Category: Uncategorized

Posted on

Map: Updated view of US states with marriage equality

Twelve states plus the District of Columbia now allow same-sex marriages, including Rhode Island and Delaware, which approved their own measures this month. Colorado lawmakers this year also approved a civil union bill.

Iowa, the other Midwestern state to allow same-sex marriage, does so because of a state Supreme Court ruling.

Illinois could soon allow gay marriage as well. The state already allows civil unions and a measure passed the state Senate in February, but has stalled in the House. Gov. Pat Quinn, a Democrat, called on lawmakers last week to approve the measure.

Thirty-three states now don’t allow gay marriage by either state law or constitutional amendment.

Click the image above for larger view.

(via Stateline)

Posted on

HBO: New dramedy series starring Jonathan Groff

HBO has just picked up its new San Francisco based gay dramedy pilot starring GLEE and Broadway hottie Jonathan Groff for a complete season!

Deadline has the details:

HBO has picked up to series the Michael Lannan dramedy pilot executive produced by Andrew Haigh, Sarah Condon and David Marshall Grant,Sarah Condon.

The network has given an eight-episode order to the untitled project, which revolves around three friends in San Francisco (Frankie J. Alvarez, Murray Bartlett, Jonathan Groff), who explore the fun and sometimes overwhelming options available to a new generation of gay men.

Production is expected to start in the fall in San Francisco for a 2014 premiere.

The pickup of the untitled San Francisco project comes as HBO’s latest comedy series,Family Tree, opened to soft numbers on Sunday. HBO also has new comedy Hello Ladies coming up and recently renewed Veep and Girls.

One of the few networks that we faithfully watch in my house, I have great expectations for a gay-centered series from HBO. And I’m betting I won’t be disappointed.

Looking forward to it.

Posted on

Minnesota: Gov. Mark Dayton signs marriage equality into law

From the Star Tribune reports:

“By your political courage, you join that pantheon of exceptional leaders who did something extraordinary,” Dayton said. “You changed the course of history for our state and our nation.”

Dayton signed the marriage measure at a historic outdoor ceremony, a day after the Senate and House passed the proposal….Dayton acknowledged that a difficult step has been taken, but called it a crucial moment for equality.

“Progress has often been difficult, controversial and, initially, divisive,” Dayton said. “However, it has always been the next step ahead to fulfilling this country’s promise to every American.”

The ceremony kicked off a parade that took supporters to a massive downtown St. Paul celebration. The parade route in was lined with rainbow flags for the event.

Posted on

Angelina Jolie decides on preventative double mastecomy

Angelina Jolie announced in a New York Times op-ed piece that she had a preventive double mastectomy:

“The truth is I carry a “faulty” gene, BRCA1, which sharply increases my risk of developing breast cancer and ovarian cancer.

“My doctors estimated that I had an 87 percent risk of breast cancer and a 50 percent risk of ovarian cancer, although the risk is different in the case of each woman…

“Once I knew that this was my reality, I decided to be proactive and to minimize the risk as much I could.”

Jolie adds that the cost of testing for BRCA1 and BRCA2 can cost more than $3,000 in the United States.

I wonder if Jolie going public with her story will help women who may find they have the same “faulty gene” to consider the same path?

I also wonder if the same preventative procedure is available to all, or only “all with good insurance,” or if this is something only those with money can afford to do?  It’s sure to open a discussion.

More at the New York Times.

Posted on

Sen. Lindsey Graham will kill immigration reform if it includes same-sex couples

Sen. Lindsey Graham of South Carolina has tweeted that he will drop support of his own immigration reform bill if it includes provisions benefiting same-sex couples.

Graham tweeted on Monday:

@GrahamBlog

If the Judiciary Committee tries to redefine marriage in the immigration bill they will lose me and many others.

Currently, the immigration reform bill doesn’t include the needs of binational same-sex couples.  Unlike heterosexual couples, these LGBT couples can’t petition for green cards for their foreign national partners due to the Defense of Marriage Act, which is currently under review by the U.S. Supreme Court.

And Sen. Graham would rather kill the entire package than treat all Americans equally.

But he really, really, really wants you to know he is not an intolerant homophobe.

Got it?

(source)

Posted on

Glad I spent my money: HDMX Jam Classic Wireless Speaker

Ok – so other than some entertainment projects (music, film, theater, TV), I rarely recommend specific products.

BUT.

Lately, with a lot of travel on my plate, I’ve become aware of how inadequate my laptop’s built-in speakers are.  And I really need to hear music when I travel.  Plus, if I’m watching a TV show and the sound is low, well, that’s no fun. 

So I started looking for something that would travel well (read that: SMALL) and still have decent sound.

What I didn’t want to do was spend money on something that sounded cheap or underwhelming.

Which is why I’m writing about this cool, powerful, great-sounding and inexpensive Bluetooth speaker I am so happy with. (And no – I’m not being paid by the company that makes them).

Here’s the name: HDMX Jam Classic Bluetooth Wireless Speaker

I really expected that whatever I got would sound really “tinny” and small.  And this is definitely not that.  I can’t believe how good the sound is – especially for only $49 (which was what I paid at Best Buy).  You can find the HDMX Jam Classic on Amazon for only $36!

No wires since it connects via Bluetooth, so it’s great for any hotel room.  Or streaming your iPhone music in the backyard. Apparently it connects to your iPhone, laptop or tablet up to 30 feet away.

It’s more than loud enough.  And some decent bass is in the mix, too.  So even if not for travel, but for your home office or bathroom or anywhere, really – this is a surprisingly good option.

So, there you have it.  I had to share because I like mine so much.  The Randy Report isn’t a “product promotion” site, but since I personally bought this and feel I got my money’s worth – I thought I’d share.  Happy listening!

Here’s the link to find it on Amazon.

Posted on

Brazil Supreme Court says gay couples cannot be denied marriage licenses

According to AFP, Brazil’s top judicial panel has authorized notaries to begin approving same-sex marriages nationwide:

The National Council of Justice, which oversees the Brazilian judicial system and is headed by the chief justice of the Supreme Court, said government offices that issue marriage licenses had no standing to reject gay couples.

The Supreme Court “affirmed that the expression of homosexuality and homosexual affection cannot serve as a basis for discriminatory treatment, which has no support in the Constitution,” said Chief Justice Joaquim Barbosa on the council’s website, referring to a 2011 ruling by the top court.

Justice Barbosa also said there was no reason for the government’s marriage licensing offices to wait for the Brazilian Congress to pass a law authorising same-sex marriage.”

(source)

Posted on

Arizona: 55% support marriage equality

In a new poll by Rocky Mountain Poll, 55% of Arizonans support the right of same-sex couples to legally marry versus 35% who are opposed.

Arizona currently does not allow same-sex marriage as a state constitutional amendment was passed in 2008 limiting marriage rights to only heterosexual couples.

Peruse all the findings of the poll by clicking here.