Scanner : gay marriage

Transgender Marriage Struck Down By the Great State of Tennessee

Brian Fairbanks — Thu, 14 May 2009 18:08:00 GMT

In November 2007, a man and a woman walked into county clerk's office in Davidson County, Tennessee. Both had driver's licenses identifying them as "opposite marriage people"-- or, in logical land terms, a man and a woman. They were quickly married and promptly forgotten about by the state...

...until this past March, when a woman named Jo T. Rittenberry was arrested in a different county for assault and fraud. The police determined that she was actually a man and notified the state's marriage board, which this month invalidated the marriage from November 2007. In their announcement to the press, the state said that it doesn't matter if Rittenberry is male or female-- she was born a male, and thus this was a same sex-marriage, which is illegal...

While we strongly disagree with the judgment by the state-- there are more both-sex babies born in this world than people know and there's no valid reason to stop a gay marriage in the first place-- it couldn't have helped that Rittenberry, well... didn't really have sexual reassignment surgery, at least not successfully:

Rittenberry was born a man but identifies as a woman and claims to have had sex reassignment surgery. Although Rittenberry's Tennessee driver's license and Kentucky birth certificate say "female," both the Montgomery County Jail and the clinic where Rittenberry claims to have had surgery insist that Rittenberry is still biologically a man. [The clinic claims no operation was performed, according to the AP.]
"The marriage is real to me," Rittenberry said in a jail interview. "I could care less about the system. I just wanted me and Jeff to be together. He wanted to marry me and I said 'yes.'" [Leaf Chronicle]

Meanwhile, there's this story out of China:

Fu Shitou met Wei Jinhua through his sister-in-law and eventually the two got married. Recently, after three years of marriage, the couple had a doozer of a fight and Wei stormed out. Wei wandered the streets of Zhechuan in China until, by a series of unfortuate misadventures, she was picked up by police and strip searched! Hmm, that’s when the police discovered Wei was a he and not a she! Oh dear, I don’t know who broke the news to Fu but he was just as surprised as the police. Fu later confessed he had never had sex with his wife. OK, surely the fact that the toilet seat was never down…???? [Friggin' Loon]

Yes, if you're not going to ever consummate the relationship, you should at least peek at her when she's in the shower to find out for sure...

Seriously, though, we don't know what to make of either of these stories... more via the Nashville Post.

Australian Family Association in Desperate Need of Vibrators

Christian Gay Porn Star Going to Hell, But First Will Be Really Really Internet-Famous

This Week in Gayness: McDonald's Hates Gays... Again

Second Carrie Prejean Topless Photo Released... Will This Nightmare Ever End?

This Week in Gayness: McDonald's Hates Gays... Again

Brian Fairbanks — Fri, 08 May 2009 18:45:00 GMT

Wal-Mart CEO Mike Duke just gave us another reason to hate his awful company-- he signed a petition to ban gay adoptions in Arkansas.

A gay porn star attending college has received a reported 150 hate e-mails from so-called "good Christians."

Bigots like Rick Warren and Sarah Palin are among Time's 100 Most Influential People.

Moron Republican Congressman Steve King thinks gays wouldn't get "bashed" so much if they just stopped acting so gay (never mind that many hate crime victims are straight people mistaken for homosexuals.) Jon Stewart, thankfully, had something to say about this.

Kudos to Britain for banning hatemonger and violence-inciting shout machine Michael Savage from entering their country ever again.

A McDonald's in Kentucky settled with two patrons who were called "faggots" by restaurant staff.

By the way, we heard that the Democratic Governor of New Hampshire might veto the gay marriage bill. Anyone else heard this?

The most trusted Mom(s) in America? Portia and Ellen:

With 31%, Ellen DeGeneres and Portia De Rossi took the top spot. Rounding out the list were Jennifer Aniston (22%), Rachel Ray (20%), Angelina and Brad (18%) and coming in last was Oprah Winfrey with 9%. [Strollerderby]

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This Week in Gayness: Men's Magazines

Apparently, Florida Doesn't Want You to Learn How to Have Great Sex

This Week in Gayness: Gay Conversions Under Attack

You Can Take the Boy Out of Chelsea...

The Gaythering Storm Against Anti-Gay Organization NOM

Miss California's Dad: "All Men With Moustaches Are Gay"

Colleen Kane — Thu, 07 May 2009 16:01:00 GMT

We're posting about Crazy Opposite Marriage Lady as often as we did about Crazy Baby Lady in her heyday, but it's because her story keeps getting crazier. TMZ got ahold of Carrie Prejean's parents' 1988 divorce papers, which included gay allegations from both sides, and they provided some insight into her first impressions of the gays, and why she might hate on them today.

