Pam Spaulding's Blog, page 105

This and that while many of you were getting shut eye

Damn, this insomnia. Oh well, I got up to have a sugar-free icepop and to surf for a short time before hitting a sack for sleep attempt number 2. A few headlines:

* Did anyone watch Sen. Joe Lieberman's live announcement that he will retire next year? Zzzzzzz.

* Allentown, PA passes Domestic Partner Benefits. (via Pennsylvania Diversity Network release):

The City Council of Pennsylvania's third largest city tonight unanimously passed legislation to provide equal benefits to Same-Sex partners of City employees as they provide to married heterosexuals. The legislation, introduced by Council President Dr. Michael D'Amore, now goes to Mayor Ed Pawlowski, who is expected to sign it into law. Dr. D'amore introduced this legislation because "the City's best interest is served when all of our employees are treated equally, regardless of their sexual orientation."

* Westboro gets protested by director Kevin Smith at Sundance . Love it! He Tweeted Shirley Phelps-Roper and released this:

THE

HARVEY BOYS WILL PICKET THE WESTBORO BAPTIST CHURCH PICKET OF THE SCREENING OF "RED STATE" AT THE ECCLES THEATRE, SUNDAY, JANUARY 23rd

Picket 6:00 - 6:30 PM Screening of "Red State"

Los Angeles, CA - January 19, 2011- Here are the facts: (1) The Westboro Baptist Church are haters of Biblical proportions! "Thou shalt not hate thy brother in thine heart: thou shalt in any wise rebuke thy neighbour, & not suffer sin upon him." (Lev 19:17) (2) The WBC's punishment in Hell for their hatred will be administered by the very Jesus they blaspheme daily. "...he shall be tormented with fire & brimstone in the presence of the holy angels, & in the presence of the Lamb: & the smoke of their torment ascendeth up forever & ever: & they have no rest day nor night." (Rev 14:10-11)

The Harvey Boys are seeking the aid of the Mighty Thor, hoping he'll lay down his hammer and instead pick up a protest sign on our behalf, in a Park City battle of the mega-gods! If he's in reshoots, we'll be reaching out to Sigourney Weaver to channel Zuul on our behalf. If she's not at Sundance this year, we'll start praying to Krom. And if you don't help us, Krom? Then to hell witchoo.

For thirty minutes of fun-filled photo-opportunities, the Harvey Boys will peacefully counter-protest the WBC Eccles Theater Protest. All are welcome. Wear YOUR dopey sentiments nobody gives a shit about on a sign of your own making, as you stand shoulder-to-shoulder with the folks who've mastered the art of writing utter horseshit on cardboard! BYOS (Bring Your Own Sign).

* Back to the serious stuff: in Wyoming, a Definition of Marriage bill passes 1st hurdle in House .  "Wyoming law already defines marriage as a union between one man and one woman, but state law also requires the state to recognize marriages performed in other states. House Bill 74 would close that loophole, specifying that same-sex marriages performed in other states or other countries wouldn't be considered valid in Wyoming."

* Truth Wins Out Announces Eleven State Tour Highlighting The Harm Caused by the 'Ex-Gay' Industry. Wayne Besen will visit: Illinois, Wisconsin, Minnesota, North Dakota, Iowa, Nebraska, Kansas, Oklahoma, Tennessee, Arkansas, and Alabama to discuss the harm caused by programs that claim to turn gay people straight through prayer and therapy.

GLAAD announces 22nd Annual Media Awards noms, with first for Outstanding Blog, including PHB

The Gay & Lesbian Alliance Against Defamation (GLAAD) has just announced its nominees for its 22nd Annual GLAAD Media Awards.

The Gay & Lesbian Alliance Against Defamation (GLAAD), the nation's lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender (LGBT) media advocacy and anti-defamation organization, announced today the nominees for its 22nd Annual GLAAD Media Awards.  By recognizing and honoring media for outstanding images of the LGBT community, the GLAAD Media Awards serve as a benchmark for the media industry and complement GLAAD's work to bring LGBT images and stories to Americans.

