Random Musings

This past weekend I was a little under the weather, so naturally I turned to my PBS Saturday afternoon shows — and some chicken soup — to feel better. A little Martha Stewart’s Cooking School, Martha Stewart Bakes, Ming, This Old House, and some show about a woman who redesigned a kitchen — I forget the name … I was sick — who used an old silver tray and some chalkboard paint to turn the tray into a kind of message center, or a menu for dinner parties. I liked the idea, but as I was watching Carlos wandered through the room and asked what the woman was doing.

Bob: “She’s putting chalkboard paint on a tray.”

Carlos: “She’s making a Chocolate Omelet?”

Feel my pain. Chocolate omelet?

Even with BridgeGate and a new federal investigation into misappropriation of Hurricane Sandy relief funds, New Jersey Governor, and fathead, Chris Christie has kept up his anti-LGBT fight.

Earlier this week, he vetoed a bill that would have allowed transgender citizens the right to change their names on their birth certificates. The bill was approved by the state Assembly in June by a vote of 43-27 and by the state Senate in December by a vote of 21-11. Christie's veto is "absolute", which means that a 2/3 majority in both chambers — 27 votes in the Senate; 54 votes in the  Assembly — is now required to override and those votes aren’t there. Yet.

But please, people of America, and especially the LGBT community, remember this latest anti-gay move of Chris Christie’s should he survive scandal after scandal and run for president in 2016.

He is not the President for our community.

It appears that the Publix grocery store chain is being accused — by some of its own employees no less — of discriminating against its gay employees. Now, of course Publix denies the allegations, but then there’s this:

In September 2012, Broward County's Human Rights Board ruled that Publix had wrongly fired a cake decorator because he's gay and awarding him $100,000.

According to his complaint, Richard Glisson worked at several Publix stores in Broward County for ten years. Then, in February 2010, another employee was caught stealing gift cards and money from the store, and while being interviewed by a Publix "loss prevention specialist," that thief, er, employee, started spilling the beans on other less-than-desirable employees. And one of those was Glisson, whom this thief, er, employee says had given him Publix cookies and, gasp, one time, a red-velvet cake bar.

When interviewed, Glisson admitted to giving his co-worker the cake bar but pointed out that it was a cake bar that Publix no longer sold, and therefore couldn't sell. Under Publix policy, he argued, employees are encouraged to sample such items to better assist customers.

Still, he was fired. But then other employees came forward to say they took food and drinks without paying for them and merely got off with a warning; and they noted that Glisson's "consistently" arrived late to work and allowed a little girl to work in the bakery, but was only demoted. So, aftre being axed, Glisson sued, and the Broward County Human Rights Board found that:

"The record shows that [District Manager David] Thoman, and by extension Publix, treated similarly situated non-homosexual employees in a more favorable fashion. The record also supports the conclusion that Mr. Thoman's stated reason for terminating Mr. Glisson was a pretext for impermissible discrimination. …  [We] are left with only one logical conclusion: that the real motivating factor behind Mr. Glisson's termination was impermissible discrimination based upon his sexual orientation."

Publix is appealing the decision.

I like Publix, but if this evidence is true, that straight employees committing the same bad acts as gay employees receive more favorable treatment, then Publix will find itself facing more lawsuits.

Okay so it’s no stretch to say that Bryan Fischer, the Director of Issues Analysis — let’s take a giggle break on that job title — for the American Family Association, is a complete moron. I mean, he makes Pat Robertson make sense.

But Fischer’s latest thought is to head on back to Colonial Times, when life was sweet and only property owners could vote.

Oh, and in Colonial Times, property owners could also only be white men.

Bryan Fischer, so stupid he’s funny.

Sean Maloney, the US Congressman from New York, is getting married. His partner of twenty-one years, Randy Florke, proposed on Christmas day.

Isn’t that sweet, especially when hearing Maloney say this:

“[I]t’s interesting when you’ve been in love with someone for 21 years and your country finally catches up to you.”

The couple said the engagement has been a long time coming, but was pushed ahead by the desire of their children — Jesus, Daley and Essie — to see their dads marry:

“[Our] youngest had asked for this in a note to Santa Claus, which was a complete coincidence, and so it was a pretty emotional experience all around.”

Yes, a little girl asked Santa to let her dads marry. The times are a’changing, and it’s a good thing.

Congratulations to the happy couple, and the happier family.

Well, it looks like big changes for 'Glee'.

The Fox show is moving entirely to New York City for the remainder of the season and the next, which will be the show’s last. The move had been rumored for a few months, but this marks the first confirmation from the network.