Apparently there were a few confrontations in front of Carrie and her sister where mom accused dad of being gay or having a gay roommate. Another time, when the girls were staying with their father, young Carrie's older sister saw his roommate in bed with another man. She wrote at the time in a letter to the court, "I don't think it's right for my sister and I to have to live that way."

Carrie's mother, meanwhile, claimed that her dad told the girls their stepfather was gay, to which he added the helpful clarification, "All men with moustaches are gay." (While that may have been true in the case of Freddie Murcury, it wasn't true in the case of our high-school friend's pervy dad.)

Really, shouldn't her parents' marital mess make her hate opposite marriage?

Apparently the divorce got so ugly even TMZ wouldn't print the details (which may be the most shocking development of all):

For the record, there are other allegations -- absolutely hideous -- in the divorce and custody papers -- which we have elected not to publish.

Related:

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Miss California Carrie Prejean Nude Pics?

Miss California Carrie Prejean Appears In New Anti-Gay Marriage Ad

Crazy "Opposite Marriage" Lady Strikes Back

How To Piss Off Perez Hilton

Maine Becomes The Sixth State to Legalize Gay Marriage... If You Don't Count That Whole California Debacle

Emily Farris — Wed, 06 May 2009 18:34:00 GMT

Today Maine became the fifth state in the U.S. to legalize gay marriage (you know if you don't count that whole on-again, off-again California thing). Governor John Baldacci signed the same-sex marriage bill passed by the state legislature, saying he changed his mind.

Baldacci said he reversed his position on gay marriage after deciding it was a matter of equal protection under the state’s Constitution.

“It’s not the way I was raised and it’s not the way that I am,” the governor said in a telephone interview. “But at the same time I have a responsibility to uphold the Constitution. That’s my job, and you can’t allow discrimination to stand when it’s raised to your level.”

Our super-stylish hat's off to you Governor Baldacci. Now if only New York's Governor Paterson could guide the State Senate toward the rainbow-colored light. Oh, wait...

[New York Times: Maine Governor Signs Same-Sex Marriage Bill]

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BREAKING: Gay Marriage Now Legal in... IOWA?!

The Gay Marriage Debate Rages on in California

Gay Bishop is About to Get All "Gay Bishop" on Your Ass

Miss California Carrie Prejean Nude Pics?

Colleen Kane — Tue, 05 May 2009 14:47:00 GMT

Carrie Prejean, aka Miss California whose implants were paid for by the pageant, aka the Miss USA runner-up who is only in favor of "opposite marriage" and is now a spokesperson for "morality" via National Organization of Marriage (NOM), may be labeled with another few nicknames in the coming days.

According to omg!, six photos of Carrie topless have come to light and could sabatoge her burgeoning career as the pretty face of Christianity.

So far, the lone leaked photo is pretty tame, although we doubt NOM would think so...

(In case it wasn't clear, the photo is from theDirty.com)

Eh. It could be real, could be Photoshopped, but whatevs, this young lady is on the wrong side of history.

Related:

Miss California Carrie Prejean Appears In New Anti-Gay Marriage Ad

How To Piss Off Perez Hilton

A New Book About Sex, Geared For Toddlers And Up

Brian Fairbanks — Mon, 04 May 2009 17:08:00 GMT

Last year, a 1992 book about sex for kids, written by Narelle Wickham, was re-released with little notice.

That's all changed now that Focus on the Family has found out it contains positive messages about same sex marriage, artificial insemination, and a whole host of other "adult" issues. Oh, and it's being marketed for toddlers...

One ad for the book describes it this way:

It includes simple age appropriate descriptions of sexual intercourse, donor insemination, In Vitro Fertilisation and Gamete Intra Fallopian Transfer, as well as pregnancy, birth, adoption, surrogacy, and same-sex parented families. A pioneering book when first published to wide acclaim in 1992, this new edition is now printed in full colour and includes updated content.

That's not how Focus on the Family, America's greatest source of disturbing press releases, sees it:

The controversial publication, Where Did I Really Come From?, also features a drawing of two gay men holding a baby, in a chapter about surrogacy.

The publisher's marketing spruiks the book, which includes in-depth descriptions of sexual intercourse, as suitable to be read to two-year-old children.

"It devalues the traditional family unit and at the very least desensitises us," Focus On The Family spokeswoman Deb Sorensen said.

In a chapter on assisted conception, the book tells children: "Sometimes, a woman really wants to have a baby but she doesn't want to have intercourse with a man. Some women want to bring up a baby by themselves, or with another woman, so the baby gets two mums.

"A woman may go to a doctor who will arrange to get some sperm for her, or a special man she knows may agree to give her some of his sperm."

The book was... relaunched by Learn to Include [publisher of books with positive gay characters and messages.]