Among the nominees: Lisa Cholodenko's Golden Globe?-nominated film The Kids Are All Right, I Love You Phillip Morris, starring Jim Carrey and Ewan McGregor, Howl, starring James Franco, the summer hit film Easy A, HBO's acclaimed drama True Blood, Fox's hit show Glee, ABC's hit comedy Modern Family, NBC's hit sitcom 30 Rock, Prodigal Sons, a documentary about a transgender woman and her family, season eight of Project Runway, The Oprah Winfrey Show for Ricky Martin's first televised interview, MSNBC's interview with Fort Worth City Council member Joel Burns, CNN's Anderson Cooper 360, Essence.com's "Bridal Bliss: Aisha and Danielle," the Scissor Sisters, Chely Wright, and Spanish-language nominees Lev?ntate, Aqu? y Ahora, Caso Cerrado, Casos de Familia, and openly gay music artists Christian Chavez and Fedro.

In 2011, the GLAAD Media Awards will also celebrate GLAAD's twenty-fifth anniversary year, looking back at a quarter-century of work to build acceptance and advance equality through LGBT images in the media.

"This year's nominees represent some of the images and stories at the root of the growing acceptance of our community and support for our equality," said GLAAD President Jarrett Barrios.  "They also have created a benchmark for inclusion of our community that other media outlets should look to.  As GLAAD celebrates twenty-five years of working with the media, we are proud to recognize this year's nominees and we challenge the industry to share more stories that reflect the diversity of our community and the challenges that gay and transgender people face."

The GLAAD Media Awards ceremonies will be held in New York on March 19, 2011 at the Marriott Marquis in Times Square; in Los Angeles on April 16 at the Westin Bonaventure; and in San Francisco on May 14 at San Francisco Marriott Marquis.

GLAAD announced 114 nominees in 23 English-language categories, and 33 Spanish-language nominees in 9 categories.  In the English-language categories, cable networks earned 22 nominations, while broadcast networks garnered 11 nominations.

This year GLAAD introduced a new category to recognize independent blogs, in recognition of the growing role of online media in shaping today's culture.  The first nominees in this category are The Bilerico Project, Blabbeando, Joe. My. God., Pam's House Blend, and Rod 2.0.

A nice honor for the coffeehouse to be in this first class of independent blog noms. The full list of nominees is below the fold.

22nd ANNUAL GLAAD MEDIA AWARDS NOMINEES

OUTSTANDING FILM - WIDE RELEASE

Burlesque (Screen Gems)

Easy A (Screen Gems)

The Girl Who Played with Fire (Music Box Films)

The Kids Are All Right (Focus Features)

Scott Pilgrim vs. the World (Universal Pictures)

OUTSTANDING FILM - LIMITED RELEASE

Howl (Oscilloscope Pictures)

I Love You Phillip Morris (Roadside Attractions)

La Mission (Screen Media Ventures)

Patrik, Age 1.5 (Regent Releasing)

Undertow (Wolfe Releasing)

OUTSTANDING DRAMA SERIES

Brothers & Sisters (ABC)

Degrassi (TeenNick)

Grey's Anatomy (ABC)

Pretty Little Liars (ABC Family)

True Blood (HBO)

OUTSTANDING COMEDY SERIES

Glee (Fox)

GREEK (ABC Family)

Modern Family (ABC)

Nurse Jackie (Showtime)

United States of Tara (Showtime)

OUTSTANDING INDIVIDUAL EPISODE (in a series without a regular LGBT character)

"Escape the Castle" Bored to Death (HBO)

"Innocence" Law & Order (NBC)

"Klaus & Greta" 30 Rock (NBC)

"Queen of Mean" Drop Dead Diva (Lifetime)

"Samaritan" Law & Order: UK (BBC America)

OUTSTANDING DOCUMENTARY

8: The Mormon Proposition (Red Flag Releasing)

Edie & Thea: A Very Long Engagement (Sundance Channel)

