This new HBO film follows John McCain’s 2008 presidential campaign, from his selection of Alaska Governor Sarah Palin as his running mate, to their ultimate defeat in the general election. “Game Change” premieres on March 10th.
Five former NJ Governors support passage of same-sex marriage
Five former governors of New Jersey are on record supporting gay marriage, while sitting Republican Gov. Chris Christie remains opposed.
Democrats Brendan Byrne and James Florio told NBC New York Monday they endorsed efforts in the Legislature to pass it.
“I think the climate is right on a basis of civil rights,” said Byrne, the oldest of the former Garden State governors. “I would ask that the Legislature pass it.”
Florio told NBC New York, “I have no difficulties with it.”
“There are already people living together, as good neighbors and good people and contributing to the economy of this state, and I don’t see any reason why they shouldn’t be able to continue with the blessing of marriage,” Tom Kean said.
Former Govs. Jon Corzine and Jim McGreevey are both on record as supporting gay marriage.
Vanessa Williams on the set of Desperate Housewives
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One word: Gorgeous!
Bette Midler tweeting poems about Newt Gingrich
She’s been tweeting them all day. Check out her Twitter account here.
She credited the poems to “When Pigs Fly” by the great late Howard Crabtree and Mark Waldrop 1990.
Bravo to the Divine Miss M!
Lead sponsor of Washington state marriage equality confident of passage
From the Advocate: Ed Murray, the lead sponsor of Washington State’s marriage equality bill in the Senate, told The Advocate Tuesday afternoon that he expects the measure to pass during a floor vote tomorrow. Twenty-five senators, including two Republicans, have pledged their support as of last week, and they represent the minimum number needed to pass the legislation.
“We believe we have the votes to pass the bill and to defeat any attempt to put it on a referendum,” said Murray, one of six openly gay legislators in Washington. “My guess is that probably towards the end of next week, the bill will be signed by [Gov. Chris Gregoire].”
Washington law mandates a 60-day period after a bill is passed before it goes into effect, which allows anyone in the state to ask for the measure to be put on the ballot. Murray said marriage equality opponents have already pledged to do so the same day the bill would be signed, and said he’s “absolutely” sure they’ll hold to their promise.
“It’s going to be a pretty ugly and tough campaign ahead,” Murray said.
Marriage equality opponents, including the National Organization for Marriage and local antigay groups, have vowed to stop the bill’s passage. NOM has pledged $250,000 to fund primary challenges to any Republican legislator who supports the bill.
But Murray said he’s confident about tomorrow’s vote, and with the help of Washington United for Marriage — the key group working on grassroots support for the measure statewide — the bill will passed into law during November’s election season if it does go to a public vote. If that happens, Washington would be the first state in the nation to pass marriage equality in both the legislature and on a ballot.
Happy Birthday Carol Channing!
My dear, wonderful Carol Channing is 91 today! As the New York Times said in it’s review of the last revival of Hello, Dolly! – “Celebrate her!”
Dori Bernstein’s wonderful documentary on the life and career of Carol – “Carol Channing: Larger Than Life” – opens this weekend in NYC at the AMC Empire (42nd and 8th).
The film also opens in San Francisco at the Landmark Opera Plaza Cinema and Landmark Shattuck Cinemas.
The DVD will be out end of April. AND the film will also air on Showtime sometime soon.
Until then, how about a few choice videos of the singular sensation herself?
School suspends 17 year old cancer survivor for growing hair to donate
A charter school near Flint, Michigan is refusing to make an exception for a 17-year-old leukemia survivor who is growing out his hair to donate to other cancer patients.
Officials at Madison Academy in Burton suspended J.T. Gaskins over a week ago after they determined that his hairstyle violated the school’s policy.
At the age of 8 weeks old, Gaskins was diagnosed Infant Acute Lymphoblastic Leukemia. After years of chemotherapy, he was declared cancer free in 2003.
“I fought cancer my entire life; I’m going to keep fighting this,” he told The Detroit News. “I’m not going to not give back just because my school says no.”
Gaskins’ mother, Christa Plante, launched a petition on Change.org that had over 45,000 signatures by Tuesday afternoon.
“[J.T.] has decided to give back to commerate his Journey and success, and has decided now is the time, to give back, his decision is to grow his hair out and donate to other children and families battling the same fight he did,” she wrote.
“Female students can grow and donate their hair, yet boys cant not, we’re asking for an ammendment to this policy, my son has now been kicked out of school, until he agrees to cut his hair, we are simply asking for compromise and to allow not only my son, but anyone wanting to donate to be allowed to do so, to allow the boys the same rights and freedoms as the girl students.”
New Music: Madonna’s new CD cover art
I hear she’s also performing during some football game Sunday…
Definition: Fox News
Tennessee Sen. Stacey Campfield now says “he’s” the victim
After attacking the rights of the LGBT community with his discriminatory legislation – “Don’t Say Gay” bill in TN – and his unfortunate twisting of facts regarding HIV on the Michelangelo Signorile Show – “HIV came from a gay man having sex with a monkey in the 1980s”), Stacey Campfield was asked to leave a Knoxville restaurant by the owner.
The owner, Martha Boggs, denied service to the Senator for his outrageous political views and statements – which was within her right as a business owner. Bigotry isn’t a “protected class.”
Now the Senator has written on his blog about how he not only allows gays and blacks to rent his properties (see, he’s not discriminatory – he’ll take money from black people too…) but his grandfather sat “with the blacks” in the 1960s (somehow that’s supposed to mean he’s not discriminatory because of genetics?).
From Senator Stacey Campfield’s blog:
“As you may have read I was asked to leave a restaurant in Knoxville because my beliefs did not support the owners beliefs on homosexuality. I had not said anything. I was just standing there waiting for a table when the owner came up and started yelling at me calling me names and telling me they were not going to serve me because of my alleged beliefs saying I hate gays. I said in as calm a way as I could that I don’t hate gays and the things I have said were backed up by the CDC. I offered to send her the links.
“I have been quite open and clear on my beliefs and have backed them up with facts from the CDC and others. Unfortunately some people do not let facts get in the way of their prejudice. [snip] The cries of ‘Ha ha. we showed him!’ fall flat to me. It is not I who lost out. My friends and I still had a good meal. We just gave our money to a more gracious host. What was showed was a lack of professionalism.”