Learn to Include's website says the book's "simple, non-judgmental explanations of sexual intercourse, assisted conception, pregnancy, birth, adoption and surrogacy are "suitable for 2-12 year olds". [News.com.au]

The best part of this entire book are these lines:

A woman and a man hug and caress each other, and the woman accepts the man's penis into her vagina. After a while lots of sperm come out of his penis and into her vagina.

Of course, the book does not get into what happens when the man cannot make sperm come out of his penis. Because that would be too much for a two-year-old's brain to process.

Med Student Dies From Legal Party Drug

18-Year-Old Boy Arrested in Most Bizarre Sex Tape Bust Yet

Want A Happy Marriage? Here's the Solution

This Week in Gayness: Men's Magazines

Brian Fairbanks — Mon, 04 May 2009 14:01:00 GMT

For the first time ever, Britain's poet laureate is a woman. Oh, and she just happens to be a lesbian.

If this Dr. Phil show turns out to be as offensive as the participant search comes off, you'll have yet another reason to hate that guy.

This is another one to send hate mail to: Rep. Virginia Foxx, R-N.C., the dumbass who called Matthew Shepard's murder a "hoax" and claims it was a robbery and not a hate crime, has been very vocal about stopping hate crime legislation in Congress. Shepard, you may recall,"was tied crucifixion-style to a fence, repeatedly pistol whipped and left for dead."

The good news is there are fewer known child porn sites on the web. Bad news? They've gotten more disgusting overall.

Here's one for ya: a lesbian was asked not to attend prom hand-in-hand with her girlfriend because it might bring unwanted media attention. When that came because of the principal's ignorant decision, she then tried to enforce a nonexistent dress code demanding both women wear dresses. We're not sure of the result.

India's only homosexual men's magazine has returned.

The next battle in Iowa will be over birth certificates.

And on Iowa's first day of legalized gay marriage, over 300 couples applied for licenses. Let's hope very few of them are nutjobs intent on causing big scenes by trying to marry their dogs or something.

Related:

Apparently, Florida Doesn't Want You to Learn How to Have Great Sex

This Week in Gayness: Gay Conversions Under Attack

You Can Take the Boy Out of Chelsea...

The Gaythering Storm Against Anti-Gay Organization NOM

Miss California Carrie Prejean Appears In New Anti-Gay Marriage Ad

Emily Farris — Fri, 01 May 2009 21:36:00 GMT

VIA THE REMOTE ISLAND: Well, she's certainly not backing down, is she? The commercial is from some group called the National Organization For Marriage and features Miss California's now-famous "no offense" response to Perez Hilton's question. Yesterday the Miss USA runner-up joined NOM to launch the "no offense" ad. This after New Hampshire passed a bill Wednesday to become the fifth state to legalize same-sex marriages. Ms. Prejean, you're only 21 years old and the world is already passing you by...

Read more...

Sloppy Seconds: Get Gay Married in New Hampshire?

Emily Farris — Thu, 30 Apr 2009 22:03:00 GMT

As of this morning, federal officials had confirmed 91 infections of swine flu in 11 states. Time to freak the fuck out, people! [Baltimore Sun]

In her new memoir, Elizabeth Edwards said she vomited after learning of her husband, former democratic presidential candidate John Edwards', affair. [Us]

Liev Schreiber used to resent girlfriend and baby mama Naomi Watts' fame. But he's learned to live with it. [FemaleFirst]

Porn star Joanna Angel talks about how the recession has affected her end of the sex industry. [FlavorWire]

The New Hampshire Senate yesterday voted 13-11 to approve gay marriage. The bill has been sent back to the House for changes and if the bill becomes law, New Hampshire will be the fifth state to allow same-sex marriages. [Boston.com]

Just in time for the first gay American Idol? [Reuters]

[Image]

Sloppy Seconds: Snipped Here, Screwed There

Emily Farris — Mon, 27 Apr 2009 23:18:00 GMT

Do you drunk text even though you shouldn't because it always ends badly? Yeah, so do we. Perhaps that's why we're so amused by Texts From Last Night, a new website that encourages you to submit those drunken texts you sent or received. [TFLN]

A small earthquake hit the Bay Area today. [The Inquisitr]

John Mayer would like everyone to know that he is very single. [Us]

And Miley Cyrus would like you to know that she is not dating Nick Jonas. [People]

Melissa Keeton and Shelly Wolfe were issued the first same-sex marriage license in Iowa today, after the state legalized gay marriage earlier this month. [USA Today]

Some guy we've never heard of is TIME's most influential person of the year. Turns out that though we've never heard of him we were sort-of influenced by him. [TIME]

Watch the trailer for "Partly Private," a documentary about how we view circumcision in the Western World. [Partly Private]

