Although many people (according to polls) do not want Roland Burris to become a U.S. Senator, it looks like things are starting to go his way. First, California Senator Diane Feinstein broke with the Democratic party and said he must be seated. Then, Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid met with him - and now says they are just waiting on a court to decide in Illinois. Now, Barack Obama said he would be happy to work with him if he is seated.
It's a done deal....lets hope because it is being reported that he is gay-friendly!!
Oregon's First Congregational United Church says it will not marry anymore heterosexuals until same-sex couples have a right to marry as well. The Reverend Pam Shepherd had this to say about the issue.
"I've been for civil rights for gay and lesbian people for a long, long time, but I never thought, 'I'm helping the discrimination every time I sign a license,'" she said. "Every time I sign a license, it's like I'm saying, 'OK,' but it's not OK." (source)
This is wrong...but funny. A 48 year-old skier at Vail, somehow, got caught in the ski-lift chair upside down....oh, and he lost his pants while hanging there for about 7 minutes!
Eleven gay bars in Seattle were sent letters Tuesday threatening ricin attacks. Many are calling this a hate crime....do you think?
According to the Seattle Times: The anonymous letters say, "I have in my possession approximately 67 grams of ricin with which I will indiscriminately target at least five of your clients. ... I expect them to die painfully while in hospital."
The Times also reported that a 12th letter was sent to the alternative weekly The Stranger, according to its Web site. That letter says the paper should be "prepared to announce the deaths of approximately 55 individuals."
The bars listed where: The Elite, Neighbours, The Wildrose Bar, The Cuff, Purr, The Seattle Eagle, R Place, Re-bar, C.C.Attle's, Madison Pub and The Crescent. The letter implies the attacks will take place one Saturday this month.
In a statement, the Seattle Police Department said it takes the threat seriously. It has seized the letters and is processing them and is coordinating efforts with the FBI and other federal agencies.
Roland Burris who was appointed by embattled Illinois Governor Rod Blagojevich was denied access to the U.S. Senate today. Senate secretary Nancy Erickson said his creditals were not being accepted. Burris then held this brief press conference immediately after.
The Philadelphia Commerce Department has cut all its grant funding to festivals and events. Here is what Gloria Cazarez, the Mayor's GLBT Liasion, had to say about the situation.
"Commerce previously administered a grant program to support community festivals - it was through their marketing festival and community planning program. With the recent budget condition, that total funding source has had to be eliminated and the City is no longer able to offer the marketing festival and community planning grants to -any- group. The program has been suspended in its entirety and affects LGBT and non-LGBT specific events / groups alike."
The festivals and events in Philadelphia that will be hit the hardest are Equality Forum and Philadelphia Gay Pride.
As always, GayBINGO is held at the Gershman Y on the corner of Broad and Pine Streets in Center City Philadelphia. Reserved tickets are $20 each and Balcony tickets are $15 and can be purchased by calling AIDS Fund at 215-731-9255 or by stopping into our office at 1315 Spruce Street, 4th Floor. Tickets are on sale Monday - Friday, 9AM - 5PM.
I don't know how I missed this one as it has been out since October, but Queerty ran it today. It is a PSA by The Ad Council and Gay, Lesbian, Straight Education Network addressing the statement "That's so gay". Check it out.
Melissa Etheridge was on NPR's Guy Raz show where she spoke about understanding Barack Obama's choice of Rick Warren. She see the choice as reaching out to the other side, here is what she had to say.
"It is about reaching across, we can not say this is us and this is them..(interrupted by her child)..I believe I understand Obama's choice here. I believe that Barack Obama wants to be the President of the entire United States. Pastor Rick Warren reached out to him, brought him into his church during the campaign, which outraged many members of his church. Yet he reaches across and I think this is Obama reaching back and going, 'I think we can disagree on things, yet we can still all move forward. We need to get past our differences...and I just want to make sure that as the liberals and progressives and Democrats or whatever you want to call us are moving into this new time with this new president do not say that they, the Evangelicals who say such horrible things about gays, they have to stay over here and we're not going to let them in. That makes us no better than the last administration."
I completely disagree with Melissa on this issue. I think it is great to reach across to the religious right, but this choice just goes to far. I also find it offensive that Melissa admits she would be outraged if John McCain would have won and then picked Rick Warren???? Regardless of the political party this is the same hateful man. Listen to the entire interview here.
It looks like some in Louisiana are not happy about the recent ruling where a gay couple won the right to have both their names on their child's birth certificate.
Louisiana Health Secretary Alan Levine said that the court ordered the state to do more than what the US Constitution requires. “We will ask a federal court of appeals to correct that mistake,” Levine said. (source)
It was only a few weeks ago when everyone thought the Philadelphia Eagles' season was over. With a lot of luck and some excellent playing down the homestreach, the Eagles got their wildcard spot and beat the Minnesota Vikings last night. The play that basically ended the Vikings chances was this touchdown run by Brian Westbrook.
