Author: Randy Slovacek

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No rapture? No comment.

With no sign of Judgment Day arriving as he had forecast, the 89-year-old California evangelical broadcaster and former civil engineer behind the pronouncement seemed to have gone silent on Saturday.

Camping previously made a failed prediction Jesus Christ would return to Earth in 1994.

In his latest pronouncement, he had said doomsday would begin in Asia, but with midnight local time come and gone in Tokyo and Beijing and those cities already in the early hours of May 22, there was no indication of an apocalypse.

Family Radio officials, with the help of supporters, had posted over 2,000 billboards around the country warning of a May 21 Judgment Day.

Camping, whose deep sonorous voice is frequently heard on his radio network expounding the Bible, could not be reached for comment on Saturday. The shades were drawn and no one answered the door at his house in Alameda, California.

In New York, at least one of Camping’s followers continued to hold out hope Judgment Day would come.

Retired Metropolitan Transportation Authority worker Robert Fitzpatrick, 60, said he spent more than $140,000 of his savings on subway posters and bus shelter advertisements warning of the May 21 Judgment Day.

“God’s people are commanded to sound the warning, to sound the trumpet so to speak so people know,” Fitzpatrick said of his advertising blitz.

He said Camping led him to believe Judgment Day would be May 21, but added that he disagreed with the broadcaster’s prediction it would begin in Asia.

In Fitzpatrick’s view, from his reading of the Bible, Judgment Day would begin around 6 p.m. Eastern Time. He said on Saturday he still had no doubt Judgment Day would come this day. “I wouldn’t even entertain that question because there’s too much proof from the Bible,” he said.
(via AP)

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Solar Energy Project moves forward in Nevada

Senator Harry Reid joined U.S. Energy Secretary Steven Chu Thursday to announce the Department of Energy’s conditional commitment for a loan guarantee for the Crescent Dunes Solar Energy Project in Tonopah.

This is one of the final steps needed to allow the project to break ground, which will create more than 600 jobs in construction and operations. In addition, more than 4,300 direct and indirect jobs in manufacturing, value-added services and transportation will be induced as a result of the project. Sponsored by SolarReserve, LLC, the Crescent Dunes Solar Energy Project will be the first of its kind in the United States and the tallest molten salt tower in the world.

“Today’s announcement is about one thing: creating good paying clean energy jobs right here in Nevada,” said Senator Reid.

“Innovative companies like SolarReserve are helping ensure that Nevada can lead the nation in clean energy production, putting people back to work and pushing America toward energy independence. They deserve all the public and private support we can muster. ”

“Nevada continues to be a leader when it comes to the generation of renewable energy, and this project will not only create hundreds of jobs in the state but will also bring additional clean energy to the region,” said Secretary Chu.

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OUTMUSIC Awards to be held Monday, May 23 in NYC

From the AP: Things are looking up for OUTMUSIC: Its seventh annual awards ceremony next week, honoring artists from the lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender community, will be at its largest venue to date and has drawn big sponsors including Live Nation. But the group’s chairwoman and CEO said there’s more work to be done.

When it comes to mainstream music, “artists are often persuaded to pretend to be straight to get the best opportunity,” said OUTMUSIC chief Diedra Meredith.

Under her stage name, Deepa Soul, she herself was told “to essentially stay in the closet” when signing a recording contract.

Chely Wright, a former country music star who’s to be honored at Monday’s awards show at Irving Plaza, announced last year that she was gay. Wright was ostracized; radio stations stop playing her songs, and she was made to feel like an outsider in the industry.

Wright said it was as almost as if she didn’t exist.

Though she wasn’t thrown out of the Academy of Country Music or had any Country Music Television appearances canceled, she said “I haven’t gotten any invites, either.”

Wright said she knew of the possible consequences when she came out but was still confused by the ordeal because she was the same performer who had enjoyed a successful career since 1994.

At one time, Wright was one of country music’s darlings. She was romantically involved with country star Brad Paisley, whom she credits as one of her two main loves before coming out.

Immediately after her announcement, Wright says OUTMUSIC embraced her and made her feel like she was part of a community again. Now she’s touring in support of her 2010 release, “Lifted Off the Ground.”

Wright is to be given the organization’s Vanguard Award, bestowed on an individual who leads the LGBT community. Cyndi Lauper will be honored as the organization’s person of the year. Jonathon D. Lovitz, host of the Logo series “Setup Squad,” is one of the evening’s presenters. He expects to have some fun with the crowd.

Ray Boltz leads nominees with four nods, including album of the year for “True.” Deepa Soul, Jason Walker and Christine Martucci are scheduled to perform. The show will be broadcast on the Logo Network at a later date.

For more info, click here.

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Rapture Pick-up Lines

Is that a tribulation in your pants or are you just happy to see me?

Am I dead angel? Cause this must be heaven…

Care to see my rapture shelter?

Let’s do it like there’s tomorrow.

Come to Jesus.

We’re gonna be outta these clothes soon anyway…

Game over. Let’s f*ck.

I promise I’ll be gone when you wake up.

So you have herpes – what’s your point?

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Ben Cohen’s “Stand Up Foundation” website launches

ATLANTA, May 20, 2011 — Ben Cohen, MBE, today officially launched the Ben Cohen StandUp Foundation, Inc. and StandUpTM social-commerce brand to help fund it. The Foundation is believed to be the world’s first organisation dedicated solely to the cause of anti-bullying, wherever and to whomever it occurs.

