the possibility of endorsing McCain for President. Earlier in the year, the increasingly irrelevant old fool said that he would never endorse McCain and would sit out the election if McCain got the nomination. I guess that didn't work out so well for him since nobody seemed to listen and McCain is the presumptive nominee. So, like the pathetic sheep he is, Dobson said "... While I am not endorsing Senator John McCain, the possibility is there that I might."

Whatever Miss Thing. Who the fuck else were you going to vote for? Somebody's afraid of loosing his White House hotline.

Miracle Dude

Great news on the Patrick Swayze front. You may recall that he was diagnosed with pancreatic cancer and appeared close to death in March. The Sun newspaper recently filmed him at LAX on his way to film a new TV show called The Beast. He looked healthy and sexy. He gave the photog a thumbs up and said "I'm a miracle, dude." Go here to see the film.

Via Huffington Post.

Monday's Man: Christian Bale

Christian Bale opened in the new Batman movie, The Dark Knight, this weekend and I think it earned about $500 gazillion on the first night, give or take a gazillion. There's only one brief beefcake scene, unfortunately.
Frankly, though, he looks so hot in a suit it almost makes up for the lack of skin.
Almost.

Heath Ledger was amazing in the film. He exceeded the hype. Maggie Gyllenhaal acted circles around Mrs. Tom Cruise in the same role and Aaron Eckhart was a strong, sexy presence. Given all that, though, I didn't really like it. It was all just too much. It was 2 hours and 45 minutes long and had what felt like 15 or 20 endings. I was very ready for it to be over. I should have gone to see Mamma Mia! again instead.

Is Your Starbucks Closing?

Find out here. It's a full list of all stores that are closing as part of their cost-cutting measure. There's been much weeping and wailing and knashing of teeth over this, so go ahead and look. Find out if you'll now have to walk one block or two to find your daily jolt.

None of my favs in Dallas are closing. Whew.

Via The Slog.

West Side Story Returning to Broadway

My favorite Broadway musical of all time is returning to Broadway in a new revival next year. The new production of West Side Story will open in March, 2009.

I bet Chita Rivera could totally repeat her performance.

HIV Travel Ban Lifted

Last night, the Senate passed the Lantos/Hyde U.S. Global Leadership Against HIV/AIDS, Tuberculosis, and Malaria Reauthorization Act (S 2731), which reauthorizes the President's Emergency Plan For AIDS Relief (PEPFAR). It also lifted the ban on travel and immigration to the U.S. by HIV positive non-citizens. "Also noteworthy are the mention and recognition of HIV prevention, care and treatment needs of men who have sex with men (MSM) and the removal of the directive requiring that 33% of prevention funds be spent on "abstinence-only until marriage" programs."

Andrew Sullivan is very happy today.

Via Joe.My.God

America's New Poet Laureate

California native Kay Ryan has been named our new Poet Laureate. The UCLA grad is known for her simple and accessible poetry such as The Other Shoe:

Oh if it were
only the other
shoe hanging
in space before
joining its mate.

Nice. Ryan lives in Marin County, CA with her partner, Carol. That's right, America's new poet laureate is a lesbian. Expect the wingnuts to start boycotting poetry as soon as they figure out what it is.

Helen Mirren is 63!

And Taylor Hackford is one lucky straight guy.

Via The Slog

The Truth Hurts

Tales of the Sissy is reporting that this ad, displayed in London to coincide with their Pride celebration, has freaked out the rubes in the Palmetto state. Pandering hack Republican state Sen. David Thomas said:

“South Carolinians will be irate when they learn their hard earned tax dollars are being spent to advertise our state as ‘so gay.’”

As I recall, South Carolina is pretty darn gay. It produced me, didn't it?

Sen. Thomas represents Greenville where Sean Kennedy was murdered last year because he was gay. I wonder if Sen. Thomas gave that a thought before spouting off about gay tourists. Do you think he sees any connection between prominent politicians like him demonizing gays and rednecks feeling empowered to gay bash? Yeah, I doubt it too.

Go check out his circa 1991 web page where he proclaims himself "South Carolina's Proven Conservative Champion." Here he is with his wife and idol. He went to Southwestern Baptist Theological Seminary in Fort Worth, naturally. I could tell him a few stories about that place that are "so gay." Maybe he already knows them.