We've probably paid more in fees to Bank of America than we made last year. If you have too, you should tell your story to the SEIU. [ScrewedbyBofA.org]

And that picture had nothing to do with anything in this post. We just thought it was too hilarious to pass up. [Defamer]

Sloppy Seconds: Another Woman We've Never Heard of is FHM's Sexiest Woman in the World

Emily Farris — Thu, 23 Apr 2009 22:32:00 GMT

Waterboarding: Bad. Waterboarding Sean Hannity? Eh. For charity? Ahhh, maybe?No. No. Waterboarding is bad. [Huffington Post]

Vice, most recent employer of the Hipster Grifter, has launched a new series on the Vice Broadcasting System called "Beyond the Pages of Vice." It's basically filming them working on their articles, and the first is a look at the, uh, dangers of mixing aerosol hairspray and fire. No word yet on whether or not the Hipster Grifter or her boobs will make an appearance in future episodes. [VBS]

We were just thinking about switching to a bra without underwires, because, well, we don't have much to hold up. But not now. A Detroit woman's underwire actually deflected a bullet! [2News]

Miley Cyrus may be a bratty little Southerner who loves little baby Jesus, but she also loves the gays (her new fanbase?). [AfterEllen]

Last year, when FHM named Megan Fox "Sexiest Woman in the World," we were all "WTF?", the 'W' standing for "who," of course. We're singing the same song for this year's winner Cheryl Cole. May she find the same, uh, fame as Fox in the coming year. [FHM]

Rhythm Gymnast Swizzles Her Ribbon All Over FHM Magazine

Who Would You Rather: Megan Fox vs. Gemma Arterton?

Megan Fox's Lesbian (Stripper) Love

This Week in Gayness: Boycott Jamaica

Brian Fairbanks — Thu, 16 Apr 2009 19:42:00 GMT

Gawker broke down the Amazon gay scandal.

Nevada Governor Jim Gibbons, who, as we reported earlier this week, is locked in a bitter divorce battle with the state's First Lady, doesn't "believe in" domestic partnership benefits.

A ruling on the legality of Prop 8 could come as early as Monday.

David Paterson introduced the gay marriage bill today in New York.

Has anyone besides us been cracking the hell up about all this "teabagging" business-- and not just because the Republicans are so unintentionally hilarious?

Gay marriage in Iowa has everyone riled up, especially the crazies.

Stop drinking Myers Rum and Red Stripe beer, say the owners of the Stonewall Inn.

An 11-year-old boy killed himself after enduring homophobic taunting in school.

Oh my God! There's a fucking gay elephant! Let's freak the fuck out about it for no reason!

Who Knew There Were So Many California Doctors Against Gay Marriage? [VIDEO]

This Week in Gayness: Matt Drudge Does Not Love Gay Sex With Men

This Week in Gayness: Sacha Baron Cohen's Gay Sex

Gay Bishop is About to Get All "Gay Bishop" on Your Ass

While You Were Sleeping: Blake Fielder-Civil In Trouble Again

Brian Fairbanks — Mon, 13 Apr 2009 13:54:00 GMT

Who cares if it makes us sound like a two-year-old: we can't stop shouting "I want! I want! I want!" when we watch this video about Tweenbots.

It was the biggest Easter box-office of all time, thanks to Hannah Montana topping that dumb car race movie.

First, gay marriage and now sexting will be legal in Vermont?

A good way to figure out how to meet people is to find out how other people are meeting people.

Blake Fielder-Civil apparently knocked up his mistress.

This photo of a woman getting chewed on by a polar bear is scary and one of the strangest we've ever seen in a major news story.

It took long enough: the porn industry is working on a Seinfeld "parody."

A truly awful story keeps getting worse: parents of a ten-year-old who was killed while offroading by a highway are suing the driver who hit her, a man who was already cleared of wrongdoing.

It may be time to attempt an intervention: Suri Cruise is going to attend Scientology school.

And Roger Federer got married.

While You Were Sleeping: If Even Apple Is In Trouble...

While You Were Sleeping: Drunk Breastfeeding

While You Were Sleeping: John Mayer's Penis

While You Were Sleeping: Gay Marriage in New York State?

Brian Fairbanks — Thu, 09 Apr 2009 13:15:00 GMT

This adorable cat is a master clothing thief.

Lindsay Lohan says she's humiliated by her breakup with Samantha Ronson. If we were a hot movie star and Sam Ronson dumped us, we'd be pretty upset, too. Oh, and Ronson denies she took out a restraining order, but anyway...

Our favorite political story of the year so far: "Dead Mayor reelected"

OctoCrazy's inheritance and some overtime funded the in vitro. So now you know how she made all that rent money she burned.

Mounties grow mustaches to support charity-- can't wait for the "After" photos.

Obama congratulated the Tar Heels coach with a phone call from Air Force One.

