(via reddit)
A few words of encouragement to start your day
(via reddit)
Former “ex-gay” leader rejects and apologizes for promoting “reparative therapy”
I should be better at accepting things like this at face value, but knowing the kind of negative impact this guy has made on people’s lives, I’m just not able to “forgive and forget” too quickly.
John Paulk, the longtime leader of Focus on the Family’s ‘Love Won Out’ ‘ex-gay’ ministry and former Exodus International chair has apologized for the pain and harm he caused. Paulk recently said he no longer supports the “ex-gay” movement but this is his first real apology.
Says Paulk in a post on Skipping to the Piccolo, in part:
Please allow me to be clear: I do not believe that reparative therapy changes sexual orientation; in fact, it does great harm to many people.
I know that countless people were harmed by things I said and did in the past,
Parents, families, and their loved ones were negatively impacted by the notion of reparative therapy and the message of change. I am truly, truly sorry for the pain I have caused.
From the bottom of my heart I wish I could take back my words and actions that caused anger, depression, guilt and hopelessness. In their place I want to extend love, hope, tenderness, joy and the truth that gay people are loved by God.
Today, I see LGBT people for who they are–beloved, cherished children of God. I offer my most sincere and heartfelt apology to men, women, and especially children and teens who felt unlovable, unworthy, shamed or thrown away by God or the church.
I want to offer my sincere thanks to everyone who encouraged me to take this initial step of transparency. Even while promoting “ex-gay” programs, there were those who called me on my own words and actions. I’m sure I didn’t appreciate it at the time, but they have helped me to realize this truth about who I am.
Not only did this man pretend to “change” his own life, but he made a point to publicly instruct the world that EVERYONE could change sexuality “if they wanted to.” And this gave ammunition to many anti-gay forces.
(h/t Towlroad)
Sir Richard Branson’s guide to getting lucky
So, after about :30 seconds of reminding you how fabulously wealthy and fabulously fabulous he is, Sir Richard Branson explains how – if you were as rich as he is – you can whoo that “special someone” you might meet on your travels.
Minus the fabulous funds, he explains the newly implemented “Seat-To-Seat Delivery” service on his airline Virgin America. You can order a drink via the control panel at your seat and send it to your “intended one.”
Because hitting on people in an enclosed space where nobody can possibly leave if they’re made to feel uncomfortable for several hours is obviously a really good idea…?
Things that make you go “hmm…”
(h/t JMG)
Fourth grader explains why “gay people should be able to get married”
A teacher posted the essay above to Reddit, saying, “One of my 4th grade students chose gay marriage as his topic for a persuasive essay. This is the result. More sense than some adults.”
“Why gay people should be able to get married is you can’t stop two adult’s from getting married because there grown and it doesn’t matter if it creeps you out just get over it. And you should be happy for them because it’s a big momment in their life. When I went to my grandparents wedding it was the happies momment.
As you can see gay people should have the right to get married and you shouldn’t judge other peoples lives because if you was gay you wouldn’t want people talking about you.”
And there you have it. Any questions?
So simple, fourth graders get it…
(via Instinct)
Rhode Island: state Senate approves marriage equality
Rhode Island has approved marriage equality in a 26-12 Senate vote.
The House of Representatives approved similar legislation in January by a vote of 51 to 19.
The bill will return to the House for minor changes before it is sent to Governor Lincoln Chafee, who has promised to sign it.
Happy dance!
Fired news anchor AJ Clemente on The Today Show
Ahhhh…. I’m on this guy’s side. Everyone makes mistakes fresh out of school at a new job. A.J. just happened to do it “on air.”
“Fuckin’ shit” were A.J. Clemente’s first words on air as he started a news anchoring job with Bismarck, North Dakota NBC affiliate KFYR. That job didn’t last very long, as Clemente was quickly fired. On Wednesday, he appeared on Today to respond.
