Category: Uncategorized

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Obama administration wants same-sex binational couples included in immigration reform

Aboard Air Force One en route to Las Vegas, White House Press Secretary Jay Carney was asked about the omission of same-sex binational couples from the Senate’s immigration reform proposal.

Carney’s reply, according to transcript:

Q:  Gay rights advocated were disappointed that the Senate framework did not include extending immigration benefits for same-sex couples.  Is that a problem for the President and the administration?

CARNEY:  The President believes that it should be included and that should come as no surprise.  As we’ve said all along, this is consistent with the principles he has laid out over the last four years.  And the President has long believed that Americans with same-sex partners from other countries should not be faced with the painful choice between staying with the person they love or staying in the country they love.  And the President’s position on this is consistent with how we’ve approached prosecutorial discretion at DHS and others.  So I think it should not be a surprise and it would be entirely inconsistent not to have that position.

UPDATE: Here’s a link to full transcript of President Obama’s speech on immigration reform in Las Vegas.

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San Francisco: Gay sports bar celebrates 49ers in Super Bowl

A photographer snapped a celebration photo at “Hi Tops” in San Francisco’s Castro District when the 49ers clinched a spot in the Super Bowl. The image captures the thrill of victory with cheers and kisses at a gay sports bar. And now that photo is included in the current issue of Sports Illustrated.

“Hi Tops” opened a few months ago, bartender Logan Chavarria says, “A lot of people come in and don’t even know it’s a gay bar and then we find out we have common bond.”

The 49ers are definitely bringing people together. Randy Report readers already know that the 49ers are part of the anti-bullying “It Gets Better” campaign.

Owner Jesse Woodward says the photo sends a winning message “Sports fans from all walks of life and we’re all a big melting pot everyone can get along.”

(via NBCBayArea.com)

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Whitney Houston’s mother would not have accepted Whitney as lesbian

Oprah Winfrey interviews singer Cissy Houston, Whitney’s mom, in the latest episode of Oprah’s Next Chapter.

Cissy discussed the longstanding rumor that Whitney was involved in a romantic relationship with her best friend and one-time executive assistant Robyn Crawford.

In the book, Cissy alludes to Whitney “experiment[ing]” with this friendship. Cissy tells a clearly surprised Oprah that had Whitney come out to her as a lesbian she would not have liked it, or condoned it.

(via Towleroad)

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Modesto, CA: LGBT youth & allies send message of acceptance

The Place is an LGBTQ youth support center run by the UCC in Modesto, California.

And I think The PLACE Youth Group sounds like a fabulous place to go.

Thank you to everyone there who demonstrate true compassion, understanding and love.

And standing ovation please for all these fantastic families who know and love the gay sons and daughters.

For more info email theplacemodesto@yahoo.com

Bravo The PLACE!

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Without a word, Georgia man guns down 22 year old who arrived at wrong address

Phillip Walker Sailors, a 69-year-old war veteran and former missionary was arrested over the weekend on the suspicion of killing Rodrigo Abad Diaz, a 22-year-old Cuban immigrant, who mistakenly arrived in his driveway because of faulty GPS directions.

Friends who were in the car with Diaz told WSB-TV that they were trying to pick up a friend on the way to ice skating on Saturday but their GPS directed them to the wrong address. The friends said that they waited in the driveway for a few minutes before Sailors emerged from the house and fired a gun into the air.

Gandy Cardenas, who was in the car, recalled to WAGA that the homeowner made no effort to speak to the group before opening fire.

“He didn’t talk to them, he just started shooting,” Cardenas explained. “The first shot was in the air.”

At that point, Diaz tried to turn the car around to leave, but Sailors fired another shot, striking the immigrant on the left side of the head. The group, which included a 15 and an 18 year old, said that Sailors held them at gunpoint until police arrived.

The arrest warrant suggested that Sailors had shot Diaz with a .22 caliber pistol. He was charged with malice murder.

WSB-TV’s Tony Thomas reported that Sailors was a war veteran and a former church missionary.

Ah, God’s gentle children.

(via Raw Story)