Prodigal Sons (First Run Features)

"Sylvester" UnSung (TV One)

Out. The Glenn Burke Story (Comcast SportsNet Bay Area)

OUTSTANDING REALITY PROGRAM

The Fabulous Beekman Boys (Planet Green)

Girls Who Like Boys Who Like Boys (Sundance Channel)

Project Runway (Lifetime)

Top Chef: Just Desserts (Bravo)

TRANSform Me (VH1)

OUTSTANDING TALK SHOW EPISODE

"Constance McMillen" The Ellen DeGeneres Show  (syndicated)

"Neil Patrick Harris" The Talk (CBS)

"Rebuilding Home After Tragedy: The Seth Walsh Story" The Nate Berkus Show (syndicated)

"Ricky Martin Coming Out as a Gay Man and a New Dad" The Oprah Winfrey Show (syndicated)

"Transgender Kids: Too Young to Decide?" The Dr. Oz Show (syndicated)

OUTSTANDING TV JOURNALISM - NEWSMAGAZINE

""Don't Ask, Don't Tell" (series) The Rachel Maddow Show (MSNBC)

"Gay Teen Suicides" (series) Anderson Cooper 360 (CNN)

"Katie Miller: Don't Ask, Don't Tell" Outside the Lines  (ESPN)

"Olson and Boies on Same-Sex Marriage" Bill Moyers Journal     (PBS)

"Transitions" Real Sports with Bryant Gumbel (HBO)

OUTSTANDING TV JOURNALISM SEGMENT

"Don't Ask..." CBS Sunday Morning (CBS)

"Fort Worth Speech" The Last Word with Lawrence O'Donnell (MSNBC)

"Gay Teens Talk Their Truth" CNN Newsroom (CNN)

"Images of Protest" ABC World News with Diane Sawyer  (ABC)

"Mom, Dad... I'm Coming Out" Today (NBC)

OUTSTANDING NEWSPAPER ARTICLE

"Coming Out, Fitting In" by Rosemary Winters  (The Salt Lake Tribune)

"D.C. Gay Couple Caps a Momentous First by Tying the Knot" by Monica Hesse (The Washington Post)

"Rutgers Student Tyler Clementi's Suicide Spurs Action Across U.S." by Judy Peet (The Star-Ledger [Newark, N.J.)

"A Tragic Love Story" by Steve Friess (LA Weekly)

"Worlds Apart" by Lauren Smiley (SF Weekly)

OUTSTANDING NEWSPAPER COLUMNIST

Peg Mcentee (The Salt Lake Tribune)

Leonard Pitts, Jr. (The Miami Herald)

Frank Rich (The New York Times)

Eugene Robinson (The Washington Post)

Rev. Byron Williams (The Oakland Tribune)

OUTSTANDING NEWSPAPER OVERALL COVERAGE

Atlanta Journal Constitution

Denver Post

Los Angeles Times

The New York Times

The Salt Lake Tribune

OUTSTANDING MAGAZINE ARTICLE

"All That's Left is God" by Michelle Theall (5280 Magazine)

"'I Was Scared to Sleep': LGBT Youth Face Violence Behind Bars" by Daniel Redman (The Nation)

"It's a Shocking Trend: Gay Teens Being Bullied to the Point of Suicide" by Kenneth Miller (Ladies' Home Journal)

"Just Another Girl (Who Used to be a Boy)" by Genevieve Field (Glamour)

"What Happens When You Find the One...And He's Nothing - Nothing - Like You Expected?" by Allison Cooper (O, The Oprah Magazine)

OUTSTANDING MAGAZINE OVERALL COVERAGE

The Advocate/Out

The Chronicle of Higher Education

Entertainment Weekly

People

US Weekly

OUTSTANDING DIGITAL JOURNALISM ARTICLE

"The Camera in the Closet: Gay Service Members Speak Out to ABC News About Don't Ask, Don't Tell" by Mary Kathryn Burke (ABCNews.com)