And, of course there will be a cast shake-up. I mean, what about those Glee kids still in school? Mister Shue? Sue? Please don’t tell me they’ll move SueShue to La Grande Apple that would be quite the Shark Jump.

Fox Entertainment Chairman Kevin Reilly:

“[It] would be ridiculous that everybody moves to New York. There will be some that will graduate and move on and they’ll arc back in when we do special episodes. They’ll always be a part of it… But for this season, there will be a graduation, several of the cast members will move on and a few others will go to New York.”

There had been a long-standing rumor that the show would move Kurt Hummel, played by Chris Colfer, to Russia, though there is no decision on that, except by me who thinks it’s just about the dumbest idea ever.

Speaking of TV, and some of my favorites, Being Human is back, and bringing with it the beautiful vampire Aiden, played by the oozingly sexy Sam Witwer.

I’m a sucker — see what I did there — for a hot vampire.

It’s a good fun show — a vampire, a werewolf and a ghost become roommates — with some definite eye candy.

And we're done with The Blacklist. As much as I like James Spader, the implausibilty of each episode, along with the apparent superhuman abilities of some of the FBI men and the apparent stupidty of others, we've just lost interest.

Up there in Minneapolis Representative Susan Allen, a Democrat of course, has introduced a bill that would prohibit licensed therapists from trying to turn gay youth straight.

I guess Miss Marcus Bachmann, Michele’s, er, husband, will have to find a new line of work.

And quickly since her wife is leaving politics.

We all know that The Gays get blamed for everything from earthquakes to hurricanes to Lady Gaga, but did you know that we are taking the hit for the Polar Vortex. I mean, we’re accepting the blame before Pat Robertson blames us, and here’s how we caused it — according to The Advocate:

1. We Can Be Boy Scouts
On January 1, the Boy Scouts of America began officially allowing openly gay youth and it seemed like there wasn't much backlash until this Polar Vortex showed up in protest. Mother Nature must be a fan of Texas governor (and former Eagle Scout) Rick Perry, who bellowed the loudest in protest of this new policy. It'll be a sunny 70 degrees in Austin this weekend. 

2. We Got Robin Roberts
The wind chill factor in New York City has been in the negative numbers for the past two days. Coincidentally, Good Morning America co-anchor Robin Roberts has "never been happier or healthier than I am right now." Over the holidays, Roberts officially acknowledged her longtime relationship with girlfriend, Amber Laign, on Facebook. After returning from the holiday break two days ago, Roberts spoke openly about their relationship on the air and even showed a photograph of the couple at a family wedding.

 3. The Former Governor of Montana Slammed the GOP in Our Defense
Poor Montana. Even though the state has a ban on gay marriage, it hasn't escaped the grips of the Polar Vortex. Perhaps Montana must suffer because former governor Brian Schweitzer slammed the Republican Party and its "family values" in a recent interview. Schweitzer, expected to run against Hillary Clinton in the 2016 Democratic presidential primaries, is a supporter of Marriage Equality. Bundle up, Montana. It doesn't look like the winters will be getting any warmer.

 4. Clay Aiken Is Considering a Run for Congress
Game over, North Carolina. 

5. Forget Everything Else: This Is What Caused the Polar Vortex
Thank a lot, James Franco. You alone are pretty much to blame for the horrible conditions in most of America. Being in touch with your queer side isn't enough to cripple the country with ice and snow, but your latest docufiction film, Interior. Leather Bar., which examines heterosexual discomfort with and acceptance of gay sex, is causing a global warming steamfest. The film has been touring the world for months now, giving Mother Nature just enough time to brew the perfect storm.

You're Next, Los Angeles. Put on a sweater, L.A. A gay couple just got married on a giant wedding cake float in the Rose Parade. You can kiss that 70-degree weather goodbye.

So, there’s this woman, Lady Theresa Thombs — and yes, that is her real name  — who is the Republican candidate for the Texas State Board of Education. Naturally, as a Republican, and a Texas Republican, she fights against the ideas of evolution, rails against ’socialist higher education,’ and Devil Worshipers, and took to Facebook to announce her ‘Straight Pride.’

When several commenters mocked her post, Thombs responded that she doesn’t hate gay people and only thinks that gay people are sinners, just like murderers:

“We are not bigoted or hateful. Jesus said to love the sinner but hate the sin. God gives you free will to do what you want. But murder is a sin, but even a murderer is loved and forgiven if he asked to be. We both have the right to believe the way we choose is all that I am saying.” 

I know, it’s Texas, but still …. Being gay is like being a murderer. And this from a woman running for the Board of Education.

I think she’s more Bored of Education.