LGBTQ news and entertainment
With a little more than two weeks until election day, pro-equality group TheFour, currently fighting for equality in Washington, Maryland, Minnesota and Maine, released a video highlighting the several of the prominent & famous folk who support same-sex marriage.
That diverse list includes former President Bill Clinton, Jay-Z, Lady Gaga and even former Vice President Dick Cheney.
More info at http://www.thefour.com
A seventh federal court has ruled against DOMA. From the Washington Blade:
A federal appeals court has ruled the Defense of Marriage Act is unconstitutional in case filed by a New York widow who’s challenging the statute on the basis that it forced her to unfairly pay $363,000 in estate taxes.
The court ruled against Section 3 of DOMA on the basis that it violates equal protection under the Fifth Amendment of the U.S. Constitution. The majority opinion came from Chief Judge Dennis Jacobs and Judge Christopher Droney.
“DOMA’s classification of same-sex spouses was not substantially related to an important government interest,” the decision states. “Accordingly, we hold that Section 3 of DOMA violates equal protection and is therefore unconstitutional.”
The plaintiff in the case, which was filed by the American Civil Liberties Union, is 83-year-old lesbian Edith Windsor, who had to pay $363,000 in 2009 upon the death of her spouse, Thea Spyer, because DOMA prohibits the federal recognition of same-sex marriage.
The court also ruled that DOMA should be subject to heightened scrutiny, or a greater assumption that the law is unconstitutional, because, among other reasons, gays and lesbians have faced a history of discrimination and have a distinguishing characteristic from others.
(source)
This audio clip from Y94 Playhouse Fargo, ND radio station is hysterical.
Caller Donna asks for help getting deer crossing signs moved to lower traffic areas. “The government can guide deer to lower traffic areas.”
It seems Donna believes the deer are crossing the highways because they are reading the deer crossing signs and following directions…
If you want to hear the rest of the story — her follow up interview can be found here.
Mario Lopez is catching some heat for tweeting about his affection of Chick-fil-A sandwiches, in spite of the recent uproar over the company’s anti-gay policies.
On October 7 the host of Extra tweeted, “Why does it seem like I always crave Chick-fil-A on Sundays?? #Frustrating.”
Is loyalty a one way street? Hmm…
(source)
Before winning the spot to be The Price Is Right’s first male model, Rob Wilson did a photo shoot for swimwear/underwear company International Male. Can you say “body?” Clearly not just a handsome face.
More pics at kennethinthe212.
Colin Farrell looking good on the cover of Details Magazine and sounding even better in his interview. You can read the whole shebang at details.com and check out the “making of the photoshoot” video below.
“I’ve never seen a moon in the sky that, if it didn’t take my breath away, at least misplaced it for a moment,” he says, unashamed by his own corny enthusiasms. “When I was living a different way, I was probably profoundly bored. I had moments of elation. Now I never get fucking bored. I get excited about room-service menus! I really do. Even though the french fries are soggy as fuck and I still haven’t figured out an exact way to open up that Heinz mini jar—sometimes it’s my nails, sometimes it’s my teeth. I’m just grateful that I’m actually alive, to be honest. Anytime I have a shit mood, now it’s some aspect of me that is present and is feeling whatever I’m feeling, and the same counts if I’m giddy or jocular. It’s honest, it’s real. That’s quite simply the coolest thing. Everything is real now.”
Today, Michael and I celebrate our 18th anniversary together. It’s also our 9th official wedding anniversary – we kept the same day of the year because I used to be blond and can’t remember too many dates 🙂
I posted this last year and it still sums up how I feel. I love you, Michael!
October 17, 1994, I met Michael Caprio for the first time.
I was on the road with the pre-Broadway tour of the Broadway revival of “Hello, Dolly!” and we were in Minneapolis recording our cast recording. Michael was VP of Publicity and Marketing for the record label.
“It only takes a moment, for your eyes to meet and then…”
It was one long day of me watching Michael from across the studio, and as I found out later, Michael kept his eye on me, too. And boy, am I glad.
Eighteen years, two marriage certificates (one in Toronto, Canada, one in Palm Springs, CA), one cancer journey and six dogs later – here we are.
We actually are very different people. Michael is very social and loves being out in the world; he loves seeing the world and meeting lots of people, and people love him back. I love our friends, but in small doses where I can focus on them and their lives one at a time. I love being home with the dogs in our own little world.
As I mentioned to some friends last night, Michael gets special points lately as he endures my emotional roller coaster ride with politics during election season. He’s so calm as I yell at the TV during presidential debates.
And somehow, this all works really, really well.
I love being married to Michael. I love our life together.
By the way, I looked it up and apparently the 18th anniversary (in modern terms) is the “porcelain anniversary.” No interest in porcelain, thank you. However, I do see the 20th anniversary is the “platinum gift” anniversary. I’m sure Michael would like you all to know you are welcome to begin saving up to send platinum gifts or jewelry when the time comes in three years. You have advance notice 🙂
Happy anniversary, happy anniversary, happy anniversary – HAAAAPPY anniversary!
A few pics from the short journey together – so far:
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| First pic Michael ever sent me after we met, from the set of a photo shoot for the record label he was VP of publicity for at the time. Can you say “cute”??? |
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| From a Mammoth Ski weekend after a long day of skiing |
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| My favorite pic with Michael |
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| First wedding! Toronto, October 17th, 2003 Senior Justice Lauren Marshall was very gracious to officiate the marriage for us. |
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| Getting married in Palm Springs, CA, right before 2008 election Mayor Pro Tem Ginny Foat officiated the marriage for us right before Prop 8 passed. We are one of the 18K couples who still have our legal married status in CA. |
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| Michael’s 40th birthday party. John Ganun, fabulous photog, came and shot the party. The picture says a lot about us I think. |
Bristol Palin got the hook on Dancing With The Stars last night. I know her many fans must be bummed.
Via CBS News:
The Bristol effect, the surge of fan votes that kept Bristol Palin afloat and sank better performers, faltered in Week 4 as the 21-year-old Alaskan was sent packin’. Her ouster ends the specter of a rancorous repeat of 2010, when fan votes kept awful, awkward Palin on the show at the expense of much superior dancers. Palin, who is a much better performer now, was still a long notch below the half-dozen superb dancers in this season’s lineup. It isn’t only that Bristol is a mediocre dancer. There have been other performers with her lack of skills or even worse, who were immensely more fun to watch. She’s just very young and a little boring. “We did it , we made it to Week 4, and I’m happy with that. I had an awesome time,” said Palin as parents Todd and Sarah watched from the audience.
The Obama campaign has released an ad framing Mitt Romney’s answer (or lack of one) to a question about what he would do to address the issue of equal pay for women in the workplace.
Notice – he never answered the question.