"'Don't Ask, Don't Tell' Hurts African-American Women the Most" by Lynette Holloway (TheRoot.com)

"Ice Cracks Beneath Weir's Critics" by LZ Granderson (ESPN.com)

"View From Washington" (series) by Kerry Eleveld (Advocate.com)

"Wrestler Hudson Taylor a Champion for Gay Rights" by Jim Buzinski (Outsports.com)

OUTSTANDING DIGITAL JOURNALISM - MULTIMEDIA

"Bridal Bliss: Aisha and Danielle" by Bobbi Misick (Essence.com)

"Censoring Wojnarowicz" (IntheLifetv.org)

"A Gay Family Album" (Newsweek.com)

"Kicked Out But Ready to Go Back" by Jon Groat  (Newsweek.com)

OUTSTANDING BLOG

The Bilerico Project (http://www.bilerico.com/)

Blabbeando (http://blabbeando.blogspot.com/)

Joe. My. God. (http://joemygod.blogspot.com/)

Pam's House Blend (http://www.pamshouseblend.com)

Rod 2.0 (http://rodonline.typepad.com/)

OUTSTANDING MUSIC ARTIST

Antony and the Johnsons, Swanlights (Secretly Canadian)

Big Freedia, Big Freedia Hitz Vol. 1 (Big Freedia Records)

Chely Wright, Lifted Off the Ground (Vanguard Records)

Kele Okereke, The Boxer (Glassnote Records)

Scissor Sisters, Night Work (Downtown Records)

OUTSTANDING COMIC BOOK

Buffy the Vampire Slayer by Scott Allie, Brad Meltzer,

Joss Whedon (Dark Horse Comics)

Fogtown by Andersen Gabrych (Vertigo/DC Comics)

Veronica by Dan Parent (Archie Comics)

X-Factor by Peter David (Marvel Comics)

Young Avengers: Children's Crusade by Allan Heinberg(Marvel)

OUTSTANDING LOS ANGELES THEATER

Dr. Cerberus by Robert Aguirre-Sacasa

Haram Iran by Jay Paul Deratany

Revolver by Chris Phillips

Something Happened by L. Trey Wilson

The Twentieth-Century Way by Tom Jacobson

OUTSTANDING NEW YORK THEATER:  BROADWAY & OFF-BROADWAY

In the Wake by Lisa Kron

The Kid, book by Michael Zam, lyrics by Jack Lechner, music by Andy Monroe

Passion Play by Sarah Ruhl

The Pride by Alexi Kaye Campbell

Secrets of the Trade by Jonathan Tolins

OUTSTANDING NEW YORK THEATER: OFF-OFF BROADWAY

Lay of the Land by Tim Miller

Let Them Eat Cake by Holly Hughes, Megan Carney and Moe Angelos

This One Girl's Story, book by Bil Wright, music and lyrics by Dionne McClain-Freeney

Vaginal Davis Is Speaking from the Diaphragm by Vaginal Davis

When Last We Flew by Harrison David Rivers

Anti-gay orgs file amicus briefs in DOMA case

Gay & Lesbian Advocates & Defenders gave the heads up that the Obama DOJ brief (re: Gill et al. v. Office of Personnel Management et al.) will see fundie bedfellow filings, and lo and behold, the first out of the gate are from the National Organization for Marriage and the Family Research Council.

From the FRC brief:

FRC actively supported the Defense of Marriage Act, the constitutionality of which is the subject of this appeal. FRC, therefore, has a particular interest in the outcome of this case. Requiring the Government to recognize the validity of same-sex marriages would not promote any of the interests on the basis of which marriage is a protected social institution. And, for the reasons set forth herein, nothing in the Constitution, properly understood, compels such recognition.

...Contrary to the district court's understanding, the issue is not whether denying federal recognition of same-sex marriages "promote[s] stability in heterosexual parenting," but whether granting such recognition would promote 17 that interest. Clearly, it would not. Under the rational basis standard of review, that is sufficient to sustain the constitutionality of ? 3 of DOMA.

