Tim McGraw sings “Live Like You Were Dying” at a recent concert, then kisses the bald head of a woman who has been fighting cancer for 7 months.
(via 99.5 The Wolf)
In concert: Tim McGraw kisses the bald head of cancer survivor
Marriage equality supporters in Illinois: We have the votes
Marriage equality supporters in Illinois believe they have the votes to pass the bill and are ready to do so.
From the Windy City Times:
I have absolutely no doubt we’re going to be done with this by May 31,” said Jim Bennett, Midwest regional director for Lambda Legal. “I believe that this bill is going to pass.”
Bennett declined to give a specific vote count, but said that he expected the bill could be called and passed any day. Rick Garcia, policy advisor for The Civil Rights Agenda, said he thinks the bill has the 60 votes needed for passage in the House. “I believe we’re there,” said Garcia. “The cake is baked. We’re waiting for the icing.”
The bill passed the Senate on Valentine’s Day. House sponsors have since struggled to pull together enough votes to pass it in the House. Illinois Unites for Marriage, a coalition of groups working for the bill, has scheduled a community meeting to update supporters on the bill’s progress and share plans surrounding the vote Wednesday evening.
Illinois Governor Pat Quinn has stated he believes the bill’s passage was “within striking distance,” and has promised to sign the legislation.
(via Towleroad)
NYC: West Village hosts massive anti-hate crime rally
JoeMyGod reports that the NYPD has closed the streets around the LGBT Community Center in the West Village as a massive crowd prepares to step off and march in honor of murdered gay man, Mark Carson.
City Council Speaker Christine Quinn and DOMA plaintiff Edie Windsor were spotted at the front of the march.
All photos via JoeMyGod.
The Candi & Randy Show welcomes Tom Viola of BC/EFA
Listen to internet radio with CandiXRandy on BlogTalkRadio
Candi and Randy welcome the Executive Director of Broadway Cares/Equity Fights AIDS, Tom Viola.
Tom has been at the forefront of HIV/AIDS advocacy for decades, working with the Broadway & theatre community to raise needed funds for a multitude of charities.
In addition, Tom was one of the original producers of the Obie Award winning play “The Night Larry Kramer Kissed Me,” written and starring David Drake.
Among many rave reviews, the New York Times called the play “rivetingly angry, intense, frenetic, frank and touching.”
Tonight, at the Gerard Lynch Theater at John Jay College, David Drake returns to a one night only celebration of his ground-breaking play. He has rewritten the play to include an all-star cast of openly gay theatre actors including Tony Award nominees Robin De Jesús, André De Shields, Rory O’Malley, RENT’s Anthony Rapp, and Tony winner BD Wong.
We talk to Tom about the birth of the play, it’s impact on the LGBT community, it’s relevance two decades later plus other efforts by BC/EFA.
For info about the event tonight, go to BroadwayCares.org
UPDATE: The 20th anniversary performance of David Drake’s solo show raised $66,025 for Broadway Cares/Equity Fights AIDS and Sero Project. Bravo!
Poll: President Obama’s approval rating ticks up in spite of recent politicized news stories
Despite all of the GOP screaming in recent weeks, a new CNN poll released yesterday shows that the president’s approval rating has improved slightly or stayed the same.
According to the survey, which was conducted Friday and Saturday, 53% of Americans say they approve of the job the president is doing, with 45% saying they disapprove. The president’s approval rating was at 51% in CNN’s last poll, which was conducted in early April.
“That two-point difference is well within the poll’s sampling error, so it is a mistake to characterize it as a gain for the president,” says CNN Polling Director Keating Holland.
“Nonetheless, an approval rating that has not dropped and remains over 50% will probably be taken as good news by Democrats after the events of the last week.”
CNN’s poll result mirrors the one released last week by Gallup.
NYC: Accused shooter of Mark Carson “laughed and boasted” of killing to police
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| photo via NYPost/Christopher Sadowski |
The New York Post reports that the man accused of shooting New Yorker Mark Carson in the face at point blank range laughed and boasted about the shooting shortly after being arrested.
“Yeah, I shot him in the head,” sneered Elliot Morales, 33, while “laughing on the ground” when cops were handcuffing him for shooting Mark Carson, 32, early Saturday morning.
Morales today was held without bail on charges of second-degree murder as a hate crime, menacing and two counts of criminal possession of a weapon, court records show.
“Look at these faggots,” said Morales, who was accompanied by two friends, according to police.
“What are you, gay wrestlers?” he challenged Carson and his pal, who were wearing boots, cut-off shorts and tank tops.
Carson and his friend kept walking to avoid a confrontation, but Morales — whose pals left him before he turned violent — followed the duo and asked Carson, “Do you want to die here?”
Morales allegedly pulled out a silver Taurus .38-caliber revolver and blasted the man in the cheek. Carson died shortly after at Beth Israel Hospital.
Morales has six prior arrests, including attempted murder in 1998 and others for criminal possession of a weapon.
He’s served more than nine years in both city and state prisons.
The NY Post says Morales’ two friends have been questioned and released, and are considered “cooperative” in the ongoing investigation.
(via source)
George Takei responds to “traditional marriage” fans
Matt Stopera of Buzzfeed asked protesters who gathered during March Prop 8/DOMA hearings outside the Supreme Court to express their opinions on a pad of paper. The ever-fun and funny George Takei took the time to respond to some of these folks who proudly stand up for denying marriage rights to LGBT Americans.
From the above pic: “I support marraige between man and woman because as my God says, I believe. As a true follower I beleive of him. And I love him.”
George’s response below:
From above pic: “Because against God law, is a deadly sin.”
George’s response below:
Check out more from George and Buzzfeed here.
(via Good As You)
Wonder what Jesus would say about the current rash of LGBT violence?
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Ever wonder what Jesus would say about all this violence?
As folks admonish and attack gays and lesbians verbally, do you think those actions could lead others to escalate to this level?
Attacked, kicked, bones broken, people killed in the streets. Is this what Jesus would advocate?
In a word: no.
Think about what your words can do, haters.
(image via Memeographs)
Epic National Anthem fail at Memorial Cup Hockey Tournament
Canadian jazz singer Alexis Normand experienced what one hopes is a “once in a lifetime” fail while attempting to sing America’s national anthem at the Memorial Cup, Canada’s National Junior Hockey Tournament.
Bless her little heart.
Oh dear…
Justin Bieber receives Milestone Award at Billboard Awards, gets mocked while accepting award
Justin Bieber, while accepting the brand new first ever “Milestone Award for musical ingenuity and innovation,” said he was not a “gimmick” and asked to be taken seriously at the Billboard Music Awards.
As he took the podium to accept his award, the cheers began to be mixed with boos, which clearly took Bieber aback. He stood without speaking for a lengthy amount of time, before addressing the dissenters.
Said Bieber: “I’m 19 years old, I think I’m doing a pretty good job. From my heart, I really just want to say, it should really be about the music, it should be about the craft that I’m making. This is not a gimmick. I’m an artist, and I should be taken seriously, and all this other bull should not be spoken of.”