Mass Senate Votes to Allow Out of State Marriages

The Massachusetts Senate voted today to repeal a 1913 law that prevented out of state gay couples from marrying there. The old law dated from segregationist days and was originally intended to keep interracial couples from flocking to Massachusetts to marry. It was dug up by then-Governor Mitt Romney who ordered it's strict enforcement to help his Presidential ambitions by shoring up support from the radical religious right.

Now that the Senate has voted, it goes to the House where things look good. Then it's on to Gov. Patrick who supports it's repeal.

Abortion, Birth Control Opponents May Get Federal Protection. Gays, Not So Much

In a draft of a proposed Federal rule, the Bush administration wants to require all recipients of aid under federal health programs to certify that they will not refuse to hire nurses and other providers who object to abortion and even certain types of birth control. Hospitals, clinics, researchers and medical schools would have to sign “written certifications” that they won't discriminate in any way against people or institutions that oppose abortion or some forms of birth control or refuse to perform them. This includes oral contraception and emergency contraception and is apparently an attempt by the radical religious right to classify oral contraception as abortion. Naturally, the Bush administration is eager to help out.

So, the inner city women's clinic employee who refuses to talk to patients about birth control? Can't touch her. The hospital pharmacist who refuses to fill prescriptions for birth control? She can't be fired or disciplined. The doctor who refuses to give emergency contraception to a rape victim for "religious reasons?" Give that man a promotion.

On the other hand, institutions that receive millions in "faith based" tax dollars are expressly allowed to discriminate against gay people and, in fact, can use our tax dollars to further their agenda of anti-gay hate. All in the name of Jesus, of course.

These guys don't even try to be subtle. The administration only exists to serve the needs of the chosen few.

Monday's Man: Breckin Meyer

I know, this is Tuesday. Yesterday was a bad day. Sue me. To make up for it , I've chosen cuter than cute Breckin Meyer. Isn't this exactly what you'd want your next boyfriend to look like?


Towleroad is reporting that there's a new director's cut of the 1998 disco movie 54, and the homoerotic relationship between Meyer's and Ryan Philippe's characters becomes much more obvious, including "an amazingly intense, evocative kiss."


Let's just hope they release it on DVD.

Miss USOops!

Some of you already know that I'm a big old pageant queen, so naturally I spent last night watching the Miss Universe Pageant. For the second year in a row, Miss USA fell during the evening gown competition. Here it is:


Stunning Texan Crystle Stewart tripped on her hem, just like last year's queen, Rachel Smith.


Smith was booed later in the pageant when she was selected for the top 5. Stewart did not make the top 5.

I feel for her. She competed in Miss Texas 5 times before she won. She was 1st runner up two years in a row. After all that, she made it to the biggest show and fell. But she recovered beautifully and shook it off. She's a pro.

Oh yeah, the winner was Miss Venezuela, Dayana Mendoza. Naturally. Venezuela is the Miss Mississippi of the Miss Universe pageant. She's won a zillion times and is always a contender.

Was McCain a Bigamist and Adulterer?

He came close to the first and was certainly the latter. According to the LA Times, McCain and Cindy Hensley obtained a marriage license on March 6, 1980, yet his divorce wasn't granted until April 2, 1980. He and Cindy had a wedding ceremony 5 weeks later. Further, in his court petition for divorce, filed on February 19, 1980, he stated that he and his first wife cohabited until January 7, 1980, which was 9 months after he began his adulterous affair with Cindy.

Naturally, he's working to protect Arizona families by keeping gays from getting married.

Obama's New Kind of Faith Based Initiative

Obama recently announced his support for continued White House Faith Based Initiatives. However, Pam Spaulding is reporting that his plan won't tolerate homo-hate in the name of Jesus, in sharp contrast to the Bush initiative which fed off fear of gays. According to an Obama spokesman:

"under no circumstances will funds from the program will be granted to FBOs for proselytizing or reparative therapy."

"Reparative therapy" is a polite term for the pray-away-the-gay frauds that so many churches promote.

I have a lot of concerns about Obama's mixing of religion and politics and would prefer it if he would leave religion to the churches, but at least we know he won't use "faith" to beat down gays.

Go to Pam's House Blend for much more.

Another Day, Another Gay Republican Sex Scandal

I know, it's hard to keep track of all the GOP closet queers, isn't it? This time, the rumor mill is in overdrive about the Alabama Attorney General, a pretty little fella named Troy King. That's his creepy-cute picture above. He may be close to resigning because he was allegedly caught doing naughty stuff with a MAN. It's unclear if his alleged boyfriend is an old college friend or the Homecoming King of Troy University! That's almost too good to be true.