Are you a habitual job hopper?

This Zac Efron-Vanessa Hudgens Funny or Die video featuring a star-studded cast is well worth your time. Just be careful where you watch it-- there are a few LOL moments.

Gay porn star Jack Wrangler died. He had been married to a woman for many years. The interesting details are here.

Embattled New York State Governor David Paterson said he will introduce a bill to legalize gay marriage. Fingers crossed...

Zac Efron's Sexual Awakening

Zac Efron Mud Wrestles A Nude Model

Shirt of the Day: The New America

Emily Farris — Wed, 08 Apr 2009 22:19:00 GMT

VIA THE MODERN MATERIALIST: Come on America, only 46 more states to go for us to join the progressive ranks of Vermont, Iowa, Connecticut, and Massachusetts in legalizing gay marriage.

This shirt is available as anything (t-shirt, hoodie, mousepad, button, etc.) through Wordboner's store. T-shirts range between $22 and $27, depending on the type of shirt you want (heather, heavyweight, American Apparel, etc.).

[Wordboner]

Related: Things Gay People Like, The Gayness of it All

Dr. Luchador to Anti-Homo Kid: Get Off the Internets

Colleen Kane — Wed, 08 Apr 2009 14:26:00 GMT

Dr. Luchador is a fast-talking mystery man in a Mexican wrestling mask who made a video response to the anti-gay marriage boy who goes by the handle ChristianU2ber and is now being called a homo all over the Internet. The Doctor is saying what a lot of people were thinking: where are the parents of this kid?

Related:

Anti-Homo Kid is a Homo

Turtles are Rapists

Rachael Ray Sex Tape Best YouTube Parody In Ages

Anti-Homo Kid is a Homo

Colleen Kane — Tue, 07 Apr 2009 18:48:00 GMT

I am so very grateful there was no such thing as the Internet when I was a kid. I held some pretty questionable opinions as a youth, such as "McDonald's is good" and "this jacket should be worn inside-out to show its plaid lining, so that it will match nicely with my different plaid pants." So I can't say for sure that I wouldn't have posted incriminating videos that would come back to haunt me not just in the future, but in the present.

Take this 12-year-old boy, who has posted numerous videos of himself on YouTube, one expressing his feelings against gay marriage in which he admits that he "used to be gay" but is now "very interested in girls." The wiseacres who inhabit the Internet have responded with a meme of calling him a homo, and it is decidedly not going over well with this poor young fellow.

First, his inarticulate video explaining why gay marriage is wrong.

And now, his reaction to the allegations.

Godspeed to that young man; he has a long journey ahead.

Related:

BREAKING: Gay Marriage Now Legal in... IOWA?!

Senate Majority Leader to Conservatives Regarding the Gays: You've Already Lost

Colleen Kane — Tue, 07 Apr 2009 17:27:00 GMT

First of all, BREAKING: Vermont has made gay marriage legal!

Next, a new video posted by the Iowa Senate has been burning up the Internets. It features Senate Majority Leader Mike Gronstal responding to Senate Minority Leader Paul McKinley yesterday, the first day the Senate convened following the unanimous decision allowing gay marriage in Iowa.

The money quote in his speech, in which he refuses to join McKinley in a leadership bill to amend the Iowa Constutution and reverse the legalization of gay marriage, comes when he describes his daughter listening to old crusty conservatives discussing gay marriage. She told them, "You guys dont understand. Youve already lost. My generation doesnt care."

Now for that video.

A little dramatic, yes, but also worthy of a slow clap.

Related:

BREAKING: Gay Marriage Now Legal in... IOWA?!

This Week In Gayness: The Coming Out TV Series

This Week in Gayness: Call In Gay Tomorrow

Sloppy Seconds: Michelle Obama Does the Unthinkable

Emily Farris — Thu, 02 Apr 2009 22:41:00 GMT

MSNBC has finally discovered fuck buddies. And that college students have them. [MSNBC]

Will items off of the Chipotle value menu have fewer calories? We sure hope so. [Yahoo!]

We always wonder why people who spend lots of money to have signs, boxes, etc. printed don't get copy editors. An Oregon company probably could have used one before printing a phone sex number on their cereal box. [Google/AP]

Starting next month, same-sex couples can be legally married in Sweden. [BBC]

More "celebrities" blogging about their relationship woes. Meh. [People]

Madonna is already celebrating the adoption of a child she has not yet officially adopted. [Us]

A man in China swallowed a pair of scissors. And survived! [Telegraph]

For the first time in 57 years, the Queen of England publicly hugged someone (sort-of). And that someone was Michelle Obama. And then Obama hugged the Queen back (sort-of)! Apparently, this is a big deal. [DailyMail]

Related:

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Crush of the Week: Kate Middleton, Rollerskating Queen

This Week in Gayness: Sacha Baron Cohen's Gay Sex

Brian Fairbanks — Wed, 01 Apr 2009 15:59:00 GMT

Is Republican hypocrite Newt Gingrich practicing "gay fascism?"

