 |
| Click to view larger |
What I Do: Tea Party
Gay Texas Judge refuses to perform weddings until marriage equality exists in Texas
|
| Judge Tonya Parker |
Texas Judge Tonya Parker cannot legally marry a woman in her state, so she refuses to perform any marriage ceremonies until there is equality. She finds it “oxymoronic” to perform a ceremony that cannot be performed for her.
Parker, an openly gay judge, told a group at a Stonewall Democrats of Dallas meeting Tuesday that when she turns a couple away, she uses it as an opportunity to teach them a lesson about marriage equality.
“I don’t perform marriage ceremonies because we are in a state that does not have marriage equality and until it does, I’m not going to partially apply the law to one group of people that doesn’t apply to another group of people,” Parker said in a video of the Tuesday discussion. “And it’s kind of oxymoronic for me to perform ceremonies that can’t be performed for me, so I’m not going to do it.”
A spokeswoman for the Texas State Commission on Judicial Conduct said the commission had no comment.
Parker is the first LGBT person elected as a judge in Dallas County and she is believed to be the first openly LGBT African-American elected official in the state’s history, according to the Dallas Voice.
(source)
Boehner and Republicans appeal DOMA ruling
On Wednesday a federal court struck down Section 3 of DOMA as unconstitutional.
Today GOP House Speaker John Boehner ordered that ruling appealed.
In court papers, a group of congressional Republicans defending the federal gay marriage ban revealed they are appealing the ruling to the 9th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals.
The 9th Circuit will become the second federal appeals court to now consider the legality of the Defense of Marriage Act, a 16-year-old law known as DOMA.
The Obama administration has sided with Golinski in the case, arguing that DOMA is unconstitutional.
Republicans, led by House Speaker John Boehner, have jumped in to defend the law, filing the notice of appeal on Friday. With cases unfolding in several federal courts, many experts predict the issue will wind up in the U.S. Supreme Court.
On and on it goes kids. It’s clear which way history is headed. Clear.
In 50 years, those who want to keep inequality as the law of the land will look as strange and unseemly as the white supremacists and bigots of the last century do now regarding rights for African Americans.
Friday photo of the day: Max Adler of GLEE
Because he was fabulous this week on GLEE.
Great work on a very important subject.
And because he’s hot 🙂
Ellen Degeneres’ first JC Penney commercial to air during the Oscars
The commercials aren’t available yet, but Ellen aired some out-takes from the taping of the commercials.
Ellen is very funny.
Be worthy
Dogs rule.
Be worthy.
Jake Pavelka makes his Las Vegas debut with the men of Chippendales
 |
| Jake Pavelka’s first night as Celeb Host at Chippendales had a sold out audience |
Fun night tonight at The Chippendales show at the Rio Casino and All-Suites Hotel in Las Vegas.
Jake Pavelka was very charming with the audience – his first night as the new Celebrity Host of the show. The audience clearly was excited to see him and he was very comfortable interacting with the audience as the MC of the most famous ‘girls night out’ in the world.
 |
| Click pic for larger view |
And after the show he took plenty of time to pose for pics with members of the audience & the men of Chippendales.
Good for Jake. As a native Texan myself, I can say he did everyone proud and showed a lot of confidence and charm with, what he’s referred to as, his first live audience.
Ladies who make their way to The Chippendales in Las Vegas over the next four weeks can look forward to a good time with the men of Chippendales and the very charming and capable Jake Pavelka.
|
| Click pic for larger view |
Olivia Newton-John on Adam Hills in Gordon Street Tonight
She couldn’t be more charming…
Love this.
Maryland State Senate passes marriage equality bill
The Maryland state Senate has approved marriage equality after a Senate vote of 25-22 after a few hours of debate during which opponents attempted to add hostile amendments.. The House passed the bill last Friday.
Gov. Martin O’Malley has pledged to make Maryland the EIGHTH state with same-sex marriage.
From Gov. O’Malley: “I’d like to thank Senate President Miller for his leadership and our legislators in the Senate for their hard work and their vote today for human dignity. All children deserve the opportunity to live in a loving, caring, committed, and stable home, protected equally under the law. The common thread running through our efforts together in Maryland is the thread of human dignity; the dignity of work, the dignity of faith, the dignity of family, the dignity of every individual. Thanks to our elected leaders, clergy and faith-based leaders, community leaders, civic organizations, civil rights groups, and citizens from across our state, Maryland will now be able to protect individual civil marriage rights and religious freedom equally.”
Reactions from LGBT rights organizations:
Human Rights Campaign
“We could not be more grateful to the senators who today voted to make all Maryland families stronger,” said Joe Solmonese, President of the Human Rights Campaign. “Today, we took another giant step toward marriage equality becoming law – and we are in this position due to the unwavering leadership and resolve of Governor O’Malley and our legislative allies, particularly Sens. Rich Madaleno, Jamie Raskin, Rob Garagiola, and Brian Frosh.” Virtually any piece of legislation, according to Maryland law, can be subject to a referendum where voters cast a ballot supporting or opposing the legislation. Opponents of marriage equality are expected to begin obtaining the requisite signatures necessary to refer the Civil Marriage Protection Act to the general election ballot.
National Gay & Lesbian Task Force
Maryland and marriage equality will certainly make a lovely couple. Maryland is the Free State, after all. To be able to share and celebrate one’s love and commitment both publicly and legally is a lifelong dream for thousands of same-sex couples and their families. It’s thrilling that Maryland is poised to make this a reality by becoming the latest state to treat its families fairly. This has been a long journey of changing hearts and minds, of breaking down walls, of shining a spotlight on our common humanity. Congratulations to Equality Maryland, Marylanders for Marriage Equality and all those who have been part of the journey leading to this victory.
AFER
Today’s vote by the Maryland General Assembly shows that the momentum toward marriage equality is unstoppable. Generations of Americans will applaud Governor Martin O’Malley and the bipartisan coalition of Maryland lawmakers for joining the courts and legislatures nationwide in defending the fundamental freedom to marry for all.”
Funny: “Grammar”