“Gut-wrenching” was how Clemente described the mistake, noting that he wasn’t aware that he’d uttered those words on camera until the third break. “We came on 30 seconds early,” he informed, adding that he was trying to figure out how to pronounce names in an upcoming story about the London Marathon. In any case, what he said was “inexcusable.”
Savannah Guthrie and Matt Lauer both sympathized, with the former pointing our that Clemente had no earpiece. “No cue, no countdown,” Clemente added.
As for losing his job? “I fully expected that they would fire me,” he said, noting that he had “no animosity at all” because of it.
“You’ve got to have a tough skin in this business,” he added, and the ability to laugh at yourself.
All about second chances, Lauer then had Clemente take it away with the preview of upcoming stories, as they headed into a commercial break. (No bleeps this time around.)
Iowa: House conservatives want to cut pay for justices who supported marriage equality
From The Gazette: A handful of House conservatives want to reduce the pay of Iowa Supreme Court justices involved in a 2009 decision striking down a ban on same-sex marriages as part of an effort to maintain the balance of power in state government.
“It’s our responsibility to maintain the balance of power” between the three co-equal branches of government, Rep. Tom Shaw, R-Laurens, said Tuesday.
The justices “trashed the separation of powers” with their unanimous Varnum v. Brien decision and implementation of same-sex marriage without a change in state law banning any marriages expect between one man and one woman, added Rep. Dwayne Alons, R-Hull.
Their amendment to House File 120, the judicial branch budget bill, would lower the salaries of the four justices on the seven-member court who were part of the unanimous Varnum v. Brein decision to $25,000 – the same as a state legislator.
It’s not meant to be punitive, Alons and Shaw said Tuesday.
“We’re just holding them responsible for their decision, for going beyond their bounds,” Shaw said.
That’s it – it’s not punitive. It just punishes the justices who supported fairness and equality.
Mind you, these are the same Republicans who tried to oust these same state Supreme Court justices after their decision.
Mars Rover has been making naughty images on the red planet
NASA Servers went down last night after Reddit users discovered that the Mars Rovers have been drawing naughty images on the surface of the red planet.
(laughing at the 4th grade humor…)
(still laughing…)
(h/t Towleroad)
Darren Criss announces his first music tour
According to Billboard, Criss’ 16-city LISTEN UP tour will kick off on May 29 in San Francisco will make stops in both the United States and Canada. Darren will be preview new material from his forthcoming debut album, which will reportedly be released on Columbia Records.
Criss said in a statement: “I couldn’t think of a better way to spend the summer than being on the road and doing live shows. I wanted to do something bigger than what I’ve done before — more cities and new music. It’s a real opportunity for me to connect with all the people who’ve supported me through the years, as well as a chance to get new folks excited. It’s gonna be a party for everyone!”
Fan pre-sale tickets for the tour go on sale April 25 at 10:00 AM at Facebook.com/DarrenCriss, with general tickets on sale April 27 at 10:00 AM.
May 29 – San Francisco – The Fillmore
May 30 – Los Angeles – House of Blues
May 31 – Anaheim, Calif. – House of Blues
June 3 – Dallas – House of Blues
June 4 – Houston – House of Blues
June 6 – Nashville, Tenn. – The Cannery Ballroom
June 7 – Indianapolis – Deluxe at Old National Centre
June 8 – Chicago – House of Blues
June 10 – Minneapolis – Varsity Theater
June 12 – Toronto – Phoenix Concert Theatre
June 13 – Ann Arbor, Mich. – Sonic Lunch/Michigan Theatre *FREE SHOW
June 14 – Cleveland – House of Blues
June 27 – New York – Roseland Ballroom
June 28 – Philadelphia – Theatre of Living Arts
June 29 – Boston – House of Blues
June 30 – Silver Spring, Md. – The Fillmore
(via Instinct)
France: Anti-gay marriage groups continue violence after marriage equality passes
Brian Brown (of NOM) – these are your people.
This is what you’ve helped whip up.