Of course, this may not be true at all, but Troy has been described as "almost a caricature of the Republican party." He apparently loves the death penalty, would defend Alabama's sex toy ban to the death, and while at the Univ. of Alabama law school, wrote gay hate screeds for the college paper. Of course he did. He is also alleged to have targeted Democrats for politically motivated prosecutions. Stay tuned.

Check out Loretta Nall's blog for lots more including some hilarious original lyrics written in honor of the occasion. Loretta is a libertarian candidate for governor of Alabama and one of my new favorite gals.

McCain Advisor: Shaddup You Whiners

McCain's top economic advisor, former Texas Senator Phil Gramm, has examined the current economic malaise and decreed it all in our minds. Things are just fine, he said, it's all just a "mental recession" and America is "a nation of whiners."

Way to win hearts and minds, you rich fuck.

Fun Fact: After leaving the Senate, Phil was a lobbiest for mortgage lender UBS, lobbying Congress to roll back restrictions on lenders.

ABBA Together Again

At least for the Stockholm premiere of Mamma Mia. The fabulous Agnetha and Frida did a little dance on the red carpet with Meryl Streep, then joined Benny and Bjorn and the cast of the film on a theater balcony. Watch it here.

Jesus Wants You to Write In Bush

I don't know if this is a joke site or not. It urges "Christians" and "patriots" to work to repeal the 22nd Amendment and write in "God's candidate." "Vote your faith. Write in George W. Bush." After all, term limits are "man's law" not "God's Law."

I'm a Christian and a patriot and I'm voting for Obama. How is that possible?

via Andrew Sullivan.

New Study: Gays Won't Undermine Unit Cohesion

A recent study by the University of California/Santa Barbara has found "allowing gays and lesbians to serve openly is unlikely to pose any significant risk to morale, good order, discipline or cohesion." The study, which picked panel members to portray a bipartisan representation of the different service branches, pointed to other countries, like Britain and Israel, where gay soldiers serve openly with no negative effects, as well as to changing attitudes among the American people and soldiers. I know their findings are a blinding flash of the obvious, but they are quite significant since unit cohesion was the express basis for Don't Ask/Don't Tell in the first place.

The dinosaurs, of course, were unmoved. Retired Army JAG LTC Robert Maginnis, who was instrumental in creating the Don't Ask/Don't Tell policy in the Army, said "The issue is trust and confidence." When some people with a different sexual orientation are "in a close combat environment, it results in a lack of trust." Where did Maginnis get his insights? From the Department of His Ass, of course, since there's where he pulled it from.

The arguments against allowing gays to serve openly are fabricated from whole cloth. Case in point is the "unit cohesion" canard. Unit cohesion was made up by Pentagon lawyers who were tasked to develop a straight-face argument to present in court challenges to the ban. It was baseless then and it's baseless today. Maybe if we can get a Democrat in the White House to match the Democrats in Congress, we can get this bankrupt policy repealed.

Thousands of military personnel have been kicked out under the gay ban over the years, but many others have chosen to get out on their own, further depriving the American military of trained, experienced soldiers. I should know, I was one of those who chose to get out because of Don't Ask/Don't Tell. After 12 years.

Sanctity of Marriage: Christ Engaged

Florida's not-gay governor is a confirmed bachelor no more. NO sir, the tanned and lean one has announced his engagement...to a woman. The lucky lady is millionaire socialite Carole Rome, who I've written about before. Of course, this has absolutely nothing to do with the current McCain Veepstakes. It's just all a big coincidence that, after 30 years of bachelorhood, he found true love with a millionaire heiress right now when McCain wants to carry Florida. It's just like when Crist changed his position of off-shore oil drilling in Florida, something he strongly opposed in 2006, and now suddenly supports. He probably didn't even know that McCain had made it a centerpiece of his energy policy.

Maybe they'll have their reception at the Green Iguana.

Fun fact: According to Joe.My.God, Carole inherited and runs the Franco-American Novelty Company, a century-old Glendale, NY-based Halloween costume wholesaler owned by her family. The company motto is "Where Fashion Meets Halloween." Or, as Chris Kelly said, "The woman marrying the gayish governor from the sultry southern state actually makes beards."

Monday's Man: Rafael Nadal

The hot Spaniard has been gunning for a Wimbledon win for a while and achieved it yesterday, ending Roger Federer's 5-year winning streak.


Wimbledon was far from a shut-out for the Americans, though, as Venus Williams won the women's title and the Williams sisters took the doubles trophy.