The Freedom to Marry bill, which would finally bring same-sex marriage to Vermont, was greenlit by the legislature and will likely pass. However, it faces a veto from the state's Governor.

Newsweek asks: "Is gay the new black?" We ask, "What took you so long, Newsweek?"

eHarmony "comes out of the closet" to announce their new gay matchmaking service, Compatible Partners.

Kanye West asks us to never question his manhood. No, the other manhood, silly.

An Australian Catholic priest has been banished from the church for blessing gay couples.

We mentioned in an earlier post that Bruno has received an NC-17 rating after its initial showing at the MPAA. Here's why:

Ratings officials are reportedly concerned over several sexually explicit scenes, including one where Cohen's character engages in what appears to be anal sex with another man. Confirming the rating, a spokesperson for movie studio Universal adds, "On its first submission the film did not receive an R (less restrictive rating), but it is far too early to say that there is any struggle to get there as the process is only at its inception."

As we already knew, the scientific community pretty much unanimously agrees the "ex-gay" thing is fake:

The American Medical Association stated, "Most of the emotional disturbance experienced by gay men and lesbians around their sexual identity is ... due more to a sense of alienation in an unaccepting environment. For this reason, aversion therapy ... is no longer recommended."

The American Academy of Pediatrics warned, "Therapy directed at specifically changing sexual orientation is contraindicated, since it can provoke guilt and anxiety while having little or no potential for achieving changes in orientation."

This Week in Gayness: Aubrey O'Day May Be Gay

This Week In Gayness: America vs. Fred Phelps

Moran Stirring Up Controversy By Suggesting We Need To Get Rid Of Obama

Gay Bishop is About to Get All "Gay Bishop" on Your Ass

Emily Farris — Mon, 30 Mar 2009 17:33:00 GMT

Okay, perhaps "on your ass" was a poor choice of words, but V. Gene Robinson, the first openly gay Episcopal bishop who is better known as "the gay bishop" says he no longer rejects the identity and plans to take a lead in the fight over same-sex marriage.

Bishop Robinson, who lives in New Hampshire, believes that the church should simply bless a marriage and not be involved in the legality (Ed note: we agree). He will speak at Emory University in Atlanta tonight as part of the Center for the Study of Law and Religion's 2008-2009 "When Law and Religion Meet" lecture series. He plans to speak about the divide in the church caused by his election as bishop in 2003.

Related:

This Week in Gayness: Being Gay Is A Choice, Say Repuglicans

The Very Best Thing About This Inauguration...

"The Real World: Facebook" or Scanner Emily vs. The Mormons

[CBS Atlanta: Openly Gay Bishop To Speak At Emory]

[Image]

Sloppy Seconds: Portia de Rossi Apologizes for Getting Gay Married

Emily Farris — Thu, 26 Mar 2009 23:01:00 GMT

A court in Los Angeles has issued a restraining order against a man who is apparently obsessed with "Dancing With the Stars" contestant and former Olympic gymnast Shawn Johnson after he tried to break into the set of the show. [NYT]

Newly-single Madonna plans to adopt another Malawian child. [Us]

Nicole Kidman has joined the cast of the new Woody Allen film. [Yahoo!]

Yet another magazine has folded. This time it's the music mag Blender. [AdAge]

Portia de Rossi has publicly apologized for her gay marriage. On the Jimmy Kimmel show, of course. [The Remote Island]

[Image]

This Week in Gayness: Fred Phelps Attacks London

Brian Fairbanks — Tue, 24 Mar 2009 15:01:00 GMT

Australia is regressing into the past more and more every day: in addition to proposing a block on all terrorism-related websites (what, they don't have journalists in that country?), they want to block a lot of gay content.

John Kerry wants to reunite a gay couple. The Massachusetts Senator asked Attorney General Eric Holder to bring back a deported Brazilian man who was raped in his home country. A federal judge had said the rape was basically no big deal and he faced no danger in South America.

Rascal Flatts is telling people their new single, "Love Who You Love," has a pro-gay message.

A London elementary school has been teaching students that it's okay to have homosexual feelings and relationships. The best part of this is that when parents pull their kids from the school to avoid them hearing the lessons, the kids are marked truant. Of course, Fred Phelps heard about this and is bringing the Westboro Baptist Church over there to mess with them.

A federal judge ordered the state of Louisiana to put the names of both adopted fathers on a baby's birth certificate.

Chuck Schumer has finally come out... to back same-sex marriage.

