Quote of the Day

Via Sullivan-

"If we put male hormones in a chicken and we make a homosexual eat it, he will transform into a heterosexual," - Bolivian president Evo Morales, posing a new form of conversion therapy.

Obama orders hospital visitation rights for gays, lesbians

About fracking time.

Washington (CNN) – President Barack Obama has told the Department of Health and Human Services to establish a rule that would not allow hospitals to deny visitation privileges to gay and lesbian partners.

The president's memo Thursday notes that "There are few moments in our lives that call for great compassion and companionship that when a loved one is admitted to the hospital ... Yet every day, all across America, patients are denied the kindnesses and caring of a loved one at their sides ... "

Gay and lesbian Americans are "uniquely affected" by the relatives-only policy at hospitals, Obama said, adding that they "are often barred from the bedsides of the partners with whom they may have spent decades of their lives - unable to be there for the person they love, and unable to act as a legal surrogate if their partner is incapacitated."

Obama requested that the regulation should make clear that any hospital receiving Medicare and Medicaid funding, which mean the vast majority of U.S. hospitals, to allow patients to decide who can visit them and prohibit discrimination based on a variety of characteristics, including sexual orientation and gender identity.

Cartoons of the Day

Two good ones today, so you get a treat. Click to enlarge, via.

Veteran groups resist 'don't ask' repeal

The average age (as of '09) of the VFW is 55-60, for the American Legion it's 70. I'd be interested in finding out if that is dues paying members or just members on the rolls because the numbers just don't seem right. Funny how the commanders were the last word on this subject a couple years ago but now not so much.

The nation's two most prominent veterans groups have come out in opposition to President Obama's plan to end the military's long-standing ban on open homosexuals in the ranks.

The opposition from the American Legion, the largest American veterans group, and the Veterans of Foreign Wars, comes as the White House has begun a push in Congress to repeal the law this year.

Pro-gay groups received a significant boost Tuesday when the U.S.'s highest-ranking military officials, Defense Secretary Robert M. Gates and Adm. Mike Mullen, the Joint Chiefs chairman, told the Senate Armed Services Committee they support ending the gay ban, known as "don't ask, don't tell."

Stiff opposition is expected, and spokesmen for the VFW and the Legion told The Washington Times on Wednesday their groups do not want to see military readiness disrupted while the armed forces are fighting two wars. The two groups have more than 4 million members combined.

Cindy McCain Backs Gay Marriage

Oh my my my. This won't go over well with JD Hayworth.

Justices block broadcast of gay marriage trial

Hmph, actually what they're worried about is that the witnesses will sound and look like bigoted neanderthals.

SAN FRANCISCO - The Supreme Court on Monday blocked a broadcast of the trial on California’s same-sex marriage ban, at least for the first few days.

The federal trial is scheduled to begin later Monday in San Francisco. It will consider whether the Proposition 8 gay marriage ban approved by California voters in November 2008 is legal.

The high court on Monday said it will not allow video of the trial to be posted on YouTube.com, even with a delay, until the justices have more time to consider the issue. It said that Monday’s order will be in place at least until Wednesday.

Opponents of the broadcast say they fear witness testimony might be affected if cameras are present. Justice Stephen Breyer said he would have allowed cameras while the court considers the matter.

Video- Mexico City Lawmakers Approve Gay Marriage Bill

Log Cabin Republicans Blame Democrats

By GottaLaff

Let's see: No Rushpublics voted for same-sex marriage, zero, zilch, none... but it's all the Democrats' fault:

Although today's vote in New York to legalize same sex marriage did not receive a single Republican vote, the Log Cabin Republicans issued a statement blaming Democrats:

"Today we share in the frustration and disappointment that the Senate did not pass the marriage equality bill. We are deeply saddened that the Democratic Conference failed to secure the votes they promised, undermining the possibility of a credible bipartisan vote of conscience on the merits of marriage equality. Winning marriage equality in New York requires the Democrats to keep their promises, and Log Cabin will continue to work to ensure that Republicans vote their conscience when that finally happens."

See, Log Cabinites, that's the problem right there: The Rushpublics have no conscience, so you get zerozilchnonenotasingleno votes, see. Meanwhile, the Dems push for equal rights for all, choice, options, you name it.

So Log Cabinites, you just keep on continuing to work to ensure stuff, and we'll be the ones voting "aye".

Raw Video: New York Senate Rejects Gay Marriage

What a bunch of jellyfish.

Well, so much for the confidence. While gay marriage supporters thought they had the votes, in the end, the vote wasn't so close. 24-38. While several Republicans had promised supporters a vote, they didn't follow through. Not a single one voted "yes". Perhaps they lied to set up supporters of equality for a big fail. Perhaps they just got afraid of being Scozzafava'd in the end.

Interestingly, only one of the opponents spoke in opposition. The rest were cowards, refusing to explain themselves or their votes. They are afraid that video of their bigotry will harm them.

Meredith Baxter announces she's a lesbian

But, but, "Bridget Loves Bernie"**!!

LOS ANGELES, Dec. 2 (UPI) -- U.S. television actress Meredith Baxter told People magazine she is a lesbian and began dating women seven years ago.

Baxter, 62, has been married to three men, but the marriages all ended in divorce. The real-life mother of five adult children is best known for her work on the 1980s sit-com "Family Ties."

