Marriage already redefined…
Friday photo finish: Shirtless Navy freshmen show teamwork
Every year the Annapolis Naval Academy freshman class, better known as Plebes, must climb a monument covered in lard to retrieve the Plebian Sailor’s hat and replace it. Just take a look. More pics here.
CA: Judge rules DOMA unconstitutional
From The Advocate: A federal judge in California has ruled a section of the Defense of Marriage Act unconstitutional in a case brought by a group of public employees whose same-sex spouses were denied long-term care insurance.
U.S. District Judge Claudia Wilken ruled late Thursday that Section 3 of DOMA, which bars federal recognition of same-sex marriages, violates the equal protection rights of the couples who sued both the federal government and the state’s California Public Employees’ Retirement System (CalPERS).
In granting summary judgment to the public employees, Wilken ruled that DOMA and a provision in the federal tax code “are constitutionally invalid to the extent that they exclude Plaintiff same-sex spouses and registered domestic partners from enrollment in the CalPERS long-term care plan.”
Maryland: Support for same sex marriage surges
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Rachel Maddow points out that support for marriage equality in Maryland has taken a 36-point jump among African-Americans since President Obama declared his support for equality.
Follower of Pastor “Put homosexuals behind a fence” Worley defends position
OMG! You have to watch this interview with Anderson Cooper and Stacey Pritchard of North Carolina Pastor Worley’s congregation.
She somewhat incoherently defends Pastor Worley’s desire to put homosexuals behind an electrified fence.
She starts out saying “of course he would never want that to happen” then diverts to “being taken out of context” to “this is 2012 – that doesn’t happen.” Even with Anderson Cooper saying “this IS happening in Iraq and Iran.”
Fascinating. Seriously. This is what “hate” looks like in America.
CNN’s Brooke Baldwin asks Tony Perkins: “Why do homosexuals bother you so much?”
Brooke Baldwin asked Tony Perkins, of the certified hate group Family Research Council, to clarify what about same-sex couples deserved to be “less valued” by society. Perkins noted that he did not discount that there were loving same-sex couples raising children, just as there were loving single mothers doing the same. “If it were just two caregivers, three would be better!” he noted, but instead it was about a “fundamental role” a man and a woman had in a family.
Baldwin asked him whether his experience had corroborated that belief: “Have you ever been to the home of a same-sex couple?” Perkins answered in the negative, and refused to argue what he would tell that hypothetical couple to convince them their lifestyle was hurting society. “We don’t make public policy based on what is good for me… not anecdotes or what one couple likes.” As a society, Perkins asserted, “we have incurred a great harm.”
“I know you don’t want to answer the question,” Baldwin asked, patience wearing visibly thin, “but I’m going to try again: why do homosexuals bother you so much?” “They don’t bother me!” Perkins replied, asserting again that he was “not going to be silent while they try to redefine marriage in this country.”
You’ll note how many times Perkins says the phrase “social science has shown us” that kids do better with two, opposite sex parents. The fact is quite the opposite: children raised by lesbian parents fare as well as they would in heterosexual households, new research suggests.
(source)
Growth of government spending slowest in 60 years under President Obama
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Mitt Romney says federal spending has accelerated under President Obama.
Actually, the facts bear out something quite the opposite: Federal spending under President Obama grew at the slowest pace in 60 years. Click on the pic above to see rate of spending under the last 8 administrations.
From Politifact:
Obama has indeed presided over the slowest growth in spending of any president using raw dollars, and it was the second-slowest if you adjust for inflation. The math simultaneously backs up Nutting’s calculations and demolishes Romney’s contention. The only significant shortcoming of the graphic is that it fails to note that some of the restraint in spending was fueled by demands from congressional Republicans. On balance, we rate the claim Mostly True.
Poll: President Obama leads in three important swing states
President Obama holds a narrow lead in three important swing states, according to new polling from NBC News and Marist College. But the polls also indicate Mitt Romney is well within striking distance in each state.
The Marist polls show Obama at 48 percent in all three, while Romney trails by just a few points in each.
Here’s the rundown:
Florida: Obama 48, Romney 44
Ohio: Obama 48, Romney 42
Virginia: Obama 48 , Romney 44
Obama has a significant edge when it comes to favorability. The measure, which is more based on personal attributes than job performance, shows at least half of voters in each state rate the president favorably.
Romney, meanwhile, is in negative territory in Ohio and Virginia, suggesting he has some ground to make up when it comes to his personal brand.
Anti-gay Family Research Council attacks Target for pride t-shirts
From Queerty: Tony Perkins of the Family Research Council has released a statement attacking Target’s inclusive gesture of selling gay pride t-shirts through the Target online website:
“Target’s slogan is “expect more.” And when it comes to their politics, Americans do… One of America’s biggest companies isn’t just named Target–it’s becoming one. Starting May 20, the mega-chain’s introducing a new line of same-sex “marriage” merchandise that says, “Love is love.” Target promises to donate 100% of the profits to a national homosexual group – but they don’t specify which one.
Retail analyst Britt Beemer says that Target’s strategy isn’t “very smart,” especially in conservative states, where it does the biggest business. “Anytime a retailer gets away from doing what they should be doing by being involved in a social cause, [they] lose.” The company said it wanted to “resonate beyond fashion.” But if they’re looking to resonate with Americans, they ought to try defending marriage. According to voters, the country’s still very opposed to redefining it. Let Target know that its agenda isn’t your style. Log on to target.com, scroll down, and click “Contact Us.”
Not sure if Perkins is being disingenuous or just illiterate —Target has clearly stated proceeds from the shirts will benefit the Family Equality Council, which supports LGBT families (a favorite target of FRC).
Also, the shirts — which are only available online—don’t say anything about gay marriage or even LGBT rights: The innocuous slogans, like “Love is Love,” “Harmony” and ‘Pride,” could mean almost anything. Which I’m certain that’s how Target planned it.
If you feel so inclined – check out the t-shirts on Target’s website by clicking here.
Elton John hospitalized
Elton John has been hospitalized for a serious respiratory infection and it has temporarily derailed his concerts … according to TMZ.
Elton checked into Cedars-Sinai Hospital in L.A. at 6 AM Wednesday. John underwent a battery of tests, after which the doctors recommended that he NOT perform for 7 days. He was told he needed “complete rest and antibiotic treatment to prevent damage.”
The singer had to cancel 4 concerts scheduled this weekend in Las Vegas.
Elton tells TMZ, “It feels strange not to be able to perform these ‘Million Dollar Piano’ concerts at the Colosseum … I love performing the show and I will be thrilled when we return to the Colosseum in October to complete the 11 concerts.”
Elton added, “All I can say to the fans is ‘sorry I can’t be with you.”
It appears Elton has been released from the hospital.