Tag: Texas

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Texas restaurant to gay couple: “We don’t serve fags here”

Collin Dewberry (L) and Kelly Williams (R)

Collin Dewberry, after having breakfast with his partner at Big Earl’s in Pittsburg, Texas, was told by the waitress not to return saying “We don’t serve fags here.”

Having lived in East Texas their whole lives, Collin and his partner Kelly Williams said they have never been called “fags” before. “We’ve never had that kind of hate displayed to us before,” Dewberry said.

When asked what was wrong, the waitress recited this phrase which was also posted on the front door: “Here at Big Earl’s we like for men to act like men and for ladies to act like ladies, so we want you to never return.”

When interviewed, the owner, Big Earl, said that while he didn’t see what they had done that was supposedly “inappropriate,” he did say it appeared the men were touching legs.

Big Earl made a point to say the posted policy had been in place since the restaurant opened three years ago. When asked what exactly it meant, Big Earl said, “You’re welcome to come and eat, but a man act like a man and a woman act like a woman. Dress appropriately and act appropriately when you’re in a public place.”

And what, exactly, should a man act like and what a woman should act like? He responded, “The same thing it says. That a man’s supposed to stand up and be a leader. He’s not supposed to be a woman. He’s not supposed to come in here in a dress.”

According to the news report from KLTV, neither men were wearing a dress.

Big Earl also mentioned that the men had been badgering the waitress and it was all caught on surveillance cameras, but he wouldn’t allow the reporter to view the footage.

Watch KLTV’s report below.

KLTV.com-Tyler, Longview, Jacksonville, Texas | ETX News

(source)

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Texas: Sportscaster Dale Hansen reminds us what an amazing guy he is

Two-time AP Sportscaster of the Year Dale Hansen’s fantastic defense of Michael Sam’s coming out went viral earlier this year, and now he’s got a thing or two to say about Sam being the 249th pick in the NFL draft.

Hansen doesn’t buy that 248 players were “better” than the SEC Defensive Player of the Year.

He’s got some choice words for the folks who melted down after the kiss between Sam and his boyfriend Vito.

Dale also skewers the idea that Michael Sam is going to be “making moves” on other players in the locker room.

“I do not understand why so many people are so afraid of a gay man in an NFL locker room. I think the other players are gonna be okay. I’ve worked with gay men in my station and in my department for more than 40 years now and not one of those guys has ever hit on my and I’m starting to get a little ticked off about it.”

I think the best part of this whole op-ed is that Dale is in Texas.

Watch this. Dale Hansen rocks.

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Texas: Marriage equaltiy reaches positive territory in recent poll

According to a survey by Texas Tech, support for marriage equality has crossed into positive territory for the first time.

Mark McKenzie, associate professor of political science at Texas Tech, spoke to Newswise:

“In the past, support for gay marriage in this state was below 40 percent,” he said. “Now, were closely divided on the issue. 48 percent of Texans think gay marriage should be recognized whereas 47 percent are against.

“Democrats and Independents strongly support gay marriage, while Republicans are strongly opposed to it.”

Other results include:

• 56% of Texans believe illegal immigrants should be allowed to stay in the US and apply for citizenship
• 44% of Texans approve of the Tea Party
• 41% label themselves Republican, 17% see themselves as Democrats and 31% say the are Independetns

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Texas substitute teacher told not to return to school when discovered she’s transgender

Laura Jane Klug, a substitute teacher at the Lumberton Independent School District in Lumberton, Texas, was told not to return to her classes after parents complained about the fact that she is transgender, 12 News reports.

One father, Roger Beard, had this to say, “There’s some things that we can accept in society that children are not going to accept the same way that we do…It’s a very big distraction…I really don’t want them teaching, especially this age group. They can do many things in life but if it affects our little children and their ability to learn and grow naturally I think there’s an issue with that.”

Klug released a statement: “I have always conducted myself in a professional manner and would never discuss my gender identity in school.”

Watch the 12 News report below:

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Fort Hood on lock down after shooting

From Yahoo News: Fort Hood was placed on lockdown Wednesday after a shooting on the Texas military base, officials said.

According to the U.S. Justice Department, the gunman died of self-inflicted wound.

According to KCEN-TV, at least 8 people were injured, four of them critically, in the shooting. The wounded were transported to Carl R. Darnall Medical Center and other local hospitals, Fort Hood officials said.

A spokesman for Fort Hood confirmed to Yahoo News that a shooting took place, but additional details were not immediately available.

Emergency crews, FBI and SWAT teams were called in to the base following the shooting, which occured at approximately 4:30 p.m. local time at a medical building on the sprawling base. Soldiers and area residents were ordered to shelter in place.

Earlier Wednesday, CNN reported that police were initially pursuing a possible second “active” shooter.

President Barack Obama was informed of the reports of the shooting, the White House said.

“The President has been informed of reports of a shooting at Fort Hood. He’ll continue to receive updates on the situation throughout the evening,” principal deputy press secretary Josh Earnest said.

Read more at Yahoo News

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Gov. Rick Perry booed at Jimmy Kimmel Live taping in Texas

At a taping of Jimmy Kimmel Live in Austin, Texas, Gov. Rick Perry was booed by his own people as he took the stage.

Kimmel asks “What have you done to make these people dislike you so intensely?”