"I'm a lesbian mom," she told People, adding that until several years ago being gay "had never crossed my mind."

(snip)

"I was never comfortable with myself," she explained. "That doesn't mean I was questioning."

Baxter went on to say she has been living with building contractor Nancy Locke for the past two years.

"I feel like I'm being honest for the first time," she told the magazine.

**Wow, from the wiki page I find out that BLB was canceled after one season solely because of complaints about the inter religious marriage, and was the highest rated tv show ever canceled.

Miss California pageant gives ad time to gay group

Yeah!!! Princess Jesus Boobies inadvertently did something nice for the Not Opposite Marriage People.

The Miss California USA pageant director who became embroiled in a war of words with former title holder Carrie Prejean has donated 30-seconds of free ad time to the state's largest gay rights group.

(snip)

Keith Lewis, the pageant's executive director, says he would give Prejean the same amount of time if she wanted to provide a pre-taped message.

Lewis, who is gay, accused Prejean of violating her contract when she ignored his advice on how to handle the intense publicity after she said during this year's Miss USA pageant that she was opposed to same-sex marriage.

Headline of the Day

Rhode Island Governor Vetoes Same-Sex Funeral Rights
No dignity, ever, for you!

Video- Gays And Evangelicals Face Off As Fort Worth 'Kiss-in' Gets Rowdy

Kissing is icky. /rolls eyes

FORT WORTH, Texas, Oct. 18 (UPI) -- A Fort Worth, Texas, "kiss-in" organized by a gay action group met with opposing, mostly-evangelical, counter-demonstrators, organizers said.

The two groups Saturday engaged in more shouting through bullhorns than kissing, the Fort Worth Star-Telegram reported Sunday.

"This is the most homophobic place that I've ever lived in. I'm concerned about my safety in the Stockyards and in the rest of Fort Worth. The constant drumbeat of the religious right telling us that we're sinners and deserve to go to hell is more than I can stomach," Joe Remsik, 37, the leader of the Fort Worth chapter of Queer Liberation, said.

Video- The Daily Show: Queer and Loathing in D.C.

The Daily Show With Jon Stewart	Mon - Thurs 11p / 10c
Queer and Loathing in D.C.
www.thedailyshow.com
Daily Show Full Episodes Political Humor Ron Paul Interview

h/t Heather.

White House Official Considers Gays Part Of Internet Left Fringe

Not helpful Rahm, and yes we know it's you. Jane and John both have something to say about this. The whole blogger/pajama/Cheetos axis of blogging is really over btw- I don't own pajamas and I'm not real fond of Cheetos- Chex Mix is much better.

Obama picks openly gay lawyer for ambassadorship

Seems like someone is trying to suck up a little late in the game.

WASHINGTON – President Barack Obama said Wednesday he planned to nominate an openly gay lawyer as the U.S. ambassador to New Zealand and Samoa. If confirmed by the Senate, David Huebner would become the third openly gay ambassador in U.S. history and the first pick by this administration. In a statement released from the White House, Obama said he looked forward to working with Huebner and is confident he will represent the United States well in the Pacific region.

Huebner is based in Shanghai, where he handles international arbitration and mediation cases for a U.S. firm. A graduate of Princeton University and Yale Law School, he is also the Gay and Lesbian Alliance Against Defamation's general counsel and previously served on the group's board.

Video- Ben & Jerrys celebrate Vermont's same sex marriage law

HA! /chris matthews laugh

Same-Sex Marriages Begin in Vermont

Mazel tov! Another personal Vermont story here.

(AP) After 17 years together, Bill Slimback and Bob Sullivan couldn't wait another minute to get married. So they didn't.

With Vermont's new law allowing same-sex marriage only a minute old, they tied the knot in a midnight ceremony at a rustic lodge, becoming one of the first couples to legally wed under a law that took effect at midnight Monday. Vermont is one of five states that now allow same-sex couples to marry. Massachusetts, Connecticut, New Hampshire and Iowa are the others.

Dressed in suits, saying their vows under a large wall-mounted moose head, the two Whitehall, New York, men promised their love, exchanged rings and held hands during a modest 17-minute ceremony. Moose Meadow Lodge co-owner Greg Trulson, who's also a Justice of the Peace, presided.

Senate extends hate-crime protections to sexual orientation

How the hell did I miss this? The Fundies are going to be imploding.

The Senate voted late Thursday night to extend federal hate-crimes protections to people attacked because of their sexual orientation or gender.

In a 62-38 vote, the Senate added the provision to a defense authorization bill that the Senate will continue to debate next week.

Five Republican senators joined Democrats in supporting the bill: Sens. Susan Collins (Maine), Richard Lugar (Ind.), Lisa Murkowski (Alaska), Olympia Snowe (Maine) and George Voinovich (Ohio).

Every Democrat voted in favor of the provision with the exceptions of ailing Sens. Edward Kennedy (Mass.) and Robert Byrd (W.Va.), who were both absent.

The House has already approved similar legislation and President Obama has offered his support.

Hate-crimes protections are now provided only to victims of crime who are attacked because of their race, color, religion or national origin.

Video- President Obama & the First Lady Hold LGBT Pride Reception

So, what do you think, good enough?