Have at it: Andrew Breitbart Joins GOProud Advisory Council

Sometimes you just have to just post the release...

Conservative Media Mogul Andrew Breitbart to Join GOProud’s Advisory Council

 

Christopher R. Barron, Chairman of the GOProud Board – “Andrew Breitbart is one of the most influential voices in the conservative movement today.  We are thrilled to have him as part of the GOProud team.”

 

(Washington, D.C.) – Today, GOProud, the only national organization of gay conservatives and their allies, announced that conservative media mogul Andrew Breitbart will join the organization’s Advisory Council.  “Andrew Breitbart is one of the most influential voices in the conservative movement today,” said Christopher Barron, Chairman of GOProud’s Board.  “We are thrilled to have him as part of the GOProud team.” 

 

"I applaud GOProud's strong, principled conservatism and admire their courage to defy the left's stifling demand for group conformity,” said Andrew Breitbart.  “As a fierce opponent of the cultural Marxism and political correctness that divides Americans into different identity groups, I embrace the American motto E Pluribus Unum as an antidote to the Democratic Party's divide and conquer strategy."  

 

Breitbart joins Margaret Hoover, Grover Norquist and Tammy Bruce on the GOProud Advisory Council.

 

Andrew Breitbart is publisher of the news portals Breitbart.com and Breitbart.tv. In January 2009, he launched Big Hollywood, a group blog off ofBreitbart.com on Hollywood and culture from a center/right perspective. He gained greater notoriety when his second blog endeavor, Big Government, broke the ACORN prostitution scandal. Breitbart launched Big Journalism in January of 2010 and his newest blog, on foreign policy and national security issues, Big Peace, launched July 4th.

 

Andrew co-wrote the best-selling attack on celebrity culture, Hollywood, Interrupted and was the co-creator of The Huffington Post. Look for his forthcoming book titled "Righteous Indignation: Excuse Me While I Save the World," which is set for release April 15, 2011.

 

“Like GOProud, Andrew Breitbart is on the cutting edge of the conservative movement.  No one better exemplifies the growing strength of the new media more than Andrew Breitbart.  Andrew is a fearless, committed advocate for conservative principles and we welcome him to the GOProud leadership team,” concluded Barron. 

NCLR's Kate Kendell in Raleigh on Saturday to discuss Prop 8 and strategy re: NC marriage amendment

It will be great to hear from Kate Kendell of the National Center for Lesbian Rights when she makes a stop in Raleigh this Saturday to discuss how the fallout from Prop 8 affects all corners of the country.

It's particularly relevant here in NC as my state faces the introduction -- and this time consideration instead of death in committee -- of a state marriage amendment since the GOP has taken control of the House and Senate.

The event will be held at The Borough Restaurant on 317 West Morgan St # 117 in Raleigh from 7:00-10:00 PM. Kate will be joined by event organizers from North Carolina State University's GLBT Center. For more information, please contact GLBT Center Director Justine Hollingshead at jholli99@gmail.com.

Fundie minister: Episcopal Church No Longer Christian Because It Supports Gay-Rights

From Right Wing Watch, yet more proof that progressive Christians need to step it up and quash this bullsh*t. Only a certain brand of "Christianity" meets the standard of the fringe whackadoodles like Michael Youssef, the head of Leading the Way Ministries and pastor of the non-denominational Evangelical Anglican Church of the Apostles in Atlanta. The rest of you "phony Christians" are hell-bound if you believe LGBTs have a right to worship in your church and be seen as equal in God's eyes.

Episcopal Church: Christian?

Based on everything I am currently reading and what I experienced firsthand in that Church in the past, my answer to this question is a forceful, "No!"

Perhaps the last nail in the coffin of that once-vibrant Christian church came as no surprise to many of us when M. Thomas Shaw, bishop of the Episcopal Diocese of Massachusetts, kicked off the new year of 2011 by performing a lesbian marriage ceremony at St. Paul's cathedral in Boston. Two "priestesses" of the church -- Katherine Hancock Ragsdale (dean and president of Episcopal Divinity School, no less) and Mally Lloyd (canon to the Ordinary at St. Paul's) -- were united in homosexual bliss in the presence of 400 guests. The whole debate of homosexuality has deteriorated into an emotional argument on equality with total disregard to God's created order that marriage should be between one man and one woman.

