LGBTQ news and entertainment
Absolutely Fabulous stars Jennifer Saunders and Joanna Lumley follow up their Olympics-themed comedy special with a real-life relay through the streets of London jointly carrying the Olympic flame.
Saunders and Lumley were dressed as their beloved AbFab characters Edina and Patsy, respectively, but in the official Olympic white uniform.
AbFab‘s latest special episode, Olympics, premiered in the U.S. last night on Logo.
A fairly new advertisement from Target shows two grooms embracing with the caption, “That’s Love” promoting Target’s gay-inclusive wedding registry. And it’s being praised by LGBT bloggers.
“Target’s Same-Sex Wedding Registry Ad Is Kinda Awesome,” was the headline on The New Civil Rights Movement.
“Clearly Target’s trying to send us a message,” wrote Instinct magazine. “And we’re receiving it loud and clear.”
The New Civil Rights Movement reports that the wedding registry ad was released in June but is only now getting attention. Similar ads with the “Be Yourself, Together” tagline show straight couples.
Nice. Phrases like “fag scum” and “faggot marriage” must be lovely language to use around your children as you chow down at Chick-Fil-A.
Class act there, Southwest Tea Party…
From TMZ: “Big Brother” villain Willie Hantz was arrested on suspicion of drunk driving this morning … just DAYS after he was kicked out of the “BB” house for attacking one of his co-stars.
According to law enforcement, Hantz was arrested in Lafayette Parish, Louisiana at 2:07 AM for OWI — operating a vehicle while intoxicated. Hantz is from Louisiana.
Hantz was kicked out of the BB house on July 20 after attempting to headbutt Joe during a heated exchange.
In his mug shot, 34-year-old Hantz is still sporting the mohawk haircut he gave himself while inside the “Big Brother” house.
Hantz is the younger brother of “Survivor” villain Russell Hantz.
Hantz is still in custody.
It was just a little over two weeks ago when President Obama said this:
Obama: “Pass a bill extending the tax cuts for the middle class, I will sign it tomorrow.”
Senate Democrats voted pretty much down party lines Wednesday to extend the Bush tax cuts for everyone but individuals making $200,000 or more and couples making more than $250,000. As the LA Times reports:
LA Times: “Democrats believe Wednesday’s action will shift the debate in a Congress … giving momentum to Obama’s proposal – and drawing a contrast with Mitt Romney …”
Virginia Democratic Sen. Jim Webb and Connecticut Independent Sen. Joe Lieberman joined their Republican colleagues in the 51-48 vote which came after a vote to extend tax cuts for everyone was rejected 45-54. On the Senate floor Majority Leader Harry Reid said giving tax breaks to the wealthy would be wasteful.
Reid: “Republicans should not force middle-class families off their fiscal cliff to protect more wasteful giveaways to millionaires and billionaires.”
Interestingly, Vice President Joe Biden presided over today’s vote but due to Senate rules was not allowed to engage the debate. Minority Leader Mitch McConnell drew laughs from his GOP colleagues when he noted that Biden supported extending the Bush tax cuts for everyone back in 2010.
McConnell: “So be grateful, I say to my friend, the vice president — this is a debate that I don’t think you would want to lead.”
The bill is now on its way to the Republican-controlled House where it is expected to be voted down sometime next week. Public Radio International’s Todd Zwillich calls Wednesday’s vote symbolic and says it is really all about the November presidential elections.
Zwillich: “This is what the election is about. It really is about Democrats’ and Republicans’ competing visions for how to re-order income distribution after the election.”
When the Bush tax cuts first expired in 2010, President Obama had also called for ending them for the wealthiest Americans. In the end, GOP opposition resulted in a two-year extension for everyone.
Via Newsy
CNN reports that British Prime Minister David Cameron held a special dinner for LGBT activists at his official residence, and made remarks that reaffirmed his much-publicized support for marriage equality — just one day before meeting with Mitt Romney.
“I think marriage is a great institution – I think it helps people to commit, it helps people to say that they’re going to care and love for another person,” Cameron said at the dinner. “It helps people to put aside their selfish interests and think of the union that they’re forming. It’s something I feel passionately about and I think if it’s good enough for straight people like me, it’s good enough for everybody and that’s why we should have gay marriage and we will legislate for it.”
Cameron has also argued that conservative ideology inherently supports marriage equality, saying last October, “Conservatives believe in the ties that bind us; that society is stronger when we make vows to each other and support each other. So I don’t support gay marriage despite being a Conservative. I support gay marriage because I’m a Conservative.”
I’m wondering if Mitt Romney will now question if Cameron is a true conservative…?
Via Towleroad
I’m thinking we can use some election year humor. And I love me some Zach Galifianakis…
Warning – some NSFW material here.
Movie description: In The Campaign, when long-term congressman Cam Brady (Will Ferrell) commits a major public gaffe before an upcoming election, a pair of ultra-wealthy CEOs plot to put up a rival candidate and gain influence over their North Carolina district. Their man: naïve Marty Huggins (Zach Galifianakis), director of the local Tourism Center. At first, Marty appears to be the unlikeliest possible choice but, with the help of his new benefactors’ support, a cutthroat campaign manager and his family’s political connections, he soon becomes a contender who gives the charismatic Cam plenty to worry about. As election day closes in, the two are locked in a dead heat, with insults quickly escalating to injury until all they care about is burying each other, in this mud-slinging, back-stabbing, home-wrecking battle that takes today’s political circus to its logical next level. Because even when you think campaign ethics have hit rock bottom, there’s room to dig a whole lot deeper.
The anti-gay Eugene Delgaudio wants you to show support for Chick-Fil-A by buying their stock.
Except the company is privately owned. No stock to buy.
Fail.
Via JoeMyGod
The Commission on Presidential Debates announced dates, times, locations and formats of this election cycles debates. They will be as follows:
First presidential debate (October 3, 2012, University of Denver, Denver, CO)
The debate will focus on domestic policy and be divided into six time segments of approximately 15 minutes each on topics to be selected by the moderator and announced several weeks before the debate. The moderator will open each segment with a question, after which each candidate will have two minutes to respond. The moderator will use the balance of the time in the segment for a discussion of the topic.
Vice presidential debate (October 11, 2012, Centre College, Danville, KY)
The debate will cover both foreign and domestic topics and be divided into nine time segments of approximately 10 minutes each. The moderator will ask an opening question, after which each candidate will have two minutes to respond. The moderator will use the balance of the time in the segment for a discussion of the question.
Second presidential debate (October 16, 2012, Hofstra University, Hempstead, NY)
The second presidential debate will take the form of a town meeting, in which citizens will ask questions of the candidates on foreign and domestic issues. Candidates each will have two minutes to respond, and an additional minute for the moderator to facilitate a discussion. The town meeting participants will be undecided voters selected by the Gallup Organization.
Third presidential debate (October 22, Lynn University, Boca Raton, FL)
The format for the debate will be identical to the first presidential debate and will focus on foreign policy.
All debates will be moderated by a single individual and will take place from 9:00-10:30 p.m. Eastern Time. There will be no opening statements and two-minute closing statements in all the debates. In all the debates except town meeting, the CPD recommends that the candidates be seated at a table with the moderator. Moderators will be selected and announced in August.
