News 8/17/10

(I have an idea. Why don't we all just wait a little longer?)

• The Ninth Circuit Court of Appeals has extended Judge Walker's stay to give a three-judge panel time to consider whether Prop8 proponents have Article III standing to appeal the case. The hearing is scheduled for December 6th.  CNN refers to California's marriage amendment as "controversial." Taking away people's civil rights is now "controversial." Whew!

• German High Court rules that country's tax laws should treat gay and straight couples the same.

• Teeny borough in Pennsylvania enacts LGBTQ protections.

• Zsa Zsa has had enough, intends to die at her Bel Air home.

News 8/01/10

(Today in orange turtlenecks and fabulous hair: Official White House portrait of Betty Ford. Thank you 1974, you've made my day.)

• Chelsea Clinton's marriage to Marc Mezvinsky recognized by Federal Government. That must be nice. Gown by Vera Wang.

• President Obama's accomplishments are "not bad," but he recognizes the country still has a long way to go.

• Things get hot on the International Space Station as astronauts attempt to fix their coolant system.

• You can still go to jail for being gay in 75 countries, survey reveals. A mere seven nations execute us. Isn't progress wonderful?

• Have you walked down the street holding hands with someone of the same sex today?

News 7/26/10

(95 Theses updated to include some basic human rights. Thanks Lutherans!)

• Lutherans decide that gay people aren't so icky after all, ordain seven pastors. "...all people are loved unconditionally by God."

• Samuel Steward's life as a tattooist, writer, researcher and sexual outlaw brought to the page in Justin Spring's new book. Gay before there was even a word for it.

• Wikileaks gushing sensitive information annoys several big governments.

• Catholic Church still annoyed at revelations of gay priests in the heart of Rome.

• (Today's news update is brought to you with an enormous hat tip to Dr. Snickerdoodle.)

News 7/25/10

(Today in breakfast: The Ulster Fry)

• Harry Reid and Dan Choi share a manhug onstage at the Netroots Nation conference in Vegas. Reid promised recently discharged Choi that DADT repeal will pass. Unless we'd rather have ENDA.

• (Via Towleroad) All forward motion on gay rights depends on how well the Democrats do in the mid--terms.  How uneasy I feel.

• That's enough news for this morning. What are you having for breakfast? Bloody Marys, mimosas? Eggs, waffles, fruit? Something porky?  It's Sunday and the world still rolls merrily along.

News 7/22/10

(Today in mustaches and Edwardian attire: David Lloyd George in 1908, Chancellor of the Exchequer and future Prime Minister of the United Kingdom.)

• Kosovo independence upheld by International Court of Justice. Russia, China and Spain not happy.

• All--around fabulous guy Desmond Tutu announces retirement. I'll drink a toast to Tutu tonight, won't you do the same?

• House votes today on Senate unemployment extension. President expected to sign. Christian Science Monitor answers some frequently asked questions, or FAQ's to you young 'uns.

• Queers get consultative status at United Nations. President Obama describes the victory as bringing "the United Nations (...) closer to the ideals on which it was founded, and to values of inclusion and equality to which the United States is deeply committed." Isn't that nice?

News 7/07/10

(Here's the 1923 Oklahoma State wrestling team. Just because.)

If civil unions are a fair compromise for gay people who seek marriage equality then why did Hawaii's shetbag governor veto her state's civil union bill? Up yours Linda Lingle.

UK's highest court rules that gay asylum seekers may stay in Britain.

NBC "Modern Wedding" show says gay couples need not apply.

Richard W. Thorington Jr. and Katie Ferrell have written "Squirrels: The Animal Answer Guide" and it turns out the little creatures engage in deception, tactical problem solving and kissing. Could the damn things be any f*cking cuter?

"Don't have sex. Sex is for married people."

For fans of "Shoes," here's Text Message Breakup:

Lyrics NSFW

News 7/03/10

( "OK fine, we'll call him 'His Majesty, the King' rather than 'that putz.'")

• Even though the Flaming Chef did not win the Freedom to Marry blog contest I would like to thank you all for your well wishes, votes and support. I think I owe you all a drink, don't I? Congratulations to Natsha Dillon, Zack Ford and Zack Rosen.

• Oil tanker flips over in Democratic Republic of Congo. At least one of the people who tried to collect the oil was smoking so the damn thing exploded, killing 230 people and injuring almost 200 more. I know smoking is glamorous and irresistible but please quit.

• Indian LGBTs in Dehli celebrate a year of not being criminals.

• Jonathan Rauch thinks we should compromise on Marriage Equality and allow the people to decide whether or not I have equal rights. Up yours Jonathan Rauch.

• On this weekend when we celebrate what a jerk King George III was, let's all remember the things that matter: Meat! Booze! and some other third thing!

News 6/22/10

(Today in hair, makeup, clothing, opera gloves, cocktails and astonishing attitude: Bette Davis as Margot Channing. "That's me just an old kazoo and some sparklers.")

• Turns out gay guys are better at remembering people's faces because we use both sides of our brains. Just like women, thank you very much.

• Itty Bitty progress at a glacial pace helps conservatives rally against real change for GLBTQ's. Just a teeny bit frustrating. We need commitment and follow - through from this Administration, and I'm just not seeing it.

• Gulf rig owner complains that six - month drilling ban "seriously impedes our ability to destroy the planet."

• "Maybe I shouldn't have called my boss and idiot who doesn't know his ass from a hole in the ground?" Gen. Stanley McChrystal regrets some of his recent comments ahead of meetings with the very people he yakked about.

• Only five days left to vote for The Flaming Chef (Jason Zenobia). Thanks to all of you who have already voted in the Freedom to Marry Blog 4 Equality contest! Go vote again for The Flaming Chef (Jason Zenobia). Not once, not twice, but once every 24 hours until and including the 25th.

Morning News 4/28/10

Got any spare change man? IMF close to working out Greek aid deal worth €120 billion.

Congratulations! Chicago Rep. Deb Mell plans to marry Christin Baker.

Senate Foreign Relations Committee advances bill recognizing gay rights as human rights.

Calls for an Arizona boycott grow as nation reacts to that state's icky new law.

(Public Domain image of Louis Dewis's 1916 painting "The Old Begger" via Wikipedia.)

Morning News 4/03/10

To paraphrase Bart Simpson: "Easter is a time when people of all faiths get together to worship Jesus Christ." Obama urges us all to come together in a "shared spirit of humanity."

Angels, I have a job for you: Actor John Forsythe shuffles off this mortal coil at age 92.

Paula Brooks over at Lez Get Real tells us that Gay rights protections in Salt Lake City are just the beginning of LGBTQ rights in Utah.

The Food police are determined to make Easter less fun, for your own good. A man who runs a string of weight loss camps for children insists that Easter isn't about candy. Good luck, fella.

(Marshmallow Peeps are a product of the Just Born Candy Company from Bethlehem Pennsylvania.)

US State Dept Reports on Global LGBTQ Condition

The Country Report on Human Rights Practices produced by the US State Department, this year took an unprecedented look at the condition of LGBTQ persons in almost every country.

The conditions run the gamut from beheadings and imprisonment all the way up to full marriage equality. Needless to say, full civil marriage equality is not the norm.

A .pdf of the whole report is here.