But how can one be surprised at this defiance of church cannons when the Episcopal leadership has defied God? Once the fear of God and obedience to His Word are trampled underfoot, then any sort of church resolution is not worth the paper it's written on.

Back in 2004, the Episcopal Church, in an act of slight-of-hand (more likely a cunning maneuver), agreed to hold a moratorium in the practicing of all the sordid affairs of "ordaining, marrying, and uniting, and blessing" acts of sodomy. But that was merely a surface declaration. In reality, the blessing of same-sex marriage had been widely accepted in the American Episcopal Church before the time of moratorium.

Can anybody in his/her right mind believe that the Episcopal Church is the Church of Jesus -- the Jesus who left the glories of heaven, came to our broken and dark world, died on the cross to redeem us and give us power over sin, and then rose again to assure us of eternal life with Him? The answer has to be a resounding, "No!"

The Episcopal Church is not Jesus' church. The few...very few faithful ones left within this Church need to run for their lives lest they be held accountable for complacency on the Day of Judgment.

The Episcopal Church is a pitiful target to make this sort of specious claim. Youssef can draw a line in the sand based solely on acceptance of LGBTs when divorce is rampant among all Christian denominations, as well as a lot shellfish-eating and mixed fiber-adorned parishioners. And what about the breakaway Episcopal churches that left over LGBT issues? Are they sufficiently Christian? It's tiring to read horsesh*t like this. It demeans good people of faith for no logical reason other than bigotry.

Guest column by David Mixner: LGBT Rights: An Important Year Ahead

LGBT Rights: An Important Year Ahead

by David Mixner, Live from Hell's Kitchen

You have had your break and smiles with the wonderful Congressional victory on beginning the process of repealing "Don't Ask, Don't Tell." What a wonderful moment. The last year was an incredible one with the court cases, the victory with DADT and the nation finally coming to terms with the epidemic of LGBT suicide. Finally we are seeing real tangibles from the energy, time and money we are pouring into this epic battle for full equality for LGBT people.

Unfortunately there is no rest for the weary. We have another tough year ahead of us. Every single one of us is needed on the front lines, walking precincts, writing checks and mobilizing their straight family and friends. No one gets an exemption from this battle because we are so close to crossing that line where there is absolutely no turning back the clock. Time for each and every one of us to stand and be counted.

Of course, we have to push to make sure the implementation for the repeal of DADT is moving quickly and without prejudice in any of the announced policies.

We appear to holding our own in protecting marriage equality in New Hampshire and Iowa but we can't let our vigilance down. We have to be ready to move quickly if our opposition gains a foothold in those states. The Supreme Court of the United States refused to hear the case against marriage equality from Washington, DC this week and that protects us in the District. Their refusal is no small matter.

It's absolutely essential that we see that our several major court cases, especially the Proposition 8 Case, have the talent and resources needed to assure victory. Write those checks to the Foundation for Equal Rights and let them know we are walking side by side with them in this case.

This year presents opportunities in Maryland, Rhode Island and New York for marriage equality. In all three states we have the chance of gaining, not civil unions, but full marriage equality. While New York is the toughest battle we still are very much in the running with our new governor in office. If Maryland passes marriage equality we most likely will face a referendum to repeal the law. This will be an fierce battle and we must start preparing for it now. Major donors around the country should be pooling their resources and insisting on a professionally run and winning campaign.

Which bring us to our President.