Gov. Bang Bang talks with Kimmel about Austin, South By Southwest, marijuana and Willie Nelson.

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Brian Brown of NOM has lost his balance in Texas

“We’ve seen a rash of these rulings in recent weeks, all making the same errors about binding Supreme Court precedents relevant to marriage and all issued by activist judges bound and determined to redefine marriage in defiance of thousands of years of human experience,” said Brian Brown, NOM President.

“These egregious decisions by unelected judges throwing out the votes of millions of Americans have been shamefully encouraged, aided, and abetted by the lawless actions of President Obama and his administration, especially the Attorney General.

“It simply has to stop. Critical issues like marriage that are foundational to civilization cannot be permitted to be taken over by activist judges and out of control political appointees. The voices and values of ordinary citizens are being trampled by judges determined to impose profound social change that affects citizens in the deepest and most fundamental ways.

“The American people, and our leaders in Congress, need to step up and restore the powers of government to their proper balance.” – hate group leader Brian Brown writing on the NOM blog through tears of impending unemployment

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Texas ban on marriage equality ruled unconstitutional

This gives the anti-gay forces a record of 0-5 in federal courts.

“Today’s court decision is not made in defiance of the great people of Texas or the Texas Legislature, but in compliance with the U.S. Constitution and Supreme Court precedent,” Judge Orlando Garcia, a Clinton appointee, wrote. “Without a rational relation to a legitimate governmental purpose, state-imposed inequality can find no refuge in our U.S. Constitution.”

From the San Antonio Express-News:

A federal judge in San Antonio has declared Texas’ ban on gay marriage unconstitutional.

U.S. District Judge Orlando Garcia, however, also issued a stay, meaning the ban stays in effect for the time being.

One lesbian couple had to go to Massachusetts to get married, and they want Texas to recognize the union. A second gay couple have a courtship of 17 years and want to get married here in their home state.

Both sued the state in federal court aiming to overturn the ban on same-sex marriage, saying it is unconstitutional.

LGBT Advocates immediately issued statements on the ruling:

Freedom To Marry

“Today the 6th federal judge in a row has ruled – in Texas – that there is simply no legitimate justification for denying marriage to loving gay and lesbian couples. The court’s holding is solid and serious, and follows the language and logic of the Supreme Court’s marriage ruling last year and the Constitution’s clear command. With 47 marriage cases in 25 states now moving forward, and the possibility that a freedom to marry case will again reach the Supreme Court as soon as 2015, we must continue the conversations and progress — Texan to Texan, American to American — that show that all of America is ready for the freedom to marry.”

Human Rights Campaign

This injunction sends a powerful message that gay and lesbian Texans are being harmed every by inequality, and that these plaintiff couples who we’re proud to call members of the HRC family are very likely to succeed in striking down Texas’ ban on marriage equality. This is a historic day in the heart of the South, and I can’t stress enough how important it is to move quickly until loving couples in all 50 states feel the full reach of this victory for equality.” The Texas ruling comes on the heels of a year-long string of electoral, judicial and legislative victories for marriage equality. Recently the New Mexico Supreme Court and federal district judges in Virginia, Utah, Oklahoma, Ohio and Kentucky have ruled in favor of marriage for lesbian and gay couples.

Equality Texas

Chuck Smith, executive director of Equality Texas, called the decision “a huge victory that moves Texas one step closer to the freedom to marry.” “The U.S. Supreme Court ruling in Windsor made it clear that animus or moral disapproval is not an acceptable justification for denying any American their constitutional right to equal protection of the law,” Smith said. “We are gratified to see Judge Garcia uphold the Constitution of the United States and declare that Texas’ restrictions on the freedom to marry are unconstitutional and unenforceable. We anxiously await the day when the United States Supreme Court will reach the same conclusion.”

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Sarah Palin endorses Abbott:”Good enough for Ted Nugent, good enough for me”

Sarah Palin, former half-term governor of Alaska, has endorsed Greg Abbott for governor of Texas saying he is “good enough:”

“Check the box for another good conservative – Greg Abbott for Governor of Texas. Like Katrina, Greg has overcome many personal obstacles and challenges, which have made him a believer in the power of liberty and the need to defend our freedoms from the overreach of an out-of-control federal government. If he is good enough for Ted Nugent, he is good enough for me!”

Speaking of Ted Nugent, that would be the same guy who last month described President Obama as “subhuman mongrel.”

That is the same language Nazis called Jews to justify the genocide of the Jewish community.

I’m guessing that’s good enough for Sarah Palin, too.

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Texas: Democratic gubernatorial candidate Wendy Davis supports marriage equality

Speaking to the San Antonio Express-News Editorial Board today, Texas Democratic gubernatorial candidate Wendy Davis says she supports marriage equality:

“It’s my strong belief that when people love each other and are desirous of creating a committed relationship with each other that they should be allowed to marry, regardless of their sexual orientation,” Davis told the Express-News editorial board.

Davis added that she’s pleased the state’s constitutional ban is currently under challenge in federal courts.

If elected, she says she would hope to open up a discussion with the state legislature about repealing the current ban.

“I think it’s important, and I think that people across this country are evolving on that issue and moving in a direction that demonstrates support for it, so I think it is time to re-open that conversation and ask Texans where they are on it to see if that’s something that we might change legislatively if it doesn’t happen constitutionally,” she said.

(source)