And meanwhile, the Vermont Senate turned their gay civil unions into gay marriages. Woo-hoo!

Related:

This Week in Gayness: Aubrey O'Day May Be Gay

This Week In Gayness: America vs. Fred Phelps

Moran Suggests We Need To Get Rid Of Obama

This Week In Gayness: Sean Penn vs. Schwarzenegger

The Gays Fought The Law, Too Early to Tell Who Won

The Gays Won't Save the Economy Either

Emily Farris — Mon, 23 Mar 2009 19:11:00 GMT

Gay couples don't all live in fabulous bungalows in California, spacious lofts in Chelsea or cozy one-bedrooms in Park Slope. Still, many of us, when we imagine the lifestyles of same-sex coupes—especially those who don't have children—think about all of that disposable income they must have. This dear readers, is the "gay affluence myth."

While it is true that many gay couples in major metropolitan areas are more well off than their straight counterparts, a new study reports that same-sex families, as a rule are poorer.

From the study:

-One in five children living in a same-sex household is poor compared to one in 10 for children in opposite-sex married families.

-Nationally, 24 percent of lesbians and bisexual women are poor compared to 19 percent of heterosexual women.

-15 percent of gay and bisexual men nationally are poor compared to 13 percent of heterosexual men.

The study's authors theorized that gays and lesbians might be more vulnerable to poverty because of discrimination (employment, insurance and other rights and benefits).

[The Desert Sun: Study: Gay families are poorer]

Related:

Gay Marriage is Good for the Economy, Stupid

The Gay Marriage Debate Rages on in California

This Week in Gayness: Aubrey O'Day May Be Gay

Brian Fairbanks — Tue, 17 Mar 2009 17:36:00 GMT

Ha ha-- Ken Starr is now forced to argue "whether it's legal to divest rights from a group of people." In this case, straight, married Californians.

Married Massachusetts lesbians made national news this week when one, clearly intoxicated, attacked the other with a turkey baster allegedly containing the attacker's brother's "sperm," in an attempt to impregnate her by force.

The religious wacko Obama appointed is meeting with Concerned Women for America and the Family Research Council-- guess who they're concerned about?

In a bold move yesteday, 38 graduates of West Point Military Academy came out of the closet to help support the gay movement in the army.

Bob Dylan's new album comes out at the end of April. Until then, we can only stare at that surprising, teasing cover and its already-famous gay kiss.

Nigeria, instead of fighting ripoff artists, wants to focus on punishing married gays and lesbians with three-year prison terms.

There were was an all-inclusive St. Patty's Day Parade in NYC over the weekend.

Aubrey O'Day may have come out of the closet to MTV.

Ending on a positive note as usual, the high school lesbian who was banned from wearing a tux to her prom will get her wish after all.

The Gay Marriage Debate Rages on in California

Moran Suggesting We Need To Get Rid Of Obama

This Week In Gayness: Sean Penn vs. Arnold Schwarzenegger

This Week In Gayness: America vs. Fred Phelps

Brian Fairbanks — Tue, 10 Mar 2009 13:44:00 GMT

Is the fact that many voters know Gavin Newsom as the Mayor who married the gays more likely to help or hurt him with California voters? A former Governor and the current Mayor of Los Angeles both lead the Mayor of San Francisco in early polling.

Equality California and Marriage For All, which works on bringing minorities around to the left's view of the discussion, are working behind the scenes to reinforce any ruling in favor of gay marriage in the state. And, of course, they'll continue to work on equal rights regardless of the outcome.

Meanwhile, the whole Prop 8 nightmare continues:

Justices on the high court appear hesitant to overturn Proposition 8, while also reluctant to invalidate same-sex marriages performed before it passed, legal observers agreed Friday.
The California Supreme Court could decide that there are two kinds of same-sex couples: those who can't get married, and those who already did.

A ruling that upholds both voters' November decision to ban gay marriage and the 18,000 same-sex marriages conducted earlier in California could come off as a safe compromise. But it also promises to keep alive an issue that has split the state as few others have. [CBS]

In non-California news, the Million "Fag" March (their words) will hit Gage Park in Topeka, Kansas on May 30th this year. Topeka, as you may know, is the home of fascist favorite Fred Phelps.

A woman has called 9-1-1 over 500 times in less than two years to complain about a gay Seattle disco's noise pollution.

And two gay twins who left their Vermont restaurant jobs after being "sexually harassed" by the owners, who are also gay, were awarded a mere $1,000 apiece for their troubles.

Related:

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The Gay Marriage Debate Rages on in California

Emily Farris — Fri, 06 Mar 2009 18:14:00 GMT

Yesterday the California Supreme Court met to deliberate on the issue of gay marriage in the state yet again, after the court's May ruling to allow same-sex couples to marry was reversed when voters approved Proposition 8 in November.