President Obama has indicated and teased us with the fact that in the words of psychic John Edwards he is about to 'cross over' to full marriage equality. My guess is we will never hear the words 'marriage is between a man and a woman' cross his lips again. Well, Mr. President, now is the time to come on over. If you wait until 2012 you will be in the middle of your re-election and everyone will tell you to stay firm against marriage equality. If you wait until the courts order full equality you will lose your increasing movement toward being a leader on civil rights. If your political aides present you with polls, focus groups and data telling you now is not the time, just ignore them and do what is right. The right time for justice and freedom is always now. Tomorrow means another day of oppression, youth suicides and lost opportunity.

Even more important, Mr. President, if we face a referendum in Maryland we will desperately need not only a statement in support but your actual voice opposing the ballot measure. There is a huge number of progressive voters in Maryland who look to you for understanding the issue and leadership. You saw nationwide the impact your words carry after the Tucson Massacre. We need the exact same moral leadership and voice for marriage equality in our struggle. Now is the time, Mr. President, now.

Is Pawlenty counting on a homophobic backlash to sweep him into the Oval Office?

crossposted on Holy Bullies and Headless Monsters

Perhaps I am being too paranoid but it's obvious to me that former Gov. Minnesota Tim Pawlenty is counting on history while making his presidential bid.

Remember, it was the backlash against the civil rights movement (some unfairly grouped it with the excesses of the 60s) which led to Nixon's Southern Stategy and subsequently his election as President in 1968.

With the recent victories of the lgbt community over those who would deny us our equality (i.e. the repealing of DADT, overturning the law against gay adoption in Florida, overturning of the Prop 8 vote), some may think that a backlash against us is inevitable.

How else can one explain Pawlenty's recent moves? Last week while on the tour of his book, Pawlenty talked with Bryan Fischer of the American Family Assocation. Fischer has been called out numerous times for his vicious anti-gay comments, including claiming that lgbts formed the building blocks of the Nazi Party.

However, Pawlenty didn't address Fischer's homophobia because he was too busy cozying up to him, even to the point of promising to reinstate DADT should he be elected as president.

Today, Pawlenty took his wooing of the anti-gay forces a bit further. According to People for the American Way's Right Wing Watch:

Pawlenty will continue to court anti-gay leaders by meeting with Iowa’s Bob Vander Plaats and his organization, The Family Leader. Vander Plaats told the Des Moines Register that his group will be “hosting Governor Pawlenty in Iowa” in early February to discuss “pro-family issues, all the way from life and marriage to economic policy and energy policy.”


After losing the race for the Republican nomination for governor, Vander Plaats became a leader of Iowa’s Religious Right after he coordinated a successful campaign to block the retention of three Iowa Supreme Court justices who supported the Court’s unanimous ruling to legalize same-sex marriage. Vander Plaats, who a former aide said is “obsessed with the gay marriage issue,” has since called for the removal of the entire Supreme Court because of the Court's decision in favor of marriage equality. The Family Leader is the parent organization of Marriage Matters, the Iowa Family PAC, and the Iowa Family Policy Center, an organization that attacks “the public health crisis of same-sex activity” and tells church groups that they can “protect your children” from “homosexual activists.”

It's too early right now to see if Pawlenty's efforts will yield any fruition, but it is safe to say that for the 2012 Presidential election, he considers the lgbt community to be food on the menu.

Alabama Gov: Only Christians Are My Brothers And Sisters

Well this guy's off to a great start if he's trying to convince anyone that Alabama's moving into the 21st century. (TPM):

Speaking on Martin Luther King Jr. Day in the very church where Dr. King once pastored, new Alabama Gov. Robert Bentley gave a speech in which he said that those who have not accepted Jesus Christ as their savior are not his "brothers."

Bentley spoke at the Dexter Avenue King Memorial Baptist Church in Montgomery just minutes after taking the oath of office on Monday. The new governor, who has been a deacon at First Baptist Church in Tuscaloosa, first said that though he ran as a Republican, once he took office he "became the governor of all the people."

"I am color blind," Bentley said, according to The Birmingham News.

But Bentley then said that only those who are Christians and "saved" like he is are his brothers and sisters.

His response to the public blowback? It sounds familiar...