Due to recent high-profile instances of lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender (LGBT) bullying, the Foundation gives particular focus and attention to this community. The announcement was made in conjunction with the Atlanta kick-off of Mr. Cohen’s “Acceptance Tour 2011,” which will continue on to New York, Washington DC, and Seattle.

Click here to visit the site.

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Jury Awards $1.16 Million to LAPD Gay Cop in Job Discrimination Case

A jury on Thursday awarded $1.1 million to a Los Angeles police sergeant and media relations spokesman who said he had been harassed and suffered retaliation after complaining that a supervisor mistreated him because he is gay.

A jury awarded openly gay LAPD Sgt. Ronald Crump $1.16 million Thursday in his civil case against the city of Los Angeles. Crump claimed job discrimination and retaliation by his LAPD management superiors.

In an email after the verdict was read, Crump said that the jurors thanked him for “leading cops.” He wrote:

It was a great dilemma to sue the organization I admire. But my management’s gross decisions adversely effected me and it needed to be challenged – not only for me but all the employees that have been affected similarly. Despite this incident, I still find it a great honor to be LAPD and a contribution to society. I had to trust the justice system and my faith in my actions and failure to waiver in my decisions proved well for equal employment opportunities.

City Attorney spokesman John Franklin said the office is reviewing legal options.

The LAPD has come under recent criticism from the inspector general of the department’s civilian oversight agency. A report found serious shortcomings in the way the department probes officers’ retaliation charges.

The department has promised to increase training for supervisors accused of misconduct.

By the way, did you happen to notice Sgt. Crump is very, very handsome?

Just checking…

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NJ teen claims threats over tea party challenge

From the AP: A New Jersey teenager says she’s received threats since challenging U.S. Rep. Michele Bachmann to a debate over the Constitution.

Ann Myers challenged the tea party favorite in a letter dated April 29. After it started getting media attention last weekend, commenters on tea party websites have threatened to publish her home address and some have threatened violence.

The 16-year-old from Cherry Hill says several commenters have called her a “whore.”

Her father, Wayne, says he’s concerned for his daughter’s safety.

But Cherry Hill Police Lt. William Kushina says anonymous online threats like these are usually empty.

Myers says the Minnesota congresswoman misstates or distorts facts about the Constitution. Bachmann’s office told The Courier-Post of Cherry Hill that it won’t respond to the debate challenge.

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Rhode Island: House passes civil unions bill 61-11

The Rhode Island House has overwhelmingly approved civil unions by a vote of 62-11 after a last-ditch attempt to convert the bill to full marriage equality failed.

The bill now goes to the state Senate, where it is predicted to pass easily.

Gov. Lincoln Chafee has promised to sign it.

Gay & Lesbian Advocates and Defenders, GLAD, are very unhappy with the religious exemption in Rhode Island’s civil unions bill:

Everyone agrees that religious denominations should not be required to join any two people in any legal relationship – whether marriage or a civil union – that is contrary to their religious teachings. However, the religious exemption amendment goes much further in allowing religious charitable and educational organizations – such as social service providers, hospitals, and educational institutions – to treat legal civil unions, authorized under Rhode Island law, as invalid for any purpose.

Karen Loewy, Senior Staff Attorney for GLAD, said “This unprecedented exemption means a civil union spouse could be denied the ability to make medical decisions for her spouse in a hospital; it means that a math teacher at a religiously-based school could not get the same health insurance for his legally recognized partner that all other teachers receive. This exemption actually diminishes nondiscrimination protections in public accommodations and employment that Rhode Island employers and institutions have successfully lived with since 1995. It just inflicts gratuitous harm on Rhode Island’s gay and lesbian families.”

I realize there are many who are disappointed at the lack of a full marriage equality bill moving forward, but I believe the Speaker of the House, who said the votes weren’t there for full marriage equality.

I may be naive, but it seems it’s better to leave the fight with some of what you want than nothing.

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People.com editor comes out as transgender

Janet Mock, an editor at People.com and a blogger, told the compelling story of how she came out as a transgender woman — a secret that she’s kept from almost everyone she knows — to writer Kierna Mayo for Marie Claire.

It’s a brief but intriguing story, which will challenge the way you think about the transgender process.

The flight to Bangkok’s Don Muang Airport felt far longer than I’d imagined. It was Christmas break during my freshman year at the University of Hawaii, and I was 18, anxious, and alone. After high school graduation, many of my classmates were throwing big graduation parties and buying new cars. Those kids went looking for good times and great memories, but I was desperately searching for one thing only: a chance to be in the right body for the first time in my entire life. I had traveled more than 6,000 miles to have gender reassignment surgery — a sex change.

Counting backward as the anesthesia took hold, I surrendered to what I believed with certainty would be a better future. And then, just like that, I was awake again. The sound of Muslim prayers rang through the air, echoing in my brightly lit hospital room. Even though I’d spent the last three hours on the operating table — I could already feel the first tinges of pain in my lower body — I felt completely reborn. Though I had been born a boy to my native Hawaiian mother and African-American father, I would never be a man. It was the birth of my choosing this time. And now it was official: Charles had died so that Janet could live.

I have a thriving career as a Web editor for a very popular magazine. My coworkers don’t know about my past, mostly because I never wanted to be the poster child for transsexuals — pre-op, post-op, or no op. But the recent stories about kids who have killed themselves because of the secrets they were forced to keep has shifted something in me.

Read about Janet’s journey by clicking here.