The final score was 26 - 14....notice I am not calling them the bEagles this week...afterall, they did made the playoffs!
Rarely, do I ever call out a reporter on an issue, but Christine Flower's January 2nd Phila. Daily News column really rubbed me the wrong way. Apparently, Ms./Mrs. Flowers understands why the Boy Scouts have a right to discriminate against the gay community and the rest of us do not. She sites a Supreme Court ruling that allows private organizations the right to choose who they accept in their organization and who they do not. Now, I think it is fine that the Supreme Court allows organizations to choose who they accept and who they reject.
However, as a tax payer I do not think an organization should be rewarded by the government to do so. Meaning, the Boy Scouts can still discriminate all they want, but if they choose to do so (and they have), they then have to then pay the City of Philadelphia to going rate for rent or they need to find a new home.
This is just another example of what is so frustrating to the GLBT community when some heterosexual people just don't get. The government is in place to ensure fair treatment and to offer the same rights to all people. It does not matter what your personal views are, what your religious views are, or even what the Supreme Court's view is.
Christine, stop distracting the good people of Philadelphia from the real issue. If the Boy Scouts want to keep their reduced rent in the City of Philadelphia, they can NOT discriminate regardless of their own policy. So, if the City has to pay some lawyers to enforce the fair treatment of its citizens, I for one think it is money wisely spent.
Four men have been arrested on suspicion of gang-raping a woman last month in the San Francisco area. The men were harassing the woman for being a lesbian. Check out this report by the AP.
Wow, the city was not kidding about finishing the parade early! Usually an all day event, this year's Philadelphia Mummer's Day Parade was finished by 4pm. When it was all said and done, the two big division winners where Fralinger, who won its 7th String Band title in a row, and Hog Island which captured the Fancy Division title.
Fralinger's 2009 video:
There are four divisions to the Mummers Parade
String Band Division
A central theme dominates music, costumes and presentations of the groups of 48 or more musicians. Plumed and bespangled, they mark time to music, highlighted by the banjo and glockenspiel. Ornately garbed captains join the band in precision drills.
Fancy Brigade Division
Imaginative presentations are the hallmark of the Brigades. A theme centered around an elaborately costumed Captain is carried out by 35 or more performers in spectacular costumes as they move in undulating formations.
The Comic Division
Prancing, dancing clowns in colorful costumes wield their three-tiered parasols as they "strut" to strains of Golden Slippers. Imaginative floats and presentations satirize everyday life. Comic motifs run the gamut from traditional to contemporary.
Fancy Division
Ten categories allow individuals, trios and juveniles, as well as Captains and their pages to dress elaborately and outrageously. Accompanied by brass bands, they compete in various categories. Bigger than life floats and frame suits are interspersed with marchers.
2009 Official Mummers Parade Results COMIC DIVISION Murray Goodtimers Landi
FANCY DIVISION Hog Island Golden Sunrise Lottery STRING BAND DIVISION Fralinger Quaker City South Philly Ferko Avalon Polish American Greater Kensington Woodland Hegeman Uptown Durning Duffy Greater Overbrook Broomall Aqua Pennsport Trilby Irish American
FANCY BRIGADE DIVISION Bill McIntyre's Shooting Stars South Philly Vikings Golden Crown Downtowners Satin Slipper Jokers Saturnalians 2nd Street Shooters Avenuers Clevemore Cahill
As I posted a few days ago, Time Warner was on the verge of removing all Viacom networks from their cable system. The two sides faced a deadline of midnight on new years eve to renew the contract - under which Time Warner pays MTV a rights fee for its 20 cable networks including MTV, Nickelodeon, Comedy Central, and VH-1. After midnight and into the new year, the two side finally struck a deal, but the details have not been released.
Jackie Mason released a message for the new year where he talks about the progress the country has made over the past 50 years. In part of his message he addresses discrimination in regard to homosexuals and blacks. Check it out.
Sam Adams was sworn in as Portland's newest mayor yesteday on New Year's Day. Portland is now the biggest city in the country with an openly gay mayor. Adams won the job with 58% of the vote, in a primary race where his sexuality did not even become an issue!! That speaks volumes about the class of citizens and the state of politics in Portland.
Although many people (according to polls) do not want Roland Burris to become a U.S. Senator, it looks like things are starting to go his way. First, California Senator Diane Feinstein broke with the Democratic party and said he must be seated. Then, Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid met with him - and now says they are just waiting on a court to decide in Illinois. Now, Barack Obama said he would be happy to work with him if he is seated. 