The hearing lasted more than three hours and though the seven justices all seemed to agree that the 18,000 same-sex couples who married legally before Prop. 8 passed would remain legally wed, it appears the court may be leaning in favor of Prop. 8

"Here we are dealing with the power of the people, the inalienable right, to amend the Constitution," Justice Joyce Kennard, who voted in favor of legalizing gay marriage in May, said.

What else was heard at the hearing? And what did Kenneth Starr have to say?

"A guarantee of equality that is subject to exceptions by the majority is no guarantee at all."

-Therese Stewart, San Francisco chief deputy city attorney, arguing that Prop. 8 violates equal-rights principles in the state Constitution

"The people established the Constitution. As judges, our power is very limited."

-Justice Joyce Kennard

"Is it for this court to limit the people's power to amend the Constitution?"

-Chief Justice Ronald George

"Proposition 8 does not erode any of the bundle of rights that this state has very generously provided" to same-sex couples.

-Kenneth Starr, lawyer for Protect Marriage, the sponsor of Prop. 8

"If you're in the marriage business, do it equally. If you're not going to do it equally, then get out of the marriage business."

-Michael Maroko, a lawyer for same-sex couples, replying to a question about whether the court should reserve the name "marriage" for religious ceremonies and convert existing civil marriages to civil unions

"It would exceed the power of this court."

-Starr, answering the same question

[SF Gate: Justices seem to be leaning in favor of Prop. 8]

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The Gays Fought The Law, Too Early to Tell Who Won

Emily Farris — Tue, 03 Mar 2009 21:36:00 GMT

Unfortunately, legal gay marriage doesn't always come along with the same rights that straight marriage does. In Massachusetts, eight same-sex couples and three gay widowers are trying to change that by suing the federal government.

According to advocates of gay marriage, even same-sex couples married legally are denied more than 1,000 federal programs and legal protections. This leaves more than 10,000 couples in Massachusetts alone without certain benefits including, from health insurance to retirement and death benefits for surviving spouses.

The suit, filed today in U.S. District Court for Massachusetts, was brought by the same lawyers who led the campaign to legalize gay marriage in the state in 2003.

"As lawyers we look at this as one step at a time," said Gary Buseck, legal director of Gay & Lesbian Advocates & Defenders. "This is really about how the federal government treats Massachusetts marriages."

[Reuters: Married gay couples sue U.S. seeking federal rights]

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[Image]

Sloppy Seconds: Wanda Sykes Says "I Do"

Emily Farris — Tue, 03 Mar 2009 01:11:00 GMT

We usually wait until we have a mid-week lull to watch Flight of the Conchords (On Demand, baby!) but we're going to watch it as soon as we're done writing this post just so we can see the "Garfunkeling" in better quality. Also, why is it that Jemaine is the only one ever getting laid? [Jezebel]

A woman who was pulled over for breast-feeding her baby while driving gave a TV interview about it while breast-feeding her baby. She said the baby wasn't willing to wait for the milk at that time (when she was driving, and apparently also when she was giving the interview). Um, okay. [WLFI]

Umm... Skittles are now Twittering. Taste the rainbow? (Is this how Twitter is going to make money?) [TechnologyExpert]

Jennifer Aniston is still talking about her divorce from Brad Pitt. But to be fair, if we were her, we probably would be, too. [Jossip]

Rumor has it Lindsay Lohan's friends are now on Lilo death watch. [FadedYouth]

Recently-out Wanda Sykes has teamed up with a California non-profit to educate the public on equal marriage. [AfterEllen]

This Week in Gayness: The Homecoming Drag Queen

Brian Fairbanks — Wed, 25 Feb 2009 16:38:00 GMT

Some gay rights bloggers were concerned about the presence of Jerry Lewis on the Oscar stage.

Yesterday marked the 40th anniversary of the Tinker v. Des Moines Independent School District Supreme Court decision, which upheld free speech rights for students. The Gay News blog looks at how much has changed since then (spoiler: nothing.)

According to the Guardian, some evangelicals appear to be growing more receptive to the gays and lesbians in their midst.

More on that Focus on the Family vs. Charlotte, North Carolina story we mentioned last week.

The Log Cabin Republicans are going after that slimy new RNC chairman. Here's hoping for a split.

George Mason University senior Ryan Allen was awarded the title of Homecoming Queen at a sold-out basketball game on Saturday, thanks to his 12-inch heels and infamous local drag queen act.

As we mentioned earlier, Sean Penn was named Best Actor and Dustin Lance Black won the Best Original Screenplay Oscar for Milk. Both made speeches related to the Prop 8 fight in California. Here's a story about Dustin's speech airing in India, where it may have been censored in a rebroadcast of the ceremony.

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