Asked by The Birmingham News afterwords if his words where meant to insult other faiths, Bentley said, ''We're not trying to insult anybody."

This clip from Rachel Maddow features Bentley (@2:04), as well as Maine Gov. Paul "Kiss My Butt" LePage...

Senator Gillibrand stumps for Marriage Equality on The View

New York's Senator Kirsten Gillibrand cause a stir yesterday calling "marriage equality" one of the main issues she wants to work on in the time leading up to her 2012 election. It was made note of at Towelroad, Good As You, JoeMyGod, and Freedom to Marry blog.

Tacking away from economic issues she says:

"But there are other issues, I also want too work on marriage equality. I want to make sure everyone in this country can be married to the people they love."

The comment is met with great applause by the studio audience and even a affirmative head bob from View Co-host Sherri Sheppard, who has had a rocky relationship with the gay community, on the issues of Prop 8 and HIV. Sherri? We embrace your evolution.

Let's also hope this is a sign that Gillibrand may be ready to join fellow New Yorker Jerry Nadler's House effort to repeal the Defense of Marriage Act. Nadler introduced H.R.3567 - Respect for Marriage Act of 2009, that would repeal DOMA in full. More on this bill here from Evan Wolfson, Executive Director of Freedom to Marry. The Senate could use a champion on this issue as no one ever introduced a Senate companion bill.

While it's probably true that actual chances for repeal of DOMA are remote in the 112th Congress (to understate it), that doesn't mean we can't work to shore up support and sponsors, so it can move more quickly when the time is right (2013?).

And of course, there is the unofficial bully pulpit Gillibrand holds in the Empire State. LezGetReal is reporting that State Senator Tom Duane intends to file the marriage equality bill "within weeks" and push for a vote by June. Melanie Nathan says Hopes are High for Marriage Equality in New York:

However, now Duane and other marriage equality supporters believe with the election of Gov. Andrew Cuomo, his call for the legalization of same-sex marriage in his State of the State address earlier this month and his appointment yesterday of Erik Bottcher, New York City Council Speaker Christine Quinn’s liaison to the gay community, to a newly created cabinet post, the dynamic has changed to their favor.

They also see Cuomo’s poll numbers as a big plus for their cause... 68% of New Yorkers say they trust him to do the right thing for the state.

“I think the governor is starting in a strong political place with the people on his side and the wind at his back,” said Ross Levi, executive director of the Empire State Pride Agenda.

We can press this new cabinet member, Bottcher, to also make sure that the GENDA bill moves forward this year. Offering discrimination protection to the trans community, the New York Assembly passed it last session, only to have it killed in the Senate. Washington Blade reported Jan 13:

Ross Levi, executive director of the Empire State Pride Agenda, said the “political dynamic remains very promising” for passing a same-sex marriage bill as well as a transgender civil rights bill in New York.

Gillibrand is distinguishing herself as a real fierce advocate and a real star in the Senate. The entire segment is available here. She gave a report on her visit to her friend Rep. Gabrielle Giffords, calls Sarah Palin's remarks after the Tucson incident "not helpful" and "inappropriate." She shows in this, and her recent Daily Show appearance, a real charisma for mass market TV appearances. Hopefully we'll see more of this. She is also credited with helping Senior Senator Chuck Schumer evolve into supporting marriage equality. She's a very good one to have in our corner.

Certainly, there are few people in the Empire State that won't pick up the phone when their assistant says, "Senator Gillibrand on line one."

And, if history's any indication, few people will hang the phone up unpersuaded.

It's a good news week for marriage equality all around. Good news comes from a Daily Kos commissioned poll on this issue. Results showed that "conventional wisdom" that marriage equality is a loser with racial minorities seems to be in question. In other news, the Supreme Court of the US told foes of marriage equality in DC they can stuff it. They rejected their challenge to the law, and request that marriage equality be put up to a popular vote via ballot initiative. More details here.With the gays winning big Sunday Night at the Golden Globes, Maggie Gallagher and her friends at NOM must have their hands full in damage control this week. Isn't that shame?