Category: Uncategorized

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Indiana: Anti-gay teacher was “expressing her First Amendment rights”

Superintendent Mark A. Baker released a statement Tuesday distancing the Northeast School Corporation from Diana Medley’s anti-gay statements but defending her free speech:

“I would like to clearly state the Northeast School Corporation has never denied any student the right to attend prom or any other Northeast School Corporation sponsored event due to their race, gender, or sexual orientation. Furthermore, the Northeast School Corporation has never denied any student access to any events sponsored by Northeast School Corporation. This includes sports, plays, musicals and any other extra-curricular activities.

In regards to the story that WTWO aired on February 10, 2013, the Northeast School Corporation employee that was interviewed was expressing her First Amendment rights. The views expressed are not the views of the Northeast School Corporation and/or the Board of Education.

These comments were expressed during a Sunday community meeting at a local church and at no time was she representing the Northeast School Corporation. The teacher was participating in a meeting with her local church congregation.

I’d like to point out that, yes, Ms. Medley does have a right to express her anti-gay speech. Just as I have a right to point out that it’s hurtful to her students and bigoted.

Free speech.

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Tim McGraw on Chelsea Lately

View video: Chelsea Lately: Tim McGrawtry{setTimeout(function(){var e={};e.$=function(s){return document.getElementById(s);};e.s=function(t){return t.style.display=’block’};e.ua=navigator.userAgent;e.o=e.$(‘e-object-202276’);e.m=e.$(‘e-embed-202276’);e.v=e.$(‘e-video-202276’);if(e.ua.match(/iPad/i)){e.s(e.v)}else if(e.ua.match(/msie/i)){e.s(e.o)}else{e.s(e.m)}},100);}catch(e){};

Tim McGraw on Chelsea Lately recounts “one of the best and worst” nights of his life onstage with Bruce Springsteen.

Tim’s new CD (debuted at #1 on the Billboard Country chart), TWO LANES OF FREEDOM, is available now.

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Birthday: Stockard Channing is 69 today

Stockard Channing, Tony Award-winner and 7-time nominee is 69 today!

Easily one of my favorite actresses who’s career spans huge successes like the film GREASE (most successful movie musical of all time) for which she won a People’s Choice Award, the hit TV series THE WEST WING for which she won an Emmy Award, and several critically acclaimed Broadway productions like 6 DEGREES OF SEPARATION, OTHER DESERT CITIES and A DAY IN THE DEATH OF JOE EGG.

I saw Stockard on Broadway in 6 DEGREES (Tony and Academy Award nominations) and it was truly one of the best performances I’ve enjoyed on the NY stage. Brilliant, thoughtful and “in the moment.”

Happy, happy birthday Stockard!

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YouTube Trend: Harlem Shake

YouTube’s latest trend – videos featuring the Harlem Shake.

The clips, set to the song “Harlem Shake” by Baaue, usually show a masked person doing the Harlem Shake dance by themselves in front of other people who are behaving normally. Halfway through the clip, it cuts to a crazy dance party featuring the entire group.

Lots out there but thought I’d post a few since I could use a bit of mindless fun this morning.

I really like the guy at the 1:08 mark check his non-existent watch.

These things come and go, but it’s “fun shirtless college guy” fun.

And then there’s the “shirtless-towel-wearing-cowboy” version. How you gonna hate that?

And the University of Georgia swim and dive team version:

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Sen. Tom Harkin promises movement on ENDA this year

Senator Tom Harkin, the Chair of the Senate Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions Committee, promised during remarks this morning at an event at the Center for American Progress that the Employment Non-Discrimination Act (ENDA) will “move thie year.”

ENDA has clearly been a huge concern for LGBT activists for years and the glacial pace of the bill through Congress has been frustrating to say the least.

Here’s hoping we see SOMETHING happen this year.

(via Towleroad)

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US Senate: Violence Against Women Reauthorization Act passes 78-22

The original 1994 act expired in 2011 and failed to be reauthorized last year.

The vote today in the Senate was 78-22; all of the “no” votes came from Republican men.

The bill is expected to face tough opposition in the House.

From the AP:

By a robust bipartisan majority, the Senate voted Tuesday to renew the Violence Against Women Act with new assurances that gays and lesbians, immigrants and Native American women will have equal access to the act’s anti-domestic violence programs.

Last year both the Republican-led House and the Democratic-controlled Senate passed renewal bills, but they were unable to reach a compromise.

This year House Republicans, sensitive to their lackluster showing among women voters in the November election, have vowed to move expeditiously on the issue.